Page 38 of One Night Gamble
“I like that idea. So, should we hold so many spaces for Jokers Wild guests and then have the rest filled from those outside the hotel?” Casey asked. “Why can’t we do free ride and lessons at the same time?”
“I like the idea of allocating spaces for our guests,” Nick said.
“Me too,” Dare said. “We only have one track, Case, that’s why we have to alternate. Once we see how popular the sessions are, we have plans to build another one. Antoine from finance is talking about using the profits from the single track to fund other ones, so that we don’t dip into the casino’s and hotel’s profits.”
“What about excess revenue from your ticket sales?” Casey asked. “I’m not an expert in finance, but if the show costs are fixed at a certain point, we are going to have recouped what we’ve spent and that will be pure profit.”
“I’ll bring that up with Antoine, too,” Dare said.
The meeting broke up a short while later and Casey went back to his office with that same feeling that had been dogging him at the start of the meeting. What was he going to do about Talia? He had to do something, because he knew if he didn’t show her what she meant to him, she’d be gone.
And he wasn’t ready to lose her. Marriage was his first thought but he knew he wasn’t ready for that, at least not yet. He had no knowledge or skills and there was a good chance he’d fuck it up.
So what did that leave?
…
Talia felt nervous as she walked out of the dressing room in protective body gear and full body leathers for her first motocross ride. She had caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and thought maybe her exercise routine should consist of more than just sessions with the Silver Sneakers crew. Rio was waiting for her with his older brother, Darien. Talia wasn’t sure why but she felt nervous around Darien.
She’d only talked to him at Nicholas’s illusion reveal but she sensed he didn’t approve of her. She wasn’t sure why.
“I think I’m ready to try this,” Talia said. “There is a lot of equipment required to keep you safe.”
“Yeah, we don’t take chances with anyone here,” Darien said.
“That’s good. I don’t like anything risky,” she said.
“Are you sure about that?” he asked.
“Dare, give over. She’s here to ride,” Rio said. “Come over here, Talia, I’ll help you with your helmet.”
She walked over to Rio and Darien left. She let out a sigh of relief.
“Sorry about that,” Rio said. “Darien is in a mood this morning.”
She had to smile. It wasn’t like Darien Mitchell was a teenager having a fit about something. He was a big, scary, muscly man who she didn’t want to cross.
“Do you know why?” Talia asked.
Rio shrugged. “How’s that feel? Too tight?”
“No. It feels secure,” she said, shaking her head, happy that the helmet stayed where it should.
“Good,” Rio said.
But Talia was aware of the fact that Rio hadn’t answered her. “Did I do something to offend your brother? I don’t think he likes me much.”
“Not at all. He just doesn’t trust women much. He’s concerned that Casey is spending too much time with you,” Rio said. “But you didn’t hear that from me.”
“Sure,” she said. What did that mean? Too much time? Did Darien worry about the inappropriateness of the relationship? Talia hadn’t considered how Nicholas and Darien would react. She’d thought that the deal she’d struck with Casey would be fine, but now she wondered.
Darien would probably want her gone if things didn’t work out with Casey.
For the first time in recent weeks, she realized she wasn’t quite as secure as she’d thought she was. She reached up to touch the olive branch pendant that Casey had given her but it was beneath layers of protective gear and leather.
She knew that it was there, pressed against her skin, but she couldn’t help feeling that there were barriers between her and Casey that neither of them had anticipated.
“Does he think Casey and I shouldn’t be dating?” Talia asked.
