Free High Stakes (The Kingdom Book 2) by Nikki Groom

smiles and stands, straightening out her pants. “Now what do you say we get some more coffee, and finish off these truffles?”
    It’s just then that I notice, I’ve completely relaxed. Of course I want to see my best friend but I don’t need her here to hold my hand. She was right; Dana is a sweetheart. I am enjoying her company and it’s refreshing to spend time with real people. I guess because I was playing a persona in LA that I didn’t really look past the facades that all of our acquaintances had painted on. Now that I think about it, they were all living lies and deceit of some kind. Dana, Denham and as far as I have seen, Tara and Spike too, are honest and upfront. I’m pretty sure I’ll never be unsure of where I stand with them, which makes it easier for me to be myself.
    I send a quick text to Lottie. ‘ Don’t hurry … You were right xx ’ Then I slip my cell back into my pocket and head inside.

LOTTIE JOINS US AFTER finishing work, and we sit on the balcony on the shaded side of the hotel. The Las Vegas sunshine is too hot to sit in directly, but it’s great to be outside in the fresh air. If you had asked me a week ago what I thought I would be doing right now, I certainly wouldn’t have painted this picture. It feels like I have known Dana for years, she’s easy company and very sweet. She rolls her eyes at Lottie’s antics, but it’s all done in an affectionate motherly kind of way. Which is just what Lottie needs, as her own parents are so dysfunctional.
    Lottie is a little quieter than usual, I notice. She’s not so quick to fire comebacks where I would expect her to, and she seems somewhat subdued. It might be because she homed in on the truffles as soon as she arrived, and hasn’t had more than a minute without her mouth being full of the chocolatey deliciousness. And damn if I wasn’t a little outraged that she let herself in, and finished them off.
    And, in true Lottie fashion, she insisted we opened a bottle of Prosecco, just because we can.
    The only lady missing from this picture is my mom. I’d put money on it that she would get along fabulously with Dana, and maybe a little further down the line it’s a picture that will be possible to arrange.
    “Is everything okay, Lottie?” Dana asks casually, but I don’t miss the gentle concern in her voice.
    “Sure,” she mumbles unconvincingly around a mouthful of truffle.
    “You’re quiet,” Dana remarks.
    Lottie shrugs, then sighs. “I had a shitty day … I had a complaint from a customer,” she says, looking into her lap.
    “Wanna talk about it, babe?” I offer.
    “No,” she grumbles before she can’t hold it in any longer and blurts out, “Can you fucking believe it? A complaint … Asshole. Well, he wasn’t smiling when I poured his gin and tonic into his lap, was he? No, he wasn’t. Maybe he’ll think twice about snapping his fingers at me like I should come to heel like a pet dog. Then having the audacity to complain because he asked for ice and no lemon and instead I gave him lemon and no ice. ” She rants the whole sentence in just one breath. Dana is looking on, her eyes wide with a smile to match. Lottie is unique, but it’s hard not to love her. She might have flame red hair and the temper to go with it but she has one of the biggest hearts I’ve ever known.
    “Lottie!” Dana says unbelievably. “You can’t go around throwing drinks into customer’s laps.”
    “Well, he was an asshole,” Lottie grumbles.
    “So what did your boss say?” I ask.
    “Oh look! We’re out of Prosecco, I’ll go to the fridge and get some more, shall I?” She hops up from her chair in one swift move and makes an escape back into the apartment.
    “Lottie!” Both Dana and I shout out to her at the same time. I hear her footsteps falter then scurry away. Lottie doesn’t usually use avoidance tactics. She’s a straight up, head on kind of girl. So, I’m beginning to think there’s more to her story than she’s