Yeah, Jack returned. Next week.
With a wave, Hunter stepped onto the escalator.
Taking Kristy on a date. Of all the crazy, lame-ass plans. Did Hunter think he could dazzle her with his good looks and charm and make her forget all about Clevelands billion-dollar offer?
Kristy didnt want a relationship. She wanted a sugar daddy. She wanted a besotted rich old man who would indulge her every whim.
Jack stilled.
Wait a minute.
What was he thinking?
Kristy didnt want a besotted, rich old man. She simply wanted a besotted rich man. Shed probably take a young one just as quickly. In fact, she might prefer a young one.
He stole a sidelong glance to where she was cooing at Dee Dee.
They were stuck together in Vegas. The land of glitz and glamour and fantasy. Where better to fall head over heels for a rich young man? Where better to have a rich young man fall head over heels for you?
And Jack was a rich young manat least he was comparatively young. When you put him up against Cleveland.
Cleveland. What better way to make sure his familys reputation and fortune didnt take another hit, hed get Kristy to marry him instead. And keep their money out of her hands.
Of course, hed have to work fast.
Simon would lie for him about the jet repair, buy him tonight, maybe part of tomorrow. But eventually Kristy would get tired of waiting. Shed bite the bullet and buy a ticket on a commercial airline.
Until then, however
He offered his arm and gave her a genuine smile. Ever tried the tasting menu at Le Cirque?
She shook her head, hesitating then taking his arm.
Then youre in for a treat. Come on. He gently urged her forward. Lets go find ourselves a really flashy limo.
Fortunately, since Jack ordered the tasting menu, Kristy didnt get a chance to look at it. If she had, she suspected the prices would have given her a heart attack. Everything about Le Cirque reeked of wealth and privilege.
The tables were covered in white linen, well-spaced, with comfortable, padded chairs. The service was impeccable, and the decor spectacular. Bold burgundy carpets covered the floor, while padded, striped chairs surrounded the tables and spotlights shone on recessed circus murals.
They started almost immediately with chilled cocktails, then she savored course after course of exotic delicacies complemented by fine merlots and chardonnays.
Afterward, Jack didnt even glance at the bill before handing over his platinum card.
His cell phone rang.
Im sorry, he said, reaching for his inside breast pocket.
Kristy shook her head. Dont worry about me. She settled into the overstuffed chair, sighing as she gazed around the softly glowing room. The ceiling was draped with bright silkyellow and orange and ivory fluttering like a tent dome around a central chandelier. It was dark outside, and the dancing lights of the fountains beyond the windows added to the intimacy of the restaurant.
What time? Jack asked into the phone.
Kristy took another sip from her wineglass, letting the tart, woodsy flavor ease over her tongue, as the rooms ambiance seeped in and relaxed her.
If thats the best you can do, he said, catching Kristys gaze and giving her a smile that warmed her blood. I understand. Okay.
He flipped the phone shut.
Everything okay? she asked, truly not caring for the moment. As long as nobody had gone bankrupt or died, she was going to enjoy her stolen evening with a handsome, intelligent and interesting man.
Things like this simply didnt happen to women like Kristy. Her last dinner out had been the bistro down the block. She and her date had split the bill. It hadnt been expensive. But watching him calculate the charges, add the tip and count out change had definitely taken any romance out of the evening.
Simons waiting for parts, said Jack.
Well, that didnt sound too dire. What does that mean?
It means were stuck here for the night.
Okay. That burst Kristys little bubble. Cash-flow alert. Shed planned on finding a small family-style motel outside of L.A. Her travel budget didnt include Bellagio rates. Not even for one night.
Dont worry about it, said Jack.
About what?
He reached for her hand, stroking his tapered fingers over her knuckles. Whatever it is that made you frown. Dont worry about it.
I have to worry about it.
Says who?
My accountant and my credit card company.
He grinned. Oh, that. Dont worry. I wont let you go bankrupt before morning.
She frowned at him. Dinner was great, but youre not paying for my hotel room.
