Fever
A big riskRoxanne Sanchez was out to even the score with the Las Vegas casino owner who had duped her parents. To do so, she had to get past Ike Bancroft, the sexy and ruthless head of security for the most powerful boss on the strip.A bigger rewardWhen the hottest pair of legs Ike had ever seen strolled into the Desert Rose and proceeded to cheat the night away, Ike knew he was in trouble. He sensed that Roxanne wasn't a pro, so what was she doing there? When he finally confronted her about her quick earnings, she confessed. But what she told him about his godfather turned Ike's world upside down….
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Something in his mood had changed, and the woman in her sensed it right away.
He was about to make his move and unfortunately Roxie would have to shoot him down mid-flight.
After several seconds of knowing he was staring at her, she felt as if laser beams were burning her skin. Roxie busied herself with her napkin while Ike motioned to their waitress to bring the check.
âSo what now?â she asked as casually as possible.
âWell, I guess thatâs up to you.â He turned to look directly at her. âRight now Iâm pretty much inclined to follow wherever you lead.â
She feigned ignorance. âWhatâs that supposed to mean?â
Roxie knew that above all she would have to keep her poker face in place. Ike was too much of a temptation in a time when she needed her wits about her. She could not let him know how desperately she wanted him.
He smiled that slow, sensual smile that heated her from head to toe. âCome on, Roxie. You have to know this is about more than a professional curiosity.â
ELAINE OVERTON
currently resides in the Detroit area with her son and dog. After attending a local business college, she entered the military and served in the Gulf War. She is an administrative assistant, currently working for an automotive industry supplier and is an active member of Romance Writers of America.
Current releases include Loveâs Inferno, Déjà Vu and Promises of the Heart. You can contact her via e-mail at www.elaineoverton.com.
To Dan,
The greatest hustler I know.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read Fever. I hope you have enjoyed sharing Roxie and Ikeâs rocky journey to a loving, trusting relationship. I also enjoyed creating the fictional Desert Rose casino and the assorted cast of family and friends.
You may be wondering why I would write a story that featured a heroine with such questionable beginnings. But as Roxie says more than once, things are not always what they seem. Hustlers arenât born, they are made, and much is due to the circumstances of their lives. So, the next time you see that hustler on the corner working the crowd, stop and ask yourself what may have led them to that life. You just might be surprised with what you learn.
Elaine
Contents
Chapter 1
His job was to watch her hands, but he couldnât seem to take his eyes off her legs. Isaac Bancroft casually leaned against the counter in the casino cocktail lounge studying the beautiful woman at the poker table. She was cheating, no doubt about it.
Heâd peeked her game within fifteen minutes of watching her work. It was no big deal, twenty percent of their patrons were professional hustlers. As the head of security in one of the most profitableâif not most infamousâcasinos in Las Vegas, Ike was certain he had seen it all. She was cheating all right, but how was the real question.
It didnât matter so much to Ike that the money she was stacking up didnât belong to the casino. Any money the woman took home was gained from other players. Heâd have to do something about her. It was the principle of the matter. Ike had already had two of his best men circle her twice, looking for evidence or hidden devices. After watching her for over an hour, he was certain that she was working alone. The way she studied the game, he wouldâve believed she was counting cards, but that was almost impossible.
What a beauty, he thought, taking in the gold, after-five dress that practically glowed against her copper skin. It hugged her slender body from bust to thigh, and seemed to shimmer with every slight movement. The thin straps that fell artfully off each shoulder had his fingers itching to touch.
He watched with suspended breath as she uncrossed her satiny, bronze legs, then crossed them in the opposite direction. Her stiletto sling-backs settled neatly on the bottom rung of the high stool. The thin, gold chain on her right ankle twinkled in the bright, casino lights.
Ike released a deep sigh of male satisfaction. Yes, she was as crooked as they came. But legs like thoseâ¦a man just didnât see that every day.
The two-way radio hooked to his belt buckle erupted in static chaos, and just as quickly it quieted.
âIke?â The slow, emotionless voice of Stamp, Ikeâs second in command, came over the speaker.
Ike never took his eyes off the woman as he answered through the headset he wore. âYeah?â
âThe boss was wondering if you planned to do anything about the pretty little thief at table seven.â
Ike smiled to himself. He shouldâve known Bobby was watching from the security tower. âYes, I plan to do something about her.â
The radio went silent for several seconds. âUmm, Ike, the boss was wondering what exactly you planned to do about her.â
Ike shook his head. Heâd often wondered why Bobby Kincaid even bothered with a security staff when no one did a better job spotting a thief than Bobby himself.
