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‘Well,’ she said, softening her tone. ‘If you put it like that . . .’

‘You know where I want to put it,’ he whispered in her ear.

‘Bobby!’

‘Half an hour, then we’re taking off. That’s a promise.’

‘You mean it?’

‘’Course I do,’ he said, leaning in and kissing her.

She kissed him back. ‘I know I’m behaving like a jealous girlfriend and I don’t understand why,’ she murmured. ‘It’s so not me, you know that.’

‘I get it,’ Bobby reassured her.

‘You do?’

‘I sure do.’

‘Well then – perhaps you can enlighten me.’

He grinned at her again. What a smile. Dazzling.

‘’Cause you love me,’ he sing-songed.

She sat up straight, her heart pounding. Had he just mentioned the L word? And why was he putting it on her? Wasn’t it up to him to say it first?

‘Excuse me?’ she said, slightly breathless.

‘L-O-V-E,’ Bobby said, spelling it out. ‘And since you’re not about to be the first to say it, I’m saying it for you, ’cause I love you too, Miz Jones, and I’m through with holding back. So deal with it. Okay?’

* * *

Somehow or other Kev managed to lure Billy to a strip club, where the manager – a big fan with caterpillar eyebrows and a smarmy leer – spotted him and immediately sequestered him in a VIP deluxe suite with champagne on the house and two of the club’s most popular girls.

Kev was in heaven. If he was by himself he would’ve been sitting next to the stage staring up at an array of tempting pussy with all the other nobodies. Hanging with Billy was the best. First-class service all the way.

A baby-faced blonde was busily trying to tempt Billy with her wares – shiny new tits, flat stomach, long legs and shaved pussy. But Billy wasn’t buying. ‘Got a girlfriend,’ he informed her. Which was news to Kev, because wasn’t Billy in the middle of a divorce?

‘Sorry about that,’ Baby Face cooed, adding a cheeky – ‘But just because your dick is occupied, doesn’t mean you can’t let it out for a run!’

Billy laughed, fleetingly thought about going for it, then hurriedly excused himself, walked outside the club and tried Max again.

Once again there was no answer, so this time he decided to text her.

‘Hey – it’s me – Billy. Where r u? Been trying to reach u. I’m in Vegas. Want to c u. Call me.’

It was done. He’d contacted her, now all she had to do was respond.

* * *

Everyone ended up piling into the restaurant area of Mood: Gerald M. and his entourage – which consisted of his two backup singers, and his assistant/procurer of female talent. Then there was Cookie and Frankie (so up Gerald M.’s ass there was no room for anyone else), Max and a reluctant Ace.

‘What happened to ducking out on our own?’ Ace said in a low voice to Max, as they settled at the table. He was becoming resigned to the fact that it seemed like he was never getting her to himself.

‘This is Vegas, things happen,’ she answered restlessly. ‘Besides, we can’t be here and not see Bobby. He’s sitting in a cabana by the pool. Let’s go visit.’

Before Ace could object, she grabbed him by the hand and began pulling him across the restaurant to the outside club area.

Bobby spotted them approaching. ‘How to ruin a special moment,’ he muttered to Denver. ‘Trust Max to have the worst timing in town.’

‘She doesn’t know,’ Denver said, feeling quite light-headed. ‘Besides, I really would like to get to know her.’

‘You’re sure about that?’ Bobby said, standing up as Max descended.

‘Hey, big bro,’ Max said, flinging her arms around him in her usual proprietary fashion. ‘Remember Ace?’

‘Absolutely,’ Bobby said, giving Ace an amiable nod. ‘And you all know Denver.’

Max threw her a perfunctory nod, while Ace said a polite, ‘Nice to meet you.’

‘Likewise,’ Denver replied, thinking that if this was Max’s boyfriend she’d done well for herself.

‘Ace drove all the way from Big Bear just to be with me,’ Max said, hovering by the table.

‘How nice,’ Denver said. ‘I bet you were thrilled to see him.’

As usual Max ignored her. ‘Guess who’s here?’ she said to Bobby.

‘You know