Susannah Scott - Luck of the Dragon

Hot humiliation warred with anxiety inside Lucy’s head. She had enjoyed it. But she had to get out of the casino. Now. “You’re a deranged lunatic. Let me out of here right now.”

“Of course.” Alec took the last swallow of his drink. “But I need you to promise to return in the morning and start your appraisal.”

“Fine.” Like hell she would come back. She’d be on a plane to anywhere-but-here by morning. “I’ll be back tomorrow.” She fought not to glance to her right, a sure tell for lying.

Alec nodded. Standing, he arched his back as if he had a knot between his shoulder blades. He bent to pick up her shoes. The muscled contour of his back and butt showed through his suit when he bent over. Lucy swallowed the spit in her mouth and took a deep breath. Get a grip and quit checking out his primo backside.

Alec extended his hand. The expensive shoes dangled from his index finger, looking less haute couture and more Kmart wilted. “There’s just one thing…”

Lucy grabbed the shoes and used the back of the chair to steady herself as she slipped them on. She stood straight, immediately appreciating the extra three inches in height. She could almost meet his eyes. “What?”

“You’re a respected woman, with degrees from M.I.T. and Le Suisse International. You have examined some of the most priceless jewels in the world. Everyone who works with you lauds your professionalism and integrity.”

“So?” Lucy put her hands on her hips.

“I don’t think you normally call your clients Testa di merda .”

“True.” Lucy noticed that his accent was perfect. Most English speakers put a Spanish inflection on Italian words. “Well, only when they really deserve it, and never to their faces.”

“I think you must be in some sort of trouble. If you need help, I can help you. My resources are limitless.”

Lucy leaned forward at his words. Her heels lifted off the back of her shoes and her toes gripped the floor. How tempting it was to tell him everything. Let him handle it all with his unlimited resources: Joey’s never-ending gambling debts, the mob-backed enforcer, the jewel heist…

But this man, with his money and easy kisses, was not on her short list of dependable folk—he was not even on her long list of scoundrels.

He didn’t know her. Why would he help her?

Sex.

“Mr. Gerald, despite what you seem to think of me, I’m not for sale.” Her previous cursing and loss of control made her feel ashamed, trashy, and cheap. It was a flashback to the youth she had worked her whole life to escape.

“Dr. De Luca…” Alec’s face tightened and his navy eyes glittered. He seemed frustrated by her refusal. “I want to help you. You’re obviously in some sort of trouble. I can fix it.”

Did he already know about the card? Alarm pulsed up her throat, and she blinked hard to keep her eyes off his empty suit pocket. Why didn’t he call the police? Have her arrested? Hauled out to the desert for some Vegas-style justice…

“I assure you, Mr. Gerald, I’m in no need of your assistance.” Her voice sounded sure. Lucy clasped her hands together in front of her stomach to fight the panic crawling up her spine when she thought of Gino and Joey’s plans.

“Everyone is in need of help of some sort.” Alec smiled and reached a wide palm toward her. His handsome face softened in concern. His gesture was oddly gentle and sincere, and somehow kind, as if he knew she was in over her head and only wanted to help her.

“I’m fine, really.” Lucy’s eyes swept the elegant room for other possible exits. Her abandoned drink sweated a water ring on his mahogany desk. She should have put a coaster down. That was rude, rude, rude…trashy and cheap.

Holy Mary, Joseph, and Peter…get her out of this room.

“Please, remember that you can come to me with anything . ” Alec kept his hands in his pockets and met her eyes, his gaze direct and unflinching. When she did not reply, he walked to the door and unlocked it with his thumbprint. Lock tumblers fell into place before he swung the door wide. “The elevator to the lobby is just outside.”

Lucy lengthened her stride to catch up with him in front of the elevator doors. The doors hissed open revealing…nothing.

No, there was glass. The setting sun glinted around the elevator corners, reflecting the seams. The Luxor pyramid head grinned below, and behind it the Mandalay Bay looked like an aluminum-foil Lego set. Vertigo spun Lucy’s head and she grabbed for Alec’s left arm.

“It’s safe.” Alec smiled and closed his right hand over her fingers clutching his elbow. “I promise.” His touch was reassuring and solid. “Don’t be afraid.” He walked forward and turned around to face her, appearing as if he floated in the air.

Lucy shook her head and backed up. The elevator was only big enough for two people, and though her mind knew it was an illusion, her heart screamed out, You will fall, stay back!

“Ahh…I have issues with heights. I’ll go down the way I came up.”

“It’s longer. Much longer.” He held both hands wide. “This elevator exits to the lobby.”

The lobby with its ginormous exit to the street. She would be clear of the casino in minutes. She was tempted. And no one could stop Alec to alert him of a security breach. Lucy took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and stepped forward. Her ears popped as they immediately whisked downward.

“See, that wasn’t so bad.” Alec stroked the back of her bare arm. His hand was warm against her frozen worry.

The elevator beeped. “You can look now.”

Lucy opened her eyes. The elevator doors slid apart, leading to the sparkling gold and jeweled lobby. She stepped forward onto hard, safe, Italian tiled ground. Her legs shook and she wobbled on her shoes.

“Why would you have a glass elevator?” Her words squeaked like they needed more air in them.

“Why not?” Alec put his hand under her elbow and led her through the bustle of the casino entry to a portico as big as her house. “It’s a bit of a thrill, don’t you agree?”

“No,” she said. “It’s a bit of a death trap.”

A black Bentley slid smoothly to the curb. Alec opened the back door as the driver greeted them. Leather and new-car smell escaped into the darkening sky. “My driver will take you home.”

“I don’t think so.” Lucy pulled free, regaining her wits. “Then you’ll know where I live.”

Alec leaned closer, the scent of him clean despite the heat. “I already know where you live.”

The knowledge shocked her. “I want a cab.”

“Of course.” Alec shut the door and nodded to a waiting doorman. “Over here.” He escorted her to the roped-off cab line. Drunken tourists shuffled quickly into cars, and soon they were at the front.

Alec opened the door to a yellow cab. The sharp smell of bleach and hot plastic swamped out. He picked up Lucy’s hand and turned the palm up. He waited for her to meet his gaze, then kissed her hand, letting the tip of his tongue touch her life line. Heat uncoiled in the pit of her stomach, flooding her cold limbs with fire.

She snatched her hand back. “You’re crazy.”

“No, I’m perfectly sane.” Alec brushed her hair over her shoulder. “Remember what I said. I can help you.”

Perhaps it was the surety of the metal cab door in her fingers, escape literally at hand, but her eyes sheened with tears. He was just too much. It was all too much.

“No thanks. I decided not to be a whore fifteen years ago.” She tried to pull free and slide into the cab, but Alec held her firmly in place.

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning at eight.” Alec released her, and she slid across the cracked vinyl seat to the far window. He shut the door and handed the driver a hundred dollar bill.