Free Let it Ride (Casino Nights #1) by Melanie Jayne

directions,
heading to the kitchen. “Want another?”
    “No, but thank you.”
    Remy returned to the sofa. He
watched her as he took a few drinks from his beer bottle. “Come here.”
    “Why?” She didn’t have a lock on his
mood and she couldn’t read his expression.
    “ Here. ” He
patted the space next to him. “Francesca, I want to hold you. I had to watch a
crazy man threaten you today. I want to feel you next to me.”
    She quickly put her empty beer
bottle on the table and scooted against his large body. “Better?” She couldn’t
help smiling up at him.
    He pulled her underneath his arm and
let it rest on her shoulders. “Yeah.” He took another drink.
    “Your talk with
Jimmy go OK?” She was curious about what her father had to say to him.
She studied him while she waited for his answer.
    “He’s worried about you. He knows
that he can’t make you come home, but he wants you safe. We discussed how we
are going to make sure that happens.” Remy killed his beer.
    She took the bottle from his hand
and leaned forward to put it on the table. “Jimmy can be, well, he can be many
things. Bossy, controlling, demanding, and fiercely protective just to name a
few.”
    “He knows that you would rather
travel solo, but he also knows that you aren’t so foolish that you would
overlook a threat.”
    She knew that too. “I’ll have to
endure Rico’s twenty minutes of ‘I told you so’ attitude. He’ll be thrilled to
get to be in charge on this trip.”
    His arm tightened around her
shoulders. “I told Jimmy and Ochoa, and now I’m going to tell you.”
    “Tell me what?” Her heart started
pounding.
    “When Ochoa gets here, he’s point.
He’s your guy and you handpicked him, if what your father says is correct…but
I’m not getting pushed to the side. I’m telling you that right now Francesca.
You can have watchdogs trailing you, but your ass is still in my bed and I am
still going to be with you, publically and privately, by your side.”
    Holy Shit.
    “Now’s the time to discuss if you
have a problem with that.” She could feel the tension roll off of him.
    Wow, the man didn’t wrap his feelings in
romantic words, but the thought was there. “So what you’re saying is that you
like me.” She shoved her elbow into his playfully.
    He smiled and made a happy grunt
sound. “Yeah, I do. If I didn’t make that clear several times last night, then
I’ll work harder at it tonight.”
    She could feel the heat travel
across her cheeks. “I’m clear.” She bit her lip to fight her own smile as her
heart leapt in her chest with happiness.
    “This going to be a problem with
Ochoa?” He pointed his finger back and forth between the two of them.
    “Maybe, but I’ll set him straight.”
Rico could be possessive and these circumstances would most likely trigger that
behavior. “It’ll help if you make it clear that he has point.”
    “So you don’t want him. But is he
waiting for you to change your mind?” Remy watched her closely.
    “Rico’s going to flirt with me and
he might even be a little possessive. He’ll try to get a reaction from you.”
She paused for a beat. “But he’s a good friend and we’re both good with it
staying that way,” she answered him honestly.
    Remy nodded. They stayed quiet for a
few moments and then Remy switched gears. “Are you getting hungry?”
    “Yeah, I am.” Strong emotions always
made her want to eat.
    “It’s just us for dinner. What are
you hungry for?”
    “I want to get out of here for a
while. I don’t want to face anybody that was at the panel. I don’t want to
answer questions.”
    “We can do that.”
    “I’d like to change though, and maybe
go someplace casual. How about some Chicago style pizza?”
    “Sounds perfect, babe. I’ll change
and then we’ll go to your room for you.” Remy’s big hand gently cupped her jaw
and he kissed her.
    She moved closer against his body,
responding to his touch. He dropped his forehead