a long time since someone had worried about him. He used to prefer it that way. After being raised by his grandmother, who saw danger in every corner, he didn’t want to be held back because of someone’s fears. But the idea of a loved one caring about him didn’t sound as suffocating as it should.
“You know,” Aaron continued, “if you stopped spending your money on adventures and started investing it, you could have a very comfortable lifestyle.”
There was that word again. Comfortable. The idea of comfort was a trap. If you’re comfortable, you’re too scared to take a risk. You’re too busy protecting what you have instead of going for something you want.
“You could even have a chance with a woman like that.”
“I could get her now,” Travis declared, ignoring Aaron’s bark of laughter as he looked for the brunette in the shadowy casino. He jerked his attention back to two men sitting next to the slot machines. They hadn’t been there before. He noticed only one of the guys was playing. The tall one sat silently, his attention directly on the blackjack table. Their dark suits didn’t hide their bulky physiques.
“Aaron, do you see the two guys at the slot machines?” Travis asked as he made brief eye contact with the pale guy with blue eyes. “Something’s off. They’re positioned to look directly at us. How much do you want to bet they are looking for the emerald?”
Aaron took a long sip of his drink as he casually glanced over at the slot machines. “You’re being paranoid.”
“Do they look familiar?” Travis asked as his instincts started tingling. “Did you see them when the thieves tore up your hotel room in Rio? They may have blended in with the crowd, but they don’t fit in with this clientele.”
“Neither do we,” Aaron pointed out as he set down his glass.
“Exactly.” The players for the high-stakes poker game purposely chose a cheap and shabby casino for privacy and secrecy.
“Those guys are part of Hoffmann’s security team,” Aaron said.
“How rich are these poker buddies that they need security?”
“Very. Although I think security team is another way of saying enforcers.”
“Terrific.”
“I think the one with the crooked nose is Pitts. The tall one is Underwood.”
“You really need to learn the definition of buddy,” Travis asserted. “A buddy does not put you under surveillance. I think you are being watched.”
“You mean we are being watched,” Aaron corrected.
“Do you think these guys are working for their boss or for themselves?”
Aaron frowned. “Hoffmann has been trying to win back the emerald. He says it’s a family heirloom. He’s getting a little desperate and he’s had an unlucky streak.”
“So if he can’t win it back, his security guys are going to find it while you’re in the game.”
“We’re making it too obvious that we’re friends,” Aaron said. “If they tear up my room and don’t find the emerald, they’ll search your room.”
“Why me? You’re the one who owns the gem.”
“Process of elimination. If I don’t have it on me or in my room, they will go after my closest buddy.”
“Time to split up,” Travis muttered. “Text me when you need me.”
“They’ll go after you,” Aaron predicted. “You need to throw them off. How will you do that? You’re a single guy who doesn’t gamble. A lot goes on in Vegas, but you’ll stick out like a sore thumb. You need to look less suspicious.”
It was true. He needed to blend in with a group. Unfortunately, most of the guests in this place were senior citizens. He could infiltrate a bachelor party. Find a group of businessmen here for a convention. Travis looked around and his gaze landed on the brunette in the blue dress.
An idea formed in his mind. Travis rose from his seat, his pulse quickening with anticipation. Forget a bunch of drunk, rowdy men. He knew exactly how he wanted to spend his weekend. “I’ll be with the brunette.”
His friend snorted at the claim. “Her? Never going to happen.”
“How can you say that? I’m holding on to your emerald,” Travis replied. The emerald suddenly felt heavy in the breast pocket of his jacket.
Aaron laughed. “That emerald is lucky, not magic. But you’ll find out soon enough.”
* * *
SHE WOULD NEVER listen to Jill again, Christine Pearson thought as she tugged at the hem of her dress. Her friend insisted on this fancy outfit, telling her she would blend in with the crowd. Did Jill think she was staying at the Bellagio or something?
Christine took a step forward and felt her skirt rise up her thigh. She tried to yank it down as she walked, but she wasn’t used to wearing high heels. She turned her ankle and almost tripped.
I should have stayed home. That had been the thought running through her mind the moment she got off the plane at McCarran Airport. She had headed straight for the restroom, found an empty stall and struggled into her tight dress and high heels.
The moment she had stepped out of the stall and seen her reflection in the mirror she knew the plan wasn’t going to work. She wasn’t the kind of woman to wear this dress. It was no use pretending. At least no one back in Cedar Valley would see her make a fool of herself.
Christine closed her eyes, but the chimes and bells from the machines were distracting. She took a deep breath only to inhale the stench of smoke. You’re here. Might as well make the most of this weekend.
She opened her eyes and blinked as the bright lights flickered in the dark casino. It was time to focus. Flipping her hair back, Christine tried to remember her to-do list.
She sighed and rolled her eyes in self-disgust. That should have been her first clue that this plan wasn’t going to work. Who made a to-do list for a wild weekend?
Her thoughts only proved that somehow, somewhere, she had lost her impetuous spirit. She hadn’t realized it until she discovered the list of dreams she had written when she had turned eighteen. She really wished she hadn’t found it. Every naive, ridiculous and impractical goal was on that list.
And yet, ten years later, she hadn’t accomplished any of them. Not one. The regret weighed heavily on her. Where had all the time gone? What had she been doing? She marched across the casino floor. Was it possible that she had changed so much in ten years? Was she a completely different person now?
Christine stumbled to a halt in the middle of the casino as she considered that question. Was it too late to follow this list? Should she let it go and move on?
No. Christine raised her chin and rolled back her shoulders. If she were a different person, it wouldn’t have hurt so much to see that list. She would have laughed it off and thrown it away.
Instead, she’d memorized it and decided to take action. It was time to resurrect her wild side and become the bold woman she’d always wanted to be. She was starting it all off with a three-day weekend in Las Vegas so she could have the freedom to try something daring.
She walked by a row of old-fashioned slot machines and paused. Fishing through her backpack, Christine pulled out a crisp dollar bill and fed it through the machine. She pulled the lever, but didn’t feel any excitement as she watched the row of symbols spin and settle.
She lost.
No surprise there. But that was dream number forty-three. Win money. She knew why she had written that down ten years ago. Back then she had big dreams and a poorly paid summer position at the bank.
Now she was the manager of that bank.
Christine’s