Luck Be a Lady - Cathie Linz [10]
“No. The casinos don’t like it, and they can toss you out if they catch you doing it, but it’s not illegal,” Logan said.
“You say that with the confidence of a man who’s been tossed out of a casino or two,” Megan said.
Logan just gave her an enigmatic smile and shrugged.
“You’re not banned from the Venetian, are you? Some security guard isn’t going to haul you away, right?” Megan said.
“Will you be disappointed if I say no?” he said.
Faith laughed and answered on Megan’s behalf, “No, of course not. Even though I’m not exactly sure why you wanted to stop my wedding, I don’t hold it against you. It will make for a good story for my kids and grandkids. I still don’t know exactly what that was all about, but Gram said you were just kidding around—that cops, doctors and Marines have an unusual sense of humor. She told me not to worry and just enjoy my wedding, so I’m going to do that. Especially since Aunt Lorraine isn’t here this time.”
Megan had to laugh. Aunt Lorraine, aka the Duchess of Grimness, was Faith’s mother’s older sister and hell on wheels. She’d refused to attend any wedding taking place in Las Vegas. Megan thought that had played a large part in Faith’s selection of this location.
“But enough about all that. Now that everyone is here, Caine and I are ready for our first dance. Right, husband?” she called over to him.
“Affirmative, wife.”
They took to the tiny dance floor to the sound of “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” by Journey, a White Sox fan’s favorite song. Not only was it played during their winning World Series season but it was what had been playing when Caine proposed to Faith at Comiskey Park, aka U.S. Cellular Field.
“I know the best man is supposed to dance with the maid of honor, but I don’t dance,” Buddy said apologetically.
“Me either,” Logan said, just in case someone tried to press him into duty,
“Well, I do,” Megan’s dad said, holding his hand out to her as the next song, a slower ballad, came up.
“Gram talked to you about not making a scene, right?” she said. “Not that you would ever make a scene, but Uncle Jeff would.”
“There won’t be any trouble tonight.”
“I sure hope not.” She cast a worried look over her shoulder at Buddy before returning her attention to her dad. He looked rather dashing in his dark suit and crisp white shirt. His quirky math tie was filled with rows of gold and silver pi symbols on a red background. He had another tie with the same design on a blue background. They were the only two ties he owned. “Did you wear this tie to your own wedding?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t have it back then.”
Her parents’ wedding picture sat in a place of honor back in Megan’s Chicago condo. Her mother had worn a navy pantsuit as she stood beside Megan’s dad—staring straight ahead at the camera with that awkwardness that comes from not liking to have your photo taken. “I know you and Mom were married at city hall, but what about your wedding reception?” She knew the story but not the reasons behind it. “Why didn’t you have a wedding reception?”
“We went out and had a nice dinner. I’m not a party person, you know that. Neither was she.”
“Did you ever dance with her?”
“No.”
“That’s so sad.” Megan couldn’t remember her mother, just the memory of her being gone. Growing up, she wasn’t like the other kids who had moms. Instead, her dad had taken over all the parenting duties to the best of his ability. And she reciprocated by looking out for him. The older she got, the more responsibilities she took over: shopping for groceries, cooking dinner, taking care of the house.
“I know you still miss her,” Megan said. “I mean, you never remarried after all these years. I’m sure she’d want you to be happy and find someone to spend your life with.”
He shook his head. “We’ve had this conversation before. Many times. I’m a one-woman man.”
“Soul mates, huh?”
“Something like that.” He gazed over her head. “I, uh, couldn’t help but notice the way Logan was looking at you.”
“Hmm?”
“Logan. Looking at you.”
“With aggravation.”
“Not exactly.”
“Irritation.”
“No. More like