Luck Be A Lady (Destiny Bay Romances-The Ranchers Book 5)

by Helen Conrad

His puzzled frown told her he didn’t really understand what she was trying to say. “I like looking at you,” he said simply. “There’s something about you, Kelly Carrington. I don’t know what it is. But I like it.”

  “But—“

  “But nothing. That’s not the point, anyway.” He handed her a glass of champagne and she took it, beyond protest. She felt limp, beaten. “The point is thanking you, not sweeping you off your feet. And since you hesitate so at letting me take you out, I’ve come upon a solution.”

  “Oh?” Her eyes felt heavy. She wanted to lean against him, feel his strong arms around her. The urge was infinitely intense, but she fought it back.

  “Yes,” Cody was saying, watching her. “A public dinner. Right out in the middle of the casino floor. Will you join me?”

  What did he mean? Kelly took a large gulp of the liquid, sputtered and made a face. “I hate this stuff,” she said helplessly. “I don’t really like to drink.”

  Without a word, he took the glass from her hands and set both of them down on a nearby table. “Will you?” he repeated.

  “What?” The room seemed to be spinning. Either the man was insane or she was.

  “Come on.” He linked an arm with hers. “Let’s go down to the casino.”

  “But...” Her feeble protest wavered in the air.

  “You have to eat,” he told her firmly. “And I’ll take you home right afterward. No funny business. I swear on my honor as a—“ Even he had trouble thinking up anything she could accept.

  “A gambler?” But she was smiling. She was going to go with him. How could she resist? He was like a steamroller and she didn’t want to get flattened. “The flowers,” Kelly reminded him, looking back at the box, “What about Miss Delfinio’s flowers?”

  “She’s working,” Cody said. “She’s in the dinner show. She’ll be back between acts. Let her take care of them.”

  Fleetingly, she wondered why he had such intimacy with the woman that he felt free to use her hotel room this way, but she didn’t want to pursue it. From what she’d seen, he had a special intimacy with many women. He was definitely not to be taken seriously, but she had to admit he was fun. Against her better judgment, he made her laugh. She would enjoy dinner with him. And then she would go home—alone.

  Cross my heart, she swore to herself.

  *** *** *** ***

  The casino felt like Mardi Gras. Bells jangled, music played, voices set a background hum of excitement, anticipation. Lights and colors swirled. Cody led her past the green felt poker tables, the blackjack bars, the chrome-plated one-armed bandits. Cody planted his hand in the center of her back, guiding her. When she glanced around he was very close, his shoulder touching hers, his face just inches away. Their eyes met and something twisted inside her.

  Kelly pulled her gaze away immediately, but her heart was thumping and she was blind to everything around them. She felt like a schoolgirl with her first crush. She felt like an idiot.

  No! her mind was shouting at her. This won’t do at all. You will not let yourself fall for this playboy gambler person—not even a little bit. Not even for fun.

  They walked slowly past a bank of slot machines, then stopped to watch the men in tuxedos playing baccarat, the dealer snapping the cards out firmly.

  “Pure luck,” Cody whispered to her as they watched. “And clever betting.”

  She thought she detected a hint of disdain in his tone. Turning, she looked up at him. “What’s your specialty?”

  He grinned. “Poker. Poker’s a science and a skill. I love it.”

  They moved on. He led her to a balcony overlooking the green felt of the blackjack tables. They stopped, leaning against the railing and looking down over the heads of the gamblers.

  “Tell me exactly what you have against gambling,” he said to her quietly. “Just on a philosophical level.”

  Kelly answered without even thinking, “It’s an attempt at getting something for nothing.”

  “Oh?” He chuckled. “You haven’t done much gambling, have you?”

  She shrugged. “No, I suppose not. But like you said, most of it’s just a matter of luck. I think people should work for things, not just luck into them.”

  “You don’t believe in luck?” Cody turned to the side, leaning on the rail while he watched her, his dark eyes steady.

  “I don’t know. I’ve never thought much about it one way or another.”

