The Big Gamble Read online

  “That might be true, but you like this one. Whether you want to admit it or not, she’s gotten under your skin.”

  “Can we please just drop this? She’s a bitch and I want nothing to do with her. So fucking drop it.”

  Liar. The truth was he was right, but I would never tell him that.

  She’s gotten under my skin and her telling me ‘no’ has only made it worse. There’s just something about her I can’t shake.

  “Fine, I’ll drop it.” He puts his hands up to surrender. “You coming out tonight?”

  “Yeah, after the day I’ve had I need to get fucking wasted.”

  The drive home only adds to my frustration. I’m stuck in traffic, the radio is just talk, and I have nothing to keep my mind occupied. Nothing to keep the voices in my head at bay. The nagging shrill voice of my ex telling me what a pathetic piece of garbage I am, is radiating through my brain. That along with the fact that I’m a worthless cop and I destroy everything I touch. Fuckin’ hate that bitch for getting in my head.

  I sit through at the light on Fourth and Pike for the third time, dreading what I know is to come, but instead of the nagging voice I get a flash of Brooke’s sparkling blue eyes. Yes, the crazy bitch has a name. On my way to work, I stopped at the row of mailboxes that lines the wall of the lobby and found her name. I don’t know why I did it. I guess I wanted a name to go with the crazy eyes, or for the eventual restraining order.

  But the thing is she didn’t seem crazy. Being a cop, I deal with an array of crazy on a daily basis. I can read people better than anyone and after once glance at Brooke I knew I wasn’t the only reason for her outburst last night. The dark circles under her eyes telling me it had been longer than three days since she’d had a goodnight’s sleep. And behind the daggers in her eyes, I could see sadness. For some reason, I had this overwhelming urge to be the one to make it go away. But after our fight I’m sure she hates me even more. God, why did I have to open my big mouth and tell her she was basically a pent up nun? More importantly, why the fuck did I care that I pissed her off?

  I’ve pissed off my fair share of women and have been slapped and kneed in the balls more times than I can remember. I always manage to shake it off, but knowing that Brooke hates me makes me sick to my stomach.

  I finally pull into my building. As I walk out from the elevator, I can’t help but look over at her door. I pause in front of it for a moment, wanting to knock and try an apology for what I said to her last night. But the sting of her slap rings along my cheek again and so I move past her door. She’s just like all the rest of them.

  “Don’t get wrapped up in your emotions Gamble, she’s not worth it,” I say to myself as I open my door.

  As soon as I step inside I hear the jingle of Lola’s collar as she comes bounding out of my bedroom. Lola is my gray and white Pit Bull puppy. I got her three months ago after Ryder and I busted a dog fighting ring in the outskirts of Seattle. While we were helping animal rescue with the dogs, I saw Lola shaking and whimpering in one of the cages. She was too afraid to come to anyone else, but when she saw me, she came and sat at my feet and wouldn’t leave until I picked her up. It was love at first sight and she’s the only woman I trust with my heart.

  I kneel down rubbing behind her ears while she licks my face, her tail wagging in excitement to see me. “How’s my favorite girl today?”

  She barks then licks my face again before trotting over to her food dish, pushing it in my direction, letting me know she’s ready to eat. I walk into the kitchen and pour a cup of kibble into her dish then head back to my bedroom and lay back on my bed, letting out a frustrated sigh. My quiet room is disturbed when my phone rings. I pull my phone out of my pocket and see my mom’s picture light up the screen.

  “Hey Mom, how’s it going?” I answer trying to hide the frustration in my voice.

  “Hello, my sweet boy. I’m doing just fine. But you, on the other hand, don’t sound so good.”

  “How do you always know when I’m hiding things from you?”

  “Because I’m your mother and mothers always know when their children are in distress. Now tell me what’s going on?”

  “I got suspended today.”

  “Oh Brian, not again.” I can hear the disappointment in her voice. “What happened this time?”

