CHAPTER TWO
If Vienna thought her photograph was large before, gaining admission to the final table had her picture enlarged by quite a bit. She could barely stand going downstairs, where anyone could see her. There was no way she wouldn’t be recognized. Her photograph was flashing outside on the building’s walls along with the other players’. It was inside in the lobby, running in a pattern around the top wall. It was on the casino wall, flashing like a neon sign. She was the only woman, young and considered good-looking. Her looks seemed to intrigue everyone, as if she couldn’t look the way she did and be able to play cards too.
She lay on the floor of her suite, under the piano, digging her fingers into the thick rug she’d pulled over to stretch out on so she wasn’t on the uncomfortable marble. Her phone had been blowing up for the last half hour with congratulations as well as messages from her mother. She knew she was going to have to answer everyone soon, but she just didn’t have anything left in her.
Cards could do that to her. Exhaustion set in and she would just lie down and not get back up for twenty-four hours. She couldn’t sleep. It wasn’t that kind of tired. Others became so exhilarated they would stay up and gamble in the casinos. Or party all night. She supposed she was used to solitude and the peace of Yosemite. Vienna was certain it was her “gift” that drained her.
She was hungry. And thirsty. She looked over at the menu and the phone. It was a long way away and she would have to crawl out of her cozy little self-made cave. She just didn’t have the energy. She should have thought about water. She always hydrated. She could maybe call on her cell. Her concierge was the best, but then she’d have to get up and open the door.
As if just by her thinking of it, the heavy door across the room actually opened. It didn’t squeak. There was no sound, but she was looking at it wistfully, and the door opened as if by magic. Her heart stuttered as she saw the legs of a man encased in trousers and soft-soled shoes. He shut the door behind him as he slipped inside.
“Vienna, what are you doing under the piano?”
She closed her eyes at the sound of his voice. Zale. In a way, she would rather he be an intruder come to rob her. Or interrogate her to get information on Zale and Rainier. At least she wouldn’t feel so vulnerable.
“Go away, Zale. I can’t deal with you right now.”
She didn’t hear him walking around or going back out, and she didn’t want to open her eyes, but curiosity and self-preservation got the better of her. She peered at him through her long lashes. He was crouched down beside her, far too close, his dark eyes looking like velvet. Her sex clenched in response to that sensual look on his too-gorgeous face.
“Before you go, hand me a bottle of water. And the menu. And see if the phone reaches over here.” She made herself sound as matter-of-fact as possible when she wasn’t even certain she could pull air into her lungs. Her voice came out in a whisper rather than the firm, forceful tone she wanted. Still, she wasn’t shaking—yet. If he stayed too close and she kept smelling fresh snow and rain, she might jump him. He’d already started a slow burn in her body and he hadn’t done anything but enter the room.
“Come out from under there.”
“I’m not moving.”
“You’re not? Or you can’t? There’s a difference.” He handed her a bottle of water.
She contemplated that. “That’s a good question. I might be able to roll out from under the piano, but then I’m on the marble floor and that’s not going to feel so good. I’ll just stay here for the time being. Thanks for the water, but go away, Zale. You’re too much trouble right now for me to bother with.”
He gave her a ghost of a smile, and her stomach fluttered. Rolled, exactly like a roller coaster. “I don’t like roller coasters,” she told him decisively.
Zale reached for her, sliding an arm under her knees and one behind her back. He pulled her out from under the piano, stood and carried her into the large master bedroom.
“What is the significance of not liking roller coasters?” Placing his knee on the bed, he carefully put her on the duvet, back to the headboard, with the pillows for a backrest.
She’d had the presence of mind to hold on to the water bottle. She took a long drink. It was important to stay hydrated. “You. Anytime you’re around, it’s like being on a roller coaster. Go away, Zale. I’m exhausted.”
He ignored her request. “You need to eat. I’m going to order food. Do you have any preference?”
Vienna knew her mind was a little sluggish, but even so, alarms went off all over the place. “I’ll make the call. You can’t, Zale. What if you get in trouble? You have to have a place to . . .” What in the hell was she saying? Thinking? If he was in trouble, he could disappear the way he was supposed to. He was a ghost. A man who vanished. He hid in plain sight and then was gone before anyone knew he’d ever been around. He certainly didn’t need her suite as a last resort to hide in if he was hunted.
“That’s smart, Vienna. I doubt if it will come to that, but still, you’re right. Order me the number three with everything.” He placed the phone next to her hand.
“You aren’t staying.”
“I’m staying. I remember you telling me how drained you get after you play cards. I don’t want you alone. It’s no big deal to see that you eat food and stay hydrated.”
She wasn’t going to argue with him because she knew he didn’t argue. He’d just stop talking. She ordered the food and told room service to knock once and then leave the cart outside the door, that she’d get it when she was ready. When she hung up, she put her head back and just observed him. He’d taken one of the chairs across from the bed, near the fireplace. He was brutally handsome. He’d aged a little in the months they’d been separated, but essentially, he looked the same.
“Thanks, Zale, but really, I’m a big girl. I’ve been looking after myself a long time. You don’t need to stay.” She did her best to look him in the eye. That wasn’t as successful as she hoped. She managed to look at the bridge of his nose.
Immediately, the sensual lines in his face went blank, totally unreadable, and he regarded her with his dark, scary eyes. “You told me you don’t like to play in tournaments in person. This one had to be a huge buy-in. What made you change your mind? Your photograph is everywhere.”
She swept her hair back from her face. “I know. It’s like a giant me hanging off the side of the building. You’re right. Normally I wouldn’t play in person like this, but I received an invitation and the buy-in was waived. That doesn’t happen unless you’re a celebrity with a massive following or you win a tournament that has a buy-in as part of the prize. It sounded too good to be true, so at first I ignored the invitation, but then I was contacted by the hotel and found out it was real. Apparently, my career as luckypersiancat has been followed, and the hotel thought it would be good advertisement for the tournament to have me in the mix. There are millions at stake, and Stella wanted to see Red Rock and kayak the river, so why not? I just didn’t expect my photograph to be ten feet tall.”
“Why aren’t you asking me how I got in here? You should be.”
She shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. “Does it matter? I doubt too many others could manage. Maybe Rainier.”
“Why would you bring up Rainier?” There was a bite to his normally calm tone.
“I imagine he was trained the same way you and Sam were.”