Paradise Wild (8 page)

Jared was thirty minutes late, which put Corinne in an even worse mood than her conversation with her father had done. She greeted him coldly, and said very little to him the entire evening, except to confirm his promise to pick her up again after midnight. Jared did not question her silence, assuming she was pouting because of his tardiness. Corinne let him think so. She would explain later, before he brought her home from the club.

Corinne was not really angry with Jared, but with her father for his unreasonable stubbornness. All that time wasted on Russell. And now time would be wasted in finding another man to suit her needs. But to wait another two years for her money was even more unthinkable.

That problem was not enough, for Jared posed another. She did not look forward to telling him that she wouldn’t see him again, and explaining why. She hated having to break off a relationship, to suffer the hurt looks and pleadings as she had with William and Charles. She was not so cold-hearted that the scenes did not affect her, but she was too strong-willed to let them sway her.

With Jared she did not feel quite so much guilt, for
she had not instigated their relationship, as she had the others. He was the one who insisted she see him again and again. Granted, she used him as an escort, but he used her for a diversion during his stay in Boston. So he would have no right to be upset when she talked to him later.

Corinne built up more resentment against Jared after they reached the club that night. Each time he brought her here, he insisted she play at his table so he could keep an eye on her. And each time she played with him, she lost to him. It was infuriating.

Tonight was no different. They had been at the club for three hours. It was not crowded, for this was a week night and many of the earlier gamblers had gone home long ago. Only three tables were still occupied. Corinne was about ready to quit. Again, Jared had won all her money.

“This will be my last hand,” Corinne announced.

“I think mine, too,” said the sandy-haired man on Corinne’s left.

“We might as well all quit, then,” responded the only other player besides Jared.

Jared nodded in agreement and Corinne dealt draw poker. She had just enough chips to finish this hand, as long as there were no raises. She prayed this last time for that one hand that would give her a sure win. This would be the last time she would come here with Jared, the last chance she had to beat him—just once, only once was all she asked for.

She spread her cards slowly, and held her breath as the queen, jack, nine and eight of clubs appeared one at a time to tantalize her. She squeezed off the last card slowly, but her heart fell when she saw the three of diamonds. However, there was still the draw, and though she would have to fill an inside straight for the
best hand of a straight flush, a regular flush was also possible and not a hand to scoff at.

Jared opened the betting, and Corinne and one other player called. The other player took three cards; Jared asked for two, leading her to believe he was drawing to three of a kind. She took her one card and was almost afraid to look at it. Jared bet again, the limit for their table, fifty dollars, and Corinne gently lifted her draw card from the table and put it in her hand. She did not bat an eye as she stared at the ten of clubs. A queen high straight flush, just two cards under a royal, the best hand possible! She couldn’t believe it. It was the best hand she had ever held, yet she had no money to bet it! She didn’t even have enough to call, since Jared had bet the limit. She wondered furiously if he had done it on purpose, knowing she couldn’t call.

“It’s up to you, Corinne,” Jared said.

She looked at him icily, and then addressed the other players with a most beguiling smile. “Would you mind if I left the table for a moment before we finish this hand? I know it’s not usually allowed, but this is the last hand and I would like to see it through.”

“Go right ahead,” said the man who had folded.

“Don’t matter to me, either,” said the other man, and threw in his cards. “I’m not going to call anyway.”

Corinne glared at Jared, daring him to object. “Do
you
mind?”

“I hardly think it’s necessary to see the owner about more money, Corinne, when this is the last hand. Why don’t you just throw in too and we’ll call it a night?”

“I would rather finish,” she said stiffly. “Or are you afraid I might finally beat you?”

He shrugged and leaned back in his chair. “Very well, I will wait. But don’t be too long.”

She left the table, but returned after only a few min
utes in bitter disappointment. The owner had refused to give her any more credit.

“Well?” Jared questioned upon seeing her forlorn expression.

She looked at him speculatively. “Would you take my I.O.U.? You know I’m good for it.”

