The stakes for love are sky-high

No one can do A-list glitz and glamour like public relations consultant Nina Torres. The grand reopening of a Reno casino and resort to rival Vegas promises to be the media event of the decade. And with Casa de Mariposa’s unveiling slated for New Year’s Eve, Nina’s got to work her legendary magic fast. But this smart and sophisticated divorcée has come too far to let some uptight ex-soldier cramp her style, even if Scott Russell is off-the-charts gorgeous.

Keeping people safe is what Scott does. But the sensual Nina is putting more than his job as head of security at risk. And when their fiery clash of wills ignites a passion that leaves them both wanting more, there’s no turning back. Now Scott will need everything in his arsenal to protect Nina from past and present dangers. Together, are they ready to gamble on the most priceless jackpot of all?

“Are you going to put on a ten-gallon hat, boots and spurs?”

He grinned. He’d been a cowboy for Halloween five years in a row. “I just might, ma’am,” he drawled and pretended to tip an invisible hat at her.

“Can I go, too? This I have to see.”

His eyebrows rose in surprise. “Are you inviting yourself along?” He had to stop himself from yelling out “yes.” Play it cool, he told himself.

“I think I am.”

His heart raced and his hands started to sweat. “I’m really going to just take photos. Photography is my hobby.”

“Really? My brother, Ben, is into photography.”

“Then tomorrow’s a date.”

He couldn’t help his next move. She looked so delectable with the evening breeze tugging at her hair and with her face so calm and serene.

He set his wineglass down, pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Her lips were warm and pleasantly sweet with the wine. Her body leaned into his, and he felt every soft curve, smelled her faint perfume, and knew he’d wanted to kiss her since the moment he’d met her at the bar by the pool.

J.M. JEFFRIES

is the collaboration between two women who are lifelong romance-aholics. Jacqueline Hamilton grew up believing that life should always have a happy ending. Being a military brat, she has lived in some of the most romantic places in the world. An almost lawyer, Jackie decided to chuck it all, live her dream and become a writer. Miriam Pace grew up believing in fairy tales. She found her Prince Charming and has been married to him for thirty-seven years. Now a granny, Miriam reads fairy tales to her grandchildren and is looking forward to baby Pace, who is due soon.

Love’s Wager

J.M. Jeffries

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Dear Reader,

One thing we forget is change happens regardless of whether you want it or not. Every time change is on the horizon, we have a decision to make. Do we fight it and preserve the status quo, or do we embrace it and go headlong into a great adventure?

Jackie says change is only good when she wants it. Change is a battle to be waged according to Miriam. For Nina Torres and Scott Hunter, change is a fact of life. Join them as they plow through their unexpected surprises, life-altering decisions and the greatest adventure that awaits them in Reno, Nevada, the biggest little city in the West.

Much love,

Jackie and Miriam

Jackie: To all my super baristas old, new and future. Thank you for going on the journey with me, for being there for me and letting me mother you. You make me laugh and you inspire me.

Miriam: To my grandson Frederik, granddaughter Kathyn, and future baby Pace, I wish you the best life has to offer. Follow your dreams.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Dear Reader

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Epilogue

Copyright

Chapter 1

Holding a glass of her favorite Chardonnay, Nina Torres followed the hostess to her booth. Lua el Sol had been her father’s idea. The restaurant featured the best food, music and decor his Brazilian home had to offer.

Lua el Sol was a riot of color with green palm trees at various intervals, fan-backed wicker chairs at the tables and booths along the walls upholstered in bright blue. Huge carnaval masks hung on the walls, the brilliantly colored feathers swaying with the air currents. Birdcages dotted the huge restaurant with bright-hued, plush-stuffed parrots inside. Nina’s father, Manny Torres, had tried to use real parrots, but they squawked too loud and distracted the diners. He’d donated them to the Los Angeles Zoo and replaced them with stuffed ones.

Nina waved at her mother, Grace Torres, as she slid into the booth. Grace was a beautiful woman with smooth, mahogany-colored skin, masses of black, curly hair tumbling down her back and slanted brown eyes. She was still slender despite having seven children. Nina, the eldest of the only two girls, looked just like her mother except for being several inches taller and slimmer. Her chin-length black hair, more wavy than curly, framed her narrow face and pointed chin. Her eyes were more amber than brown.

Nina loved her parents’ restaurant. She loved the boisterous atmosphere as waitstaff maneuvered through the tables, trays piled with an array of enticing, delicious food. The aroma of spice hung heavy over the room.

“Nina, sorry to be late, traffic was horrible.” Kenzie Russell dropped her purse on the table and reached out her arms to Nina.

Nina jumped to her feet. “Kenzie, don’t worry, I’ve only been here a few minutes. Hello, Miss E.” Nina embraced her best friend and leaned over to kiss Kenzie’s grandmother on the cheek. Nina and Kenzie had met their first year at UCLA when they’d roomed together and had been best friends ever since.

Miss E. hugged Nina tightly. She was the grandmother Nina never had, since her father’s parents lived in Brazil and her mother’s parents had passed away when Nina had been a child.

“Kenzie tells me you won a hotel/casino in a poker game. Good for you.” Nina slid back into the booth. Miss E. sat and Kenzie slid in to sit next to Nina.

Kenzie was a gorgeous woman with shoulder-length black hair that she’d pulled up into a French knot at the back of her head. She wore a stylish, blush-pink dress from the Michael Kors spring line that fit her voluptuous curves to perfection. Matching pink stilettos adorned her feet. Kenzie was always elegant and stylish while Nina tended to go for more flamboyant clothes like the Alexander McQueen black-and-yellow print dress she currently wore. Shoes were her downfall. She loved unusual shoes and the pair she wore with her dress today were shaped like fish with the mouth as the toe and the heels looking like fins.

