Love's Wager

by J. M. Jeffries

  “So what you’re telling me,” Nina continued, “is that security here is little bit lax.”

  “The security force here is a big part of the problem.” He didn’t elaborate.

  The waitress returned. Nina ordered cheese-and-onion enchiladas and a glass of iced tea.

  She watched the bookie. In between bites of food, he talked on the phone and wrote in his notebook. Nina noticed the waitress who took care of his table kept herself just out of reach when she checked on him. So the guy had wandering fingers, too.

  “How are you going to fix things?” Nina asked curiously. She had a lot of events in the planning stages and each one would need to be safe.

  “Eventually, I’ll replace most of the security people here with my own choices.”

  “That’s going to be tough. I got my talk about the unions earlier this afternoon.”

  “I support the unions. Don’t get me wrong. But when a person is hired to do a job, they have to do it.”

  “I assume you’re documenting everything.”

  “Exactly. Before I decided to check this out, I was in the control room and saw four staff members place their own bets with Barney the bookie over there. Those guys will be easy to get rid of. They were on the clock using company time. And if I make a really big stink about it, it will prevent anyone else from doing it.”

  Nina was beginning to understand the Herculean task Scott was faced with. She didn’t envy him. Her publicity ideas were going to make his job that much harder. “I hate to add to your problems...”

  “Then don’t.” He grinned at her. “I won’t be upset with you.”

  “Unfortunately, I had a brainstorm this afternoon and Miss E. and Lydia really like the idea.”

  “Hit me with it with both barrels between the eyes. Did you get a petulant tween pop star to do a concert here?”

  “Not exactly.” She found she couldn’t meet his eyes. “I honestly like you way too much to do something like that.”

  “Then get it out.”

  “I came up with a theme for the New Year’s Eve bash, Rio in Reno. And part of the allure for our event is going to be a jackpot going to one big winner.”

  Dread filled his eyes. “Go on.”

  “Ten million dollars, which will be on display in the casino. I was thinking the cashier’s cage since it’s already reinforced and secure.”

  “No,” he said. “Hell, no. You are not putting ten million dollars on display.”

  Nina jumped into defensive mode. “Why ever not? It will bring a ton of people into the casino.”

  “That’s insane.” He ran a hand through his hair. “You’re insane.”

  “It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever been called.” And she’d been called a lot of names over the years. “What’s wrong with my idea?”

  “Because a trillion million people are going to wonder how they can steal that ten million dollars. You’re inviting trouble and I’ll have to clean up the mess.”

  The waitress brought her food and iced tea. Nina took an experimental bite and decided the food tasted all right. Not great, but good enough to eat.

  “We don’t have to use the real thing, maybe pretend dollars. Just so people get an idea of what ten million would look like.” Nina didn’t really like that idea. People weren’t going to come into the casino to look at pretend dollars. They wanted the real thing.

  “Fake money would be even worse,” Scott said. “It would still draw a criminal element because they’ll be thinking the real thing is somewhere in the casino, they would just have to find it.” He leaned his head back against the wall and banged it twice. “This is going to be a nightmare.”

  “You can hire extra security. Maybe a couple of armed guards who are with the money all the time.”

  Scott rubbed his forehead.

  “I’m not doing this to you on purpose.” The draw of a ten-million-dollar jackpot would put the Casa de Mariposa on the map. Miss E. really liked the idea, though Lydia had been a bit more reticent. “And Miss E. and Lydia are okay with it.”

  Scott sighed. “I’m not saying it’s a bad idea or a good idea, but that it’s a logistical nightmare.”

  Nina wanted to pat his hand, but didn’t. “Life’s a logistical nightmare.”

  He shook his head. “Let me think about. If I can’t come up with a safe way of doing this, then it’s off the table.”

  Not the answer Nina wanted, but she was grateful he was willing to consider it.

  * * *

  A commotion sounded at the door. Scott look up to find Anastasia Parrish standing in the entry, her purse slung over one shoulder and her dog’s face peeking out. Oh no! Not her. Not here. Not now.

  Irritated at the interruption, he scowled at Anastasia as she pranced across the room toward him. She wore a too-tight dress with stiletto heels that added a slinky element to her walk.

  He’d been enjoying the verbal sparring with Nina. She didn’t back down and he rather liked knowing she was so passionate about her job. Truth be known, he was really starting to like her. He liked every little thing about her, especially the way her dress clung to her curves and the bounce in her hair. He wasn’t certain about the dog, but if she and the dog were a package deal, he could handle that. What he couldn’t handle was Anastasia and her little dog.

  “There you are, Scott.” The woman grinned at him before turning to Nina, her smile dimming a little. “Nina Torres. I didn’t expect to find you here.” Her gaze moved rapidly back and forth between Nina and Scott.

  “Anastasia Parrish.” Nina stood and Anastasia gave Nina an air kiss. “What are you doing in Reno?”

  Anastasia set her purse on the table and the tiny dog inside barked at Scott.

  “Pets aren’t allowed in the restaurant, Miss Parrish.” Scott picked the purse up and handed it back to her.

