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One

“Mr Reed, our facial recognition software has detected a match for the Barracuda in pit three near the dollar slots”

Nate sht into his trap He knew she couldn’t pass up the chance to play at his poker tourna to the scene of the crier of the Desert Sapphire Hotel and Casino, it was easy to have Annie red-flagged by his security team The moment she strolled back in to his casino he knew it

“We have visual confirh-roller area” Gabriel Hansen, his chief of security, lifted his hand to his earpiece and listened intently for ain confirame with Mr Nakimori and Mr Kline”

“Of course she has” Nate set aside his paperwork and made his way to the elevator There was no time to waste The Japanese businessman and the oil tycoon had credit lines in the et down there They didn’t call her the Barracuda for nothing

“Do you need assistance with this, Mr Reed?” Gabe was also his best friend, despite the formalities they used at work Gabe knehat Annie’s arrival meant His offer to acco his friend

Nate sighed and straightened his navy silk tie He suspected Gabe would relish handcuffing Annie and parading her through the casino so everyone would see To be honest, he wouldn’t ree to his plan if he did “No, I’ve got this handled”

A quick swipe of his identification card sent the elevator plu down the twenty-five floors from his suite to the main casino lobby A soft chime announced his arrival, and the doors opened to the office corridors where casino operations took place

The walk through the casino to the high-roller area wasn’t long, but each step weighed more heavily on him than the last Annie was here In his casino After three long years He should be excited to finally confront her To have his chance to exact his revenge andHis plan orking just as he’d hoped it would And yet he was none of those things

Hisin his throat If he didn’t know better, he ine that: Nathan Reed, ible bachelor in Las Vegas, nervous It was a ridiculous idea And yet Annie had always been his weakness

Nate rounded the corner and spied the entrance to the high-roller lounge Even across the casino floor, he could spot her Her back was to his crossed beneath the table Her long raven hair spilled over the olive skin of her bare shoulders Beside her Mr Naki his cards down in disgust

Nate stopped just behind Annie and placed a heavy hand on her shoulder She didn’t flinch She’d been expecting him Game on

“Gentle a confident s a hand to each of theood to have you both back here at the Sapphire Is everything going well for you this afternoon?”

Jackson Kline grinned wide and leaned back into his chair “It was until this pretty little thing showed up She’s taken more of my money than my ex-wife”

Nate sentlemen won’t mind if I deprive you of her company”

“We’re in the middle of a hand”

They were the first words she’d spoken to him since she disappeared She didn’t say “hello” Not even “I’ well” Just a co her poker hand

He leaned down and pressed his lips against the soft outer shell of her ear The ss as he hovered near The faled sheets she left behind, but he wasn’t going to fall prey to her this time “We need to talk Fold” The demand was simple and quiet, but powerful

“Well, gentleuess I’m done” She slid the cards across the table and reached up to gently extract Nate’s hand froh to allow her to rise from her seat

“Good afternoon,” the men responded in their respective Southern and Japanese accents, although they both seeo