The Cowboy's Lucky Lady (Horsehead Texas Series Book 5), page 12
He smiled down at her. “Nervous?”
“Yeah, but I feel better knowing that you’ll be with me.”
She squeezed his hand, and he answered, “I’ve got your back, Cowgirl.”
She’d chosen the MGM Grand as her casino. When they arrived, as in Reno, she walked around the room and found a game that she wanted to join—no-limit Texas Hold ’Em. It looked like the current game had a fifteen- to thirty-dollar buy-in. She went over and signed up for the table, which had two open chairs. An employee immediately escorted her over.
On the way, Dane said that he’d find a waitress and order a drink.
When she sat down, the players, all men, looked up, and their eyes widened in surprise. She smiled. “Good afternoon, gentlemen.”
They nodded and responded, their eyes never leaving her.
Score one for the red dress.
The next hand began, and she settled down to business. She caught a movement out of the corner of her eye, and she glanced at Dane. His mouth curved into a smile, and he nodded his encouragement. She smiled and returned her attention to her cards. She’d already figured out that the players in this hand were pros. It would be hard to spot any tells. Play would be all about her skill and her luck. She took in a long breath. Never discount her amazing luck.
She won the first hand, and the dealer moved the chips in front of her.
Play continued through the evening hours with her winning frequently, and she discovered tells on two of the big betters. Players left and arrived until she called it quits at three in the morning.
Dane helped her rise from the table. “I’ll bet you’re stiff and sore.”
“Oh, that’s an understatement.” She gathered her loose chips and racked them. After thanking the dealer, she headed for a cashier’s window.
“You were great tonight,” Dane said as he took her rack of chips from her.
She sighed and rubbed her neck. “Thanks. It was wonderful having you here with me. It really gives me confidence, you know? I can feel you there, bolstering my courage whenever I feel anxious.”
He slipped his arm around her shoulders. “I’m glad. I enjoyed watching you play.”
At the window, she asked for a check for her chips. She leaned against Dane, feeling worn out and drowsy, while the cashier counted her out and went to get her check.
Dane called an Uber while they waited.
Not long after, she left the window with winnings of over $31,000.
Dane kissed the top of her head. “Not bad for a night’s work, woman.”
She grinned. “Man, I worked hard for it.”
“You damn sure did, Cowgirl.”
As they climbed into the car a few minutes later, he said, “I have a surprise waiting for you at the hotel.” He slid his arm around her shoulders.
She drew her brows together. “What? You do?”
“Uh-huh. A thirty-minute massage in our room.”
“Oh my God, Dane. That sounds fantastic. I’m hurting all over.”
“After sitting at that table for so long, it was an easy guess that you would be.”
How did she deserve this man? He catered to her every whim. And the hotel was amazing. She’d looked it up online, and celebrities stayed there when they were in Vegas. He was spoiling her rotten—and she was what? Was she taking advantage of him? She hoped he didn’t feel that way.
He looked into her eyes, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
She said, “Thank you, Dane,” and brushed a kiss across his lips.
He closed his eyes as if savoring the sensation. “You’re welcome, honey.”
She laid her head against his chest. This felt like home. Like it was where she belonged. Oh why couldn’t she trust that he would be faithful to her? Damn her doubts.
But they’d agreed. They weren’t going to think about the future. She sighed and put her hand on his chest, feeling his big heart beat under her palm. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on that until they arrived at the hotel.
He kept his arm around her as they rode the elevator up to their room. She felt warm and cherished, and so very tired.
When they walked inside, he said, “I’ll fix you a drink. The therapist should be here any minute. I messaged her while we were in the car.”
She sat in one of the room’s comfortable chairs and looked out over the city lights. There was a balcony with a love seat, but she was too tired to try it out.
She’d had time for several sips of her scotch when a knock sounded at the door.
Dane answered it. “Come in, Sammie. I’ve moved the coffee table. I thought you could set up by the sofa.”
