“How long do we have to listen to this?”
“It’s Jerry, so probably not too much longer.” She tucked the pillow he’d thrown at her under her head. “I wonder if Julia’s the type to stay out all night and sleep all day. I’m surprised she wasn’t back when I called a few minutes ago. It’s after one.”
Sighing in frustration, he focused on their conversation rather than the activity in the next room. “Yeah, maybe we should pay Julia a visit very early in the morning.”
“Good idea.” She snuggled into her pillows and closed her eyes.
She was quiet for a few minutes while Jerry’s orgy of two raged on, then she said, “I almost asked earlier if you were on a hookup dating site like Jerry, but you aren’t.”
Intrigued, he rose to his elbow and propped his head on his hand. “What makes you so sure?”
“Because you’d want to talk to a woman first, get to know her before you slept with her. I’m not saying you wouldn’t sleep with her on the first date, but if you did, you’d buy her dinner first, or breakfast if she let you stay over, or make sure she had a ride home. You respect women.”
“You know how my mom wasn’t always treated right by men after my dad died. I swore I would never be that kind of guy.” He shrugged. “But you don’t sleep with many men because of your mom. Every time she would bring around a guy she was dating, you’d plaster on this really big fake grin while you shook his hand. I could always tell how much you loathed them based on how high your right brow rose.”
“Really? I didn’t realize I did that.” Her lips slowly morphed into a sad grin. “It’s weird how well we can read each other, isn’t it? I used to think of you and me like yin and yang. Opposites in so many ways, but we still fit together at the core.”
“Yeah. It’s probably why we get such perverse pleasure in teasing each other. But we both know not to cross the line. Poke at the real scars on our hearts.” It had been the best part about being Dani’s friend. They trusted each other with their every thought and feeling, knowing the other would never break the promise to keep things only between them.
Dani whispered, “It makes it safe—and fun—to spar with you. I never had that deep connection with Jake. It made me sad.”
He nodded. “I kept waiting for that to happen with Heather, too. I realized on our sixth wedding anniversary it never would.” Knowing what he and Dani once had made that night with Heather even harder. It was the night he’d known his marriage was over, but he wanted his girls to have a cohesive family more than he’d wanted to make himself happy.
“What happened?” Dani sat up and propped her pillows against her headboard.
He’d never told anyone about that horrible day. But Dani would understand better than anyone. “I had just signed my second NFL contract, which came with a large bonus. Heather told me she’d like a necklace for our upcoming anniversary that weekend that cost almost half a million dollars. She said being married to a football player who was always gone or at the gym entitled her to it.”
Dani smiled. “And you said no, not because of the money but because it isn’t safe to walk around with that kind of jewelry, right? Even my mom only wears the good stuff to the Oscars.”
“Exactly.” Dani did know him well. “Heather pouted for a few days but then seemed to get over it. She’d told me not to worry about our anniversary plans because she’d taken care of everything, so I bought her some really nice diamond studs and looked forward to whatever surprise she had for us. Turns out she’d decided to throw us a black-tie party at a country club and had invited two hundred people. One of the few times I was able to talk to her that night, she pointed out the other players’ wives and how much their jewelry cost. And that I had embarrassed her by not buying her the necklace, and she hoped I was happy.”
“Ouch.” Dani got out of her bed and joined him in his. She snuggled against his side and wrapped an arm around his waist. “Seems she got caught up in the glitz and glamour of pro sports. I’m sure it’s easy to do.”
“I think it’s the only reason she married me. She’d always wanted that lifestyle. She stopped even pretending to be happy after I was forced to quit playing.”
Dani gave him a quick squeeze. “If she really knew you, she would have arranged for a horseback ride into the woods for just the two of you. And she would have packed a picnic basket with fancy cheeses, healthy little turkey-and-avocado sandwiches with the crust removed, of course, and something chocolate for dessert, like truffles. And a very nice bottle of wine. Am I right so far?”
He ran his fingers up and down the soft skin on her arm. “Sounds perfect. What next?”
