Whatever happened to a night at home watching a movie?
He could do it in his home theater, but only felt like a loser by himself.
He had any number of people who would love to be in his presence and yet none of them he’d want to call.
He was known to come here and the owner had security close by him keeping people away so that he could lose his money in peace.
“I don’t get offended easily,” he said. “I hope you’re not losing as much as me tonight.”
Then he realized what a stupid comment that was.
She was a bartender, not someone used to his wealth.
Wealth that he rarely threw away and didn’t know why he was tonight other than he was lonely.
No one would ever look at him and think he’d feel that way.
“I’ve only played one game,” she said. “And I lost.”
She was a small thing. It was dim in the casino, with no windows and the lights down, but she had a light-colored T-shirt fitted to her tiny waist and resting on the top of baggy jeans. He glanced down and saw sneakers on her feet.
She wasn’t dressed like she was trying to pick anyone up. That was a plus in his mind.
There was nothing worse than women hanging all over him for the wrong reasons.
He’d grown immune to sexy dresses, layers of makeup, and stiff hair.
Give him a fresh-faced woman with a ponytail wearing a T-shirt any day.
“Can I let you in on a secret?” he asked.
“Sure,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Everyone loses that comes here but the owner.”
“That’s why he has so much money,” she said, laughing.
“Can I buy you a drink?”
“I’d like that,” she said. “Are you here alone?”
“I am,” he said.
“I’m surprised. You were alone at The Retreat also, correct?”
“I take a lot of mini vacations by myself,” he said.
“That seems odd,” she said. “I’d think you’ve got to have more friends than the population of this island.”
“Those aren’t friends,” he said before he could stop himself.
“What are they?” she asked.
They moved to the bar and he got a beer. It was his second one. He always limited himself to one a night when he had these weekends. If he even had that.
He wouldn’t have one tomorrow so he didn’t upset his diet too much.
He was stunned when Emma got the same beer as him.
