Read Online Luck Be A Lady (Destiny Bay Romances-The Ranchers Book 5) by Helen Conrad - Free Book Online Page A

he took the glass from her hands and set both of them down on a nearby table. “Will you?” he repeated.
    “What?” The room seemed to be spinning. Either the man was insane or she was.
    “Come on.” He linked an arm with hers. “Let’s go down to the casino.”
    “But...” Her feeble protest wavered in the air.
    “You have to eat,” he told her firmly. “And I’ll take you home right afterward. No funny business. I swear on my honor as a—“ Even he had trouble thinking up anything she could accept.
    “A gambler?” But she was smiling. She was going to go with him. How could she resist? He was like a steamroller and she didn’t want to get flattened. “The flowers,” Kelly reminded him, looking back at the box, “What about Miss Delfinio’s flowers?”
    “She’s working,” Cody said. “She’s in the dinner show. She’ll be back between acts. Let her take care of them.”
    Fleetingly, she wondered why he had such intimacy with the woman that he felt free to use her hotel room this way, but she didn’t want to pursue it. From what she’d seen, he had a special intimacy with many women. He was definitely not to be taken seriously, but she had to admit he was fun. Against her better judgment, he made her laugh. She would enjoy din ner with him. And then she would go home—alone.  
    Cross my heart , she swore to herself.

    ***                 ***                         ***                       ***

    The casino felt like Mardi Gras. Bells jangled, mu sic played, voices set a background hum of excite ment, anticipation. Lights and colors swirled. Cody led her past the green felt poker tables, the blackjack bars, the chrome-plated one-armed bandits. Cody planted his hand in the center of her back, guiding her. When she glanced around he was very close, his shoulder touching hers, his face just inches away. Their eyes met and something twisted inside her.
    Kelly pulled her gaze away immediately, but her heart was thumping and she was blind to everything around them. She felt like a schoolgirl with her first crush. She felt like an idiot.
    No! her mind was shouting at her. This won’t do at all. You will not let yourself fall for this playboy gam bler person—not even a little bit. Not even for fun.
    They walked slowly past a bank of slot machines, then stopped to watch the men in tuxedos playing baccarat, the dealer snapping the cards out firmly.
    “Pure luck,” Cody whispered to her as they watched. “And clever betting.”
    She thought she detected a hint of disdain in his tone. Turning, she looked up at him. “What’s your specialty?”
    He grinned. “Poker. Poker’s a science and a skill. I love it.”
    They moved on. He led her to a balcony overlook ing the green felt of the blackjack tables. They stopped, leaning against the railing and looking down over the heads of the gamblers.
    “Tell me exactly what you have against gam bling,” he said to her quietly. “Just on a philosophi cal level.”
    Kelly answered without even thinking, “It’s an at tempt at getting something for nothing.”
    “Oh?” He chuckled. “You haven’t done much gambling, have you?”
    She shrugged. “No, I suppose not. But like you said, most of it’s just a matter of luck. I think people should work for things, not just luck into them.”
    “You don’t believe in luck?” Cody turned to the side, leaning on the rail while he watched her, his dark eyes steady.
    “I don’t know. I’ve never thought much about it one way or another.”
    He tilted his head back and looked past her at the flocked wallpaper. “I believe in luck. I count on it. But luck is something you have to recognize when you see it coming your way. You have to hold on to it, keep it happy while it stays with you. And when it’s ready to leave, you’ve got to let it go.” He paused, watching her so steadily that she grew embarrassed. “Luck never stays in one place for long, and if you want it to