after each bet.
Oh, thats a shame, Carol said
from time to time. She sat shoulder to shoulder with Danny and held his
forearm, which he seemed to like. People were watching them, which he also
seemed to like, and she thought that expressions like sharp-looking couple
were probably running through his head.
If she didnt hold him to his thirty
minutes he might soon be broke. She rested her cheek against him and let their
thighs touch. He left an impression of perspiration, panic and greed. He turned
his face to her and she smiled and wrinkled her nose. Id love that drink now,
she said, putting a low, throaty quality into it.
Danny was torn. Bit longer, he
said eventually. These games always have a turning point. What if it comes
after we leave?
He was a moron, but she jiggled her
knee and held tight to his arm. Dont worry. Youre still way ahead.
You dont understand, Danny said.
He bet another hundred.
Carol was about to answer when she
sensed that she was the object of a strangers unwavering attention. She looked
up. Behind the gawking five-dollar punters, pensioners and loudmouths stood a
tall, grim man wearing glasses with solid black frames. The pit boss. He held
her gaze, then looked beyond her and nodded to someone.
She felt her shoulders being
clasped. She knew without turning around that it was a security guard. A second
guard stationed himself next to Danny.
Excuse me, miss, the first guard
said.
Yes?
He leaned down. He smelt of cheap
food. Youve not been playing, miss. Youve not played at all since you
arrived here, three hours ago. You were not seen arriving with this gentleman.
If you would just come with us to
the office . . . the other man said.
Whats it to you guys? Danny
demanded.
Do you know this lady, sir? the
first guard said. The backs of his hands were hairy.
People were watching them. One or
two whispered to each other. Then the pit boss beckoned with a jerk of his head
and Carol felt strong hands lift her.
Danny slapped a dozen chips down in
front of her. The ladys with me. This is her stake.
Carol immediately selected four
chips and pushed them forward. Im betting on red nine.
The croupier looked at the chips and
then at the pit boss.
Nine. You heard the lady, Danny
said. In fact, Ill go for that, too. He pushed all his chips forward.
The croupier shrugged. The other
players were getting edgy. They hated delays. He checked around the table and
prepared to spin the wheel. The pit boss turned away, clearly disgusted.
The guards muttered. Carol smiled at
them. She knew she couldnt come back here, but there was no point in making
enemies. It was just a little misunderstanding, she said. Thats all.
The guards edged away through the
crowd. Incredible, said Danny loudly.
They were only doing their job.
After all, I could be anybody.
Youre not though, Danny began,
but the wheel was spinning and so he polished his cufflinks again.
Carol watched. A rapid clatter,
getting slower; an impossible last-minute lurch; the number nine under the
pointer.
Danny stood, roared Yes!, thrust
up a plump fist in victory. People whistled and clapped. Carol smiled at Danny.
The kiss he gave her was thrusting and moist. Lets have that drink.
She raked in the chips and shyly
pushed them toward him. A grin was splitting his face. I dont believe it. I
couldve bet black eleven till the cows came home. He pushed some of the chips
back to her. Some of these are yours. You brought me luck.
She followed him out of the Monte
Carlo and next door into the Tradewinds. There was a king-size bed in room 212,
under an electric blue bedspread heavy enough to smother an ox. Danny parted
the curtains, calling them drapes, and ushered Carol onto the balcony, pointing
out the lights. He stood there with her just long enough to deny that animal
heat had anything to do with why hed brought her to his suite, then closed the
curtains and showed her back into the room.
There were two plush club
Oh, thats a shame, Carol said
from time to time. She sat shoulder to shoulder with Danny and held his
forearm, which he seemed to like. People were watching them, which he also
seemed to like, and she thought that expressions like sharp-looking couple
were probably running through his head.
If she didnt hold him to his thirty
minutes he might soon be broke. She rested her cheek against him and let their
thighs touch. He left an impression of perspiration, panic and greed. He turned
his face to her and she smiled and wrinkled her nose. Id love that drink now,
she said, putting a low, throaty quality into it.
Danny was torn. Bit longer, he
said eventually. These games always have a turning point. What if it comes
after we leave?
He was a moron, but she jiggled her
knee and held tight to his arm. Dont worry. Youre still way ahead.
You dont understand, Danny said.
He bet another hundred.
Carol was about to answer when she
sensed that she was the object of a strangers unwavering attention. She looked
up. Behind the gawking five-dollar punters, pensioners and loudmouths stood a
tall, grim man wearing glasses with solid black frames. The pit boss. He held
her gaze, then looked beyond her and nodded to someone.
She felt her shoulders being
clasped. She knew without turning around that it was a security guard. A second
guard stationed himself next to Danny.
Excuse me, miss, the first guard
said.
Yes?
He leaned down. He smelt of cheap
food. Youve not been playing, miss. Youve not played at all since you
arrived here, three hours ago. You were not seen arriving with this gentleman.
If you would just come with us to
the office . . . the other man said.
Whats it to you guys? Danny
demanded.
Do you know this lady, sir? the
first guard said. The backs of his hands were hairy.
People were watching them. One or
two whispered to each other. Then the pit boss beckoned with a jerk of his head
and Carol felt strong hands lift her.
Danny slapped a dozen chips down in
front of her. The ladys with me. This is her stake.
Carol immediately selected four
chips and pushed them forward. Im betting on red nine.
The croupier looked at the chips and
then at the pit boss.
Nine. You heard the lady, Danny
said. In fact, Ill go for that, too. He pushed all his chips forward.
The croupier shrugged. The other
players were getting edgy. They hated delays. He checked around the table and
prepared to spin the wheel. The pit boss turned away, clearly disgusted.
The guards muttered. Carol smiled at
them. She knew she couldnt come back here, but there was no point in making
enemies. It was just a little misunderstanding, she said. Thats all.
The guards edged away through the
crowd. Incredible, said Danny loudly.
They were only doing their job.
After all, I could be anybody.
Youre not though, Danny began,
but the wheel was spinning and so he polished his cufflinks again.
Carol watched. A rapid clatter,
getting slower; an impossible last-minute lurch; the number nine under the
pointer.
Danny stood, roared Yes!, thrust
up a plump fist in victory. People whistled and clapped. Carol smiled at Danny.
The kiss he gave her was thrusting and moist. Lets have that drink.
She raked in the chips and shyly
pushed them toward him. A grin was splitting his face. I dont believe it. I
couldve bet black eleven till the cows came home. He pushed some of the chips
back to her. Some of these are yours. You brought me luck.
She followed him out of the Monte
Carlo and next door into the Tradewinds. There was a king-size bed in room 212,
under an electric blue bedspread heavy enough to smother an ox. Danny parted
the curtains, calling them drapes, and ushered Carol onto the balcony, pointing
out the lights. He stood there with her just long enough to deny that animal
heat had anything to do with why hed brought her to his suite, then closed the
curtains and showed her back into the room.
There were two plush club
Similar Books