“When are you coming to work for me and make my new casino and hotel the hippest place on the planet?” Miss E. asked.

Nina chuckled. “I have never planned a media campaign for a casino before.”

Kenzie nudged her good-naturedly. “You’d do a terrific job. You always do. Look at how you saved Sam Beaumont’s career. That man was dead-drunk, facedown in his own vomit on Sunset Boulevard. And now he’s an Oscar winner. Why? Because you knew how to clean up his reputation and make him bankable again. You Nina’d him.”

Nina clapped her hands. “I’m a verb.”

“And Restaurant des Roux used to be a burger joint,” Kenzie continued. “And now a line wraps around the block with people who want to get in and eat thirty-dollar hamburgers. That was one brilliant media campaign.”

“I need your magic touch.” Miss E. glanced around the restaurant and waved at Nina’s mother who waved back and started to weave her way to the table.

Nina opened her mouth, not certain what to say. A hotel/casino!

“And don’t forget the new spa,” Kenzie added. She leaned toward Nina. “My soon-to-be sister-in-law and my brother are converting the hot springs on the back of the property into a spa. They broke ground six weeks ago and the walls are already up. It’s supposed to be completed by Christmas, barring any emergencies.”

Nina had heard Hunter was engaged to be married. He and Donovan were the only Russell brothers she’d ever met. Scott never seemed to be around when she and Kenzie visited with Miss E. and now that their careers had gone in different directions, they barely got together more than once in a blue moon.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Nina speechless before.” Wry humor colored Kenzie’s voice.

“What exactly do you want?” The fact that they’d come all the way from Reno meant this new project was really important. Nina had managed to do a little research about Reno and the Casa de Mariposa, which had given her a few ideas, but she needed more information.

A waitress came over to take Kenzie and Miss E.’s drink order. Nina saw that her mother had gotten distracted and stopped to talk to a friend.

“I want the Nina mojo.” Miss E. laughed. “You made this place,” she spread her arms wide to indicate Lua el Sol, “the place to be seen in LA. I want Casa de Mariposa the place to be seen in Reno.” She waved her hand. “I’ve been here five minutes and already I’ve spotted an Oscar-winning director, an Emmy-award-winning actress and two musicians. In the corner over there is that Grammy-winning jazz band, which, by the way, I adore. And if I’m not mistaken, isn’t that,” she pointed at a center table, “one of the Monaco royals?”

Nina followed Miss E.’s gestures. She was so used to seeing the rich and famous that it never impacted on her. Lua el Sol was a fun place to come and be seen without being bothered. The paparazzi weren’t allowed within three blocks so celebrities wouldn’t have to shove their way through throngs of people to get in. They could have their meal in peace and enjoy the atmosphere.

“Miss E.” Grace Torres finally arrived at the table clutching a platter of appetizers. She set the platter down in the center of the table just as the waitress brought the drinks.

“What have we here, Mama Torres?” Kenzie asked eyeing the food. Kenzie loved trying new foods and once told Nina every morsel that came out of her father’s kitchen was amazing.

“Papa’s experimenting in the kitchen again. The balls that look like crusty hush puppies are acarajé, shrimp with black-eyed peas and onions. These are bolinhos de arroz made with rice and fried. These little drumsticks are chicken coxinha.” Grace’s voice still held the cadence of her Alabama childhood. Tonight she had tucked a spray of yellow orchids in her hair to match her bright yellow dress.

“They look delicious,” Kenzie said, her fork out ready to spear the shrimp.

“Our special tonight,” Grace continued, “is a lovely black-bean stew called feijoada with pão de queijo, which is cheese bread. And for dessert we have brigadeiros, which are little chocolate-and-caramel truffles.”

“Chocolaty caramel goodness,” Kenzie gasped in delight. Kenzie had never met a chocolate-anything that she didn’t devour. And Nina couldn’t believe she was still a model-slim, perfect size four.

Grace patted Kenzie on the cheek. “I knew you were coming.”

“I love you.” Kenzie took a bite of the savory shrimp balls and moaned. “Incredible.”

“You do realize you have to share, don’t you?” Nina teased.

“You always were a spoilsport.” When Kenzie pouted men turned to look.

“Enjoy,” Grace said. “I will return with the next course in a little bit.”

“Is your mother going to sing tonight?” Kenzie asked. “I’d hate to come all this way and miss your parents’ music.”

“She sings almost every night. And the great thing is you never know who’s going to join in.”

Miss E. clapped her hands. “That is what I want for the resort, Nina. This incredible joy and fun wrapped up in old-world elegance. Casa de Mariposa is a lovely lady, but dull and uninteresting. I want you to make her interesting.”

“First, let’s eat, dance, and if so inclined we’ll sing. And tomorrow I’ll work out some ideas and come up on Wednesday to go over everything with you.”

Miss E. filled her plate with an assortment of food and dug in. Nina had one hand on the plate and the other with her fork when a voice sounded behind her.

“Nina. Darling.”

She turned to find her ex-husband Carl Durant standing behind her. Carl was a handsome man with whitish-blond surfer hair, dark blue eyes and a fine, blond stubble on his chin. He was impeccably dressed in black jeans and T-shirt. He’d told her once that wearing black made him look mysterious. Nina thought he looked ridiculous. The black made him look washed-out and tired.

Hanging on his arm was his newest love, the tiny, barely legal, bubblegum-blonde Tiffani Diamond he’d dumped Nina for. Tiffani wore a tight white dress with black shoes and clutch purse. The white did nothing for her fair complexion though she’d tried to make up for it with heavy eye makeup and her hair pulled into long ringlets about her face.

