Page 47 of Her Intense Protector

Once again, he was making her blush. How did he keep managing to do that? “Anyway,” she began. “I made some sounds that the men found distracting, and I leaned forward a lot.”

“And the men found that distracting as well,” Ezio surmised grimly.

“Well, that was the plan. So, I’m toying with the money, leaning over and cooing and oohing, then when I think their defenses are down, I scoop up the whole pile. Most of it I throw up high over my shoulder to the other gamblers, the rest I stuff into my purse.”

“Holy hell.”

“Then I duck down beneath the table. I had told Phil that when I did my distraction, he had to be ready and duck, but he wasn’t ready, and I had to grab him.”

“Of course, that dumbshit wasn’t ready. He’s so dumb he has to get naked to count to twenty-one.”

Samantha snorted. “Yeah, he would need to count his dick as well as his fingers and toes to get to twenty-one.” She turned bright red.

‘Dick’ was a swear word, right?

“That sure explains his level of intelligence when he’s drunk.” Samantha continued. “Anyway, everybody scrambled for the cash, so that was the distraction to go out the back.”

“I understand that, but why did everybody go out the front?” Ezio asked.

“Carl and Murray were waving their guns around. Somebody saw and yelled gun. That’s when the stampede started.”

Ezio’s eyes narrowed. “And when did one of them lay hands on you?”

“It was when I was trying to lead Greg and Phil to the back exits. One of them grabbed me by the wrists and pointed his gun at me.”

“Which one?”

“Does it matter?”

“It matters.”

“Murray. Anyway, he was really angry, but I don’t think he was going to shoot me, I think he was just planning on taking me somewhere, that’s why he was yanking on my wrist so hard.”

“The bastard,” Ezio spit out. “So, what did you do?”

“Maybe Phil or Greg rescued me?” She grinned, trying to lighten the moment. Seriously, he needed to calm down.

“Yeah, and the moon is made of Swiss cheese. So, tell me how you got away.”

“I used the mace in my purse. I’d used it earlier at the table too, after I was done cooing, leaning, and toying.”

“Jesus, you’re a menace.”

“But it all worked out, you have to admit that.”

“No, I really don’t, Samantha. I really, really don’t. You can’t go to your apartment. Those men are still out to get you, and there were too many instances you could have ended up dead.”

She got up off the bed and stepped up to him and put her hand on his chest. “But I didn’t.”

“But you could have,” he breathed as he put his arm around her waist and cupped her cheek.

“But I’m here. Now. In your arms,” she whispered. “I’m safe.”

“Without a bra.”

“You noticed, huh? Most men wouldn’t, I’m kind of small.”

Ezio dipped his head and rested his forehead against hers. “We need to adjust your thinking. Every man within a hundred miles would notice your beautiful breasts beneath this T-shirt.”