The Hard Bounce - страница 71

“Poker? Really?”

“Consider it a life skill I’m teaching you.”

Kelly didn’t say anything, just gave me a look over her cards.

“I don’t suppose you have Grand Theft Auto hidden away anywhere.”

“Nope. All I got are these old analog games.” I dropped the flop cards.

“He’s old school,” Kelly said, a barb of sarcasm tipping the words.

Cassie snorted. “You got the old part right.”

Kelly snickered behind her cards. I glared.

Cassie snorted another laugh. Then the snort turned into a sniff-which then turned into a stuttering intake of breath.

Uh-oh.

Before I found a new way to look uncomfortable, Kelly whisked Cassie away into the bathroom and closed the door. Why is it always the bathroom with women? Mysteries upon mysteries.

Left to my own devices, I walked out onto the porch to smoke. Hippie Phil was there, as always. I gave him a cigarette, and he nodded thanks. We both sat, puffing away in silence. He spoke first. “Woman trouble?”

I blew out a long breath and chuckled. “Brother, if you only knew.”

Three cigarettes later, I went back inside and paced. What was going on in there? I sat at the table, picking at some teriyaki beef, when I heard the bathroom door open and shut again. My watch said it was just past midnight. They’d been in the bathroom for an hour and a half. Good thing I didn’t have to piss.

Kelly came into the kitchen and sat opposite me. She talked in a hushed tone. “She’s a sweet kid.”

“Yeah.”

“And she’s hurt and confused to beat the band.”

I already knew that, but I figured Kelly already knew that I knew. “So, what’s going on?”

“It’s a girl thing. She just needed another girl to talk to about it.”

“So… we gonna have a little pajama party tonight?” I asked with my best devilish grin.

“You wish,” she said.

My devilish grin deflated into an idiot frown. “Oh. Okay.”

“I’ll stay a bit longer, but I should be heading home sooner than later.”

“Can’t you stay here? With her? We have all the modern amenities. Phone. Hot and cold running water. Uh, me?” Until Kelly said she was going to leave, I hadn’t realized how terrified I was of being left alone with an emotional teenage girl.

Kelly curled her lip in an evil smirk that made my devilish grin look saintly. Lord, she was cute. “A tempting offer and one that I may take you up on later this week, but it might confuse the issue at hand.”

“Meaning?”

“I think that Miss Cassandra has a tiny bit of a crush on you.”

I felt the blood gush up from my chest and into my head. “Oh, no.”

“Oh, yes.” She clearly and smugly enjoyed my discomfort.

“You… you can’t leave me with her, then. I mean, you can’t leave her… aw, shit.”

“Life is so tough for you hunka-hunkas, isn’t it?” she said, pinching my cheek. Not only was she enjoying my embarrassment, but she did Elvis better than I did, too.

“Nobody likes a smartass, Reese.”

She laughed evilly as she strolled out of the kitchen.

My only recourse was to stare at her ass once again with all my might. That would show her.

Ten minutes later, Kelly was yawning and ready to go home just as Junior pulled up in front. I was relieved. Any bouncer will tell you, backup is always appreciated.

I walked Kelly out to her car. “So give me a call tomorrow and we’ll make the arrangements.” I leaned in to give her a kiss goodbye, but she pulled back.

“Un-unh. Cassie might be watching,” she said, pressing a hug tightly against me, enjoying the tease. She winked and blew a kiss at me as she drove away.

I needed a cold, cold shower.

Instead, I went back in and sat at the table. Junior had taken Kelly’s spot in the poker game. He was rearranging his cards and grumbling about the miserable hand she’d left him. “Jeez, I can’t even see what the hell she was aiming for here. Can we start over?”

“The hand’s already started. Play what you’re dealt,” I said.

He grumbled some more, but played on. Cassandra won the hand, but kept quiet. Something was making her uncomfortable. As Junior shuffled the worn cards, she said softly, “I’m sorry I zapped you.”

Junior shrugged, but didn’t look up from the cards. “S’okay. Besides, I got you first. It was only right that you got me, too.” He started dealing the cards. “And I haven’t slept that good in a long time.”