All the Right Moves(19)

He still felt terrible for her. If he could have, he’d have swept her out of here, taken her somewhere far removed, like up to Mount Charleston to look out over the valley.

As it was, he did his best not to look pitying. Although she hadn’t glanced at him since time had run out.

Karma was the one to actually calm the crowd down. Not completely, but for a bunch of people fueled by alcohol, she did a damn good job. Her ear-piercing whistle helped. “Quiet. It’s winner’s choice time.”

Another round of stomping and shouting took several minutes to run its course, but then all eyes were whipping between Karma and Cassie.

John was all ears himself. He hoped there wouldn’t be anything too humiliating involved because if that happened, he might have to step in. It wasn’t his place, but he didn’t care.

“All right, what do I have to do?” Cassie said.

“First, you can bring me and my friends a round.”

“If that’s your request, then that’s going to be it. Nothing in the rules says you get a laundry list.”

Karma pouted extravagantly. “Fine. But see if you get a tip.”

“I’ll live,” Cassie said, her arms crossing her chest. She looked like a little spitfire. Which was something John would never say out loud for fear of being clocked. But he’d think it.

“What you have to do, Cassie, is kiss...” Karma turned around and faced the center of the room. A hush gave the moment all the drama of the last pitch of a no-hitter. Karma’s gaze settled on a moose of a man, bigger than a redwood tree trunk and painted with more ink than the Mona Lisa. The old bear’s grin showed exactly how many teeth he’d lost to time.

Then Karma spun around, pointed a long, red nail directly at John, and said, “That guy.”





5



JOHN STOPPED. Breathing, blinking, thinking. All he could see was a pointing finger, and the rest of his vision had gone white. As if he’d been disconnected, like an unplugged TV set. It only lasted a few seconds, but when he came back on line, the world seemed to gear up in jerks and starts until he felt truly back in the Gold Strike bar, somehow landing in the middle of a game he hadn’t been playing.

“Karma,” Cassie said, her voice about a half octave higher than it had been. “Don’t be ridiculous. Come on, I need to get back to work.”

“Oh, no,” Karma said, literally licking her lips with pleasure. “I’m the winner. You lost. It’s my choice.”

“Not when it involves a stranger,” Cassie said. “Pick something else.”

“There’s nothing in the rules that says it can’t be a stranger.” She looked around the bar. “Is there?”

The chorus chimed in, egging her on, of course.

John’s gaze went to Cassie, though. The embarrassed flush he expected, because he was pretty warm himself, but he needed to see more, to see if she was serious about putting her foot down or just trying to give him an out.

He didn’t know her well enough to be sure, but he’d gotten a vibe from her last night and tonight that a kiss wouldn’t offend her. He’d been planning on trying just that after the bar closed. The last thing he wanted was for this stunt to take away any chance at all.

She couldn’t meet his eyes. Not for long, anyway. She kept looking, then ducking, then looking again. Probably trying to figure out his reaction.

He smiled. Making sure it wasn’t in any possible way lascivious or greedy or slick. Just reassuring. Letting her know that he’d gladly play along, and that he wouldn’t make a big deal out of it.

Her blush deepened after her next peek but he had no clue what that meant.

“You wouldn’t mind, would you?” Karma asked, suddenly standing closer to him.

“Only if the lady is willing and would find it amusing.”

“Now, see?” Karma said, turning to Cassie. “He’s being a good sport. And a real gentleman.” She looked at him again and tilted her head. “Maybe I should save you the trouble, Cassie, and take this one for the team.”

“You step away from him right now,” Cassie said. “I’m not joking.”

Not only did Karma grin, but a whole bunch of the crowd also laughed. Was it the seriousness of Cassie’s tone? Or the idea that she was trying to protect his honor?

“What’s your name, gorgeous?” Karma had clearly dismissed Cassie’s warning. “And how come you haven’t been in here before?”