Love's Wager

by J. M. Jeffries

  “Really,” Nina said. “I don’t think you need to worry about it here.”

  “You’ve no idea how many times Daddy and I arrived at some hotel to find a dozen bugs in every room.”

  “I’m pretty sure you’re safe here.”

  Anastasia bit into a cracker and smiled. “This is heavenly. And I can’t take any chances. Daddy handles classified material all the time. You never know who’s listening.”

  The dogs had finally gotten over their shyness and started running back and forth, play-growling. Duchess had one of Kong’s squeaky toys and teased him before running away.

  Anastasia took another bite of cracker and grinned at Nina. “How was your date with Scott last Sunday? I saw some of your tweets. One of them mentioned a jewelry store. I must have the name. I loved your photos and I think I’ll take a quick trip down.”

  Nina was surprised. “You read my tweets! I’m so surprised you follow me on Twitter.”

  “Nina, your Twitter and Facebook accounts are the most interesting around. You have almost as many followers as some of the A-list celebrities and of course, me.”

  The queen of the back-handed insult had spoken. “Thank you.” I think. Nina used her tweets to promote her accounts. She’d only just started working out her Twitter campaign on what she wanted to say about the hotel.

  “I loved when you outfitted Kong at the doggy boutique in New York. He’s their unofficial mascot.”

  “He did look cute in his pirate costume,” Nina admitted. Kong was photogenic and he knew how to pose the minute the camera came out.

  “You didn’t answer my question,” Anastasia pouted.

  No she hadn’t. In fact, her relationship with Scott was none of Anastasia’s business, but Nina was too diplomatic to say so out loud. “Virginia City is very interesting. They were having a Civil War reenactment and scores of men were dressed as soldiers and the women wore period gowns. Scott took lots of photos.”

  Anastasia nodded. “He’s an amazing amateur photographer. You should get him a show in a gallery. His photos are museum-quality good. I tried to get something set up for him back in DC, but he wouldn’t cooperate.” Her mouth turned down as though Scott’s decision had been a personal affront to her.

  Nina understood why Scott wouldn’t allow her to help him. Anastasia was the last woman in the world a person wanted to owe a favor to. In fact, Anastasia owed Nina a favor for making her look good at the disaster of T-Rex’s party. Nina doubted she’d say anything. Anastasia preferred to have people in her debt and not the other way around.

  They finished the Brie and crackers. Nina poured more coffee into Anastasia’s cup.

  “What’s really on your mind, Anastasia?” Nina finally asked. The woman hadn’t come for a playdate. She wanted something from Nina. “What can I do for you?”

  “I like Scott.”

  Who doesn’t, Nina thought, waiting for Anastasia to get her thoughts together. “Go on.”

  “I want to find out if you’re interested in him, or if the path is clear for me.” Anastasia sipped her coffee, her eyes narrowed as she watched Nina for a reaction.

  If Scott was the least bit interested in Anastasia, he would never have left Washington, DC. He’d had years to establish his interest and the fact that he hadn’t was telling.

  “Well,” Nina said, “if you’re interested, have at it.” Because that was going to be a hell of a show watching her fail.

  “Daddy is desperate for Scott to come to work for him. He’s the best in the security business and Daddy always wants the best.”

  “Is that why you came to Reno? You’re trying to lure him into service to your father.”

  “Of course.”

  From the look in Anastasia’s eyes, she herself had more than a passing interest. But then again, Anastasia made a habit of dating men her daddy didn’t approve of. She had a special fondness for musicians and actors. Daddy wanted her to make a diplomatic marriage and she wanted to be wild and in the spotlight. Her father wanted Scott to work for him just to keep Anastasia out of trouble. No wonder Scott had left DC. This woman was one step away from being a stalker.

  Nina leaned forward on her elbows. “So you want Scott.” Now her hackles were up, but she wasn’t going to let anyone see that.

  Anastasia nodded as though she’d already won.

