Raising the Stakes

“Only part?”

She nodded stiffly. “We give VIP treatment to celebrities. People who are famous.”

“Well, maybe you shouldn’t be so quick to write me off.” He cocked his head. “For all you know, I’m a famous celebrity in disguise. Or maybe I dropped ten thousand bucks at blackjack last night.”

“You aren’t, and you didn’t. I’d know, in either case.”

“Yeah, but if I were…?”

She sighed and folded her arms. “I’d arrange for some complimentary upgrades, by way of expressing the hotel’s gratitude.”

“But you wouldn’t go out with me.”

“No.”

Gray smiled. “Well then, it’s a good thing I’m just me, Graham Baron, because, in that case, it’s okay for you to say yes, you will.”

She stared at him as if he’d lost his mind. “Will what?”

“Will have coffee with me. Notice, I said `coffee.’ You offer VIPs upgrades. Well, I’m not a VIP so I’m willing to settle for a downgrade. Forget going to a show. Let me buy you a cup of coffee.”

She rolled her eyes, bit her lip the same as she had yesterday and, just like yesterday, his hormones went on full alert. “Honestly, Mr. Baron—”

“Honestly, Miss Carter, I’m only trying to fulfill my obligation here.”

He had her going now. He could see it, the confusion in her eyes, and that was a lot better than the cool disinterest that had been there only a little while ago.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I guess you never heard that old Chinese proverb, huh?”

“What old Chinese proverb?” she said cautiously.

“The one that says, if you save a person’s life, that person becomes your responsibility.”

“Me, you mean? But you didn’t save my life.”

“Come on, Miss Carter. You were stranded in the middle of a Nevada desert, one hundred and fifty horses dead at your feet, their bones bleached by the sun.”

“What?”

“Your car. It was dead as a doornail on the sand.”

“It was asphalt,” she said, her expression one of bewilderment, “on Las Vegas Boulevard, and I don’t think that car of mine ever had that much horsepower, not even when it was new.”

“Technicalities,” he said, with a little shrug. “There’s sand under that asphalt, if you dig down. Your horses were belly-up, your teddy bear was desperate for water and who came along and rescued you? Me.” Gray tapped his thumb against his chest. “I saved your life, and that makes me responsible for you now.”

He waited, never realizing he was holding his breath until she let out a soft, almost imperceptible laugh.

“I don’t understand a word you just said. Even if all that were true, how does that make asking me out your—what did you call it? Your obligation?”

“Damned if I know,” he said, smiling. “But you have to admit, it’s a good line.” He leaned over the desk, which put him almost nose to nose with her, close enough so he could smell the faint scent of vanilla on her skin. Would she taste like vanilla, if he touched his mouth to throat? “Coffee,” he said softly. “Fair enough?”

She didn’t answer and he thought he’d pushed his luck too far. Then he saw her chin drop just a little. The look in her eyes went from hostile to wary.

“I’m not going to get rid of you unless I agree, am I?”

“I’m an attorney, Red. If we’re known for nothing else, it’s tenacity.”