The Millionaire Gambler (Ashley's Choice) (5 page)

“It's better for you without a condom, isn't it?” she asked him.

“It feels better, to be sure.  But I don't care, really.  The physical pleasure is just part of it.  Making love with you is special, Ashley.”

“Me? Special?”  Ashley found herself blushing at the notion that she was anything more than just another conquest for this handsome man, who could easily fit anyone's description of the word “playboy.”

“Yes, Ashley James, you are, indeed, special, and I can't get enough of you.”  He kissed her on the forehead and snuggled behind her.

Ashley smiled as they lay in bed, content with Jason's pleasant manner of helping her wake up.

She looked at her watch and got a panicked look on her face.  “I'm going to be late.”  Ashley quickly got up, got dressed and gulped down the remainder of her now-lukewarm coffee.  She gave Jason a quick peck on the lips.

“I've got to get home, change clothes, and get to the coffee shop.”

“I'll call you,” he said, as she walked out the door.

-----------------------------------------------

“Good morning,” Michael greeted Ashley as she waltzed in the door.  “You seem to have a bit of spring in your step today.”

Ashley was humming to herself as she walked in to the coffee shop.  “It's just a good day, I guess.”

“Are you seeing that guy who was here the other night, what's his name?” he asked.

“Jason.  His name is Jason.  We had a date last night.”

“How did it go?”  Ashley wasn't sure if Michael was asking because he was jealous, asking because he was curious, or asking because he was concerned for her well-being.  It might have been any of them or all three.

“It was great.  He's a nice guy.”  She was positively beaming.  Michael wasn't accustomed to seeing her this chipper in the morning; it usually took her a while to warm up.

“What does he do for a living?  He seems to dress quite well.”

“He's a professional gambler.  He plays poker for a living.”  She was curious to see how Michael would respond to this.

“Poker?  Here?  Who plays poker in Dallas?  Shouldn't he be in Las Vegas or something?”

“That's what I thought, but he says there's a lot of poker here, mostly in private games.”

“Sounds a little fishy to me.  Illegal, too.  How well do you know this guy?”

“Well enough, I guess.  I think he's honest about what he does for a living, but I haven't actually seen him play or anything.  Why do you ask?”

“I'm just concerned about you, that's all.  I'd hate for you to find out he's dangerous or something.”  His look suggested to Ashley that Michael might be more jealous than concerned for her safety.

“Thanks for the concern, but I'm a big girl, Michael. I'll be fine.”

“OK.  I guess I've said all I'm entitled to say about the matter.  I'll be in my office, OK?”

Michael turned to leave and left Ashley to run the shop for a while.  She stayed pretty busy during the morning, and spent her time tidying up the espresso machine during the times in between customers.  Espresso is a messy business, and if you don't spend time cleaning up after yourself, you'll end up with coffee grounds everywhere.

Michael liked a tidy shop, so Ashley spent a lot of time cleaning.  It helped to pass the time.  So did thinking about Jason.  Last night was one of the most amazing nights of her life, and one she'd always savor, even if nothing happened between her and Jason again.

Of course, she hoped for more.  Lots more.

He said he'd call.  Lots of guys say that.  I hope he really does call.

The afternoon went by pretty slowly, as business tends to drop off a bit later in the day.  Ashley was growing bored, and a bit anxious, wondering when, and if, she'd hear from Jason.

A few minutes later, she received a text message:

Ash – I need to talk to you.  Important.

She quickly typed a reply:

I'm off at 6.  Meet me at the Pour House.

He replied:

C U there

The Pour House was a bar just a couple of doors down from the coffee shop; Ashley figured that would be as good a place to meet as any.  She and Erin had drinks there from time to time.

She grew concerned.  Her relationship with Jason was just starting.  Was he going to call it off already?

The rest of the afternoon went by at a snail's pace as Ashley fidgeted, paced, and nervously tried her best to act normal.  She hadn't had a boyfriend in such a long time, and last night was magical.  She wasn't ready to give up Jason just yet.

I shouldn't worry about it.  It's probably about something else.  Either way, I'll find out soon enough.

At six, she poked her head into Michael's office.  “Michael?  I'm leaving for the day.”

“OK.  I'll see you tomorrow.”  He looked her over and noticed that she looked a little uncomfortable.  “Are you all right?”

“I'm fine.  It's no big deal.  Gotta go.”

She took off her apron and walked the short distance to the Pour House.  The bar had been there for decades; it had a cozy, well-worn look to it.  The same guy had been running the place forever, it seemed.  It was a nice, quiet place to have a drink and visit without being overly loud or full of obnoxious drunks.

Ashley found a table.  When the waitress came around, she ordered a Vesper, a drink she'd discovered in a James Bond film a couple of years ago.  It's not a drink you can get just anywhere, but it's worth the trouble if you can find a bartender who knows how to make one.  One of the things that Ashley liked about the Pour House was that the bartenders seemed to know how to mix
anything.

