Read Online Rise of the Notorious by Katie Jennings - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Katie Jennings
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slot machines and directly to the restaurants and bars that flanked the outer edges.
There were people everywhere, excited tourists and habitual gamblers, long-legged women and short, bald men. Money exchanged hands or was shoved into machines left and right, and the joyful ring of change pouring out of slots sang out into the air, joined by laughter, anguished groans, and endless chatter. The music playing in the background was something upbeat and exciting, the kind of music that made guests tap their feet or nod their heads subconsciously to its rhythm.
Her eyes drifted from the crowds to the ceiling. The atrium was a lofty dome in the style of timeless European cathedrals with engraved gold and lustrous bronze. Beyond, the casino ceiling reflected the French roots of her family, coffered with Baroque detailing, spotted throughout with recessed lighting and security cameras.
Impressed, she wandered through the casino, admiring the brilliant gold of the slot machines and the spotless poker tables filled with colored chips and crisp white cards. Beautiful women adorned in dazzling, sapphire blue dresses roamed around her, serving drinks to patrons and smiling at every turn.
She passed by one of the blackjack tables, her eyes on the table itself as she watched the dealer pass out cards and accept cash bets, tucking the bills neatly into a slot in the table where they disappeared underneath. Fascinated, she paused a few feet away and took in the entire game as it was played, her eyes following every movement made by the players, but most importantly by the dealer.
He had efficient hands, quick and deft with cards, cash, and chips. It amazed her to see the way he moved, the gold cufflinks on his crisp white dress shirt sparkling in the light that illuminated the table.
She smiled as her gaze drifted upward, eager to take in the rest of this man, to study him further. The way he moved…it was the most incredible thing she had ever witnessed. As her eyes rose to his face, a jolt went through her as she noted he was staring at her as well. Those eyes of molten steel, intense and fearless, caught her own and held. A trickster’s grin played over his lips as he turned his attention back to the players. Her heart that had momentarily stopped began to suddenly beat again.
Centering herself with a deep, controlled breath, she continued on, though her eyes stayed locked on the dealer. When he looked up to watch her again, she made sure to be the one who turned away. But not before sending him a smoldering look she knew could stop a man’s heart at twenty paces. She didn’t wait around to see his reaction, but instead moved on and nearly ran straight into her cousin.
“Ah, you’ve arrived.” Duke smiled warmly, holding his arms out in greeting. She embraced him, pleasure in her eyes as she pulled away.
“I see you’ve been dancing with the Devil down here in Vegas, cousin,” she mused, one eyebrow raised teasingly. “I can already tell I’m going to fit right in.”
“Yes, they don’t call it the Devil’s playground for nothing.” He chuckled, draping an arm over her shoulders companionably. “Let me show you around, honey. I’ll show you how we do things here in the southwest.”
“I can hardly wait.” She looked up at her cousin, admiring his intelligent blue eyes and handsomely tanned face, framed by meticulously styled dark waves of hair. He reminded her, in many ways, of her brother Linc with his limitless charm and sociable nature. The only difference she could see was that, by contrast with her jeans-wearing, beer-drinking brother, Duke had undeniable class. From his expensive designer shoes to his perfectly pressed black slacks, he exuded importance. With the several hundred dollar watch on his wrist and the crisp, sky blue dress shirt he wore, he demanded attention.
While she could admire the end result, she found the superficiality of it too shallow for her taste. Having been raised by men of
There were people everywhere, excited tourists and habitual gamblers, long-legged women and short, bald men. Money exchanged hands or was shoved into machines left and right, and the joyful ring of change pouring out of slots sang out into the air, joined by laughter, anguished groans, and endless chatter. The music playing in the background was something upbeat and exciting, the kind of music that made guests tap their feet or nod their heads subconsciously to its rhythm.
Her eyes drifted from the crowds to the ceiling. The atrium was a lofty dome in the style of timeless European cathedrals with engraved gold and lustrous bronze. Beyond, the casino ceiling reflected the French roots of her family, coffered with Baroque detailing, spotted throughout with recessed lighting and security cameras.
Impressed, she wandered through the casino, admiring the brilliant gold of the slot machines and the spotless poker tables filled with colored chips and crisp white cards. Beautiful women adorned in dazzling, sapphire blue dresses roamed around her, serving drinks to patrons and smiling at every turn.
She passed by one of the blackjack tables, her eyes on the table itself as she watched the dealer pass out cards and accept cash bets, tucking the bills neatly into a slot in the table where they disappeared underneath. Fascinated, she paused a few feet away and took in the entire game as it was played, her eyes following every movement made by the players, but most importantly by the dealer.
He had efficient hands, quick and deft with cards, cash, and chips. It amazed her to see the way he moved, the gold cufflinks on his crisp white dress shirt sparkling in the light that illuminated the table.
She smiled as her gaze drifted upward, eager to take in the rest of this man, to study him further. The way he moved…it was the most incredible thing she had ever witnessed. As her eyes rose to his face, a jolt went through her as she noted he was staring at her as well. Those eyes of molten steel, intense and fearless, caught her own and held. A trickster’s grin played over his lips as he turned his attention back to the players. Her heart that had momentarily stopped began to suddenly beat again.
Centering herself with a deep, controlled breath, she continued on, though her eyes stayed locked on the dealer. When he looked up to watch her again, she made sure to be the one who turned away. But not before sending him a smoldering look she knew could stop a man’s heart at twenty paces. She didn’t wait around to see his reaction, but instead moved on and nearly ran straight into her cousin.
“Ah, you’ve arrived.” Duke smiled warmly, holding his arms out in greeting. She embraced him, pleasure in her eyes as she pulled away.
“I see you’ve been dancing with the Devil down here in Vegas, cousin,” she mused, one eyebrow raised teasingly. “I can already tell I’m going to fit right in.”
“Yes, they don’t call it the Devil’s playground for nothing.” He chuckled, draping an arm over her shoulders companionably. “Let me show you around, honey. I’ll show you how we do things here in the southwest.”
“I can hardly wait.” She looked up at her cousin, admiring his intelligent blue eyes and handsomely tanned face, framed by meticulously styled dark waves of hair. He reminded her, in many ways, of her brother Linc with his limitless charm and sociable nature. The only difference she could see was that, by contrast with her jeans-wearing, beer-drinking brother, Duke had undeniable class. From his expensive designer shoes to his perfectly pressed black slacks, he exuded importance. With the several hundred dollar watch on his wrist and the crisp, sky blue dress shirt he wore, he demanded attention.
While she could admire the end result, she found the superficiality of it too shallow for her taste. Having been raised by men of
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