All except Ariana, who shook her head and shuffled uncomfortably from foot to foot.
An unfamiliar lump of emotion welled in the back of his throat. “Thank you, sir.”
In reply, Nicholas pulled him into a bear hug. Another gesture so different from any Quinn knew well. Before he could become too complacent, he felt a tingle in the area of his back pocket, and a sense of disappointment pricked him deep inside, in his heart. Though he’d been forewarned of their tendencies, he still couldn’t believe they’d turn their tricks on an unsuspecting guest of their daughter’s.
Once Nicholas released him, Quinn stepped back and studied the family, wondering how to confront them. With a shrug, he opted for the direct approach. “Whoever took my wallet, I’d appreciate it if you’d give it back now.” Quinn held out his hand and waited.
Elena sighed. “I told you it was too soon, Nicky.”
A woman with her dark hair in long braids shrugged and said, “Back to the drawing board.”
But no one seemed as upset at being caught as they were by the fact that whoever’d done the deed still hadn’t perfected their technique.
“Well?” Quinn asked. “My wallet?”
Ari moaned. “Turn around, Quinn,” she said, her voice dull and resigned.
He turned and came face-to-face with a grinning monkey holding his leather billfold in its hand.
“I don’t know why they insist on saying men are descended from apes.” Uncle John, another man who’d crowded Quinn earlier, spoke up. “This one’s not the brightest bulb in the box.”
Quinn shook his head in disbelief. He’d had his pocket picked by a monkey that resembled Marcel on Friends. Quinn wondered if it was possible to arrest the animal or if Ari’s family had managed to pull the ultimate con. He wondered what they’d say if they knew he was a cop. And then he pondered what the hell he was doing analyzing so much when he was having such a damn good time watching these people in action.
He accepted the wallet and slipped it into his front jeans pocket. “Don’t try reaching in there,” he warned the smiling monkey.
“We really should go,” Ari said, her eagerness to leave almost palpable.
He wasn’t in any rush himself, but she was so mortified, he decided she deserved a break. “We do have to get going.”
“But Ari hasn’t seen our plans for the new family business yet,” Elena said.
“There’s always tomorrow, Mom.”
Her mother shook her head, all that long hair whipping around her. “I’m sure your sister thought the same thing and where is she now?”
Quinn shut his eyes. He didn’t know how much longer he could take lying to Ari’s entire family when he could so easily put them out of their misery. But then he’d jeopardize two years’ worth of carefully laid undercover work. He’d already been stupid enough to confide in Ari enough to ease her suspicions.
He reminded himself that his reasons for keeping silent were just. If he could hold out a little longer. . . He opened his eyes in time to see Ari hugging her mother tight.
“Tomorrow’s Friday,” Elena said. “I’m planning a big meal and I expect you here with the family. We’ll talk, fill you in on our project. . . it’ll be like old times.”
Ari nodded. “I’ll be here.”
Quinn, feeling like an outsider, took a step back toward the door. Then another, and another. He was used to being on his own, but being alone in a close-knit crowd reminded him too much of all he’d missed out on in life. Finally he reached the door.
“And Quinn, you be here at four, too,” Elena called out. “Living at the hotel, you could use a good home-cooked meal.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I have a business meeting.” He refused to accept their pity.
“So cancel it,” Nicholas ordered. “When Elena speaks, people listen. And when she cooks, they eat,” he added, laughing.
“You’d better listen or else Yiayia will put a spell on you,” Ari whispered, coming up beside him.
“Who?”
“That’s Greek for Grandma.”
“Can I take that as an indication you want me here, too?” he asked.
She shook her head, the newly cut strands swaying sassily around her cheeks. “I’m just looking out for my mother. She’s had more than her share of disappointment lately. For reasons I can’t seem to fathom, she likes you and wants you around.”
Her glossed lips glistened and his body tightened, yearning for another taste. “I think her daughter does, too.”
“Arrogant man.”
He chuckled, then turned to the family. “Thanks, Elena. I’ll be here. Nice meeting you all.” He followed Ari into the living room and back out the front door.
A stubborn woman with her own share of secret pain, a bizarre family of con artists, and a pickpocket monkey. And he thought his life had become routine.
• • •
Ariana awoke, stretched, and every muscle screamed in protest. If this morning was painful, last night had been no better. Her first shift at Damon’s had been a crash course in hell instigated by one angry coworker named Maria. Quinn had put the experienced cocktail waitress in charge of teaching Ariana the ropes, then left her under both Connor and Maria’s watch. It didn’t take long for Ariana to pick up the sexual undercurrents between the two of them and realize she was a point of contention between them. Connor’s constant flirting with Ariana didn’t help the other woman’s attitude, even if Ariana did suspect he was doing it on purpose, to aggravate Maria.
And speaking of aggravating, Quinn had made himself suspiciously scarce last night. Though Ariana should be grateful he wasn’t underfoot as he’d threatened, she’d found herself watching for him all evening and was disappointed he hadn’t shown up, except to drive her home. She suspected he’d tapped Connor as his eyes in the casino while Quinn himself made sure she didn’t snoop around before or after her shift.
Which left her with only one way to get info rmation about her sister. She needed to make friends with Maria. Ariana had an idea or two about how to take care of the other woman’s sour opinion of Ariana, and it involved using Quinn. Quinn, who’d tried to maintain distance by not talking during the trip to and from the casino. Quinn, who’d walked her to the door, and whose hazel eyes had golden sparks as they’d stared into hers beneath the porch light.