Deadly Embrace (38 page)

* * *

"Do
not
order room service," Dani said, smiling.

Michael stretched and gave a lazy grin. "I thought, y'know, maybe
champagne, caviar."

"
That's
a change."

"From what?"

"Surely you remember? Last time it was ice cream and
strawberries."

He laughed. "You can order whatever you want."

"I can?"

"Certainly."

"Shrimp and french fries. Ice cream and strawberries."

"Nice," he said, grinning.

"Tonight was nice," she murmured. "One nice night with you, and
I'll see you again in ten years."

"Come on, Dani," he groaned. "Don't keep on rubbing it in. I told
you—I was locked up for five years, an' when I came out it
seemed like too much time had passed." He took a long beat, choosing
his next words carefully. "Then I had uh . . . more trouble."

"What kind of trouble?"

"You didn't happen to read about me awhile ago, did you?"

"Read about
you
?"

"I was all over the papers in New York. Guess it wasn't a national
story, thank God!"

"What was it about?"

"Something I was accused of that I didn't do."

"Is that why you changed your name?" she asked curiously.

"I needed a fresh start. People knew who I was. Hey—do you
mind if we don't get into it now?"

"No, I don't mind."

"Thanks."

"When are you going back to New York?"

"I'm supposed to leave the day after tomorrow, but I was thinking
I might stay a few extra days. Would you like that?"

"I don't know, Michael," she said unsurely. "This is not something
we should take any further, because—"

"I know, I know," he interrupted. " 'Cause I'm not reliable.
Right?"

"You don't have to stay over for
me
," she said quietly. "I
came up here by choice tonight."

"Are you sayin' that last time I forced you?"

"I was a virgin. I had no idea what to expect."

"Oh great," he said, half joking. "That's right, make me feel
guilty."

"That wasn't my intention."

"Hey—remember what you told me?"

"No," she said, remembering only too well.

"You told me you loved me. I never forgot that."

"You see what a foolish little girl I was?" she said lightly.

"You weren't foolish, you were wonderful. You still are."

"I'd better call home."

"Who's waitin' up?"

"Didn't I tell you? I have a child."

"You do?" he said, surprised. "Boy or girl?"

"A little boy."

"No kiddin? I've got a daughter—she just turned three. Maybe
we should get 'em together."

"I thought you told me you never married."

"I was living with someone. She was very young. When we've got
more time I'll tell you all about it."

"Where is she now?"

"She ... uh ... died."

"I'm sorry."

"Hey—life goes on," he said, determined not to burden her
with his pain. Besides, the story between him and Beth was a private
love story.

"Where is your daughter?"

"She's been living with my friends Max and Tina. Now I'm planning
on taking her back to live with me."

"So you should, she's your child."

"Madison's a great kid."

"Madison. That's a very unusual name. Does she look like you?"

"Yeah," he said, laughing. "Poor kid."

"Do you have a photo?" she asked, wondering if his daughter looked
anything like Vincent.

"Would I sound like a proud dad if I said yes?"

"There's nothing wrong with that."

He got out of bed and padded across the room, picking up his
wallet from the table.

She admired his body as he walked back toward her. He was lean and
muscular, with broad shoulders and hard abs. He was certainly one
great-looking man.

She sighed and wished this night would last forever.

Only she knew it wouldn't. He'd leave. And that would be that.

Unless she told him.

* * *

Max was desperately trying to stay cool as he won hand after hand at
the blackjack table. But staying cool was tough when all he really
wanted to do was stand up and yell!

He kept on hitting twenty-one. It was unbelievable.

"Card?" the dealer asked.

He nodded.

Shit! Twenty-one again.

He could do no wrong!

* * *

"Gotta go find my friends before they blow their bankroll," Michael
said, jumping out of bed. "Come with me, I'd like you to meet
them."

"Are you sure?"

"Wouldn't ask if I wasn't."

They got dressed and took a cab to the Magiriano, holding hands
all the way. When they got there, he was just in time to haul Max
away from the blackjack table before Max blew his winnings.

