Lean Mean Loving Machine: A Loveswept Classic Romance

by Sandra Chastain

  Stacy

  Midnight? Sleep with the windows open? What was the woman talking about? What was she doing? Where was she?

  Gavin couldn’t answer any of those questions except what she was doing. That he understood. She planned to play cards with Sol again, high stakes, winner take all. He had to stop her. He had to tell her that he loved her, that he was willing to lose everything to protect that love.

  Were they playing there, or somewhere else? Sol. Sol would know. But the switchboard said Sol was away for the day. And nobody would tell Gavin where, or if, a high stakes game was set for that night.

  For the first time in his life Gavin was stymied. He’d reached a brick wall and couldn’t even find a crack to let him get to the woman he loved. By evening he’d exhausted every possible lead. He finally resorted to charming the chambermaid into unlocking Sol’s empty quarters so that he could confirm the plans for the evening. The table was being made ready. The bar was being stocked. The game was on—for eleven o’clock.

  But how was he to get in? Gavin pondered the problem as he went back to his room. He would bet his last dollar, if he had one, that Sol would have a dozen look-alikes guarding the elevator and the penthouse. He’d have to find a way. Maybe from the roof. Maybe—

  There was a knock on his door. Stacy might not plan to include him in the playoffs, but Sol had no intention of losing any of his advantage. An invitation to the game was being hand delivered by the same bellman who delivered Gavin’s freshly pressed tux.

  Three hours until game time, Gavin realized. He badly needed rest. There was nothing more he could do until eleven o’clock. He took off his clothes, determined to take a nap. But sleep was elusive. He wandered to the window and recalled Stacy’s cryptic words to sleep with the windows open.

  Of course. She intended to return to him at midnight. The reference was to their forever connection, the bite she’d given him on the neck, immortality. Gavin smiled. Aunt Jane was right. They were connected by a force that endured. He went back to bed and closed his eyes.

  Across the street Stacy stared from her bedroom window, wishing she really did have wings that could carry her to Gavin’s open window. Just knowing that he understood her reference gave her great joy. His open window was like Lonnie and Grace leaving the porch light on for her, a steady reassurance that he’d always be there, her anchor, her soul mate.

  Stacy was very tired. She’d spent most of the night making love to Gavin and the entire day at the gambling tables, betting in ten-dollar increments, steadily increasing her funds until at last she had better than ten thousand dollars. The incredible run of luck was almost frightening. Lucky had longed for such power. She’d never cared about money.

  She wasn’t even sure she cared now, except for Gavin. If she could win enough to pay off Sol, they could share a life together without having the cloud of debt hanging over them.

  She rippled the bills, thinking about what a monumental thing this small debt had become. Corporations dealt in billions of dollars without a thought. Countries were trillions of dollars in debt. In the scheme of things, winning a mere hundred thousand dollars didn’t seem like much, but for her it was a measure of her future.

  This time she didn’t worry about distracting her opponents. Instead of wearing a dress that barely covered her body, she chose a long-sleeve green satin gown that covered every inch of her front, but plunged to a scandalous depth in back. Again she teased her hair into a dark brown cloud and sprinkled it with stardust held on with hair spray. She wore no jewelry, except for her lucky silver dollar.

  Knowing the importance of making an entrance, she slid her small feet into four-inch matching green satin pumps that extended her height to almost six feet. Tonight the dogs were snapped into matching green satin collars and silver leashes. She sprayed on her favorite perfume and studied herself in the mirror. She looked mysterious and successful and lush.

  Moments later she was entering the elevator to the penthouse. Just late enough for everyone to be there. Her money was carefully counted and ready inside the clutch purse beneath her arm. She gave the camera an open look and what she hoped was her most confident smile.

  The door slid open to the sound of the waterfall. But there was no murmur of conversation, no tinkle of ice in glasses. The atmosphere was serious. She calculated that in no more than an hour she’d be able to return to Gavin, either triumphant or flat broke.

  Into the room she strode, the dogs marching smartly beside her.

  “Good evening, gentlemen!” Her eyes swept the waiting players—Sol, a stranger she didn’t recognize, the same banker from the night before and—“Gavin!”