Sammie, an attractive, middle-aged blonde woman, walked in carrying a large bag over her shoulder and a folded table.
“Let me get that for you,” Dane said and took the table from her.
“Thanks.” Sammie smiled at Alexis. “You must be my customer.” She reached out her hand. “Sammie Miles. I’m going to make you feel amazing tonight.”
Alexis smiled. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Sammie reached into her big bag and came out with a folded white sheet. “Why don’t you get undressed and wrap yourself in this while I get set up.”
When Alexis came out of the bathroom, Sammie said, “Dane tells me that you’ve been at the tables since four this afternoon. I’m guessing that you want me to concentrate on your neck, shoulders, and back. Am I right?”
“Oh, would you? I’m so sore right now I could cry,” she said, only half joking.
Dane sat sipping his drink and looking out over the city.
“Let’s get you on the table now. Lie face down for me,” Sammie said.
Minutes later, Alexis felt like she was floating on air as Sammie’s strong fingers massaged her shoulders, working out the knots that had formed during the hours of her play. She forgot about Dane, forgot about the future. Only Sammie’s hands existed.
Later, she was vaguely aware of Dane going in to take his shower.
She almost drifted off to sleep, but she didn’t want to miss a moment of the pleasure she was experiencing.
When Sammie at last drew the sheet up over her shoulders, Alexis sighed, feeling relaxed and so ready for bed.
“Okay, you’re finished, sweetie,” Sammie said.
Alexis sat up, wrapping the sheet around her.
Dane walked over and handed Sammie cash. “Thanks so much for your help. I may call you again.”
Sammie gave him a mock salute. “I’m at your service. Just let me know.”
When she was gone, Alexis touched his shoulder. “Thank you, Dane. I feel marvelous.”
He caressed her cheek. “I’m glad. I’ve had my shower already. The bathroom’s yours.”
She yawned and caught his hand, kissing the palm. “That sounds wonderful.”
She didn’t spend long in the shower, though. She was too darn sleepy.
One thing that was different from the Reno trip was that she actually had pretty sleepwear with her this time. When she walked out of the bathroom in a green teddy, Dane was already in bed, and his eyes widened in appreciation. She climbed into bed on the other side and started to brush out her hair. Oh Lord, she was exhausted. She dropped her arms and sighed. They felt like they were made out of lead.
“Would you like me to do that for you?” Dane asked.
She wet her lips. She’d never had a man brush her hair before. “Would you? My arms are so tired.”
He scooted over next to her. “Turn around, and don’t worry. I’ll be gentle.”
And he was. He knew to start at the bottom and slowly work his way up, avoiding making snarls in her hair. She closed her eyes, enjoying the sensual feel of the brush slowly working its way through her thick hair. His fingers gently assisted the brush when it encountered a knot. An involuntary shiver shook her at the intensity of the sensation.
At last he finished, and she heard him lay the brush on the bedside table. “Ready for lights out?” he asked.
She nodded. “Thank you, Dane. That was lovely.”
The room went dark, and as her eyes adjusted, the lights of the city shone through the floor-to-ceiling glass doors leading out to the balcony. “It’s beautiful,” she said.
“It is,” he said quietly as he lay down beside her. Without thought, she snuggled down onto his chest.
He slipped his arm around her. His chin nestled in her hair, and he sighed deeply.
She ran her hand over his broad, sculpted chest. How she’d missed this. She placed a gentle kiss on his pec muscle. “Dane, I’m so happy you’re here with me. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
He kissed her temple, running his fingers up and down her back. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else, sweetheart. This is where I belong.”
Her heart ached at those words. “It’s funny. I felt the same way earlier today. Oh, Dane, I know we said we weren’t going to talk about it, but what are we going to do?”
He tilted her chin and gave her a long, slow, gentle kiss. “I don’t know, honey. I just don’t know.”
His hand continued to move up and down her back, his callused palm a little bit scratchy, reminding her that he worked hard for a living. Reminding her that he rodeoed. She sighed. She wouldn’t think about that now. She just couldn’t. She slid her arm around his waist and snuggled closer to him, wrapping her calf around his.
