Guilty Pleasures (45 page)

“The chance to make things right.” He reached out and clasped his shoulder. “Right for both of us, with your kid.” He waited a beat. “Eva's the best thing that ever happened to you. Don't blow that for what you think might happen. The kid will have her genes too.” He gave his brother a crooked smile.

“What if it's a girl
” he asked, trying to imagine a tiny version of Eva.

“Then she'll probably knock you upside the head every time you screw up, just like her mama.”

They both rolled with laughter.

“Yeah, man, you're probably right,” he said, still chuckling.

“So … you gonna talk to her
”

“Yeah.” He nodded his head. “I am.”

“Tell her the truth. All of it.”

 

26

Rita walked up to the security booth that sat outside the ship's safe. “Good morning.”

The security guard, tucked away in a glass booth, looked up from reading a gaming magazine. He took her in all at once, his tongue slowly traveling over his lips.

Rita smiled.

“How can I help you this morning
” He closed the magazine and focused on Rita.

“I wanted to get into my safe deposit box.” She looked at his name tag. “Vincent.”

His cheeks flushed. “I'll have to see your identification.”

“Of course.” She opened her purse, careful not to dislodge the camera, and subtly took a picture of the interior of the booth. She pulled out her wallet and took out her driver's license. She handed it to Vincent.

He looked it over, then gave back at her. “This picture does you no justice,” he said, his gaze doing another two-step all over her.

“Aren't you sweet.”

“I aim to please.” He punched in a couple of keys on the computer, stared at the screen for a couple of minutes, then pressed another button. The printer next to him began to whirr, spitting out a blank signature card.

He pushed it through the slot in the glass booth along with a pen. “If you can just sign here.” He pointed to the line where her signature went.

Rita pulled the card toward her. Then acting very girly, she asked. “What is this for
”

“I need to verify your signature against what's on file, and it also gives you permission to enter the vault.”

“Oh, very thorough.” She signed her name.

“Can't be too careful.”

“Is this where you're stationed all the time
” She kept her hand on the card and placed her purse on top of the counter, propping it up so that the camera had a perfect view of the interior of his glass booth. She set it to video.

“Yep, this is my post. Eight hours a day.”

“Get much business
” she asked, her tone light and airy.

He shrugged. “Some days are more busy than others. Generally it's the high rollers who come back and forth, especially at night.”

“Just how safe is my money with so much traffic
I was a bit reluctant to leave it here. I thought it would be safer in my room.”

He looked appalled that she would think such a thing.

“The last place you want to leave anything truly valuable is in your room.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “I mean, let's face it—housekeeping has access to your room twenty-four–seven. Who's to say they won't get a case of the sticky fingers
If you know what I mean.”

Her eyes widened, feigning alarm. “You mean the staff would actually steal from the guests
”

“It's been known to happen.”

“And you say the safe is really the best place.”

“Absolutely. We have complete video surveillance, state-of-the-art locks, and a foolproof system that prohibits anyone who is unauthorized inside the vault. I watch the camera right here whenever anyone goes inside.”

“I see.” She pressed her palm to her chest, drawing his attention to her cleavage. “I feel much better.” She frowned for a moment. “I just had a thought. You can see me when I take out my money or jewelry
That's a bit tempting, don't you think
”