Page 4 of Bound By Blood

Kaitlyn Sherrad was a puzzle, he mused, and he hated puzzles.

Zack was still trying to unravel the mystery that was Kaitlyn when she strolled into the casino shortly after dusk the next evening. Clad in a simple pale pink dress that outlined a figure bordering on perfection and a pair of white heels that did wonderful things for her long, shapely legs, she quickly attracted the admiring gaze of every man in the place, and the envy of every woman.

“Miss Sherrad,” Zack murmured, going forward to greet her. “Welcome to my establishment.”

“Thank you, Mr.Ravenscroft.”

He made a broad gesture with his hand, encompassing the gaming portion of the nightclub. “What’s your pleasure?”

“What would you suggest? I’ve never been in a casino before.”

“Well, the slots are the easiest. The craps table is a bit confusing but probably the most exciting. Poker is a game of skill. Roulette is a game of pure chance.”

She looked thoughtful a moment. “Slot machines, I guess.”

He followed her to a bank of slots, stayed her hand when she delved into her handbag. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a fifty-dollar bill.

“First time’s on me,” he said with a wink.

“Really? Is this something you do for all of your customers?”

“No, ma’am, just the pretty ones.”

With a toss of her head, Kaitlyn took the fifty from his hand and slid the bill into the appropriate slot. A credit meter displayed the amount deposited.

“On this machine, you can play one credit or as many as five, or you can hit the button marked PLAY MAX CREDITS,” Zack explained. “After you make your choice, hit the SPIN REELS button. That’s all there is to it.”

Kaitlyn followed his directions, then watched breathlessly as the colorful wheels turned, then slowly came to a stop, showing three cherries across.

“I won!” she exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with excitement, as credits were added to her original amount.

Zack smiled, amused by her excitement, content to stand at her shoulder as she continued to play. As with most games of chance, the odds were always in favor of the house. The payout on slots was about ninety-three percent.

A few minutes later, a hostess clad in a ruffled, off-the-shoulder white blouse and short, wine-red skirt came by offering drinks, which were free to players. Kaitlyn ordered orange juice.

“Not a big drinker, are you?” Zack remarked.

“Not really. Aren’t you having anything?”

“Maybe later.” He jerked his chin toward the machine. “You won again.”

Amused by her enthusiasm at winning a few dollars, he was curious to see what her reaction would be if she hit the jackpot. It was easy to manipulate the machine. A single thought, and three sevens lined up on the pay line.

“Oh! Look at that!” she exclaimed as more credits were added to the meter.

He laughed, surprised that her enjoyment pleased him so much.

The waitress arrived with her orange juice only moments later. Kaitlyn couldn’t help wondering if all drink orders were filled as quickly, or if the fact that she was with the boss had anything to do with the speedy service.

She continued to play while she sipped her drink, winning more than she lost, and decided to quit while she was ahead.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Then hit CASH OUT,” he directed.

She frowned when the machine spit out a bar-coded ticket.

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