So, he said affably as he slid back into the booth and picked up his fork, where were we?
You were about to tell me youre a cop, Billie said, studying what food was left on her plate-which wasnt much.
Was. He gave her an easy smile. Not anymore. Havent been for quite a while.
Ah. Which means youre private. Am I right? She glanced up at him and hitched one shoulder as she picked up a stick with some kind of meat skewered on it. She nibbled, then added without waiting for his reply, Otherwise you wouldnt still have the look.
The look He muttered that under his breath, then exhaled in exasperation and took one of his business cards out of his jacket pocket and handed it to her.
She glanced at it but didnt pick it up. So. Who are you working for? It seemed casual, the way she said it-but then, he couldnt see her eyes.
Nobody you know. And he could have sworn he saw her relax, subtly. But then, with her, how could he be sure?
He watched her finish off the skewered meat then carefully lick the stick clean of barbecue sauce. Watched the way her lips curved with sensual pleasure, and her little pink tongue slipped tantalizingly between them to lap every possible morsel from the skewer. When he realized hungry juices were pooling at the back of his own throat, he tore his eyes away from her and tackled his own plate.
Solet me get this straight. Youre a private dick-
Investigator.
Sorry-investigator, hired by somebody I dont know, andWhat is it, exactly, you want with me?
Chewing, he pointed with his fork at the card shed left lying on the table. If you read that, it says I specialize in finding people. He paused, took another bite. Ive been hired to find someone. He glanced up at her. And I believe you might be able to help me.
Hmm. She stared down at her plate while above the dark glasses her forehead puckered in what seemed to be a frown. Why?
Why what? Why do I think you can help me?
She shook her head. Why do you-or the people you work for-want to find this person? The dark lenses lifted and regarded him blankly. He could see twin images of himself reflected in them, which, of course, told him nothing. Theres all kinds of reasons to want to find somebody, you know.
Its kind of complicated, Holt said, picking up his napkin and wiping his lips with it. Stalling because he hadnt decided whether it was time to put his cards on the table-and why was it everything that came into his mind seemed somehow related to poker? But I can tell you, the people who hired me dont mean this person any harm.
Its kind of complicated, Holt said, picking up his napkin and wiping his lips with it. Stalling because he hadnt decided whether it was time to put his cards on the table-and why was it everything that came into his mind seemed somehow related to poker? But I can tell you, the people who hired me dont mean this person any harm.
Yeah, well, theres all kinds of ways to do someone harm. She cast a quick look over her shoulder at the buffet tables, then abruptly slid out of the booth, leaving her almost-empty plate behind.
Leaving Holt to contemplate her words and complexities while he stared at her plate and a low-intensity hum of excitement vibrated through his chest. He was becoming more and more certain hed found his clients last missing sibling, and equally certain she was never going to willingly admit to her true identity, for reasons he couldnt quite figure out. He was going to have to find another way to positively prove Billie Farrell was, in fact, Brenna Fallon.
The plate shed left sitting on the table seemed to shimmer and grow in size as he gazed at it. For some reason the girl with the quick hands hadnt whisked it away yet, evidently being occupied elsewhere in the dining room. Billie was busy, too, heaping a salad-size plate with goodies from the dessert table. Holt threw them both a glance, then plucked the wooden barbecue skewer off of Billies plate and wrapped it carefully in a clean paper napkin.
Billie had no idea what she was putting on her plate; the buffet table in front of her was a blur. Her heart was pounding, although she was confident nobody watching her would ever guess it.
Watching me
Yeah. She could feel the detectives eyes on her, those keen blue eyes that wouldnt miss much. She knew she had the advantage on him, since she could read him pretty well and, unless he was a whole lot better than most of the other opponents shed faced, he wouldnt be able to read her at all. But somehow she had to figure out how to get him to tell her more about who he was working for and exactly who they wanted him to find.
Okay, dummy, you know it has to be you they are looking for. The more important question is, why?
A week ago shed have had to guess it was that jerk, Miley, trying to track her down. But hed already managed to do that on his own, and besides, hed be too cheap to hire a private dick. And even if he did somehow happen to have the money, hed use it to get in a poker game somewhere.
Beyond that possibility, her mind refused to go.