  “Then,” Nina continued, “you need to win over his family. Family is very important to Scott. And I suggest you start with Miss E., his grandmother.”

  Anastasia giggled. “Oh, sweet little old ladies love me.”

  Nina tried to keep the satisfaction out of her voice. “Then make yourself indispensable to Miss E. Get on her good side.”

  Anastasia slid off the stool. “Thank you for your wonderful advice. I’ve had a good time. Talk to you later.” She scooped Duchess off the floor and tucked the wriggling dog back into her purse. “Bye.” She waved, opened the door and left before Nina could say anything else.

  “Have fun.” Nina waved at the closed door, trying not to laugh. Miss E. was going to eat that woman for breakfast. Should she feel a little guilty? Not a chance.

  * * *

  Scott spent the afternoon printing out some of the photos he’d taken at Virginia City. He spread them out on the dining room table liking what he saw.

  He’d managed to capture Nina in several of them looking casual and relaxed with the wind blowing her hair back. She was incredibly beautiful and all that bundled energy made him want to be near her all the time. In most of the photos she was talking to someone, a woman in a period gown, a soldier with his musket, a little girl in prairie dress and bonnet. One thing he noticed about her, when she spoke to someone she gave that person every moment of her attention, making them feel they were the most important person in the world at that moment. She made them feel comfortable.

  People gravitated to her like she was the sun and they were planets orbiting her. He wasn’t a poetic man, but something about her brought out the poetry. Usually he dated serious women. Until Nina, he’d liked serious women.

  He picked up the photos of Nina. The few he’d captured of her by herself he’d keep to himself. For some reason he didn’t want anyone to see them.

  He gathered up the photos he wanted to share with her and placed them in a folder. He reached for the phone and dialed her suite.

  “Want to come up to my place for dinner later?” Scott asked when she answered the phone. “I want to show you the photos I took last Sunday.”

  “That sounds like fun. What time?”

  He glanced at his watch. “How about six thirty?”

  “I’ll be there.”

  Grinning, Scott disconnected and opened the browser on his laptop to look for Brazilian recipes. His skills weren’t as impressive as his brother’s, but he could wield a spatula with the best of them. And he so wanted to impress her.

  He liked how he felt when he was with her. He wanted to be with her all the time.

  He browsed through recipes and printed off a few with names he couldn’t pronounce. The food preparation looked simple enough. Now all he had to do was find the food he needed and he was on his way to cooking a meal Nina would never forget.

  After an hour on the internet, Scott realized he wasn’t going to cook something memorable. He wasn’t even certain where to find the spices. He didn’t know what linguiça was or where he could purchase it. He did find a meat-filled pancake that looked easy enough, panqueqa de carne. He didn’t have the ingredients on hand, but the hotel kitchen was well-stocked. He printed off the ingredients list and instructions. He could do this. He’d survived the Middle East. He could cook a dinner and impress a girl.

  The kitchen was a bustle of activity. Manny Torres stood in the center of the maelstrom issuing orders and showing the newest cooks their jobs. Scott approa
ched the man who wielded a spatula like a conductor.

  The kitchen was immaculate. The chaos looked orderly in its own way and the smells of food were heavenly.

  “What brings you here?” Manny asked in his slightly accented voice. He may have left Brazil behind in his youth, but the rhythm of the language could still be heard in his voice.

  Scott wasn’t quite certain what to say. How did he tell this man he wanted to cook for his daughter? Instead he held out the printed pages hoping that would explain what he wanted. “I need the ingredients.”

  Manny looked them over and gave Scott a shrewd look. “Do you need help making this?” Manny handed the list of ingredients to a passing chef and told him to gather them and put them at Manny’s station.

  “I think I can manage it.”

  “Why are you interested in making Brazilian food?”

