Page 88 of Holiday Hire

I gape at him.

He adds, "Too bad it wasn't 10-1. You would have gotten eleven times instead of four and a half."

The man interjects, "$4,500. Do you want an envelope?"

Still shocked, I answer, "Umm... Yes, please."

He slides the wad of cash into an envelope and then hands it to me. "Well done."

I stare at it.

Alexander chuckles. "You're supposed to take your winnings and run, Pheebs."

I grab the cash and hold it out to him. "It's your money."

He grunts. "No way. A bet's, a bet. Put it in your purse where it's safe."

I open my mouth, but he puts his finger on it. Tingles resurge, racing down my spine.

He nods to the crowd, adding, "There's a line behind us. There's no point in arguing. Put it away, and we can get out of here."

"Oh. Sorry." I put the envelope in my crossbody.

He takes control again, protectively weaving me through the frenzy of people and out the door.

Tonight's the coldest it's been all year, and the wind howls around us. I breathe deeply, welcoming the fresh air, my hair blowing in my face.

Alexander steps to the other side of me and puts his arm around my shoulder, shielding me from the harsh elements. He quickly leads me to his VIP parking spot and opens the passenger door.

I reach for the bar, grip it, and hoist myself into the truck.

He shuts the door and hurries around the front, then slides inside. He turns on the engine and asks, "You ready to go home, or do you want to hit the town?"

I smirk. "Why, Alexander Cartwright, do you actually go out and have fun?"

"Now and then," he answers, grinning, but then his face falls. In a serious tone, he asks, "Did I give you the impression I'm a stick-in-the-mud?"

"Ummm...no. I wouldn't call you that..."

"But you'd call me...?" He arches his eyebrows.

I bite on my lip, cringing.

He groans. "Yep, you think I'm a stick-in-the-mud."

I softly laugh. "No! You're just serious. But you have a lot of responsibilities," I quickly add.

He stares at me for a moment.

"I didn't mean it in a bad way," I offer, putting my hand on his.

He picks it up, kisses the back of it, then releases it. "That settles it. We're hitting the town." He shifts the truck into drive.

I clap. "Yay! Where are we going?"

He glances at me as he drives through the gates. "Well, Pheebs, that would depend on you."

"Me?"

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