  He tilted his head back and looked past her at the flocked wallpaper. “I believe in luck. I count on it. But luck is something you have to recognize when you see it coming your way. You have to hold on to it, keep it happy while it stays with you. And when it’s ready to leave, you’ve got to let it go.” He paused, watching her so steadily that she grew embarrassed. “Luck never stays in one place for long, and if you want it to come back and visit you later, you’ve got to treat it right.”

  Kelly felt as though she should be making a defense of her point of view, but in truth, it was getting fuzzier all the time. Just what did she have against gambling, anyway? Here in the heart of the devil, as it were, gambling took on a charming, seductive quality she couldn’t find much fault with.

  But she made an attempt to call up her old fire. “Gambling ruins families, takes money people should be using to feed and clothe themselves and their loved ones. It’s a vice, a temptation. It encourages people to think they don’t have to work for what they want. All they need is that Lady Luck you were talking about.”

  His shoulders lifted in the hint of a shrug. “I believe in free will, myself,” Cody said softly. “There are a lot of temptations out there in this world. If you can’t say no to them when you know they’re out to get you, then you’ve got a problem and you better get some help in dealing with it.”

  “Cold and hard, aren’t you?” she said, but couldn’t seem to get up much emotion behind her words.

  His grin was slow and mocking. “I suppose you want to take care of everybody, don’t you? Tell them what’s wrong and what’s right and make them eat their vegetables.”

  She bristled a bit at that. “I don’t want to tell others what to do. It’s up to them. But some people are weaker than others, or hit a weak time in their lives.”

  “Right.” Suddenly his fingers were smoothing the wisps of hair back from her cheek. “And some people are born more beautiful than others.” His fingers curled softly around her ear. “Or hit a beautiful time in their lives.” His voice was so soft, she could barely hear it.

  Kelly moved back, away from his touch. His hand stayed in the air where she’d abandoned it. “And some,” Cody said aloud, “are luckier than others.” His grin was suddenly wide and amused. “Like me.” He rose from the railing and slipped a hand behind her back to guide her again. “Come on, let’s go see if they have our table ready.”

  It almost felt as if she were floating. There was something about this man that threatened to set something free inside her. She wasn’t sure if she was frightened—or thrilled.

  The table had been set up beneath the main chandelier, right in the center of the floor, but far enough away from the slot machines to avoid their noise. Nearby tables were filled with card-playing gamblers of the high stakes variety and their conversation was muted. Off to the side, a small combo played light music. Crisp white linen covered the table. Hand-cut crystal and sterling silver reflected the light of the chandelier above. The scene reminded Kelly of a dream sequence—misty and shining and utterly unreal.

  But it was set right in the middle of the action. They might as well have erected a stage.

  “We can’t eat here,” she hissed to Cody, clutching his arm.

  “Of course we can,” he countered, pulling out a chair with a flourish. “I’ve arranged everything.”

  Kelly sat numbly, looking around, her cheeks two bright spots of red in a pale face. Curious glances flashed their way, but after a few moments, no one seemed to be paying any attention to the strange couple picnicking in the middle of t
he casino. This was Las Vegas, after all. One didn’t stand on ceremony here. The town was full of characters. What were two more on a busy Thursday evening? She tried to relax, but her arms felt wooden.

  “Take it easy,” Cody murmured, pulling his chair closer to hers and moving the silverware accordingly. “More champagne?”

  He didn’t wait for an answer and that was lucky. She didn’t give one. She was still looking around, nervous as a cat. She’d never felt so conspicuous before in her life.

  “I feel like I’m dreaming,” she whispered loudly to Cody.

  Cody laughed and touched her hand. “Dreaming is one thing. Acting out your dreams is another.” He held up his glass. “Drink your champagne.”

  “I hate champagne,” she said, her fingers curling around the stem of the glass.

  “So do I,” he admitted conspiratorially. “But it does look so good in these glasses, doesn’t it? Milk just wouldn’t be the same.” He leaned a little closer. “That’s why I had Pierre substitute ginger ale. Drink up. It won’t hurt you.”

