by Ava Miles
He’d loved her and treated her so patiently, even when she’d done so little for him in return.
How could she convince him she loved him? What did he want more than anything from her?
It came to her like a flash.
She knew what she needed to do.
Chapter 39
Mac’s poker vision was laser–sharp as he won another hand. The other players at the table had grown silent, sensing his mood. He was a shark, eager to rip apart anyone in his way. He played without mercy, deliberately trying to reduce the amount of time he had to sit at the table.
He had things to do, orders to finalize for the move to Arizona.
He didn’t have time for this.
Raking in the chips as he won yet another hand didn’t bring its usual spark of joy. Peggy had taken everything from him, and he’d be damned if he’d let her. She might be winning now, but he was a street fighter. He wouldn’t go down like this.
After he left Dare, he would shuttle back and forth to ensure everything ran smoothly at the hotel. Play in a few tournaments here a year. And hope he never ran into Peggy again. It would be pretty easy if he never went into town.
If he could will himself to win—and he did—he could will himself to erase Peggy from his mind.
Mac looked at the next two cards the dealer handed him. They weren’t the best cards, but he’d play. He could probably bluff his way through every hand now. No one at the table had the balls to challenge him. Two had cut out early. He hadn’t so much as looked at them.
Every now and then he scanned the room, keeping an eye on Peggy’s brother, who was playing three tables away. David McBride wouldn’t last long. He was too vain and compulsive to handle the pressure. Most addicts cracked. He wouldn’t be any different. Still it gave him a jolt to see the man’s determined chin and brown eyes, so like Peggy’s.
He steeled himself against feeling any sympathy for the McBrides today. Tanner wasn’t playing and had only nodded at him. He was standing against the wall, his jaw clenched, his face revealing nothing as he watched his brother lose his chips in record time.
The Feds hadn’t arrived yet, but he didn’t doubt they would. He’d told Abbie to prepare herself, assuring her that their lawyer would take care of the problem. She’d cried and then become enraged, calling Peggy all the names he wouldn’t. When she calmed down, they had agreed to tell Dustin about moving home after today’s event.
Abbie had agreed to tell Rhett with him, saying he needed to know she’d be leaving so he could make other plans. Rhett had said he’d follow them, and then he’d pulled Abbie in for a long hug. She’d leaned on him, which Mac thought was a good sign. Then Mac had found Cince and told him too.
They were a family, after all.
Jill was another matter. He’d outlined his plans for her, but he hadn’t shared the reasons for them. She was too close to Peggy, and even without the full story, she’d gotten emotional on him. Still, he’d held firm against the barrage of questions about him and Peggy.
He wasn’t discussing that with anyone.
Aaron wove toward him through the sea of tables. His presence indicated that the Feds had arrived. Mac had told him to find him immediately. His gut burned with rage. So, she had really done it. A last piece of him died. He’d never trust another woman again.
He signaled to the dealer, who nodded and stood, smoothing his jacket. Time to play a different game with higher stakes. They could charge him with obstruction of justice and a whole slew of other things. They’d probably revel in it. The law hated his kind. If Peggy thought he was just going to confess everything for a plea bargain or hand Dustin’s friend over with open arms, she had another thing coming. He wasn’t a snitch, and he wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. He and his lawyer could stonewall with the best of them. There was no hard evidence.
Mac met Aaron in the corner.
“Deputy McBride is here. She tried to enter the hotel, but the guards stopped her per your orders. She’s demanding entrance. When I told her she’d been banned, she asked if we had a judge’s order.”
“Are the Feds with her?”
“No.”
Mac’s jaw clenched. So she wasn’t going to handle this above–board. The Feds hadn’t gotten here quickly enough to stop her brother from playing, so she’d decided to kick things off herself. What was she planning to do? Arrest him? He ground his teeth to keep the pain in his heart from spreading.
“Clear the front entrance of all guests. I only want your guards out there. Re–route any traffic to the garage. I’ll deal with her, but I’m not going to give her the scene she craves. Tell Bill to meet me downstairs.”
Jesus! A part of him couldn’t believe this was happening.
He headed downstairs with Aaron, taking the steps two at a time. “Clear the lobby too. Offer everyone a free drink in the bar. I don’t want anyone to overhear us.”
“Yes, sir.” Aaron started moving toward the guests, smiling easily, gesturing toward the bar.
Mac headed to the entryway. His doorman hurried to open the door, and Mac stepped into the harsh noonday sun, wishing he had sunglasses. He scanned the drive. Two of his beefiest security men towered over Peggy, hands on their hips. Her finger was thrust in the direction of the hotel, and she was arguing with them.
Taking a moment to compose himself was essential. She wasn’t in uniform, which didn’t make sense. Wasn’t she here as an officer of the law? Instead she was wearing that damn yellow dress with the red dragons from Jill’s closet and low–heel black sandals. The sun picked up the red highlights in her dark hair. Sunglasses rested on her nose.
He strode forward, muscles locked, pushing all emotion away. If she thought seeing her in that dress would make him weak, she was delusional.
She stopped arguing with the guards when she spotted him.
