Betting on Both Page 10

  She’d had enough of the teasing over the past few weeks from both men.

  Now it was time to find out the truth.

  Tomorrow night.

  Kat rubbed her temples and forced herself to look at the laptop screen, push herself back into the work.

  She still had a business to resurrect from the dead, and whatever happened tomorrow night wouldn’t make a difference if she couldn’t figure out how to draw in the customers to make the Majestic survive and thrive.

  Phil, sitting in the corner, gave a soft cough and Kat resisted the urge to throw him out and demand Cole back.

  The phone rang and she saw the caller identification.

  Her grandfather.

  She steeled herself and put the phone to her ear.

  “I’m going to assume you made an error on the financials you sent up yesterday,” the elder McMaster growled. “Because there’s no way we’re sinking that much money into the hotel and casino.”

  “It’ll be worth it.” A few taps on the keyboard brought up the numbers under discussion. “We’ll recoup the entire amount within the year.”

  “Really.” Jacob’s tone was thick with sarcasm. “Because your new manager thinks he’s the cat’s meow? Some little punk who barely finished high school and worked his way up? I still don’t believe you promoted him. I could have made a few calls, transferred in one of our own.”

  Kat held back a growl, annoyed at his description of Julien. “He is one of our own. He’s a good man with solid local connections. He’s got business sense; something you and I both know can’t be created with a diploma or a degree.” She ran her hand over the keys. “I’m not embarrassed to say he’s a large part of what’s going to make this property successful. Julien had a plan drawn up and was ready to implement it. You don’t find men like that every day. We’re damned lucky he decided to stay with us; our competition would love to have a man like that working for them.”

  “Perhaps,” Jacob conceded. “But don’t get suckered in by his act and give him free rein on the renovations. I don’t want to lose the Majestic because he’s wooed you with a wink and sweet words to let him have everything he wants.”

  She shifted in her chair, recalling her last conversation with Julien. “You trusted me with the Majestic. That includes everyone from the manager to the waitstaff cleaning out the ashtrays. I’ll make this a success.”

  “Good. I have faith in you to do the right thing,” the gruff reply came. After a few more platitudes and jokes Jacob hung up, promising to come down for the big reopening.

  Kat stared at the phone.

  I’ll make this a success.

  There was more behind those words than she cared to admit.

  Julien was impressed the guard dog could drink so much and stay well. He’d seen lesser men fall off their chairs and crawl away on half the liquor they’d imbibed.

  This man . . . he looked as if he’d just started.

  “I’ve got to get back to work.” Cole raised his voice and looked down the counter. “Charge this to my account.”

  The bartender laughed and shook his head. “Did you forget? You eat and drink for free here.” He grinned. “Thank your boss.”

  Cole laughed and stood. He ran his hand over his short-cut hair and rubbed the back of his neck. “I will.”

  “You’re going somewhere other than your bed?” Julien asked.

  He hadn’t even tried to keep up with Cole. A few glasses in and he knew he was dealing with a professional not only in the security field, but also at the bar. The man was stone-cold sober with only enlarged pupils signaling the amount of his intoxication.

  Julien tried not to worry about him being an expert in other areas. He didn’t relish the idea of having a rabid competitor in bed with Kat.

  “Keeping it light for now. I’m going to check on the surveillance cameras in the casino. We’re putting in new ones and better software. Makes it easier to keep an eye on the players and helps out the pit boss and dealers by letting them know about anyone who might be acting out of sorts.” Cole eyed him. “Keeping everyone honest.”

  Julien nodded. “As in all things, honesty is important.” He patted Cole on the shoulder. “See you tomorrow night.”

  “Yes.” Cole stood. “Tomorrow night.”

  Julien frowned as Cole walked off.

  He looks like a man going to his deathbed instead of into a beautiful woman’s.

  How curious.

  He waved the bartender over and handed him the bottle. “We’re done. Thank you.”

