* CHAPTER 2 *

"Where did you and Mom drive from?" There was a definite smirk behind the french fry.

I needed to clear up the Mama's boy image right now. "I left my home in Groton, picked her up at her house in Waterford, and drove from there."

"Ah."

I'd clearly passed one test, and suddenly I wanted to pass them all. "What about you? Where do you live?"

"Ledyard. Why? Did you want to come home with me?"

There was that smile again. Half tease, all flirt. "Sure," I said, playing along, "but I think you better do the driving."

"Ahem, yeah." We both turned toward the bartender, standing in front of us with folded arms and a mildly amused grimace. "I'd like to keep my job, thank you."

I held up both hands in surrender. "No worries, man. I couldn't find my car with a GPS and a divining rod right now. Took me ten minutes to find a spot and another fifteen to find my way into the casino from the lot. I think it's Rain Dance or some damn thing?"

Bella reached over and slapped my upper arm. "Rainmaker." She chuckled at me, and I tried to pretend my arm didn't feel like a branding iron had just left its mark. Had she scooted her stool closer? We were rubbing elbows; when had that happened?

"Rainmaker, right. That's it. In any event, I think it's best I leave the Volvo where it is for now."

"Suits me fine, Ed. I'm happy to take the driver's seat."

I glanced in the mirror, too afraid to look directly at the girl and realize I'd imagined the whole thing, but what I saw penetrated the tequila blur. This girl likes me. This could happen. Time to do a little flirting of my own à la Señor Herradura.

"Hmm, a girl who likes to take control, are you?" I wasn't exactly a guy who relinquished control—ever—but the tequila was lubricating all kinds of tight gears.

Bella giggled; I heard tinkling bells. "If the situation requires it."

Jasper poked the soda snake in front of us and refilled Bella's glass. "Anything else I can get you two? Dessert? After-dinner drink? A room?"

I couldn't blame him for being jealous. This girl was getting prettier by the second, and clearly, she had chosen me.

"Want anything else, Bella?" I asked.

She swiveled in her stool and dazzled me head-on with those glasses. "Most definitely," she said.

This is it. Don't blow it!

With my gaze firmly fixed on Bella, I reached into my back pocket and tugged out my wallet. Tossing the whole thing onto the bar, I said, "Put the lady's tab on my room charge."

Jasper smirked, ignoring my wallet. "Room number?"

Moment of truth. Would I say it out loud? What if things fell apart between here and the room? What if she was a whack job who was planning to snuff me out after fucking me? Or worse—before? Was I taking a crazy chance bringing her up to my room? Probably, but unless she had a gun in her purse, I was most likely not going to die tonight.

"2509."

Bella smiled. I wanted to pinch myself to make sure this was real, but what if she saw? Besides, if this was a dream, I was nowhere near ready to wake up.

I waved the pen over the check, adding in an extra five for Jasper.

"Thanks, buddy. You be safe now." He looked back and forth between the two of us, and I wasn't sure which of us he was warning. "See you tomorrow, Bells."

Tomorrow? What the . . .? Something about a Thursday burger veered irritatingly out of reach. Ah, fuck it. I got the girl.

She looped her arm around my elbow and set her head on my shoulder once we reached the hallway. Balance was not easy, and damn, this place was massive! I searched for the elevator bank around every corner, only to be met by more boldly carpeted, seemingly endless hallways littered with souvenir shops, indoor billboards, and tired people dragging each other to unattainable dreams.

We must have made a circle by now. Four right turns . . . Had I lost count? Or was the third turn a left?

"You don't have a gun in your purse, do you?"

"Why, did you want to knock off the Wampum Outpost?" She giggled some more, but I noticed she didn't answer the question.

"Not right now." I stumbled; she righted me.

Twenty-five hundred miles later, we reached the elevators.

"Good evening, sir. May I see your key, please?" The voice of the security guard brought me up short. Crap. It was the guy from earlier, the one who'd watched me say goodnight to Ma. There must be some code of ethics, I figured. What happens at Foxwoods . . . surely the Native Americans had worked out some such ethical arrangement with the property management company. At any rate, I avoided eye contact, just pulled out my wallet and flashed him the key card.

"Thank you. You two have a wonderful night," he said.

I gave him an over-the-shoulder wave without looking back.

Bella and I studied the horizontal bars over each elevator, jockeying for position as the bright green lights ticked up and down the floors. Bella tugged me over to the car farthest to the right, pulling me off balance for a scary second. Her hand slid down my arm; her fingers interlocked with mine.

Naked man found dead in hotel room, stabbed in neck with toothbrush.

Unidentified male pushed from 35th-story window.

Apparent heart-attack victim left tied to bed frame. Police suspect foul play.

I'd seen the insurance reports; I knew the odds. Not letting the girl in was the only logical choice.

The elevator doors opened, and we staggered inside; well, I staggered, and she held me up. I closed my eyes to the bright lights and mirrors. A warm body pressed up against my front as my back met the wall with a thud. She kissed me, and I liked it—a lot. Her lips were soft from the greasy dinner. The earthy mix of beef and mushrooms hit my tongue.

I grabbed for more, and she pulled back, laughing. "I guess we gave the guys in the surveillance room something to see."

Crap. Casinos. Cameras everywhere. "Maybe we should wait. It's only . . . nine, eight more floors."

"Screw that," she said, grabbing my wrists and slapping my hands on her boobs. Before I could process the situation, she leaned in and kissed me again.

I squeezed her tits; she groaned. I groaned back.

The bell dinged. A female robot announced the floor, and the doors slid open. This was the most fun I'd had in months, but I had my sights set higher. And also lower.

I pushed off the wall and walked her backward out of the elevator, steering with her boobs. We were an awkward four-legged creature, still attached at the lips. She grabbed my ass for support; she squeezed it for fun.

"Make yourself useful," I said, "and get my key while you're back there." We laughed and kissed and stumbled down the hall. "And shh!"

Ma was in the room by the elevator, and I really didn't need her to open her door right now. Bella dug the card out of my wallet, which she kindly returned to my back pocket. The key . . . Well, that went straight down her shirt. She gave me a wicked smile. My pants were getting tight.

A small, sober voice reminded me I'd never acted this way before, and this probably wasn't what I ought to be doing, but the rest of me shooed away the buzzkill.

Have some fun for a change! Live a little! What could be the harm?

Author's Note: Oh my god, did I just write a slutty Edward? This might be a first! What about Miss Thursday Burger anyway? Is Edward going to wind up like those other poor trusting bastards? *bites nails* And what about Ma's birthday? Will she ever be able to bingo bonk again? I have so many questions to answer! Got any more for me?

XXX ~BOH