Jason arrived a few minutes later.  As always, he looked amazing, and Ashley's heart started to beat a bit faster at the sight of him.  He took a seat next to Ashley and ordered a Guinness.

“Hi,” she said, nervously.

He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss.  “Are you all right?” he asked.  “You don't seem yourself.”

She squirmed a bit in the chair.  “I don't know.  I guess you worried me a bit with your text message.  I'm afraid you're going to tell me to get lost or something.”

Jason placed his hand on hers in an effort to console her.  “No, Ashley.  It's nothing like that.  I'm sorry that I caused you to worry.”

“So what is it then?  You said we needed to talk.”  She took a larger than usual gulp of her drink.

“It's a bit of good news, and perhaps some bad news.  I'm leaving town for a while.”

“What?”  She sat up suddenly, wondering what this was about and what it meant for her and Jason.

“I'm going to Las Vegas for a while.  There are some huge poker tournaments coming up there, as well as some very promising private games.   Some of the tournaments have waiting lists, and I wasn't sure I'd be getting in.  I just got a couple of calls today.”

“How long will you be gone?”

“A couple of months, I imagine.  It all depends on how well I do and how well my playing fund holds out.  Sometimes these things can drag on for six months or so, depending on how the private games work out.  There are a lot of games in Los Angeles, too, and I might be playing some games there.”

Ashley couldn't help but display her disappointment at hearing that Jason would soon be leaving her.  She was certain she wouldn't see him again.

“You're leaving town for several months to play in Las Vegas.  Was that the good news, or the bad news?”

“That depends.  I'd like you to go with me.”

Ashley wasn't sure she heard him correctly.  “Could you say that again?”

“I said that I'd like you to go to Las Vegas with me.”

Ashley looked a bit bewildered.  She'd thought this conversation might be about a lot of things, but an offer to leave town with Jason had never occurred to her.  While she was crazy about him, she had to admit that she didn't know him all that well.  She certainly didn't know him well enough to reflexively give “yes” as an answer.

This could be one of the most important decisions of her life, and she didn't have a clue as to what she should do about it.  Not only that, but traveling to Las Vegas with a millionaire would probably be a lot of fun.

“When are you leaving?”

“Next Monday.  I'd really like you to come along. I think you'd be a good influence on me.”

Ashley stuck her finger in her glass and stirred it absentmindedly.  

“I'll have to think about it.  It's a big decision.   Can I give you an answer tomorrow?”

“Sure.  I realize I've given you a lot to think about.”   He drained what was left of his beer.

She rose from her seat.  “I think I'd like to go now, Jason.  I'd like to think about this and talk about it with my roommate.” 

Jason walked her out to her car, and gave her a deep, passionate, soul-scorching kiss that left Ashley's knees weak.

“Whew,” she said.  “That was quite a kiss.”

“I'm trying to be persuasive, Ashley.  I really want you to come along.”

“You
are
persuasive; I'll grant you that.  I'll let you know tomorrow.  Promise.”   She got into her car and drove to her apartment.

Chapter 5

Erin was in the dining nook eating a slice of takeout pizza when Ashley arrived home.  Erin seldom cooked; takeout was more her style.  Then again, she was rarely home in the evenings.  While she rarely had a steady boyfriend, Erin seemed to have more dates than any woman Ashley had ever known.

“Hey, Ash. Want some pizza?”

“Sure, if there's any left.”

“There's plenty.  By the way, I noticed you weren't home last night.  Anything interesting going on that you want to tell me about?”

“I spent the night at Jason's.”  Ashley smiled as she thought about the previous evening.  “It was...memorable.”

“Getting hot and heavy, is it?  Dish it, girl.”  Erin took a bite of pizza as cheese dripped on her chin.

“It's going well, or at least, I thought it was.  Now I'm not so sure.  Jason's leaving town.”

Erin put down her slice of pizza.  “Leaving town?  You just met the guy.  He's leaving you already?  What a jerk.  I hate it when guys do that.”

“No, he's not a jerk.  At least, I don't think so.  He's going to Las Vegas to play in some poker tournaments and some high stakes private games.  He's going to be gone for a few months.”

“And then he's coming back?”

“I don't know.  Here's the thing.  He wants me to go with him.”

“Wow.  Really?  That's kind of cool.  Are you going to go?”

“I don't know.  Jason's a terrific guy.  He's handsome, he's obviously got money, and...”  She broke off.

“And he's pretty good in bed?  Is that what you're saying, Ash?”

Ashley blushed.  “Yes.  He's
really
good in bed.  I like him.  A lot.  But I don't know him all that well.  Besides, what do I know about poker?”

“He's not expecting you to play, is he?”
 

“No, of course not.  But what am I supposed to do while I'm there?  I think I'll just be in his way.”