wanted
to…
“…so
if you don’t mind I’ll play a few hands of baccarat while I’m waiting.” He
stopped and looked at her strangely. “Are you all right?”
She
swallowed with difficulty. “I’m sorry, Darling. My mind was somewhere else.”
He
tipped up her chin, looking deeply into her eyes. Surely he didn’t know what
she’d been thinking! “I was saying I think I’ll play baccarat for a while.” He
leaned down and whispered in her ear. “And whatever it was you were just
thinking about–hold that thought.” He slipped into an empty chair and she
backed away, her face aflame.
Olivia
made her way to the roulette table, glancing back over her shoulder to where
Josh was introducing himself to the others at the baccarat table. His remark
had unsettled her, and she nodded distractedly to the other players.
Within
a very short time, her pile of chips had grown considerably, and she looked at
it in surprise. She didn’t recall placing her bets. She gathered her winnings
and made her way to the wicket, converting her chips to Euros. En route to the
bar she paused at the baccarat table. Josh was dealing the cards smoothly, and
he looked up as she paused on the other side of the table. For a brief moment
their eyes locked, and the rest of the players in the casino ceased to exist.
The air between them seemed to sizzle with the intensity of his gaze before he
turned his attention to the plump woman on his right, dealing her two cards.
Watching his hands deal the cards, her throat went dry and she turned away,
shocked at the erotic nature of her thoughts.
Settling
into a comfortable chair at the bar, she ordered American coffee and a Remy.
She didn’t enjoy gambling…a fact she had taken great pains to hide when she
worked on her piece about European casinos. During the assignment, this had
always been her favorite time; watching the actions of the international crowd
who considered their vacation incomplete without a visit to the casino.
“Excuse
me, aren’t you Olivia MacMillan?” A tall, elegantly dressed Englishman stood by
her table, a tentative smile on his face. “I’ve been trying to figure out where
I’ve seen you before, and it finally registered. I’ve read your work in
WorldView.” Pale blue eyes smiled down at her. “May I join you for a few
moments? My luck seems to have deserted me this evening.”
Olivia
assessed him rapidly. Blonde hair contrasted pleasingly with a deep tan. This
was no office-bound businessman. If he was aware of her scrutiny, he gave no
indication. She indicated the chair opposite. “One can hardly refuse a
countryman.” She smiled warmly, extending her hand. “Please call me Olivia. And
you are?”
“Dirk
Grant.” He folded his lanky frame into the chair next to her, his eyes making a
quick sweep of the casino as he did so. “At the risk of sounding forward, are
you with someone?”
“Yes,
I am.” Olivia looked toward the baccarat table, but Josh was no longer in his
seat. “He’s playing poker in one of the private rooms.”
“Then
you could be in for a boring evening.”
“Not
at the moment.” Olivia grinned. “Actually I was sitting here thinking about how
much I enjoy people watching. I like to think one can tell a lot about people
by how they react to situations.” She paused. “I suppose that makes me a bit of
a voyeur, but in my business it’s important to watch for subtle signs.” She
picked up her coffee. “Enough about me. Are you here on vacation?”
He
leaned back in his chair and ordered a drink from a passing waiter. “It may
look that way, in fact I hope it does, but I’m actually studying the operation
of various casinos. A group of businessmen I know in Manchester have applied
for a gaming license and I’m here unofficially, seeing how they do things.” He
grinned. “After all, the Europeans have been doing it, and doing it well for a
good number of years.”
“In
that case, you must meet Gerard.” She twisted
to…
“…so
if you don’t mind I’ll play a few hands of baccarat while I’m waiting.” He
stopped and looked at her strangely. “Are you all right?”
She
swallowed with difficulty. “I’m sorry, Darling. My mind was somewhere else.”
He
tipped up her chin, looking deeply into her eyes. Surely he didn’t know what
she’d been thinking! “I was saying I think I’ll play baccarat for a while.” He
leaned down and whispered in her ear. “And whatever it was you were just
thinking about–hold that thought.” He slipped into an empty chair and she
backed away, her face aflame.
Olivia
made her way to the roulette table, glancing back over her shoulder to where
Josh was introducing himself to the others at the baccarat table. His remark
had unsettled her, and she nodded distractedly to the other players.
Within
a very short time, her pile of chips had grown considerably, and she looked at
it in surprise. She didn’t recall placing her bets. She gathered her winnings
and made her way to the wicket, converting her chips to Euros. En route to the
bar she paused at the baccarat table. Josh was dealing the cards smoothly, and
he looked up as she paused on the other side of the table. For a brief moment
their eyes locked, and the rest of the players in the casino ceased to exist.
The air between them seemed to sizzle with the intensity of his gaze before he
turned his attention to the plump woman on his right, dealing her two cards.
Watching his hands deal the cards, her throat went dry and she turned away,
shocked at the erotic nature of her thoughts.
Settling
into a comfortable chair at the bar, she ordered American coffee and a Remy.
She didn’t enjoy gambling…a fact she had taken great pains to hide when she
worked on her piece about European casinos. During the assignment, this had
always been her favorite time; watching the actions of the international crowd
who considered their vacation incomplete without a visit to the casino.
“Excuse
me, aren’t you Olivia MacMillan?” A tall, elegantly dressed Englishman stood by
her table, a tentative smile on his face. “I’ve been trying to figure out where
I’ve seen you before, and it finally registered. I’ve read your work in
WorldView.” Pale blue eyes smiled down at her. “May I join you for a few
moments? My luck seems to have deserted me this evening.”
Olivia
assessed him rapidly. Blonde hair contrasted pleasingly with a deep tan. This
was no office-bound businessman. If he was aware of her scrutiny, he gave no
indication. She indicated the chair opposite. “One can hardly refuse a
countryman.” She smiled warmly, extending her hand. “Please call me Olivia. And
you are?”
“Dirk
Grant.” He folded his lanky frame into the chair next to her, his eyes making a
quick sweep of the casino as he did so. “At the risk of sounding forward, are
you with someone?”
“Yes,
I am.” Olivia looked toward the baccarat table, but Josh was no longer in his
seat. “He’s playing poker in one of the private rooms.”
“Then
you could be in for a boring evening.”
“Not
at the moment.” Olivia grinned. “Actually I was sitting here thinking about how
much I enjoy people watching. I like to think one can tell a lot about people
by how they react to situations.” She paused. “I suppose that makes me a bit of
a voyeur, but in my business it’s important to watch for subtle signs.” She
picked up her coffee. “Enough about me. Are you here on vacation?”
He
leaned back in his chair and ordered a drink from a passing waiter. “It may
look that way, in fact I hope it does, but I’m actually studying the operation
of various casinos. A group of businessmen I know in Manchester have applied
for a gaming license and I’m here unofficially, seeing how they do things.” He
grinned. “After all, the Europeans have been doing it, and doing it well for a
good number of years.”
“In
that case, you must meet Gerard.” She twisted
Similar Books