  I rest my hand over my eyes, rubbing my temples with my thumb and forefinger as I tell her about the scene Ryder and I walked into. The father hovering over his eight-year-old daughter’s limp body. Her face bruised and bloody, and the mom equally beaten screaming at him to stop. He was high on meth and equally as drunk. He wouldn’t stop screaming that he was going to kill them both, and even tried lunging for the mom after I’d cuffed him. That’s when I snapped and knocked him out. I hated going on these calls, no one wants to see an innocent child half-beaten to death by the one person who’s supposed to be protecting them. These scenes always gave me nightmares for days afterward.

  “Oh sweetheart, that’s horrible. Is the little girl and her mom going to be all right?” Her disappointment faded into concern.

  “I called the hospital they’re both in intensive care. The mom has a severe concussion, a broken cheekbone, and a broken arm. The daughter has a broken nose, three cracked ribs, and a concussion. But they’ll both be okay. The women’s center is going to take them in once they’re released from the hospital. How can anyone do that to a child? I just wanted to kill the guy, he’s supposed to be protecting her.” I can feel my anger starting to surge through me again.

  “I know it’s an awful situation. But you got that sweet girl and her mom away from that monster, and they’re going to have a new start to a better life thanks to you and Ryder. Don’t focus on the negative or the suspension. You did the right thing, even if your captain can’t see it. I know for a fact your father would be so proud of what you did,” she says trying to reassure me.

  “Do you think so?”

  My father was gunned down during a drug bust when I was six. So I never really got to know what kind of a man or cop he was outside of the stories my mom and his cop buddies would tell me. But from what I gathered, he was known to bend the rules too.

  “I know he would be. You’re a great cop, Brian. Don’t ever let anyone ever convince you otherwise. I love you, sweetheart.”

  “I love you too, Mom.”

  “Feel better son, and I’ll talk to you soon.”

  I hang up with Mom and toss my phone on the bed, feeling a little bit better after our talk. She was right because of me that mom and her daughter are going to get the help they need, and that monster will never be able to terrorize them again.

  I sit up spotting Lola walking through the door, but instead of hopping up on the bed with me she sits down in front of the wall behind my bed. I cock an eyebrow up finding it odd. She starts scratching her paw along the stucco wall and begins whimpering. I get up from the bed and walk over to her.

  “What are you doing you silly dog?” And that’s when I hear it, a soft moan coming from behind the wall. Moans that sound like sex moans. Maybe I was wrong about Brooke? Maybe she isn’t a pent up nun?

  “Oh fuck, Brian,” she screams.

  My eyes widen and I press my greedy ear to the wall and look down at Lola, who’s looking up at me with a curious look in her eye. I listen carefully trying to hear if there’s someone else in the room with her, but all I can hear are her moans and the chanting of my name, demanding me to fuck her harder. I can’t believe it, the crazy bitch is having a sex dream about me. But what’s even harder to believe is that I was just imagining what I was doing to her—my dick growing painfully hard at the image of her on all fours, ass in the air and begging for my cock.

  Get it the fuck together Brian, no matter how much you want to fuck her right now, she’s still the enemy. I think I need another cold shower.

  Showered and still frustrated, I step out of my apartment just in time to spot a leggy brunette walking toward the elevator. I’m instantly drawn to
her like a magnet. My eyes trail up her long, lean legs and I already imagine what they’ll feel like wrapped around my waist. Her soft curves are covered in a light pink dress, hitting just above her knees. Such a lovely dress it’s a shame it’ll be lying in pieces on my bedroom floor later. I follow behind her, watching the confident sway of her hips. It’s almost hypnotic.

  The elevator doors open just as we arrive, she steps inside first. She turns and seeing her face is a punch to the gut. “Crazy bitch,” I whisper under my breath. She looks different fully clothed. No wonder I didn’t recognize her. As soon as she notices me her soft expression turns hard and her eyes are like daggers, staring me down as I step into the elevator. She hits the button for the lobby and moves closer to the wall and away from me. I stay on my side of the elevator fighting with myself not to say anything. But I’ve never been one to hold my tongue.

  “I think you owe me an apology?”

  She turns to look at me, her face is red hot with anger. She kinda looks cute when she’s mad.

  “In what delusional world makes you think I owe you an apology?” she snarls.

  “I believe it was you that slapped me in the face,” I snap back.