Nina pasted a half smile on her face, prepared to be nice to Carl.

“Carl, how...how’s tricks?” Since their divorce, his career had nose-dived. He’d decided he didn’t need her anymore since his career was made. How ironic. She tried not to gloat—it was bad karma. Maybe for a moment.

“I have a lot of balls in the air, juggling a lot of things. Just thought I’d drop by to say hello. And Tiffani here landed a part in CSI.”

Nina leaned forward. “As a dead body?”

Tiffani stiffened with a glare at Nina

“Be nice, Nina,” Carl chided softly.

“I thought I was. What brings you here?”

“Tiffani wanted some of your mother’s quickies.”

For a second, Nina had no idea what he meant. “You mean quindim.” She was surprised Tiffani ate. She didn’t look like she’d had a decent meal in years.

“Those coconut flans,” Carl explained. “Tiffani loves them.”

“Really, Tiffani,” Kenzie said. “You eat?”

“Not since 2010.” Nina was being nasty and knew it, but couldn’t seem to play fair.

Tiffani flashed an angry scowl at Kenzie and Nina. “Come on, Carl. Maybe we should just leave.”

“We just got here. This is the place to be, sweetie. Look, there’s Benny Simmons. I hear he’s looking for a new leading lady for his next show. Let’s talk to him.” Carl guided Tiffani away and Nina watched them glide toward Benny, who looked like he wanted to dive under the table.

“What did you see in him, Nina?” Miss E. asked curiously.

“Looking back, I loved his passion, his artistic vision and a part of me wanted to bring that to the world.”

“So you were more in love with the possibilities rather than the realities.” Kenzie studied Nina, a glimmer of sympathy in her eyes.

“I wanted us to create art together. But eventually money got in the way. And don’t get me wrong. I understand about business and the adage ‘you’re only as good as your last film.’ Carl started believing in the hype I worked into his media campaigns. He wanted the perfect Hollywood life and that included an up-and-coming actress, not me.”

“Rule number one,” Miss E. said sagely. “Never believe your own press.”

“He stopped being grateful and started being demanding. He thought I would continue working on his career after he cheated on me and left me.” Her parents had brought their vision of music to Hollywood and never compromised on it. “I saw him compromise his vision and our marriage. I felt hurt. Betrayed. He left me when I told him how disappointed I was in him. In his mind, I didn’t have the right to be disappointed. While he was escorting Miss Tiffani around, I was supposed to get back on the train and keep promoting his career.”

“You didn’t, did you?” Miss E. asked.

“Not a chance. Since I quit being his marketing bitch, the only films he’s gotten recently are Space Dogs from Mars and Baby-Momma Slashers and Shark-A-Conda.”

“Would it be bad form if I snorted?” Miss E. said.

“Go ahead, you’re not drinking,” Nina said.

Miss E. snorted and Nina burst into laughter. “How poetic that the only offers he’s getting are these films when he thought he was the next Scorcese. Who by the way, still takes my phone calls.”

“That’s a litter box moment,” Miss E. said.

“I don’t understand.” Nina frowned.

“You were being catty, dear,” Kenzie said with a pat on Nina’s hand.

Nina found her gaze straying to Carl and Tiffani. Her mother had gently pried them away from Benny Simmons and eased them to an empty table nearest the dance floor. Benny looked relieved and Tiffani looked disappointed.

“You know he’s not going to stop hounding you.” Miss E.’s gaze had followed Nina’s and she studied Carl and Tiffani.

“I had that impression.”

“You should come to Reno and put yourself out of his sphere.”

“So my taking the job and coming to Reno would be doing me a favor for my mental well-being.” Nina grinned at Miss E.

“Exactly. He’d be too stupid to find you in Reno.”

“He’s not stupid. His problem is that his ego wins over his intelligence every time.”

“Don’t worry, dear, you’ll find love again,” Miss E. said with a sympathetic pat on Nina’s hand.

“I know,” Nina said with a sigh. “I like to think of him as my training-wheels husband.”

“At least you found a husband, unlike some people I can name.” Miss E. directed a gaze at Kenzie.

“Granny, don’t even start,” Kenzie said, warning in her tone, one finger held up.

“I was referring to your brothers, Scott and Donovan.”

“Miss E., Hunter is getting married. That’s the best we can do at the moment.” Kenzie shook her head with a sigh, though her lips quivered with laughter.

“You guys are just a funny as ever.” Nina grinned widely at Kenzie and Miss E. She’d always felt comfortable around Miss E. and Kenzie, despite the tragedy in their lives. Kenzie and her brothers had Miss E. to fall back on. Nina’s family wasn’t so different. Her parents shared the same values with Miss E. “I need to juggle some things around. I can be in Reno on Wednesday. That gives me enough time to flesh some ideas.” She could do this.

“I know you’ll come up with a powerful campaign.” Miss E. rubbed her hands together. “I can barely wait.”

“I hope you’ll be pleased.” Nina’s fingers itched for her iPad, but she’d left it in the car. “What about your brothers? I know Hunter has already taken charge of the new spa. What about Donovan and Scott? I’ve never met Scott in all the years we’ve known each other.”

Kenzie leaned her elbows on the table. “Donovan is taking over the restaurants and updating the menus. Scott is done playing army man and is taking over security. He’s back in DC right now, packing up his condo and getting it ready to be sold. He should be back in another week or so.”

“And what about your job at Saks?” Nina queried Kenzie.

Kenzie grinned. “I’m working for the family now.”

