All In (Casino Nights #2) (9 page)

“Uhm, gotcha.” Of course he would be in charge and the dominant. She didn’t know a lot about the dynamics between men during sex, but in reality, she couldn’t see Rico letting anyone have control. In the office, there were times she could see him struggle with his need to be in charge. His effort and respect meant a lot to her.

She was a little curious about the ways he mentioned. “Like you touch her clit and finger her, right?” She felt like she was in back in school, having whispered discussions about sex. It wasn’t like Rico wasn’t cool or very open. He would gladly over share.

He grunted. “That’s one way. What I really want to know is how Cooper handled your feelings?”

“He was fine. Well, he wasn’t fine. I mean, we were in the middle of things, and we stopped abruptly. But we talked, and I know that he would’ve liked to have done it. I told him we needed to work up to it. He seemed okay with that.” His acceptance was another of the ways he showed that he cared about her. He didn’t ever force her or humiliate her.

Still, her face was on fire, and it had to be fire-engine red. God, she sounded so idiotic explaining all of that.

“So are you saying that you’re okay with waiting or how he handled your feelings, or both?” he asked, his voice gentle.

“Yeah, to all of it. I’ve done research, and I know there are things I can do to, uhm, condition those muscles, to prepare them.” She was stammering and blushing like a virgin, not a divorced woman who had grown up in Sin City. She’d browsed several websites and looked at anal plugs. The thought of buying one and wearing it was unnerving. Even the smallest size looked huge. No way was she going to ask Rico about buying one.

“If you have any questions, you can ask me. Or if you need any help...” He smirked.

The fucker could read her thoughts! “Thanks,” she blurted. But she knew she’d never shop for sexual aids with Rico, ever.

“Is that all?”

“No.” She licked her dry lips and continued. “He told me that he and his friend Trevor had shared women...and did more...” She shifted to reposition her body in the seat, she was so uncomfortable even broaching this subject, but she needed to talk about it. The thoughts in her head were driving her crazy.

“I’m going to need you to define ‘more’ for me. That’s a little vague,” he said, his lips twitching; he wanted to smile.

“He told me that one night they were with a woman, and they were all drunk.” She waved her hand, trying to be casual while inside her stomach knotted. “Anyway, she passed out, so he and Trevor... continued.”

“On a woman who was passed out?” he shouted.

“No! God, Rico, he would never do that. Christ.” She ran her hand through her hair. “He said that after she passed out, they—he and Trevor—continued. They fooled around with each other. He said it happened just the one time.”

There was a long pause. “Okaaay, I didn’t expect that.” Rico rubbed his nose, maybe to hide a grin. “I’ll venture to bet Cooper wasn’t the bottom.”

He was totally missing the point. “I didn’t ask. I don’t even know what all they did.”

“Gotcha, and it concerns you that he was with a man?” Rico asked, his tone neutral.

“No.” She bit her lip. “That makes me hot. I mean, really hot.” She couldn’t help it, a giggle escaped. “Trevor is really good-looking, and Remy is all man. It’s a girl’s man-on-man dream.” She started to giggle again, then cut that off with a frustrated sound. “It concerns me because they had threesomes more than once, and then Trevor and I hit it off. He’s funny and makes me laugh. I like him. He told Remy that if we ever wanted a third, he was volunteering. So Remy told me and I….”

“You what, honey?” Rico patted her hand. “You’ve told quite a tale for only being gone two nights.”

“He told me that if I wanted to do that with them, he’d arrange it. He also said that once he puts a ring on me, that the offer is off the table.” She let out a dramatic sigh. “I don’t even know what to think, and that scares me most. I mean, a threesome, or the fact he’s thinking about marriage?”

Rico was shaking his head. “Wow, I thought he had more control. He dropped a lot of truths on you, and then you two got on planes and went home. Takes fucking balls.”

“Our phone calls have been a little weird since then,” she confided.

“I can well imagine. He probably doesn’t know where to start, and he doesn’t want to pressure you. Poor fucker, I bet it’s killing him, not having a clue about what to do with you.” Rico shook his head and then laughed.