  “Look here asshole, you’re lucky it was just a slap to the face after what you said to me. I’m not some pent up jealous nun.”

  “If the shoe fits, sweetheart. I call it as I see it.” I flash her a confident smirk.

  “Oh, you want to play that game. Okay, I’ll play along. You wanna know what I see when I look at you?”

  “Bring it on sweetheart, I’d love to hear this.” Folding my arms in front of me, I take a few steps closer, invading her space.

  “I see a sad man who’s had his heart broken by some nasty bitch, but instead of dealing with the emotional wreckage she’s left in her wake, he’s focused on his pissed off rage. He goes out and bangs anything with tits then drops them on their asses as payback for the bitch that broke his heart. It’s fucking pathetic.”

  “If you were a man right now...” I growl trailing off, stepping closer and forcing her up against the wall of the elevator. My rage surging through my body.

  How dare she call me pathetic?

  “What you wanna hit me?” She gets up right in my face. The fire now exploding between us. “I dare you!” Her lips now inches from mine and even as pissed off I am at her I can’t fight my urge to taste those lips.

  “Why are you such a bitch?” I whisper, licking my lips in anticipation.

  “Why do you have to be such an asshole?”

  With that, my lips crash down onto hers as I pull her into my arms. Her body tenses at first, but as soon as our tongues meet in her warm mouth, her body relaxes and her hands find their way into my hair, pulling me tighter against her mouth. Her lips are soft and sweet, her tongue warm and velvety against mine. She tastes so damn good, a man could get addicted.

  I know I should push away—she’s the fucking enemy—but I can’t get enough of how good she tastes and how much I want to have her right here and now. Finally be the one to make her moan and scream not just dream of me. I press her against the wall, hands slipping under her dress grabbing two handfuls of her gorgeous ass. Holding her tight against me, letting her feel the effect she’s having on me. Before we can go any further the elevator chimes, signaling our arrival at the main lobby. She pushes me away, looking slightly disoriented and breathing hard.

  “This never happened,” she murmurs, then quickly runs out of the elevator.

  “Whatever you say, sweetheart,” I call after her, watching as she runs out the glass doors. And as much as I hate to admit it, this crazy bitch is starting to grow on me.

  “This day just keeps getting better and better,” I whisper to myself, banging my head against the wooden bar. The kiss Brian and I shared in the elevator is still lingering on my lips. I can’t believe he kissed me and more importantly that I kissed him back. I want to hate him for it, but God his kiss felt so fucking good. I haven’t been kissed like that in well...ever.

  Jake was a great kisser but nothing like the way Brian kissed me. It was so intense and full of need like he needed me to fucking breathe. Lord help me, I can still feel my desire for more of him soaking through my panties. I’ve never met a man that both frustrates me and turns me on the way Brian does.

  The perky titted blonde bartender brings me my drink and flashes me a pitiful smile. I don’t need your pity bitch, just keep bringing me booze. Just as I’m taking my first sip, I hear a familiar voice coming from behind me.

  “Wow Brooke, that beer is looking a little flat.” Lucky teases, sliding up to the bar next to me with Lucy not far behind.

  “It’s not beer it’s whiskey.” I put the glass to my lips and take a long slow sip. The amber liquor burning my throat.

  “Jesus you’re hardcore, Brooke.”

  I met Lucky through Lucy a few weeks ago. I found out the two of them grew up together in the suburbs of Seattle, they were practically sisters and they sure fought like sisters too. It was pretty entertaining watching them bicker with each other. Lucky is the tall blonde model type with beautiful hazel eyes and long blonde hair. She’s wildly inappropriate and has no filter when it comes to giving you her opinion, which is what I love most about her. By day, Lucky teaches painting and pottery at a small art school in West Seattle, and on the weekends she strips at Blue Moon, a high-end strip club. I still have yet to get the full story as to why she likes stripping. But I’m sure since it’s Lucky that it’ll be entertaining.

  “Leave her alone, Lucky. She had a rough day,” Lucy chimes. “I guess your meeting with your publisher didn’t go well?”

  “My meeting went fine. They’re going to give me more time to get my new book finished.” I take another swig of my drink. “This is because I had another run in with my asshole neighbor in the elevator on my way down here.”

