Dead Man's Hand

“We have twenty minutes,” she whispered in a sexy, raspy voice.

Ace and Linda Grant lay naked, bathed in sweat on top of the bed sheets.

He let out a breath. “You’re gonna kill me. Do you see what you do to me?”

“Come on, baby.” Linda stroked the tuft of hair on his chest. “Poor Linda needs to have her fun too.” When his penis stirred, she gave it a teasing stroke with her fingertips.

“You’re a bad girl, Linda.” He grabbed her hips to turn her around, but she pushed him away.

“We don’t have time. Doug will be home soon.”

“Why did you marry him, anyway? Did you ever love him?”

“Oh, I loved him. I loved his money and the thought of owning the Greek. I knew that if I danced at the club I would land him.”

“You do have a way of catching a man’s attention.”

She arched her brows. “I caught yours.”

“What would I do if we hadn’t met at that conference?”

“I don’t know,” she whispered.

“The sex has been amazing.” He tried to kiss her, but she moved away again and headed toward the walk-in closet. She disappeared inside. A minute later she emerged wearing a Victoria’s Secret floral silk kimono.

He thought Linda’s body was still as tight and firm as it had been when she’d first moved to Vegas to become a show dancer.

“We need to stop meeting here,” he said. “It’s getting too risky. Especially now, being so close.”

“Doug knows.” She cinched the belt around her waist, but left it opened a bit to reveal just enough skin.

“What?” This wasn’t what he was expecting.

“The other day he showed me pictures. Of you and me. Then he asked for a divorce.”

He sat down to think.

“A divorce, Ace,” she reiterated. “That would leave me with millions.” She pouted her lips and in a child’s voice added, “But I want a lot more.”

“You’re evil.” He smiled again.

“You know that I signed a prenuptial agreement. I had to prove I wasn’t marrying Doug for his money. His family and friends never trusted me. If we divorce, I’m only entitled to ten percent of Doug’s estate and I’m immediately taken out of his will, which alone is worth twelve percent non-voting stock of the casino. I’d be losing my part ownership and stock worth multi-millions. After everything I have done for that man. Is that fair?”

“What did you say to him?”

“I had to cry, kneel and then give him the best blow job he’s ever had. He says he forgives me and we need to get things straightened out with a counselor, but I don’t quite believe him.”

“He bought it?”

She chuckled. “I’m not divorced yet, am I? But we both know that as stubborn as Doug is, once he makes up his mind, he won’t change it.”

“I know. The damn fool won’t sell the Greek! Did you search his office yet?”

“No, I’ll do it tonight while he’s at work.”

She approached him and wrapped a muscled leg around his waist. When she opened her kimono, her nipples were hard. “You do have a plan, don’t you, Ace?”

“You know I do.”

“Good, because he barely speaks to me now and he’s getting colder and more distant. I can’t do more to reach his heart than I’m already doing.”

“Shit!”he snapped, pushing her away.

“I know.” She approached him again and started massaging his shoulders. Then she reached around and grabbed his midsection, kneading it like dough. “I could get those divorce papers at anytime and then all of our plans are ruined.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

“I’ve got it under control, but we have to move fast. Doug is coming to harm soon, isn’t he?” Her lips curled in a smile that could melt a man’s heart.

He nodded.

“Fatal harm?”

“Well, yes.”

“I thought so.” She walked across the room. “You know I’m not just in his prenup. I’m in his will and at his death I get three times as much as I would after a divorce.”

He grinned. “You are evil beyond a doubt.”

“When does the sad event take place?”

“Soon, baby. Very soon.”

He tried to grab her one more time, but again she brushed him off. “No time, Ace.”

“Right.”

He put on his sports jacket and took his time walking toward the door, wondering exactly how much he could trust Linda. That could be calculated to the dollar and penny. He liked that kind of clear understanding. How long had Linda been counting on Doug’s death, rather than just a divorce?

She was ice to the core and he’d have to watch her. He didn’t want to think about not having sex with her. It was amazing that he had not gotten bored yet.

When I have the Greek, I’ll think about what to do with Linda.

As soon as Ace was gone, Linda dialed a number. It was answered on the first ring.

“So?”

She grinned. “He bought it.”

“Is he suspicious?”

“Give me some credit, will you? Ace thinks he’s calling the shots.”

“Good. When will it happen?”

“Ace says soon.”

“Good. I gotta go and get some work done.”

“Me too. I need to take a shower and wash this filth off. That man is disgusting. I have to close my eyes and think of you just to get through it.”

“I don’t know how you do it.”

She pouted. “Hey, this was your plan, pimping me out. It’s getting to be a strain to play the repentant unfaithful wife and the superfreak lover at the same time.”

“I know you better than anyone, Linda, and you have to admit that deep down you love this. But we’ll be together soon.”

“I’ll do it for you.”

“No, you’ll do it for you and that’s why I love you. Go have a shower and I hope you think of me when you do.”

“I’ve already started.”

Chapter 7

Doug Grant was mentally and emotionally drained.

That little slut Linda.

He had to admit that it felt right to think of her that way. She thought he was fooled. But he didn’t get to run the second-largest, highest-earning casino in town, or deal with the mob, or deal with the new Vegas as a Disney World and retirement theme park by being stupid or rigid. He did fall for her, but at the back of his mind, he had no illusions about the nature of his appeal to a woman like her.

Divorced for almost fifteen years, he’d met Linda when he decided to upgrade the casino entertainment. Linda had been one of the dancers.

They’d been married for six years, with no children. He was too old and Linda had never shown any interest in