pool deck, lost in thought. He could still feel the
way he’d responded when he caught up to her in the greenhouse and how his heart
had thudded against his ribcage like a bucking bronco. Had that been only a few
days ago?
He
smiled. She was feisty and had a sharp tongue. But he’d begun to see beyond the
brittle exterior she presented to the world. To his surprise, he’d discovered a
gentle, vulnerable woman; a woman who wasn’t even aware that she set his heart
racing every time she moved, or tilted her head just so. But he had a mission
to accomplish, and that had to be his focus. Zach’s face swam before his eyes
and he steeled himself. Tonight the real work would begin.
* * *
“Olivia!
It’s a delight to see you again.”
“Hello
Gerard.” Olivia took the extended hand, kissing the air on either side of the
man’s handsome features. “It’s been a while.” She slipped her arm through
Josh’s. “Darling, I’d like you to meet Gerard Lavoie.” She gestured
vaguely around the casino. “This is his establishment. Gerard, I’d like you to
meet Josh Morgan, my fiancé.”
The
Frenchman smiled graciously, and extended his hand. “You are most welcome, Mr.
Morgan. I don’t think we’ve enjoyed your company before?” The dark eyes took in
the impeccable tailoring of Josh’s suit and assessed the quality of the ring on
Olivia’s hand in a matter of seconds. She noticed the brief flare of interest
before he turned his attention back to Josh.
“This
is my first visit,” replied Josh smoothly. “And so far, I’m very impressed.” He
and Olivia had taken a short tour of the public areas before settling at the
bar for a drink.
“What
is your game monsieur?”
Josh’s
gaze drifted across the casino, where elegantly dressed patrons mingled with
sunburned tourists. “I dabble at bit baccarat, but my main interest is high
stakes poker.” His eyes came back to rest on Gerard’s face.
“Ah
yes. This has become the game of choice for many people in America, n’est-ce
pas ?”
“It
seems that way.” Josh smiled politely.
“I
believe we have just such a game scheduled for this evening in one of our
private rooms.” He nodded toward Olivia. “If you will excuse me, I’ll check to
see if they can accommodate another player. In the meantime, if you decide to
play the baccarat, I’ll find you at the tables.”
“Thank
you.” Josh smiled broadly. “I’d appreciate that.”
The
Frenchman walked away and Josh turned to Olivia. “Thank you, my dear.”
“For
what?”
“For
lending me your credibility.” He lowered his voice. “Your friend Gerard knows
exactly how many players there are in that game tonight. He knows their names,
and no doubt he has a good idea of their net worth, down to the last dinar,
pound or franc. He hasn’t gone to see if there’s room for me, he’s checking me
out.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
He managed to keep an eye on the new arrivals without being obvious. “These
games sometimes go on all night. What do you intend to do if I disappear back
there?” He nodded his head toward a shallow flight of stairs behind a red
velvet rope.
“I’ll
probably play some roulette.” She sipped her champagne cocktail. “I’ll get a
taxi if I want to leave before you’re finished. I’m on a holiday, remember?”
“That
you are.” He stood up and offered her his hand. “Let’s take another walk
around.”
He
slipped his arm around her waist and she leaned into him, glad of an excuse to
enjoy the solid comfort of his body. He guided her smoothly among the tables,
and she nodded to several people she recognized. Being on his arm was
intoxicating, and his comments as they passed the various gaming areas barely
registered. With a shock, she realized that she wanted to know this man in the
most intimate fashion. She wanted to run her fingers through that shock of dark
hair; she wanted to kiss him–right there, on that spot on his neck. She
way he’d responded when he caught up to her in the greenhouse and how his heart
had thudded against his ribcage like a bucking bronco. Had that been only a few
days ago?
He
smiled. She was feisty and had a sharp tongue. But he’d begun to see beyond the
brittle exterior she presented to the world. To his surprise, he’d discovered a
gentle, vulnerable woman; a woman who wasn’t even aware that she set his heart
racing every time she moved, or tilted her head just so. But he had a mission
to accomplish, and that had to be his focus. Zach’s face swam before his eyes
and he steeled himself. Tonight the real work would begin.
* * *
“Olivia!
It’s a delight to see you again.”
“Hello
Gerard.” Olivia took the extended hand, kissing the air on either side of the
man’s handsome features. “It’s been a while.” She slipped her arm through
Josh’s. “Darling, I’d like you to meet Gerard Lavoie.” She gestured
vaguely around the casino. “This is his establishment. Gerard, I’d like you to
meet Josh Morgan, my fiancé.”
The
Frenchman smiled graciously, and extended his hand. “You are most welcome, Mr.
Morgan. I don’t think we’ve enjoyed your company before?” The dark eyes took in
the impeccable tailoring of Josh’s suit and assessed the quality of the ring on
Olivia’s hand in a matter of seconds. She noticed the brief flare of interest
before he turned his attention back to Josh.
“This
is my first visit,” replied Josh smoothly. “And so far, I’m very impressed.” He
and Olivia had taken a short tour of the public areas before settling at the
bar for a drink.
“What
is your game monsieur?”
Josh’s
gaze drifted across the casino, where elegantly dressed patrons mingled with
sunburned tourists. “I dabble at bit baccarat, but my main interest is high
stakes poker.” His eyes came back to rest on Gerard’s face.
“Ah
yes. This has become the game of choice for many people in America, n’est-ce
pas ?”
“It
seems that way.” Josh smiled politely.
“I
believe we have just such a game scheduled for this evening in one of our
private rooms.” He nodded toward Olivia. “If you will excuse me, I’ll check to
see if they can accommodate another player. In the meantime, if you decide to
play the baccarat, I’ll find you at the tables.”
“Thank
you.” Josh smiled broadly. “I’d appreciate that.”
The
Frenchman walked away and Josh turned to Olivia. “Thank you, my dear.”
“For
what?”
“For
lending me your credibility.” He lowered his voice. “Your friend Gerard knows
exactly how many players there are in that game tonight. He knows their names,
and no doubt he has a good idea of their net worth, down to the last dinar,
pound or franc. He hasn’t gone to see if there’s room for me, he’s checking me
out.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
He managed to keep an eye on the new arrivals without being obvious. “These
games sometimes go on all night. What do you intend to do if I disappear back
there?” He nodded his head toward a shallow flight of stairs behind a red
velvet rope.
“I’ll
probably play some roulette.” She sipped her champagne cocktail. “I’ll get a
taxi if I want to leave before you’re finished. I’m on a holiday, remember?”
“That
you are.” He stood up and offered her his hand. “Let’s take another walk
around.”
He
slipped his arm around her waist and she leaned into him, glad of an excuse to
enjoy the solid comfort of his body. He guided her smoothly among the tables,
and she nodded to several people she recognized. Being on his arm was
intoxicating, and his comments as they passed the various gaming areas barely
registered. With a shock, she realized that she wanted to know this man in the
most intimate fashion. She wanted to run her fingers through that shock of dark
hair; she wanted to kiss him–right there, on that spot on his neck. She
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