Page 63 of Nothing to Win

“A matter of seconds and you’re in trouble already.”

Yep, Zairn enjoyed his wife a lot.

“Please go make me a drink, Party Boy,” Roxie said, snatching his sleeves to pull out his cufflinks.“This is what happens when you don’t own the joint.They can’t make my drink.This is basic stuff.Gin and It is basic stuff.Next time have the staff call ahead.”

Zairn smirked, draping his jacket over his wife’s shoulders.“Yes, dear.”

“Are you okay?”Brogan asked, resting a hand on the bar behind her.

“I’m okay.Are you okay?”

“Crowd doesn’t change much between here and Manhattan.”

“Did I really upset your friend?”

“Abernathy is not a friend.And I want to hear you.Always.”

That was usually his condition before an event.

“You know…” Roxie leaned against her a little, watching Zairn walk the length of the bar before rounding it to talk with the bar guy.“People think he has no employable skills, but my guy is actually pretty handy.”

“Who thinks Zairn Lomond has no employable skills?”Brogan asked.

Swinging around, Roxie blinked at Brogan like she hadn’t known he was there.“People think he’s just a sex god.”

“No one in my circle has ever said that about him.”

Brogan was so dry, she wasn’t sure if he was joking or provoking.

“Then you need to widen your circles,” Roxie said, hopping onto a stool.“So, Brogan Spurn, what do I need to know about you?”

“Nothing.”

“You don’t get off that easy, buddy.Are you planning to hurt my friend?”

“Roxie—”

“No,” Brogan said, interrupting.“No one will hurt her.”

“‘Til when?Ever?You planning to stick around that long?”

“Roxie—”

“Let her speak,” Brogan said, eyes set on the wedded beauty.“You’ve appeared in Gia’s life recently.Are you going to hurt her?”

“Difference is, I’ll stick around.”

“You spend half your life on the road.”

“And there’s this wonderful invention called the smartphone,” Roxie said.“I don’t abandon my girls.”

“Good,” Brogan said.“Then I want your assurance that you will encourage her to trust herself.”

“Over her parents?”Roxie asked.“Damn straight.”

“While she’s living with me, they’re not in her ear.She needs space.A sanctuary without their interference.”

“We’ll have her at Crimson Palace,” Roxie asserted.“She doesn’t have to move back in here.She’ll come live with us.”