Betting On Love by Cheris Hodges

with me.”
    â€œWell, I have been neglecting my friends since we hooked up,” she joked. “Of course I’ll stay with you tonight. Especially since you haven’t told me when you’re coming to Atlanta.”
    James kissed her on the forehead. “Keep playing with me and I’ll be waiting at Hartsfield-Jackson when you fly back.”
    â€œThat wouldn’t be so bad,” she said. “But you have work to do. Besides, when I get back to Atlanta, it’s back to the grind.”
    â€œThe grind or the plot?”
    â€œThe plot?” Jade asked, playing coy.
    James shook his head. “I know you’re going to try and get Stephen. I just hope I don’t read about your wedding announcement when I do come to Atlanta.”
    â€œIf this wine wasn’t so good, I’d toss it in your face. Everyone doesn’t end up like your brother and sister-in-law. I’m pretty sure Maurice never took her money and then ... Never mind. It’s your last night here, so why don’t we spend our time doing something else other than arguing?”
    â€œAnd just what do you suggest?” James asked, with a slick smile on his face.
    Jade rose to her feet and held her hand out to him. “Come with me,” she said. “And I promise that you’re not going to forget this night.”
    â€œAll right. You don’t have to tell me twice,” he said as he took her hand and they headed downstairs.

CHAPTER 10
    James looked at Jade and shook his head. Was this what she meant by an unforgettable night?
    â€œYou’re serious about this?” he asked.
    â€œYou know my friends were not trying to come here with me. But I’ve always wanted to come to Circus Circus.”
    James chuckled. “So where to first?”
    Jade pointed in the direction of the Adventure-dome, the hotel and casino’s indoor amusement park. James liked seeing this side of Jade. She was fun and adventurous and had a childlike quality that was endearing. But James could only image how she would act if someone crossed her. In a way, he almost felt sorry for Stephen, but the guy deserved a lot more grief than what Jade and her friends were trying to do. A man like Stephen Carter was a damned fool to let a woman like Jade go and to steal from her. Then again, Stephen was known to take things that didn’t belong to him. He had stolen those recipes from James’s mother. Stephen couldn’t cook, and his bakery had failed without Maryann having to sue him. James had wanted to pound Stephen into the ground when he found out what he’d done to his mother. It had taken everything in Maryann to stop James and Maurice from going after Stephen. She had known that he couldn’t cook.
    Jade grabbed James’s hand. “Come on. Let’s get on the roller coaster.” She practically dragged him to the line for the massive coaster. “This is going to be so much fun,” she said.
    â€œI’m guessing you like putting your life at risk on these things,” James said.
    â€œWhen I was a lot younger, my parents and I would go to amusement parks, and I always wanted to get on the roller coasters. At first I was too short. But when I met the height requirement, I rode them all. Sometimes, I go to Six Flags just to unwind.”
    â€œSix Flags, huh?”
    â€œYes. And I’ve actually thought about riding the Drop Tower at Carowinds.”
    â€œThat’s a ride I won’t be taking with you. But I’ll be sure to be waiting for you on the ground,” James said.
    She laughed, and moments later they were being locked into the coaster’s car. As the car zoomed up and down, round and round, and upside down, Jade screamed and threw her hands in the air. James held on to the metal bar for dear life. When the ride was over, Jade was ready to go again and James was searching for a drink.
    â€œYou don’t want to go again?” Jade asked.
    â€œNo,