  The man took it away as Julien pulled out his cell phone and scanned the waiting messages. The break had been nice, the discussion interesting, but he’d originally come to the Majestic to rebuild the grand old lady and it had to stay a priority.

  Fantasizing about Kat and tomorrow night wasn’t going to get the rose bushes cut back properly or the workmen to finish putting in the new circular mirrors on the casino floor.

  The gardeners need to hurry the hell up or we’ll miss the grand reopening. Fools are saying they don’t have enough time? I’ll give them enough time.

  He stood and headed for the door, his thoughts far away from Katherine McMaster and Cole Harrison.

  Cole went outside and was hit with a wall of humidity, his shirt sticking to his back within seconds of the doors sliding shut.

  The construction signs were everywhere, the men moving at the strange pace New Orleans demanded—not fast enough to get dehydrated but slow enough to be that bit of annoying to those not familiar with it.

  And the Majestic was changing.

  The dying trees were gone, replaced with vibrant bushes already on the verge of blooming, the gardeners pampering them like mothers with spoiled children. The lampposts he’d walked under with Kat on their first night had been refurbished and restored to their original form, the black paint no longer dulled with garish white lights.

  The shoreline had been cleaned and cut back, the grass now neatly leading to the waves lapping up against the ground. The gangplank leading onto the riverboat had been replaced, and he sidestepped the painters with a nod.

  He stopped inside the doorway, remembering what he’d seen that night a few weeks ago when he’d escorted Kat inside. On his trip to and from the security offices he’d seen the construction workers ripping up the place but hadn’t paid much attention, choosing to keep focused on his job.

  Now he stood and studied the new, exciting interior.

  The transformation was incredible.

  The dull, dingy carpets had been torn up and the walls stripped of the cheap wallpaper and paint. The vibrant colors of the varnished natural wood shone through, pulling him back in time. He felt underdressed, a man out of time as he moved between the rows of slot machines. At any second he expected to see a woman in eighteenth-century garb, accompanied by a smartly dressed young man prepared to duel to the death to protect his date’s honor.

  Cole shook his head.

  Julien had been right, the little bastard.

  He could feel the change in the air, the atmosphere shifting around him. This wasn’t going to be just another riverboat casino suckering money out of people’s pockets—this was going to be the riverboat casino when it opened, the talk of the town. He’d been in Vegas and Atlantic City; he’d been to overseas casinos and small intimate outfits in Reno.

  This one, this one had a definite winning feel about it. He might not have a business degree or know much more than when to hold and fold when playing blackjack or poker, but he knew when something fell into place, felt right.

  His mind flashed back to the office with Kat and Julien and the recent discussion.

  It’d felt . . . right.

  That in itself surprised the hell out of him. He liked Kat; he didn’t mind Julien and in fact had grown sort of fond of the energetic manager. There was a lot there beneath the surface, more than Cole had first seen when he’d arrived a few weeks ago.

  He was proud of Kat. She’d been scared
but she’d said what she wanted, what she felt she needed.

  Both of them.

  Cole could think of plenty of women who wouldn’t have had the nerve to say what she wanted.

  He hadn’t been surprised at Julien’s reaction. Over the past few weeks he’d watched Julien, seen how he treated his coworkers. The man was polite to a fault but also had a spine of steel when it came to getting the job done. He was a ladies’ man but he cared for them as well, keeping an eye on one or two of the waitresses who were expecting and making sure they were taking breaks and staying off their feet. The man had mad skills and knew how to use them.

  Still, Kat’s proposal had caught him off guard. Cole had no doubt Julien had been ready to compete for Kat’s affection. He’d made it quite plain that night in the alley that he considered Cole a rival.

  But instead of pressuring her Julien had let her lead the way and decide what she wanted.

  Instead of freaking out at her suggestion he’d weighed it in his mind and let curiosity and love for Kat lead him along a new path.

  Julien reminded him of Steve. Confident, thought of himself as a ladies’ man, a smooth operator. Not afraid to try something new.