  “Good evening, darling,” he said smoothly, coming to her side with a ready kiss for her cheek. “You didn’t think Sol would let me miss this, did you?”

  Stacy swung around to Sol, a look of fury on her face. “This wasn’t part of our agreement, Sol. Gavin Wasn’t supposed to be here.”

  “So, I lied,” he said. “You can’t blame me. All’s fair in love and war—and revenge.”

  “Fine, you want to make this a war. Bring on the guns. Boys, sit!”

  The dogs found their places by the door and crouched down.

  Stacy took her seat at the table and waited for Gavin’s hand to clasp her shoulder. It did. She felt a surge of strength sweep through her and smiled. Opening her purse she took out her money and laid it on the table. Sol only nodded. That she was prepared didn’t come as a surprise to him. She decided that he probably knew what she’d done all day, even though she’d been careful to avoid Sol’s casino.

  “Tonight you may choose the game,” Sol said to Stacy, “but there will be no limit on the bets, nor on the pot. We play with thousand-dollar chips.”

  Stacy gulped. Up to now she’d played it safe by sticking within her ten-dollar limit. Now came the test. Could she do what she had to do? Gavin leaned down and under the guise of giving her a kiss, said, “Go for it, darling. If we lose, we’ll go back to Hiram and I’ll get a job in a hardware store to support my wife.”

  Wife? Stacy blanched, then pulled her attention away from that thought. First they had to get through this game, then she’d allow herself to think about Gavin’s words. “Whatever you say, Sol. You’re playing with Lucky Lanham’s daughter, and she’s come to break the bank.”

  The game was five-card stud, nothing wild. And by the end of the first hour she’d tripled her winnings. With each hand her confidence grew. The deal had worked itself back around to Sol, who announced a change in the game.

  “Seven-card stud, deuces wild.”

  This time Stacy did gasp. Seven-card stud she could handle. Having three hole cards with deuces being wild was more of a challenge. But betting with thousand-dollar chips only gave her thirty chips to play with.

  “That’s why you came, isn’t it?” Sol asked. “To challenge me?”

  “No,” Gavin interceded. While he’d made up his mind that losing wouldn’t be a disaster, Stacy hadn’t. She was taking a chance for him, but if she failed, she might be crushed by that failure. “Forget it, Stacy,” he said sharply, “take what you have and let’s go.”

  Stacy considered doing just that. She’d already made up her mind that the garage didn’t matter. But in some weird kind of way the game had become a symbol. She was playing for Lucky, too, and if she quit now, she’d never know whether or not she could have won. And Gavin would lose everything, possibly even the Shelter for the Spiritual Odyssey of Man, and woman too.

  “No, we’ve come this far, Gatsby, we’re going all the way—together. Okay?” She looked up at Gavin, and he saw all the love he’d ever wanted shining in her eyes. The rest was in the hands of whatever fate had brought them this far.

  “Okay, Princess.”

  Stacy’s first hole card was a two of clubs. The second, dealt facedown was a four of hearts. She could hear Lucky giving her lessons. Deuces are wild, Stace. A deuce could also be the beginning of a straight, or a pair.

&
nbsp; Her first show card was a five of hearts. She already had the four and a wild card. What were the odds that she’d draw either the two, three, or six of hearts? Probably slim, but a straight flush was the second highest hand any poker player could have.

  The banker bet on his jack of spades. The stranger with the four of clubs stayed in.

  Sol had drawn the two of hearts. Not only a wild card, but the two of hearts she needed for her straight. That hurt. Now she’d have to draw the three and the six or another wild card.

  After the next round, Stacy had a nine of diamonds, no help. The banker folded. Sol drew the queen of hearts.

  “Well, now, this gets interesting,” Sol said, “first the deuce, now the queen. Looks like I’m drawing your hearts.” Then he turned up a six of hearts for Stacy. “What do you think, Magadan, could she have the three and four hidden? I think not. She’s her father’s daughter, and the Lanhams are losers”.

  “I warn you, Sol,” Gavin said carefully, “Stacy is a strong woman who goes after what she wants. Don’t confuse her with her father. Stacy doesn’t lose.”

