Hazard Play (10 page)

The blackjack tables were clustered along one side of the casino. Tess hadn’t seen anyone who looked like Lucius, so she decided to watch the action. From the sound of the crowd around the center table, they were having a great time. She maneuvered her way to a place behind the players. The large table could accommodate five players at one time. All the seats were full.

“Way to go, man! You’ve got the dealer on the run,” a portly man in the center seat remarked.

The good-natured gibe elicited a smile from the dealer, a handsome young man in white shirt and red tuxedo tie. Tess had the feeling the dealer wasn’t worried in the least. The odds always favored the house.

From her position, Tess could only see the backs of the players’ heads, but there were two women and two other men. She leaned forward to see which player was doing so well. The easy rules and low stakes were two of the reasons that blackjack was so popular with most tourists.

One of the players quit to take his wife to dinner and Tess decided she might as well play a few hands. She still hadn’t seen Lucius and Bailey had told her to keep her cover as a tourist having fun. She settled in and bought her chips. Around her, the crowd chatted and exchanged comments with the players.

These games were typically more relaxed than the high-stakes poker or craps games that could sometimes be unnerving in their tension. Tess accidentally dropped one of her chips.

“Let me get that, Miss.” The player on her left leaned to the floor and retrieved the chip.

“Thanks. I appreciate–” Tess stopped. It was Monroe. “–it.” What did she do now? This was not the plan. Bailey would be furious. It would be worse, though, to suddenly bolt from the table. “My name’s Tess Wycliff.”

“I’m Thomas Elliott. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Thomas Elliott, as Monroe had introduced himself, was the player who’d been winning, Tess found out immediately. The short little man couldn’t seem to lose.  She studied him as discreetly as possible. Neatly dressed, with a suit that wasn’t designer brand, but good quality. White button-down shirt. Tie tack. Didn’t see many of those any more. He had kind eyes. Gentle.  This guy was a crook?

Tess held her own by playing the odds and not taking any risks. It was hard for her to keep her mind on the game and try to figure out what she should do. Somehow, she had to let Bailey know she had found Lucius Monroe.

“Miss Wycliff, the dealer’s waiting for you.”

“Oh, sorry.” Tess flicked her card signaling a hit, without really remembering her card count. She went over. Great. Just great. It was a good thing Bailey’s client was covering all expenses.

* * *

Where the hell was Monroe? Bailey had visited all the high-roller games in the casino and drawn a blank. Then, he’d checked out the poker rooms. From all reports, the man did not miss a night at the casino. Maybe he’d gotten sick with his asthma. If Lucius had gone to another casino, Bailey would have to find Tess and start the rounds. It could take them all night. Damn it! Bailey started to look for Tess.

Loud laughter and clapping from the blackjack tables drew him closer. Bailey positioned himself at the end of the table and saw Tess talking animatedly to the player beside her. She laughed at something the man said. The man raised his head and Bailey was looking straight at Lucius Monroe.

Bailey melted back into the crowd and went to the bar for a drink. This really screwed things up. Tess had no idea what she was doing. She was going to give him hell for putting her in this position, even though it wasn’t his fault. Well, they were going to have to wing it. He finished his drink in one quick swallow and went back to the table. This time, Bailey jockeyed through the crowd until he was behind her.

“Hi, Sis. Are you winning?” He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek.

“You found me. I’m doing okay but not as well as Thomas, here. Thomas Elliott, this is my brother, Bailey.”

“Tom, how are you? I hope you’re taking care of my sister. I can’t seem to leave her alone for a minute without her getting herself into trouble.” Bailey held out his hand.

“Uh, it’s Thomas, if you don’t mind. Miss Wycliff doesn’t need my help. She’s quite a delightful young woman.” Monroe sniffed and shook Bailey’s hand briefly.

“Oh, sure, Thomas it is. Hey, we just got into town and don’t know anyone. Mind if we hook up with you? You look like a real player.” Bailey winked at him. 

“Thomas doesn’t need us hanging on to him.” Tess glared at Bailey, but he ignored her and continued to play the obnoxious brother. “Thomas, ignore him. We’re not going to keep bothering you.”