  Vulnerable.

  He rubbed his side, feeling one particular scar itch. It was purely psychological by this point and he knew it.

  Still throbbed like a son of a bitch every now and then.

  When he thought about Steve.

  Cole shook his head and strode through the main floor, sidestepping the workers.

  He needed to check on the casino security office. Make sure the new cameras were installed properly and the staff trained on what to look for.

  Couldn’t risk making a mistake because in his business, mistakes could be lethal.

  The next day flew by at an accelerated rate for Kat, her focus on the new uniforms for the staff and a discussion with the chef about new recipes. That led to a meeting with the food suppliers and then the parking valets, and suddenly it was evening and she was done with the day. Cole hadn’t been with her at all, sending a morning text he’d be busy dealing with security issues and assigning her Phil for the day.

  Kat was grateful for the change. She wasn’t sure if she could have been able to work at all with Cole standing or sitting in the corner of her office, waiting.

  By the time she cleared off her desk and told Phil she was going to her room for the night, it took all she had to not grin like a maniac in anticipation.

  It might be the best night of her life or the worst—but it was going to be her night no matter what.

  Kat sat on the sofa and looked at the connecting door. She hadn’t heard a noise from Cole’s room since she’d come in earlier.

  She wasn’t sure if he was even there. It took a concentrated effort not to knock on the door and ask if he was still interested in their arrangement, if he’d decided to back out.

  Mostly because she didn’t want an answer.

  If he said no . . .

  A gentle rapping came at her suite door.

  She went to the door and opened it, grateful for the interruption.

  “Hello,” Julien said. He wore a white dress shirt and khakis, carrying his briefcase.

  He frowned, speaking loudly enough for the guard out in the hall to hear. “I’m not used to being called out in the evening for a business meeting and dinner. This better be important.”

  The charade had her grinning, despite her jangled nerves.

  Kat gestured for him to enter and closed the door, finishing off the short scene.

  “Do you think he’ll buy it?” she asked.

  Julien shrugged. “If he does, he does. If not, well, I have no doubt these men have seen stranger things in their line of work.” He kissed her cheek before taking a step back and eyed her. “You look lovely.”

  Kat paused, taken aback by the compliment. She hadn’t been sure what to wear, settling on a white blouse and jeans, like she’d worn out to dinner on their one date. She rubbed her hands together, feeling the heat on her cheeks.

  “Thank you.” She gestured at the small living room, encompassing the couch and chairs, the coffee table already cleared off. “I guess we should get settled before we order dinner.”

  She was glad Cole had made the suggestion. Her nerves were raw and jumpy, and the simple act of eating seemed like a good idea, a way of breaking the tension. She studied the door again, reconsidering knocking on it.

  As if on cue it opened and Cole stepped through.

  He wore a black T-shirt stretched tight across his shoulders and torso, showing off a rather impressive set of abs. Jeans completed the picture. No socks, no shoes.

  Kat couldn’t help gawking for a second at the sight. It was as if she was seeing him for the first time.

  Cole smiled, his disarming grin a soothing balm on her jittery nerves. “I’m up for steak.” He looked at Julien. “You?”

  Julien settled himself in the chair. “I understand the kitchen does a lovely lobster and steak plate. We’d be amiss if we didn’t do a spot check to make sure it’s delicious.”

  The two men looked at Kat for her input.

  She froze, her mind locking up with the reality now in front of her.

  Two men. Here. With her.

  “Hey.” Cole walked over. “Hey.” He put his hands on her waist and looked into her eyes. “All of this is under your control. Say the word and I’ll throw his scrawny ass out the door before going downstairs to grab a burger.”

  Julien twisted to stare at the offending area of his body. “I don’t think it’s that scrawny.” He rubbed his hand over his butt, giving himself a squeeze. “In fact, I think it’s rather handsome.” He looked at Kat. “And very grab-worthy.”

