Nothing. Her voice came out high and rushed, and she sucked in a calming breath. I just got bumped and my purse spilled.
I told you not to bring that bag.
I know. She reopened the drawstring top, pawed through the jumbled contents, double-checked that her wallet was there. Relief flooded through her, and she blew out her pent-up breath.
Well, try to keep up this time, Kendall said, and shook her head.
Feeling foolish, berating her loss of control, she trailed her sister across the room. So shed smelled Waynes aftershave. Big deal. Hed worn a popular brand. Shed let her imagination run away from her.
And she had to stop it. She couldnt keep letting him do this to her. Every time she thought of him, he won.
But as they crossed the enormous lobbypast the restless lions, past the Roman arches leading to intriguing gardens and bathsthat feeling of trepidation crept through her again, as if eyes were boring into her back. She straightened her shoulders, determined not to assume that submissive hunch, and tried to shrug the sensation off. But it only intensified, crawling up her
spine, her neck, growing stronger with every step.
Her temper flared. This was ridiculous. She didnt deserve this constant fear. She had to put an end to the lunacy now.
Wait a minute, she said to Kendall. Defiant, she stopped, whipped around.
And met the dark, searing eyes of a man.
But not the one whod bumped her. This man stood apart from the rest, his feet planted wide, his hands braced low on his hips, like an ancient conqueror surveying his realm.
His thick black hair gleamed in the lights. Heavy beard stubble shadowed his jaw. He had black, slashing brows, taut, masculine cheeks and a mouth so sensual it made her breath catch. A black suit gloved his tall frame.
He was handsome, rivetingshockingly so. But more than his dark looks commanded attention. He had a stillness about him, a feral intensity that exuded intelligence, authority, power.
Her heart thumped, made a funny zigzag in her chest. The word predator flashed through her mind.
The edge of his mouth kicked up at her blatant inspection. His eyes smoldered even more. Then his own gaze dropped, making a long, slow slide over the length of her, trailing a firestorm of heat in its wake.
Her knees trembled. A zap of awareness sizzled her blood. And a completely different type of tension arose in her nerves.
Her face burning, she whirled back toward her sister.
Whoa, when I said hot men, I didnt mean that hot, Kendall said.
What? Breathless, mortified that shed responded so outrageously, she grabbed her sisters arm and hauled her away.
You know who that was, dont you? That was Luke Montgomery. The Luke Montgomery. Oh, for goodness sakes, Kendall said when she shot her a blank look.
Dont you know anything? Hes the billionaire who owns this place.
Youre kidding. Shed been ogling a billionaire? How ridiculous could she get?
No, Im not kidding. And I cant believe you havent heard of him. Hes been in the news for weeks. You know, because of that woman who was murdered, that casino heiress, Candace Rothchild?
No. Amanda slowed to navigate the steps into the gaming pit. Shed been too worried about her own precarious situation to follow the news.
Her sister paused at the bottom of the stairs and huffed out her breath. Youre hopeless. Its a good thing youre in my hands now. Ill get you caught up on tabloid gossip and have you living in sin in no time.
Great. A wry smile nudged the corner of her mouth. Just what I need. My own personal guide to corruption.
Kendall grinned back. Hey, dont knock it.
Im not. Her sister might not lead a conventional life, but she did know how to have fun. And at least she hadnt screwed everything up like Amanda had.
Determined to forget all that, she glanced around at the flashing lights and jangling machines, the kaleidoscope of colors and noise. All right, whats first?
Slots. Once you win a little, gain some confidence, well graduate to blackjack.
Amanda sighed. She was pathetic. Even her sister knew she couldnt just plunge in and enjoy herself. She had to be coaxed in slowly, teased into having fun.
Her sister took her arm, led her down the aisle to a couple of empty stools. Here. These machines are loose. They pay out more often.
How do you know that?
Kendall propped one slim hip on the stool, squirmed to keep her own short dress from creeping up. They do it on purpose. They figure if you win here, they can lure you back to the tables and steal your shirt. Now sit down and listen up.
Amanda slid onto the next stool over. She placed her purse on her lap, her amusement growing as her sister gave her a crash course on gambling with slots.
Not that her sisters expertise surprised her. Growing up, Kendall had been everything Amanda was notconfident, popular, outgoing. Shed been the star of every party, the diva on every stage. And she hadnt been afraid to pursue her goals. The day after high school ended shed hopped on the first bus to Vegas and landed her dream job dancing in a show.