  “We’ll see.” Sol dealt himself the ten of hearts. “Queen still bets. Five thousand says I don’t believe you can do it. What’s it worth to you, Ms. Lanham?”

  Stacy did some quick calculations. Her money was dwindling fast. What was she doing? Ever since Lucky had died she’d avoided anything that reminded her of the addiction that sucked every shred of respect from his life. Now, in a heartbeat, she’d suddenly became her father, risking everything.

  Gavin felt the tension that turned her body into a statue carved from ice. He slipped his fingertips around her neck and tilted her head so that she could see him. For a long minute he simply looked at her. “Let’s get out of here, Princess. Forget the money. I have to look for a job.”

  Stacy stared at him in surprise. Was he seriously suggesting that she walk away—that they throw in the towel? She couldn’t, it mattered too much. She’d learned about how hard he’d worked to be somebody, and she wouldn’t be responsible for his going back to that kind of life again. Fear gave way to pure determination. Of course Gavin couldn’t work in a hardware store. She wouldn’t lose.

  Stacy’s sixth card was the three of hearts. There was nobody in the game but she and Sol.

  The room went silent. Stacy could only hear the sound of the dogs’ collars clanking now and then and the waterfall in the other room, and her breathing.

  “Well, now, Stacy. You have a three, a five, and a six of hearts showing. I have a queen, a ten, and a wild card. We appear to be gambling with hearts, just like my daughter did. Appropriate, don’t you think?”

  Stacy didn’t dare breathe. Only the firm pressure of Gavin’s hand on her shoulder gave her the strength to keep her expression bland. With her wild card she had her straight flush; two, three, four, five, and six of hearts. She had him, the wily old bastard. Unless he had a king and ace in the hole—or drew one. She waited.

  “Deal your card, Sol. Stacy and I have a date,” Gavin said lightly, and watched as Sol turned over the ace of hearts.

  Stacy felt her heart plunge to somewhere in the vicinity of her toes. All Sol needed was the king of hearts, and he had two hole cards already, with one to go. She waited quietly.

  “I think this is the end of the line, Stacy Lanham. I believe the time has come to see what you have. I think I’ll bet the bank.”

  Stacy watched him shove his entire stack of money forward. More than Stacy could begin to match. She could no longer feel her heart beating. The haze of smoke in the room gave a surreal air to the participants. For a moment she felt faint. How on earth could her father have survived this kind of life?

  The answer was, he hadn’t. And after this night, neither would she. Then she felt an infusion of strength as Gavin’s other hand clasped her shoulder. Standing behind her, he was silently giving her his confidence, his boldness and daring. And then she understood. Alone, she was just a gambler with everything to lose. But Gavin loved her, and that love was a power to be reckoned with.

  “Let’s cut the crap, Sol,” Gavin said in a low voice, “You set this up to ruin me and hurt Stacy. You’ve done it.”

  “No!” Stacy interrupted. “You know I can’t match your bet, so I’ll make you a new wager. What you have on that table against every penny I brought with me, Gavin’s loan, and—my garage.”

  Sol looked at the cards and back at the woman he’d sworn to punish. “It’s a bet!”

  “No point in prolonging the agony, Sol. Let’s see what we’ve got. He dealt her last card and turned it up (the six of clubs). Stacy’s expression didn’t waver.

  Sol turned up his last card. The king of hearts. Smiling, he revealed his hole cards—a six of spades, and … the ace of hearts.

  Stacy stared at the card in disbelief. He’d won. A royal flush, ace, king, queen, the deuce as a wild card for the jack, and the ten of hearts took her straight flush.

  She’d lost. Just as Lucky had. The first time in her life she’d gambled for something that really mattered, and she’d lost. Stacy came to her feet, took her purse, and turned away from the table.

  “Just a minute,” Sol said. “I think you’ve forgotten something.”

  “Forgotten something?” Gavin, using every ounce of self-control he possessed, spoke between clinched teeth. “If you’re worried about the garage, you’ll get the deed as soon as we get back to Georgia.”

