Wanna Get Lucky? by Deborah Coonts

Author:Deborah Coonts [Coonts, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Women Sleuths, Contemporary Women
ISBN: 9780765364579
Google: vTJr_7wWL6MC
Amazon: 0765364573
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: 2010-05-10T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter

TWELVE

One of the few remaining grand dames of the Vegas Strip, the Athena was an aging star—a throwback to the fifties. The growth of the megaresorts had taken off at the other end of the Strip. Stranded at the wrong end of the action, the Athena was an island surrounded by a sea of lesser properties gone to seed. Ripe for a cash infusion—or demolition—the Athena was sinking.

I had a hunch Irv Gittings was a desperate man, and desperate men do desperate things.

Braking the Ferrari to a stop at the front entrance, I threw open the door, leapt out and tossed the keys to the female valet. “Don’t move it. Don’t touch it. I’ll be back shortly.”

“You got it, Ms. O’Toole.” A young woman with long, dark hair and a runner’s physique caught the keys in one hand as I dashed by her and through the front doors. I thought I recognized her from a class I had taught at UNLV in the hotel and restaurant management program.

Dark and stale, the lobby was almost empty, even during this, the busiest week of the year. Off to the right, the casino was eerily quiet. I’m sure the rooms were booked, the whole town was bursting at the seams, but obviously nobody wanted to stay and play here, which was the kiss of death to a casino. Vegas rule number one—you can’t make any money if you can’t keep it in the house.

In need of freshening up, I decided to hit the ladies’ lounge near the main bank of elevators. To be honest, my resolve needed a little fortifying as well.

I was about to come face-to-face with one of my biggest mistakes.

Back when I was young and stupid and still believed in fairy tales, I’d had an affair with the dashing Mr. Gittings. A whole year of sleeping with him, dining with him, appearing on his arm at fabulous parties attended by a whole parade of celebrities, our pictures in the society pages—I still don’t know how I could’ve been so naïve. Gullible, and inexperienced, I had been blinded by his star power, flattered by his attention, and seduced by his stories of us being the power couple of Vegas.

The sex hadn’t been bad either.

I clamped my mind shut to those memories—they could get me in trouble, especially in light of my current libido problem.

Twenty years older than me, Irv was every inch the successful Vegas casino owner. Tall, trim, perpetually tanned, he was the center of female attention wherever he went. A touch of gray in his hair, chiseled features and eyes that danced with delight every time he saw me, I was a goner the first time I met him. It had taken me a whole year to get the stars out of my eyes and to see through his well-oiled veneer.

But, whether he knew it or not, Irv Gittings had taught me a few hard lessons.

Irv liked his women pretty, young and stupid. Once I had fit that bill. Not anymore.

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