  She looked at him in surprise and he smiled, holding his glass high. “Here’s to real life,” he toasted.

  She picked up her glass and tapped it with his. “Real life,” she agreed softly, taking a sip. He was right. Ginger ale. Then her eyes met his, and it happened again, the twisting, burning sensation in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t retreat from it this time. Maybe if she met it head on, if she didn’t try to run away...

  A waiter appeared, claiming Cody’s attention, and she went on examining him, letting the warmth wash over her. The dark, straight brows, the high cheekbones, the bronze skin were set off marvelously by the immaculate white shirt and the splendidly cut suit he wore. His hands were strong with long, tapered fingers. The turquoise ring glittered on his right hand and a slim gold watch adorned his wrist. Everything about him was smooth, silky, sophisticated, yet there was the definite impression of steel beneath the velvet. He was a man a woman could be proud to be seen with.

  He was giving last-minute instructions to the waiter. Dinner had already been planned ahead, but she paid no attention to the details. She was thinking of the kiss they’d shared that very afternoon, of the way he’d pulled her up against him. His body had been hard. She could remember just what it felt like. Her breath caught in her throat as a quiver ran through her.

  “Potage aux concombres,” he announced as the waiter brought in the soup.

  “Lovely,” she murmured, watching him ladle the creamy liquid and thinly sliced cucumbers into her exquisite china bowl. An elegantly dressed couple stopped to say hello to Cody, throwing Kelly a questioning glance, but they didn’t linger long enough to be introduced. The waiter retreated and Kelly turned to Cody. “I feel so out of place here,” she said.

  “You look adorable.” His grin didn’t leave room for contradiction. “All-American. Apple-cheeked. And with that cute little cap on...”

  “Oh!” She’d forgotten all about the blue delivery cap. Snatching it off her head, she hid it quickly beneath the napkin on her lap. “Why didn’t you tell me I still had that awful thing on?” No wonder she’d been getting so many strange looks!

  Amusement shone in his eyes. “As I was going to say, with that cap on you look even more wholesome. Like the softball mom you are.”

  Kelly made a face and reached for her soup spoon. “From what I’ve seen, wholesome is hardly your style,” she noted wrly. “And softball is hardly your game.”

  “That shows how little you know about me,” Cody retorted. The amusement evaporated. “I was a kid once, you know. Like everyone else. And I’ll have you know I was the best pitcher and base runner on my Little League team.”

  She noted the serious turn he was taking. She also noticed that he beamed right in on the baseball, but didn’t refute the crack about wholesomeness not being his style. Of course, it would hardly be, from the evidence she’d come across all afternoon long.

  “I can’t imagine you stealing home,” she murmured.

  His eyebrows rose mockingly. “Really? From the things you’ve been saying, I thought you could imagine me stealing just about anything.”

  She started to protest, but the words died in her throat. It was true. She’d been acting as though he had the plague, or at least a bad case of kleptomania. Maybe it was time for her to lighten up a bit.

  Pierre brought the salad, serving each plate with pomp and ceremony that made her feel like a princess. Turning just a little she met Cody’s laughing gaze, and before she knew what she was doing she was laughing, too.

  When he reached out to cover her hand with his, she let him for a moment.

  “You like?” he asked softly as Pierre left.

  What could she say? Kelly couldn’t deny that this was fun. “I like,” she admitted.

  He moved closer. He was about to say something, but a flurry on the casino floor drew their attention before he had the chance.

  A vision in red flash and golden glitz was bustling their way, calling out as she came. Feathers and plumes seemed to sail behind her. She had blue-black hair, crimson lips, and blue eyes that glittered.

  “Cody! Darling,” she cried, waving her arms. “The flowers are magnificent!” Throwing her arms around his neck, she kissed him hard and hot on the mouth. “How can I thank you enough, darling?” It was obvious that she was playing to the crowd on the casino floor as much as to Cody. She wanted everyone within earshot to know that he’d sent flowers to her.

