Chapter 11

Mid July 2006

Carly sat at a private table in the VIP room of her club, the same room where Luke used to hold backroom poker games.

She sipped her drink and eyed the gorgeous man sitting across from her. They hadn't gotten a chance to talk much yet. He was only in town for the weekend. Last night he met her, while she circulated through the club mingling with the patrons, trying to make them all feel lucky to be in her club.

He hit on her by saying, "You are too lovely to be spending your evenings working. Let me buy you dinner."

Most times she laughed off such come-ons but this guy was in a new league of hotness. She invited him to join her at

this private performance by Dara Jenson. A few select customers sat at surrounding tables.

Her cell rang. She looked at it and saw it was a call from the doorman. " I'll be back shortly. Enjoy the show." Carly said to her date and then she hurried from the room into the hallway.

"What is it, Marco?" she asked into the phone.

"He's here."

"At the bar?"

"The pool table. Some guys who were playing actually quit their game and gave him the table when he walked over. I don't think that he is so great for business-"

"Don't think, Marco. Do your job. And don't ever talk that way about him to me or anyone else, do you got it?"

She hung up before he could answer. Marco would conform to her rules or find his butt on the unemployment line.

Carly headed towards the pool table with a smile on her face.

She

may be the beauty or the beast
May be the famine or the feast
May turn each day into a Heaven or a Hell

Elvis Costello lyrics

Jason thought to himself, Eight ball corner pocket. Then executed the shot perfectly, knocking in the last ball on the table.

"Anyone can run a table when they're playing alone." Carly said as she came into his view, standing behind the same pocket the ball just went into. "I would like to see you try those moves out against me."

"Have you ever beat me?" Jason asked

"Yes! Twice, at least. And don't act like you don't remember because you have your memory back."

"I think you are exaggerating. If you ever beat me-"

"I did and you know it."

"Then I must have let you win."

"You wish! I would make you eat those words but I have a date waiting for me."

Something twisted in Jason's heart. He pushed the feeling down. By now this feeling and his reaction to it was second nature, so why did it stab at his heart still each time?

She

maybe the love that cannot hope to last
May come to me from shadows in the past
That I remember 'till the day I die

Elvis Costello lyrics