Page 24

“What do you have in mind?” Jonesy asked.

My gaze shot around the room and came to rest on a roulette table with only three players. “Roulette isn’t a fast game. I’m liking the numbers that have landed on it already,” I replied, eyeing the red and black numbers displayed. “Look at the history board over the wheel. It’s landed on my birthday as well as yours. Oh, and Wynn’s birthday too.”

“Lead the way,” he said, bowing with a hand wave.

I snickered as we walked up to the table. The dealer was paying two players who’d hit the number the acrylic marker was on. I pulled out another hundred dollars in exchange for dollar chips. I was happy to see it was a ten-dollar limit table as well. With luck, I’d be able to play longer.

The dealer picked up my cash, and I asked her if I could have the powder blue ones that hadn’t been in play. She smiled and asked for my player’s card, which I told her I didn’t have. Jonesy stood behind my left shoulder to watch the action, as he had at the blackjack table. I reached back and sought his hand. He surprised me by taking it and giving it a forceful squeeze, then leaned into my ear.

“Those chips match your eyes,” he said seductively. I smiled, feeling my face heat. I knew that would be the extent of his public affection, but I welcomed it all the same.

The few players next to me were focused on dropping their chips on favored numbers as I stared at the electronic history board, trying to spot a trend. I was eager to bet, but I held back for another spin, not wanting to rush. I never sat down while I played roulette. It made it easier to reach the numbers on the felt table. The dealer shot me a glance as I shifted from foot to foot, strategizing.

The marble settled on black eleven once it found a home, where no one had a chip. I noticed that number hadn’t hit in the past sixteen spins. The dealer swept away the chips, and the guy next to me let out a big sigh. His stack of chips was small, but I didn’t know how much he’d started with.

“Not much luck tonight?” I asked.

“Not at all. My juju ain’t working,” he replied, his voice clipped with frustration. I felt his pain.

I picked up ten chips and placed one chip on numbers that held meaning for me. Our birthdays and how many years Jonesy and I had been together. The dealer spun the marble as a couple of players continued to put chips down until the dealer waved her ‘no more bets’ hand over the table.

The marble bounced and came to rest on red three. Another player, as well as me, had a chip on it. I turned my head and gave Jonesy a huge smile.

“Were you on that?” he asked.

“Yup,” I answered smugly.

“Keep this up, and you might win all your money back.”

“Oh, I plan on doing more than that tonight. Just don’t leave my side.”

He leaned in again to whisper. “I never will.” Again, my face grew hot.

A single-number bet paid thirty-five to one. The dealer pushed my winnings toward me, and I tossed her a chip as a tip.

I spent the next twenty minutes betting only the minimum, not wanting to get greedy or foolish. After my first win, that luck didn’t hold for the next six spins of the wheel. My chips had dwindled to less than half what I’d started with. But I was undeterred as I pondered the history board again.

I looked back at Jonesy, whose attention was fading. I couldn’t blame him. Losing bet after bet held little attention, especially for a bystander. “I’m sorry this is so boring for you, babe,” I said over my shoulder.

“I’m not bored, but it would be nice if you hit a number.”

I looked around the table, and everyone had their attention on placing bets. I picked up a dollar chip and held it in front of his face. “Give this chip a kiss for luck,” I said, turning away from the table.

Jonesy’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”

“Just do it, please. For me?” I pleaded.

He cocked his head to the side, and his eyes softened. Looking from side to side, he glanced over my shoulder at what the other players were doing. He quickly leaned in and gave my roulette chip a quick peck. I mouthed a thank you with a wink and placed it on number three again.

Once the marble settled on number three, I pumped my fist. “Yes!”

Jonesy grabbed my arms from behind and gave me a little shake. “What the hell,” he hissed.

“It was your lucky kiss, babe,” I replied, wrapping a hand over one of his still resting on my upper arm. I was the only player with a chip on it. A woman further down the table congratulated me with a genuine smile.

“Maybe Lady Luck is coming from Onyx,” he whispered into my ear, which made me laugh.

I left that chip on number three as I placed chips on other numbers, but a gut feeling told me it was going to hit again. That had happened with a number earlier, making one of the other players a small fortune.