Jared waited a few moments before answering. “If that’s the case, why don’t we raise the limit? As you say, you’re good for it, and it’s just the two of us now.”

The other two players had gone. They were alone, and now she felt the old thrill of the game that she hadn’t felt since she started playing with Jared. She was going to beat him, and for high stakes.

“Five thousand?” she suggested.

She noted his look of surprise and grinned. That was more money than she could afford to pay without going to her father. But she wouldn’t have to do that, for she was going to win this hand, and win it big.

Jared nodded, and withdrew pen and paper from his pocket. “You haven’t called my bet, Corinne.”

She took the paper and wrote an I.O.U. to cover his bet and her raise. “And five thousand,” she said confidently, never more sure of a winning hand.

Jared reached into his pocket again and took out a wad of bills and peeled off some. “There’s your five.” He paused and counted off more money. “And five more.”

Corinne was delighted. She reached for the paper to match his bet and raise him again, but Jared stopped her.

“I won’t accept another I.O.U., Corinne.”

“Why not?”

“Because I know where you will have to go to honor the debt, and I don’t think he will be too pleased.”

“My father will never know, Jared, because I don’t intend to lose.”

“This is a game of chance, Corinne,” he warned her in a level tone. “Only one hand is unbeatable, and the odds are you don’t have it.”

“Are you afraid I might have beat the odds?” she challenged him.

“You’re that sure of your hand?”

“I am.”

“That’s too bad, then, since you can’t afford to call,” he said offhandedly.

Her temper exploded. “Why did you raise me, then, if you didn’t intend to let me cover it?”

He completely ignored her outrage. “You are the one who left the pot open to another raise by raising me. You also suggested a five thousand limit. I agreed to no more,” he reminded her casually.

“I meant per bet!”

“Well, I didn’t.”

“You’re contemptible, Jared Burk,” she said hotly. “It’s just as well that I decided not to see you again after tonight.”

“You do take defeat graciously, don’t you?” he said with heavy irony.

“That has nothing to do with it!” she snapped, her expression furious. “I was going to tell you on the way home. It’s nothing against you—at least, it wasn’t until now! But you have just proved yourself beneath me. I wouldn’t see you again if you begged me to!”

He shocked her by smiling. “By God, woman, you actually expect me to, don’t you? I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone quite as vain as you are.”

Corinne turned bright red, but stiffened her back and rose with dignity. “So now you insult me. Well, I don’t have to listen to any more.”

She started to leave, but Jared reached across the table and grabbed her wrist. “Sit down, Corinne.”

“I will not!”

“Sit down!” he commanded in a voice she had never heard him use before.

She did so, but first jerked her arm free. Then she waited, her eyes like fiery emeralds as she glared at him.

Jared leaned back in his own chair and reached into yet another pocket and pulled out several small pieces of white paper. He tossed them across the table at Corinne and met her murderous stare.

“Since neither of us has any intention of seeing the other after tonight, you can honor these now.”

She picked up the notes and was aghast to recognize her I.O.U.s to the club for two thousand dollars, now payable to Jared Burk. Her eyes turned on him accusingly.

“How did you get these?”

“I bought them.”

“Why?”

“That doesn’t matter. What matters is I am collecting on them now, including the one you signed only a few minutes ago. Seven thousand, lady.”

He said lady with such contempt that she flinched. “If my debt was paid in full here, why wouldn’t they give me more credit tonight?”

“Because when I bought your notes, I told them you were not a good risk,” he said smoothly, as if he did that sort of thing daily. “It was not hard to persuade them, since you had not come to claim the notes yourself.”

“How dare you?”

“I thought I was doing you a service, since they
would have gone to your father soon for payment. I will settle with you, not your father.”

“And just how do you expect me to pay you tonight, when you know damn well I don’t have any more cash on me?”

“But you do have something to sell.”

“So my father was right!” Corinne gasped. “You’re after control of the shipyard. And to think I actually defended you!”

Jared frowned. “Your father said that?”

