As soon as I stepped out of the elevator, the person I sought showed up, and I found myself colliding with his hard chest.
“Gotta watch where you’re going.” Two hands gripped my upper biceps to steady me as I looked up and into the pupils of Ink’s fiery gaze.
His body heat intermingled with mine, making me swoon.
His hands flew off me quickly, and he frowned. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “Jaz.” The question came more as a stab from him.
The fuzzy quarters of my head tried to take over. “Ink,” I gushed.
“Jaz. I need to talk to you. Stop running away from me.” His face was overrun with emotion.
I could see his frustration. I was willing to hear what he had to say. I had things to tell him too. The man made my heart race like no other, and I couldn’t completely figure out why. “Catch me if you can. Meet me out front. I have something to tell you.” I wanted him to chase me. The thrill was back. I raced to the outside doors, darting away from him. My heart was in my mouth, my dark hair whipping around my face. I was fleet of foot when I wasn’t wearing heels, but because I wanted to go out with a bang… I’d worn my heels.
I made it to the entrance wheezing from exertion.
“Jaz, stop!” A mixture of insolent rage and passion played on his face. A light sheen of sweat formed on his forehead. “Why can’t you just talk to me, instead of playing games all the time?”
“I can change things. I can make it right!” I pleaded with him, begging him with my eyes. “Will you listen to me, Ink?” I licked my lips.
He stepped out of the casino. “Yes, I will. Tell me what you have to say.”
His features were so masculine and passionate at the same time that they made me want to melt into the safety of his arms. I wanted to run to him, but I was sabotaging things. I knew it, this was my own fault. If I wanted a chance at love I had to stop the bullshit. I worked to catch my breath. “There’s a Chinese guy in the high roller room that’s cheating, and he’s way better than me. I’ve seen him before, I’ve been watching. I can help you catch him if you just don’t report me,” I said breathlessly.
Ink shook his head hard. “You’re out of your mind. I’m here to do my job and God knows why I haven’t already. Next time, I’m one hundred percent, reporting you. I can call the cops on you right now.” His voice was thick with emotion.
I took this as a fact that he did care. If he wanted to call the cops he would have done it already. “You won’t. We’ve been playing this game for a while now. You won’t.” I stood my ground. “I’m telling you I can help you.” I kept pressing my point. We were like two ships in the night, completely miscommunicating with one another. “You need me. Think about it, and when you come to your senses, call me. I’m not here for long. I’ve been doing this since I was a kid, and I’m an expert, Ink.” I matched his fire with my words.
His jaw clenched, but there was not much he could deny about what I pointed out.
His pride wouldn’t let him do it. It wouldn’t let him say I was right. I let him have it and left him hanging in the door of the casino, feeling more let down and pent-up than ever.