Rough and Tumble by CRYSTAL GREEN Read Free Book Online Page B

the water. For a second, Sofia had believed the bathing suit would come all the way off.
    Then Molly had paused at the shoreline, as if her mind had caught up with her impulses, and she’d hightailed it back to them.
    â€œFooled the fools!” she’d said, putting her top back on in the most regal way possible. “You didn’t think I’d really go through with it.”
    Yet Sofia had known better. Molly had a wild streak
this
wide in her, but she never could let it go full force. She flirted with it, sure. She tested the waters of crazy. But she’d never gone all the way, so when she’d engaged with the biker at the bar today, Sofia had
almost
expected something to happen. Molly had to bust out at some point, and after the stressful month she’d had at the job . . .
    But it hadn’t happened today. Just like at the beach, she’d turned and run. Sofia was actually relieved Molly’s mojo moment hadn’t been with a biker, though. Jeez, just imagine. Besides, there’d be ample opportunity in Vegas with a more appropriate guy—an architect who drove a sports car or something.
    The biker dude took a glance around the room, as if he was looking for something . . . or someone. Molly? Did he even seem a little disappointed at her not being here?
    But then he jerked his chin toward Hooper. “Room for one more?”
    Hooper smiled and pointed toward a chair in the corner. The biker dragged it over and set it next to the dealer.
    What was it about this guy that made Sofia keep looking? For one thing, she’d never pictured a biker who came off like he did. They were supposed to be men with craggy faces and frizzy ponytails. This guy was too cute to be a biker. If you shaved off his stubble, he might even have the face of the bad boy in high school who sat in the back of the classroom and left you a note one day to meet him under the bleachers. And you’d darned well do it.
    But he had a very adult swagger, with a lean-and-mean way of walking that exuded cockiness and stealth at the same time. He was all attitude, and he wore it like beaten leather.
    Before slipping into the chair, he reached into his back pockets and pulled out a phone and a pack of cigarettes, tossing them on the table.
    No one had said a word yet. They were subtly exchanging glances, as if their twee vacation poker game had suddenly gotten serious.
    Sofia checked in with Arden, angling her head toward the bar door.
Time to dust out of here?
    Arden gave her a glance.
Not intimidated, babe
.
    Have it your way
.
    After the players anted up, then received their cards, Arden settled in, a stoic expression on her face. Sofia was impressed with how she’d suddenly become the frostiest player at the table.
    Except for the biker. He lost the first few hands to Rhonda and then her husband, but he didn’t fret. Arden didn’t, either, and she ended up winning the next two.
    Okay. She seemed sober and able-minded. That was good.
    After twenty minutes of Arden holding her own, Sofia decided that her girl could
play
. She had a pile of chips in front of her, second only to Rhonda’s.
    No worries here.
    A text from Molly came through on Sofia’s phone.
    OMG. Friend set me up for phone interview tomorrow.
    OK if I sit in general store to do research on new firm?
    Sofia almost squeed. This was just what Molly needed, and if she could get this career stuff out of the way before they got to the Strip? Awesome.
    Yes! Research to ur heart’s content. Will let u know when
    we r done here . . .
    This was going to be the best trip ever, and Molly would turn out fine. Sofia just knew it.
    As Molly texted back a smiley, Hooper started clearing the cards from the table, grinning at Molly’s biker. “Looks like your luck deserted you after your ladies skedaddled this afternoon.”
    All right
, Sofia thought.
Maybe things aren’t so great for
everyone
.
    The biker