She slapped his shoulder. “Rico, I’m looking for some insight here.” So looking for help from a man was different than sharing with Hadley. But this was definitely Rico’s world, and Hadley, well, she was pretty conservative about sex. She didn’t even own a vibrator.

Rico didn’t say anything for a few moments, seeming to take time to consider his words. “I guess I’ll start with the sex with another guy thing. Are you thinking that he is bi-sexual and isn’t admitting it?”

She appreciated that Rico didn’t add, “like me.” “I think that if he is, he would have told me. If he can tell me he’d been with a man, then I would think he’d be able to say the word. He said it was a one-time deal. Trevor’s hot, and he’s like you, he has that sexual vibe. I imagine that he’s probably really good at sex. To be honest, I’ve always been curious about how you could be in a ménage and not...interact.”

Rico shrugged. “Sometimes you do and sometimes you don’t. I prefer all of us... interacting.” He flashed a knowing grin.

She knew he was enjoying her word choice. “I thought that if you all were enjoying it, there would at least be some touching.”

“At least.” He gave her a side-ways look. “So, what is the most troubling aspect?”

“The most troubling?” she mumbled to herself. She answered with the first thing that popped into her head. “He tells me that he can share me with another, and in the next breath he says that he intends to put a ring on me. If he cares about me enough to think about marriage,” Christ, she needed to pause to catch her breath, “why would he want to share me? We agreed that we’re exclusive, so I don’t get it.”

“That is something to work through with your man. Now, I can give you my gut reaction, but I don’t know if that is what he’s thinking.” Rico pulled the car into an abandoned gas station.

“I need some guidance, Rico. I need a starting point.” She twisted in her seat to face him as he engaged the brake.

Rico shifted toward her. “It’s true that men can keep sex and love separate. I do it, and I know that others can, too. I think Cooper was telling you that, what you do together is emotional, maybe even love.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “To him, a three-way would be sex. Something that felt good, and hopefully, would get you all off, but there would not be love involved between all of the players.”

She chewed her lip as she thought about that. “So, if I wanted to do it, he wouldn’t think that I didn’t lo—that I wasn’t into him?”

“It would affect him, but you would be with a trusted friend, and I expect that Remy would lay down the rules before your third got anywhere near you.”

“What kind of rules?” she asked, discovering that she was becoming very curious and a little turned on thinking about the two men.

“Like no kissing you on the lips, no coming in you, for starters.”

She leaned her head against the headrest. “It’s a lot to take in.” Having feelings for Remy made every decision seem so important.

Rico tugged on a lock of her hair. “Now, let’s move onto the marriage thing. Feeling some panic about that?”

“Honestly, yes.” She felt her heart rate increase with her anxiety level.

Rico smoothly pulled her into his arms for a hug. “Chica, why?” He ran his hand up and down her back.

“I ruined my first marriage, Rico. You guys just spent an hour telling me how I’m screwing up again, still working too much. Maybe I’m not meant to be in a relationship, maybe I can’t give enough to make it work?” She let out a sob.

 He spoke softly, “I don’t believe that at all. Yes, you need to stop living for your work, and you need to change that now. I know you have the capacity to love. You’re one of the few who’s loved me for more than a month.”

She pushed him away and gave a rueful smile.

“He hasn’t proposed yet, so you have time. I think he was simply telling you that he’s serious, and that he wants you to know that marriage is his goal.”

“That really scares me,” she confided.

His smile was gentle. “I’m sure it does.”

“What do I do?” she blurted. She hated whining, but she felt lost one minute and panicked the next.

“Well, you stop obsessing. If you can’t get your head straight, then get your ass on a plane and talk to him face to face. He’s been honest with you, and you should feel like you can be just as honest in return. Don’t make assumptions and shut him out. You’ve got a good man who understands casino life. Don’t give up so soon.”

“I need to think this through. You’re right.”

Rico somehow found a packet of tissues and handed her one to wipe her eyes. “You bet your sweet ass, I am.” He flashed another warm smile. “Your sweet and soon to be tender ass.”

She slapped his arm with some force. God, he’d be teasing her forever about that now.

He rubbed his upper arm. “I’ll want you to fix me up with a hot date for your wedding.”

