Sin City Temptation (Kimani Hotties), page 5
Trinity laid her hand on his arm and an electric charge shot through him, making him want to pull her to him and never let go.
She quickly snatched her hand away. “Gunner, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I have no right to judge you on how you spend your money.”
He shrugged. “No harm done. What I have might not be necessary, but it’s what I wanted. And sweetheart, I always get what I want.”
Chapter 5
Gunner tossed and turned. Despite his fatigue he couldn’t sleep, couldn’t get comfortable and he knew why. Trinity. He’d left her three hours ago to get settled in and familiar with his home. From the moment he spotted her at the airport, his body responded and the tightness in his groin hadn’t let up. He would admit that he had been with his share of women, but he could honestly say that none affected him the way she did. There was something about her. He’d felt it years ago and now the web of attraction was stronger than ever.
He jumped when a loud crash came from downstairs. What the... He leaped off the bed and hurried into his jeans, not bothering with his briefs or a shirt. His overactive imagination took him on a wild ride of trying to determine what had fallen, hoping Trinity was okay. He rushed out of the room and down the stairs, taking them two at a time.
“Stop!” Trinity stood and dropped the broom.
“What the hell happened?” He froze on the step leading down to the foyer, where Trinity was standing over a pile of broken glass. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. I wanted you to stop because when I knocked over your vase, glass flew all over the place. I didn’t want you to step on any since you don’t have on a shirt.” She shook her head. “I mean since you don’t have on any shoes,” she said, flustered. She quickly turned from him and went back to sweeping up the glass near the large round table in the massive entryway. “I don’t understand. You have very little furniture down here, yet you have a table in the middle of the foyer with what was an exquisite vase.” She bent down and scooped up some of the glass. “And please don’t tell me it was a family heirloom or something.” She glanced at him, and must have seen the expression on his face. “Oh, no,” she groaned. She rocked on her heels and almost tipped back, but caught herself.
“Actually my mother sent it to me. She was doing missionary work in Africa and one of the natives gave it to her for taking such good care of her sick daughter.”
“I am so sorry,” she groaned again. “I was walking backwards, sizing up the door and the large windows on each side of it. Then I bumped into the table.”
“Don’t worry about... Ah, damn, Trinity. You’re bleeding,” he said, seeing blood trickling down her hand. “Stay right there.” He darted back up the stairs and slipped into his boots. He jogged down the hall and grabbed the first-aid kit that he kept in the guest bathroom. Hurrying back down the stairs, he ignored the crunching glass beneath his feet and guided Trinity away from the mess and into a smaller bathroom.
“You must’ve fallen back on some glass.” He held her hand under the lukewarm water, trying to determine the source of the blood. He never realized just how small the bathroom was until he had to be in there with another person. And not just any other person—but with Trinity. Being in such close quarters was not a good idea. He fought his overwhelming need to rub his body against hers and determine if she felt as soft as she looked. He almost laughed out loud at the thought. The woman was a security specialist and probably knew several ways to kill a man without even using a weapon. Getting his freak on against her perfectly round butt was a sure way to get pummeled.
“There’s a sliver of glass in your hand.” He grabbed the tweezers from the first-aid kit and moved her hand closer to the light.
“You do know I can do this my—” Her hand jerked when he dug into her skin to get a grip on the glass. Gunner knew it had to hurt, but she didn’t say anything and he kept going. Any other woman would have been crying or squirming around, but not Trinity.
“I think that’s it,” he finally announced after removing a couple of small pieces, but he double-checked the side of her hand before drying her off.
“Thank you,” Trinity said just above a whisper. Gunner had never seen her vulnerable, but the softness in her voice and the shyness he was currently witnessing let him know that there was definitely another side to this independent woman.
As he wrapped her hand, the overwhelming desire to kiss her was getting the best of him. He knew she planned to keep their time together professional, but at this rate, it would be impossible.
He finished with the bandage and then cleaned around the sink. When he followed her out of the tight space, she went back to sweeping up the glass.
“Leave it. I’ll take care of it.”
“Gunner, that’s not necessary. I made this mess. The least I can do is clean it up.”
Without saying anything, he took the broom and dustpan away from her. He could tell her hand was bothering her by the way she flinched periodically, but she had yet to complain about pain.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
A small smile tilted her lips. “Why? It’s not like you’re going to prepare me a meal. There’s not a lick of food in that huge gourmet kitchen of yours.”
Gunner laughed and dumped the shards of glass into the trash. “Well, I guess you’ve probably figured out that the kitchen is just for show.”
“And it doesn’t look like you eat in there, either. I have never seen a refrigerator so empty.”
“I keep saying I’m going to learn to cook, but with so many wonderful restaurants in Vegas...” He shrugged. “I figure, why bother?”
“So why did you need a house with such a massive kitchen?”
Gunner followed her gaze, taking in the ultra-large refrigerator, the Viking rangetop, as well as the double-stacked ovens. “Well, you already know why I purchased the house. The kitchen was a bonus.”
