Cal wears a satisfied grin walking back from checking in with the royal guards. I can only imagine what he’s about to say.
“His royal majesty and Miss Wilder left an hour ago. You know what that means?” The look on his face makes my stomach squirm.
“What? Where did they go?” I want to be angry at Ava for doing what I wouldn’t, but at the same time, I disappeared on her again. At least she’s with the crown prince and his team of bodyguards.
“The Paris Hotel was their ultimate destination. It means they’re off to do some royal fucking.” His hand snakes around my waist, pulling me close. “We should follow their lead.”
My chest clenches unexpectedly. “What?” Ava and Rowan? “That’s impossible. Why would you say that?”
“Perhaps because he’s obsessed with her. He sent her flowers, he can’t keep his eyes off her, and he looks like he wants to punch me in the face whenever I touch her.”
“What the hell?” I walk slowly to one of the blackjack tables where only two men in tuxedoes are playing. Cal is behind me, but I’m too distracted to notice.
How did I miss this? Would Ava throw the job? I suppose I’ve already thrown it telling her I slept with Cal.
“Miss?” The dealer looks at me expectantly, and I scan the rules for the table.
Twenty Euro minimum. I take one of the colorful chips from my bag and place it on the table to start my hand. The dealer nods and passes me two cards.
Facing up is a six of hearts, and my lips twist. Not very good. We turn over the other card, and it’s a five spades. I cast a quick glance at what he’s got, an Ace of diamonds.
“Double down,” I say automatically.
Next round, I get an eleven, dealer a queen of hearts. The men beside me make noises of approval. I now have eighty Euro.
“One more,” I say, tapping my finger in front of me.
Two kings.
“Split,” I say, feeling my insides start to relax.
Cards are easy. Blackjack makes sense. People are hard. I reach into my bag and place four twenty-Euro chips on the table. Cards go around, I’m dealt a ten of hearts and an Ace of spades. The two men playing with me make louder noises.
Cal leans down and speaks in my ear. “Someone knows her way around the blackjack table.”
At once I snap out of it, realizing what I’m doing. “Must be beginner’s luck,” I laugh as the dealer passes me eight twenty-Euro stacks. “Would you change those to fifties, please?”
He pulls them back and slides three white chips across the table along with one twenty chip. I slip them along with the remaining two chips in my bag, and when I stand, I can’t miss Cal’s expression.
“I feel like there’s something you’re not telling me,” he says with a grin.
“I told you my dad liked to gamble.”
“You didn’t tell me you did.”
Shrugging, I walk slowly away from the table. “We would play blackjack when it rained.”
“Must’ve rained a lot.”
“We were in Florida, so you know.”
“Florida? I thought you grew up in Texas?”
Jesus! This revelation about Ava has me completely floored. I’m forgetting everything! “He lived in Florida… after my parents divorced.” Blinking fast, I keep spinning the lie. “It’s how I met Ava.”
I glance up, and Cal’s eyes narrow. I’m not sure he believes me, but I can’t worry about that now. Now all I can think about is Reggie and what’s going to happen when he finds out. If Rowan’s security guards know, what’s to stop them from telling the grand duke? I stop when we reach the small gallery of couches and plush chairs. Cal stops in front of me, and he’s frowning, arms crossed.