"Be smart," Michael said, getting a firm grip on Max's arm. "You
gotta learn when to walk away."

For once, Max listened.

"Say hello to Dani," Michael said as soon as they were a safe
distance away from the blackjack table.

Max stared at the beautiful blond holding Michael's hand. He
recognized her immediately. She was the gorgeous topless babe in the
show they'd just seen, the second girl from the left. How did Michael
do it? Lucky bastard.

"Hi, Dani," he said.

"Hi, Max," she said, remembering him from his one night of lust
with Angela.

"How do you two know each other?"

"Guess you've forgotten about your bachelor night," Michael said,
grinning.

Max looked blank. "Huh?"

"Wasn't her name Angela?"

"Jeez!" Max said, eyes nervously darting around the casino. "For
God's sake—don't let Tina hear you."

"If you hadn't been so bombed, you would've remembered that Dani
was Angela's roommate. Now do you get it?"

"Oh yeah—
Dani
. She's the girl you used to talk
about."

"You see," Michael said, smiling at her. "I used to talk about you
all the time. Max thought I was nuts."

"Why did you think that, Max?" she asked.

" 'Cause, uh.. . well, he'd talk about you, an' you weren't there.
An' I kinda figured he'd get on a plane and come back to see you.
Then he, uh ... had other things goin' on."

"It's all right," Michael said. "She knows what happened to
me."

"She does?"

"Yes, I do," Dani said.

"She also knows I'm out of that line of business now," Michael
said. "An' by the way—with that investment thing I got going,
you should give me your four thousand bucks. I can double it for
you."

"I'd better ask Tina."

"D'you havta get her permission to take a piss too?"

"Screw
you
."

"Where is Tina anyway?"

"Losing
my
money on the slots."

"We should go find her."

The three of them went searching for Tina and discovered her
playing her last ten dollars.

"Lose it an' quit," Michael ordered. "Oh, an' Tina— meet
Dani. We're all going for a drink."

* * *

"Who
is
she?" Tina hissed at Max, not thrilled that their cozy
threesome was now a foursome.

"She was in the show," Max whispered back. "Mike knows her from
years ago."

They were sitting in one of the lounges, drinking champagne to
celebrate Max's four-thousand-dollar win. He was flushed with
success, whereas Tina was livid, because not only had she lost all
her
money, she'd also lost the hundred dollars Max had given
her to play with.

Besides, she was feeling disconcerted.
She
was usually the
prettiest girl in any group. Now this tall, beautiful blond had
joined them, and everyone was looking
her
way. This did not
thrill Tina.

"I don't like her," she whispered to Max.

"I don't think Michael cares," Max retaliated.

"What do you mean by
that
?"

"He's fucking
her
, not
you
."

"God! You are so vulgar. What makes you think he's sleeping with
her?"

"Take a look at the two of 'em."

"I should think he'd have more respect for Beth's memory."

"Beth's been gone for almost two years. A man has to get it
on."

"Sometimes you are
so
disgusting."

Meanwhile Dani decided she should try to get to know Michael's
friends. "What do you do?" she asked Tina.

"Me ... I, uh .. . look after my kids," Tina said. "And
he's
a lot of work," she added, jerking her thumb at Max. "Dumps
his clothes on the floor, never does anything around the house,
leaves his empty beer cans on the table..."

"Hold on a minute," Max objected. "It's
me
you're talking
about. I get up every morning at dawn and go to work sellin' cars for
a living."

"Perhaps you can advise me, Max," Dani said. "I'm thinking of
buying a new car."

"You are? What do you drive now?"

"A Cadillac. I was considering something more sporty. My son keeps
on trying to persuade me to get a Corvette."

"Oh, you have a son?" Tina said, making an attempt to warm up.

"Yes."

"How old is he?"

"Nine. What about your kids?"

"Susie's seven, Harry's eight—the little monster. What am I
telling you for—I guess you know all about boys."

"Actually, mine's quite studious."

"Lucky you!"

