out of your league,” Aaron said.
It was true, but that didn’t make Travis ignore the woman. “Dana is out of your league, and look what happened there,” he said gruffly.
“Dana is different. That woman? High maintenance. I see that kind of woman all the time in the casinos. Do you see how she’s dressed? How she isn’t with anyone? She’s on the hunt for a big spender.”
Travis shook his head as he watched the woman walk past a row of slot machines. She was a breath of fresh air in a kitschy casino filled with gold furniture and red carpeting. She was looking around, taking in everything. He had recognized the look in her eyes. She was ready for anything. “No, she wants excitement.”
But what kind? The backpack indicated she wanted adventure but it didn’t seem a natural fit. Her do-me-right-now shoes suggested she was looking for a good time, but she tugged at her dress as if she wasn’t comfortable with the short length.
“She wants a glamorous lifestyle,” Aaron corrected. “Financial security. Two things you don’t possess.”
“I’m getting big bucks to babysit the emerald,” he reminded his friend. He would have done it for free to help out but Aaron had insisted. It was the only reason Travis would visit a place like Vegas.
“Which you plan to spend on climbing the volcanoes in Indonesia. Waste of money, if you ask me.”
Travis reluctantly dragged his gaze away from the woman. “You’re just saying that because you want to come along. Dana won’t let you, will she?”
“Hey, she worries about me,” Aaron said with a smile. “And I kind of like that.”
Travis frowned. It had been a long time since someone had worried about him. He used to prefer it that way. After being raised by his grandmother, who saw danger in every corner, he didn’t want to be held back because of someone’s fears. But the idea of a loved one caring about him didn’t sound as suffocating as it should.
“You know,” Aaron continued, “if you stopped spending your money on adventures and started investing it, you could have a very comfortable lifestyle.”
There was that word again. Comfortable. The idea of comfort was a trap. If you’re comfortable, you’re too scared to take a risk. You’re too busy protecting what you have instead of going for something you want.
“You could even have a chance with a woman like that.”
“I could get her now,” Travis declared, ignoring Aaron’s bark of laughter as he looked for the brunette in the shadowy casino. He jerked his attention back to two men sitting next to the slot machines. They hadn’t been there before. He noticed only one of the guys was playing. The tall one sat silently, his attention directly on the blackjack table. Their dark suits didn’t hide their bulky physiques.
“Aaron, do you see the two guys at the slot machines?” Travis asked as he made brief eye contact with the pale guy with blue eyes. “Something’s off. They’re positioned to look directly at us. How much do you want to bet they are looking for the emerald?”
Aaron took a long sip of his drink as he casually glanced over at the slot machines. “You’re being paranoid.”
“Do they look familiar?” Travis asked as his instincts started tingling. “Did you see them when the thieves tore up your hotel room in Rio? They may have blended in with the crowd, but they don’t fit in with this clientele.”
“Neither do we,” Aaron pointed out as he set down his glass.
“Exactly.” The players for the high-stakes poker game purposely chose a cheap and shabby casino for privacy and secrecy.
“Those guys are part of Hoffmann’s security team,” Aaron said.
“How rich are these poker buddies that they need security?”
“Very. Although I think security team is another way of saying enforcers.”
“Terrific.”
“I think the one with the crooked nose is Pitts. The tall one is Underwood.”
“You really need to learn the definition of buddy,” Travis asserted. “A buddy does not put you under surveillance. I think you are being watched.”
“You mean we are being watched,” Aaron corrected.
“Do you think these guys are working for their boss or for themselves?”
Aaron frowned. “Hoffmann has been trying to win back the emerald. He says it’s a family heirloom. He’s getting a little desperate and he’s had an unlucky streak.”
“So if he can’t win it back, his security guys are going to find it while you’re in the game.”
“We’re making it too obvious that we’re friends,” Aaron said. “If they tear up my room and don’t find the emerald, they’ll search your room.”
“Why me? You’re the one who owns the gem.”
“Process of elimination. If I don’t have it on me or in my room, they will go after my closest buddy.”
“Time to split up,” Travis muttered. “Text me when you need me.”
“They’ll go after you,” Aaron predicted. “You need to throw them off. How will you do that? You’re a single guy who doesn’t gamble. A lot goes on in Vegas, but you’ll stick out like a sore thumb. You need to look less suspicious.”
It was true. He needed to blend in with a group. Unfortunately, most of the guests in this place were senior citizens. He could infiltrate a bachelor party. Find a group of businessmen here for a convention. Travis looked around and his gaze landed on the brunette in the blue dress.
An idea formed in his mind. Travis rose from his seat, his pulse quickening with anticipation. Forget a bunch of drunk, rowdy men. He knew exactly how he wanted to spend his weekend. “I’ll be with the brunette.”
His friend snorted at the claim. “Her? Never going to happen.”
“How can you say that? I’m holding on to your emerald,” Travis replied. The emerald suddenly felt heavy in the breast pocket of his jacket.
Aaron laughed. “That emerald is lucky, not magic. But you’ll find out soon enough.”
* * *
SHE WOULD NEVER listen to Jill again, Christine Pearson thought as she tugged at the hem of her dress. Her friend insisted on this fancy outfit, telling her she would blend in with the crowd. Did Jill think she was staying at the Bellagio or something?
Christine took a step forward and felt her skirt rise up her thigh. She tried to yank it down as she walked, but she wasn’t used to wearing high heels. She turned her ankle and almost tripped.
I should have stayed home. That had been the thought running through her mind the moment she got off the plane at McCarran Airport. She had headed straight for the restroom, found an empty stall and struggled into her tight dress and high heels.
The
