Page 34 of Risky Bet

“I understand.”

He backed out of the room and closed the door. A few minutes later, there was a knock. When she opened it, her suitcase was waiting for her with all of her clothes. She sat on the bed the rest of the night and read about the legal battle Memphis Foster was engaged in.

It occurred to her to wonder if she’d been brought here to somehow gain information about her family to help his trial.

On a whim, she dialed Hunter’s cell number. It was the first time she’d ever used it, other than to confirm that she’d landed in Vegas.

“Rylee? Is everything OK?”

She broke down and told him everything. When she was done, she asked, “Whose idea was it to hire me?”

Hunter whistled. “That was quite a story. I can put your mind at ease on one front though. I suggested hiring you and Memphis had no idea who you were. Had I realized your family was wrapped up in the scam he’s on trial for, I never would have made the suggestion though.”

Well, that was something anyway.

“Do you think he’s guilty? He made it sound like he’d been set up.”

“That’s what he told me too. I have no reason not to believe him. I’ve done business with Memphis for a long time, and he’s always been a fair player in the market. That said, on paper, the deal that got signed sounded very lucrative and money can make people do stupid shit. I can’t tell you what to do because you have every right to be pissed at him right now, but my advice would be to hear him out and do your own research.”

“Thanks, Hunter. Do you think he got my tournament canceled? I never have heard what happened.”

“He didn’t but I can see why you would wonder. I checked it out. It was a legit problem with the sprinkler system, and it’s going to take them a few weeks to be ready to play again. They can’t just move it to a new place because Caesar’s is the one sponsoring the tournament. Are you allowed to leave the property?”

“I’m not sure. He said something about signing my name to some documents that made me half owner of this house and that we were live-in partners. I don’t really understand it all. But I don’t think I have to stay here twenty-four seven."

“Well, find out. If you can leave, come play in the high-rollers room tomorrow on my dime.”

She laughed. “I like the sound of that, but that’s unnecessary. I will come see you if I can leave though. Thanks for talking to me, Hunter. I know you’re busy.”

“You’re welcome, Miss Rylee. I wish I had better advice for you. I’ll just say I think he’s a good man who got caught in an unfortunate set of circumstances. Then he had to go and start thinking with his dick where you were concerned and that just made things worse.”

Rylee hung up feeling sad. Memphis Foster might have been thinking with his dick, but somehow her heart had gotten involved.

11

♣♣♣

Memphis cranked the speed up on the treadmill and pushed himself as he played the last several days over in his mind. He wasn’t prepared for everything to blow up in his face so quickly. How the hell was he supposed to fix this?

His connection with Rylee was one of the most intense he’d had with a woman, and he wasn’t ready to lose that.

He heard the door to the gym open, but he kept running.

Rylee stepped onto the treadmill next to him and turned it on. She started at a brisk walk and slowly increased to match his intense pace.

He’d been at it for a half hour already, but he wasn’t going to quit until she did.

An hour later, they were both panting and drenched in sweat and not for the reasons he’d hoped.

She leaned on the bars of the treadmill as it came to a halt and wiped at her brow with a towel.

“Can we talk?” she asked between gulping breaths.

He gave a solemn nod and stepped off the machine.

“Where?” he asked.

“Shower first. Then the dining room table.”

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