Page 33 of Secret Seduction

“Can you seriously count cards?” he asks.

“Yeah.” I raise a shoulder and take a sip of my beer. “My mom worked at a casino on the reservation, hoping to bag a rich guy, and when the babysitter wouldn’t show up, she’d be forced to bring me to work with her. A few of the regulars took pity on me and taught me how to play. And then, because I think they thought it was funny, they taught me how to count cards. I was young—like twelve, maybe thirteen—so I didn’t know that it was illegal. It worked out when I got to college and needed to make some quick money. The fraternities would host casino nights, and I’d win a few thousand dollars.”

I grin, and Lorenzo shakes his head.

“Are you seriously judging me?” I scoff. “Like your best friends aren’t into shady shit.”

I don’t know what all their business entails, but between what Nicole said, what I overheard during the wedding weekend, and the info I found when I did a Google search, it’s clear they’re far from saints.

“I’m not judging you,” he says. “I’m judging your mom for letting her vulnerable daughter hang out with grown men. Anything could’ve happened to you.”

“Like what? Me getting trafficked?” I quirk a brow. “In case you forgot, my mother agreed with Eric’s plan to give me to Santiago to pay off his debt. I was and will always be my mother’s biggest regret.” I say it matter-of-factly, even though, after all these years, it still hurts to know that the only biological relative I have can barely stand me.

“Fuck her,” Lorenzo says, dealing us cards. “Now, show me how you count cards. You have me intrigued.”

“Why?” I take my cards and glance around at the extravagant kitchen and dining room. “You in need of some quick cash?”

Lorenzo snorts out a laugh. “You never know. This crazy chick convinced me to marry her without a prenup.” He raises a brow. “She might be planning to take me for half of everything.”

From his playful tone, I know it’s only meant as a joke, but what he says still rubs me the wrong way.

“I wouldn’t do that,” I say, locking eyes with him so he knows I’m serious. “There’s a reason why I’m still a virgin. I have no desire to be in a relationship. My focus is on fashion design and graduating from college. I want to design clothes and one day open my own boutique and eventually start my own clothing line.

“My mother’s entire purpose in life was to bag a rich man to take care of her, and that will never be me. What I did in the Bahamas to save my life was the hardest thing I’d ever done, and I can assure you that as soon as I’m safe, I’ll gladly sign off on the annulment and walk away without anything but my life.”

Lorenzo stares at me for several seconds before he says, “Still?”

“Huh?” I ask in confusion.

“You said there’s a reason you’re still a virgin.”

Oh shit. I swallow thickly, taking a moment to gain my composure. I’ve never actually had to lie to him, and maybe it’s stupid, but I don’t want to start now.

“You know what I mean,” I say vaguely. “My point is, I don’t want anything from you besides the safety being here provides. And as soon as that Leysa chick is gone, I’ll be out of your hair, and you’ll never have to see me again.”

Lorenzo nods in understanding. “Don’t worry. Matteo is determined to find her. And he won’t stop until she’s been taken down. It shouldn’t be too long before you can put this entire ordeal behind you.”

“That’s the hope.”

“If you drop this pacifier again …” I mock glare at Leo, who’s babbling away in his high chair, chomping on tiny pieces of fruit that I cut up for him.

After I rinse the pacifier off, I set it on the counter since he doesn’t need it anymore.

“If only there was a way to make sure it didn’t fall …” And then an idea strikes.

My stuff arrived this morning, and while I haven’t gone through it all, I know my sewing stuff is in there.

I run to my room, grab the kit and supplies, and hurry back.

While Leo eats and watches a show, I sew the design that came to me. And then, because I’m extra when it comes to fashion, I grab the little monkey stuffie I saw on his shelf and sew it on.

“You are going to be the cutest baby on the block,” I tell Leo as I finish the last stitch.

Once it’s done, I grab the pacifier and slip it through the loop I made so it won’t come out. Then, after cleaning Leo, I lift him from the high chair and bring him over to the couch. I had an adjustable clip that I used when resizing clothes, so I used that to attach it to his outfit.

“What are you doing?” Lorenzo barks, making me jump.

“I had this idea …” I hold up the pacifier holder, ready to explain when Lorenzo cuts me off.