“I can’t believe you’re leaving Manhattan.”

“Already done. Sold my apartment two weeks ago and I already have a lot of ideas for updating the boutiques.”

Mama Torres returned to the table, a plate in her hands.

“We’re spiriting your daughter away to Reno, Grace,” Miss E. said.

“Good, she needs to get out of this town for a while.” She set the plate on the table. “And now for dessert.”

“Chocolate,” Kenzie said reverently.

“Share,” Nina warned.

Kenzie frowned. “If you insist.”

Mama Torres distributed the tiny chocolate brigadeiros. Kenzie looked like she’d just died and gone to heaven. Her eyes practically rolled back in her head as she took a delicate bite of one of the candies. “Oh. Oh. This is... Words just aren’t enough.”

“Heavenly,” Nina finished for her.

* * *

Scott Russell stood in the center of his empty living room, looking around to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything. He owned very little. Military life did that to a person. Scott had never been someone to accumulate possessions. Everything he had was currently packed in a half dozen boxes, sitting in a stack by the front door ready to be loaded into his car. He wasn’t coming back.

The apartment was small, but he liked it. The living room opened to a balcony overlooking a tiny courtyard he’d shared with the family in the apartment below.

Danny Esposito opened a closet and looked inside. Danny was a tall, lean man with wavy black hair, deceptively calm brown eyes and olive skin showing his Latin parentage. They had met in Iraq and been friends ever since. When Danny jumped from military security to private security by starting his own firm, Scott had gone with him.

“Looks like you have everything,” Danny said closing the closet door.

“Not much to show for three years in one place.” Scott wondered how his footprint could be so small in such a large world.

“I’m the same way,” Danny replied. “You ready?”

“Yeah.” Scott opened the door and Danny maneuvered the dolly, piled with the boxes, through the door.

“I’m going to miss you, Scott,” Danny said.

“Yeah, me, too.” They reached his SUV parked in the carport to the side of the apartment building. Scott unlocked it and opened the rear hatch. The two of them shoved boxes in. After he closed the rear hatch, he and Danny leaned against it for a moment.

The day was warm, but overcast. Scott heard the distant rumble of thunder and knew the predicted storm was on its way. A few tentative drops splashed the asphalt.

“Reno is the ends of the earth, man,” Danny said.

“No,” Scott replied. “The Hindu Kush is the ends of the earth.”

Danny chuckled. Silence fell between them. Scott listened to the sounds of traffic on the roadway outside along with the distant roll of thunder.

Washington, DC, was a city that didn’t sleep. In a way, Scott would miss the energy, the sense of history being made and the undercurrent of power pervading the city. He wouldn’t miss the traffic, the crowds or the politicians who too often made his life miserable.

“Why Reno?”

“Because you’ve never met my grandmother.” Scott pushed his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “When she wants something, it happens.” And right now she needed him. After spending the last few weeks at the casino, studying it, looking for ways to improve security, Scott could almost understand why his grandmother wanted it. “Reno and Miss E. have a lot in common. Reno has this sense of being wild and untamed. My grandmother is sort of the same.”

“I don’t know, Scott.” Danny shook his head.

“Come for a visit and take a look at the city. You’ll see. Reno is just different. And I like it. I didn’t think I would, but I do.” The pace was different and the people were different. Reno had no illusions about what kind of city it was. Washington, DC, was all about illusions.

A rumble of thunder sounded again. The rain increased in intensity until the sound of it on the metal roof of the carport sounded like gunshots.

Scott didn’t regret quitting his job. He was tired of self-important senators who thought they could get away with anything. He was tired of the political games that made the government look like Saturday Night Live. At times he felt like he was dealing with five-year-olds in ten-thousand-dollar suits. And watching their bratty, over-privileged children was like riding herd on Chihuahuas.

Suddenly he was anxious to get on the road. The drive to Reno would take four days, driving ten hours a day. He planned to make it in three.

He and Danny shook hands. Scott watched Danny climb into his SUV and drive away. Scott stood in the alley looking up at his apartment. He’d made his decision to leave. He’d lived a gypsy lifestyle long enough. The time had come to settle into something more stable. He’d felt for a while that something was missing in his life, he just wasn’t sure what.

A Cadillac Escalade roared down the alley and slammed to a stop in front of him. Water sprayed his shoes and he glanced down in irritation. The driver’s door opened and Anastasia Parrish jumped out.

“My father told me you quit your job and you’re leaving Washington.”

Scott’s eyes narrowed. Twenty-five-year-old Anastasia Parrish, daughter of Senator Richard Parrish, was tall with pixie-cut brown hair, brown eyes with a touch of green and skin the color of braised almonds. She was also crazy. Scott had been hired to keep her out of trouble while her father ran for re-election. Keeping her out of trouble had turned into a job and a half.

“How do you know where I live?”

She shrugged elegant shoulders. “I looked you up on Google.”

“Then Google your way home.”

“How can you leave me? I’m in the middle of a crisis.” Drama poured off her in waves.

“Of your own making,” Scott said.

“But Scott, I need you.” She touched his arm.

Scott stepped away. “Get back in your car and go home, Miss Parrish.” Pretty as a picture and crazy as a loon, that was Anastasia Parrish in a nutshell.

“Let me come with you.” She looked dejected. “You’re the only one who understands me. You saved me from that stalker.”

“And your stalker is in jail, you’re safe, and my job is done.”

“What do I do if he escapes?” She turned desperate eyes on him.

“Tell your dad and he’ll hire protection. The company I used to work for will be happy to help you again.”

“But I want you.”

“I don’t work for them any longer.”

