Page 4 of One Night Gamble
Sami: Let’s celebrate your new gig by going out tonight. Don’t say you can’t. I already called your Gran and she’s got a hot date with Mr. Edmonds.
Talia: I know. That’s why I had to pick up condoms earlier. But I don’t have the job yet…
Sami: I’m sure it’s a done deal. They’d be stupid not to hire you. So meet me at my place at eight. Let’s go out and let loose before you get overwhelmed by all the work at your new job.
Talia: Okay.
Sami: Can’t you pretend to be happy.
Talia: Better?
Sami: It’ll do, donkey.
Talia: Where are we going?
Sami: Let’s check out the Jokers Wild. I have some comps for drinks that they gave out at work.
Talia: But I might be working there.
Sami: You will be working there. All the more reason to go out tonight, before you have to be on your best behavior.
Sami had a point, but then, she usually did. Talia and Sami had been friends since the sixth grade, when Sami’s family had moved to Hendersonville—a Vegas suburb—and Talia had been assigned to show the new girl around. Now, Sami was doing the same for her. Talia would have a better idea of how the casino worked if she’d been there with Sami beforehand.
Talia: Sounds good to me.
Sami sent back a thumbs up, which Talia knew meant that her friend’s boss was back in the office. Sami worked in the cash control vault for one of the other casinos on the strip. She was a payroll clerk and spent all day matching deposit receipts to the cash and credit card slips that were sent in.
Her job sounded incredibly boring to Talia. But her friend, who was of Indian descent and drop dead gorgeous, and always got offers for modeling work whenever they went out, seemed to love it. She liked numbers, and said they could be trusted.
But Talia knew they couldn’t. Not when they were on the lighted screen of a slot machine or on a pair of dice being thrown on a green velvet table.
“Next,” the cashier said.
She pocketed her cell phone and put the bottle on the counter. She’d drop off the Schnapps and the condoms and Gran should be good to go.
Once she’d paid, she went to leave. But as she did, someone held the door open for her.
“Thanks!”
“No problem. Looks like you’ve got a fun night planned, brown eyes,” he said.
It was the gambler with the sexy smile.
Again.
She didn’t believe in luck, having seen it turn false more than once. “I guess you wouldn’t believe me if I told you it wasn’t for me.”
“Not judging,” he said.
But his mouth was. He had a wry smile on his face and she couldn’t help but notice the shape of his lips. They were full and looked incredibly kissable… She shook her head. She’d spent too much time thinking about Gran’s hot date.
“Goodbye,” she said.
“Catch you around, brown eyes,” he said.
She glanced back at him. “I have a name, you know.”
“Let’s see if we meet again. Then we can exchange names.”
