Melanie’s face got red but she didn’t say anything. Then she took a drink and swiveled her hips in time to the music.
“Yes, well, he admitted it to me, and apologized. Said it was just the fact that we’d been fighting that weekend, and he’d hit the bottle a little too hard.” Nikki cringed inside, remembering how upset she’d been at the time. “I forgave him, so let’s drop it, okay?” She’d never seen any instance of David misbehaving.
Cory caught sight of the three girls, and made his way over. “Hey. How’s it going?” he asked, his eyes dropping to Jennifer’s toned body. “You’re looking good,” he said then blushed.
She laughed, and held her hand out to his buddy. “Hi. I’m Jennifer and this is Melanie, and her sister Nikki. We’re here to celebrate Nikki’s upcoming wedding, but I’ve been trying to talk her out of it.”
“I’m John, and I work with this Neanderthal here. So, quite a party. You all having a good time?”
“Sure. You guys taking a break?” Jen asked.
“Just for an hour.” He gestured to the way they were over-dressed for poolside. “Then we have to get back and man the booth.”
“What booth?” Melanie asked, and cocked a slim, brown hip. “I might drop by.”
“Sharecom,” Cory answered. “Maybe we could all meet up later. We’ll finish around ten.”
Nikki shook her head. “Not for me, thanks. We’re having a girl’s weekend. Catching up on lost time.”
His eyes skimmed over her and she knew he was putting together what she and his boss had done last night. “Right.” Cory shrugged. “If we run into you later, we’ll buy you a drink.”
“Maybe,” Jennifer teased.
They turned to leave and John cast them one longing look. “Later. I hope.”
CUPID
Cupid and Vinnie were sitting in a palm tree watching the entertainment, both on the end of the stage in what had recently become Vegas’s best outdoor recreation spot. Cupid gave his cousin pointers as they surveyed the party goers.
“Never zap someone’s who’s drunk,” he said for maybe the hundredth time, but knowing it needed repeating. “Humans must have their wits about them when they’re given the chance of a lifetime, an opportunity to fall magically in love. Oh, what I would do to have that chance!” He sighed deeply, and almost tumbled off of a branch. “To love and be loved is the greatest gift of all.”
“Oh, stop with all that romantic gushing, would you?” Vinnie snapped, feeling a little nauseous from the heat and the remnants of a hangover. “Just look at these babes. Forget love. I’d give my left nut, if I had one, just to have a little piece of ass now and then.” He dipped his head under a palm branch to get a good look at a young bronzed woman wearing a thong. “I mean, ya gotta just love it. How I’d like to give that ass a kiss or two.”
“You’re a horny young Cupid, if ever I saw one.” He shook his head at Vinnie, and gave him a disappointed look. “You know that we couldn’t get any action even if we wanted to. It’s not our lot in life, I’m afraid. We’re facilitators, that’s all we are. Here on earth to help lovers find each other—an ancient art that came well before match.com.”
“Why don’t we have a Cupid.com?” Vinnie said stupidly. “Then I could meet some hot Cupid girl and we could match up.”
“Oh, get your head out of your ass, and listen,” Cupid said with more heat than he should have. “You must listen and learn. I won’t be around forever.”
“Why? What place on earth has a view as good as this?”
“Oh, there’s plenty of places with tits and ass, but I set my sights higher than that.”
“What’s better than what’s right here, under your nose?”
“The beauty and wonder of love. Birds singing, a song in the air, the wind whistling a happy tune, a baby’s laugh. One day you’ll hear it for yourself. The world is full of wonder, and love is everywhere.”
“Whatever.”
Cupid was running out of patience. He wanted to shake the tree and hope the fall would knock some sense into Vinnie’s empty head. “You think your aim is any good today?”
“Maybe. Why? What do you have in mind?”
“That delightful girl, Jennifer. Try giving her a pang on her backside.”
“Sure. That’s easy. I’ve been watching it for hours.”
“Don’t miss this time. Okay?”