Tears gathered in her eyes and dripped down her cheeks. “You can work for me privately.”

A lot of the guys he’d worked with would have been happy to be Princess Anastasia’s sex toy. Scott wasn’t one of them. Behind that gorgeous face, beautiful body and designer wardrobe was a lost little girl with major daddy issues and his job wasn’t to find her.

“But, Scott,” she pleaded.

“Go home, Miss Parrish, call your therapist and talk to him.” He opened the car door.

“Please, don’t go. Daddy needs you. I need you. I think I love you.”

What she needed was a good psychiatrist. Though he was probably better than the rock singer, the polo champion, the reality star or the football player she was frequently seen with—at least he wouldn’t take advantage of her.

He took her by the arm and led her back to her car, rain pouring down on them. “Go home, Miss Parrish.” He opened the car door and pushed her inside. He closed the door and walked back to his car.

She stared at him for a moment, then started the car, put it in gear and drove off.

He stood in the rain watching her drive away. Water dripped down the back of his jacket, plastering his shirt to his skin. He felt sorry for Anastasia Parrish. She had everything money could buy, but she didn’t have what she needed, a father who cared about her and a mother who didn’t brush her off and tell her to make an appointment.

He got in his SUV, started the engine and backed out of the carport. Time to get on the road. Miss E. was waiting.

Chapter 2

Nina had never been to Reno. The closest she’d been was Lake Tahoe, where her parents used to rent a cabin during the summer months for a family getaway. From the moment the cab deposited her in front of the hotel, she knew she was going to love Reno.

The challenge of bringing a casino back to life excited her. She loved the thrill of new jobs. Though her previous jobs had been in the arena of up-and-coming actors or new movie releases, the idea of taking on a casino was another door opening in her career. Another opportunity that put her a step further away from her ex-husband who’d weighed in on not taking this job. Nina had ignored him. He had no say in her future, not anymore, not after he dumped her for Tiffani.

As a media expert, Nina traveled the world, though her base of operations was Hollywood. Hollywood was home and she loved the energy and excitement the city had. In Hollywood or any other place she’d worked in before, she could just pick up a phone and invite a dozen people to lunch. But in Reno, she knew no one except her best friend, Kenzie Russell.

At her feet her dog whimpered. The tiny affenpinscher had been a gift from Carl and she loved the little dog. King Kong pressed his tiny black nose against the mesh of his carrier. She reached down to gently stroke it.

“We’re here.” She kept her tone soothing and calm as she walked into the cool hotel, happy to be out of the heat while the bellhop trailed behind her hauling a trolley piled high with her luggage.

“Nina,” Kenzie called, waving.

“It is hot here.” Nina placed Kong’s carrier on the floor next to her feet.

“But you’re going to love it.” Kenzie laughed and reached over to hug Nina. “Welcome to Reno, Nevada, the biggest little city in the west. You look fabulous. That is an original Alexander McQueen.”

Nina smoothed a hand down the black-and-white houndstooth pattern of her silk dress. “You look pretty fab yourself.”

Kenzie wore a mint-green sheath with matching shoes that perfectly accented her dark brown eyes and mocha skin. Her long brown hair was swept up into a casual ponytail.

“What do you think?” Kenzie asked, spreading her arms wide.

“I’m still taking everything in.” Nina’s first impression of the Casa de Mariposa Hotel was one of sedate beauty of an old-world kind. It had good bones, but it needed something more. Something dramatic.

As she walked through the reception area into the casino she studied the clientele. She was struck by the lack of people under the age of thirty. Most of the stools in front of the slot machines were occupied by older men and women.

Nina tried to keep her mind open, but a stroll out to the pool showed only a couple families with young children, a few teenagers splashing in the deep end of the pool and older couples sunning themselves on the decks.

She strolled back inside, her thoughts churning, only half listening to Kenzie’s chatter.

After checking in and arranging for her luggage to be delivered to her suite, she allowed Kenzie to take her out to the pool. Nina parked herself on a stool at the bar. Kong whined from the depths of her tote bag. Nina absently patted him as she sipped the iced tea the bartender brought her. He also brought a small bowl of water for Kong.

“I know you haven’t unpacked yet, but...what do you see?” Kenzie parked herself on the stool next to Nina.

Nina took her time answering. “I see a lot of people in their forties, fifties and older, but not many younger. If you want to make this hotel casino attractive to young, hip people you need to offer the activities they want.”

“Which would be...?”

“You’re young and hip, what do you want?”

“To eat ice cream and not worry about my thighs.” Kenzie glanced down at her legs.

“I’ve seen your thighs,” Nina said with a laugh. “You don’t need to worry about them.”

“As a young woman racing toward thirty, I want to go to a nightclub. I want to have fun.” Kenzie frowned as she considered Nina’s question. “I want trendy shopping, high-energy shows with A-list celebrities, along with luxury, great food, glitz, glamour and cool.” Kenzie paused. “Everybody wants to be cool.”

“In other words, Miss E. wants to keep the elegance while attracting a younger crowd without losing her over-forty regulars. She wants to be the epicenter of Reno.”

“It needs glamour.” Kenzie pointed at Nina. “It needs you.”

“Stop.” Nina held up her hand. “You don’t need to flatter me. I’m all in. You’re my best friend and I adore your grandmother. She knows there’s a winner beneath the stodgy façade of this casino. I have a ton of ideas.”

“I know you are creative, but Miss E. did tell you that New Year’s Eve is the deadline. She wants to have the grand reopening then.”

“I have her notes. Once we decide on a theme, I’ll have a whole campaign worked out and ready to implement in a couple days.”

