All In (Casino Nights #2) by Melanie Jayne Page B

ménage and not...interact.”
    Rico shrugged. “Sometimes you do and sometimes you don’t. I prefer all of us... interacting.” He flashed a knowing grin.
    She knew he was enjoying her word choice. “I thought that if you all were enjoying it, there would at least be some touching.”
    “At least.” He gave her a side-ways look. “So, what is the most troubling aspect?”
    “The most troubling?” she mumbled to herself. She answered with the first thing that popped into her head. “He tells me that he can share me with another, and in the next breath he says that he intends to put a ring on me. If he cares about me enough to think about marriage,” Christ, she needed to pause to catch her breath, “why would he want to share me? We agreed that we’re exclusive, so I don’t get it.”
    “That is something to work through with your man. Now, I can give you my gut reaction, but I don’t know if that is what he’s thinking.” Rico pulled the car into an abandoned gas station.
    “I need some guidance, Rico. I need a starting point.” She twisted in her seat to face him as he engaged the brake.
    Rico shifted toward her. “It’s true that men can keep sex and love separate. I do it, and I know that others can, too. I think Cooper was telling you that, what you do together is emotional, maybe even love.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “To him, a three-way would be sex. Something that felt good, and hopefully, would get you all off, but there would not be love involved between all of the players.”
    She chewed her lip as she thought about that. “So, if I wanted to do it, he wouldn’t think that I didn’t lo—that I wasn’t into him?”
    “It would affect him, but you would be with a trusted friend, and I expect that Remy would lay down the rules before your third got anywhere near you.”
    “What kind of rules?” she asked, discovering that she was becoming very curious and a little turned on thinking about the two men.
    “Like no kissing you on the lips, no coming in you, for starters.”
    She leaned her head against the headrest. “It’s a lot to take in.” Having feelings for Remy made every decision seem so important.
    Rico tugged on a lock of her hair. “Now, let’s move onto the marriage thing. Feeling some panic about that?”
    “Honestly, yes.” She felt her heart rate increase with her anxiety level.
    Rico smoothly pulled her into his arms for a hug. “Chica, why?” He ran his hand up and down her back.
    “I ruined my first marriage, Rico. You guys just spent an hour telling me how I’m screwing up again, still working too much. Maybe I’m not meant to be in a relationship, maybe I can’t give enough to make it work?” She let out a sob.
     He spoke softly, “I don’t believe that at all. Yes, you need to stop living for your work, and you need to change that now. I know you have the capacity to love. You’re one of the few who’s loved me for more than a month.”
    She pushed him away and gave a rueful smile.
    “He hasn’t proposed yet, so you have time. I think he was simply telling you that he’s serious, and that he wants you to know that marriage is his goal.”
    “That really scares me,” she confided.
    His smile was gentle. “I’m sure it does.”
    “What do I do?” she blurted. She hated whining, but she felt lost one minute and panicked the next.
    “Well, you stop obsessing. If you can’t get your head straight, then get your ass on a plane and talk to him face to face. He’s been honest with you, and you should feel like you can be just as honest in return. Don’t make assumptions and shut him out. You’ve got a good man who understands casino life. Don’t give up so soon.”
    “I need to think this through. You’re right.”
    Rico somehow found a packet of tissues and handed her one to wipe her eyes. “You bet your sweet ass, I am.” He flashed another warm smile. “Your sweet and soon to be tender ass.”
    She slapped his arm with some force.