“I’ll give you Trevor. The two of you can burn through all of the women together.” She laughed, relaxing into the seat. Ooh that was a hot thought—Rico and Trevor naked, sweaty, their bodies touching.

“Christ, you are a dirty girl.” He chuckled and put the car in gear, and then headed back to The Red Rose.

Chapter Six

Weeks had passed since she and Remy had been in the same city. What was it they said? Life gets in the way. Remy had been busy wrapping up his time at the Indiana Commission for Gaming and Betting, and she had been slowly trying to rearrange her life and her goals.

She’d invited Jimmy to dinner at a resort that was miles out of town. She wanted his undivided attention as she had explained her feelings about her workload and her concerns that she was burning out.

When Jimmy arrived, he gave her a kiss on the cheek and then took his seat across the table from her. He had removed his tie but kept his suit coat on. “I haven’t been here in a while.”

“I wanted someplace where we could talk and relax.” If they had met in the office, then she knew that she would lose her nerve.

Her father gave her a brief grin. “Let’s order and then you can tell me what’s on your mind.” Jimmy knew her so well. They didn’t share blood, but she was his child. He’d discovered her love of numbers early and nurtured it and her. She remembered sitting on the floor of his home office reading while he’d worked. Every once in a while, he would explain what he was doing or show her something on the computer screen. Their bond had always been through work.

While they waited for their food she broached the subject. “This is nice, being out and able to enjoy a dinner.”

Jimmy gave her his total focus. “We’ve had a good quarter, a busy one.”

Thank God, he gave her an intro. She took a deep breath and started. “For me, it’s been very busy. Too busy, Dad.”

He moved his glass of merlot to the corner of his place setting. “Go on.”

“Your confidence in my work and my opinions means everything to me,” she paused.

“I hear a but,” his deep voice rumbled.

In Jimmy-speak, that meant that she needed to get on with it. “I have too much to do,” she blurted. With a quick shake of her head she hurried on. “I created Team 2, with your approval and input,” she added, but watched for a reaction.

Jimmy gave her nothing.

“My job is to be hands-on in your absence from The Red Rose, available to our patrons and employees.”

Jimmy gave a single nod of his head.

“I love the interaction and my team. We do good work. However, I’m getting buried in reports and your requests for summations of reports. Jimmy, I read everything that comes across my desk, I want you to know that. I feel like you’re assigning me tasks because you don’t trust that I’m keeping up my end, monitoring the business.” She sat back in her chair and took a drink of water.

“That wasn’t my intent.” Jimmy shifted in his chair, putting both arms on the table.

“I’m burning out. The sixteen hour days are more than I can handle. They are more than I want to handle. I work and I sleep, that’s all.”

“That’s no life,” he scanned her face. “You do look a little tired, honey.”

“I am tired. Plus, I want to have a life, some time to enjoy things. Right now, I’m trapped.” She dropped her eyes to the table, while she fought for composure. “You have good people in place, Jimmy. People who can write great summaries and run numbers for you.”

“So you’re telling me to use them.” His voice was quiet but still held so much authority.

“I’m recommending that you utilize their skills and experience. Together, we can make The Red Rose even better.”

Jimmy sat silently for a few beats. “I’m spoiled. You are brilliant, and you know what I want without me having to ask.”

She gave him a gentle smile. “Well you did pay for my fancy education, and I think you started my training when you adopted me.”

“Honey, your training started when your father drove us in the mornings and dropped you off at nursery school,” he chuckled.

“I need to cut back, Dad.” Her voice broke.

“Baby, I want you to have a life. I never intended for work to take over yours. It sounds like I’ll have to make adjustments. It’s going to be hard; you’ve spoiled your old man, having your brain and good sense available all of the time.” He sat back in his chair. “However, what you ask is fair and you have my word that I will try.”

A hundred pounds lifted from her shoulders. “Thanks.”

“Would your interest in Remington Cooper have anything to do with this request?” His twinkling eyes stared into hers, now the dad inquisition began.

“Perhaps,” she played with the base of her wine glass. “Let’s just say that since the Chicago conference, I’ve learned that there’s more to life than The Red Rose.”