“The theme is the problem. Miss E. is having a difficult time thinking about a theme that will attract the guests she wants to attract.”

“I have several concepts in mind that I think will fit her idea of elegant and classy along with fun, glamorous and sexy.” She dug her tablet out of the tote. A half-unwrapped ball of yarn, a knitting needle trapped inside it, came with it.

“What are you knitting?” Kenzie asked curiously.

“Still knitting booties for my friends’ babies.” Nina had started knitting as a way to keep her fingers busy while she thought, and found it relaxing.

She rerolled the ball of yarn and tucked it back in her tote bag. She tapped her tablet where she’d already put together a couple slide shows. Nina had put together other campaigns in a shorter time with less to work with. She’d never done a casino before, but the structure of a campaign was generally the same. She came up with the ideas and found people to help her implement them.

Nina turned her tablet computer to Kenzie so she could see some of her ideas. “Let’s take a look. Las Vegas offers luxury, glamour and cool at a number of different levels. Caesar’s Palace, Bellagio, Luxor and the MGM Grand offer luxury, high-end dining, entertainment and shopping. Circus Circus, Treasure Island and Excalibur offer family fun and activities. Hard Rock offers trendy with great headliners in the rock-and-roll arena. But what they all provide is different ways to play. People go to Las Vegas to eat too much, drink too much, shop too much, and basically they went everything at a too much level.” Nina tapped the tablet. “Reno doesn’t draw the same international crowd. It’s more difficult to get to. It has less variety than Vegas. But these are things that can work in your favor. If you give people what they need here, they won’t go elsewhere to experience it.”

“What will we offer?”

Nina thought for a moment. “Exclusivity. What Robert Redford did for Park City with the Sundance Festival, I’m going to do for Miss E., but with all-year-long activities.”

“You are ambitious, girl,” Kenzie said, her eyes wide with amazement.

“‘Ambition bites the nails of success,’ according to Bono.” Nina grinned. The bartender brought her another iced tea and a platter of fruit. She picked at the fruit. “You know, if we weren’t working, we’d be drinking mimosas.”

Kenzie joined Nina in laughter.

Nina’s gaze was caught by a man skirting the pool area. He wore khaki cargo pants, a white polo shirt and military boots. “Wow.” He was hot.

“Hey, that’s Scott.” Kenzie waved vigorously, catching his attention.

When she’d first met Kenzie, he’d been out saving the world and somehow in between they’d never been on the same schedule.

She waved again, and the man veered toward them.

Kenzie jumped off her stool and ran to him, enveloping him in a huge hug. “You’re back.” She dragged him to the bar.

Nina couldn’t stop staring. She was used to being around pretty, good-looking guys, but this one looked fabulous without all the effort.

“This is Nina,” Kenzie said. “Nina, this is Scott.”

“The famous Nina Torres.” Scott’s voice was deep and authoritative.

“That would be me.” Her heart skipped a beat as she slipped off the stool and gazed up at him. He was tall and broad shouldered. Nina, at five-seven, felt dwarfed by him.

“Nice to finally meet you.” He held out a hand and shook hers. “When you have a few moments, we need to talk.”

An electrical jolt radiated through her fingers at his touch. Breathless, she gazed at him unable to look away. He was, by far, the best looking of the Russell brothers, with his sharp-featured face, eyes the color of Baltic amber and close-cropped black hair. The fact that he obviously worked out was not lost on her as she tried not to stare at his muscles.

Kong suddenly barked. Nina turned around to soothe him.

Scott’s eyes narrowed. He stared at the dog. “What the hell kind of dog is that? It looks like a monkey.”

“That’s Kong. He’s an affenpinscher. It means monkey terrier.”

Scott gave the dog a strange look.

“Are you judging me by my dog?” Nina asked.

“No,” he replied.

“Liar.”

“I have this thing about little dogs.”

“He has the heart of a lion.” Nina picked him up out of her tote and petted him gently. Kong snuggled against her chest. “And he’s very loyal.”

Carl had chosen the breed because he felt its personality was similar to hers. His explanation had amused her. That was the man she’d fallen in love with. He’d been sincere, determined and romantic, traits that evaporated later in their marriage. She’d mourned the loss of that man. Fame had killed him and she had been partially responsible for the megalomaniac he’d turned into. His new fame revealed his demons.

“Have you come up with any plans for your media blitz?” Scott asked.

Nina grinned at his abrupt change in subject. “I have a few.” She wasn’t quite ready to reveal them. “I want to talk to Miss E. first.”

“Nothing that’s going to cause security nightmares, right?”

“Where’s your sense of adventure?” Nina teased. Kenzie turned away to hide her own grin. She’d always said Scott was the serious one and everyone delighted in tweaking him a little bit.

“I left it in Afghanistan.”

“Let’s schedule a meeting after I’ve talked to Miss E. Right now I want to look over the hotel and the casino and experience it in all its stages.”

“Experience away,” he said. “And don’t miss the magic show.”

Kenzie sighed. “I definitely have that on the agenda.”

Nina glanced at her friend. “That doesn’t sound too enthusiastic.”

“You haven’t met Marvin the Marvelous.” Scott laughed. He kissed his sister on the cheek. “I’ll catch you later. I’m still unpacking.” He sauntered off.

Nina found herself watching him cross the pool area and enter the hotel. He looked nice, but he was going to be trouble.

“That was interesting.” Kenzie stared after her brother, her brow furrowed in thought.

“What do you mean?”

“I think my big brother just pulled your metaphoric pigtails.”

Nina’s eyebrows rose. “I beg your pardon.”

“I think he likes you.”

“He thinks my dog is stupid,” Nina scoffed, petting Kong soothingly. Kong licked her chin.

