All In (Casino Nights #2) (21 page)

“I hope you were cooperative,” Jimmy murmured.

She gave a small eye roll. “I was. I love Lorraine.” She gave her father a pained smile. Then she turned her gaze to Remy. “When did you get in?”

She was smart enough not to ask why he hadn’t told her he was coming. She knew she’d been avoiding his calls. “Last night. Rico arranged a room for me.”

“Rico?” He watched her fit the pieces into the puzzle, a frown drawing her eyebrows together.

“I’d made plans to fly out on Sunday so I just moved everything up.”

He saw a flicker of something cross her bruised face. Was it hope?

“Good,” she told him and then she leaned closer to whisper. “I’m really glad you’re here.”

The waiter arrived to take their orders, and then Jimmy asked Remy questions about how the casino business was doing in Indiana.

They were finishing their meals when Jimmy changed the subject. “After talking to Remy and seeing the damage first hand, Francesca, I’m placing you on medical leave for the next seven days.” As she started to object, Jimmy raised a finger and pointed it at her.

She bit her lip, effectively cutting off whatever thought she was going to express.

“You are in no shape to work. Your man is here, and I think it would be best if you spent your time recuperating with him.”

“Jimmy, I have a hundred things to do. I can’t just take a week off.” Spots of red bloomed on her cheeks.

Jimmy winked at Remy and smiled. “Didn’t I tell you she’d say that? My daughter and I are working the bugs out of our system of how much work I dump on her.”

“You did, sir,” Remy responded also with a smile.

“I never used the word dumped,” Francesca corrected.

Jimmy gave her a warm smile. “Here’s what I suggest,” Jimmy said. “After we finish here, why don’t you give Remy a tour of the place? By the time you’re done, your people should be arriving. I’ll ask Lorraine to email them about your leave. You can have a quick meeting and tie up any loose ends. I’ll have Lorraine make dinner reservations for the two of you at…” His gaze swung to Remy. “Cooper, do you like Italian?”

“I do.” Remy was smiling at how effectively Jimmy handled Francesca. She hadn’t said a further word.

“I’ll have Lorraine book a table at Maestro’s. They have good food, and Francesca loves it there.” Jimmy smiled at the both of them.

Jimmy O’Haire knew exactly what he was doing. Remy would have bet his condo that Lorraine had already e-mailed Francesca’s team about her leave and the meeting she would call. It was easy to see how Francesca would have difficulty telling her father no. Jimmy was a silk-wrapped bulldozer. He smoothly plowed through any roadblock in his way. He would have to give this personality trait a lot of thought, so that he could help Francesca decrease her heavy workload and Jimmy’s dependence upon her.

“Would you also like to pick out what I’m going to wear?” she asked with mock sweetness in her voice. “Since you seem to have taken all of the decisions away from me.”

“Wear something low cut. Remy looks like a breast man to me,” Jimmy told her with a smile.

Remy couldn’t hold back his laughter as Francesca squealed, “Dad!” She shook her head at her father as he joined in.

They were approaching a solid, cherry-wood door that was at the end of the long hallway.

Francesca pointed at the door. “This is Team 2’s suite of offices.”

After thanking Jimmy for lunch, Francesca had taken him on a tour of the casino floor and some of the floors above. Jimmy had arranged for a badge allowing Remy visitor’s access to the back-of-house area.

She paused at the key pad by the door. “My people, they know about you. I mean, about us.” She looked nervous.

“Is one of them going to punch me?” he asked half-joking, curious about her unease.

“No. They seem to like you. They always take your side.”

He smiled at her words.

“I just wanted you to know in case one of them says something.” Her gaze moved away from his.

“It’ll be fine. I’m excited to meet your team and your friends.” He knew that he had to make a good impression on those that were closest to her.

His palms had been sweaty when he’d been escorted to Jimmy’s office. Things seemed to have gone well. Remy began by telling her father how much he loved his daughter. He’d mentioned that he was going to propose to her, and he hoped that Jimmy and Rose would support their marriage. Jimmy had asked many questions about Remy’s plans for the future. He’d also spoken about Francesca. He was well aware of his daughter’s strengths and weaknesses. The man clearly loved Francesca, and he’d welcomed Remy to the family.