“I didn’t miss. The sister just got in the way of the arrow. Not my fault.”
“Nothing ever is. Okay, hold the bow steady. Take a deep breath and release it slowly.”
“Got it boss.” His hand was steady as he drew the bow back. Then his nose began to tickle. “Hu…hu…huchoo!”
Cupid watched as the arrow careened off the back of a chair, zigzagged toward the stage and hit the lead guitarist, a Keith Richards look-alike, straight in the forehead.
They watched as he staggered back, then began crooning the words, love me tender. It was a sad day for rock’n’roll fans.
CHAPTER FIVE
Josh worked until nine. He left his four salesmen to handle the last hour on their own and secure the products on display. He’d hired these guys when he became manager because he trusted them and knew they were the best. They were compensated well, and had one of the best bonus packages in the industry. Sharecom also had a great incentive program. They did well, they kept their jobs.
He ran upstairs, took a shower, then slipped into a pair of jeans and a tee, deciding to try his hand at Lady Luck. He liked the tables and played blackjack and craps, but he knew his limits. Two hours or four hundred bucks, win or lose, and that was that. He never dipped into his wallet once his money was gone. He’d been raised in a disciplined household which served him well. He knew that when bad things tempted him it was better to walk away.
He winked at the pretty croupier and sat down when a disgruntled loser angrily left the table. He tossed down two hundred dollars and asked for ten dollar chips. He put two down, and slid the others to the side. As the dealer shuffled, he glanced around the bustling casino, watching pretty ladies in their slinky dresses on the arms of men twice their age.
He heard high-pitched squeals and the constant ringing of slot machines as they paid off. Brightly colored lights flashed, and the noise, the glitter and glamour created a frenzied excitement in the air. He noticed a couple of well-endowed young ladies, all dolled up, cruising his table, looking for an empty seat in which to set their cute asses and give away their money. He looked down at his cards, not in the mood for another pretty blonde.
“Sir? Do you wish a card?”
Damn! He’d better pay attention.
He glanced at his seventeen. Dealer had a nine showing. Odds were he was beaten, but he knew that taking a card meant for the dealer could be bad news for the entire table. He waved his hand. A pass.
The attractive croupier turned her card over. Another nine. After she swiped the table and paid out the winners, Josh thumbed his chips, and put another one down. His head wasn’t really in the game, but he had nothing better to do. Waste a few hours, then get a good night’s rest before putting in another long day at the convention center.
He heard the sound of laughter behind him and turned his head. Nikki and her two friends were walking around with drinks in their hands, chatting with a couple of older men.
Jesus. For a bride-to-be she really got around. Not that he gave a flying fuck. She had bad news tattooed all over her. His skin prickled, and beads of perspiration dotted his brow. Maybe he was coming down with something. Places like this bred germs and he’d been shaking hands all day. Just his damn luck.
He glanced back again, hoping that Nikki and her friends would just keep moving along. It was a big enough casino for all of them; they didn’t need to cross paths.
Her step stuttered and the chubby older guy following closely behind bumped into her as she stopped. Keep moving, he silently told her. There’s nothing for you here. I got plans, big plans. Going places. A big job with S
harecom and the sky’s the limit.
Besides, just because she was hot in bed, hot period, didn’t mean he wanted to eat steak every night. He preferred a smorgasbord once in awhile. Nothing wrong with that. Variety was the spice of life.
“Josh?” It wasn’t Nikki’s voice, but Melanie’s. He tried ignoring her. Good manners wouldn’t let him. He glanced up and forced a smile. “Hi. How’s it going?”
“It’s going good, but I think the dealer wants you to decide if you’re taking a card.”
The back of his neck heated, and he didn’t glance at his cards, just used a finger to indicate a card. The croupier was showing a three. He gave his cards a quick glance. He never should have hit. He knew it and so did everyone else at the table. They were giving him the evil eye, and sighing heavily under their breaths.
