Page 144 of Hidden Ties

Walking to Kent’s car after saying good night to the couple, she took a deep breath of air.

Kent’s head turned toward her. “The evening wasn’t that bad, was it?” he asked humorously.

“Not all of it. I enjoyed meeting Haley.”

He opened the car door for her, then snapped it closed before getting into the driver’s seat. “You didn’t enjoy playing the piano?” he asked once he had started the car.

“I did,” she admitted softly. “How could I not? The piano was a work of art.”

“Desmond was right; you are gifted.”

“No, gifts come effortlessly. I spent hours each week practicing.”

“How many hours do you spend on it now?”

“None. I haven’t touched a piano in years.”

“You’re kidding.”

“No, I don’t have much time for it anymore.”

“That’s a shame. You didn’t want to find a job where you could have the best of both worlds?”

A wry smile twisted her lips. “How many jobs do you know where I can make a decent living playing the piano?Schools are cutting music teaching jobs. There aren’t many job opportunities for classical pianists in bands, or anywhere else for that matter. What jobs there are don’t pay very well, and I enjoy living in my apartment rather than being on the street.”

“That’s understandable. Where I’m staying is close to here.” His voice filled the dark car. “You want to stop in and have a drink before I take you home?”

The abrupt invitation had her head jerking in his direction. She should tell him to take her home.Should. But she wasn’t going to. Sheshouldgo home to Glory. Deep down, she knew what he was asking.

Glory’s advice tonight had hit her hard. Looking at Kent, she came to decision she would rather take a chance of making a mistake at having sex with Kent than live with the regret if she never had the chance again.

Tonight had shown her one thing—she didn’t move in his circles. He was constantly flying back and forth between Kansas City and Queen City for weeks at a time. She hadn’t even told him about caring for her sister and her nieces. There were so many obstacles against them. Still, none of them were going to change her mind.

“I’d like that.”

With those three words, she felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off her chest.

Kent was true to his word; they were close to where he was staying. She started laughing when he drove into the parking garage.

“You’re staying at a casino?”

Kent sent her a laughing smile. “I told you I was a gambler at heart.”

“Yes, you did.”

The fact he admitted he liked to gamble didn’t faze her at all. She couldn’t throw stones. She would be taking a gamble havingsex with him. She was risking her most precious possession she had left—her heart.

TWENTY-EIGHT

Entering the casino was an eye-opener. Having lived in Kansas City, she really didn’t know why she had never gone inside. When she had graduated high school and left Kansa City, she hadn’t been old enough to gamble. When she returned after Glory’s accident, money had been too tight to gamble any away.

As she took in the glitz and glamour of the casino, she realized it was different than any other place she had been. Flashing screens from the machines were enticing, regardless of not knowing how to play them. One with a screen with a big frog with a top hat drew her interest.

“Want to play?” Kent asked when she paused by the machine.

“I better not.” She grinned, moving on to another machine that had a genie holding a slipper full of gold coins that looked as if the coins were about to slip out.

“You playing tonight, Kent?”

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