by Adele Niles
“No, I’d like to stay here with Jodee. But I’d like to bet ten thousand.”
The pit boss frowned. He nodded slowly, though, and looked to Jodee. “Go ahead. I’ll stay here with you.”
“Okay.” She took a deep breath. I counted out chips and pushed them toward her. Everyone else at the table just watched.
Jodee dealt our cards. I was at fourteen. “I’ll take another.”
A three.
“One more.”
Six.
Jodee gave me an apologetic smile. “Sorry.”
“It’s all right.” I smiled and pushed another ten thousand worth of chips at her.
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
I looked at my cards as she laid them on the table. Only a total of ten. “I’ll take another.”
Nineteen.
“I’ll hold.”
Jodee turned over her face-down card. Eighteen. I smiled.
She handed me back my chips, plus another ten thousand. I waved my hand. “Let’s keep going. I’m feeling good.”
She played another hand. I won again. Twenty thousand. With a smile, I pushed the whole twenty thousand in, plus another two thousand five hundred. “Let’s go.”
I looked at my hand once Jodee dealt it. A three and a seven.
“I’ll take one.”
Slowly, she turned over the next card on the top of the deck, laying it beside my other two.
An ace. Perfect.
“Blackjack.”
Her eyes went wide.
“Oh, wow!” She laughed softly, pushing my chips toward me. “That’s…forty-five thousand dollars, sir. Congratulations.”
Behind her, the pit boss scowled. “Sir, if you want to keep going, I suggest you move to the high-dollar room.”
I shook my head. “I’m good. Thank you.” I collected my winnings, then paused. I reached into my pocket and grabbed my wallet, rifling through bills and counting out what I wanted.
Ten hundreds, stacked neatly on the table.
“See you soon, Jodee.”
I turned and left to cash out, not looking back.
Seven
Jodee
I grabbed the cash and tucked it in my pouch without looking. The pit boss sighed, watching Abel walk away. “Jodee, why don’t you go on break? I’ll get someone to take over the table.”
“Yes, sir.” I nodded and walked away, heading for the employee area. Just inside the door, I grabbed the stack of bills from my pouch and counted it.
A thousand dollars.
I couldn’t accept this.
I swallowed and turned, going back out on the casino floor. Abel was over near the cage, waiting to cash out.
I approached him, hands shaking as I held out the stack of cash.
“Hey,” he greeted, smiling.
“Abel, I…I can’t take this.” I sniffled, tears in my eyes. “It’s way too much. I can’t just…take it from you.”
Abel shrugged. “It’s going to help you change your life. I’m happy to give it to you.”
“But I—”
“Please.” He held one hand up. “It’s a gift. For you. You deserve it.”
I sighed and shoved the cash back down in the pouch with the rest of my tips.
Abel reached out, touching my arm. “See if you can leave early. Come out with me. Enjoy the rest of the day.”
God, I wanted to. I wanted it more than anything. I took a deep breath. “Okay. I’ll see what I can do.”
It worked. I spoke to my pit boss, told him I was a little rattled and asked to go home; he agreed to let me have the rest of the day off. Abel was waiting for me near the cage, close to where I’d left him.
“Okay. Let’s go.” I smiled. “But I need to go home and change.”
He waved one hand. “I’ll handle it. Come on, let’s go.”
He took my hand and led me out of the casino.
* * * * *
I’d never experienced this side of Vegas before.
Abel took me to the finest places, places I’d only dreamed of going. He bought me new clothes and shoes from an expensive boutique in Caesar’s Palace. We ate dinner at a place that didn’t list the prices on the menu, and he refused to let me look at the bill when it arrived. We did a tasting at a ritzy wine bar, and had the most delicious cheesecake from another restaurant we passed.
We walked along the strip until close to midnight, then headed back for his hotel. “I’ve never done anything like this,” I admitted. “This was incredible.”
Abel wrapped one arm around my shoulders. “I wanted a chance to spoil you.”
I put my head on his shoulder. “Well, thank you. So much.”
He chuckled. “Don’t thank me. Just come back to my room?”
Like he really needed to ask.
“I’d love to.”
* * * * *
He let me into his room on the top floor. This time, we went straight to the bed, stripping each other and leaving a trail of clothes through the suite. Abel’s fingers were inside me before we even made it to the mattress, his mouth sucking a mark into my neck.
“Abel,” I moaned, grinding my hips down on his hand. His thumb moved to my clit, rubbing it in a quick little flicking motion that made my knees weak.
“Jodee. Lie down.”
I wasn’t going to argue. I dropped on the mattress, legs spread wide. He pumped his fingers inside me, his other hand stroking my hair.
“Get a condom?” I asked. I held my own breasts, fingertips circling my nipples.
“In the nightstand.” He nodded to the little table beside the bed.
“Put it on.”
Laughing, Abel pulled his hand out of me. He tore open the wrapper and rolled on the condom, giving himself a few strokes.
I bit my lip, looking at him as he moved back between my thighs. My legs slid around his waist, drawing him closer.