“How very kind you are, Ms. Wycliff.”

“So, Thomas, you haven’t said what you do for a living?” Bailey tried to get Lucius to open up.

“I...am in investments.”

“Investments. Wow, that’s a risky business, isn’t it? I wouldn’t have thought you’d go for that.” Tess smiled.

“On the contrary, if you do your research, investments are a very sensible way to plan for your future.” Lucius sniffed. “I’m not one of those get-rich-quick consultants who talk people into crazy schemes that result in the loss of their life savings. Those vultures should be put in jail for life!” Lucius turned red in the face and sighed. “Please forgive my temper, Tess. I do tend to get overwrought on this subject.” 

“That’s all right, Thomas. I think it’s wonderful you care so much for your clients.”

Lucius blushed. “Thank you, Miss Wycliff.
             

“Please, call me Tess. I’m sorry if it sounds like we’re too nosy. Bailey tends to go overboard when he meets new people. I’m always having to settle him down.”

“Jeez, thanks, Sis. Just because you’re
older
than me doesn’t give you the right to act like my mother.” Bailey grinned.

“Your mother—” Pink slashed across her cheeks, and he knew he’d pay for the remark.

“Ms. Wycliff, really, I don’t mind. Let’s not have conflict between siblings, I beg you.” Lucius looked genuinely upset as he hesitantly patted her hand.

“See, Tessie. Tom, excuse me, Thomas, is fine with it. We can have some real fun.” Bailey clapped Lucius on the back, causing his glasses to slip off his nose.

“Please, take your time.” Lucius readjusted his frames with a grimace.

Tess stood and picked up her clutch. “Excuse me, guys. I need to go freshen up. I'll be right back. Bailey, you can use my chips.”

When she came out of the women’s lounge, Bailey was waiting for her. “What’s the big idea, Contessa? I didn’t tell you to approach Monroe on your own.” Bailey grabbed her elbow and propelled her through the crowd out into the hallway. Worried that his carefully thought-out plan was in ruins, his grip tightened. Tess wrenched herself free from his grasp.

“I don’t think it will look good if I return with bruises, do you, brother
dear
?” She stood, rubbing her arm where bright red fingerprints indented the skin.

“I didn’t mean to, Contessa. Here, let me see.” He reached out and she stepped back. Her defensive movement hurt him more than he cared to admit. He tried again, slowly taking her arm and caressing the angry-looking marks. Her soft skin was chafed and he wanted to press his lips to it. He felt her tense.

“I didn’t even realize Lucius was at the table until I’d already seated myself. It would’ve looked worse if I shot out of there for no reason. I didn’t see you anywhere, so I made the best of it.”  She smiled. “I figured you’d catch up with me and take it from there. And you did, although that ‘older than me’ crack was unnecessary. I’ll get you for that.”

“Promise?” Bailey’s pulse quickened as he thought of Tess and what he’d like her to do to him. “I’ll take my punishment as long as we’re naked.”

“Get your mind out of the gutter, Sidney Darwin, and tell me what we do next. Lucius/Thomas will wonder where we are.”

He shook his head to clear the images racing through his mind. “Well, it’s obvious he’s smitten with you. Should I be jealous?” 

At a stern look from Tess, he continued, “Go on back to the table and I'll join you. We’ll stick with Monroe tonight and I won’t push him anymore for now. But we’ll arrange to meet him tomorrow. I don’t understand why he’s only playing penny-ante blackjack when he’s got all that money.”

“That didn’t make any sense to me, either. And we haven’t figured out why he took the time to come here and gamble. I’ve met a lot of people in my time. Lucius doesn’t seem like the criminal type. Are you sure he embezzled that money?” She sounded troubled.

“Positive, Contessa. No one else could’ve and he
is
using an assumed name. Don’t feel sorry for him; he did it.” Bailey looked down at her arm. 

The marks had faded and this time, he did what he wanted to. He lightly kissed the place where his fingers had marked her. He felt her skin tremble under his lips and he took her in his arms.

