Goddess of Vengeance - Jackie Collins [142]
‘What’s this shit all about?’ he asked as he climbed into the passenger seat.
‘Sounds like it’s somethin’,’ Randy said, revving the engine. ‘Luscious wouldn’t steer us wrong.’
‘She’d better not,’ Mikey responded. ‘’Cause if she’s wasting my time I’m gonna slap her sideways till she can’t see straight.’
Chapter Fifty-Six
‘Is this seat taken?’
Denver didn’t bother looking at the man who’d seated himself next to her at the Blackjack table. She was fed up with being hit on – enough was enough. Besides, she was doing very nicely, accumulating quite a tidy pile of chips. Gambling was actually fun, although if she was truthful with herself, she knew she would sooner be with Bobby.
She placed her next bet and waited patiently for the dealer to slide the cards.
The dealer did so – and Blackjack! She’d scored again.
‘Nice one,’ said the man seated beside her. She gave him a quick glance and realized it was Bobby.
‘Thank you,’ she said politely, acting as if they were total strangers.
‘You’re welcome,’ he said, playing along.
A paunchy man in a Hawaiian shirt sitting two seats away made a triumphant gesture with his thumb and mumbled something about her killing them. ‘This little lady is picking all my cards,’ he complained good-naturedly. ‘But she’s way too pretty to get mad at.’ He nodded at Bobby. ‘Maybe you’ll change the balance.’
‘I’ll try,’ Bobby said.
They played for fifteen more minutes until Denver finally lost a bet.
Without looking at Bobby, she gathered up her chips and stood up. ‘Cashing out,’ she said, tossing the dealer a generous tip.
‘We’ll miss you,’ said Mister Hawaiian Shirt.
Bobby stood too. ‘Can I buy you a drink?’ he asked, addressing Denver.
‘Well . . .’ she demurred.
‘He’s not a bad-looking guy, I say go for it,’ Hawaiian Shirt encouraged. ‘That’s unless he’s married. You got to take a looksee at his ring finger, always a sure giveaway – you’ll see the tan mark.’
Denver gave Bobby a solemn look. ‘Are you married?’ she asked.
‘Nope,’ Bobby replied, equally serious. ‘Are you?’
‘I recently divorced my third husband,’ she said.
‘Dangerous!’ Hawaiian Shirt exclaimed.
‘Thanks for all the encouragement,’ Denver said, smiling at him. ‘I’ll let you know how it turns out.’
Hawaiian Shirt nodded eagerly. He loved Vegas, there was always something going on.
‘So,’ Bobby said, still playing along as they walked toward a nearby lounge. ‘What brings you to Vegas?’
‘Like I said, I recently divorced my third husband.’
‘Did he do something to piss you off?’
‘Danced with an ex.’
‘Really?’
‘It didn’t sit well with me.’
‘I guess it wouldn’t. Although I’m sure it was perfectly innocent.’
‘Maybe,’ she said, shrugging. ‘Or maybe not.’
They reached the lounge and settled at a corner table.
‘What’ll you have?’ Bobby asked, as a pretty waitress came over to take their order.
‘A vodka martini,’ Denver said, quite getting into their unexpected game. ‘Make it a dirty double.’
‘A dirty double, huh?’ Bobby said, raising an eyebrow. The Denver he knew was a white wine girl. But this wasn’t Denver he was sitting with – this was a stranger, and he found himself getting quite turned on. ‘Okay then, make it a double vodka martini for the lady, and I’ll have a beer,’ he told the waitress.
‘And why are you in Vegas?’ Denver asked as the waitress moved away.
‘Came here for a romantic weekend with my girlfriend, but we kinda got off track.’
‘You did?’
‘Shit happens.’
‘How true.’
The drinks came and Denver downed her martini as if she was celebrating at a Russian wedding.
‘Hey—’ Bobby said, trying not to laugh. ‘Easy.’
‘Some men think I am,’ she murmured provocatively.
‘What kind of men would they be?’
She gave a casual shrug. ‘Oh, I don’t know . . . the adventurous kind.’
‘I’m adventurous.’
‘You are?