I was running on vapors, and I had to work tonight. Ugh! Was there no end to this day?
“I forgot. I’ll throw on my uniform.”
“Hurry up! I’m already working on the paperwork and we have a line. Lenny must have found a drink special somewhere.”
I ran up the stairs and searched the hallway for my uniform. I could hear Muffin rustling around inside the apartment. I found my uniform laying on my dresser in the hallway so I didn’t have to go inside. I stripped off my clothes and threw them on the couch next to Gus. He twitched. I was hoping it wasn’t from foul body odor I might have worked up from my walk. I didn’t have time to worry about it—and drunk people don’t notice smells. I wiggled into my white faux-leather uniform and go-go boots and ran back downstairs.
I slid into the chapel lobby and snatched the paperwork from Frankie. He picked up his quiver and arrows and leaped to his place at the altar. The waiting couples applauded. Vivian and Bernie were ready in their seats as the witnesses.
I surveyed paperwork for the first couple. I could barely make out their names.
“Is there a Peeper Pants or Weasel Wood here?”
A couple waved their hands. I helped them into a standing position and ushered them to the aisle, facing the proper way. They were on their own from there. I switched on the music. A minstrel strummed his stringed instrument. It reminded me of a renaissance fair, light and playful.
The couple made their way to the altar. I stayed to make sure they arrived still standing.
“Can I play with your arrow?” Peeper Pants asked Robin Hood.
Robin Hood studied the man. “You sure you want to ask a man that question when you’re marrying a woman?”
Peeper Pants pondered for a moment and shrugged. Frankie smirked and began the ceremony. I ducked back into the lobby to assemble it into some sort of order.
I hurriedly ushered couples in and out of the chapel for two hours until we were nearly caught up. That must have been one hell of a drink special.
I heard the front door open and glanced up to see a man enter. He was in his late twenties and by himself. He was about five eleven, give or take an inch, and was completely and utterly breathtaking. I immediately studied his eyes. Breathtakingly gorgeous men that were in my hemisphere had one thing in common: the family surname of Miller. I’m sure Caleb’s a cousin.
“I’m looking for Nadia,” he said with a rich, velvety voice.
“You found her,” I said, guarding my suspicion of him. He was a Miller, and I had a palpitating vibe that he was Ian, Greyson’s and David’s brother. I didn’t know why he was in the chapel asking for me.
He addressed me with his damn steel-gray eyes. “You’re Nadia?”
“Yes. Why?”
“I was asked to give this to you,” he said, setting my phone on the counter.
“You were able to see Greyson?” I asked with an arched brow.
He shook his head. “No. That Fiona woman has some serious control issues. Remy asked me to deliver it.”
I nodded, understanding the situation fully. “Thank you.”
He smiled, lighting up his mischievous eyes. “So, you work here?”
“Obviously,” I said bluntly. Remembering he wasn’t the enemy, just the enemy’s brother, I lightened my tone. “I work here to help pay bills. I normally play poker.”
“That’s how you met Greyson and Remy?”
“Yes, and then David.”
“You knew David?”
“I still know him. He’s made a comeback.”
Ian stared at me with disbelief. “Since when?”
“If you want to get technical, he officially came back tonight. He’s with Mya at home right now. Don’t you dare disturb them.”
“I won’t.” He shook his head, having a hard time grasping that his long-lost brother was found and safe at home. “I’m stunned.”
I smiled and called the next couple to the altar. He waited for me until I finished assisting them.
“How long have you known him?” he asked when I returned.
“Only a few weeks.”
His eyes rounded. “I think I need the whole story. Do you mind if I wait here? I’ll buy you a drink after work and we can talk.”
“Yes, that’s fine,” I said. All I wanted to do was to crash on the couch and sleep, but Ian needed to hear the story of his brother. I couldn’t leave him in wonder. “It’s been an exhaustingly long day, so I don’t want to stay out too late.”
“I’ll take whatever time you can give me,” he said with a smile that reminded me too much of Greyson.
“I want to go too,” Frankie said behind me, propping up a man who stumbled in the aisle. “We can close up shop early. The couples were storming in here earlier, but now they’re only trickling in.”
“Frankie knows David too,” I explained to Ian. “It’s easier if you let Frankie come along than to try to tell him no.”
“Isn’t that the truth! You should listen to your own advice sometimes and stop telling me no.”
“I’d welcome the extra company,” Ian said.
I nodded. Closing early would mean going to bed early. I couldn’t complain.
I helped the next couple with their paperwork and showed them to the aisle where I flipped on the music and watched to make sure they made it down to the alter. I turned back around to find Ian watching me.
“What?” I asked him, not liking his gray eyes on me or anywhere near me. It only brought back flashbacks, and I didn’t want them to haunt me.
“I’m curious about you. I’m trying to figure out how you know both of my brothers and have become such a permanent fixture in their lives in such a short period of time . . . and one brother was missing at the time too.”
“Am I that wretched of a person to make it such a stretch of your imagination? I know I’m must look a mess, but, like I said, it’s been a long day.”
“Not at all. I already like you; now I’m trying to figure you out.”
