Read Gambling on Love (Stories of Serendipity #6) for Free Online Page A

next?”
    “Yes. Have a seat.” He looked down and noticed his partially untucked shirt, and he hastily tucked it in.
    “Sorry. The uh…guys felt awkward waiting in a hotel room all day, so somebody suggested we wait across the street. Less of a sausage fest, if you know what I mean.”
    Sausage fest? She was confused by the term but realized quickly enough that it referred to male anatomy, and felt bad for not thinking about the men, being squeezed into a hotel room together with nothing to do all day. Maybe she should have brought a deck of cards or something.
    “Right. I’m glad y’all came up with a solution. I’m sorry I didn’t think of that.”
    “You enjoying your visit to Sin City, so far?”
    “I guess. I haven’t made it out of the hotel yet.” She shrugged.
    “You should. You should head to the strip. There’s a club in Belagio’s called the Bank that’s pretty cool.”
    “I might after I finish with today.” A night out didn’t sound like a bad idea, especially after this grueling day. Darrin seemed like a nice guy. His brown eyes softened when they looked her over, and she felt a connection to him. She made a note to that effect in her notebook and looked at him, phrasing her first question. “You from here?”
    He nodded. “Why didn’t you get a safer hotel? The strip is where the people who aren’t from around here stay. It’s much nicer.” He was conversational and put her at ease. The last guy had scared the crap out of her when he started emptying his pockets on the table to whip out a joint he wanted to sell her. Banging and clanking all that stuff on the table top really did a number on her nerves.
    She smiled back at Darrin. “I was trying to save money, but I’m afraid I’ve just made a bunch of trouble for myself. I didn’t realize this was so unsafe, until I got here last night.” She dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “So I’ve been wearing one of those belt thingies that hide your money inside. You know, like carrying all my personal effects under my shirt, because I just don’t trust the locks on my hotel door.”
    He laughed easily, and it was infectious. Kathy proceeded with the questions and got farther than she had with anyone all day. When she was finished, he looked at her squarely.
    “Can I ask you a question now?”
    “Sure.” He was number one on her list, why not?
    “Why are you doing this? I mean, you’re gorgeous. You seem nice. You shouldn’t have to pay guys to sleep with you.” His honest face was open and eager for her answer.
    “My boyfriend didn’t want to go any further with our relationship, and I’m tired of starting all over to find someone who wants to have a family with me. I figured family is more important to me than a boyfriend, so I should just figure out a way to get what I want. You know?”
    “But, isn’t this dangerous? I’ve seen the guys that are waiting for you. Aren’t you scared?”
    Kathy looked around. The lunch crowd had thinned, but the wait staff was hanging around, cleaning up everything. “I feel safe enough here. There are people around.”
    “Yeah, but what if you pick the wrong guy? What if you get a serial killer or someone who just…hurts you?”
    She had thought about that but chose not to dwell on it. Honestly, her instincts weren’t always that good with men, but if she thought like that, she never would have gone through with this plan. And so far so good. Nothing really bad had happened yet. So she lifted a shrug in response, hoping it would be enough.
    Darrin looked over his shoulder, to see an overweight, balding guy wearing sweat pants and a too-tight tee shirt with C3PO on the chest. His exposed belly looked like an enormous hairy monkey’s butt that Kathy had seen at the zoo with Luke. The man pointedly looked at the plastic watch on his hand, before sighing loudly.
    “I see your next appointment has arrived. I hope to talk to you again, soon.” He reached out his hand again