“You’d stop in a secluded place, lay a blanket down by a lake or stream, and seductively feed each other grapes. And after a few glasses of wine, you’d make sweet love to her on that soft blanket.”
Dani saw clear into his heart, the same one that had just flipped over in his chest. There was no doubt now that he still loved her. And that they could still trust the other with their deepest secrets. “But if it was your perfect anniversary, the scenario would be a bit different. You’d still love a ride into the woods, but you’d want to make it a race.”
She shrugged. “Of course. That’d make it more fun.”
He laid a quick kiss on the top of her head. “Stop interrupting. You’re ruining the mood.”
“Fine. Go on.”
“You’d pack your picnic basket with the things you said before, but then you’d add snack cakes, fat-filled meatball subs, the fixings for ice-cream sundaes on ice, and you’d make it two bottles of the good wine. The loser of the race, which you’d already know wouldn’t be you, would have to eat the other’s favorite foods. You’d seductively feed each other the cherries from on top of your sundaes, because that would be much more fun than healthy fruit. Then after maybe three or four glasses of wine, you’d be so impatient to have your way with your date you’d rip off his clothes, draw him in the lake, and ravish him. He’d be the happiest guy in the world.”
She laughed. “I especially like that last part with the ravishing and the happy guy.” She lifted her chin up and laid a soft kiss on his lips. “Any chance the happy guy could be you in this scenario?”
“I’d like it to be. I’ve been thinking I might need a little more yin in my life.”
Dani sighed. “And I’ve been working on having more of your yang. God knows if anyone needs more yang, it’s me.”
He wrapped her up and rolled onto his back, settling her on top of him. “I’m happy for you, Dani. Cutting the apron strings is going to be hard, but you can do it. And maybe you’ll even be able to finally find out who your father is, or isn’t, this weekend. You pretend it doesn’t bother you, but I know it does.”
“Yeah.” She scrunched her nose. “Did you notice Mario’s eyes?”
He had. They were the same exotic mix of brown, gold, and green that hers were. If he blocked out the rest, it was like staring into Dani’s. “Yes. But he’s Italian, and so are you. Maybe it’s a common-trait thing?”
She drew a deep breath, then slowly blew it out. “Yeah, that’s probably it.”
Dani didn’t sound any more convinced than he was. He was pretty sure she’d just met her father. Maybe he’d just ask Mr. Giovanni. That way Dani would know for sure, since her mom wouldn’t tell. It wasn’t fair to Dani. She had a right to know who her father was and the opportunity to have a relationship with him, if Mr. Giovanni wanted that, too.
He’d give anything to have his father back, and it was the least he could do for Dani.
Yeah. He’d ask the next time he saw Mario.
When the headboard banging stopped, Dani snuggled closer. “Finally. But you know I’ll be dreaming about ravishing you in that lake all night now. Thanks for the added frustration.”
“My pleasure. I’m glad we can finally go to sleep now so we both can get the dream started.” And then, as if on cue, the banging next door started up again.
“It has
to be male enhancement pills.” Dani moaned. “That’s the only explanation. Maybe you can borrow some for tomorrow so we can make up for lost time.”
He tucked her head under his chin and settled in for the night. “After twelve years without you, there will be no pills required. Brace yourself, Ethel.”
Dani’s shoulders shook with laughter as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. “Can’t wait. But for tonight, it’s nice to snuggle.”
As much as he wanted Dani, sleeping beside her and just being with her were infinitely better than what Jerry was doing next door with a stranger. But tomorrow couldn’t come fast enough.
Chapter Eleven
At 6:20 a.m., Dani rapped on Julia’s hotel room door and then placed Emma in front of the peep. Michael and Jerry stood off to the side, out of sight.
After a few more knocks, the door swung open. Julia’s forehead crumpled in confusion as she reached out and took Emma. “Who the hell are you? And why do you have my daughter?” Julia planted a kiss on Em’s forehead. “Hi, baby.” Then she tucked Em onto her hip. “What’s going on?”