She shook her head and he didn’t miss the smile forming on her lips. “If I were hungry, what did you have in mind?”
“Mexican. I know a great Mexican restaurant where the food is unbelievable. We can either go there or I can have something delivered.” He put away the broom and dustpan and rinsed his hands in the kitchen sink.
“Maybe we can eat here,” she said. “I want to talk about your home security system and propose some changes.”
Gunner studied her for a minute. “Do you need me to take you to the emergency room, have them look at your hand? I can tell it’s hurting.”
She shook her head. “It’ll be okay. Just stinging a little bit, but it’s not that serious.”
* * *
An hour later, they sat at the kitchen table eating everything from chicken enchiladas to Mexican shrimp cocktail. Trinity couldn’t believe how much she had eaten and it didn’t help that Gunner had a huge appetite and had ordered at least seven different dishes. She had to admit, it was the best Mexican food she’d ever eaten, and that was saying a lot, considering she lived in LA.
“I was surprised to hear that you had left the police force. I remember when you used to say that you were going to be LA’s first African-American female chief of police. What happened?”
Trinity moved white rice around on her plate with her fork. “I can’t believe you remember that. It seems like a lifetime ago that I said that.”
“And it sounded like you were on your way. So what happened?”
Trinity told him how she had been passed over for two different positions. The second time, her supervisor told her that she was too young and too cute to be a lieutenant.
“He’d made comments like that in the past, but this time I couldn’t let it go. I really wanted the position and knew it would get me that much closer to the chief’s job. I sued the LAPD because I didn’t want the same thing to happen to any other women looking to advance her career.” Her heart ached as she thought about how she had to leave a job she actually enjoyed. “It was a stressful process, but in the end, I’m glad I went through with it.”
“How soon after you won the lawsuit did you open your agency?”
Trinity couldn’t remember the last time a man showed true interest in what she did. Most men stayed clear of her, intimidated by her skills as a former SWAT officer. And then there were others who seemed to pick a fight just to see her reaction and to see if she would use some of her defense moves on them.
“I’d been thinking about the agency off and on for years. Celebrities and other wealthy people were often looking to cops who were interested in moonlighting on the side to act as security. After I was approached a couple of times, asking if I’d be interested in providing security for an event or for an individual or group, I knew there was a need.” She went to the refrigerator for another bottle of water and grabbed an extra one just in case Gunner wanted another. “So months after I won the lawsuit, I quit my job and opened LEPA.”
“That’s impressive. I hate that you had to go through all of that crap with the LAPD, but it sounds like going through with the lawsuit might’ve been a blessing in disguise.”
Trinity nodded. It had been, in more ways than one. Not only was she her own boss now, but had it not been for her personal security agency, she might not have ever come in contact with Gunner again. Granted, she still didn’t approve of his line of work, but she had to admit that the time she’d spent with him so far was pretty nice.
“Okay, enough about me. Tell me what to expect at the tournament this evening.” She set her plate and some of the food containers off to the side. She knew what time they were leaving and that he had a driver that would take them to the casino. Yet outside of that, she didn’t have a clue what it was like at a poker tournament.
“Tonight’s tournament is at Caesars Palace and will be held in one of their card rooms.” He pushed his plate out of the way and crossed his arms on top of the table. Trinity zoned in on his thick forearms, again admiring his perfect physique. How was it that someone who had an appetite as big as his and played poker all day and night could look as though he spent twenty-four hours a day in a gym?
“I assume I’ll be able to be in the same room as you. Or are there rules about spectators?”
He shook his head. “Each tournament is set up differently. Tonight, the poker tables will be roped off, but you’ll be able to hang out behind the ropes. Now keep in mind there might not be chairs, so that means possibly standing for three to five hours. And I’ve noticed you’re a fan of high heels.” He gestured toward her feet.
Trinity glanced at her navy J. Reneé sandals. “You’re right, I love heels, and I rarely wear flats. My shoes are usually pretty comfortable, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“This tournament is on a smaller scale than some of those coming up. With this one, you’ll get a feel of what to expect over the next couple of months.”
Gunner shared the evening’s itinerary and Trinity couldn’t believe she was going to finally see what all the poker hype was about. Casinos typically weren’t among her hangouts, so this evening was going to be interesting, if nothing else.
“There’s just one thing that we haven’t really talked about in detail.”
“And what’s that?”
“I don’t want anyone to know that you’re my bodyguard.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll stay close without being too obvious and I’ll be dressed like everyone else. They’ll just think I’m one of your friends.”
“Yeah, about that.” His intense dark eyes met hers. “Going forward, I want people we come in contact with to think that you’re more than a friend. If anyone asks, tell them that you’re my woman.”
Chapter 6
Trinity sat at a small table with two other onlookers near where Gunner was playing. Less than six feet away from him, she had an excellent view of his table. She wasn’t sure whom he had talked to in order to get her a prime spot and a table, but it was clear that he had a lot of pull in the circuit.
