Let it Ride (Casino Nights #1) Read Online Free

to flag down our server and get us some drinks.”
    He felt Francesca glance his way.
She leaned closer to him. “Marie’s a very nice lady. She plays the part of a
vapid, rich girl but she is damn smart, so don’t let her fool you.”
    Marie introduced the men sitting at
the table.
    The server arrived and their orders
were placed.
    He saw Francesca discretely pass the
server two bills.
    Remy rested his palm lightly on
Francesca’s elbow to get her attention. “That was a very smooth handoff. Should
I gather that you’ve done this many times?”
    She laughed. “Caught that, did you?
I worked in one of our bars when I was old enough over college breaks. I know
how difficult it can be keeping track of what goes on which tab. I just made
her night a little easier.”
    “Plus, this table will get good
service as long as you stay nearby.” He took a deep breath. She smelled really
good—spicy and warm.
    “I always try to help the server.
They have a difficult job and no matter what, they’re always wrong.”
    “Did you have to work in other areas
of your casinos?” He wanted to hear about her life. He’d read about her
childhood and the car bomb that killed her father and injured both her and
Jimmy O’Haire . It was part of his job to review the background research
on anyone applying to own a casino in Indiana. He knew that Francesca was
adopted by the O’Haires and did very well in school.
She’d graduated early from high school and had gone to straight to college and
then graduate school. She’d been married briefly to an investment banker.
Beyond that, there was very little gossip about Jimmy’s heir apparent.
    “Jimmy had all of his kids start
working as soon as they were old enough to get badged. Because of the family’s
security concerns, I couldn’t do the typical teenager work like babysitting,
but I did wash the cars of the managers at The Red Rose. Later I waitressed,
worked on the floor as an attendant, manned the front desk at the hotel, and I
spent a year with the security department and another in surveillance. Jimmy
wanted me to understand the business from the employee’s point of view.”
    He liked that she sounded proud of
her work, and not resentful that she’d been forced to do it. “So I can expect
that if our server gets behind, you can take care of me?”
    He saw the heat in her eyes before
she tossed her brown hair over her shoulder. “I’m sure I can give
satisfaction.” She flashed a sexy grin.
    He needed to adjust his suddenly
rock hard cock. Francesca was clearly not afraid of a little flirtation. Could
she be as interested in him as he was in her?
    The server returned with the drinks
and the others thanked Francesca.
    The guy seated to his right, Scott,
recognized Remy’s name and asked about his panel. Marie moved to the space
beside Francesca.
    He enjoyed talking to the men, but
it was far more interesting to watch Francesca. She was relaxed and obviously
considered Marie a friend.
    As he finished his beer, a woman
approached the table. He saw Francesca look up and her body tense. His
protective instinct flared.
    He moved his chair a little closer
to Francesca’s.
    “I just knew that I would find you
in the bar,” the model-like interloper announced. “Just like your daddy, you
know all the real deals happen over a table, or in his world, under the table.”
She moved closer to Francesca and flashed a superior grin.
    Francesca’s body went rigid. Her
voice carried an icy tone. “Hello, Carmen. I didn’t realize that you’d be
here.”  
    Marie turned to the woman and stared
at her for a few beats. “Carmen, I read somewhere that Benjamin got the
business in the divorce settlement.” She turned her back on the woman,
dismissing her.
    The blonde didn’t bat an eyelash at
the snub. “You’re mistaken. The judge gave Ben seventy per cent of the
business. That still leaves me as an owner, so I thought I should come to
Chi-town to catch up with