Dani started to answer, but Emma was squealing in delight, making it hard to be heard. Dani had to bite back the acerbic remark that lay on the tip of her tongue regarding abandoning children. “Your mother sent us to help you get the money back.” After Dani made the introductions, Julia reluctantly opened the door wider and let them all in.
Julia was a pretty woman, a grown-up version of Emma with strikingly bright-blue eyes, blonde hair, and full porn-star lips. Her gaping robe had Jerry ogling her nicely formed bust, which, as everyone now knew, was his favorite part of the female form.
She shut the door behind them. Julia adjusted Emma and then, thankfully, her robe. “My mother sent you? That doesn’t make any sense, and why do you have Emma instead of Ron?”
Before Dani could reply, Emma wrapped her body tightly against her mother and proclaimed loudly, “Bad Momma! Emah go, too!”
Way to go kiddo; that’s telling her.
But when Julia’s head bowed and fresh tears sprung from her eyes, Dani softened. Julia appeared to be closing in on desperation when she replied, “I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t have any choice.”
After they cleared up the details on how they came to be in possession of Emma, Julia explained that her partner had stolen the money electronically from some of their bigger clients’ accounts, and most didn’t know until they went to make their payroll tax deposits. She’d confronted her partner, Greg, and he’d told her everything was going to be fine because he’d invested the money in some offshore “sure bets,” and not to worry.
The next thing she knew, their clients were receiving nonpayment notices from the IRS. After she was caught snooping in Greg’s computer files, he went to the police and pointed an accusing finger at Julia to buy himself some more time. Then he disappeared.
Michael asked, “What did you mean when you dropped Emma off with Ron? That it was his fault that you had to hide?”
Julia shook her head and pulled Emma tighter against her chest. “I just said that to scare him into keeping Emma. Ron is her father, but I never told him because I don’t want anything from that heartless jerk. But none of my other relatives are in a position to take her. I didn’t have any other choice but to leave Emma with him on such short notice.”
Julia dropped down on the side of the bed. “He’d asked me to help him take advantage of some questionable loopholes in the tax code while we were seeing each other. I wouldn’t have recommended any clients do what he wanted to do—it definitely falls into the ‘gray area’ of tax accounting—but I was madly and stupidly in love with him, totally believing his song and dance about leaving his wife, so I helped him shelter large amounts of money.”
“Is the IRS after you for Ron’s accounts?” Michael asked.
“No, I don’t think so. As I said, it’s questionable, not illegal, but now with them going through our files, I’m sure I’m going to have to defend that move as well as the truly illegal ones of my business partner. I know gambling what’s left was stupid, but I’m desperate. Greg left a paper trail leading straight to me, and I had nothing to do with any of it. You have to believe me. I can’t go to jail and leave Emma.”
“We’ll work it all out.” Dani laid her hand on Julia’s arm and closed her eyes. A calm blue light filled Dani’s mind. In that instant, she knew Julia was telling the truth. It looked like the worst thing she was guilty of was helping Ron hide the money they could surely retrieve. “I’ll help you win the money back if you’ll help us find Ron’s hidden money. How much of the ten thousand is left?”
Julia’s eyes filled with tears again. “Five hundred dollars.”
That was going to make things a whole lot harder. She’d hoped for at least five thousand, so she could make it up playing poker, but it looked like they were going to have to start off smaller. Slots would probably be the best bet.
Michael asked, “How much do you need to keep the IRS at bay?”
Julia’s brow furrowed. “I need a hundred. It’s impossible. I’m screwed.”
Dani gulped. “A hundred thousand dollars?”
“Yeah, and that’s after taxes, which the casino will automatically withhold, so I’d need closer to a hundred and thirty thousand.”
Michael’s eyes narrowed. “What are you thinking, Dani? No one can win that much money with a lousy five hundred bucks. That’s insane.”