He came forward, his hands on his waist. “Give us a little space,” he said to his guys.
They fell back to the entryway, but knew better than to go inside. Aaron had told them he wanted witnesses to whatever she had planned.
“You need to leave my property right now,” he informed her. “I told you I wouldn’t stop your brother if he showed up, and I haven’t. Tanner’s inside watching him play, but I’m afraid that’s all the McBrides my hotel’s willing to host today—or ever.”
She removed her sunglasses and made a healthy dent in his armor. He had never seen her wear makeup before. But then he noticed her blood–shot, puffy eyes. He swallowed thickly, realizing how much she was hurting. It shouldn’t sway him, but it did.
“If it’s any consolation, your brother won’t last long. He sucks at poker.”
Her mouth lifted, a ghost of a smile. “So did my father. That’s why we never had any money. I don’t know why, but that strikes me as rather funny right now.” Her laughter barked out, slightly hysterical.
His alarm grew. “Are you drunk?”
Her laughter died. “No. I thought about downing something before coming up here, but that would make me like my father. Besides, I’m not here about David.”
Right. Nice cover. He steeled himself. No, she’d say she was here about the bomb threat.
“My lawyer, Bill Perkins, is standing inside those doors.” He pointed to the front of the building. “He’s listening to everything we say.”
She looked up at the cameras positioned discreetly across the entrance. “I see.”
“I know you’re going to do what you have to do, but I won’t have you make a scene at my hotel. You can leave now, or we can see how far you want to escalate things. We can start by making a harassment complaint to the sheriff. If that won’t deter you, I’m prepared to move for a restraining order. It’s your call.”
The pulse in her neck beat like the wings of hummingbird, fast and strong. She opened her purse and dug out her handcuffs. “You can try and make me leave, but I can tell you, I’m just as determined to stay and make you listen.”
He folded his arms a
cross his chest. “So you’re planning to arrest me for obstruction of justice before the Feds get here? What, were they playing golf today?”
Bill came through the doors. Mac held up his finger to stop him from coming forward, wanting to hear her answer. If she actually tried to arrest him, she’d be dead to him.
“Aren’t you playing poker today?” she asked, her voice cracking.
He narrowed his eyes, not understanding what game she was playing.
“I was until you showed up. I left the table and invoked a penalty.”
Her breath shuttered out. “Well, then, you’d better go back. I was planning on standing by your table, watching you play.”
He couldn’t fight it anymore. He met her gaze. Her brown eyes didn’t look…normal. The wariness and mistrust had vanished. The gold ring around her iris radiated…warmth.
“I don’t understand. Why would you watch me play?” He slapped a hand to his forehead. “Oh, I see. You want to make me lose again. Well, Deputy, I think I’ve given you enough of my time. Are you going to arrest me? If not, I’m going back inside.”
He didn’t wait for an answer. Couldn’t bear to hear what it was. He turned and walked away, sweat beading his brow. Bill walked toward him and then gasped. There was a distinctly metallic clink. Mac’s body spun around.
Peggy had handcuffed herself to the brass guard rail by the parking station.
He ran back to her. “What are you doing? ”
“I’m following a friend’s advice. I’m staging a sit–in until you listen to me.”
Flabbergasted didn’t begin to describe what he was feeling. “Stop this!” The hurt started to spread as his walls crumbled again. “Peg, please. You’re only making this worse for yourself. You’re leaving me with very few options. There’s no need for us to go to war against each other.”
The very idea made his gut tremble.
Suddenly Abbie rushed out of the building. Bill grabbed her arm and held her back.
“Please don’t do this, Peggy!” his sister cried out.
Her distress rooted Mac to the spot. “Abbie, go inside! I’m handling it. Bill, take her to Rhett.” His sister fought to release herself from his grip, ripping Mac to shreds.
Peggy waved her free hand. “Abbie, I’m not here about that. I’m just here to talk to Mac. Calm down!”
Mac gave her a sneer. “We’re done. I don’t talk to people who set out to destroy my family.” He turned and started to walk away again.
She lunged for him and caught his jacket with her free arm, jerking her other in the cuffs. Her pained cry halted him in his tracks.
“God! Please stop this, Peg. Can’t you see what you’re doing?”
A tear slid down her face. “Will you please listen to me now, Mac?”
Her tears—and the sound of his name whispered from her lips—rusted his armor. He could feel himself falling even as he tried to shore up his reserves. “What?” he finally demanded. “What is it you want to tell me?” he asked even though he wasn’t sure he could take it.
Her whole face changed, the muscles tensing and narrowing like she was trying to figure out what to say. “I’m sorry! For what I did and for what I said…”
“Jesus!” he replied, her hoarse words cutting his belly wide open. An apology from her had never entered his mind.
“I don’t know if you can ever forgive me.” She exhaled sharply, but kept her gaze pinned on him. “Oh, God, this is harder than I…Mac, I…” The handcuffs clanked against metal as her arms wrenched by her sides. “I love you. ”
Her gut–retching confession silenced him, the pain from his heart obliterating any cogent response.