His mind had clearly not been in the game. Now he had a six, an eight, and a ten. Busted. Which the croupier would have been had he left it for her.
She took his cards away, and his money too, then went on to the next person, who waved her on. When it was her time to draw she came up with a six, giving her nineteen, allowing her to rake in everyone’s dough.
“You shouldn’t have taken a card. The dealer was supposed to bust. Pay attention man.” The guy next to him widened his knees under the table, effectively making him uncomfortable.
Nikki laughed. He heard it loud and clear. He gave her a sharp look but she was gazing into the face of the fat, balding guy. Probably rich, he decided.
“Are you playing?” the pretty croupier asked, waiting for him to put his money on the table.
“No, sorry.” He tossed her a chip, gathered up the rest and left the table. Might as well go get a drink instead of hanging around here, losing his and everyone else’s money.
He’d just ordered a single malt scotch, when he felt her presence beside him.
Nikki. She’d followed him here. How desperate was she? Didn’t she know when to call it quits?
“You want a drink?” He should have ignored her, but he couldn’t.
“You asking, or buying?”
His lips curled up with that, and he chuckled. “Buying. What are you having?”
“A Cosmo. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He stared straight ahead, but he saw her slide into the seat next to him. He also noticed the way her skirt slid up, and the tantalizing flash of long, sexy legs. He remembered those legs wrapped around his head. Great legs. Great tits. Sure in hell wasn’t a teacher’s body. Way too hot. She’d give every one of those eager young boys a wet dream for sure.
“So? Are you going to talk to me or what?” She turned around in her seat, facing him.
He kept his eyes on his tumbler glass. Took a sip. Then another. “Or what,” he finally answered.
“Now who’s chicken?”
“I am. Damn straight. You should know better than to be here bothering me.”
“Am I bothering you?”
“Yes. Go home. Get married. Have a nice life. I’m not the marrying kind. I’m a man on the move. Working my way up the corporate ladder.”
“Uh-huh. I noticed that last night.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You let your employee know that you were sleeping with me. Not smart. Gives him power over you.”
“How do you figure that?”
“Too much information. He knows you’re a guy that’ll sleep around, even with the wrong woman. Shows a lack of good judgment. Lack of morals even.”
“Who’s talking?”
“Maybe I had my reasons. After all, I’m about to get married and this is my last hurrah.”
“Really? That’s how you look at it?”
“Well, if you were a man, wouldn’t you?”
He cringed and leaned back in his chair. “You’re a man? That what you’re telling me?”
She put a hand over her mouth, her deep blue eyes wide with surprise. Then she sputtered and coughed, laughing so hard. “No, I’m not a man. Wouldn’t you know if I were?”
“Of course I would,” he said, feeling annoyed and foolish. “Now, if you don’t mind I’d like to enjoy my drink alone.”
“I do mind. I’m not here for your company, per se, but I needed an excuse to get rid of that creep who was following me around.”
“Fat boy at the casino?”
“Yeah, him. We were all playing craps, and this guy and his buddy stood across from us. They were betting hard, losing big too. Guy was a bit of a loudmouth but he had the crowd going. Anyway, he had the dice and asked me to blow on them, and I thought “what the hell.” So I did and he won. Then he asked me to toss for him. I threw a seven, and everyone kept winning. He made thousands and pushed some chips at me.”
“So you took his money, and now want to ditch him. Nice.”
“Oh, shut up! I refused his money, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Finally, Melanie grabbed the chips and stuffed them in her purse. Big mistake.” She took a sip from her drink. “We were trying to lose these guys when I spotted you. So, you’re my decoy. I saw you leave the table, and it gave me an idea. I told him I had to meet someone.” She grinned. “Here I am.”
“I think he’s found you.” Josh said, looking over her shoulder.
“Crap!” She shifted in her chair. “Now what? This guy isn’t easy to shake.”
“Maybe I’ve got the answer.” With that, he reached out a hand and pulled her head forward. He knew he shouldn’t do it. Every instinct he owned shouted at him to get up and walk away. But instinct was not on the same playing field as lust.
