Ike listened in silence, seeming not to know what to say.
“My mother left me there when I was five. It was hell,” she said softly, putting all her attention into the small salad. “My grandmother found me, and three years later she died and I was back in there again. But I knew from day one I wouldn’t stay. I thought I stood a better chance on my own, and I was right.”
She felt her hands trembling as she buttered a roll. Why was she telling this man all her personal information? It was not like her. But deep inside her heart, she knew the truth. Some part of her desperately wanted Ike’s approval, his understanding. But why? He was Bobby Kincaid’s godson. Not exactly a neutral third party, and the last man she should’ve trusted.
She wanted him to understand she was not a thief by nature, but by necessity. “But I haven’t done anything like that in years, at least not until last night. And that I did for personal reasons.”
Ike quietly ate, taking in all she’d said. He tried to imagine what life must’ve been like for her. But even with his jaded experiences, he could not contemplate living on the street at so young an age.
“Must think I’m pretty pathetic, huh? Once a thief, always a thief, right?”
“No.” He wiped his mouth. “I’m not exactly the one to throw stones. Considering I was reared by a pair of number runners.”
Her head snapped up. And he saw something like hope in her eyes. “Really?”
He saw the light of recognition on her face and knew he’d managed to lift her a little. “Just how do you think Bobby Kincaid came to be my godfather?”
“Hadn’t really thought about it.”
“He and my dad use to hang tight back in the day. There are both legit now, but I can remember…”
Roxie forced herself to look deep into his eyes, and was glad she did when she found no judgment there.
“Sometimes, when a person feels there is no way out…they’ll make a way.” He shrugged. “Desperate people do desperate things.”
He understands. Roxie felt her heart skip a beat sensing some unspoken kinship.
“Okay.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Tell me about these personal reasons.”
She shook her head. “No, it’s no one’s business but my own. Hence the word personal. Ask me something else.”
“Okay, why the Desert Rose?”
Roxie swallowed hard, and took a sip from her wineglass. “Why not the Desert Rose? Everyone knows it’s one of the most profitable casinos off the strip.”
“Then you had to know, as well, that the Desert Rose has a reputation for dealing harshly with people who are caught cheating.”
She laughed and gestured to the room around them, indicating the soft music and comfortable atmosphere. “I can see that. If I’d known this was how you dealt with my type, I would’ve visited you a long time ago.”
Ike smiled, unable to deny her good humor. “Okay, point taken. But I don’t consider you in that category. After all, you didn’t actually take anything.” He held up a finger. “Speaking of which, why didn’t you take it? You had almost…what? Twenty, thirty Gs, sitting on the table. I couldn’t prove anything, so why did you run?”
“I didn’t run!”
“Well, you certainly considered it.”
She leaned forward across the table. “Look, why don’t you just ask your questions so I can satisfy your curiosity and get rid of you once and for all.” Before I start hoping for the impossible.
He smiled and said nothing. She was becoming more and more interesting by the minute. She was glaring at him so fiercely, he didn’t have the heart to tell her this was only the beginning of their relationship, not the end.
“Why did you quit the game so abruptly?”
Roxie twisted her mouth in irritation. “I didn’t run, but…” She wasn’t about to admit that he’d scared her right out the front door. “Sometimes, strategic retreat is necessary.”
They both held their peace as the waitress cleared away Roxie’s salad plate and replaced it with entrées of chicken parmesan, and chicken cordon-bleu.
“Retreat? Are you implying that you plan to try again?” Ike asked.
“Maybe.”
“But you said you would stay away from the Desert Rose.”
“Who said anything about the Desert Rose?”
He studied her thoughtfully. “What exactly are we talking about here?”
“Am I making you nervous?”
“A little. I thought you were after some quick cash, but I’m starting to realize there is more here than meets the eye. Just what are you after?”
“That’s personal, remember? You just wanted to know how I took the tables.” She hid the satisfied smirk, as she watched his eyes dart around. His brain was trying to work it all out. He was probably remembering every word they’d said to each other over the past two days.
She was certain she’d said nothing to give herself away, but strangely enough she wanted to confess all. It was as if all her secrets were suddenly weighing her down, and he was a safe place to settle her load. There was absolutely no reason to trust this man, a friend to her enemy, and yet there was something about him that screamed safe.
Roxie was unable to stop the smile that touched her lips. “Still curious?”
His dark eyes raced over every feature of her face. “More than ever.”
She cut into her chicken parmesan, and thought how much better her evening was turning out than what she had planned. A little late-night TV, and a pasta salad didn’t hold a candle to the company of this fascinating and charming man. This too charming man—and that was the problem.
He seemed to know just what to say to put her at ease, something few could do. He was compassionate, and understanding and a complete surprise. He was making her want things she shouldn’t want, especially not from him.
Roxie gently placed her fork on the table. “Okay, how about you answer a question for me?”
Ike gestured for her to go ahead.
“Other than your own personal curiosity, why did you come looking for me? Did Bobby Kincaid send you?”
The answer to the question was yes, but he knew that would be the wrong answer to give. Despite how comfortable she appeared to be now, he remembered the look of pure fear on her face when he first stepped out of his truck in the laboratory parking lot.
Ike knew his godfather’s reputation, but unlike most, he knew there was little truth to most of the rumors. Bobby was a Vegas personality as much as Tom Jones, or Siegfried and Roy. And like all celebrities, what the press didn’t know, they made up. Nonetheless, Roxie’s fear was real. Which meant she’d obviously heard some of those rumors. Or was it something more? What was she really after?
“Yes,” he answered.
“Why?”
He sighed. “He wanted to know the same thing I did. How you did it. You have to consider it from his point of view. He thought you may have been using some kind of new technology.”
“And what will you tell him?”
Ike had a sudden desperate need in his gut to comfort and reassure her that he was not the enemy. “That his fears were unfounded.”
She