A Win-Win Proposition by Cat Schield Page A

were hitch-free, she had the job of playing social director for the executives’ wives. Today’s schedule called for a sightseeing trip to the Hoover Dam. Then lunch followed by the Haunted Vegas tour.
    Brandon winked. “Don’t let them get you into too much trouble.”
    With that cryptic remark ringing in her ears, Missy watched Sebastian’s father head toward the casino. She had almost an hour before she was to meet the wives for breakfast. Yesterday she’d won another two thousand dollars. The windfall was burning a hole in her purse. A little gambling would go a long way toward distracting her from what had just happened with Sebastian.
    Lucky at cards, unlucky at love.
    Missy had become a walking, talking example of that idiom. Fetching a twenty from her wallet, she cruised the slot machines, looking for a likely candidate. The first machine swallowed her money like a party girl guzzling imported champagne. Thirty minutes later, she was down five hundred. Sighing over her change of luck, Missy checked her watch. She had fifteen minutes before she was supposed to meet the wives. Time enough to feed one last crisp twenty into a slot machine.
    At the center of the casino, a couple dozen machinessurrounded a bright-blue, convertible Ford Mustang. Picking one at random, Missy fed in her twenty. Four spins later, she had resigned herself to walking away when five gold coins lined up in a row and her machine began whooping like a pack of crazed football fans with their team poised to score the game-winning touchdown.
    â€œYou won a car.” Gloria Smythe stood next to her, wearing a big smile.
    Missy had met her last night at the cocktail party and liked her immediately. The vivacious blonde was twenty years younger than her imposing husband and smiled as much as he frowned.
    â€œI did?”
    â€œSure looks that way to me.”
    And the way the bells were sounding and the lights pulsed with frantic enthusiasm, Missy was starting to agree. She’d just won a car. Why wasn’t she jumping up and down in delirious excitement?
    Because nothing compared to the thrill she’d felt in Sebastian’s arms.
    Missy shook herself out of her mooning. Pining over a man she couldn’t have was idiotic. “What do I do now?”
    â€œI think that nice young man coming this way will have you fill out some paperwork.”
    â€œI don’t have time.” Missy spotted a skinny guy with a shaved head in his twenties heading her way. “I’m supposed to meet everyone in ten minutes.”
    â€œDon’t worry about that.” Gloria smiled.
    â€œBut the tour is scheduled to leave no later than nine, and I’m supposed to be on the bus to make sure all of you have a great time.”
    â€œDon’t you worry about that. Fill out the paperwork and come find us in the restaurant over there. We’re sitting on the patio.”
    Missy stared at Gloria’s back as she sauntered away. That wasn’t where they were supposed to meet. What was going on?
    Thirty minutes later, with her paperwork done, Missy wound between the tables of the most expensive of the three restaurants open for breakfast. Bordered on two sides by French doors that offered access to the outside dining, the rattan furnishings, potted palms and soothing green and white color scheme gave the space a comfortable, relaxed feel.
    Missy spotted two tables of women on the patio just as Gloria had said. The day promised to be in the upper seventies, but at eight in the morning, the cooler temperature required sweaters and light jackets. Missy shivered in her sleeveless dress.
    All conversation ceased as a couple of the women spotted her. Heads turned in her direction.
    â€œWe heard you won a car!” Susan Case said. “Congratulations.”
    â€œThanks. Are you ready to go on the Hoover Dam tour?” Missy gazed at each of the women. A few wouldn’t meet her eyes. Most grinned at her.