She typed four numbers into the pad, and then held her thumb to it. The door unlocked, and she turned the handle.

He followed her into the small reception area where a striking blonde sat behind a desk. Her eyes got big when she saw Francesca. She started to stand, but Francesca froze her movement with a look.

Francesca strode toward her. “Skylar, I’m glad you made it in. There’s going to be a meeting in thirty minutes. I’ll send you the notes. Make sure that everyone gets what they need.”

The wide-eyed blonde was clearly intimidated by Francesca. She nodded. “Yes, I’ll take care of it.” Her glance turned to Remy, and she gave him a dazzling smile.

Francesca frowned at the woman and took his hand in hers before moving deeper into the office. She typed in a code in another keypad, and they passed through another heavy door. Whoever had designed this suite had spared no expense on security measures.

“That was our receptionist, Skylar. She washed out as a showgirl, and now is trying to keep her job here.” She glanced over her shoulder at him.

“Nice of you to give her a chance,” he said.

“Wasn’t me. She’s Hadley’s project. So far, she can’t seem to make it in to work or stay the entire shift. It also doesn’t help that she was eye-fucking you right in front of me,” Francesca grumbled.

Remy didn’t have time to enjoy the flash of her possessiveness and jealousy, because a slender African-American man walked out of an office to their right. He was wearing baggy jeans and a very faded black T-shirt from a Nine Inch Nails concert. He took one look at Francesca and started shaking his head. “Oh man, Frankie, that is sure pretty.” His white teeth flashed against his dark skin.

“Funny, it doesn’t feel pretty. It’s throbbing like hell,” she said.

“I’ll get you some ice to put on it,” he volunteered.

Francesca raised her hand. “Hold up. I want to introduce the two of you. Byron Williams, this is Remington Cooper.”

Remy stuck out his hand.

The man said, “Blade, everybody calls me Blade,” as he shook his hand.

“Good to meet you, Blade.” Remy already knew his specialty was I.T., and that he could most likely do all kinds of tricks.

“Heard a lot about you,” Blade said, his gaze raking up and down his frame.

Remy looked at Francesca to confirm.

“We have a friend in common—Marcus.” Blade watched Remy’s reaction.

Remy drew a deep breath. It made sense two professional hackers would know each other. “Haven’t seen him in a while, but yeah, we’re friends. We served together in the Corps.”

“I’m giving Remy a tour, and I thought I would show him our suite,” Francesca said.

Remy glanced at her. She appeared different with her people, less tense.

“I’ll go get you that ice. We still on for five?” Blade asked.

She checked her watch. “Yeah, it won’t take long. We have reservations at eight, and I need to finish some reports.”

“Good meeting you.” Remy nodded in Blade’s direction as Francesca led him down the hallway.

They passed an open door on their left, and he saw a redhead sitting at a desk talking on her phone. She glanced up, frowning at Francesca, and then she smiled when she saw Remy behind her.

“That’s Hadley. She deals with promotions and high dollar customer service issues,” Francesca said over her shoulder as she kept them moving down the hall. “She’s my best friend, and I’d introduce you, but she’s currently mad and not speaking to me.” Francesca stopped at a door at the end of the hall, and again punched in a code. “My office,” she told him.

He followed her into a room that was filled with light. She had a view of the Spring Mountain range, and one wall was covered with framed photographs. Against the other wall was a loveseat, and the other was covered with shelving and three plasma screens with the camera feed from inside of the casino. Her desk was black and covered with files, and there were papers everywhere.

She walked to her desk and shook her head at the mess. “I swear I know where everything is.”

He smiled at her. “I believe you.” He glanced at the desktop. To him, it looked like a huge mess, but if the system worked for her, he was fine with it.

“In about thirty seconds, Hadley is going to invade. She’s going to ask you a bunch of questions, and she’ll probably be rude to me. I deserve it.” Francesca sat down and moved her hands to the files.

“How bad is it between the two of you?” He knew that Hadley she and had been roommates in college.

“I blew up over something stupid. I’ll apologize and she’ll accept, but I need to do something nice for her, not dump a bunch of extra work on her.” Francesca started dropping files on the floor beside her desk.