“He only says stupid things when he likes a girl.”

“So insulting my dog means he likes me. Is he still in kindergarten?”

“Don’t get me wrong.” Kenzie shook her head. “He does very well with the ladies—he just doesn’t have them in his life long-term.”

“Number one, I would never date my best friend’s brother. And number two, I don’t have time.” She deposited Kong back in her purse. “Shall we go on with our tour? I have a hankering to see Marvin the Marvelous.”

* * *

After the tour, Nina sat in a corner booth in the bar and made notes on her tablet. Every idea she had she jotted down. She sipped a dirty martini and nibbled on a bowl of pretzels. A bartender wiped down the bar. A cocktail waitress in a short black flamenco-type skirt and white blouse worked her way around the few filled tables.

The bar was sad in a way. It was all dark woods, Spanish arches and too much space, the kind of bar a person went to when they didn’t want to be bothered. If she were in charge of making it over, she’d decrease the size and make it more intimate. She’d reduce the lighting and put cute little lamps on the tables so that only the people sitting down would be highlighted. She’d make it romantic. Romance could sell anything.

Chimes from the casino filtered into the bar. She watched a couple at another table. The woman was dressed to kill for two in the afternoon in a low-cut dress, hair pulled to the side over her shoulder and a lipstick that was just too red. The man watched her with avid interest. Nina couldn’t figure out what was wrong with the two of them.

Scott appeared in the entryway and for a second, Nina’s heart raced. Just looking at him made her tingle all over in a way she’d never felt before.

Scott saw her and gave her a smile. “Can I join you?”

Nina nodded even as her gaze wandered back to the woman at the other table.

He slid into the booth across to her and saw the look on her face. “She’s a hooker. If that’s what you’re wondering.”

“How can you tell?”

“She’s wearing stockings and a garter belt. And her body language is very seductive, but practiced. She’s not into him, she’s into his wallet.” Scott signaled a waitress and ordered coffee. “Every woman under twenty-five in this room is a working girl, except for the waitresses.”

“And how do you know this?” Prostitution was rampant in Los Angeles, but working women were not allowed in her parents’ restaurant. Her father had a sixth sense the moment he saw a woman and knew if she was working or not. Politely, he would ask her to leave.

“The bartenders get a percentage of their fees.”

“But prostitution is legal in Nevada.”

“Only on a county-by-county basis. It’s illegal here in Washoe County. Reno is a no-ho zone.” Scott smiled at the waitress when she set the coffee down in front of him.

Nina tried not to laugh, but a small chuckle escaped anyway. Scott was a military man and his directness was refreshing. “What are you going to do about it?”

“For the moment, I’m taking notes, scouting the bartending schools and talking to the Reno PD. See that waitress over there? She’s an undercover vice cop.”

“I get where you’re coming from and you want to clean this place up...”

“Before the grand opening,” he interjected.

“And I get it’s against the law, but aren’t women like her why men come to places like this?”

“That is a very good question.”

“Do you have a very good answer for me?” She tilted her head at him.

“Controlled hedonism.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“There has to be a line. And this is the line. Those women and what they do is on the wrong side of the line. I’m not judging what they’re doing, but what they do isn’t going to be allowed to happen here because it reflects badly on this hotel and therefore reflects badly on my grandmother.”

“You sound just like my dad.” She could hear her father’s voice clearly in her head making the same statement about how people let their standards slip and there went the neighborhood.

“Is your dad a cop? I thought he owned a nightclub.”

“He owns a nightclub, but sometimes I think it’s his own personal police state. And he rules his restaurant with an iron martini shaker. By the way, this is the best martini I’ve ever had. Can’t you just give the guy a slap on the wrist and let him off with a warning?”

“Why are you drinking a martini at two in the afternoon?”

“I’m checking his skills. This is work-related alcohol consumption. I need to find a spin on ways to promote this place. The best martini this side of the Rockies is great advertising.”

“You think a martini would bring business.”

Nina sighed. “Two years ago, I was hired to promote this little microbrewery in New York and last month it was bought out by a major food corporation. The former owner just bought a piece of Saint Lucia and is lying on the beach soaking up the sun.”

“Basically, you’re a rainmaker.”

Nina shrugged. “I don’t really have a title. I’m just good at promotions. I create buzz and have a knack for understanding how media works.” Knowing what people wanted was what she had always been good at.

“How do you make a living out of that?” Scott looked interested.

“By knowing the people who are right for what you need. Right now my friend Eydie is working up a website for the hotel. She’s a master at websites and blogs. We’ve already outlined a dozen blogs talking about different aspects of the hotel and the amenities. And more blogs about the Reno area in general. I’m thinking about contests, because people like to win things. This is basic stuff. I’m going to call friends of mine and talk them into coming here to party for New Year’s. And they’ll come if Miss E. throws in a free room, a limo from the airport and some gambling money.” Which they would all lose in the first hour. Nina didn’t gamble unless it was the penny or nickel slots. The few times she’d been to Las Vegas, every coin she fed into the machine was a penny that didn’t work for her.

“Friends, as in who?”

“Celebrities to be named later.”

“That’s a whole lot of free.”

“Not everything will be for free and they will pay for it especially when they see what they get out of it.”

“And what’s that?”

“Exposure.” Every celebrity Nina knew would do anything for exposure. Exposure reminded them of who they were and what they’d accomplished even if they were no longer the darlings of Hollywood.

“Let’s talk about the security nightmares of having these people here?” Scott tapped the table with his index finger.

“A lot of them will bring their own security and staff. And before you start worrying, let me do what I need to do and then I’ll talk to you about security.”