He kissed the top of her head and whispered, “Good night, sweetheart.”
She sighed as a sense that all was perfect in her world descended on her. “Good night, Cowboy.” Eyes closed, she let herself sink into peaceful oblivion.
Dane slowly opened his eyes. Darkness still reigned in the sky, although multicolored lights still gleamed bright in the city of lights. Alexis slept peacefully on his chest, so he reached slowly for his phone on the bedside table. It was five-thirty. They’d only been sleeping a couple of hours. He closed his eyes, cherishing the feeling of Alexis’s warm body across his.
Her firm breasts pressed against him. God, she’d looked gorgeous when she stepped out of the bathroom last night. It never occurred to her to be coy, to tease him. He loved that about her.
Lord, how he wanted to make love to her. He couldn’t imagine losing her. Would she wait for him if he promised to be faithful to her? How could he convince her that he wasn’t the same as that bastard who’d hurt her? Buckle Bunnies didn’t interest him. Alexis was the only woman that mattered to him now. If she could only see into his heart, she wouldn’t doubt him for an instant.
She drew in a deep breath, and her hand moved from his waist to his chest. He kissed her forehead and closed his eyes. He wanted to remember every moment of this Vegas trip. Every second that he held her in his arms.
Her brows drew together, and she drew her leg up near her waist. A tiny whimper escaped her. Was she having a bad dream? He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “Everything’s all right, honey. You’re safe,” he whispered.
She straightened her leg and wrapped her hand around his arm. “Dane?” Her voice was blurred with sleep.
“I’m here, sweetheart.”
She sighed. “Oh.” She threaded her calf between his. “I dreamed...” Then she turned over and pressed her back to him. “Hold me, Dane,” she said on a long, soft breath.
He turned on his side and wrapped his arms around her, securely spooning her to his chest. She wriggled a bit, nestling perfectly against him. He whispered in her ear. “Better?”
She nodded sleepily. “I lost it all. Everything.” She clasped his arm. “Oh, what if that happens?”
She seemed more awake now and he said, “Honey, you’re too smart for that. It was only a dream. You know that you always quit playing when luck goes against you. You’d never lose everything.” He kissed her behind the ear. “Relax, now. You’re safe. Everything’s safe.”
She sighed deeply, and her body slowly relaxed.
He closed his eyes, the feel of her snuggled against him so perfect, so amazing, that he knew he’d never get back to sleep.
Could he make it without the money from another year’s winnings? Yes. Absolutely. But would he have the money he felt was necessary against future drought, disease, or other natural disasters that could befall any good rancher? No, he wouldn’t. That was what kept him up on nights when he couldn’t sleep. His money-earning years were finite. He couldn’t waste what time he had left.
But Alexis was an amazing woman. All a man had to do was speak to her to know that she was smart and capable, not to mention absolutely gorgeous. She was a catch, and he was certain that there were men all over Texas who wanted her in their lives.
There was no guarantee that if he went on the road for another year, Alexis would still be single when he came home for good. A deep ache settled in his chest. What could he do? He didn’t want to be one of those ranchers who lived hand-to-mouth, who struggled to provide for his wife and children. He’d rodeoed hard all his life and saved up his winnings to make sure that that didn’t happen.
He inhaled quietly, and the scent of Alexis’s herbal shampoo filled his nostrils. He inhaled again, savoring the smell. It, more than anything else, said “Alexis” to him. He couldn’t lose her. He couldn’t bear it. Somehow, they had to work this out.
Chapter Thirteen
Alexis rose slowly out of sleep, realizing at once that she lay in Dane’s arms. It was a magical feeling, and she listened for his breathing. Was he still asleep?
His slow, even breaths told her that he probably was. What time was it? The sun was up, and it was bright daylight in the room, so at least late morning. She inched her hand toward the bedside table for her phone, but she couldn’t reach it. The king-sized bed was too wide.
