Page 5 of One Night Gamble
“Why?”
“Fate,” he said.
She shook her head. Of course he believed in fate. He probably thought luck existed too…just not the bad kind. Really, she should be glad he didn’t want to know her name. She didn’t need another gambler in her life. She’d just managed to climb out of the hole her father had left her in.
Chapter Two
“Enjoy, ladies,” the cocktail waitress said as she placed two strawberry margaritas on the table in front of them.
“We didn’t order these,” Talia said.
“I’m supposed to tell you… Call it fate,” she said, then disappeared back into the crowd.
“Fate?” Sami asked. “More like some guy with the hots for us.”
She lifted her glass toward the crowded dance floor and Talia did the same, looking for the gambler with the blue eyes. She spotted him across the room when some of the dancers parted. He lifted a glass toward her. She shook her head and returned the gesture.
“Who is that?”
“No one.” And he couldn’t be anything else. It didn’t matter how hot he was or the way she smiled, just seeing him. He was definitely a gambler and she was trying to leave Vegas.
“No one? Give me a break, girl,” Sami said.
“He’s just a guy I keep running into,” she said.
“Interesting. Why haven’t you mentioned him to me?”
Talia turned her back to the dance floor and leaned her elbow on the table. “He’s a gambler.”
“That doesn’t mean anything. Not all gamblers are bad,” Sami said. “Some of them can be downright fun.”
“I know,” she said. And she did, better than most. She had some really great memories of good times with her father. He’d had no limits in every part of his life—not just at the craps table.
“So…”
“So, what? He believes in fate and—”
“Girl, he’s a bit of fun. You’re not looking for forever, and it’s been a long time since you hooked up,” Sami said. “Why not just flirt and see what happens?”
“I don’t—”
“Tali, you know I love you, but Gran has seen more action than you have in the last ten years. You’re young. Sometimes I really hate that your dad stole that from you,” Sami said.
“He didn’t.”
“Whatever. I know you loved him, but he left you with a lot to take care of. All that red in his ledger…” She shook her head. “Just for one night, I think you should let go, before you get old and realize that life has passed you by.”
“Sami—”
“I know I’m interfering and you don’t like to be bossed around. I wouldn’t say anything if I didn’t love you.”
“I know. I love you, too. Okay, if something happens tonight, I’ll go with the flow,” she said at last. Besides, what could happen? He was a stranger and fun to be around. But that was it.
The music changed and “Brown-Eyed Girl” remixed with an electronica dance beat came on. Talia started laughing. He was subtle and charming.
“What?” Sami asked.
“That’s what he calls me… Brown eyes.”
