Elegantly dressed in a simple white shirt and black vest, he stared at her with intense green eyes. His dark hair, long and sinfully thick, framed the hard planes of his face.
“Yes?”
For a moment he said nothing. Cami’s heart did a somersault. Good Lord, the man was gorgeous. Her body warmed under his regard and her pulse flickered and leaped.
He held out his hand, offering her a single, white chip.
“I believe you dropped this.”
“I don’t think so.” Cami pulled away, but didn’t break his contact.
“Take it. Your wildest dreams will come true.”
The heat from his touch seeped into her blood. Cami couldn’t think of a response. She couldn’t think at all with him standing so close. She felt compelled to accept the chip. It would be rude not to. Her arm reached out.
“Say it.” Though the words were softly spoken, there was underlying steel to them.
Cami licked her lips. “My wildest dreams . . . will come true.”
He slowly, seductively placed the chip in her open hand.
Two
Cami’s palm burned as she closed her fingers around the chip. The room wavered and she fought the urge to drop the coloured plastic in her hand. Then her world went dark.
Oh great, I meet a gorgeous man and I faint at his feet.Cami reached for him, but found nothing.
His voice, a low vibration shimmering through her soul whispered, “Take a chance.”
The lights grew brighter. Cami blinked. “Take a what?” The man was gone. “Hey, where are you?”
Cami stood in a darkened corner of a room she didn’t recognize. The roulette table was gone, as well as everything else that had been there. In fact, the room was significantly smaller and more opulently decorated than Caesars casino, with a marble fireplace, matching sofa and loveseat, some wingback chairs, even a billiard table. It looked like the parlour from a Victorian bed and breakfast.
The few round tables scattered throughout the room were occupied by men seated in straight-backed chairs, playing card games. A man in the far corner played a piano, the upbeat tune mixing with the sounds of light conversation and laughter.
Cami blinked again. Nothing changed. What on earth was going on? She felt as if she’d been dropped on to the set of one of those stupid reality shows. Modern woman is whisked away to live the life of a caveman. She must eat woolly mammoth and pee in a cave to experience the true nature of her new world. By the looks of things, this reality show had a Victorian motif. And the “guests” were dressed for the part.
Gina had to be behind this charade. It was just the type of “fun” she’d dream up. Gina must have sent in a sob story about her friend’s sorry life andpoof,Cami was dropped into this scene without any warning. That made sense. Fine, she’d go along, for now. But, there’d better be lots of money for starting her school at the end of this or Gina would burn.
Mr Gorgeous Green Eyes at the roulette table must have helped transport her to a studio or another casino. But she didn’t remember travelling anywhere. Cami looked around again. Where were all the cameras, microphones and spotlights? She’d call Gina. Cami tapped her empty pocket and remembered she’d left her purse and cell phone in her room.
Walking away from the parlour, Cami found the front desk and an attendant. Behind the man, a sign announced in bold blue lettering:WELCOME TO THE FREMONT HARBOR HOUSE. She’d never heard of this casino.
“Can I please use your phone?”
“Excuse me?”
“Your telephone. I need to call a friend.”
The man looked at her quizzically. “I’m sorry, madam, but we don’t have a telephone yet.”
“What do you mean ‘yet’?” OK, very realistic extras.
Cami put her hands on the counter. “Look, I need to find my friend, so if you’ll—”
She stopped suddenly as the chip she’d been holding tumbled on to the scarred surface. Except it was no longer a chip at all.
Cami picked it up and studied the silver coin, noting the eagle on one side and the profile of Lady Liberty with the date of 1893 on the other. A five-dollar American eagle coin.