Dane stirred, his arms tightening around her.
She smiled and slipped her arm across his, savoring the feeling of his body wrapped around her.
He nuzzled her neck. “You’re awake.”
His soft lips left goose bumps in their wake. “I am,” she whispered. “So are you.”
“You had a bad dream last night. Did you sleep well afterwards?” He kissed her behind her ear and then rested his chin on her shoulder.
“I think so. I remember the dream. It was horrible. Thanks for reassuring me.” She brought his fingers to her lips, feeling warm and safe, just like last night.
“Of course, honey.” He sighed. “I wonder what time it is.”
She reached for her phone. “It’s almost twelve-thirty. Wow, we slept late.”
“We needed it. It was really late when we got to bed.” He slipped his foot over hers and snuggled her closer. “I slept like a log once I fell asleep again.”
Lord, he felt good. She reached back and cupped his cheek. “You kept the boogeymen away, so I did too.”
He kissed her palm. “No boogeymen getting by me.”
It didn’t take much to make up her mind. She turned over and rose above him, looking into his beautiful blue eyes.
He smiled. “Hi, gorgeous.”
“Hey, handsome. Would you have a problem if I made wild, crazy love to you?”
He made a choking sound and burst out laughing. “Ah, no, I would not, woman.” Still grinning, he clasped her face in his hands. “I’m going to love you till you beg for mercy. You may never make it to the tables today.”
She cracked up. “Hey, Rodeo, I have players to slay and millions to win.”
“Come here, you.” He kissed her long and hard, and then she kissed him back.
She made it to the tables on time, but just barely.
Dane stood behind Alexis as she settled into her seat at the poker table. But his mind wasn’t on the other players, nor on the dealer. It wasn’t on anything that he normally noticed when he watched her play. All he could think of were the past four hours and the time he’d spent loving the beautiful woman sitting a foot away from him. She’d been saucy and sweet; she’d made him laugh and nearly brought him to tears with her tenderness. God, loving her was magnificent. And at the back of his mind, relentlessly repeating, was, “Lord, I can’t lose her.”
A waitress came by, and he ordered a drink. He saw movement out the corner of his eye, and a stunning blonde walked over to the table next to theirs. He realized immediately that something wasn’t quite right. He watched her some more, and he realized that she was very drunk.
Alexis glanced back at him and saw who he’d been looking at. Her eyes widened, and she turned back around.
Dammit. She didn’t understand. He hadn’t been ogling the blonde. Alexis was hands-down more beautiful than that woman ever thought of being.
Several minutes later, the blonde moved on to another table. Lord, surely, she wasn’t considering playing in her condition. He hated to see anyone taken advantage of, and that would surely happen if she played.
He turned back to watch Alexis, focusing on her and the other players at her table. She’d worn a bright-yellow, cap-sleeved dress tonight, and the men couldn’t keep their eyes off her. Scoop necks didn’t have to be very low to look sexy on Alexis. She wore her hair up again, exposing her long, slender neck. He’d wanted to gobble her up when she’d walked out of the bathroom earlier. He was one very lucky man.
Alexis won the first hand and the second one, too. She folded on the third. Her cards must have been awful.
Suddenly the sexy blonde was at his side, whispering in a not-so-subtle voice, “Hey, handsome. Why aren’t you playing?”
He was standing close to the table, and that meant she was too. It was incredibly rude to talk while the cards were in play. He turned to whisper in the woman’s ear that he was with someone just as Alexis turned around.
Her mouth opened in an O, and her eyes widened in shock. Then she whipped her head back around.
Dammit! He needed to explain, but he couldn’t while she was at the table. He grabbed the woman by the arm and walked away. When they were out of earshot, he said, “I’m with the lady who was sitting in front of me.” The woman’s slightly glazed eyes widened at his forceful tone of voice, and he made himself calm down. “Listen, you need to get out of here. You’re in no shape to play cards tonight.”
