Stroke of Luck - Opal Carew Page 0,75

set him off last night? And why this morning had he looked at her as if … Her heart swelled. Well, as if he were actually in love with her?

* * *

After a nice lunch delivered to the suite, April curled up on the couch and read a book while Austin and Quinn played chess. After the game, Austin stood up and stretched, then glanced at his watch.

“I’ve got that tennis court booked for 3 p.m.,” he said. “That gives me an hour to hit the casino first. Want to join me?” he asked Quinn.

“No, you go ahead. I’ll meet you at the court.”

“What about you, April?” Austin asked. “You can hang out at the tables with me, maybe bring me a little luck, then we can play a round-robin of tennis.”

“No, thanks. But I think I’ll go out and explore a bit. I’ll walk down with you. I’ll just take a minute to change first.”

After their swim, she’d just thrown on a robe.

She hurried into the bedroom and donned her royal-blue bra and panty set, then pulled on the royal-blue dress she’d bought on her shopping trip. She couldn’t believe almost a week had passed since then. In fact, it was her one-week anniversary as Mrs. Quinn Taylor. And Mrs. Austin Wright. She couldn’t help grinning as she reached behind her to pull up the zipper.

“Let me help you with that,” Austin said.

She turned around to see him standing in the doorway, his large frame filling the space, a smile on his face. He walked toward her, and she turned around so he could slide the zipper up. When he reached the top, his hands glided to her shoulders and he squeezed, then his lips played lightly along her neck. Heat simmered through her.

“I don’t have to go to the casino now,” he murmured.

She turned to face him with a smile. “But you will. Because you know I’ll be here when you get back.” She curled her arms around his neck and kissed him lightly. “And we can continue this then.”

She stroked his cheek affectionately, then kissed him again.

His dark teal eyes gleamed, and he glided his fingers through her hair and drew her in for a deeper kiss. His tongue nudged at her lips until she opened, then he slid inside. Their hearts pounded together as the passion of his kiss seduced her. She was ready to drop her dress on the floor right now.

Then their lips parted, and he grinned. “Okay, so at least give me something to bring me luck at the tables.”

“Like what?” she asked, still trying to catch her breath.

His grin broadened, and he dropped his gaze until it rested a few inches below her waist.

“You want my panties?”

He stroked over her hip. “Yes.”

“I could give you a pair from my drawer,” she suggested, but his glittering eyes told her that just wouldn’t do.

He laughed. “That’s nowhere near as much fun.”

She smiled. “Okay, but just because I like you so much.”

His eyes turned serious, and he cupped her face, then tipped it up until their gazes locked.

“You like me?”

She felt her cheeks heat. From the look in his eyes, he wanted her feelings to be more than that.

“I … it’s more than that. But—”

“So what’s going on here?”

Quinn’s voice startled her, and her gaze jerked to the doorway to see him standing there with a grin.

“Am I missing out on something?” he asked as he strolled into the room.

Austin’s expression lightened as he turned to Quinn, a smile spreading across his face.

“Not much. She’s just going to strip off her panties for me. I need a good-luck charm.”

Quinn chuckled. “Not likely, but if you’re going to have one, that’s a brilliant choice.”

The two men turned to her expectantly.

The skirt on the dress didn’t have a lot of extra room, so she shimmied it up, revealing a lot of leg. She tucked her thumbs under the fabric and slid the panties down her hips, then dropped them to the floor. She smoothed the skirt back down and retrieved the panties from around her ankles.

“Here you go,” she said, pressing them into Austin’s large hand.

He grinned as he stroked them over his cheek. “Ah, still warm.” He slid them into his jacket pocket. “Even if they don’t bring me luck, they’ll remind me of the big win I’m looking forward to later on.”

Quinn glided his hand over her hip, then across her behind.

“And all afternoon,” he said, “I’ll be thinking of you wandering around in public