“Maybe not, but what I do know is that, that dress would look incredible on you.” He takes a step forward, stopping only a foot away from me, his voice softens slightly as he peers down at me. “It would match your eyes, perfectly.” His voice sends vibrations through my body.
He shouldn’t be standing this close. I need to back away from him. But why can’t I get my feet to move? They feel heavy, like they’re suddenly made of concrete.
“I can't let you do that.” I manage to take a step back. I need to get out of here. I can’t spend a second more this close to him. “I'm actually going to go, but, umm, thanks anyway, I guess.” I turn on my heel and hurry out of the store, squeezing my way through the masses of people until I find my dad at one of the slot machines.
My heart is racing, my cheeks flushed.
Why would he offer to pay for a dress which costs $6500 for a total stranger? Why someone like me?
I can't get his face out of my head. Those piercing eyes that I am sure will haunt me.
I shake the image away and look at my dad. “Any luck?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“Nope, not yet.”
“Dad, can we just go? We aren't going to win anything, don't you know these machines are rigged to not let people win any money.”
“Just one more go. Here, you pull the lever, be my lucky charm, sweetheart.”
“Really, dad?” I sigh.
“Yes, come on.” He ushers me to face the machine and stands next to me.
I take a deep breath and roll me eyes. This is so stupid. I reach for the lever and pull. The items on the screen roll... and roll... and roll.
I glance back at the store where the man is just leaving, his gaze locked on me.
My heart skips a beat.
I try to tear my gaze away, but I can’t. It’s not until I hear Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding, that I’m pulled out of my trance.
“Holy shit! Hayley!” my dad shouts.
I look at the screen. All of the icons are perfectly matched. This can't be happening. The sound of coins falling fills the area. My dad’s arms wrap around my shoulders as he kisses the top of my head. People all around us stand and watch at the spectacle.
When the sound of falling coins subsides, me and my dad look at each other in disbelief. The people surrounding us begin to clap and congratulate us. A ticket pops out of the machine with a barcode on it and my dad reaches for it.
“Hey man, what’s your secret?” a man from the machine next to us asks.
My dad peers down at me proudly. “My daughter it seems is my lucky charm.”
I’m in shock. I feel like I'm dreaming. Did we actually just win? Did that actually happen?
He holds up the ticket. “Come on, we take this ticket and get our money. Let's go.” He reaches for my hand and leads me through the swarm of people.
$25,000! We won $25,000.
We take our ticket to the cashing office. “Congratulations, Sir. Your money will arrive into your account within the next three to five days,” the man behind the desk says.
“Thank you,” my dad replies.
I smile at the man before backing away, following my dad towards the exit.
A man steps out in front of us. It's him, the man from the dress store. “Congratulations.” He holds out his hand to my father, who takes it.
“Thank you, me and my daughter are very happy, we’re still in shock.” My dad puts his arm around me and squeezes tightly.
The man extends his hand out to me, I take it hesitantly. When our hands touch, I gasp, it feels like I just got an electric shock and I jerk my hand back quickly.
Did he feel that too?
I smile awkwardly at the beautiful man.
He holds my gaze for a moment longer before turning back to my father. “I can imagine. This is my casino, and I can tell you, winning big doesn't happen very often. Consider yourselves lucky.”
He owns the casino.
He looks between me and my dad and his lips stretch into the most beautiful smile. “Well, congratulations again. If you’ll excuse me.” His gaze flicks to me once more before walking past me, close enough that our shoulders brush each other.
I get a hint of cologne, citrusy with a hint of musk. It is nothing like the cheap, overwhelming cologne that clings to every other man in the room, punishing my nostrils as I walk by. His scent is intoxicating, tickling my nose in the most perfect way.
As my dad leads us towards the door, I look back over my shoulder to see the man looking back at me over his too and my heart leaps in my chest.
I turn away and carry on walking.
∞∞∞
After arriving back home I head straight upstairs and collapse onto the bed. I don’t bother to close my curtains, instead, I let the light from the streetlamps seep into the room.
I replay the day over in my head. It’s amazing how your life can change in the course of one day. Tonight, I can sleep with the comfort of knowing that our problems will soon be over. A couple more months and we can finally be rid of this huge weight that has been hanging around our shoulder for years.
My mind wanders to the man at the casino, the intensity of his eyes staring down at me, the feel of his skin on mine as I held his hand, it makes me wonder what it would feel like to really touch him, to have him touch me, his full lips on mine, his hands on me...
My hand travels down my body slowly, from the valley of my breasts, over my stomach to between my legs. My fingers trail over my clit which is now throbbing, a