“I’m sorry!” She pressed her free hand to her face, hiding it from him. “I did everything wrong, and last night I became the worst person on the face of the planet.”
He studied her bent head and agonized body language. Let her tone and words filter in all the way. Something had changed. He could feel it. His armor dropped to the ground as his control crumbled. If she was here to make amends, he couldn’t deny her.
“Maybe not the worst person.”
She lowered her hand. Her tear–dampened eyes made his legs tremble. He’d never imagined her crying, and the sight of it almost brought him to his knees.
“Well, I’m the worst person I’ve ever known, and I hate myself for it. I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say.”
Neither did he. Mac realized the silence was so great he could have heard a pin drop. And everyone was listening to their conversation since he’d added mikes in strategic areas of the hotel in preparation for the Feds’ arrival. Suddenly, he felt exposed.
“Aaron, cut the goddamn security feed!” he barked. “Everybody, get inside.”
Abbie’s fevered gaze held his for a long moment, and then she nodded, signaling her trust in him. Her faith had always helped him move mountains.
He turned to the other woman who held his heart. “Let’s start over. Why don’t we remove these handcuffs?” he suggested, reaching for her wrist, wanting to caress away the red marks where the metal had dug into her skin.
“You aren’t going to throw me off your property?” she whispered, fumbling inside her purse.
He ran his hands through his hair and went with his gut. “You said a few things earlier that need more explanation. Like when you said you love me.”
She dropped the key to the cuffs. Her hand was shaking so hard he decided to help her. He fought against the need to hold her when he freed her. He pocketed the handcuffs in his jacket and studied her again. Her lips were trembling.
He reassessed the situation.
She’d worn the dress and makeup not to weaken him, but to impress him. And since it was so out of character, his heart came back to life and began to beat again.
“You were saying…” he suggested.
She wiped her runny nose. “Right. I’m a fool and a failure—all around. I’m a horrible—”
“You’ve covered that. I’m more interested in why you came here to watch me play poker.” They’d start there. He folded his arms to keep from reaching for her.
Her shoulder lifted. “I wanted you to know I accept you for who you are and am willing to let everyone know it.”
The harsh wave of past rejection rolled through him, and her acceptance washed him up on a new shore.
“You are a good man,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that before.”
“Shit. When you go all in…” He unbuttoned his jacket, awash in emotion.
“You said you want me to accept you for who you are.” She opened her hands palm–up. “I’m here to show you I can.”
He couldn’t take it anymore. He yanked her to him, burying his face in her neck. “Jesus, you kill me,” he muttered before crushing his mouth to hers.
She responded with a desperate yearning he could taste. He fed on her, letting all the pain go. When he felt her tears wet his face, he pulled back and brushed them away.
“Tell me again,” he demanded.
“I was wrong. I’m sorry. And I love you.” She said it like she was reading a telegram.
He framed her face. “You might have been wrong,” he agreed, “and you might have been slow to catch up.” His smile couldn’t be contained. “But you did. You always come through in the end.”
She shook her head. “But what I said last night. I don’t know how we can ever forget that. It’s always going to be between us. Your sister probably hates me. I wouldn’t blame her. I’d feel that way if someone threatened Keith.”
His finger pressed her lips, silencing her. “Stop. Yes, we have some things to sort out, but it’s going to be okay.”
“I didn’t want David to turn into my father, but I finally realized I can’t do anything about that.”
His hand cupped her cheek. “Not an easy revelation. I’m proud of you.”
A tortured laugh bubbled out. “The whole thing made me go crazy, but when it came down to it,
I realized I wasn’t willing to lose you over it. You make me…happy. I don’t…”
“You don’t what?” he encouraged, amazed at how much she was opening herself up.
“I don’t want you to leave Dare, even though I don’t have the right to tell you not to go.”
“I was only leaving to get away from you.” He finally grabbed her reddened wrist and caressed the mark. “Didn’t you know that?”
She shook her head, another tear slipping out. “I hoped so.”
“Last night…” He had to take a deep breath. “It was a bad night.”
“Can you…forgive me?”
He stroked her hot brow, kissed her cheek. “Yes. You’ll have to apologize to Abbie, though, and explain things to her. It might be hard, but I think she’ll understand. We share a similar upbringing.”
Her hand covered his, warming his heart.
“What about Dustin?”
“We haven’t told him yet.”
“Good!” She laughed nervously. “I didn’t have much hope of being forgiven by a teenager.”
He pulled her close, cradling her body against his. “Maybe if you let him drive your car. So this means you’re willing to be seen in public with me?”
She rubbed her forehead against his chest. “Nothing would make me prouder.”
Music to his ears. “What about your reputation and people’s opinions?” he made himself ask, running his hands over the yellow material outlining her curves.
She pushed back. “I’ll say I was wrong. It’ll be awkward…and it’ll probably make me grouchy, but it’s the way it has to be.”
“Last night I thought everything I’d ever seen in you was a lie.” He cupped the back of her neck. “Then you showed up today and proved that deep down I know what makes people tick.”
Her mouth tipped up. “Well, it is an invaluable asset in your professions.” She put her hand on his heart. “You’re a poker player and a business man.”
