Bet on Love. Devon Vaughn Archer
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“Aloha!” Bianca heard the familiar deep voice. She turned to find Tanner standing there with another tall, well-dressed man who, by the looks of him, could only be Tanner’s brother.
“Hello,” she said.
Tanner grinned. “Glad you could make it.”
“We wouldn’t have missed this,” Melanie said enthusiastically.
“This is my friend, Melanie,” Bianca said.
“Nice to meet you,” Tanner told her, shaking Melanie’s hand. “And this is my brother, Solomon.”
“Ladies,” Solomon said, smiling.
Bianca smiled back. She could see the resemblance between the brothers right down to the neatly trimmed mustaches and goatees, aside from the fact that Solomon had hair atop his head and Tanner did not.
“Was your car repaired to your satisfaction?” Tanner asked her.
“It will be ready in two days,” Bianca told him. “Thank you.”
“It was the least I could do, since Johan caused the damage.”
“I really love the hotel,” Melanie said.
“Mahalo!” Solomon responded, thanking her.
“Can’t wait to see the casino.”
“I’d be happy to give you a tour,” he said.
“I’ll take you up on that,” Melanie responded, beaming.
Solomon grinned. “Then let’s go for it.”
Bianca watched as the two walked away, leaving her alone with Tanner. “That was quick,” she commented.
“For Melanie or Solomon?” he quipped.
“Both.”
Tanner chuckled. “Solomon’s always had an eye for pretty ladies. Your friend certainly fits the bill.”
Bianca couldn’t argue the point. She only hoped Melanie knew what she was getting herself into. Or maybe Melanie didn’t care. Bianca was well aware that her friend was a free spirit, often living for the moment rather than the future.
“Why don’t I show you around,” Tanner said loudly, amidst an exquisite setting overflowing with invited guests, tourists and employees moving this way and that with blended chatter. “If you’d like?”
“Are you sure I wouldn’t be keeping you from anything?” she asked tentatively.
“I’ve got a lot on my plate today,” he admitted. “But I think I can spare a few minutes for a beautiful lady.”
Bianca warmed to the compliment, even though she suspected he used that line quite a bit on women. “Okay, in that case, I’ll take a few minutes of your time to check out the place.”
Tanner flashed a pleased smile. “I like your dress.”
“It’s just a dress,” she said, trying to downplay it.
“Not on you,” he insisted.
She laughed. “Are you always this smooth?”
He chuckled. “It’s not a line, I assure you. I always say just what I mean.”
“Then, thank you,” Bianca gave in, figuring she would accept the flattery since she could just as easily have complimented him on the designer clothing that seemed made just for him.
Tanner flashed another devastatingly handsome smile and proffered his long arm, pointing toward an enormous lobby. “Shall we...?”
* * *
Tanner was only too happy to give Bianca a tour of his pride and joy. He knew Solomon felt the same way when showing Melanie around. Though this hardly meant either of them was expecting more, Tanner would not deny that he was attracted to Bianca, and he sensed she was attracted to him, too. How far they would take that was anyone’s guess, but he was more than happy to see if it could go anywhere.
“Wow!” Bianca marveled as he showed her one of the pools that had the feel of being on Maui’s famed Kaanapali Beach, complete with palm trees, golden sand and plenty of sunshine.
“You like?” Tanner asked.
“I love it!”
“I take it you swim?”
“Of course,” she said.
“Then feel free to drop in sometime for a dip. The water’s always comfortable.”
Bianca looked at him. “Have you tested it?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, I’ve been in a couple of times to break it in, so to speak.”
“Maybe I’ll take you up on that sometime.”
“I hope so.” And I just might join you in the water for some real fun, he thought. “Let’s go look at the lounges.”
“Sounds good.”
Tanner ordered them each a Mai Tai in the Island Lounge. “So what do you do for a living?”
“I’m a writer,” Bianca responded.
“You write novels, articles or—”
“Yes, articles for the Vegas Valley Happenings and some freelance stuff for online publications.”
“Cool,” he said, picturing her at work on her next article.
“Not as cool as owning your own hotel-casino,” she said flatly.
He chuckled. “It definitely has its perks and advantages, but that’s only a part of who I am.”
“And just who are you?” Bianca asked as she sipped her drink.
“I’m someone with a wide range of tastes and experiences.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah.”
“Such as...” she asked.
He was about to answer when his cell phone rang. It was Frank.
“I have to get this,” Tanner said reluctantly.
“Of course,” Bianca said.
He stood up and took the call, listening as Frank informed him that he had a welcoming speech to make in fifteen minutes.
“I’ll be there,” Tanner said. He gazed at Bianca, feeling that he could look at her all day and night. If only he had the time. “I hate to cut this short, but I have to play host in welcoming some dignitaries to the grand opening.”
“I understand.” She gave him a polite smile.
“Can you hang around for a while?” he asked hopefully.
“Maybe,” she said hesitantly.
He grinned. “Good. I’d like to finish what we started. In the meantime, have another drink on the house.”
Bianca tilted her head. “You’re not trying to get me drunk, are you?”
Tanner chuckled. “No, I’d much rather have you clear-headed. It’s sexier.”
“So you think I’m sexy?”
He saw no reason to deny it. “Not think. I know you are,” he said. “Well, I’ll leave you with that thought.”
Tanner walked away from the bar, hoping this might be the start of something good for both of them.
Chapter 3
That night, Bianca sat in a bubble bath, shamelessly fantasizing about Tanner Long. In spite of the definite sexual vibes between them, she wasn’t holding her breath that