Rebel at Spruce High (Spruce Texas Romance #5) - Daryl Banner Page 0,173

drunk,” complained Duncan. “I need a bed.”

“Me too, butt butler.”

Lewis eyed the two of them. “You two wanna share a room instead? Sounds like you’re about plastered enough to sleep with each other at this point.” He shot me a look. “No offense, bro.”

I was still watching the moving marble statue of a man across the casino. I didn’t want to lose track of him again. He had stopped by one of the big, flashy slot machines, staring at its shimmering logos and staying put. For now. “You do realize,” I murmured distractedly, “that you don’t have to say that every time you make a gay joke. I promise I’m not offended.”

“Oh, oh, I got a gay joke,” blurted Quinton, slumping over the table clumsily. “So this gay guy, Morticia Addams, and Captain Jack Sparrow walk into a bar …”

“Nope.” Duncan rose from the table and pulled a protesting Quinton to his feet with him. “You’re cut off, buddy. And so am—” He let out a belch. “So am I. Let’s get us to our rooms.”

“But it was a good one!” Quinton promised as he was dragged off. “The punchline is: ‘Argh, it’s in me bum!’ C’mon, man!” But after a few more seconds, the two of them were out of sight.

Lewis nudged me. “I don’t know how you put up with him.”

“Who? Quinton?” I shrugged. “He’s not all frat-boy horn-dog. Hell, it was my idea to set my sister up with his—”

“With his brother, I know. I’ve heard the damned corny-ass story of how their first date was in Quinton’s coffee shop.”

“Yep.” My eyes were still locked on that certain someone by the big slot machine. Just looking at him, my heart raced up to my throat, trying to choke my words. “And now they’re married.”

“With no damned kids, God willing.” Lewis eyed me. “You ever think about getting married?”

I pressed my lips together. I couldn’t peel my eyes away from that beauty. “No,” I answered lamely. “Considering how long I’ve been alone, it’s literally the last thought on my mind. I’m pretty sure I’m too late to make the marriage train.”

“No such thing as too late, man.” He stretched, let out a loud yawn, then grunted, “I’m gonna turn in. You coming?”

I pointed at my noodles. “I’m … going to finish up here. You go on ahead. I’m sober enough to make it back on my own.”

Lewis slapped my back—nearly planting my face in my pad thai—then rose from the table. “Don’t get into trouble, McKinney.”

I smiled tightly and gave him a nod before he sauntered off. Since Lewis worked as the security guard at my bank, I was used to him calling me by my last name: McKinney. For a moment, it put me totally at ease and had me forgetting my emotional dilemma.

But not for long. The second my eyes snapped back to the slot machine and its loyal companion, my heart thumped rapidly all over again. There was no way I was finishing my last bite of eggroll or the rest of my pad thai, which I barely touched. My appetite fled as fast as my three friends did, and the only thing I knew was a piercing desire that struck through my chest, pinning me to the chair—a desire that could only be satisfied with the one upon which my eyes were desperately feasting.

What exactly was I expecting? Was I just going to walk right up to that guy and introduce myself? Say hello? Admire his days at the gym? Ask where he lives and get his number? For all I knew, he was ten years younger than me. Some cocky twenty-something who would never have eyes for the likes of me.

“Would you like it to go?”

I jumped so far, I was nearly to my feet at the intrusive sound of her voice. It was our sweet server. After taking a breath—and a moment to realize what the hell she was asking—I finally nodded.

“I’ll be back with a container.” Then she was off.

I glanced back at the slot machine, then felt my heart sink through the floor when I realized he was gone. My eyes shot to the left, then to the right. I spun around to look behind me, searching.

He was nowhere to be found.

The server returned quickly with a small container in which my food went. I could barely smile, distracted as I was, but I still tipped her before making my leave, since we paid for the food upfront. I scanned