Page 17 of Jackpot Joker

I shrug. “I’m sure if I wanted to, I could, but right now my career is my focus.”

“Have you always wanted to go into law?”

“As far back as I can remember. My dad and brother are both attorneys. My grandfather was one, and his grandfather before him. I guess you could say it’s my family tradition. And please take full offense, but it’s a hell of a lot better than yours.”

Dario chuckles, and I hate how good it sounds. “My family has the family business tradition, too.”

“Oh? The Carusos have a long history of owning casinos?”

“More or less.” He sighs. “Are you ready to continue our date?”

I roll my eyes. “This isn’t a date.”

We continue maneuvering around tables where people are standing, playing a multitude of casino games, and I’m more confused than ever. “These games all seem so complicated. No wonder people lose money playing them.”

“We have some big winners from time to time,” Dario says.

“Oh, please. I’ve heard the saying. The house always wins, and the way you and your brothers are buying up properties, I have no doubt you win a lot.”

“We do,” Dario agrees with his handsome grin, “but every now and then someone else gets a little bit of luck.”

I snort, and he cocks an eyebrow. There’s a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, and curiosity gets the better of me. “What?”

“Pick a game?”

“What?” I ask again.

“Which game do you want to play? I have a feeling you have more luck than you think.”

My eyes glance around the tables we walked among, and I shake my head. “I don’t understand these games. I don’t want to play something if I don’t know what I’m doing.”

Dario tugs my hand, pulling me in the direction of the slot machines. When we reach a bank of them, he sits me on a stool in front of one with a giant pig on the front.

“Here,” he says, offering me a hundred-dollar bill, “insert that into the machine.”

“Why would I want to do that?”

Dario rolls his eyes. “There is this thing called fun, you know? Have you ever heard of it?”

“Is it fun if you lose?”

“You won’t lose. You said yourself that the house always wins.” He leans down and whispers in my ear, “And I am the house.”

Dario takes back the money he handed me and inserts it into the machine.

“Now, these newer machines have a button you can simply push, but I prefer the full experience.” He takes my hand and moves it to the lever on the side. “There are no rules or strategies you have to know with these. Just pull the lever, and watch it light up.” I stare at Dario as he pulls the lever down with me, holding eye contact until the machine begins to oink. My head turns back to the machine, and my mouth drops, afraid I’ve broken something.

“Why is it doing that? What does that mean?”

“It means you won.”

“I won?” My mouth hangs open as I watch the numbers on the screen go up. I never win anything.

“You won!” Dario repeats with a laugh.

“Oh my gosh!” I jump up from the stool and into his arms. I can’t help but notice how incredible they feel. This man works out, and I have no doubt he could lift an impressive amount of weight. For a moment, I wonder what it would be like to be lifted in his arms, but as his lips dip down and come into view, I pull away, reminding myself that he is a client. A very attractive and frustrating client.

“How much did I win?” I ask, excited and slightly turned on.