The Gamble (Colorado Mountain #1)(176)

“You’re rat-arsed,” I told her.

“Whatever,” she mumbled then turned to Linda and announced, apropos of nothing, “I love your son and I love you and I love your daughter,” she looked at Kami. “You have the most beautiful hair I’ve ever seen.”

“Thanks, Nellie,” Kami muttered, shifting on her feet, embarrassed by the praise and I stared at her a second before I heard Steve speak.

“Let’s get you home, love.”

Mom leaned forward and muttered to Kami and me, “He’s always spoiling my fun.”

Kami looked at me and I shrugged for this was likely true, then again sometimes Mom’s brand of fun needed to get spoiled before someone got hurt.

Then Mom hugged a surprised and stiff Kami then released her and she got a return hug from Linda and finally she gave me one. After Mom was done embracing the female congregation, Steve kissed my cheek and said his good-byes and they moved to their rental car.

“I got work tomorrow,” Kami announced, she gave me a look which I couldn’t read then, thankfully, she said, “Later,” and she moved away without giving anyone hugs but she did give a halfhearted wave which I thought was quite nice, seeing as it was from Kami.

I was just grateful she didn’t share the Damon Incident or her astute insight into the fact that Harry upset me before she went.

“I’m her ride,” Linda muttered, her eyes on me and they were twinkling for what else could she do? Kami, I was learning, was Kami.

Linda kissed Max’s cheek and then Brody’s. She was carrying my coat and purse and she gave them to me then she gave me a hug and when she did she said in my ear, “Like you, Nina. You’re a good kid.”

I clenched my teeth and swallowed the tears as her head came up. I smiled weakly at her and nodded.

“I’m off,” Brody announced as Linda moved away and I shrugged on my coat. “Seein’ as that shit went down with Mins, work gave me to the weekend so we’ll get together again before I leave, yeah?” he asked me.

“Sure,” I said even though I was not sure.

He gave me a mountain man hug, in other words I was engulfed in his arms and the hug was so tight I could hardly breathe. Then he clapped Max on the shoulder and took off.

I continued to avoid Max’s eyes and I did this by watching Brody until he was out of sight.

“So, what’ll it be, Duchess? You want me to teach you how to play pool or do you wanna go home?”

I looked at his collarbone and told him, “Let’s go to your house.”

I felt rather than saw the change in his mood before he asked, “My house?”

My eyes shot to his and I saw he was studying me intently.

“Um… suddenly, I’m exhausted,” I explained.

Max didn’t look like he bought my explanation. He kept examining my face for several moments before he looked over his shoulder at the parking lot then back at me.

“What were you doin’ out here with Kami?”

I shook my head and stated, “I wasn’t with Kami. I just got a little tired and I thought the fresh air would wake me up a bit.” I licked my lips before I kept lying, “It didn’t.”

“Kami was with you when we got out here,” Max pointed out.

“Um… she followed me out. I don’t know why. She was only here a minute or so before you all joined us.” At least part of that was true.

“What’d you talk about?” he asked.

“Nothing. You all came out before we –”

He cut me off, asking shrewdly, “What’d you and Harry talk about?”

I decided I needed to practice my poker face and I needed to do it very, very soon.

“Not much, he was kind of drunk,” I lied again. “It’s okay,” I assured him. “Jake took his keys. Harry said he was going to call a taxi.”

“Then what’s the matter?” Max asked.

“I told you,” I replied, “I’m tired.”

“One second you’re sweet and smilin’ and the next second your eyes are dead and you’re sayin’ you’re tired.”

“My eyes aren’t dead.” But I knew they probably were.

“What’d Harry say?” Max pushed.

I sighed, not wanting to spar, not even wanting to talk, not even wanting to stand.

In fact, I did want to crawl into a bed, pull the covers over me, shut out the world and anyone who could get in and hurt me and I wanted to sleep. Sleep for decades and wake up a spinster, go to the nearest shelter, adopt two dozen cats and then live my life cleaning up hair balls and watching Wheel of Fortune. That seemed like a happy life to me.

I didn’t tell Max this, instead I asked, “Max, can we just go to the A-Frame?”

His eyes narrowed and even in the dim light I watched his face grow dark. “The A-Frame?”

“Yes.”

He took a step closer. I stepped back.

He stopped and whispered, “What the f**k?”

Even though I retreated, which I did so I could remain smart, sane and rational instead of letting him touch me or hold me or kiss me and make me the opposite, I leaned a bit forward, looked him in the eyes and softly begged, “Please? Can we go up the mountain?”

He didn’t answer for a long time, so long, since I was holding my breath, it seemed forever.