  I want your daughter. He didn’t say that but it was up in his thought bubble. “I thought I’d try something different. I thought I’d expand my cultural horizons.” Scott tried not to stutter. He might have been a soldier with a lot of battle experience, but something about Manny almost intimidated Scott. This man was the father of a woman Scott was interested in and wanted to impress in some way. He didn’t want to share the details. He managed to keep himself from babbling

  “I’m glad you didn’t choose something with cuy in it.”

  “What is that?”

  “You Americans call them guinea pigs. In Peru, they are cuy and considered a delicacy.”

  Kenzie had a guinea pig when she’d been a kid. As much as Scott disliked the noisy thing, he would never have thought to eat it. “No cuy.”

  “Good, my daughter doesn’t believe in eating her pets.”

  Busted. “Excuse me.” How did he know Scott was cooking for Nina?

  Manny patted him on the shoulder. Even though he was a head shorter than Scott, his presence dominated a room and his energy pushed at the walls.

  “Come along. I will help you.” Manny grabbed a white coat off from a hook on the wall and pushed it at Scott. “I will make you a cook to please my daughter.”

  Scott almost shivered. Did Manny know that Scott wanted to do more to his daughter than just cook for her? He wanted to kiss her and maybe not stop at a kiss.

  With the dishes completed and warming in the oven, Scott had just enough time to grab a shower and get dressed. By the time he was pulling his shirt over his head, Nina was knocking at the door. He opened the door and stood in front of her in bare feet and his hair still wet.

  She looked divine in a peacock-blue-and-green dress that hugged her figure like a second skin. She wore matching green stilettos. She grinned and handed him a bottle of Cabernet. “My dad said to bring red wine. How would he know that?”

  Scott chuckled. “I needed some help with dinner.”

  “You mean you and my dad cooked dinner.”

  He nodded. “I have to give him his props.”

  “I’m impressed. What did you make?” She sniffed the air.

  “I’ll have to show you. I don’t think I can pronounce it.” He led her into the kitchen for a peek at the oven and she grinned at him.

  “Panqueqa de carne. One of my favorites.” She grinned at him.

  “I thought I’d try something new.” He took the bottle of wine and opened it to let it breathe. Yeah, that sounded good but not desperate.

  He picked up a file folder and handed it to her. “Take a look.”

  * * *

  Nina gasped in delight as she worked her way through the pile of photos. “These are really good.”

  While she was looking at them, he’d put on shoes and dried his hair. He poured her a glass of wine and set it in front of her.

  “You have a good eye.” She spread the photos out on the coffee table. “I didn’t think I’d be interested in a historical reenactment, but you made it interesting.” She didn’t get the appeal of reenactments, but the photos changed something in her mind. No modern elements interacted in the photos. Each picture captured people as though they were truly a moment in history. She didn’t see one cell phone or car in the background. He’d taken her back in time and she found she could appreciate what she saw.

  “Have you ever considered doing a gallery show?” she asked curiously. These photos were definitely of that quality.

  “Not really.” He looked a little uncomfortable.

  “When you were in Afghanistan, did you take photos?”

  “Thousands.”

  “That would be a fascinating exhibit of soldiers’ lives from a soldier’s point of view.” She started thinking about a showing for Veterans Day. That was only about eight weeks off. She could put something together for it. The lobby had a lot of wall space where photos would look perfect.

  Scott looked thoughtful as he set the table. “I don’t know.” He made smooth, precise movements as he put two plates down and arranged silverware around them.

  She jumped up and held up the photo for Scott to see. “Look at this photo of this young black man in a Union uniform. He looks real. He’s sweating, he’s dirty and looks like he’s there to fight a war. You caught something intense and genuine. This man is defending his home, he’s fighting for his beliefs. You have a raw, powerful talent.”

  “What do you know about photography?”

  “I’ve worked with enough artists, musicians, filmmakers, stylists and I know what goes into making an album cover, a film poster. A lot goes into the design with the intent to spark an emotional reaction. You’ve captured those raw emotions so easily.” Admiration filled her. For all his attempts to be serious, to be the rock people depended on, Scott Russell had the heart and soul of an artist.