  “Don’t be silly. Duchess isn’t a pet. She’s my emotional support dog. She even has a little sweater that says that.” Anastasia’s eyebrows rose.

  “This is not negotiable,” Scott said, trying to stay calm. “The health department has very strict rules about pets in a food service area.”

  “I’ll take him to my room in a moment. Did you bring Kong?” Anastasia asked Nina.

  “Of course. One of the owners has a daughter, and Maya is dog-sitting,” Nina answered.

  Anastasia clapped her hands. “Kong and Duchess need to have a play date.”

  Scott stood. Dogs! Playdates! Really? He stood with the idea of escorting Anastasia out of the restaurant. But she slid into the booth next to Nina.

  “What are you doing here?” Anastasia asked Nina. “I thought you were in Los Angeles.”

  “Working. I’m doing promotions for the hotel. I assume you’re here playing.”

  Anastasia gave Scott a come-hither look. “I’m trying to convince Scott to return to DC and work for Daddy.” She giggled a little.

  No. No way. Oh hell, no way. The last thing he wanted was to work for her father. Senator Parrish had his fingers in a couple of pies that had the possibility of turning into a sticky mess that could ruin careers. Scott had no desire to be anywhere near the senator when, or if, the meltdown happened.

  Nina gave him a raised brow. He shook his head.

  “Daddy was so disappointed when you told him you couldn’t work on his new campaign,” Anastasia continued to Nina.

  A look appeared in Nina’s eyes telling Scott she didn’t want to work for “Daddy, ” either.

  Nina pushed her plate away. “Excuse me, but I have work to do. Scott, you will think about what I said.”

  Anastasia stood and let Nina get out. Then she slid back into the booth and batted her eyes at Scott.

  “I’ll get back to you,” he said to Nina. He wasn’t making any promises.

>   Nina tossed money on the table and left, her long-legged, enticing stride catching his gaze. She was hot, sexy and alluring. Scott wished he were going with her. He didn’t want to be left alone with Anastasia.

  She put a hand on his arm. “You are so tense, Scott. You need a cocktail.” She snapped her fingers at the waitress hovering just out of range. “A peach margarita, please, and a martini for Scott.”

  The waitress looked at Scott. The last thing he needed was a drink. He shook his head.

  “Have you ever thought,” he said to Anastasia, “that the world isn’t your oyster and you can’t get everything you want because of who you are?”

  “I can do things for you.” She leaned toward him, the neck of her dress gaping slightly to show more of her cleavage. “I can open doors, introduce you to all the right people. You don’t have to work here. You can be so much more. I want to help you attain your potential.”

  “I don’t want your help and I don’t need your help,” Scott said, scowling. Anastasia wasn’t used to having people say no to her.

  She waved a hand. “This is a third-rate casino in Reno.”

  “If it’s a third-rate casino in Reno, then why are you here? I’m sure the Hilton is more your style.”

  She batted her eyes at him. “I came to rescue you.”

  Like he needed rescuing. “From what?”

  “Mediocrity,” she said with a smug smile.

  “You know nothing about how to win friends and influence people.” Scott closed his laptop and gathered up the papers he’d been reading. He glanced at Barney the bookie’s table, but Barney had slipped out while Scott’s attention had been elsewhere. He’d deal with the man later, but now he needed to get as far away from Anastasia Parrish as possible.

  Chapter 4

  Nina liked the suite Miss E. has assigned to her. She’d set up an office in the dining alcove. Miss E. had even given her an assistant. Caroline Fairchild was Lydia’s mother and though she had few skills, she knew how to organize. She’d mustered office supplies, a printer and a small cabinet on casters that could be moved out of sight if Nina wanted it that way.

  Caroline was as fragile-looking as her daughter, but even Nina could see she had a core of steel.

  Kong danced around Caroline’s feet. Until a few minutes ago, Maya had been playing with him, but she had been picked up by Lydia for her riding lesson.

  “This is the list of people I want you to start contacting.” She handed Caroline a sheet of paper. “All their phone numbers are on my phone. I want you to call them and tell them you’re my assistant and ask them what they’re doing for New Year’s Eve. If they have no plans, then tell them they’re coming to Reno.”

  “And when they ask why?” Caroline asked.

  “Because they’re doing me a favor.” She handed Caroline a second piece of paper. “These are the perks they can expect to receive. If they say no, don’t pressure them.”

  Nina picked up her second phone and flipped through the contact list. She had her own list of personal friends she would call. Atomic MC was number one. Theo Nash was one of her favorite people. As Atomic MC he had a huge following and had built it all through the internet.

  “Theo,” she said.

  “Baby girl, how are you doing?”

  “I’m doing well, thank you. I haven’t heard from you in a while. I hear you hosted a charity event for the Brotherhood Foundation at Madison Square Garden. What was the final take?”

  “We tripled what we raised last year,” Theo said. “I owe it all to you, baby girl. You are brilliant.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I owe you everything.”

  “How would you like to even the score?” Nina laughed.

  “For you, anything.”

  “I think you and your family should come to Reno for New Year’s Eve as guests of the Casa de Mariposa Hotel and Casino.”

  “Reno, as in not Las Vegas.” He sounded cautious as though Reno were as far away as Mars.

