A Broken Soul(22)

Well …  I guess I was playing poker whether I liked it or not.

And I was going to take them for everything they had.





Quinn



SHE WAS A goddamned card shark. Lilly had spent the past hour and a half scamming five men that were twice her size, and didn't even bat an eye.

And damn if that didn't make her all the more attractive. Even with my head as messed up as it was over this girl, even though I'd been doing my best to stay away from her because of how drawn to her I was, when Tony invited her to stay, my mouth opened before I could give it any thought.

Because I wanted her to stay. Because feeling her magnificent body against mine when I caught her was enough to blow my mind. Because she was the first person in three fucking years who could make me laugh.

I was fucked.

"Son of a bitch!" Carpenter shouted, slapping his cards down on the table as Lilly scooped up her winnings with an eager smile and did a little dance in her chair. It was safe to say she was cleaning all of us out.

"Beginner's luck?" She shrugged, giving us a look of fake innocence.

"Beginner's luck my ass." I chuckled. "You hustled us."

She stacked her chips in front of her, a pleased grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. "In my defense, I tried getting out of it, but your buddy over there," she pointed at Tony, "insisted. I didn't have much of a choice."

Tony glowered, his arms crossed over his chest. "Yeah? Well I take my invitation back. I don't wanna play with you anymore."

"Aw, poor baby." She pouted sarcastically. It was nice to see her revert back to the snarky, joking Lilly she normally was after how uncomfortable she seemed when she'd first arrived. I knew it was my fault she felt out of place. I knew it was because I ran hot and cold constantly. But she was tougher than most women I knew and she bounced back quickly. It was just another thing about her I respected and found dangerously attractive.

Yes, the discomfort I felt in her presence originally started because she reminded me of my wife, but now it was totally different. After getting to know her, the differences between Lilly and Addison stood out like a flashing red light. And even though the two women were like night and day, I still craved Lilly's company, her body, her spirited personality. That was why I had been trying so hard to keep my distance.

Lilly pulled her cellphone out of her pocket and gave it a quick glance. "I should probably be going anyway. I have to get ready for my next class."



       
         
       
        

My body had a mind of its own and stood from my seat. "I'll walk you out."

Now having officially become one of the guys by taking all their money, she was comfortable enough to pass out good-bye hugs to my crew without giving it a second thought. That was just the kind of woman she was. And as I walked her out of the station toward her car, I couldn't help but wonder if I'd be on the receiving end of one of those hugs …  or if I'd be able to handle it if she did.

We walked the short distance to her car in silence, the awkward mood having returned now that we were alone. "So," I started once we stood at her driver side door. "Thanks for bringing the food."

She fidgeted with her purse, digging around for her keys as she said, "Yeah. Sure. You're welcome," and I got the distinct impression she was having trouble meeting my eyes. I opened my mouth, ready to apologize, when she suddenly spoke first. I shouldn't have been surprised. I was quickly learning that Lilly was the type of woman who spoke what was on her mind.

"Did I do something to piss you off?"

She was so direct I was taken off guard, and it took me a second to formulate a response. "What? No, of course not."

She gave me a speculative look, she didn't believe me. Finally she let out a shaky sigh. "Look, I know we don't really know each other well, but I thought …  God, this sounds so stupid." She shook her head in embarrassment but pushed on anyway. "I thought, that night we had dinner at my place, that …  well, we were kind of becoming friends. Maybe I was wrong?"

My mouth opened and closed while I tried my best to come up with something to say, something that would take the pained expression off her face. I did want to be friends with her. I just didn't have any idea how to do that. "Lilly-"

To my relief, she interrupted, because I really had no fucking clue what I was going to say. "If I misread the situation I can accept that. I'm not going to force you to be friends with me if you aren't comfortable. It's just … " She ran a shaky hand through her hair and swallowed. " … I could really use a friend right now. Things are really hard, and I don't have anyone to talk to. It was just so easy to talk to you that night, like a weight was lifted off my chest, you know? I haven't had anyone I could dump all this on. I didn't realize how much I needed that. But if you aren't comfortable I'd totally understa-"