There was a soft knock on the door and Hadley entered the office. “You must be Remy. I’m Hadley.” She approached and gave him a hug.

He returned the hug briefly. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you—all good,” he added quickly, hoping to smooth things between the women.

“Did she tell you that she’s been a total bitch to me?” Hadley dropped onto the loveseat and crossed her long legs.

“Well, she didn’t use that exact term, but she mentioned that she was wrong and was very, very sorry.” He tried to look sincere.

“Hmm.” Hadley tilted her head and stared at Remy. “Did she also mention that she was going to buy me a very expensive gift as an apology?”

Remy glanced at Francesca who seemed engrossed in going through the files on her desk. He moved to the chair beside the loveseat. “We didn’t get that far into the conversation.”

Hadley winked at him, and then focused on Francesca. “I think something from Prada will make it all better.”

“Fuck you, I’m not going into that store. You know how stuck up they are.” Francesca glared at her friend. “I’ll go to L.V. or even Hermes, but no Prada.”

“You’re forgiven.” Hadley laughed.

“Hold that thought, Jimmy put me on medical leave, and I’m getting ready to dump some extra work on you.” Francesca stopped going through the files and frowned.

“Babe, your face looks bad, and since Remy is here, I hope a week will be long enough.” She bumped her toe into his calf. “Don’t let her do any work. We got this.”

Blade walked into the office carrying a bag of frozen corn and a light green towel. “Here put this on your face,” he told her.

She took the bag from him and wrapped it in the towel. She held it to her cheek and continued going through the job of clearing her desk.

“Seen Rico?” Blade asked Hadley.

“His car was in the garage.”

“How long are you here for, Remy?” Hadley asked.

“I didn’t book a return flight,” he told her.

Her smile broadened. She looked in Francesca’s direction.

Francesca had stopped working and was staring at him.

He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow in question. “I told you,” he said softly.

She met his gaze and nodded, then looked down at her desk and smiled.

“I thought the meeting was in the conference room?” Rico strolled into the office.

“I wondered when you would show up,” Francesca grumbled.

“Good to see you again, Cooper.” Rico moved forward, hand outstretched.

“Good to be here.” Remy stood, shook his hand and slapped him on the back. He owed the guy.

Francesca cleared her throat. “The meeting is in the conference room, and if you all want to move along, maybe I can get my shit ready and start on time.”

“You seem grumpy, chica.” Rico said, his eyebrows lowering. “Are you hurting?”

She shrugged. “A little bit.”

Remy suspected it must have killed her to admit that much.

“Let’s give the boss lady some quiet so she can prepare,” Blade told the group. Her team members stood and followed him to the door.

“Cooper, are you coming with?” Blade asked.

Remy glanced at Francesca.

“I can have Skylar escort you to the elevators, and I’ll text you when I’m done here,” she said.

“Or he can come to the meeting and see you in action. You know, being all bossy,” Rico teased.

“Sounds good.” Remy stood and started to follow Rico.

“You’ll be bored,” she called after him.

“Doubt it,” he told her with a smile.

Watching Francesca run a staff meeting was exhilarating. She was in charge but listened to her team. She moved through the tasks easily and efficiently.

“If anything comes up, call me. I’m not sure what my plans are, but I’ll keep you updated,” she assured her people.

Rico shot Remy a look. “Francesca, I think I’m speaking for the team. Take this time off and rest. You’ve been a working too hard, and it shows.”

Remy could tell that Rico had made a point that Francesca didn’t like.

She pursed her lips and looked down at the tablet in front of her. “My job carries a great deal of responsibility, as you well know. There’s always a lot to be done.”

Rico was typing on his tablet, and Remy felt the vibration of his phone telling him he had an incoming text. He checked his phone and saw the message was from a Las Vegas number.

Remy glanced in Rico’s direction, and the man gave him a single nod.

I can get you a place out of town, way out. You need to get her away.

Remy typed, Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind, and my friend, I owe you.

He watched one side of Rico’s mouth lift in a smile as he read the message.

Francesca wrapped up the meeting, and after telling her staff goodbye, she and Remy returned to her office. They had about forty-five minutes until their reservation time.