More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Our hatred of men was the only thing my mother and I had in common.
icons
There are only two things I know to be fact. The first is that Raphael owns the majority of the big-name casinos in Vegas. The second is that I’d be stupid to swindle a man who owns the majority of the big-name casinos in Vegas.
I knew Dante was a cunt the moment he cheated at one of my poker nights, but I didn’t realize he was lobotomized, too.
WOAH
My brother is a mystery, and despite being as thick as thieves growing up, all I know about him now is that he has a constant hard-on for violence and a hatred for sharp tailoring.
this guy's funny
“He needs to pay.” “Yeah, with a grenade,” Gabe grunts.
HAHAHAHAH
“I think it’s boring.” Gabe snorts. “You think a grenade is boring?” My gaze shifts lazily to him. “Only kids are entertained by things that go bang, brother.”
“Problem?” “Yeah.” I glance at my watch and slowly rise to my feet. “That’s a shame. I’d say take it up with the HR department, but I don’t think the Cosa Nostra has one.”
wait i love him
He’s just a man, for Christ’s sake. Not even one I like.
REALLLL
“Ouch. You’re so big and scary that I think I just pissed my panties a little bit.” “Did you steal those, too?” “It’s probably best we don’t talk about my panties—wouldn’t want to give you a hard-on in the middle of your work day.”
she keeps eating
Every time I glance in her direction, she meets my scowl with one of her own and I remember yet another thing I dislike about her. I dislike the massive dick she scrawled on my mirror; dislike that I laughed aloud when I saw it.
IM CRYING I LOVE HER
But what irks me more than anything is how she looks in her uniform, and worse, how every red-blooded male on board—with the exception of my pussy-whipped older brother, of course—is clearly thinking the same thing. Never in my life have I seen these men get up and go to the bar to order a drink, like commoners at a local pub.
PERIODDDD
Earlier on the terrace, I overheard one of my men comment that she looks like Jessica Rabbit, and while I don’t pay him to perv on my girls, he’s right.
She’s got these big, blue eyes that seem to fool everyone but me. Pale skin that flushes crimson at the slightest insult. Freckles on a button nose that merge into a single mass every time she scrunches it. And that body—don’t even get me started. It’s like she’s jumped right out of a 1950’s pin-up poster.
oh so he's obsessed
How do I know? Because when she slid up next to me at the bar last Thursday night and peeled off that fur coat like she couldn’t wait to show me every inch of her body, I almost fell for her act too. Not almost—I did. Gave her my beloved watch, didn’t I?
AW
“What did I tell you?” Gabe cuts in, glancing up from his cards with a scowl. Rory pretends to lock her lips with an imaginary key. “Oops, I forgot. Gabe says you’re a snitch.” Mild amusement tugs on my lips; I throw my arm over the back of her chair and settle into the conversation. “Did he now?” “Uh-huh.” She gulps her wine. “Says you’ll squeal to my husband like a little pig.” “Is that right?” “Yup. And we don’t talk to snitches.” Gabe nods in approval, tosses the Jack of Diamonds on the table, then holds his fist out for Rory to bump.
this is killing meeeee
I’m not the type of man who averts his gaze, even if he doesn’t like what he sees. She doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t back down, either. I’m not usually one for insolence, but Jesus, it’s kind of hot.
“Humpback whales in December? Don’t be an idiot, baby.”
HAHAHAHAHA I LOVE RORY
An uneasy possessiveness creeps over me and settles in a noose around my neck. It’s almost as if she’s mine to be pissed off at. Nobody else’s. Definitely not Freddie the fucking barman’s.
“Change the uniform.” She frowns and glances down at her outfit. “To what?” To something that covers Penelope’s ass cheeks.
Don’t call me boss when you’re half-naked, Penelope. I might just get the wrong idea.
OU
“I’ll walk you home.” “I don’t want to walk.” “I’ll drive you home then. We’re thirty seconds from your apartment, lazy bones.” “Go away.”
“That’s all it’ll take for you to believe me?” Of course not. But another flash of lightning has just lit the glass pane by her head, and she didn’t flinch.
he's so cute i can't even try to hate him
“As much as it pains me to admit it, you’re rather hot when you’re gagged.”
REF DO SOMETHIN
Just as Raphael strides out of the garage and out of sight, a light thump hits the deck. On shaky legs, I walk over and see what he dropped. Now it’s my turn to laugh, although it has a more nervous undertone than Raphael’s did. Five twenty-dollar bills in a silver money clip.
i'm fucking dead
“If you wanted to touch my dick, all you had to do was ask.” “I’d have to find it first,” Griff grumbles back.