She met Michael’s hard gaze, then glanced back at Julia. “I’m actually a very good gambler. The way I play is sort of like your ‘gray area’ accounting, so if I win this money, you have to promise to find a way to pay the casino back when all of this is settled. If nothing else, you can bring it here and purposely lose it.” Dani held out her hand for a shake. “Deal?”
“Deal.” Julia pumped Dani’s hand.
She checked Julia out, calculating they were similar in size, except Dani’s bust was a little smaller. “So, do you have an outfit I can borrow? One that will make me look like a bimbo with too much money to blow?”
Julia’s face lit with a slow grin. “Oh yeah.” She turned toward her closet and pulled out a skimpy red dress, then leaned down to pick up a pair of matching three-inch stilettos.
Dani trotted into the bathroom, stripped to just her panties, and slipped into the dress and then the shoes. The dress was so tight she had to lose her panties, too. When she opened the door and modeled the dress for everyone, Emma clapped and Julia hummed in appreciation.
With widened eyes, Michael uttered a single word. “No!”
Dani laughed and met Julia’s amused gaze. “Well, now we know it works.” She turned and faced the mirror. How Julia’s larger breasts didn’t spill right out of the skimpy halter top was a mystery. As it was, Dani’s were displayed in a barely legal manner. The hem line was short enough she’d have to be careful not to flash anyone Britney Spears style when she sat down.
It was just the look she wanted. She needed the men at the poker tables to look at her body, not her expressions. She was a terrible liar and didn’t have much of a poker face. Boobs and curves she had in spades, so why not use them?
Michael slid behind her and growled in her ear, “Dani, this is crazy. You’re not leaving the room dressed like that.”
She took his chin and planted a quick kiss on his lips. “Quit acting like my mother and listen for a minute. It’s all part of the distraction plan so I can bluff in poker. You’re welcome to accompany me and defend my honor while I’m out there. In fact, I’d like that very much.”
Before he could respond, Jerry called out, “Hey, Dani?”
When she turned and faced him, he held up his phone and took a picture.
“What are you doing?” She slammed her hands on her hips.
“The next time you refuse to do what I want, I’m gonna send this picture to your mom.” Jerry laughed as he tucked his phone into his pocket.
She sent him the stink eye before she turned to Mich
ael for support. He crossed his arms and shook his head. “Don’t look at me. I wish I’d thought of it first.”
Dani was insane. Michael had half a mind to jump into his car and leave her and Jerry to fend for themselves. How she could parade herself around the casino in that hooker dress was beyond him. And he was pretty sure she was buck naked under there but didn’t really want to know the truth.
Pacing back and forth in their hotel room, he stopped to gaze out at the Las Vegas skyline. In the daylight, the town looked almost as tacky as Dani’s dress.
And her plan was just nuts. No one could turn $500 into $130,000.
He wanted to give Emma back, grab a little of that alone time with Dani, then be sure Julia turned herself in. He’d probably have Julia in and out of custody within a few hours since they didn’t have enough to charge her with anything yet. That is, if she was telling the truth about not being involved with the money scam. How could Dani be so sure Julia was innocent? No one’s gut instincts were that good.
Dani was putting her makeup on in the bathroom, so he crossed the room, intent on talking her out of her latest Lucy Ricardo scheme.
Taking a deep breath for patience, he leaned against the doorjamb and folded his arms, watching as Dani applied thick layers of war paint to cover her bruised face. She was prettier to him without any makeup at all.
She looked up and met his gaze in the mirror’s reflection. “What?”
He ran a hand down his face, still struggling for composure. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because she’s innocent and needs a break.” Dani pumped her mascara wand a few times. “I really am an incredible gambler, Michael. You’ll see.”
“No one is that good. And I don’t want men thinking you’re a hooker. Let’s just talk Julia into going home with us.”
She was about to apply a layer of lipstick, then stopped and laid the tube on the counter. Crossing to him, Dani snuggled against him and whispered in his ear, “It’s sweet of you to care about how other men look at me, but I’m more interested in what goes through your mind when you see me.”
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