  She chuckled in spite of her nervousness.

  Cole glanced at Julien, who gave an affirmative nod.

  “No. Please, stay.” Kat sat. “I’m just a little . . . overwhelmed.”

  “Understandable.” Julien grinned. “I am quite the catch.”

  She couldn’t help snickering, one hand coming up to cover her mouth as Julien preened himself, the exaggerated moves helping to settle her.

  “I’ll order dinner for three.” Cole went to the room phone. “But no wine. Don’t want anyone blaming the alcohol.”

  Julien let out a sigh. “I can see who wants to be the top dog in this trio already.” He gnashed his teeth, pulling another laugh out of Kat.

  “Top, maybe.” Cole grinned.

  Julien laughed but she saw the way he was watching Cole, the curiosity evident in his stare.

  Kat felt the breath catch in her throat, sensing the sexual tension in the air.

  Cole returned to sit beside her. “Be about twenty minutes for the food.” He stretched out his arms along the top of the cushions and looked at Julien. “You’re pretty good at the piano. Professional lessons?”

  “My grandmother. She taught me every Wednesday after I came home from school.” Julien let out a soft laugh. “At first I hated the lessons but she said women would find it attractive. I didn’t understand until I hit puberty and discovered the power of music to soothe the savage breast.” He held up his hands and waggled his fingers. “After that, I played as much as I could.”

  “Why didn’t you go pro?” Kat asked, leaning back into the leather cushions. “I think you’ve got the talent. Instead you became a blackjack dealer and moved into the business area.”

  Julien gave her a soft, sad smile. “After Katrina we didn’t need piano players or blackjack dealers. We needed workmen, builders, people who wanted to restore what had been lost. So I put my dreams to the side and did what needed to be done. I wanted to play for fun and yet keep a steady income, so I went to the business side. And I think I chose well.”

  There was a shift in his tone, just enough to stir Kat’s curiosity. But before she could press him on it, Julien continued. He waved a hand at the ceiling. “You wait. When the Majestic reopens you’ll see the grand dame in all of her beauty and
she’ll treat you right. She’ll be a jewel in the McMaster crown.”

  “I hope so,” Kat said, comfortable with the light chatter. “I’d hate to have to explain this to my grandfather if it fails.”

  “This.” Julien pointed at the wall and by implication the hotel and casino that had brought them together. “Or this?” He pointed at himself, grinning widely.

  “Both,” Kat shot back, bringing a laugh from both men.

  Cole went to the minifridge and brought back sodas for all of them, listening to Julien run through stories of places he’d played at and entertaining anecdotes about bar fights and love-struck couples found in compromising positions in back rooms of nightclubs.

  It was hard not to fall into a hypnotic haze, watching his hands move through the air as he wove stories of love, of survival through the rough years following Katrina. She lay back on Cole’s arm, entranced by Julien’s voice.

  Finally Julien looked at Cole. “But that’s enough about me. What’s the story behind you? What brought you to McMaster Industries and to New Orleans with our lovely lady?”

  Cole shrugged. “Nothing as exciting as yours. I grew up; I joined the military because I wanted to help people. I learned what to do and got good at my job.” He pulled up his sleeve to show off a small dragon, a unit insignia of some sort. “Did my stint in the military and came back to make the world a better place on my own terms. Got a referral from a friend to work for McMaster and there you are.”

  She wanted to ask about the ménage but held back.

  He’d tell her; he’d tell them in his own time.

  A rapping at the door had Cole carefully extracting his arm from under her. “That’ll be dinner.” He tapped his torso. “We’ll need energy for the night.”

  Julien nodded, meeting her eyes. “Yes. Plenty of energy.”

  She drew her lower lip into her mouth and bit down, curious as to what she’d set herself up for.

  The steak was flawlessly cooked, the lobster steamed to perfection, and the mashed potatoes creamy and rich. They ate at the coffee table in silence, comfortable with each other.