embarrassed.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I should have offered.” Stricken, she looked at the nearly empty bowl of gravy and then back at Finn.
“Not at all.” He leaned forward, steady and firm. “I enjoyed your unabashed pleasure.”
A shiver of apprehension collided with her delight. Ducking her head, she wished she hadn’t braided her hair. Even damp, it might have afforded her a shield against his teasing gaze. “I really like biscuits and gravy.”
“I could tell.” He’d eaten a good portion of his food. “Want some water or…is that coffee?”
“Oh, I’ll do that and it’s tea.” She reached for the pot of Heidi’s tea before he could. Heidi said don’t skip a single one and here I am obsessing over food. Pouring a cup for herself, she hesitated. What if he wanted tea too?
“Hmm, I prefer coffee. I’ll just have some water.”
“I could call down and order coffee.” She relaxed a little.
“No, water is fine. I think there’s an espresso shop a few doors down. We could stop there on our way out.” It was the second time he mentioned leaving the casino.
Her nerves took flight again. Trying to cover, she sipped the tea. It was bitter and didn’t go down smoothly at all. She did her best to control her expression. It didn’t matter how bad it tasted, she had no desire to be ill—again.
Four acrid gulps later, she glanced out the window. “You wanted to go for a walk? And you said something about the Dam?”
“Yeah, we can rent a car. The Royale provides vehicles for guests. I think it’s important to get out and see what there is to be seen. Too often, the casinos provide you with so much—you might forget to leave altogether.” His mouth twisted on the end of his sentence. Something about the casino bothered him. Of course something bothers him. He’s here to investigate it, remember?
Or he wants to know if you can leave… The thought drifted through her mind unbidden and she knew it didn’t belong to her—and it was distinctly feminine. Heidi? She didn’t know the stage manager could do that. The simple joy of breakfast diminished with the reminder of the task at hand. If he needed proof she could leave, then she would give it.
“I think that sounds like fun. Do you mind if I finish my tea first?”
His cheek dimpled with a half-smile. “Not at all. And thank you.”
“For what?”
“For breakfast, for agreeing to be my company—for last night.” He stretched his legs out and crossed one ankle over the other. The action drew her gaze and she wondered at the muscles lining his body beneath his clothes. He was a tall man, broad-shouldered, and capable. Even in her heels, he’d dwarfed her.
“I had fun last night.” She didn’t have to pretend that.
“Well, we’re not done yet.” He winked.
No. They were far from done.
Chapter Five
Finn checked his watch after Pepper excused herself to use the restroom. As soon as the bathroom door closed, he rose and opened the teapot. Leaves and crumpled herbs floated atop the dark colored brew. Lifting the pot to his nose, he sampled the fragrance. The inherent potency in the drink made his nose itch. A receipt lay sideways, tucked beneath Pepper’s saucer. Glancing at the bathroom, he listened for the sound of the water running and slid the receipt out.
The hearty southern breakfast was listed as the meal, which explained all the food, and below that an order for Pomegranate Fusion Tea. Frowning, he picked the pot up and sniffed it again. He did detect a trace of pomegranate. Anywhere else, the fruit of the dead wouldn’t bother him—but at the Arcana Royale with its tapestry of freaks, powers and machinations? He didn’t trust it.
Setting the lid back into place, he folded the receipt in half and slid it into his pocket. He might order the fusion to his room later and test the properties. The water turned off in the bathroom. She’d looked better than the night before, more color in her cheeks and rested.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I should have offered.” Stricken, she looked at the nearly empty bowl of gravy and then back at Finn.
“Not at all.” He leaned forward, steady and firm. “I enjoyed your unabashed pleasure.”
A shiver of apprehension collided with her delight. Ducking her head, she wished she hadn’t braided her hair. Even damp, it might have afforded her a shield against his teasing gaze. “I really like biscuits and gravy.”
“I could tell.” He’d eaten a good portion of his food. “Want some water or…is that coffee?”
“Oh, I’ll do that and it’s tea.” She reached for the pot of Heidi’s tea before he could. Heidi said don’t skip a single one and here I am obsessing over food. Pouring a cup for herself, she hesitated. What if he wanted tea too?
“Hmm, I prefer coffee. I’ll just have some water.”
“I could call down and order coffee.” She relaxed a little.
“No, water is fine. I think there’s an espresso shop a few doors down. We could stop there on our way out.” It was the second time he mentioned leaving the casino.
Her nerves took flight again. Trying to cover, she sipped the tea. It was bitter and didn’t go down smoothly at all. She did her best to control her expression. It didn’t matter how bad it tasted, she had no desire to be ill—again.
Four acrid gulps later, she glanced out the window. “You wanted to go for a walk? And you said something about the Dam?”
“Yeah, we can rent a car. The Royale provides vehicles for guests. I think it’s important to get out and see what there is to be seen. Too often, the casinos provide you with so much—you might forget to leave altogether.” His mouth twisted on the end of his sentence. Something about the casino bothered him. Of course something bothers him. He’s here to investigate it, remember?
Or he wants to know if you can leave… The thought drifted through her mind unbidden and she knew it didn’t belong to her—and it was distinctly feminine. Heidi? She didn’t know the stage manager could do that. The simple joy of breakfast diminished with the reminder of the task at hand. If he needed proof she could leave, then she would give it.
“I think that sounds like fun. Do you mind if I finish my tea first?”
His cheek dimpled with a half-smile. “Not at all. And thank you.”
“For what?”
“For breakfast, for agreeing to be my company—for last night.” He stretched his legs out and crossed one ankle over the other. The action drew her gaze and she wondered at the muscles lining his body beneath his clothes. He was a tall man, broad-shouldered, and capable. Even in her heels, he’d dwarfed her.
“I had fun last night.” She didn’t have to pretend that.
“Well, we’re not done yet.” He winked.
No. They were far from done.
Chapter Five
Finn checked his watch after Pepper excused herself to use the restroom. As soon as the bathroom door closed, he rose and opened the teapot. Leaves and crumpled herbs floated atop the dark colored brew. Lifting the pot to his nose, he sampled the fragrance. The inherent potency in the drink made his nose itch. A receipt lay sideways, tucked beneath Pepper’s saucer. Glancing at the bathroom, he listened for the sound of the water running and slid the receipt out.
The hearty southern breakfast was listed as the meal, which explained all the food, and below that an order for Pomegranate Fusion Tea. Frowning, he picked the pot up and sniffed it again. He did detect a trace of pomegranate. Anywhere else, the fruit of the dead wouldn’t bother him—but at the Arcana Royale with its tapestry of freaks, powers and machinations? He didn’t trust it.
Setting the lid back into place, he folded the receipt in half and slid it into his pocket. He might order the fusion to his room later and test the properties. The water turned off in the bathroom. She’d looked better than the night before, more color in her cheeks and rested.
Similar Books
