more pleased. To see a lovely woman like you as a frequent guest will be a delight. Let me personally help you.” He cupped my elbow and guided me to the front of the line.
“Sarah, this is Ms. Dent. For this afternoon, as long as she chooses, she can cash out her winnings at this line. I’ll make sure that you have sufficient funds.”
What a strange comment. While I was on a hot streak, I didn’t plan on betting enough to break the joint’s bank. I could use the dough to pay off a few bills, including my school loans. But I wasn’t about to tell my host that.
“Do you understand?” Vladimir directed the question to the cashier.
With her eyes downcast, the girl nodded.
“If I may?” Vladimir held out his hand for the ticket.
“Of course.” I held it out. Play the twit, I warned myself. “Just so long as you don’t claim it’s yours.”
“I shall resist the temptation to do so, but I can’t resist your charm.” With a calculated smile Vladimir gripped my hand, lifted it and brushed the back with his lips.
I barely kept myself from wincing and jerking my hand away. While his touch gave me the heebie-jeebies, I forced a smile.
Fortunately, money won out over flirting. Vladimir took the ticket and released my hand. I managed not to wipe it off on my skirt.
Handing the ticket to the cashier, he glanced at me. “Did you have a bet for the next race?”
For this race I needed to play the careless winner and ignore my thirsty bank account. I swallowed. Hard. “Yes. I would like to play a trifecta for three thousand.” Making a point of looking around to make sure no one was near enough to overhear, I leaned toward him and whispered three numbers. Vladimir gave an order to the girl and she punched them out.
After handing me the ticket, he gestured toward the restaurant. “I have a table. Would you care to join me, Carling?”
As I searched frantically for a reason to say no, I stared in disbelief at a familiar male profile in the crowd.
No, it couldn’t be him, not dressed in jeans in the middle of a workday. Then the man moved away and I got a good look at his butt.
What was Jared doing here?
“Carling?” Vladimir’s impatient tone dragged my reluctant attention back to him.
“Thank you for asking but I’m going to have to leave after this race. I have an appointment to make. Perhaps a rain check?”
Was Jared moving toward the down escalator? At the moment I could hardly stand on my tiptoes to watch his progress.
“Of course. I hope to see your lovely face here often in the future.” Vladimir reached out, took my hand and kissed it again.
I forced a smile. “You bet…no pun intended.”
“Charming.” Vladimir released my hand and stepped back. “Until next time.”
“See you.” I waved and then moved toward the bar. Since I had already paid the waitress, I didn’t have to return to my table. When I had crossed two betting lanes, I paused beside a large man for cover and peeked around. I couldn’t see Vladimir and his group so hopefully that meant he couldn’t see me. Sometimes being five foot three was an advantage.
Cautiously, I circled around to the bank of escalators and cursed softly. Then again, being short was a hindrance when tailing someone. I would make a miserable private investigator.
Since I couldn’t spot any sign of Jared on that level, I took a chance and went down the escalator. I looked around but didn’t see him on the lower floor either. Then I saw a sign indicating the way to the viewing paddock and decided to go outside. Even if I had lost Jared, I should be out of sight from Vladimir.
Exiting, I braced for the blast of summer heat and humidity. After adjusting to the bright sunlight, I followed a group to the fence. Inside the paddock handlers were giving their horses the final preparations for the next race. This was a chance for visitors to see the horses up close.
Enchanted by the combined grace and power of the animals, I pushed my way next
“Sarah, this is Ms. Dent. For this afternoon, as long as she chooses, she can cash out her winnings at this line. I’ll make sure that you have sufficient funds.”
What a strange comment. While I was on a hot streak, I didn’t plan on betting enough to break the joint’s bank. I could use the dough to pay off a few bills, including my school loans. But I wasn’t about to tell my host that.
“Do you understand?” Vladimir directed the question to the cashier.
With her eyes downcast, the girl nodded.
“If I may?” Vladimir held out his hand for the ticket.
“Of course.” I held it out. Play the twit, I warned myself. “Just so long as you don’t claim it’s yours.”
“I shall resist the temptation to do so, but I can’t resist your charm.” With a calculated smile Vladimir gripped my hand, lifted it and brushed the back with his lips.
I barely kept myself from wincing and jerking my hand away. While his touch gave me the heebie-jeebies, I forced a smile.
Fortunately, money won out over flirting. Vladimir took the ticket and released my hand. I managed not to wipe it off on my skirt.
Handing the ticket to the cashier, he glanced at me. “Did you have a bet for the next race?”
For this race I needed to play the careless winner and ignore my thirsty bank account. I swallowed. Hard. “Yes. I would like to play a trifecta for three thousand.” Making a point of looking around to make sure no one was near enough to overhear, I leaned toward him and whispered three numbers. Vladimir gave an order to the girl and she punched them out.
After handing me the ticket, he gestured toward the restaurant. “I have a table. Would you care to join me, Carling?”
As I searched frantically for a reason to say no, I stared in disbelief at a familiar male profile in the crowd.
No, it couldn’t be him, not dressed in jeans in the middle of a workday. Then the man moved away and I got a good look at his butt.
What was Jared doing here?
“Carling?” Vladimir’s impatient tone dragged my reluctant attention back to him.
“Thank you for asking but I’m going to have to leave after this race. I have an appointment to make. Perhaps a rain check?”
Was Jared moving toward the down escalator? At the moment I could hardly stand on my tiptoes to watch his progress.
“Of course. I hope to see your lovely face here often in the future.” Vladimir reached out, took my hand and kissed it again.
I forced a smile. “You bet…no pun intended.”
“Charming.” Vladimir released my hand and stepped back. “Until next time.”
“See you.” I waved and then moved toward the bar. Since I had already paid the waitress, I didn’t have to return to my table. When I had crossed two betting lanes, I paused beside a large man for cover and peeked around. I couldn’t see Vladimir and his group so hopefully that meant he couldn’t see me. Sometimes being five foot three was an advantage.
Cautiously, I circled around to the bank of escalators and cursed softly. Then again, being short was a hindrance when tailing someone. I would make a miserable private investigator.
Since I couldn’t spot any sign of Jared on that level, I took a chance and went down the escalator. I looked around but didn’t see him on the lower floor either. Then I saw a sign indicating the way to the viewing paddock and decided to go outside. Even if I had lost Jared, I should be out of sight from Vladimir.
Exiting, I braced for the blast of summer heat and humidity. After adjusting to the bright sunlight, I followed a group to the fence. Inside the paddock handlers were giving their horses the final preparations for the next race. This was a chance for visitors to see the horses up close.
Enchanted by the combined grace and power of the animals, I pushed my way next
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