The second his mouth closed over hers, he knew he was lost.
CHAPTER SIX
Nikki felt herself falling. It was surreal, as though she were floating, then sinking deeper and deeper into hot water. She didn’t fight it, wanting it, needing it and not only because the leech, Gordon, was watching.
That would be easy. Her feelings or desires, or whatever the hell they were for Josh, were far more complicated than that. They just were. Right or wrong. And they didn’t appear to be going away anytime soon.
She pulled back after a minute or two and blinked rapidly, hoping to clear the fuzziness in her head. “Is he gone?” she whispered, and fanned her flushed chest. Her heart was thundering, and her stomach was churning. Perhaps she had some weird flu. Maybe all her symptoms and illogical choices could be explained by that. She wouldn’t need to confess to David. She had some nasty virus and once it left her system, she’d be fine again. Still in love. Still getting married.
David. He was a terrific guy, she told herself. They were good together. After all the years of dating, they never argued, never disagreed on anything. They liked the same TV shows, enjoyed the same movies and restaurants, the same friends. When he slept over on weekends, he would cook breakfast, make the bed, and put the toilet seat down. An all-round great guy. Even if Jennifer didn’t think so.
Could Jen be right? Would she be attracted to Josh if she truly loved David? Yes, she told herself, wanting to believe it. The passion would come back into their relationship once they had a home of their own—and the children arrived. She wanted at least two. Not yet. But in a few years.
After all, if she was capable of this much passion with a perfect stranger, surely she could discover it with her new husband.
But what if she couldn’t?
“What are you thinking?” Josh asked, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. It felt nice. More than comforting.
“I’m wondering what I’ll do if I can’t stop thinking of you. You know…when I’m married.”
“You’ll forget me as soon as you get home.” He spoke in a reassuring manner and looked directly into her eyes. “I’m sure everything will go back to normal.” She noticed a tick in his left cheek. “You’ll get busy with all your wedding plans, and the classroom, and forget all about Vegas and me.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.” He sipped his scotch, then pushed t
he glass aside. “Sharecom is so full of opportunities, and I’m ready for them. Might even take an overseas post. Go someplace exotic.”
“That sounds nice,” she answered. “I’ve never been out of the States. Not even to Canada.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. Never had the money, or the opportunity. We’ve lived in the same town since I was born. Mom and Dad are still there. Everyone I know. I went to college in L.A. but then moved back after I graduated. David grew up about fifty miles from me. We like Arizona, all the wide open spaces. It’s home.”
“It might be home, but don’t you want to expand your horizons a little? See the world? Go to Europe? You’re young. Live a little.”
“I have my job, and David works for his dad’s company. His dad isn’t in the best of health, and he needs to stick around. Eventually, he’ll take over when his father’s gone.”
“Well, I guess that’s that then.”
“What do you mean?” She shifted in her seat, and licked her lips. This conversation had her stomach dancing around like a grasshopper on speed.
“I mean that’s how your life will be. Safe, solid, no unexpected surprises. But that’s all right. Everyone’s different. I want to challenge myself, go places, do things that I’ve never done, never seen. There’s a big old world outside just waiting. I want to go, explore, and conquer.”
“I’m pretty sure someone has already beaten you to that.”
He acknowledged her statement with a wry smile. But that didn’t stop him any. He gushed on. “I want excitement, and I sure in hell don’t want to settle down anytime soon. For you it’s different. You seem fine with your small town, the familiar sights and people. That would bore me. Besides, I want the freedom to move if the company needs me in a new territory. They need me in Timbuktu? I’m their man.”
“Good for you.” She glanced around and Gordon, the stalker, was gone. “Looks like I’m free to go. Have a great life.” She pulled out a twenty and put it on the counter. “Here’s for the drink and letting me hang out.”
DOUBLE TROUBLE: TROUBLE IN VEGAS series Page 4