He took me, and I closed my eyes, moaning in satisfaction. I’d been thinking about this all day, even if I’d tried to keep from letting anyone know. I couldn’t imagine anyone else ever fucking me as good as Abel did.
His hands moved to my hips, holding me steady as he first rocked, then started to thrust at a slow pace.
God, I needed this.
I reached for Abel, and he leaned over me, kissing me again. His body was strong over mine, muscular and sexy. I ran my fingers over his back, feeling his muscles.
He moaned in my ear.
“You’re gonna make me come,” I murmured.
“Good.” He started to move faster, harder, thrusting deep into me.
I threw my head back, crying out in pleasure.
“Jodee.” He said my name like it was something sacred, stilling inside me.
We were done, both of us. He pulled out when he could breathe again, tying off the condom and throwing it in the trash.
I rolled to lie against a pillow. A moment later, Abel joined me. He pressed his body against mine, wrapping one arm around me.
“Hey.” His voice was a little ragged, sexy. I liked it.
“Yeah?”
“About the cash earlier.”
I blushed. “I have a lot of it in my purse. I can give you back the rest later. I just have to get home and get to my lockbox.”
“What? No.” He chuckled, shaking his head. He let go and rose from the bed, going out to the other room.
He came back with his hands full of cash—I recognized it immediately. Stacks of hundreds banded together.
Forty-four of them.
“Abel, no.” I shook my head. “No.”
“Yes.” He placed the money in my lap, settling back on the bed with me. “It’s what you need to get out of here, Jodee.”
“I can’t take forty-five thousand dollars from you.”
“Well, if you don’t, then the housekeeper is going to get a hell of a surprise when I check out.”
I sighed. “Look, we’ll talk about it more tomorrow. Okay? I’m tired.”
“You’re staying tonight, right?”
I nodded. “Of course. Right here.”
“Good.”
He kissed my forehead, then put his head down. In minutes, Abel was sound asleep. I lay beside him, listening to him breathe for a moment before I let myself drift off, too.
Eight
Abel
“You could quit your job.”
Jodee looked up at me, a bite of French toast raised halfway to her mouth. “What?”
I shrugged. “Come back to California with me. Let’s open your bakery.”
She lowered her fork back to her plate. We were still in bed, still naked, but enjoying the room service we’d ordered. The Bellagio had a killer breakfast menu.
“I…I don’t know, Abel. That’s a big move.”
“Listen.” I reached for her. She shifted closer, letting me wrap my arm around her shoulders. “Listen. I’m offering you a safety net. The money is all yours, no strings attached. And if you need some extra help getting established, you’ve got it.”
I reached for my coffee and took a long drink.
Jodee sighed. “Yeah, but, I mean, I’d feel weird about it.”
I looked back at her. She was so gorgeous, her hair a mess, not wearing any makeup.
I wanted her to stay with me, but wouldn’t push.
“Jodee. I’m in the business of making people’s dreams come true.” I kissed her cheek. “Let me help you with yours.”
Jodee bit her lip—an endearing habit. She did it when she was deep in thought, and I loved it.
I was sure I could fall in love with her, given a little more time. It had only been a day, and I was ready to move mountains if she asked for it. No woman had ever gotten my attention so quickly, and I loved it. I didn’t want to let her go.
“I mean, I’m still not sure about even taking the cash,” she said quietly.
“May I ask why?”
She sighed. “It’s so much. It feels wrong.”
“It’s an investment in your future. I see your desire to have a successful bakery in California, and I’m making a deal with you for forty-five thousand dollars to help cover start-up costs.”
I wasn’t going to let her give the money back. Not when it would give her what she wanted most.
She still gave me a skeptical look. I huffed quietly. “What if I tell you I expect a return on my investment?”
She sighed again and shook her head, sitting up. She picked up her fork again. “You’re a pain.”
“Oh? I didn’t realize that wanting you to succeed was a problem.” I grinned as I spoke.
Jodee rolled her eyes. “You make really convincing arguments. It’s going to be a problem one day.”
I laughed and kissed her cheek again. “You think?”
“I don’t think. I know.”
I kissed her once more. “Let me take you out again tonight? Is that all right?”
“Yeah. I think I can make that happen.”
“Do you work today?”
She smiled and shook her head. “No. I’m yours all day today.”
“Perfect.” I pushed her down into the bed. She fell back, laughing and almost upsetting the tray with our breakfasts on it.
“Hold on, hold on!” She was still giggling, covering her mouth. I kissed her hand.
“What?” I asked, sitting up.
Jodee sat up too, shaking her head. She cut another bite of her French toast, dipping it in syrup. “After we eat, I need to go home for a little bit. I have to take care of some stuff.”
“All right.” I nodded. “Where’s your phone?”
“Hm? Oh. It’s in my purse.”
I nodded and rose, going to grab her purse from the living room. I brought it back. She pulled her phone from one of the pockets and gave it to me.