  “I’m not going to be one of your projects. I have a job to do. A serious job.”

  She cocked an eyebrow. “Art is serious. Why did you take the photographs if you think art is nothing but a frivolous pastime?”

  “In most of the photos I’ve taken, I wanted to remember the moment.” He opened the oven and took out the food, placing it on the table. He poured more wine into their glasses and held out a chair for Nina. “I never intended to do anything with them.”

  “Those photos you took in the Middle East. How many of those men and women are gone?”

  His face stilled and his eyes showed sadness. “A few.”

  “What a great way to honor them. I have absolutely no idea what the day-to-day life of a soldier is like. Most people don’t know. I think they should. You weren’t taking photos to relax, you were capturing important moments. Moments that need to be shared.” She sat down at the table, still clutching the photo of the Union soldier in her hand. She set it down out of the way, but couldn’t stop looking at it. She felt that man’s pain even though he was only pretending. To that young soldier, the moment was real. “You need to think about doing a showing. Anastasia’s mother is a very big patron of the arts. I’m sure with one glance at your photos, she’ll get you into any major museum in this country.”

  “I’ll think about it. Let’s eat.” Scott served the food. “Enjoy.”

  She grinned at him, delighted in having another project. “Think fast. Veterans Day is right around the corner and we’d only have about six weeks to get this in place.”

  “I said I’d think about it.”

  At her first bite, she was lost. The food was delicious and even though he’d made the food himself, she could sense her father’s guiding hand. She was totally enchanted. She’d never had a man who’d romanced her with food before. Usually it was the other way around.

  After Nina helped him clear the table and put the dishes in the dishwasher, she sat down on the sofa with his photos spread out on the coffee table. She couldn’t stop looking at them. Scott had captured some intangible feeling in each one. A mother’s look at h
er adorable daughter perched on her daddy’s shoulders. A young soldier gazing happily at the lovely young woman on his arm, her dress billowing to expose the crinoline underneath along with a peak at her ruffled drawers. Nina loved each one.

  Scott sat next to her. He offered her a glass of wine and she sipped it and set the glass on the coffee table.

  “These photos are just amazing. I can’t stop looking at them.”

  “Thank you,” he replied. He slid an arm around her and pulled her close.

  She nestled against him, loving the warmth of his body, the firmness of his muscles and the faint hint of spiciness that clung to him. She inhaled deeply, her eyes closed.

  He ran a hand down her arm and her skin tingled.

  “I...” she said.

  “Shush.” He ran his finger over her mouth and then kissed her.

  Nina leaned into the kiss. His lips were velvety smooth. His breath was sweet and fresh. Warmth flooded through her, settling at her core. She moaned and pushed closer. Closer.

  Every nerve ending came alive. Her breasts grew tight and her nipples hardened. Deep down inside a flame grew and she gasped when he gently ran his thumb over a nipple. His touch was so light, she pushed into it. His lips were soft as they nibbled at her ear, her cheek and the corner of her mouth.

  Each breath he took fanned her cheek. Every touch of his fingers sent tingles of heat vibrating through her.

  Somehow they’d ended up in the bedroom wearing barely any clothes.

  His kisses grew deeper as they lay on the bed. His hands roamed her body so lightly she moaned. He was bold, then tender, and confident. His finger edged around her nipple and down her stomach to hesitate at the band of her silk panties. She was wet and pliant and she grabbed his hand and pushed it where she wanted it. A finger gently teased her nub before easing down farther and sliding inside her.

  * * *

  A hungry glint shone in Nina’s brown eyes. She arched up; soft moans sounded. He liked kissing her. She was so tender and passionate. He didn’t want the kiss to end.

  Her hands moved up his body, leaving a trail of heat. She trembled in his arms, her heart racing.