  “It’s still in Nevada. And it’s a hop, skip and a jump from Los Angeles.”

  “Isn’t Reno Bobby Joe Watkins territory?”

  “And he is next on my list of people to call.” Country-Western singer Bobby Joe owed her a favor, too. She’d gotten him on Singsation as a judge and the exposure had revitalized his career.

  In the background she could hear Caroline on the phone. Her tone was calm. Nina glanced at her and could see the oddest smile on her lips.

  “I’ll talk to my wife.”

  “I’ll call Laynie. I’m booking her a free day at our brand-new spa and she’ll absolutely adore the new shopping concourse.” The shopping concourse wasn’t new, but Kenzie was working on it.

  “Okay, then.” Theo disconnected.

  “Do you really know all these people?” Caroline asked.

  Nina put her phone down. “I’ve worked with most of them.”

  “How do you get into a job like this?”

  “I fell into it. I’m the odd one in the Torres family.”

  “In what way are you ‘odd’?” Caroline asked.

  “I have no talent.”

  Caroline frowned. “But you’re putting this celebration together so effortlessly.”

  “Not that.” Nina waved her hand. “I have no musical talent in a family that has more than they know what to do with. I can’t sing. I can’t play an instrument. Although I can manage a pretty awesome samba, which would be okay if my brother wasn’t the top choreographer for half the Broadway shows in New York. I have another brother who can play every instrument known to man including the kazoo. My sister writes music for every pop star. My dad is Manny Torres...”

  “The jazz musician!” Caroline’s eyes glowed.

  “That would be him. My mother is Grace Torres. She’s sung backup for just about every singer in the world.”

  “You must have had an interesting childhood.”

  “Never a dull moment. My passport was completely stamped by the time I was twelve.”

  “How exciting.”

  “You lived in New Orleans. How could you not have an exciting life?” she asked Caroline.

  “I was so focused on getting out of poverty that I never let myself have any fun.”

  Nina hugged her. “That’s about to change.”

  * * *

  Scott sat at his desk, hunched over his laptop, staring at it without really seeing it. His mind was focused on the changes Nina had told him about.

  A knock sounded at the door and Nina popped her head in. “You texted me about a problem.”

  “Come on in and sit.” He pointed at an industrial-looking chair. His office was Spartan and small. His grandmother had tried to talk him into something larger and more comfortable, but Scott saw no need for anything other than this. He’d chosen a room next to the control center. It had made a few of the security guards uneasy, which was what Scott wanted.

  Nina gave him an easy smile. “So what’s wrong?” She wore a tight dress of pink and black, filled with a pattern that made him cross his eyes. She wore funky shoes that had hearts all over them. She was vibrant and alive.

  He handed her a list of names with Atomic MC at the top. “He just made reservations for ten rooms.”

  She gazed at him curiously. “So what’s the problem?”

  “I can’t have him and his gangsta thugs in this hotel.”

  She glanced at the list. “No gangstas on this list. His parents, his wife, their three children, a nanny, a personal assistant, a couple bodyguards and a snowboarding coach for his eldest son. His oldest son is a nationally ranked snowboarder. This kid has been racking up endorsements since he was ten. We might be able to do some business with his endorsement companies, who might pick up some of the tab for the party.
If we play this right, this could be a great place for snowboarders.” She handed the paper back to him. She whipped out her phone. “I have to text the concierge and set up a time to talk about snowboarding excursions.”

  “You know Celia already?” She’d been here two whole days. Scott was completely amazed at how easily she’d inserted herself into everyone’s lives.

  “She’s a doll. I’m surprised she’s not on your go-to list.” She sighed. “She knows everything about Reno and she loves to write. She’s agreed to take over the blog from Eydie once it’s set up and working properly.”

  Scott shook his head. All that energy she never seemed to lose made him feel tired. After every meeting with her, he wanted a nap. Actually, he wanted to take a nap with her. His thoughts shied away from that image.

  She tapped at her iPhone quickly, her mouth tight with concentration and her eyes slightly narrowed. She crossed shapely legs as she stared at the phone and then her face lit up with a smile.

  He couldn’t help staring at her legs and her shoes. Women in DC were very conservative in their dress. The wild women wore navy blue with red shoes. Nina was as flamboyant in her dress as she was in personality. Something stirred in him. He sat back in his desk chair and studied her. She had jumped out of the chair to pace back and forth like a leopard on the prowl.

  Kenzie told him after meeting Nina at the pool to just get out of her way because it’s painful when she runs over you.

  “I can start promoting the information that Atomic MC is going to be here.”

  “But he’s...” For the most part, Scott disliked the negative connotations of rap music.

  “Have you ever listened to him?” Nina demanded.

  “No.”

  “His message is very positive.”

  Scott was going to need a lot of extra staff. More than he originally thought. He didn’t trust the staff he had now. He needed to talk to his grandmother and Lydia. A good security staff cost a lot of money. The people he had now were mostly minimum-wage, cop wannabes with a powerful union on their side. He needed to talk to a lawyer, too.

  She stopped pacing and leaned over his desk, her hands planted flat on the desktop. “You look a little stressed.”