A Player for A Princess: Dirty Players Duet #2 Read Free Page A

ridiculous cave man.
    Lingering in the shadows, I watch her sit on the tall barstool at the table. She crosses her legs, and I allow my eyes to glide down them to the black heels she’s wearing. Zelda Wilder isn’t tall, but she makes up for it by wearing shoes that accentuate her gorgeous legs.
    I’m furious and relieved, and as much as I have to keep this part of me on a leash, I want those luscious legs wrapped around my waist. She won’t run away from me again.
    Seth strolls up to her other side, and my anger is back. I’ve researched this guy since learning how much influence he has over my girl, and I’ve learned several things—for starters, he is not a Kentucky colonel.
    He’s a con artist from Kansas. He’s been arrested a few times for petty crime, nothing major. Still, I can tell from his track record he’s smart. The only thing keeping him from real jail time is his brain. He’s a tricky bastard with no clear motivation, which makes him dangerous. He’s helping Zelda in order to get something in return. But what?
    Commotion at the table draws me from my reflection, and I see Logan pulling back. He does a little nod and walks away from her. We agreed to verify and walk away, hang around outside then follow them to wherever they’re hiding.
    It’s what we agreed to do, but I can’t stay away from her. As if pulled by invisible chains, I take the short flight of steps down to the main floor. I cross the room to where she sits, her back to me as she faces the wheel.
    I want to touch her, inhale her sweet scent. I want to hear her voice. I want her to know I’m here and come to me. I want her to say she’s sorry for all of it.
    At the very moment I reach her, she steps back and makes a comment about leaving. I look at her stack of chips on the table, and while I don’t know what they’re doing, I know it’s something illegal. No one wins that much at roulette.
    “You shouldn’t break a winning streak,” I say near her dark head.
    Her entire body tenses as if I’ve shocked her, and she spins around. Crystal-blue eyes lock on mine, and my chest squeezes. Everything between us floods my brain. She can see it in my eyes. I can see it in hers, until she blinks away, pulling closer to Seth as if for protection.
    No, beautiful. I’m the one who protects you . I step into the gap left by Logan, closer to my girl. She’s cowering like a puppy who knows she’s done wrong. I’ll deal with her, but I won’t have her turning to a snake to escape me.
    “Have we met?” I say softly, letting my warmth pass over her bare shoulder. Her little shiver makes me smile. “You seem familiar.” Very familiar.
    She twists her hands, not looking at me, and that asshole Seth gives her some order about staying. I want to pop him in the mouth. Instead I watch Zelda, waiting to see what she’ll do.
    I know my Zee, and she’s strong. She’s smart as a whip, and she’s loyal. What will she do now that she’s cornered? I almost laugh as the answer springs to the front of my mind—she’ll slide open a window, jump into the ocean, and swim away.
    And I’ll swim right after her.
    “No more bets!” The dealer passes his hand over the table.
    Her internal struggle is plain on her face, from the tiny line piercing her forehead to the way her blue eyes dart around the grid like little birds. She’s flustered by my presence, and I love that I throw her off balance. I love that as strong as she is and as much as I’ve given her, I still have the upper hand.
    She leans down as if to adjust her shoe, and the roulette ball wobbles. My eyes dart to the table, and I watch as the silver ball shimmies and then drops straight into red seven. So that’s their game.
    It’s a clever scam, and one our security has dealt with before in Monagasco. Ours was a three-person job—one man placed the bets, a second distracted the dealer, and the third activated a radio transmitter from the next table over. It was actually a woman with