Why not?
Because I have self-respect.
Youre my guest.
Im your fellow strandee.
It was my plane.
And you let me ride on it for free.
Jack sighed, and she could feel him regrouping.
He opened his mouth.
No, she jumped in.
You dont even know what I was going to say.
Yes, I do.
No, you dont. He got to his feet. Come on. Im going to show you something fun.
You keep your platinum card right where it is.
He grinned, his eyes glowing in the candlelight. Cross my heart.
She nodded. Okay. Thats better. She bunched her linen napkin on the table and rose with him. So, what is it?
He shook his head. Its a surprise. It wont hurt a bit. But thats all Im telling you.
Will it be embarrassing?
Not in the least.
Will I hate myself in the morning?
His gray gaze went smoky, sizzling into hers for a split second, clenching her stomach, tripping her heartbeat. I certainly hope not, he said.
Jack
The sizzle evaporated. Grab a sense of humor, Kristy. Im not propositioning you
She felt like a fool. Sorry.
He held out his hand, the dare clear in his smirk.
She took a deep breath. Then she told herself to chill and curled her fingers into his palm.
His hand was strong, warm and dry, just the way she remembered. There was something about the texture of his skin, or maybe it was the way his fingers wrapped confidently around hers. It was the way it had been on the plane. She felt safe in his hands, as though he was in control of the planet, and all she needed to do was hang on for the ride.
It was probably a lingering emotion from the turmoil of the airplane landing, but it felt nice all the same.
They made their way across the patterned carpet of the casino. Machines flashed and chimed on all sides, while muted lighting showed yellow through draped fabric valences. Kristy tucked in behind Jack as he naturally cleared a path in front of him while he strode confidently through the crowd.
Above the buzz of conversation, a woman whooped in delight, and applause broke out around one of the craps tables.
The throng thinned, and they approached the casino cage where a neatly uniformed woman greeted Jack with a smile.
Fifty thousand, said Jack, tossing his credit card on the counter.
Kristy turned to blink up at him like an owl. That was a joke, right?
He glanced down and gave her a wink and a mischievous grin.
He glanced down and gave her a wink and a mischievous grin.
Seriously, she prompted.
But he didnt answer. Instead, he turned back to the clerk who handed him a receipt and a stack of bills.
Kristy focused on the money, trying to figure out if fifty thousand was casino lingo for some other amount. Maybe hed meant fifty dollars or five hundred.
But those were thousand-dollar bills. And there were a lot of them. Shed never even seen a thousand-dollar bill.
Feeling panicky at the thought of him walking around with that much money, she pulled up on her toes and hissed in his ear. This is nuts.
He leaned down to whisper back. How so?
You cant blow all that. She was practically hyperventilating just looking at it.
He smirked. Im not blowing it. Theyll give it back to me when I cash in the chips.
Like that was a reasonable answer. Only if you dont lose it.
He shook his head. Have a little faith. Im not going to lose it.
You cant know that.
He tucked the bills into his inside pocket. Sure I can.
She resisted an urge to sock him in the arm. Do you have a gambling problem? Was she an enabler in all this? Should she try to drag him out of the casino? Maybe call Hunter for help?
Jack grinned, turning to walk away from the cashier. Its not a problem at all.
She moved up beside him. Seriously, Jack. Should we leave?
I told you. This is going to be fun. He stopped in the middle of the casino and took a look around. Okay, what are you up for?
A drink, she said, suddenly inspired. We should go back to the lobby bar instead.
Theyll bring you free drinks at the table. Ever played roulette?
He started to move again, and she scrambled to keep up. No. Of course not. I dont gamble. Like she could afford to on her budget.
Really? he asked.
Really.
Thats too bad. He stopped in front of a green numbered table and a shiny roulette wheel.
Hop up, he said, putting the stack of bills down on the edge of the green felt.
She stared at the money, a sick feeling growing in the pit of her stomach. No way.
He pulled out one of the high chairs. Dont spoil the party.
