“Not without expecting something else in return in my experience,” I say dejectedly.
“Well, I don’t want anything in return.”
“Nothing?” I question.
“Nothing,” he says with absolute certainty.
“I…I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes to the spa and say you’ll have a drink with me this evening?”
I can picture the sexy smile he has on his face and after he’s gone to so much trouble to accommodate me, I find it hard to say no. But he has just proved me correct—men can’t do something nice without wanting something in return.
“No.”
“No?”
“Yes, no…” I’m not sure if he can detect my smirk in my voice, but I hold my ground.
“Why?”
“Because you said you didn’t want anything in return, but then you asked me to go for a drink with you. You thought you could win me over by offering me a day in the spa and I would give in. Well, no.”
“I didn’t … I … It wasn’t premeditated, I just—”
The way he stumbles over his words is cute. “Mr. King?”
“Yes.”
“You’re waffling …”
I hear him laugh gently on the other end of the line, and it empowers me to know that I obviously affect him too. “Touche, Miss. Jamesson,” he concedes.
“Thank you for your kind offer of the use of your spa, Mr. King.”
“Well, , I sincerely hope you make use of it, and if you need anything at all—”
“I know where you are…”
“Have a good evening, Miss. Jamesson.”
“Thank you, Mr. King. You too.”
I hang up the phone with a big grin on my face. Despite his proving me right with his inability to resist offering me a drink, there’s something genuine about him and when he says he doesn’t want anything in return, I believe him. You would think that my past experiences with the opposite sex would put me off for life, and I would have laughed in your face if you had told me one week ago that any man could make me laugh, put me at ease and accelerate my pulse like Denham King seems to do. I’ve never known anything like it, but it’s fun, and exciting. A perfect distraction and the kind of light-hearted entertainment I need.
As I sit on the indescribably comfortable chaise lounge in my suite, I decide that I’m supposed to be starting over, wiping out the past and embracing the thought of the future, so that means facing things head on ‘if’ they happen. I’m in control of my own destiny and tonight is going to be just the beginning. I’m going to visit the casino, spend some money and maybe even win a little, and have a damn good time.
What do you even wear to a casino in Las Vegas? I finally settle on a black pants suit with flared legs and a black halter top. I’m lucky to be gifted with long legs, but this suit makes them look even longer, especially when I fasten a wide gold belt around my waist.
I sit for long minutes looking in the mirror, trying to decide how to wear my hair. I’m not happy with wearing it down since the ends look tatty, so I pin it up in a simple twist and pull down just a few tendrils around my face to soften the look. My eyes are smoky, my lips a deep red and I hope that the new foundation I bought conceals the bruising on my cheek. A gold watch and my favorite diamond bracelet that belonged to my grandmother complete the look. I feel confident. I know I look good and I feel like I’m smiling from the inside.
I pour a generous shot of Vodka from the mini bar and go to stand out on the balcony. The night air is warm and the daylight is starting to fade, I have a good feeling about things, about my future. Tonight is going to be fun.
I walk through the lobby, my heels clicking on the marble flooring and echoing around the high ceiling. As I approach the large doors to the casino, I’m greeted by two large doormen in sharp black suits who push the doors back for me and gesture for me to enter. They look smart, friendly and professional, but you wouldn’t want to mess with them. They give off a feeling of authority and power and I’m sure they don’t mess about when it comes to the crunch.
I scan the room and my eyes linger on the roulette table where a young woman is jumping up and down with excitement. She’s obviously had a lucky bet and I smile to see her elation.
I head for the bar, not really knowing where to get started or even if I’m going to try my hand at lady luck, but observing the buzzing room from the bar with a delicious cocktail sounds like a great starting point.