Tell them that you’re my woman. Gunner’s words came back to her. She at first balked at the idea, thinking there was no way she’d pretend to be his girlfriend. Once he explained that he would prefer people to not know that he had a bodyguard, she gave in to the request. She could understand how a macho guy like Gunner felt, needing to hire someone to watch his back.
From the moment the driver picked them up from the house, Gunner had fallen into the role of doting boyfriend. Part of her felt like the girl who got to date the captain of the football team. He’d been so attentive, making her feel special, a little giddy even. But the other part of her, the businesswoman part of her, reminded herself that this was an assignment and Gunner was her client. It would be really easy to fall for his good looks and his charm. Yet she had no intention of being among the long line of broken hearts that Gunner left behind. She’d pretend to be his girlfriend, but as far as she was concerned, she was only his bodyguard.
Trinity glanced back at Gunner’s table. Slouched in his seat, which seemed to be his standard way of sitting, wearing that same ratty baseball cap pulled low over his eyes, it was clear that he took the game seriously. This whole setup with him seemed so surreal. Never in a million years would she have imagined herself being this up close and personal with Gunner Brooks, and hired to protect him.
Another person at the table where Gunner played stood to leave. Light bounced off the gold, shiny object that looked like a key chain he’d been twirling between his fingers throughout the game. Trinity assumed it was some type of good-luck charm. She didn’t miss how each of the players seemed to have some type of ritual or idiosyncrasy about themselves that stood out. For Gunner, it was the way he wore his cap low over his eyes. Except for when he placed a bet, his moves were barely perceptible and it amazed her how he could sit so still for long periods of time.
Gunner’s chip stack continued to grow. There were only three other people besides him remaining at his table. Trinity couldn’t help but smile. He seemed so unassuming, so unlike she had imagined. When she researched him, it became clear that he was well respected amongst other players. She hadn’t found any skeletons—no bad press, no girlfriend drama, not even a speeding ticket. With his squeaky-clean dossier, Gunner could be the poster boy for professional gambling. She was still anti-gambling, but was actually enjoying watching him play. Yet she wouldn’t admit it to him or anyone else. It seemed this assignment would be easier than she expected.
A half an hour later, a commotion at the entrance closest to Trinity caught her attention. She wasn’t sure what was going on, but when she saw several security people run past the door, she decided to check things out. One quick glance at Gunner showed her he was focused on the cards and she decided that he would be fine for a few minutes.
By the time she made it into the hallway, a small crowd of people had gathered at the end of the hall near the restrooms. It appeared that whatever had happened was over, but she still moved in closer to see what the upheaval was about.
“When I walked in, he was sprawled out on the floor, blood seeping from a gash on the back of his head,” a man told a police officer, who was quickly taking notes. “There was no one else in the bathroom.”
At that moment, the victim was wheeled out of the restroom by the EMTs, a bandage wrapped bandana-style around his head. Whatever had happened, Trinity was glad to see that the man was alive—banged up, but alive.
“Hey, that’s Jeff Conrad!” a bystander yelled out. “Aw, man, he doesn’t look too good. He’s probably going to miss the next round.”
“That’s messed up,” the man standing near him said. “They were talking about him walking away with the PPO championship this year.”
Trinity stood near the scene for a few minutes longer. Glancing around, she wasn’t looking for anything in particular, but she noticed there were a number of cameras in the area. They would have picked up something. The crowd slowly thinned out and she moved closer to the restrooms. She had hoped to get a better idea of what happened to that Conrad guy, but based on the little that she’d overheard from the cops, they didn’t really have anything. Gunner’s concerns might have merit, but she’d be damned if anything happened to him on her watch.
Trinity turned to leave the area when she noticed something green and sparkly near the men’s bathroom door. She picked it up and moved it around in the center of her palm. The size of a thumbtack, the expensive-looking stone, possibly a real emerald, seemed familiar. I’ve seen this before, she thought. Her memory was pretty good, but for the life of her she couldn’t determine whether she’d seen it on someone or on an object.
She shrugged and dropped the stone into the side pocket of her handbag. “I’m sure it’ll come to me.”
* * *
Gunner glanced around, wondering where Trinity had disappeared to. Though his chip count was increasing and he was in the lead at his table, his concentration wasn’t what it should be. He could blame it on exhaustion from participating in several tournaments in the last couple of days, but he knew better. It was Trinity. Never had he invited a woman to a tournament and now he remembered why—too distracting. He had glanced at her a few times; mostly, she was looking around the room. He wondered what she thought. It had been clear when he met with her in LA that she wasn’t a fan of gambling, or maybe she wasn’t a fan of him. He still wasn’t sure.
Just as he was about to place his bet, he saw her reenter the card room. Without moving his head, so as not to bring attention to himself, his gaze followed her smooth glide across the room. Wearing a black blouse with a plunging neckline and black skintight pants wrapped around her voluptuous curves, she drew the attention of every man she passed, and Gunner could barely contain his annoyance. He was definitely going to have to talk to her about her sexy attire.
