Page 27 of Gamble
Proving him right, she grinned, lighting up her face. “Well, you’re doing a great job of helping me forget how humiliated I felt earlier.”
After their food arrived, they spent twenty minutes chatting about a plethora of topics—favorite books, movies, travel… Elijah kept expecting to hit on a subject that would have one of them feeling uncomfortable, but it didn’t happen. By the time the server had cleared the empty dishes and delivered the check, Elijah had started to dread having to let Reagan just walk out of his life.
He had an idea.
“So, I know you said you were going to go to the airport after we ate, but we’re in Vegas, so I’d like to propose a little game of chance. If you win, you can head home as you planned, but if I win, you’ll delay your trip home so you can spend the day here in Vegas with me.”
“I don’t know,” she paused, her smile growing. “I’m not much of a gambler. What kind of game of chance do you have in mind?” she asked, playing along. It was the first time he’d felt like she was flirting back, and it emboldened him.
“I’m guessing you have a long list of things you wanted to do today instead of watching someone play poker. If I can guesswhat one of those activities is, you’ll stay in town long enough to go enjoy it with me.”
“That doesn’t seem very hard. I mean, you already know I don’t enjoy going to the casinos, and if I have a long list and you only need to guess one of them, it stacks the odds, don’t you think?” she flirted.
“Fine,” he grinned, waving down their server. “Can you please get us some paper and a pen?”
The guy looked confused, but he scurried off and soon came back with the pen and paper.
Elijah shoved the small pad of paper across to Reagan. “Tear off three sheets of paper and write one activity you’d like to do on each of the sheets. Then I’ll write down my top three things. Then we’ll compare notes. If we match on one idea, you’ll stay and go with me.”
Her eyes danced with mischief, telling him she was having fun with his idea. He waited for Reagan to scribble her top three Vegas destinations down on her paper before folding each and placing them in front of her.
It was her turn to wait as Elijah did his best to channel the connection he felt to the red-headed nurse to come up with at least one match to her list. After he had his three guesses on paper, he had one final thought and took time to write it down, marking that paper with a big BONUS after he set it on the table between them.
“What’s that one for? You only get three guesses.”
“I know, but just in case I get all three guesses right, then we’ll open this bonus sheet. You can consider that one an early birthday present for me.”
“You’re pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you?”
He grinned. “More like hopeful. Ready for my first guess?”
With her nod, he turned over the paper that he thought had the best chance of success, reading off the answer as well. “Go to the spa for a massage.”
“Wait! How did you…? Her voice trailed off.
“You have a stressful job. You’re on a mini vacation, so of course you deserve some time being pampered,” he answered.
She turned over one of the three papers in front of her, the one-word MASSAGE confirming he’d guessed one of the three correctly.
“You’ve just earned yourself one massage, Ms. Murphy.”
“Wait… it’s your birthday. Shouldn’t I pay for your massage?”
He laughed. “Oh, baby, it doesn’t work like that. Now… which one to choose for my next guess?” He reread his remaining guesses.
“You’re going to keep going? I mean, you already got one right. Isn’t that enough?”
“Not even close to enough. I’m determined to see just how close my guesses are.”
“Fine. You won’t get my other two ideas,” she said confidently.
Elijah flipped over his second guess. “Ride on High Roller.”
“Ha!” she said. “That’s not on my list.”
“Damn. I thought sure you’d want to take a ride on the Ferris wheel.”
“Wait…” she said, confused. She opened one of her papers and glanced at him before asking, “You said ride on High Roller. Is that the name of the Ferris wheel?”
