The limo pulled to a stop in front of the elegant façade of the Chimera hotel. Max made no move to leave the vehicle scowling one last time and cursing under his breath before he forced the social mask he always wore into place. That mix between interest and confidence that his mother said every successful person should always portray in their smile. He forced that smile on his face just as the chauffeur opened the door. Max stepped out and walked confidently past all the tourists, gamblers and celebrities milling there.

As soon as he entered the air-conditioned comfort of the lobby Hayden MacKenzie strode over to him. They shook hands and then hugged each other quickly. Max let his smile drop and a bit of his frustration show on his face for one second.

"Glad you're here. Shelby is too. You're invited for dinner tonight."

"Thanks. I think I have an appointment in the high-stakes gaming room so I'll have to pass."

"When are you going to have time for anything beside business and gambling."

Max rubbed the back of his neck. "Not any time soon."

Hayden put his hand on Max's shoulder and Max let the bond of their long friendship ease some of his tension. "So where's Jack?"

"I've got someone new for you this time. She's really great and I think you'll like her."

"Does she have a nice personality? Am I supposed to bring a rose so she'll recognize me?"

"She's your hostess."

"Then why do you sound like your setting me up?"

"I don't know maybe I am. I like both of you and you're both..."

"Don't go there. I'm here to gamble and that's it."

Hayden nodded. "I thought you'd feel that way. Let me introduce you to Roxy O'Malley. She'll be your hostess during your stay."

Hayden turned and gestured to a stunningly gorgeous blond. She was the embodiment of everything that was feminine and seductive. She took one step toward them, carrying herself with grace. Her second step faltered and he noticed she had a limp.

He noticed the moment she became aware of her limitations, the frustration that passed briefly over her face.

"Roxy, this is Max Williams. Max, Roxy O'Malley."

Max reached out automatically to take her hand and forced his genial smile back onto his face. He'd been told by his second step-mother Andrea that he had the sweetest smile. Duke assured him that was not the case unless one was blind. There were too many teeth in Max's smile to miss the resemblance to a shark. But then Duke wasn't a woman.

"Pleasure," he said. But the rest of his words stuck in his throat. Her hand was smooth and cold in his. And when he glanced into her eyes he saw how nervous she was. She was stunningly beautiful and her body was built to make a man think of long nights and slow loving.

He held her hand longer than he knew was polite. Rubbing his thumb over the back of her knuckles until a faint blush stole over her cheeks.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Williams."

"Call me Max."

"Max. I'm Roxy."

"I'll leave you two to it then," Hayden said and then left.

She tugged on her hand and he let her go. "Your luggage is being taken up to your suite. Do you want to stop up there first or head straight to the casino?"

"I want..." you , he thought. But knew better than to say it. He didn't understand it, this wild attraction to her. And it was wild. He didn't do lust at first sight. He had never had any problems controlling his reactions to any woman. Why her?

"Yes?"

"To head to the casino," he said at last. Other than sitting in the boardroom and negotiating a take-over there was nothing else he liked as much as playing the odds at the poker table.

She smiled at him. "Then let's go play."

"What do you think my game is?"

"Poker. And it's been your game long before the current Texas Hold 'em craze that's sweeping America."

He was surprised she'd guessed it. But then he knew better than to judge a book by its cover. How many times had he been mistaken for a rich brat of a man who never worked a day in his life? Okay, so not often, but it had happened.

"Don't be impressed I read your file before you arrived. You won close to $50,000 last time you were at the poker tables."

"What else did you read about me?" he asked, wondering what was in his file. He wasn't concerned. Hayden kept stats on all the high-rollers who came into the casino, even his friends.

She tipped her head to the side and her long hair brushed against the back of her neck. He wondered if it was as soft and silky as it looked. "I can't tell you that, and then you'd know all my secrets."

He caught her hand and pulled her to a stop. Damn, she had the softest skin he'd ever touched. "All of them? I doubt that. I'd only know the ones about myself. And technically those aren't yours."

He was flirting and he hadn't done that in a long time. The fatigue that had dogged him for the last few weeks melted away when she smiled and slipped her arm through his, leading him into the poshest section of the casino. The dinging bells and whistles of the main casino floor faded as they stepped into the high-stakes room.

She paused in the doorway and Max realized that she must be new to the VIP hostess thing because she pulled them into a quiet corner instead of urging him to the table. If he wasn't already enamored with her, that would have done it. Because for the first time in a long time a woman was seeing the man Max Williams and not the bottomless bank account.

"Do you really want to know my secrets?" she asked, her voice dipping low and sounding sensual, husky.

Yes, he thought. But didn't say it out loud. He didn't know why he was reacting so strongly to her but knew that he wasn't himself and he needed to get back on track. He wasn't looking for another affair. In fact he was damned tired of them. And right now he needed to just play.

When he said nothing she flushed and moved away from him. "Sorry if that was too personal. Let's get you to a table and I'll get your favorite drink."

She started to walk away with her limping gait and he almost let her but didn't. He stopped her with his fingers on her shoulder. She glanced back at him and he saw that damned vulnerability in her eyes again. "I do want to know your secrets, Roxy."

He walked past her and seated himself at a table with a few familiar faces. But instead of concentrating on the cards and the game, he saw only the surprise in Roxy's blue eyes in his mind.

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