Secretly More by Lux Zakari Page B

say the least, to learn that he’d made her so happy. As per her claims, he’d given her the best night of her life. That was one night out of almost ten thousand that usurped all the rest. That was so fucking unbelievable he had to take a seat on one of the nearby metal filigree chairs, afraid his knees would give or he’d start bawling, moved beyond his comprehension.
    She’d made it clear she didn’t want him. But now, how was he supposed to give her up?
    Moquest made his appearance then, all dark sunglasses and slightly wrinkled suit, his Manager nametag hanging from his lapel at an angle. “Guys,” he said in a voice that clearly suggested he was beyond hung over—and all too well aware of their situation. “What’s the haps?”
    “Not much.” Kimber shrugged, and again Jay was reminded, by that casual, careless motion, that he’d gotten to make love to the one girl he’d always wanted. It was unreal.
    “Uh huh.” Moquest sounded anything but convinced. “So everyone had a good time last night?”
    Jay darted his friend a warning look, one both Moquest and Kimber seemed to miss.
    “I really did.” Kimber nodded with vigor. “When’s the next party?”
    “I’m glad you asked. I’ve got something in the works for next week.” Moquest arched a brow. “Plan on coming back, Kim?”
    She smiled, a pretty blush dancing on her cheeks. “It’s a distinct possibility.”
    “Glad to hear it.” Moquest looked to Jay and shook his head like the world had gone mad and he had no time to figure it out, but he wanted the minutiae on Jay’s break. “I’ll see you crazy kids later.”
    Moquest shuffled inside the casino, leaving them alone again, and Jay realized he had no idea how to act around Kimber anymore, unbeknownst to her. Everything had changed, and she had no idea.
    “So tell me something, Jay.” She placed her palms on the table in front of him with a smile. “Why are you suddenly so supportive of my behavior? Last night you acted like I was the whore of the world.”
    “I know, I’m sorry.” He hated that she assumed he thought the worst of her, even though he knew he’d led her to believe exactly that. “I just had a change of heart, I guess.” He sought her eyes again, momentarily struck by their golden cedar-and-tobacco color, their intensity. “We’re friends, Kim, and we always will be. Despite recent events, I don’t want that to change.”
    “You don’t know how happy that makes me.” She closed the distance between them and bent down, wrapping her arms around his neck. As her blonde hair drifted over his shoulder and her breasts pressed against him, he couldn’t help but be reminded of their union—as if he could think of anything else. He wriggled from her embrace after giving her a brief, friendly pat on the arm and stood, afraid the memory of what happened between them would manifest in a physical sense.
    “I gotta clock in.” He stretched and yawned, feigning being unaffected. “I’ll catch you later.”
    “Of course.” She gave him a wink and tapped his nose like it was sweet little button before wandering back inside.
    Alone again, Jay sank into his chair with a sigh, wondering just how life was going to unfold from this point on. After all, there was no going back now. Today was a brand new world.
    He was just about to go inside when Moquest reappeared, this time carrying an extra large coffee that was already half empty. “Oh, good, you’re alone,” he said. “Let’s go have a chat.”
    Jay followed Moquest with reluctance to a spot on the empty bleachers facing the horse track. “My shift starts soon. Is this going to take long?”
    “It depends,” Moquest said as they both sat. “How long is it going to take you to tell me you fucked Kimber on my bed?”
    Jay stared at the empty track like it tried to hypnotize him. “It’s a complicated situation.”
    “Way to put it mildly.” Moquest took a noisy slurp from his Styrofoam cup and stroked his