Free All In (Casino Nights #2) by Melanie Jayne

logging off and locked her notes in her desk drawer.
    At the Old Time Café, Rico managed to snag a booth in the back. He sat facing the room, claiming his reason was that he could watch for Hadley. She knew he needed to sit where he could see the entire room; this was one of his rules for survival. Jimmy had the same rule, so she had grown up with men like this. Edgy, intense, and protective of people they considered theirs.
    She loved this place, it was small, maybe seating for forty people. One had a choice of a booth or a stool at the counter. The walls needed a new coat of paint, and the menu probably hadn’t changed since the seventies. It sat in a rundown neighborhood and was frequented by construction workers, firefighters and cops. The menu was simple fare, and the coffee was always fresh and hot.
    The waitress approached and flipped the page on her order book. “Drinks?”
    Rico spoke first, “She’ll have an O.J., and I’ll take a coffee, black. We’ve got another coming.”
    The waitress glanced at Rico, and then gave him a second look. He flashed his welcoming smile which caused her to smile in return. “All right honey, I’ll bring your drinks while you wait for your third.”
    “I wanted coffee,” Francesca said as the waitress walked away.
    Rico wagged a finger. “No more caffeine for you. You look like you need a good day’s sleep, chica.”
    She grimaced. “I’ve had a lot to do. I needed to catch things up.”
    “Give us some of the work, and it’ll get done. Delegate. You don’t have to do it all yourself.”
    She was saved from responding by the arrival of Hadley.
    “Hey, hi.” The striking redhead had more than a few men sending her admiring glances as she approached the booth.
    The waitress arrived with their drinks, and Hadley made her request.
    They settled into the booth, Rico all alone and Hadley beside her.
    Rico glanced toward Hadley. “I was telling Francesca we would be more than happy to help her with the work backlog.”
    Her friend nodded. “That’s right. In fact, I thought that we were all doing our part, so there shouldn’t be any backlog.” Hadley shot her a questioning glance.
    Francesca shrugged. “Jimmy asked for a full report summarizing the cost/benefit ratio regarding the Chinese visitors. Each department has submitted their initial report and the requested addendums.” She fixed her gaze on the condensation on her glass, knowing they’d be all over her ass.
    “Francesca!” Hadley barked. “Why did you take all of that on yourself?”
    “He wants the data to see if we should continue to pursue select groups from China.” She knew where this was going; she’d already beaten herself up about it.
    Hadley leaned her elbows onto the table and moved in closer. “I’ve seen you tell others no before, so I damn well know that you can. I’m saying this as your friend and as your co-worker, you need to tell Jimmy no. He drops things in your lap at the last minute, and you kill yourself to complete the project. He has a concern and he calls, and then you, alone, handle it. The Red Rose has directors and managers of each department who can handle things for Jimmy. If he won’t assign them the work then you have to.”
    Francesca shifted in her seat and folded her hands in her lap. “Look, I get what you’re saying. I’ve said it to myself, but he is the owner, he is our boss—”
    Hadley waved her hand, interrupting her. “And he adopted you, but I think that you have more than paid him back with love and loyalty. You aren’t letting him down by telling him to delegate or if you delegate. Babe, you’re putting your life on hold and killing yourself trying to please him.” Hadley’s face was red, and her green eyes flashed. “The worst part of the whole deal is that Jimmy doesn’t even realize he’s killing you.”
    “That isn’t true, Hads.” She clamped her jaws shut, realizing she’d raised her voice. She took a sip of her juice while she