“There’s not too much to figure out, and I’m not a permanent fixture. I’ve already been banned from Greyson’s casino.”
“Don’t worry; I’ve been banned from his casinos before.” He smiled a full-on Miller smile that was devastatingly handsome. His supple lips framed his straight white teeth. Dark carefree hair hung near his gray eyes and thick lashes.
I turned to help a couple exiting the chapel.
Frankie leaped to the door and called it quits for the night. There was no one left to marry.
“I need a drink,” he said. “Let’s go find the bar with the drink specials that are knocking everyone on their asses.”
“Just make it quick. I already feel like I’m drunk from sleep deprivation.”
“You didn’t have a bad day like I did. Muffin destroyed my car, and the police didn’t even nab her yet. Is she in your apartment?”
“Yes, but she promises to divorce you and leave the apartment tomorrow.”
“Thank the Lord! What about my reward?”
“She chose to leave of her own free will. I think you should let her go.”
“What about my yacht?”
“You can rent one for the day with the gig money you owe me.”
Frankie’s eyes lit up. “Oh, that’s much better. Then I don’t have to haul it around. It would take up the entire chapel parking lot if I had to store it.”
“Are you going to change?” I asked him.
“Heck no! Do you see how fabulous my legs look in these tights?”
Ian’s lips twitched, fighting a smile. “Come on, Robin Hood. I’ll buy you a drink.”
Frankie took Ian’s arm and led him out the door. “So, you’re a Miller, huh? Are you rich too? You’ve got them fine GQ looks!”
I shook my head and followed them out the door, locking it on my way out. Hopefully this night would end soon.
My eyes cracked open to a dark room. A splash of sun snuck between the thick drapes. I unwrapped myself from the covers and prop
ped myself up. My head was cloudy from the drink last night. I remembered I only had one drink, but it was large and fruity and went down way too fast. Being hungry and tired added to the cocktail’s potent fuel.
I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and glanced around the room. It was foreign to me but looked like a hotel room . . . maybe it was familiar.
I slipped out from the bed and threw open the curtains. The sudden light blinded me. I blinked as my eyes adjusted. I wanted to close them again. Memories from the night before flooded to me. Memories that couldn’t possibly be true. It must have been a dream. Surely I wouldn’t . . . no, I couldn’t have. Did I?
I steeled myself and turned back to the room. My eyes found the bed, and I gaped in stunned horror at Ian lying there.
Even asleep he could capture attention. He was Sleeping Beauty in male form. His bare chest was toned and tanned from his extensive traveling adventures. I didn’t want to investigate to see what he was or wasn’t wearing under the covers. Oh God, did I sleep with him?
The image of four angry faces lashed out at me. Greyson, David, Caleb, and Remy would have my head for this. But surely I didn’t sleep with him. It’s all a misunderstanding. I must have been drunk with nowhere to sleep because Muffin had my bed. Ian must have been helpful and offered to share his room. Yes, that must be it. I nodded vigorously to make it true.
I pried my eyes away from Ian’s form to scan the room. They cast upon a small table near the bed. I tiptoed to the table. My heart sank to the plush carpeting as I spied a souvenir photo of Ian, Robin Hood, and me at the altar, making silly faces at the lopsided camera. My fingers snatched the souvenir certificate of marriage sitting next to the picture. One glance at the signatures of Peeper Pants and Weasel Wood as the witnesses had my fingers curling around the paper. As I watched the paper crumple violently in my hands, my eyes snapped to my ring finger. A pink plastic vending-machine ring encircled it. It all pointed to the same horribly distressing fact: I married Ian . . . and I was in Greyson’s casino.
I shook my head. No, this can’t be happening! Ian wouldn’t marry a complete stranger and neither would I. And Frankie wouldn’t marry me to Ian knowing I still had feelings for Greyson. There had to be a mistake. This was all a joke and nothing happened. It’s just a spoof. I nodded my head. Yes, that’s what happened. It’s the only explanation.
Ian stirred on the bed and blinked his eyes open. His sleepy eyes registered me and a dreamy, seductive smile curled on his lips. “Good morning, my sweet wife.”
I’m going to kill Frankie!
Find out what happens next in Nadia Wolf’s exciting novel
Cashing Out
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Thank you for reading High Stakes!
As an independent writer, I truly appreciate your support. If you enjoyed this book, please tell your friends and family about the Nadia Wolf series. Word of mouth is mightier than any form of promotion or publicity that I can do myself. Thank you!
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Have you read Deadly Dancing yet? Follow Mars Cannon as she runs for her life. And not just from the serial killer determined to hunt her down, but also from gorgeous Evan West and a delicious male exotic dancer who is a mystery all by himself. Loveable, humorous characters await you in this action-packed book.
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www.nicolettepierce.com
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Books by Nicolette Pierce
Mars Cannon Novels
Deadly Dancing
Predator Patrol
Security Squad
Biker Brigade
Nadia Wolf Novels
The Big Blind
High Stakes
Cashing Out
Squeeze Play
Nadia Wolf Character Novels
The Last Tailored Suit
My Traitor
High Stakes Page 22