To Michael and Max's relief the women were suddenly on mutual
ground.

"I thought they weren't gonna get along," Michael said to Max in a
low voice. "Only now Tina's started com-plainin' about you, we're on
easy street."

"Max mentioned that you knew Michael a long time ago," Tina said,
dying to find out more. "Where did you meet?"

"Where
did
we meet, Michael?" Dani questioned, throwing the
ball to him.

"Uh ... a mutual friend introduced us."

"You can tell Tina the truth," Dani said, laughing. "I was sixteen
and a virgin. Then along came your friend Michael and took advantage
of me."

Tina shot him a spiteful look. "Oh yes, our Michael's very fond of
sixteen-year-old virgins."

Michael returned her look with one of his own that said,
Shut
the fuck up
!

Tina got the message.

Later, at Michael's urging, Dani called her housekeeper and
informed her she would not be home that night.

While Dani was on the phone, Michael warned Tina not to mention
Beth or what had happened. "I'll tell Dani in my own time," he said.
"I can't risk frightening her off."

"Whatever," Tina said. "Only I think you're making a mistake."

"It's
my
mistake, so I'll make it. Okay?"

When Dani returned from making her phone call, they took off on a
tour of all the big hotels, finally arriving back at the Estradido at
3 a.m.

"This was
so
much fun," Tina exclaimed as they rode up in
the elevator. "Can we do it again tomorrow?"

"Sleep—I need sleep!" Max groaned. "Gimme a bed!"

"They're such a nice couple," Dani said, as soon as they reached
Michael's room.

"Yeah," he agreed. "Max is a real stand-up guy; we've been through
a lot together. And Tina's a real character. She nags the crap outta
him, an' he gets off on it."

Dani walked over to the window, gazing out at the spectacular
view. "Listen, Michael," she said quietly. "I've been thinking that
you
should
go back to New York with them. If you really want
anything to happen between us, then come back by yourself. That way
I'll know I'm not a one-night stand."

"You really think you're that?" he said, quite hurt.

"It's just—"

"I don't
have
to go," he interrupted.

"
I
want you to."

"What is this?" he said quizzically. "A test?"

"I suppose it is."

"Jesus, don't you trust—"

Now it was her turn to interrupt him. "Do it my way, Michael," she
said softly. "Please."

"Whatever you say," he said, putting his arms around her.

This is insane
, she thought.
I'm spending the night with
a man I barely know. And I'm happier than I've ever been
.

* * *

The day they left, Dani hired a limo as her treat and rode with them
to the airport. By this time she and Tina were fast friends. They'd
spent the last twenty-four hours together having a fantastic
time—the highlight being Elvis Presley's amazing performance at
the Hilton, where they'd had stage-side seats and Tina had aljnost
fainted with excitement.

"You gotta come visit us in New York," Tina said. "I can't believe
you've never been there."

"Maybe I will," Dani said, glancing shyly at Michael.

"Yeah, she will," Michael said. "That's if
I
have anythin'
to do with it."

"Good," Tina said. "Can't wait to show you
our
town."

At the airport, Tina and Max got out of the limousine and went on
ahead into the terminal. Dani and Michael also got out and stood
beside the limo. He leaned her against it, pressing his body up
against hers.

"I don't know about you, but I've had the best time," he said,
stroking her hair.

"Twenty-four hours longer than last time," she murmured.

"I'll be back in two weeks."

"Try not to get arrested."

"I told you," he said. "I'm not into that business anymore."

"Glad to hear it."

"I was thinkin'—maybe I could stay with you next time. What
d'you say?"

"No, Michael, that's not possible. I told you—I have a
son."

"Yeah," he said. "A son who you wouldn't let me meet."

"Perhaps when you come back."

"So what you're tellin' me is that you don't have men stay over?"
he said, raising a disbelieving eyebrow.

"I don't have men, period."

"Really?"

"I'm not that kind of a girl."

"Star of a Vegas show with every guy in town after her, and she's
not that kind of a girl," he said, shaking his head. "Should I
believe that?"