  “No,” Sol shot back, “Stacy said every penny she brought with her. I’ll take the silver dollar around her neck.”

  Gavin felt a sudden rage sweep over him. “Now wait a minute, Sol, that silver dollar is a piece of jewelry. Her father gave it to her. You can’t take that. It doesn’t mean anything to you.”

  “Hell if it doesn’t.”

  The dogs growled and started their charge.

  “No,” Gavin started to say, then stopped.

  Before Sol knew what was happening both dogs had hit him from the rear, knocking him to the floor. The two other men quickly stepped back and watched Sol desperately trying to protect himself as Frankenstein and Dracula took the command, carrying it out beautifully.

  The guards charged into the room and stared in disbelief.

  “Shall we stop them, Stacy?” Gavin asked as the two dogs, their feet planted firmly on Sol’s chest, began to lick.

  “Not just yet,” Stacy said as the absurdity of the situation began to sift through her shock. “I think Sol’s soul needs a little cleansing, don’t you?”

  But the expression on Sol’s face was one of terror. “Get them off, Stacy. You can keep your garage, just don’t let them kill me!”

  “No, Sol,” Gavin said, you won the bet fair and square. But we will keep the silver dollar. That’s about what your life is worth. Frankenstein! Dracula! Sit!”

  The dogs came to a reluctant stop and took their places on either side of Gavin and Stacy.

  “Well done, boys. Shall we go, Princess?” Gavin gave a little bow.

  Stacy curtsied and took his arm. “I believe I’m ready, Gatsby.” Together they made a very royal exit from the room. Inside the elevator, Gavin collapsed into laughter.

  “Did you see Sol’s face when those dogs attacked him?”

  Stacy, at first shocked by Gavin’s behavior, began to see the humor in the situation and started to laugh too. By the time they reached the lobby, they were in each other’s arms, kissing and laughing.

  “You know we’re completely broke, Gatsby.”

  “Completely, Princess.” He kissed her in the middle of the foyer.

  “How do we pay our hotel bills?”

  “We don’t. Let Sol eat them. How do we get home?”

  She kissed him in the center of the corridor lined with slot machines. “The hotel van will take us to the airport free of charge, and we hitch a ride on a plane that belongs to a friend of mine.”

  “Then I think we’ve got it made, darling. I’m ready for some dirty dancing. How about you?” He sta
rted dancing her down the corridor between the slot machines, singing something about being broke and side by side.

  “You know what happened the last time we danced,” Stacy observed.

  “Yep, and you know it’s happening again. Want to find a bush and get naked?”

  “Absolutely.” She leaned her head back and let him whirl her past the startled gamblers and into the lobby.

  “Whoa, Gavin,” she said, coming to a stop in front of the huge slot machines that gave Sol’s Lucky Dollar Casino its name. “We still have one coin left, my lucky coin. If we’re going to start from scratch, we might as well be completely broke. She dropped it in the machine and turned back to face Gavin. “Now, pull the lever, and let’s go find a preacher.”

  “Do you suppose we can find one who’ll take a charge card?”

  “So I changed my mind, we’ll live in sin. I love you, Gavin Magadan.”

  “I love you, too, Anastasia Lanham. What do you want to bet that Lonnie will be waiting at the airport with a shotgun?”

  “Bet? Me? Never again, I’ve learned my lesson.” He loved her. She didn’t need anything else.

  “Oh?” He lowered his face, his green eyes flecked with stars from the myriad lights overhead. “And what lesson is that?”

  She smiled and parted her lips to receive his kiss. “Take a chance on a lean, mean, loving machine.”

  Their lips touched in a searing flash of heat. Their bodies joined in an almost audible sigh of fulfillment, as Gavin pulled the lever.

  His kiss was hard and demanding, and she accepted it, just as she’d accepted the man. Loving him was a gamble, the biggest gamble she’d ever made. She returned the kiss and asked for more, pledging her love with her embrace.

  Behind them the giant Lucky Dollar slot machine whirled. In a haze of awareness Gavin saw strangers walking through the corridor stop to watch in amazement. He could understand that. Stacy was something to see.