But when Derek approached me and offered me his hand, the tension switched from anger to sexual. I looked up at him, refusing his hand as worry dripped from his eyes. I cast my glances behind him, watching as everyone filtered from the room. Some of the men had women on their arms for the night and some of the women were waiting around to see what Derek would do. I scanned the room, making sure nothing had been laid for Derek to walk right into before I made my way in front of him.
“You’re spending most of your time watching the crowds,” he said.
“Did you expect me to do anything else?” I asked.
“I just figured you’d have a good time out tonight.”
“I’m babysitting a toddler throwing a tantrum because I called our little encounter a mistake. Hardly what I would call fun.”
I felt him still beside me, and I looked up to see anger bubbling in his eyes.
“Don’t get angry because I can pinpoint you. It’s my job. I’m your bodyguard, Mr. Steele. Not your pleasure doll.”
“You should gamble a bit while we’re here,” Derek said. “Get rid of some of the tension you’re holding in your shoulders.”
“The only reason I’m tense is that I have you in an area I can’t control. Any one of these people could be sent to hurt you somehow, and I’d have to way of controlling the situation if someone decided to strike.”
“I’m not worried about being assassinated in a casino, Sam.”
“Well, I am. Sorry for doing my job.”
“Apology accepted. Now, come on. There are plenty of places we can go to gamble where you’ll feel like you have control.”
He took my hand and started tugging me to a table in the corner. It was well-lit and backed into a wall with two cameras pointed right at us. I looked up at the cameras and scanned the people at the table before taking a seat next to Derek.
I wanted to slap the grin right off his face.
We went through a few rounds at the blackjack table, and I could see why people enjoyed this sort of thing. The table was a high-roller table, and Derek was sliding me millions of dollars’ worth of chips. I kept eyeing him, wondering what in the world he was trying to get me into. But he kept nodding toward the table, beckoning me to offer some chips and play.
My eyes scanned the room one last time as he leaned into my ear.
“These types of casinos have great security, Sam. We’re okay.”
But I shook my head, trying to keep my guard up and my wits about me. His breath was hot on my neck as the blackjack dealer waited patiently for us, even though people sitting at the table were getting agitated.
That was never a good thing to draw attention with angry people.
“If someone attacks me, they will get caught, Sam. They always are. I’m actually less worried about being here than I am about being in the hotel.”
I whipped my gaze toward him, our lips hovering over one another’s. He didn’t feel safe at the hotel? That was exactly why we couldn’t sleep together any longer. It was affecting how he felt when I was around. I was supposed to keep him safe. Make him feel safe in the process so he didn’t worry. But as it stood, he was more comfortable in a crowded casino than he was in a hotel with me at his side.
I nodded my head as a smile crossed his face, and I felt a twinge of disappointment when he pulled back without kissing me.
“Have you ever gambled before?” Derek asked as he threw some chips in.
“A bit of poker during my military days, but nothing spectacular,” I said as I threw some in as well.
“Were you any good?” he asked.
“Eh, when I wasn’t distracted.”
I tossed him a cheeky look, and he chanced a wink at me that sent shivers down my spine and burned a hole in my gut.
We went a few rounds, and I ended up winning some of Derek’s money back. I won fifty thousand dollars, and he scored over two hundred thousand, and I smiled every time he outsmarted the cards. He was good. I would give him that. He had lady luck on his side tonight, and I felt myself relaxing as the night went on.
Once we called it quits, we had racked up over five hundred thousand dollars in winnings.
“How do you collect something like this? That’s a lot of money,” I said.