But thinking about Miley Todd had given her an idea how to play this guy Kincaid. It was a strategy Miley had taught her way back when he was first teaching her to play poker: Start talking about herself, not a lot, just a little bit. Get her opponents relaxed and hoping for more. Then maybe theyd let their guard down and tell her what she wanted to know.
So, she said in a breezy way as she slipped back into the booth, where were we?
You were about to tell me whether youre going to help me find the person Im looking for, Holt said absently, staring at her plate. My God, are you going to eat all that?
She focused on the mess before her and felt a wave of queasiness. Lord, was that pudding?
What can I say? I have a sweet tooth. She picked up an almond cookie and nibbled on its edges while she studied him through her dark glasses. She tilted her head and let him see her dimples. See, the thing is, how do I know if I can help you if I dont know who youre looking for?
A young woman, Holt said easily. About your age, actually.
Uh-huhand you think shes here in Vegas?
I think she might be, yes.
All right, heres the thing. She dropped the cookie onto her plate, barely noticing that it landed in the pudding. If I seem like Im being a little bit cautious, its because Ive had to be. You understand? Ive been in this town a long time. Nowadays, poker is pretty respectable, mainstream, but back when I first started playing, some of the people you brushed elbows with might not be the most upstanding citizens, if you know what I mean.
The detective nodded. Like Miley Todd?
She let go a little bubble of laughter and was grateful again for her shades. She picked up a grape and popped it into her mouth. O-kayso youve been checking up on me. Why am I not surprised?
Im an investigator, he said with a shrug. Its what I do. He pushed aside his plate and leaned toward her, forearms on the table. Look, I know you and this guy, Todd, used to be partners, and that a few years back he got caught cheating and banned from the casinos.
Billie gave a huff of disdain. He was an idiot. Card-smart, maybe, but people-stupid. A little bit of success and he started thinking he was smarter than everybody else.
So, how did you get involved with this guy?
She didnt move or gesture, but he could almost hear the doors slamming shut. It occurred to him that even without being able to see her eyes, he was learning to read her. It was a long time ago. I was young-what can I say?
He almost smiled at that, given how young she still was-a lot younger than he was, anyway. Instead, he said casually, the way he might have asked her if she liked wine, What kind of partners were you? Professional, lovers
Unexpectedly, she smiled. Id be lying if I said I didnt see that coming.
He smiled back.
The air between them seemed to change subtlybecome heavier, charged with electricity. She thought of the wild Texas thunderstorms shed loved as a child, and realized with a shiver of fear that it was the first time in years shed allowed herself to remember those times. She wondered why. Why now, with this man?
Still smiling, she hitched one shoulder. I know how guys think. It was the first thing you thought of. But the answer is, no, we werent lovers. Not that Miley didnt have ideas along those lines when he first met me. She picked up another grape and crunched it audibly between her teeth. Until I told him what Id do to him if he ever laid a hand on me.
Ouch. He gave a pained laugh and shifted in his seat. Moments passed, and Billie could almost hear thunder rolling away in the distance. Then his gaze sharpened, focused on her again. Soyour partnership was strictly professional, then. Im not clear on how that works in poker.
She shook her head, mentally reining herself in, sharpening her own focus. Reminding herself of her game plan. Partnership probably isnt the right word. Miley was more like my mentor, I guess you could say.
Protector, too, sometimes. At first. She paused. Vegas could be a rough town, back then. Dont kid yourself, it still is. Ill tell you one thing, though. She sat back in the booth, as far as she could get from that plateful of sweets, having lost her appetite completely. He was a good teacher.
He sat very still, regarding her without changing his expression, and it occurred to her that in a very short time hed become very good at controlling those unconscious tells of his. Either that, or hed been playing her all along. A small frisson of warning sifted coldly across the back of her neck.
Do you ever take off those sunglasses? he asked in the same soft, uninflected voice hed been using to ask about her relationship with Miley.
During a game, never, she shot back just as quietly.
Thats what this is to youa game?
During a game, never, she shot back just as quietly.
Thats what this is to youa game?
Sure it is. Its a lot like poker. Were both holding cards the other cant see and would really, really like to. She paused and gave him her game smile-confident, apologetic, serene. And you knowsooner or later, one of us is going to have to call.