Ace-High Flush Read Online Free Page A

woman must be under. He didn't want to be rude, but he wasn't about to be so disrespected. "Your daughter is an adult, old enough to make her own decisions on who she'll date, ma'am. I realize you care about her deeply and want the best for her, but I'm not a man of low moral character, and don’t deserve to be spoken to that way. I assure you, I have the greatest respect for Gabby." He tipped his hat at Anita once again, then looked to Gabby. A calico cat was snaking its way around her ankles, purring. "Will you be comin' with me, Gabriella?"
    She glanced at her mother, Ace, and back to her mother. "I love you, Mama, but this is my life. It's not about you." Gabby looked at the cat and snapped her fingers. "Mr. Sonny, sit."
    Immediately, the cat sat down at her toes and stared up at her.
    She reached into a small jar on the coffee table and held a morsel above Mr. Sonny's head. "Sit up." The cat lifted his front feet off the floor and sat back, eyes still focused on Gabby. "Good kitty." She gave him the treat and he gulped it down. "Go lie down, Mr. Sonny." The cat delicately stepped toward a carpet-covered cat tower in the corner and crawled into the dark interior. One little mewl and he was silent.
    Ace was more than a little impressed. He'd never seen a trained cat before. Gabby had some hidden special talents.
    She gathered up a small purse and a soft burgundy wool wrap and turned to Ace, her jaw set. "Let's go."
    "Gabby!" Her mother's voice was loud in the small room. "I said I forbid it."
    Gabriella didn't turn to look at her mother, but instead, made her way to the door. "I'll tell Mrs. Riley that I'm leaving, Mama. Don't wait up for me."
    Ace opened the door for Gabby and stepped aside so she could exit. Her mother had to get in the last word. "Slut!"
    Gabby's little gasp and stiff posture as she crossed the threshold told Ace a lot about their relationship. He respected Gabby more for keeping a positive attitude though faced with such vicious derision.
    Ace had rented a Lexus for the evening, determined to drive them to Hoboken himself. With GPS navigation, he figured it wouldn't be too tricky. Except for the computer's bland voice, the ride to Fanciful was silent. He reached for the satellite radio once, but thought better of it. There  was silence, but at least it was honest.
    He reached out and took Gabby's hand for a few minutes, giving it an affectionate squeeze. She didn't look at him, but squeezed his hand back with cold fingers.
    There were valets aplenty at the restaurant, and they held the doors to the car and opened the large, carved wood doors to the restaurant. Inside, the design was chrome and glass, with mahogany accents. The smell of rich foods wafted into the foyer, accompanied by muted sounds of laughter and glassware from the bar nearby.
    The maitre d' spoke before Ace could. "Mr. Journey?"
    Either the man was psychic or Carl Fennerman had let them know that Ace was a fellow Texan, and his hat and boots had given him away. "That's right. We have a reservation."
    Unsmiling, but cordial, the maitre'd nodded. "Mr. Fennerman's table is ready for you, sir." He turned to Gabriella whose eyes were wide and mouth slightly ajar. "May I take your wrap, Miss?"
    She seemed to come to her senses. "Uh, no. I'll keep it for now. Thank you."
    He nodded again. "As you like." Another man in a tuxedo walked up and smiled. "Gregg, take Mr. Journey and his companion to Mr. Fennerman's table." Turning to Ace, he said, "I'll send the sommelier to you directly, sir, with a list of Mr. Fennerman's wines."
    Ace nodded and offered his hand with a folded up hundred dollar bill ready for exchange. "Thanks." The money subtly made its way into the man's pocket.
    They followed Gregg through the restaurant to a small table near a wide, tall window overlooking the Hudson River. It offered a magical view of Manhattan. Ace watched Gabriella's face as she sat in the chair drawn back by the headwaiter, Gregg. She was agog, though she