Disclaimer: see chapter 1
A/N: I need to go ahead and apologize now... just cause she's at the casino doesn't necessarily mean she's going to run into Zach. Sorry - I've got a LOT more up my sleeve before that actually happens, but we will get there, I promise!

She took a deep breath and walked in the main doors. She stopped for a moment, looking around. She hadn't been here in some time, not since…

He had looked so unbelievably good that day, she couldn't help herself, she just had to touch him.

"Hmm."

"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm." She loved that she had been able to sneak up on him, catching him off guard like he had done to her over and over again since New Year's Eve.

"Mm-hmm, yes, there is more where that came from."

Mm-hmm?"

"If you tell me your deepest, darkest secrets."

"Well, that would probably involve my love for Irish single malt. Whiskey."

"Ms. Hart?" Kendall looked over to see Regina, one of the casino hosts, walking toward her. "I thought that was you. It's good to see you again. It's been awhile since you have been in."

Kendall just smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I know. Look, I was… I need… well, I need to see Zach. Is he around?"

Regina smiled back at her. "Let me check. Give me a minute." Regina pulled her phone out of her pocket and dialed. Kendall walked across the lobby and stared into the bar, smiling at the scene – people enjoying drinks, wait staff running back and forth from the bar to the tables, keeping the place running like a well oiled machine.

"Let's get things rolling. Let's go."

"Your gaming licenses."

"Thank you."

"I'm sorry, could you -- could you grunt a little louder, please? Zach, I did not just play your loving, devoted wife this morning. I had to flirt with those coots on the gaming commission. I had to smile all pretty and actually act like they were -- they were desirable."

"Ok, forgive me, my darling, sacrificing wife. I've been a brutish beast, and I need to be punished. Now, what can I do to make it up to you? I know. How about a big kiss?"

"You want to show your gratitude with a nice, hot kiss?"

"I didn't say "hot," but, sure. That's what husbands and wives do, right?"

"Hmm. Well, you know what I really want?"

"Hmm?"

"I would really love a sexy, new, slamming sports car that matches with these great shoes."

"Sports car?"

"Mm-hmm."

"That's what you need? Ok."

"Now, I'll tell you what I don't need. I don't need a phony apology from a phony husband. And I really did not want to parade around this morning in front of the gaming commission."

"You have my sincere gratitude. And when the casino opens tonight, half the take is yours."

"I don't care about the stupid money. Keep your damn money."

"What's going on?"

"Nothing. That's the problem. God, nothing in my life right now -- nothing -- nothing that matters."

"The husband is always the last to know."

"You know, the fact that this marriage has no emotional weight is the best thing that's going on in my life right now. You and I -- we don't mean anything to each other, thank God. I guess I can count on that."

"The good news is, it'll get easier."

"What? Being in a fake marriage?"

"Being alone."

But it hadn't gotten any easier, being married but being alone. Looking back, she knew it was the reason she kept getting in his face, interfering with his business, staying with him - he kept her from being alone and that's what she had wanted more than anything then and more than anything now, to not be alone.

"Ms. Hart?" Regina tapped Kendall on the shoulder, breaking her out of her trance. Kendall turned to face her. "Is he here?"

"Well, I talked to one of the other hosts who said that she saw him head up to his office about 45 minutes ago. Do you want me to…" Regina said, pulling her cell phone out again.

Kendall was already heading for the elevators. "No thanks, Regina. I'll head up there myself. Kinda would like to surprise him, you know?" Regina just smiled and watched Kendall heading for the elevators.

TBC…