  Kelly edged back in her seat, trying to get out of range of the plumes as they whipped about behind the woman. Surely this was Sugar Delfinio, whose hotel room Cody had trapped her in.

  The glorious creature turned and trained her sights on Kelly. “And who is this?” she said dramatically. She looked down, eyebrows raised even higher than they’d been painted. “A sweet little cousin from out of town, perhaps?”

  Cody seemed to have recovered from the kiss. Kelly had to admire his recuperative powers—that thing had been a doozy.

  He leaned between them and smiled. “Sugar, this is Kelly Mc-Cormick. She’s the one who so recently saved my hide... and just possibly my life.”

  “What?” Sugar’s face registered disbelief, surprise, joy. It was clear that this changed everything. Before Kelly had a chance to defend herself, the arms were around her neck as well, and a big, moist kiss that made her ears ring was planted on her cheek.

  “Darling, you’ve done all of mankind a favor by saving Cody for the rest of us.”

  Kelly tried to laugh as she extricated herself from Sugar’s embrace. “I didn’t realize he was so important to the national welfare,” she murmured.

  “Oh no, darling, you see the thing is...” Sugar glanced around, grabbed a vacant chair from a poker table and plopped herself companionably close to Kelly, reaching for a bread stick from the center of the table. “The thing is, I spend most of my time with men so ancient they creak when they walk.” She took a tremendous, crunching bite, then waved the bread stick to emphasize her point. “They’ve got money, of course. Plenty of it. And they take me out to wonderful places. But they can’t stay awake long enough to get through dinner, much less anything else. And every now and then, when I get so bored I could fall asleep right along with them...” She threw a grin across the table. “Well, I just go see Cody to remind myself of what a real man is like.”

  “Not much money,” Cody said, pretending modesty. “But she loves me, anyway.”

  Kelly watched them banter back and forth. There was an obvious affection between them, though it didn’t seem especially serious. But they were from the same world. They were comfortable with each other. They both had the code words down pat. They spoke the same language.

  She didn’t feel so much an outsider as an explorer. They were both ready to draw her in with them. She just wasn’t sure she wanted to go.

  Sugar dashed off to catch her show as Pierre appeared with the scallops en brochette. Just before serving, he doused them in bra
ndy and set them ablaze.

  “You’ve heard the old joke about the rookie CIA agent who kept getting handed files stamped Burn before Reading, haven’t you?” Cody asked, watching her eyes widen at the sight of their twin fires. “This is similar, only it’s Burn before Eating.”

  “Better it than us,” she said, making no particular sense, but it didn’t matter. Even after Sugar’s whirlwind embrace she was enjoying herself. The food was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and Cody was being the perfect host. The evening was taking on a special glow. She knew she would never forget it.

  There were drawbacks, of course. For one, she was dressed inappropriately. Her simple checkered sundress and sandals were much too casual, like a country cousin to the elegant finery being displayed all around the room. That had embarrassed her at first, but now it hardly mattered.

  Cody wasn’t bothered by it. In fact, he was looking at her as though he thought she was beautiful. How could she resist? She smiled into his eyes and he smiled back. She felt her cheeks flush, but this time it wasn’t with embarrassment. Her breath came faster and she pulled her gaze away, suddenly nervous. She had to be careful. He’d begin to think she was making promises she had no intention of keeping.

  Cody saw her withdrawal and recognized what it was, but he was a man used to waiting for the right moment. Timing was everything in gambling—and in matters of the heart, as well.

  His gaze traveled up and down the slender length of her bare arm and rested on her smooth shoulder.

  “Where do you go to get that tan?” he asked, his voice low.

  It was an opening for embarking on a journey toward intimacy. She could say something teasing back.

  He would move his chair a little closer and say some

  thing risque. She would flush, laugh, lean closer to

  him.

  It was a pleasant picture, tantalizingly seductive. But Kelly shook it off.

  “I work in the yard,” she said bluntly.

  He could read her mind, she thought, watching his reaction. And nothing really seemed to make him angry. Always there was a flash of humor in his gaze.