Scott simply frowned, shaking his head.

“I can see you’re worried,” Nina said, “but can we come back to this later when I have more information?”

Scott nodded, finished his coffee and slid out of the booth. “Then I’ll let you get back to work.”

Nina watched him leave, appreciating the tight, muscular body and the way he stalked with the confidence of an alpha wolf. Then her thoughts turned back to the hotel. As much as she loved watching Scott, she was here to do a job.

* * *

Scott returned to his office. The idea of celebrities running around the hotel didn’t please him. He didn’t like working with them. In Washington, the people he protected expected to be targets, acted accordingly and trusted him to keep them safe. Celebrities knew they could be targets, but the nature of their careers was to be seen and they dealt with a lot of yes people who never disagreed with them or considered their safety as long as their faces showed up on the next internet feed. God save him. For all Nina’s assertions that things would be fine, she didn’t understand that not only would he be dealing with the rich and famous and their bad behavior but their security teams and their staff.

He rubbed his temples, a headache threatening. What the devil was Miss E. thinking bringing Hurricane Nina on board? While the casino wasn’t bringing in a lot of profit, it wasn’t losing money. Did Miss E. really need this extra spin?

His job was going to be huge regardless of who was here, because somewhere underneath the surface of the casino, something wasn’t quite right. But he couldn’t put his fingers on it, just that his gut told him something dysfunctional was going on. And having Nina around distracted him. She was sexy, exotic and bold with a level of energy that didn’t seem to have a cap. He wanted to put everything down and follow her. She was sandy beaches, tall, icy drinks and sex in a hammock. Not that he’d ever had sex in a hammock, but Nina made him think about it.

He opened the door that led from his office to the control room. The room was large to accommodate rows of monitors with men sitting in front of them keeping an eye on the activity in the casino, the bars and the restaurants.

“Anything going on that I should know about?” Scott asked Gary White who oversaw the control room.

“The usual,” Gary White said. “Everything’s good.” He was average height with pale skin and reddish-brown hair. He never looked directly at Scott. His gaze continually slipped to the left or the right, making Scott wonder what he was hiding.

Scott knew nothing was good. Gary White was on his list of dysfunctional security people who had to go. He was sloppy and lazy. Security guards needed to be licensed. From what Scott had been able to deduce, his license had expired. Scott needed to be careful on how he got rid of people. The unions were powerful and he didn’t want them as an enemy. Right now, he’d be gathering evidence and documenting Gary’s offenses. He had to walk a tightrope and unlike Hurricane Nina, who wanted things done yesterday, he had to record everything to show cause.

“Will you take a look at that?” Gary pointed at one of his monitors.

Scott leaned over and felt his stomach turn into knots. “What the hell is she doing here?”

“You know her, boss?”

“My worst nightmare.” Scott volunteered no more information. His headache went from mild to threat-level red.

Anastasia Parrish stood in the lobby surrounded by a half dozen Louis Vuitton suitcases. She held her Chihuahua in her arms as she stood at the desk with an imperious look on her petulant face, waiting for the reception clerk to check her into her room. She wore a white pantsuit that looked as though it had just come off the Paris runway, with oversize sunglasses.

She took the glasses off and fluffed her dark brown hair with one hand.

His first thought was to run down to the lobby and confront her, nipping this crap in the bud. But after a moment’s thought, he decided ignoring her was better. If anything, Anastasia hated being ignored. Daddy’s little girl thought the world turned on her nickel and was happy enough to tell anyone who would listen.

“Nice friend, boss,” Gary White said with a knowing chuckle.

Scott glared at the man and didn’t answer.

The door opened and his brother, Hunter, poked his head in. “Got a second, bro?”

Scott nodded and stepped out of the control room. Before his brother could say something, Scott’s cell phone rang. The front desk was calling him.

“Scott Russell here,” he said knowing what the receptionist’s next comment would be.

“Mr. Russell, a Miss Anastasia Parrish is asking for you,” came a chirpy voice.

“I’m a little bit busy right now.” Scott pinched the bridge of his nose. “Tell Miss Parrish I will have to speak with her later.”

“Very well, sir.” The woman disconnected.

Scott shoved his phone back in his pocket. His brother watched him curiously.

“Miss Parrish. Anastasia Parrish, spoiled rotten daughter of Senator Parrish?”

“Yeah,” Scott replied. “The bane of my existence.”

“She’s very beautiful.”

“She’s spoiled, petty and mean.” Scott leaned against the wall. How the hell was he going to get rid of her? “She’s twenty-five but acts like she’s thirteen, which is ridiculous. She thinks she’s in love with me.”

“She’s pretty enough,” Hunter said. “Though compared to Lydia, she’s kind of colorless.”

“Any woman you look at is colorless compared to Lydia.” Scott’s brother had finally found the love of his life in Lydia Montgomery. They were engaged to be married.

“What are you going to do?” Hunter asked.

“I don’t have many options. This is my home and she’s invaded it. I need to convince her to head back to Washington, DC, and just leave me alone.” Scott felt annoyed and beyond irritated. As though he didn’t have enough headaches, now he had to deal with Anastasia. She was poison.

“Before you hide in your office—” Hunter held up an envelope “—I’m going to need your security plans for the spa. The electricians are coming on Monday and I want to make sure we have enough security cameras in all the right places.”

“Okay,” Scott said, relieved to put Anastasia on the back burner for the moment. “Let’s check out the blueprints again and I’ll go over the areas I’ve already earmarked for security cameras.”

Hunter started walking down the hall. Scott followed. He thought he heard a dog barking, but after a moment decided it was just his imagination.

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