Ian's Ultimate Gamble - Brenda Jackson [20]
Ian surprised Brooke by sliding closer to where she sat. "We've talked enough about my new cousins. Now it's time to play," he said, leaning toward her with a hint of mischief in his eyes. It was then she thought that maybe she'd given him credit for being well behaved and a gentleman too soon.
"What sort of game?" she asked, suddenly feeling off balance by his closeness.
"I watched you the other night"
She had an idea where this was going and decided to see if she was right. "And?"
"You were sitting at the blackjack table."
"Go on." she encouraged.
"And I noticed something about you."
"Which was'?"
"You can't play worth a damn."
Brooke's eyes widened just seconds before she burst out laughing. This definitely wasn't where she'd thought the conversation was going. And he'd said it so seriously that she quickly inwardly agreed he was telling the truth. She couldn't play worth a damn, but playing blackjack wasn't anything she did on a regular basis. "You plan on giving me a few pointers'?"
He surprised her by saying yes and pulling out a deck of cards. "It's the only fair thing to do." he said grinning. "I can't have you losing all your money in the casino. It might be bad for business. So pay attention. Ms. Chamberlain."
And he spent the next hour trying to make a proficient gambler out of her.
"I really had a nice time, Ian," Brooke said later that afternoon when they had returned to the casino and he walked her to her villa.
"Prove it by going to a show with me later tonight," he said, taking her hand in his as they continued to walk toward her door.
"A show?"
"Yes. Smokey Robinson opens tonight." Brooke's eyes widened. "The Smokey Robinson?"
At Ian's nod, she smiled and said. "I think he was the only other man my mother loved besides my father."
"In that case, the least you can do is go and swoon in her honor'?" Ian said with a grin. He knew his mother felt the same way.
"That would be the daughterly thing to do, wouldn't it?" she asked with a teasing glint in her eyes. He chuckled. "Of course." "All right; Then I'll go."
They stopped in front of her door. He studied her for a long moment before saying, "I'll be by to get you for the second show at ten."
"Wouldn't it be easier for me to meet you downstairs somewhere?"
He gave her a smooth grin. Not hardly, he wanted to say. If she looked anything tonight like she had the other night when she'd shown up at the lounge, the last thing he wanted was other men hitting on her. "It's no problem. I need the exercise, anyway," he said smiling.
"Okay."
When they just stood there a minute, she gave in and asked. "Would you like to come in for a minute?"
He continued to look at her, knowing if he were to go into that room with her. It wouldn't be for just a minute. Patience, he'd discovered, was the key. He hadn't stirred up any stimulating memories like he'd originally planned to do today, but he had enjoyed the time they had spent together. And there would be other times, other opportunities. He would make sure of it.
"No. there're a couple of things I need to do before tonight," he said, stepping back. "But I dare you to ask me that same question after the show." he said, his expression suddenly turning seductive.
She grinned up at him and he knew she was taunting him when she said, "Urn, I'll think about it."
He chuckled. "Yeah, you do that." And then he turned and walked away.
When Smokey sings...
The room was packed. People were even crowded around the wraparound bar in the back. But everyone's attention was on the man who'd taken center stage and was belting out "The Tracks of My Tears." His high tenor was his calling card, and the lyrics had meaning. They filled the room with love and romance.
He then did a medley of his Motown tunes and when he began singing "Oh Baby Baby," Brooke's gaze shifted to Ian. She found him staring back at her. Was he thinking the same thing