Jack, really Then she realized they were attracting attention from the dealer and the other players, so she lifted her heel to the crossbar and jumped up into the chair.
That a girl, Jack murmured approvingly.
The dealer took his money and replaced it with a clear plastic tray of color-rimmed chips.
Jack took the seat next to her. There you go. Now pick a number.
She glared at him.
Care for a drink? a female voice said from behind her.
Glenlivet, said Jack. One ice cube. He looked at Kristy. A Cosmopolitan? That was the drink shed had before dinner.
She considered saying no. But two minutes ago shed claimed to want a drink. She didnt want to look like a fool. So she nodded, and the woman jotted it down.
Did you pick a number? asked Jack.
Twenty-seven, she said, giving up the fight with an exasperated sigh.
He nodded at the table. Well, put some chips on it.
She picked up a single hundred-dollar chip and leaned over to the twenty-seven square.
Thats it? he asked with obvious disappointment.
You might be sure youre not going to lose, she said, as the dealer spun the wheel. But Im not.
I never said you werent going to lose.
There you go.
He sat back in his seat. What I said was, Im not going to lose. And thats because Im not going to play.
The wheel stopped on thirty, and the dealer cleared away her chip.
See what you made me do?
Pick another one, he said, eyes dancing. And this time live a little.
Is this voyeurism for gambling addicts?
He laughed at that. I thought you said you wanted a room?
What does this have to do with getting a room?
Youll see.
And it was you who wanted a room. Im happy to wait at the airport with Dee Dee.
All night?
To save several hundred dollars? Yes.
The dealer tossed in the small white ball.
Jack nodded to the wheel. You missed that one.
She swiveled the chair to the side. Can we leave now?
Weve got drinks coming.
The ball stopped, and a sequin-covered woman next to Kristy gave a cry of joy.
Play a number, said Jack.
Youre insane.
He lifted a stack of chips and placed them in her palm. If you want to play it safe, take red or evens. Or, see that? If you put it on the line, you can cover two numbers.
Kristy squinted at another mans stack of chips sitting on the line halfway between two numbers. Really?
Swear to God.
Kristy had to admit, that seemed like a pretty good deal. She put a stack on the line between seventeen and twenty. She refused to count the chips to see how much she was gambling.
Jack placed his arm across the back of her chair and leaned in. Now dont let it rattle you if you lose. Youre going to win some, and youre going to lose some. But well be fine in the end.
Kristy held her breath as she watched the white ball bounce around the wheel. It rattled to a stop on the seventeen.
She blinked, sure she must be hallucinating.
You won, said Jack.
I did?
You want to let it ride?
She watched the dealer add a stack of chips to her bet. Ha. What are the odds of it hitting seventeen twice in a row?
Exactly the same as the odds of it hitting any other number.
Kristy eyed him skeptically.
Seriously, he said.
That couldnt be right. She reached out and moved her winnings to twenty-nine and thirty.
Then she reconsidered and cut the stack in half.
Jack sighed, leaning in to mumble in her ear. Well be here all night at this rate.
She ignored the warm puff of his breath on her skin. I dont want to lose it all at once.
The dealer spun the wheel and tossed in the ball.
Theres plenty more where that came from, said Jack, tapping his finger on the plastic tray that held his chips.
I cant believe youre so cavalier with your money.
I cant believe youre so cautious with my money.
The ball bounced to a stop.
Kristy had lost.
See?
The waitress arrived with their drinks. Chatter ebbed and flowed around them as the sequined woman next to Kristy wriggled off her seat and slid to the floor.
A thirty-something man in a dark suit took her place.
He smiled a friendly greeting at Kristy. Jack reacted by leaning closer to her, closing the space between them.
She struggled not to grin at his posturing. They were about as far away as you could get from dating, yet some anthropological instinct had obviously kicked in.
Make a bigger bet, said Jack, the fabric of his suit brushing against her bare forearm.
Fine, she said, scooping a long round of chips and placing them on number four.
Wow, he breathed, and she shot him a worried look.