I put in my phone number and handed it back. “There. Now you can let me know when you’re ready to meet up again.”
Jodee dropped her phone back into her purse. “Then I’ll head out soon and text you when we’re good to meet up again.”
“Perfect.” I pulled her close and kissed her again.
Nine
Jodee
I let myself into my apartment, still dressed in the clothes Abel had bought me. The apartment was silent. Good—that meant my roommate wasn’t home, and wouldn’t ask any questions about where I’d been or why I was dressed so fancy.
I sighed and walked back to my bedroom. The lockbox was back on my vanity, where I’d put it when I got home from California.
I sat down and opened it, then removed the cash Abel had given me from my purse.
Forty-five thousand dollars.
That was enough. That was the rest of what I needed to pay off my debts and move, and be able to make the down payment on a building. It would buy me industrial ovens, a mixer, and pay for an assistant to help me bake and decorate cupcakes.
It would get me the hell out of Las Vegas and back to California.
I took out my notebook and wrote in the last line I’d ever need to fill out.
Tips: $412
Other earnings: $44,000. HOLY SHIT!!
And then I added everything up.
I had $152,000, all saved up and ready to go.
“Holy shit.” I looked at myself in the vanity mirror, shaking my head. I’d never thought this would actually happen.
Ever since I’d started saving, I’d been constantly waiting for something to happen. For my car to get stolen, or the apartment building to burn down. To lose my job. Something that would drain my savings and leave me with nothing.
And now I had it all, in my hands.
Everything I’d ever wanted could happen now.
I wasn’t sure if Abel understood just how much he’d changed my life. He really had given me my dreams, and possibly given me a chance to fall in love.
He was the kind of man I’d always sworn off, but something about him was different. The generosity wasn’t for show, it was real. He meant it. He gave people things because he wanted them to have the best life possible.
And now mine was about to get a whole lot better.
No more struggling. No more living paycheck to paycheck.
No more telling myself that wanting the bakery was stupid.
Now it was all real, and mine, and I was ready to make the leap.
I closed and locked the box. Sighing, I stood up from the vanity and unzipped my dress, shrugging it off. It landed on the floor, and I left it there.
Sighing, I flopped face-down on my bed.
I’d text Abel soon, but for now, I just wanted to take a nap.
And dream about what was soon to come.
Ten
Abel
I was glad for a few hours off.
Since I’d left Vegas and gotten back to California, my days had been packed with meetings, calls, and tours. Every one of my deals wanted my attention.
It was all right. It made the weeks go by quickly. But still, the few hours I had between the end of my last meeting and the start of my next call were precious.
I picked up some lunch and drove over to one of the buildings I had in progress. The renovations were going beautifully, and I trusted all of my contractors, but I still wanted to check on it myself.
I walked in through the back, waving at the guys. The foreman came to meet me, smiling.
“Hey, Rod,” I greeted him.
He shook my hand. “Here to check it out?”
“Yeah! What’s going on?”
“Well, we got the ovens going in.” Rod pointed to where two brand-new industrial ovens were being wired into the wall. “They’re the top of the line, best model on the market right now. But we’re setting them up so it won’t be too much of a hassle to upgrade in a few years.”
“Perfect
. We’ll want to keep our equipment in good condition on this one.”
Other equipment was already in place—plenty of counters, a walk-in fridge, an enormous stand mixer. An industrial sink stood on each wall—one for cooking, one for washing dishes.
It looked good.
Rod walked me out to the main room. The walls were being painted, pale lilac covering the white primer on the walls. The refrigerated display cases were already in, with a counter between them. The point of sale system on the counter was the best I could source.
“It’s looking great,” I said, nodding. “I heard that the chairs and tables will be delivered this week.”
“Yeah, they’re coming in a couple days. Once we get the walls painted and install the trim, we’ll have our cleaners come in, get the place spotless so we can set up furniture.”
“You’re the best, Rod.” I grinned, taking a look around.
It was perfect.
The front door opened and one of the construction workers came in. “Hey, boss!” he called to Rod. “The sign just got delivered!”
“Oh, great!” Rod patted my shoulder. “Hey, you wanna come check out the sign with me?”
“I’d love to.”
We walked out front. The truck was still in the lot, but the sign was unloaded, unwrapped.
“Wow.” I smiled, pulling my phone from my pocket. “That’s perfect. It’s gorgeous.”
I snapped a photo and texted it, attaching a comment: Check it out! It’s all real!
I got a string of sparkly heart emoji in response.
Exactly the kind of reply I wanted.
Epilogue
Jodee
Summer was beautiful in San Francisco. We were close enough to the bay to get a breeze on days like this, and I couldn’t resist propping the door open to let the scent of the ocean air in.
I’d never imagined business would take off like it had, but things were perfect.
Pearl’s Cupcakes had become the talk of the town. In the six months that I’d been open, I’d done at least thirty weddings, and I routinely had lines out the door. My social media reviews were incredible. I had regular customers, and had been featured in a few of the local papers as an up-and-coming place to get sweets.