“Bailey...” She whispered and swayed toward him, her other hand circling his neck. She raised her mouth to his and they kissed.

The sound of a jackpot on the dollar slot machine jarred them both into reality. Stepping back, he stared at her. She put her hand to her mouth and shook her head.

“We’d better get back,” he said and turned to go first.

“Bailey?”

Without turning around, he said, “What, Contessa?”

“Are you sure this brother-sister thing is going to work?”

He left without answering her.
I wouldn’t bet on it.
He was finding it impossible to resist touching her and it seemed she was as well. It was trouble waiting to blow up in his face.

* * *

Tess composed herself before returning to the table. Even so, every nerve in her body felt on full alert. She inhaled deeply and slowly let it out. Heading toward the blackjack table, Tess bumped into a man leaving the bar. Their collision forced her to drop her purse.

“Let me, Miss. I’m a clumsy idiot.” He bent down to retrieve the small, sequined black clutch and handed it to her.

“Well, I wasn’t really paying attention to where I was going. Thanks,” Tess said as she took it from him.

“Actually, I should probably thank my two left feet for letting me meet such a beautiful woman.” He smiled and two dimples as deep as the Grand Canyon creased his face. He had a dark tan that emphasized his light brown eyes. All in all, everything about the guy was incredibly gorgeous, including his lean, but sinewy body.

“Thank you!” She couldn’t help but be amused. Everything about this man shouted good times. “You certainly know your way around a compliment. Are you sure this was an accident?”

“Guilty as charged.” The man winced, but ruined it with a grin. “I’m too shy to come up and introduce myself.” He told the lie with all the conviction of a choirboy.

Tess couldn’t help it. She laughed out loud. This hunk was incorrigible. She could think of a lot of adjectives, but shy wasn’t one of them. “Look, this has been fun, but I need to get back to my friends.”

“I’m Joe, the hotel fitness center manager. Are you staying here?” His handsome face looked wistfully at her.

“Yes, I’m Tess. It’s nice to meet you. Good-bye.” She turned to leave.

“At least let me escort you back to your table. It will give us a chance to get acquainted.” Joe offered Tess his arm. “I see you’re not wearing a ring. Where do you live that the men in your town are such morons you haven’t been claimed?” 

She had to admit; Joe was wonderful for her ego. She took his arm and they picked their way through the milling crowd. If she hadn’t been so attuned to Bailey’s dark magnetism, she might be interested. As it was, all she could think about was him touching her, kissing her, and the way their bodies had moved together earlier in the afternoon. One kiss in the hallway and she could barely put one foot in front of the other. It was very irritating.

When they arrived at the table, she saw that Lucius had relinquished his seat to stand by Bailey, who was gesturing wildly and talking a mile a minute. Poor Lucius looked like he needed rescuing.

“Ah, there you are, Ms. Wycliff. I was worried.” Lucius patted Tess’s free hand nervously. 

Bailey snorted. “No need to worry, Thomas. She can take care of herself. What’s the matter, Sis? Can’t walk on your own?” He stared pointedly at her hand where it rested in the crook of Joe’s arm.

“Excuse me. Joe, this is my baby brother, Bailey Wycliff, and this is Thomas Elliott. Joe and I ran into each other.” She exchanged a glance with him and couldn’t help but laugh when he waggled his eyebrows at her.

“Good evening.” Lucius/Thomas shook his hand.

Bailey stuck out his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Tess felt his irritation reach out to her. He wanted casual. Casual meant they were free agents when it came to romance. Bailey stood there, looking like he remembered why he liked to work alone. He’d all but growled his greeting when he saw her hand on Joe’s arm. Good. Maybe he’d realize he didn’t like casual as much as he thought.

“Tess didn’t tell me she was here with her brother. That’s great!” Joe winked at Tess who rolled her eyes. She was having a good time while on Bailey’s payroll.

“Yeah, great. I have to watch out for old Tessie, here. She’s a little scatterbrained, you know?” Bailey went over to the couple, threw his arm around Tess and squeezed, effectively causing her to let go of Joe’s arm.