Page 44 of Nothing to Win

“You owe him nothing, Sweet Beauty.Doesn’t matter, his credit card, my credit card, no one refuses me anything these days.”

She didn’t hear the door open, but a new voice betrayed a fourth party had arrived.

“Roxanna.”

Mrs.Lomond’s head fell to the side as she switched her angle to address the new man in the room.

“Damn, you’re gorgeous, Casanova,” Roxanna said, jaw tight almost in a growl.Roxanna?Roxie?“What a shame we face a potentially divorce inducing hurdle right here in this room or I’d jump you for sure.I should call Hatfield.”

“He’s downstairs,” the new guy said.Not any new guy, Zairn Lomond, Roxie’s husband.“You left him in the lobby.”

“Damn that man, he knows nothing of covert operations.I can’t surprise anyone these days.”

The couple went back and forth.

“I assume if we’re talking divorce,” Zairn said, “Dunlap is on his way.”

“Dunlap would never be late if I was the appointment.”

“No, because you scare him.”

Roxie made a sound of affront.“I do not.”

“You scare them all, LoLo.”

“I’m everyone’s best friend—” Roxanna raised a straight finger.“Or I would be.”She sighed.“And, darn, divorce, I was just getting used to the ring too.The wedding ring you can have.You’re not getting my Empress Ruby back.And I want Astrid.I should take Tibbs too, just to watch the shit show that would make of your life.Joint custody of Tripp, but I call dibs on the romantic holidays; someone has to entertain me, it’s not like I’ll ever get a date again.And Ogilvie can have his celebratory parade after the papers are signed, but his expenses come out of your half, I don’t care what you have to sell.”

“Is it necessary we be here for this?”Brogan asked, impatience in his flat tone.

She shouldn’t be fascinated, invigorated, but it was voyeuristic, she’d heard tell of Roxanna Kyst-Lomond, more online than anywhere else.The beauty didn’t disappoint.

“You want the island?”Zairn asked.

“Jane can have that,” Roxanna said, waving in dismissal.“I do want London, but you can stay over whenever you’re in town.”

“Sex?”

“Of course sex, what other use will I have for you?”

“So we’re moving to London, is basically what you’re telling me,” Zairn said.“And our motivation…?”

Opening her arms, Roxanna came rushing over to embrace Gia and loosen, arms staying around her.

“There’s been a captive in our city this whole time and you didn’t tell me.”

“Tripp didn’t tell you?”

“He did now,” Roxanna said on a scoffing exhale.“Both of you are on the naughty step.”

“If Alice wasn’t allowed near Gianna, do you think her parents would allow men like me and Tripp anywhere near her?”

“Momma S was right, you are a philanderer, Mr.Lomond.”

“Not anymore, sweetheart,” he said and raised his hand to show his occupied ring finger.“I’m married.”

The couple were so quick, one gibe followed another, the sparring flowed naturally.She couldn’t remember how long they’d been together.Had to be a couple of years at least.

“But not as pussy whipped as your wife would like if you keep this kind of thing from her,” Roxanna said.“This deception is a real problem, Skippy.”