HAHAHAH
Blake chomps off a huge chunk of a sub and grunts approvingly in my direction. “Is it your birthday or something, boss?” Is this idiot for real?
He's gotta be the leak. Theres no way this asshole got hired on merit only
“Were you born a cunt, or were you turned into one by school bullies and a father that didn’t love you?”
OH?????? ATE??????
Being a dick is the only way I know how to stand up straight around her.
“If Blake’s an easy target, what does that make you?” She pulls a wallet out from under her dress.
MY GIRL ATEEEEE
I’m Penny, I’m a thief, and I set fire to a casino in Atlantic City because its owner forced me out of the state. Yeah, that might be appropriate if I were trying to make friends in jail—which might be the case soon, considering Martin O’Hare knows the arsonist was a she.
“Her front two teeth are fake.” I blink. “Really?” “She was bitching about me in the toilet of a club, and Tayce overheard. Punched them straight out of her mouth.”
WHERE IS HER BOOK??? PUT HER IN COACH!!!!
Rory frowns. “We don’t have any mini water bottles in our car?” “Because you’ve filled the center console with candy, baby,” Angelo replies.
my cute babies
“Penelope. You’re five-foot-nothing and probably can’t throw a punch to save your life. Get in my car before I toss you over my shoulder and spank your ass for the inconvenience of getting me wet.”
you wanna know what else is wet?
“These seats are Nappa leather.” “And my sweater is cotton.” “What?” I hitch a shoulder. Glare at the glow of fragmented headlights through the windshield. “Thought we were naming fabrics no one gives a shit about.”
I LOVE HER
A strong hand grips my waist, and a dark, silky voice touches my ear. “You okay, Penny?”
THIS FUCKING MAN.
With a quick glance at my legs, Raphael shrugs off his jacket, lifts the paper sack off my lap, and drapes it over me.
“Not like you’re going to return it, anyway.” My eyes slant. “How’d you know that?” “It says Property of Atlantic City Public Library on the spine.” Oh, right.
sneaky little shit
“I’ve tried other jobs, but nothing seems to stick.” “Like?” “Well, I worked at a drive-thru, as a store clerk at the mall, a stripper, a receptionist…” My words trail off when Raphael’s forearm tenses against mine. “Stripper.” His tone is calm. Too calm for comfort.
girl.... i fear you're fucked
“So show me.”
FUCKING FINALLY
Muscles shift underneath me, then a hot, ragged breath grazes my throat. “Turn around, Penelope.”
WOAH
His stare is so intense it’s borderline violent. It burns as it trails up the seam of my thigh and over my lower stomach. “Beautiful,” he mutters.
I LOVE THIS MAN SO MUCH
“Are you wet, Penelope?”
I AM!!!!!
But then a firm, hot hand slides under the blazer and rests on my thigh. I glance up at Raphael, but he’s focusing on the gap between the whooshing wipers, steering the car with the palm of his other hand. “Strip for another man again, and he’ll die crossing the road.”
YUP IK THATS RIGHT
“Why didn’t you wake me?” I whisper, smoothing a hand over my hair. He doesn’t look up from his phone. “Wish I did, ‘cause you snore like a donkey.” “No I don’t.” He laughs easily, drops his phone in the cup holder, and pins me with a smooth smile.
If I’m sinking to the bottom, at least her voice will keep me company on the way down.
“You look tired. Didn’t sleep?” He leans over the bar, warming me with his body heat. My breathing shallows. “Yeah,” he says softly. “Seems I was too busy being a creepy man and staring at a beautiful girl all night.”
I- WHAT?
His eyes soften to something warmer as they search my features. I shake off a shiver for a different reason when his hand cups my jaw, and his thumb trails the curve of my cheekbone. “No crying.”
“Why do you care if I cry?” He tracks his thumb as it trails further down, across my bottom lip and along my chin. He grips me there for a moment, regret coating his features. “Because last night, I saw you laugh.”
His breath skitters over the nape of my neck. “Say please, Penelope.” “Please,” I whisper. “I can’t hear you.”
hot.
“According to my lawyers, as your boss I’ve got a duty of care to make sure you’re not displaying symptoms of shock or trauma.” “Horseshit.” “It’s true.” “And those symptoms are?” The corner of his lips tilt. “Irritability. Loss of appetite.”
UGH WHY DO I LOVE HIM SO MUCH
