Free Queen of Hearts by Jami Denise Page B

heard you’d left Vegas. Welcome back.”
    With a kissy-kissy, I moved back and smiled wryly. “I did, a few years ago. I just came back.”
    “Business or pleasure?” He raised his eyebrow mischievously, and I could clearly see the interest in his eyes.
    It was tempting, almost like an instinctual reaction. Bile rose up in my throat as the ghosts of my past pointed and laughed at the disgusting way I’d led my life up to that point. I was vulnerable in that moment, but the painful words Flynn spat at me earlier slammed into me like a freight train.
    “Neither, actually. My father passed away, so I came back to handle his affairs, and well, this has always been home, I guess.”
    “I’m sorry about your father. I hadn’t heard.”
    That didn’t surprise me. He still hadn’t been declared dead since there was no body. The thought turned my stomach. I’d done a good job of avoiding the situation, but I knew it was only a matter of time before I got my answer. No one could ever prepare for that sort of thing. I just wasn’t ready.
    I shook my head. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
    He stepped closer, and as he did, I noticed Flynn standing a few feet behind him, glaring.
    “Jayne, let me take you to dinner. Just to catch up. It’s been a very long time.”
    I hesitated. Was I giving him the wrong impression? I had no desire to follow through on anything, but I didn’t want to be alone.
    “Just dinner?”
    He laughed, shaking his head. “Just dinner. I’ll be on my best behavior. A perfect gentleman.”
    I didn’t believe that for a second. Alonzo had an insatiable sex drive and the stamina of a thoroughbred. I knew very well he’d do whatever he could to get into my pants.
    I looked past him toward Flynn again, the pull too strong to ignore, and the pure, unbidden anger rolled off him like thunder. I’d be damned if I was going to let him intimidate me.
    “That sounds perfect,” I said, smiling up at him. “A smart girl never turns down dinner with a handsome man.”
    Alonzo’s smile beamed. I took his arm, and he led me through the casino toward the elevator that led to the steakhouse on the top floor. I was impressed—he was going all out.
    Footsteps sounded from behind us, and then Flynn’s voice boomed through the corridor.
    “Jayne!”
    We both turned, and as he approached, Alonzo tightened his grip on me, obviously uneasy about the way Flynn was behaving.
    “What are you doing?” he snapped.
    I cleared my throat and looked him straight in the eye. “I’m busy. We said everything that needed to be said.”
    He chuckled humorlessly. “Alonzo, if you’ll excuse us, we have some things to clear up. Alone.”
    I looked back and forth between them. “You know him?” I asked Alonzo.
    He shifted nervously, never taking his eyes off Flynn. “I’m his attorney.”
    Shit.
    “I see,” I said. With a sigh, I turned back to face Flynn.
    “Flynn, I have nothing more to say. Alonzo is an old friend, and he’s offered to take me to dinner. I don’t want any trouble, and you’re causing a scene.”
    “It’s my damn casino! Fuck a scene!”
    “Maguire!” Alonzo snapped. He stepped forward, pushing me behind him. “You need to calm down. I don’t know what’s going on here, but I won’t allow you to treat her like that.”
    Flynn scoffed, flicking his hand at him dismissively. “Yeah, but you won’t think twice about having her suck your dick, will you?”
    I gasped. “You’re a bastard!”
    “And you’re the bitch breaking my heart. We’re even, sweetheart.”
    He turned to walk away, and then stopped and looked over his shoulder. “You don’t have to do this.”
    A lump formed in my throat. I wanted to call out to him, to stop him and assure him that I wasn’t doing what he assumed I was, but the look on his face told me he had little faith that I was anything but a whore. Combined with his earlier words, I sunk deeper into desolation.
    Once he was out of sight, Alonzo turned