Bet on Love by Devon Vaughn Archer

Author:Devon Vaughn Archer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kimani Press
Published: 2013-06-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

When Tanner passed through the casino with Bianca, he mainly just wanted to show off to her what he hadn’t previously. They strolled past slot machines and the general gambling area, where both serious and recreational gamblers coexisted peacefully. But she seemed distracted and was ready to go back to the hotel. He assumed that she wanted to go up to his suite at that moment to make love, though she had indicated otherwise.

“What’s in there?” Bianca asked him, after they had taken a short cut and were standing outside the Kaanapali Ballroom.

“That’s where we have important functions for those who can afford to pay for them,” he told her.

She met his eyes. “Can I take a look?”

“Of course.”

“I’m just curious,” she said. “Maybe the newspaper will want to have their annual Christmas party here this year.”

“You’re more than welcome to,” Tanner said as he opened the double doors to the room.

A large gathering in the room shouted together, “Happy Birthday, Tanner!”

Tanner was speechless.

Solomon walked up to them, grinning broadly. “Good job, Bianca. I couldn’t have pulled this off without you.”

Tanner eyed Bianca with surprise. “You knew about this?”

She grinned. “Of course. And clearly keeping you busy worked. Happy Birthday, sweetheart!”

Tanner let that sink in, taking particular note of her term of endearment. “Thanks,” he told her, then whispered in her ear, “I’m going to get you for this.”

She chuckled, whispering back, “I’m counting on it.”

“I could tell you to get a room,” Solomon said with a laugh, “but I’m sure you already have that covered. Right now, it’s all about celebrating your birthday among family, friends and employees.”

Tanner would have preferred to celebrate his birthday with quiet reflection, if at all. But he knew this was Solomon’s way of showing him love, and he wanted to go with the flow.

He smiled. “Thanks.”

Solomon patted Tanner on the shoulder. “Good thing you’re bald, big brother. Otherwise, I’m sure I would see a lot of gray hair up there, now that you’re an old man.”

Tanner glanced at his brother’s dark hair, spotting a few gray strands beginning to sprout. “I wouldn’t doubt it,” he said, while noting that Melanie was not at his side. Was she somewhere in the crowd? Or had Solomon not invited her at all?

Imagining Bianca was thinking the same thing, Tanner took her hand and made their way into the gathering.

Frank gave him a stiff handshake and a glass of champagne. “Don’t drink it all at once,” he said teasingly.

“I don’t intend to,” Tanner promised, taking a sip as another glass was handed to Bianca. “I suppose you were in on this, too?”

Frank played dumb for a moment and then responded, “We wanted to do something special for the brains behind this magnificent hotel and casino.”

“And it looks like you pulled it off without a hitch,” Tanner said with a grin.

“At least, we wanted to make it look that way when all was said and done,” Frank told him, laughing.

Tanner didn’t doubt that it took a coordinated effort to plan this while keeping him in the dark.

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