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Cammie grinned up at him. “All right, perv, you do you.” A little spontaneity wouldn’t kill her. “But sooner or later we’re going to have to go to one of the events Sherri talked about. Better for us to choose and have a bit of preplanning rather than having someone else slot us in to something.”
“Good point.” He whipped out his phone, his grin fully engaged, tapped a few times then turned the screen to face her.
Role Play –Expert Level
Cammie Sheppard
Enrolled
Zane Roberts
Enrolled
“You signed us up for a workshop?” She wanted to eat her words from seconds before. “You do you.” Ugh. She hadn’t meant for Zane to sign them up right away!
She’d never really experienced role play and had always kind of thought it was more of a couples thing to do…like a long-term couple, two or more people who had a relationship that would extend over time to include some kind of role playing. For the last few years, all Cammie had given herself time to do was indulge in hook-ups, probably because a deeper level of intimacy and vulnerability gave her hives and cut into her productivity.
“I thought it looked interesting.” His grin faltered as he registered her expression. “No pressure. It’s just something to get Sherri off our backs. We don’t have to go.”
“No, it’s a smart idea.” She forced those words out, even though her stomach clenched down on the jangle of nerves rattling inside her.
“Obviously Steven Posh isn’t our guy.” Zane tugged her forward, breaking the weirdly awkward moment with a snap. “But I have a lead on where to find our next target, Ed Fulton.”
* * * *
The casino was full of people, and they were all glued to one game or another. There was no way Cammie and Zane would be able to carry on a covert conversation with all the dinging, ticking, beeping and bells going off around them. Zane used a series of hand gestures to indicate that they needed to go over to the card tables, which were located, apparently, at the back of the casino, then he mouthed what Cammie thought was Blackjack.
Zane took her hand, entwining his thick fingers with hers, then guided her in a curvy, roundabout way through the gamblers. Cammie had never really gotten the point of gambling, especially knowing that the house inevitably won. She wasn’t the type to get caught up in the excitement of hoping for a big win, because she knew the odds weren’t in her favor. But winding her way through the crowd gave her an appreciation of just how much adrenaline was pumping through each gambler’s veins. Even though she wasn’t an adrenaline junkie, she could appreciate the allure of hitting the button or throwing the dice and taking a chance on luck. If the ruddy cheeks, dilated pupils, loud peals of laughter and heart-stopping gasps were any indication, the casino was one of the most intoxicating places to be. She could well imagine how much sexual tension could exist just under the surface of things.
They got to the Blackjack table and the white noise dropped off, almost like they’d passed through a sound barrier of some sort. There was soft music playing and some conversation, but otherwise, it was missing all the hoopla from a few feet away.
“I don’t see him but that doesn’t mean he isn’t here. According to my research, he’s a high roller.” Zane tugged her toward one of the tables. “Let’s play a few rounds and wait.”
She dug in her heels on impulse. She had no desire to throw money away, then remembered that she was playing a part. She needed to go along with the subterfuge, just in case Chief Ross had followed them into the casino.
If Zane noticed her hesitation, he didn’t say anything. Instead, he guided her to a table, leaned in and whispered, “I’ll play. You be my good luck charm. Security has many eyes in here.” Then he kissed her forehead in the most endearing way that left Cammie unable to do much more than nod.
She had to give him credit. He was damn observant if he already knew what she’d be comfortable with. She glanced up briefly to note the dozen or so opaque domes overhead. Of course, there’d be cameras in this space—whether or not they worked was another thing altogether. All the same, this was yet another opportunity for Cammie and Zane to present as a normal couple doing normal couple things.
She waited until Zane had settled himself on his stool then draped her arm over his shoulder.
While the slots had been a relatively equal mix of men and woman, the card tables were occupied almost exclusively by men. There were female servers, dressed in gorgeous black lace cocktail dresses and stiletto heels, buzzing in and out, dropping off drinks and taking new orders. Men slipped hundred-dollar chips onto their trays as they wove through the crowd, which seemed generous, but also, to Cammie’s horror, came with strings attached. A pat on the ass here, a stray hand caressing a breast there, as if these ladies had signed up to manhandled just because they were dressed as they were.
Even though she worked in the sex industry, it always shocked her when anyone assumed that the way a woman dressed was consent for touching. It never was.
Zane had only been playing for a handful of minutes before Cammie realized that this was not a game purely of chance. Zane had to be counting cards in some capacity because he truly had skill at knowing when to hit or stand. He was already up a few hundred dollars when Cammie spotted Ed Fulton.
He was a little older than the last guy, maybe still in his twenties. His face was youthful looking, but he was balding, which aged him upon first glimpse. It made Cammie wonder if she had the right guy after all. She’d have to get a closer look.
She leaned in to Zane, whispering against his ear, “I think I found him. Two tables over, second seat. I’m going to confirm.”
She didn’t wait for Zane to acknowledge he’d heard her and was already at the table before she gave much thought to how she’d confirm anything.
“Oh, look who it is!” Bill Haversmith was seated at the same table and he practically jumped out of his chair to greet her. “My little beauty, Cammie! I knew you were a vixen, gambling with the big boys, eh? Well, here, take my seat. I want to see what you can do!”
Fuuuuck!She hadn’t seen Bill sitting there. What a tragic mistake.
Cammie was trapped, and her damn feet didn’t get the memo to turn the other way and run. Instead, she continued right into Bill’s web so he could usher her into his vacated seat.
