The Billionaire's Gamble

He helps me out of my chair and even the chaste brush of his hand on mine is enough to set my pulse racing. The way he smiles at me, it’s almost like he knows it too. We walk side by side out into the casino, and I’m aware that he’s leading me even though he never walks ahead of me. Nolan talks in a low voice about all the different kinds of gambling swirling around us, and I try to pay attention, but mostly I listen to the sound of his voice, the way it seems to rumble under everything else. The way it seems to penetrate my skin. People look at Nolan as we pass, and I don’t blame them. He’s taller than everyone in the room and his presence fills the space.

He takes me to a roulette table, and the dealer does a double take when he sees Nolan. I guess he must have some kind of gambling reputation around here because the dealer is suddenly fawning over him. The whiskey is spinning in my veins just like the roulette wheel is spinning in front of my eyes. I’m not following the damn game at all, but Nolan is in his element. In minutes he’s stacking chips and calling out numbers, colors. “Pick red or black,” he tells me.

I try to count his bet. Is that ten grand? It can’t be. Laughing nervously, I say, “Red.”

The dealer spins and I watch as the little ball skitters to a stop on a red square. The people around us roar with cheers and I realize that he won. He won with the color that I picked at random. The thought makes me dizzy. Sweeping me into his arms, he plants a kiss on my cheek. It reverberates through my entire body, and I may be imagining it, but I think I feel his hands linger as he lets me go. “You’re a lucky woman,” he teases.

Blushing, I count the chips. “Holy shit,” I whisper. I wasn’t wrong; that had been a ton of money, and Nolan needs a bag to collect his winnings. Who is this guy?

Maybe he senses my awe and confusion, because he hoists the bag off the counter and takes me by the hand. “Let’s walk,” he says, his long legs taking one step for my every two. If he wants me to forget what I just saw, I can’t. I don’t know anyone who risks money like that—who has the money to risk like that. The concept blows my mind. But then again, if he had wanted to hide that from me, he wouldn’t have offered to take me gambling in the first place.

I don’t realize he’s led me to the elevator until we’re inside of it. The doors slide shut and I say, “Where are we going?”

“My room. If that’s alright? I want to drop off these chips. I can cash them out tomorrow.”

It makes sense. I’d seen the lines at the tellers around the casino, who would want to stand in them at this hour? Actually… what time was it? I look at my phone—there’s text after text from my sister:

Kelly:

How was the date?

I know it’s hard, but try to have fun.

For me.

You need this, Dani! Live a little!

Peeking up at Nolan, I hide a smile. Yeah. I might take her advice, just not the way she thinks. After all, we’re going to his room.

The elevator chimes and we step out together. He’s too broad, and our bodies collide, resulting in a burst of excitement in my belly.

“Sorry,” he laughs, taking my elbow gently. “I’m usually more agile than that. Can’t recall the last time I nearly knocked a woman down.”

I almost say, I don’t mind being the first. Waving my hand, I follow him down the hall. “It’s fine, no harm done.” Nolan seems pacified, but he keeps his gentle hold on me. Like long time lovers, we stroll together towards a door on the left side of the hall.

His key card makes it blink green, and then we’re inside and… “Oh my god,” I say.

It’s my first time seeing a hotel room like this. It’s amazing. Kelly put me up in a basic Queen with a pool view and I’d thought that was awesome. But this?

All of the Vegas strip spread out before me. I can see the neon lights, the glowing fountains, the traffic—it’s stunning. I don’t even realize I have my nose pressed up against the glass until he comes up beside me. “Like the view?”

“It’s beautiful,” I gush, smiling up at him. The glass reflects our images back, doubling Nolan and making that part of the view even more amazing. He’s close enough that I can count the flecks of honey in his caramel irises. I can see stubble on his jaw, emphasizing just how strong it is. I wonder if it would be rough under my fingertips. “Do you like it?” I whisper.