“He most certainly did. He told me this evening that you might try to manipulate me to get control of the firm, and he was right.”

“Is that why you decided not to see me again?”

“Yes,” she lied, taking that excuse rather than trying to explain the other.

“Well, your father was wrong, Corinne.” Jared lied also, in a surprisingly soft tone. “And you do yourself an injustice to believe it.”

“What do you mean?” she asked suspiciously.

“I did not intend to buy your vote. That’s not what I want from you.”

“What, then? I have nothing of value on me.”

Jared’s eyes were inscrutable. “You have yourself, and one hour of your time upstairs.”

Corinne couldn’t help but laugh. “You can’t be serious.” When he said nothing she jumped to her feet, her temper bubbling with indignation. “I have
never
been so insulted!”

“You don’t feel you’re worth seven thousand dollars?” he asked calmly.

“My worth is not in question!” she hissed, holding onto the table to stop her hands from trembling. “You are despicable to even suggest such a mode of payment!”

“It is the only alternative you have.”

“I will get your money tomorrow, every cent of it! You will just have to wait until then.”

“I don’t intend to wait that long.”

“Nor do I intend to agree to your terms!” she snapped defiantly. “And there is nothing you can do about it, now is there, Mr. Burk?”

There was a malevolent gleam in his eyes that should have warned her. “On the contrary. I will collect payment in full, whether you are agreeable or not.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” she said tightly. The others in the room would protect her if need be.

“Is that a challenge?”

Corinne faltered when she met his determined look. “No, it’s not.”

My God, he
would
attempt to collect, she thought fearfully. Of course, someone would stop him, but it would cause such a scene that she couldn’t hope to keep it secret. Rumors about it would run rampant through the city.

“Why do you hesitate, Corinne? In effect, you will receive seven thousand dollars for just an hour of your time. I don’t imagine many women could command such a price.” His lips curled ever so slightly. “Or do you object to being paid for what you usually give away free?”

She gasped. Could he really think that badly of her? Well, she didn’t give a damn for his opinion. She wasn’t going to give in to his demands, one way or the other. But she did need to get out of this situation without causing an embarrassing scene.

“You haven’t made it worth my while,” she said in a deceptively pouting tone. “Nor have you given me a sporting chance.” She looked down at the pot in the center of the table, and then at the cards on the table
before her, and smiled enticingly. “Now if you would make my debt twelve thousand, and allow me to call your raise, then I might agree to your terms.”

“Might?”

Her smile widened, for she knew she couldn’t lose. “I will agree.”

He leaned forward. “So there is no misunderstanding this time, let me make my terms clear. If I win this hand, you will go upstairs with me for one hour. And that is not an hour of conversation I am talking about, Corinne, but an hour in bed. Is that clear?”

She drew herself up. “You don’t have to be so vulgar, Mr. Burk. I understood what you had in mind.”

“Then you agree?”

“Yes, do you?”

He nodded, and she grinned triumphantly. She turned her cards over with a flourish and waited with anticipation for his look of defeat. But it didn’t come. Instead he grinned back at her and shook his head.

“Not good enough, Corinne.”

She stared in disbelief at the cards he turned up. A high straight flush in diamonds, beating her by one card. It was impossible.

When she met his eyes, her own sparkled murderously. “You cheated!”

“How could you prove it?” he asked as he pocketed the money and the notes.

“You did, didn’t you? When I left the table you changed your cards!” she accused him furiously.

“I repeat, how could you prove it, Corinne?”

“I don’t have to prove it
—I know it!
”

“That makes little difference. The cards say I won and now you will pay up.”

“Not on your life!”

Corinne grabbed her purse and ran from the room.

The dark hall outside the gambling room was empty. The stairs leading up to the second floor were conveniently right next to the entrance door, so that nongamblers could just slip upstairs without being seen. Corinne had never been as aware of those stairs as she was right now. She shuddered as she passed them, hearing a woman’s high-pitched laughter from somewhere above.