Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
At once, Daniel began to use his voice to push Jameson into a huge bet. There was no ceiling on what they could bet, and Jameson made a five-million-dollar bet. Daniel met the bet and raised it another five million. At once, he began to use his voice on Vienna. She met the bet and raised it another five million. Jameson made the pot right and so did Daniel.
The river card was turned over. The king of clubs. Once more, the bet went to Jameson, who followed Daniel’s hypnotic suggestion. Daniel raised, and before he could tell Vienna what to do or not to do, she raised again by another ten million.
Daniel sat back in his chair, his gaze on her face then dropping to the last card the dealer had placed faceup. “Son of a bitch. Art was right about that river card.”
She didn’t change expression. She looked at him coolly. If he wanted to know for sure, he would have to put his money up. As far as she was concerned, the play was between the two of them.
Jameson pushed his chips in. Daniel sat contemplating for a long while, as if he couldn’t quite believe the predicament he was in. Finally, he called her. Vienna turned the two kings over. Daniel had four jacks and Jameson his full house. Jameson stood and shook their hands. Daniel took his hand almost absently while he stared directly at Vienna.
“The cards favor you.”
She gave him her most mysterious smile, the one she knew drove everyone crazy because it gave nothing away—mostly to the men she occasionally went out on very bad dates with. “Sometimes, but all gamblers go through periods of time when cards come to them and other times when they don’t. You have to be smart enough to be patient and wait for the right cards.”
“You could make a fortune at this.”
She laughed. “I often do. I’m a nurse first. I like my life, Daniel. I don’t have any wish to change it.”
He lowered his voice and leaned toward her. “Not even for the right relationship?”
She was very aware that the audio on most microphones was very sensitive. If he was trying to trap her, he wasn’t going to succeed. “A man in the right relationship wouldn’t ask me to change my life if I love it. In any case, I tend to steer clear of relationships. I like my freedom.” She shrugged, unapologetic. “I do search and rescue, I hike and climb, and I love every aspect of what I do. Fitting a full-time relationship into my life would be very difficult. Moving, after finding the perfect place to live, is out of the question.”
Daniel raised an eyebrow. “You’re very decisive.”
“I suppose if a man said the same thing, you wouldn’t question it.”
“I suppose you’re right. I’m old-fashioned, but then, I’m getting old. I always think the woman will be the one to move to where the man lives and works.”
“Ah, I see, she should follow him blindly and give up her dreams and everything she’s worked for?”
Daniel scowled. “Put like that, I suppose it sounds quite selfish.”
She sent him another smile that said nothing and everything. “I’m sure there are plenty of people who would think I’m selfish for not wanting to risk going into a relationship for those very reasons.”
The dealer sat, and once more Vienna felt the rush of energy flowing through her, making her sharply aware of everything and everyone in the room. Every breath Daniel and the dealer drew into their lungs. The flick or tap of fingers, the way Daniel began to tune his voice when he spoke to the media in a little display of supposed graciousness.
Vienna knew she was going to have to play very carefully. It wouldn’t matter how many chips she had in front of her, Daniel would always have the chip advantage. This was his hotel. His table. His ego wouldn’t allow him to lose to her. It wasn’t the money, although like for any gambler sitting at a table, that was a big incentive. Daniel was known for never having lost when it came to the big hands. He wouldn’t want to do so in his hotel, and not to her—an unknown.
She was dealt the queen and ten of hearts. She knew Daniel had two kings in the hole, the king of diamonds and the king of spades. Daniel immediately set the bet at two million. She answered him. The dealer burned a card and turned over the king of clubs, the jack of hearts and the ten of diamonds. Daniel doubled the bet and began joking with her about the cards being all over the place. What were they betting on? Surely, she wasn’t thinking of raising him?
Vienna did raise him, her fingers sliding over the chips easily and pushing them toward the line. The turn revealed the king of hearts. That gave Daniel exactly what he wanted. Four kings. He was certain he could end the game right there, in one hand, pushing the bet to force her to go all in. He bet ten million chips and mournfully cautioned her not to be zealous, not to try to outbid him for the sake of fame and cameras. She should fold, not raise.