All In by Kate Willoughby Read Free Book Online

stole another. “Genuine Mariah kisses.”
    “I didn’t know my kisses were that valuable.”
    “Hell yes! In fact, they should be traded on the stock exchange.”
    Mariah laughed, feeling happier than she had a right to be.
    “I think seven kisses an hour oughta do it,” he said, his brown eyes warm and playful. “And I want a little payment in advance.”
    Mariah laughed again as he pulled her close and collected half a day’s worth.

Chapter Six
     
    “What do you think of this?” Tucker asked Mariah. He gestured toward a fazzoletto vase that looked as if someone had captured tropical fish inside it.
    They were in a specialty shop in the Grand Canal Mall attached to the hotel. Inside was an exquisite collection of Venetian glass and collectibles—everything from key chains to glass jewelry to hand-blown vases and figurines. Once she got a gander at some of the price tags, Mariah walked with her purse tucked under her arm so she didn’t inadvertently knock something over.
    “Fazzoletto vases like this one are shaped by holding the glass upside down and gently folding in, like the handkerchiefs they’re named after,” said the shop girl.
    “It’s gorgeous,” Mariah said. “If Tony’s the type of guy who gives flowers, then this is a great gift.”
    “Oh yeah,” Tucker said with a chuckle. “When they fight, Rhonda’ll be getting apology flowers. The bigger the fight, the bigger the bouquet.”
    “Tony sounds like a smart guy,” Mariah commented.
    Tucker leaned against the display case and crossed his arms. “Yep. That’s because everything he knows about women, I taught him.”
    “Oh brother,” Mariah said, rolling her eyes. “It’s a wonder you can walk upright with such a big head.”
    Tucker joined in her laughter as two young women walked past, glancing at him oddly.
    “Actually,” he said, “I can’t take credit for the apology flowers idea. That’s one of Bill’s Marriage Mandates.”
    “Who’s Bill?” Mariah said, looking longingly at a millefiori silver pendant on display. With so many colors in it, she could wear it with practically anything. Too bad she didn’t have a spare seventy-five bucks.
    “Tony’s dad. The DeLucas are the happiest couple I’ve ever seen. So whenever Bill drops these pieces of advice, I listen.” Tucker told the shop girl, “I’d like this wrapped for a wedding, please.”
    When he pulled out his money to pay, Mariah bit back a gasp.
    “Holy moly, do you always walk around with that much cash?” she asked him as he peeled four hundreds off an obscenely fat wad and handed them to the girl.
    “In Vegas, yeah. That way I can be prepared if I see a game I want to join.”
    “And what’s that?” she asked, pointing at a playing card tucked in with the cash.
    “This?” He flipped the worn card so she could see it was a king of clubs. “This filled in a royal flush for me three years ago at a big tournament in Commerce. The only one I’ve ever gotten. I keep it for the memories and the luck,” he said, fingering a torn corner edge.
    “Did you win that tournament?”
    Tucker didn’t get a chance to answer, because the girls were back. One was a blonde with big hair and enough eye makeup to paint one of the frescoes in the hotel lobby. The other wore a formfitting top that ended about six inches above a navel pierced with a thick rod of silver. They brought with them an oppressive nebula of perfume that made Mariah think of opium dens and eunuchs with scimitars.
    “Excuse me,” one of them said with a high-pitched giggle. “Aren’t you that poker player? Mr. Freeze?”
    Tucker rubbed his nose and tucked his hands in his pockets. “Yeah, that’s me.”
    “See? I told you,” the blonde said to her friend. Then she turned back to Tucker. “I’m Lindsay. I saw you win that thing in L.A. What was that? Like a million dollars?”
    “Something like that,” Tucker replied offhandedly.
    As the cashier returned with the vase, beautifully