  “Oh fuck! What happened this time?”

  “Wait! What neighbor?” Lucky asks curiously.

  Before I can say a word, Lucy begins filling Lucky in on my embarrassing encounter with Brian. If she thought that was hilarious, she’s really going to love what just went down in the elevator. I’m not even going to mention the crazy hot sex dream I had about Brian during my nap.

  “The asshole had the balls to ask if she wanted to join them.”

  Lucky looks back at me, giggling to herself. “So did you?” she asks.

  “Lucky!” Lucy shouts, reaching behind me to slap her on the shoulder.

  “What? It’s an honest question.”

  See just like sisters.

  “No. I did not bang my neighbor and his skank. I know I haven’t had sex in two years, but I’m not about to hop into bed with my asshole neighbor.” I down the last of my whiskey and can already feel the warmth of my buzz taking over. I look up from my glass, seeing a puzzled look on Lucky’s face.

  “Wait...What?” Her hazel eyes dart around as she tries to process my statement. “Brooke are you telling me you haven’t had sex in two years…two years?”

  I nod yes, waving the bartender down for a refill of whiskey.

  “So what you are saying is no dick has entered any part of your body for twenty-four months.”

  “Yep.”

  “I think I need to sit down.” She slumps down onto her barstool and asks the bartender to bring her a shot of tequila then looks back at me, her eyes widened in shock. “How is that even possible? You’re a gorgeous piece of ass. A gorgeous piece of ass that writes some of the filthiest shit I’ve ever read. So I’m sure men have been throwing themselves at you to get a piece of you.” She downs her shot then signals for another. “I mean shit, even I would take you into the bathroom of this bar and go to town on you…two years!”

  “Don’t listen to her, Brooke. Lucky can barely go twenty-four hours without getting plowed. Not everyone jumps back into dating or having sex right away after losing someone they love.”

  As comforting as Lucy’s words were, even I knew two years
is a hell of a long time to go without sex with an actual man. My vibrator gets the job done, but sometimes you just need to feel the touch of a man. Someone to hold you and kiss you while they make love to you.

  “No, don’t listen to her. Lucy barely made it ten months after Colton died before she went on a manhunt. But seriously two years…God, you’re practically a virgin again.” Lucky reaches down to the hem of my dress and starts to lift up the pink fabric. “Does it even still work?”

  I slap her hand away. “Yes, of course, it still works.”

  “How do you know if you haven’t let her out to play?” She gives me a sideways glance before downing her second shot.

  “Because my panties are still wet from the asshole kissing me in the elevator.” I cringe when I realize what just slipped from my lips.

  “Oh my God he kissed you? Like on the lips, kissed you?” she shouts over the music and I hide behind my hands from the few people that look our direction.

  “Yes. We were in the elevator fighting because he said I owed him an apology, and the next thing I knew we’re in each other’s faces. The electricity was burning between us and before I know it he’s kissing me.” I let out a quiet sigh. “I wanted to push him away, but God it felt so damn good. No one has ever kissed me like that. It was so fucking intense. Made me feel wanted, something I haven’t felt in such a long time.”

  I bang my head against the bar. “I’m so confused. My head is telling me to hate him, but my body is telling me to fuck him into next Tuesday. He’s the first man since Jake that’s had this big of an effect on me. Maybe being away from the game for so long has my body all confused. Why couldn’t it react this way with Ryder?”

  “Did I just hear someone say my name?”

  Springing up in my seat I spin around, meeting the sparkling blue-eyed gaze of Ryder. His lips are curled up in a sly smirk. I feel my face flush, hoping he didn’t hear all of what I’d said. I eye him up and down for a moment, I’ve never seen him out of uniform before. He looks completely different. He’s dressed in dark jeans and a tight gray shirt that hugs his muscular frame in all the right places and shows off the sleeve of tattoos he has along his right arm. His dark sandy locks that are usually combed back are now spiked up, looking like he’s just had a good fucking before heading to the bar. His chiseled jawline has a whisper of stubble. He’s sexy as hell, but still even seeing him like this is doing nothing for me. Nothing like what Brian had done to me in that elevator.