5

      JACKSON HAD KISSED HER. Gawd, that was amazing even for a fake kiss. Mariska’s stomach was full of butterflies and even her eyes had lost focus for a second.

      She glanced at the door where two bodyguards stood, and worried about what Jackson had said to her about surprises that might be behind the curtain. So far there’d been no snakes. Thank God. She’d been so embarrassed when she brought that up in the car, but snakes were definitely a deal-breaker for her.

      “What exactly are you expecting to find back there?” Mariska asked the question to give herself time to check her knees and make sure they worked. She knew Jackson had only kissed her because he’d caught someone watching them. It was too sudden for anything else.

      While she didn’t want to admit it, the kiss had been one of the best she’d ever experienced. It would have been nice if it’d been real. Her body already craved his touch. Maybe when they finished this case she could convince him to go with her to the beach resort where she planned to vacation for a couple of weeks.

       The very idea of asking a man to spend two weeks holed up in a beach villa. Please. What a—God, I’m going to do it. If we make it out alive from this place, I’m going to ask him to go with me. If he says no, I’ll live.

      She would never let on, but he’d absolutely scared the crap out of her with his worry about what was behind the curtain. Pretending she was worldly hadn’t been easy in that moment.

      More than anything she wanted to take his hand and run out the front entrance and to the safety of the town car. She didn’t need to find Gladstone that bad. Then all she had to do was convince Jackson to run away to the beach with her. That prospect was much more enticing than going through the curtain with the two guards.

      She glanced up to see Jackson was answering her question, and she’d missed most of his answer. She forced herself to focus.

      “It’s best to be on guard at all times. We’re here to gather information, nothing more. The most important thing is, if you see Gladstone, don’t let on that you know him right away. Give me some kind of signal and then we’ll play it by ear.”

      Jackson squeezed her hand and she gave him her most reassuring smile.

      Jackson said something in Thai, and the guards pulled back the curtains. The disco part of the club hadn’t prepared Mariska for the freak circus in front of her. The casino, packed with masses of people, was an overwhelming, nasty mess. From the flashing lights to the totally nude cocktail waitresses, it was an assault on the senses.

      There were blackjack tables, slot machines, roulette wheels and everything else one might find in a Vegas casino, including card games in side rooms along the casino floor.

      Down the center of the casino was a line of large birdcages hanging from the ceiling. Inside were nude dancers. A few of the cages had more than one girl and they were making out. Hell, it was more than making out. It was erotic and kind of sleazy at the same time.

       Note to self: Don’t look up. Holy crap. Eyes forward.

      The girls were a distraction so that people didn’t pay attention to how much money they were losing. She knew that. Still, though Mariska had partied hard in her early college days, hitting some of the not-so-lovely bars in Austin, New Orleans, Vegas and L.A., she’d never seen anything like this.

      Jackson glided in with his arm around her shoulders. The warmth of him helped her get her bearings in the sea of people. He moved as if he knew exactly where he was going. She walked beside him, and admired Jackson’s way of looking like he owned the room. The man definitely didn’t lack self-confidence, which was the exact opposite of how she felt.

      Now that they were in, her stomach tightened with unease. She felt completely overwhelmed.

      This was a dumb idea. We’re never going to find him in this mess. Seconds after she thought it, she spotted Gladstone. He was across the large expanse where the slot and poker machines were lined up.

      She must have tensed, because Jackson leaned down and whispered against her ear. “Where is he?”

      He’s good. Jackson was so in tune with everything around him that even her slight movement caused him to take notice. She reached up and touched his cheek to help with the charade and to hide their lips as she whispered back, “Straight ahead and to the left. End chair at the big table.”

      Jackson hugged her, and then kissed her again, lingering a little longer than necessary for their theatrics. She didn’t mind a bit.

      “Good job. Now follow me.” He winked at her.

      Jeez, if he didn’t stop touching her like that she would melt into the floor. Seriously, she’d be the wicked witch of the west in a puddle, or was that the wicked witch of the east. She could never remember.

      If Jackson knew what he did to her, he’d run for his life. His touch around her shoulders sent electricity through her body, heating and teasing. Her nipples tightened, which was unfortunate since the thin halter she wore didn’t hide much.

       Great. They really are going to think I’m cheap eye candy.

      Taking their time crossing the floor, they watched some of the tables for a few minutes. Then they stopped to play roulette, and Mariska won. “Oh, my, Gawd. This is so much fun!

      “I’ve never been this lucky,” she said as she cashed in her coins for bills. Since her purse was barely big enough to hold her phone and lipstick she handed the money to Jackson.

      “That’s how they pull you in,” he said under his breath as he led her toward Gladstone. They were close enough now that she could see the lines of worry etched in the other man’s face, shadowed by a couple of days’ whisker growth. His pile of chips wasn’t very high.

      “My guess is he’s been here for at least two days. He probably started out with a big wad of cash and now he thinks he can win it all back.” Jackson took her hand in his and moved into the crowd that surrounded the table. There were four other men and the dealer playing. It was a form of poker but she didn’t recognize the game.

      When Jackson let go of her hand and moved forward she was shocked.

      “Desmond, is that you?” Jackson had waited for a lull in the action while the dealer shuffled the cards. He stepped forward and stuck out his hand.

      The other man shook it but had a look of uncertainty on his face.

      Jackson carried on his ruse. “What the heck are you doing here?” He tilted his head back toward Mariska. “The little woman is here with me. Where’s your wife? She was complaining this morning that I was no fun shopping, maybe the girls could spend the day together tomorrow.” He glanced at his watch. “Make that later today.”

      Desmond Gladstone wasn’t sure what to think of Jackson. She could tell from the wary look in his eyes. Bloodshot eyes that revealed he’d been at the table way too long, and it looked as if he’d had one too many drinks.

      Alcohol could make a man stupid. Hell, it could make a woman stupid. She’d made plenty of mistakes after a few too many. His hair was mussed, and though he was in his early thirties according to the background report the agency sent, he appeared much older, haggard and unhealthy, as if he hadn’t had a decent meal or a shower in days.

      Jackson continued the charade, looking around as if trying to find the other man’s wife. Gladstone took the bait.