Kes stared at the web page he had pulled up on his laptop. An all-inclusive offer stared back at him. He could hear its silent command. Push that button. Take me. You know I’m the best. It no doubt was. The package included a round-trip to Las Vegas and two months of casino hotels with the option of extending his stay on the same terms without losing his return ticket.

It was good for twenty-four hours. He’d better book it now.

And forfeit the chance to spend more time with Amanda. He stood up and began to pace the room. With every step he took, the answer to his dilemma became more and more obvious.

When he told her he was leaving town in four weeks, his deadline had been completely arbitrary. Vegas had waited two years for his second visit—it could wait a few more months. He had acted on a hunch, following a sixth sense that told him she’d needed a time limit to accept the “benefits.” Her yes had hinged on the knowledge that whatever she was getting into would end soon and there would be no unpleasant complications.

To be honest, he had needed a deadline, too, albeit for a different reason.

When the day of his departure approached, he wanted her to ask him to stay.

He needed her to ask him to stay.

And so he’d done what he did best—he had gambled. He bet on his ability to get her hooked. It was a risky bet. From what he knew of her, she might want him—crave him even—and still walk away.

She’d done it once before. She could surely do it again.

Kes stopped in the middle of the room and raked his hands through his hair. Was he fighting a losing battle?

Maybe. Or maybe not. Because his real gamble—his endgame—went beyond taming Amanda. He was plotting to get her to fall for him. He was staking his heart that he could make her cast aside her prejudice and admit that she cared for him as much as he cared for her. He was going all in that she could look beyond his origins and occupation. That she would grow accustomed enough to his differences to see through them.

To see him.

And to choose to be with him.

His phone rang. “Hey, pral.” Marco sounded as upbeat as ever. “I’m downstairs. You haven’t forgotten I was coming over for a few days, have you?”

Kes had no recollection of such an arrangement, but then again, he hadn’t been completely with it of late. “I’ll buzz you up.”

A few seconds later, Kes shut his laptop and let his cousin in.

“So, when should I organize your going-away-to-America party?” Marco asked, sprawling on the sofa. “I imagine you’ve booked your flight and hotels by now.”

Kes shook his head. “I haven’t found a good package.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know, a juicy discount like the one we had last time.”

Marco narrowed his eyes for a second and then smiled brightly. “Cheer up, brother—I got your back.”

Kes gave him a quizzical look.

“What are cousins for, after all? Even if I can’t go with you this time, I want you to have the best value for your money. I’ve found exactly what you’re looking for.”

“You have?”

In lieu of an answer, Marco whipped out his smartphone and opened a page. The very same Kes had been staring at half an hour ago.

“I saw this last night,” Marco said matter-of-factly. “You must’ve been looking in all the wrong places.”

Kes swallowed. “That’s . . . great.”

“It expires in twenty-four hours. I think you should book it pronto.”

“I can’t.” Kes pulled a chair over and sat down across from Marco. “I need to finish some business here first.”

“But you told me you’d been banned from the casino.”

“It’s a different kind of business. It’s—”

“Amanda.”

Kes smiled in acquiescence.

“I knew it. She’s holding you back.” Marco nodded sympathetically. “Women.”

“It’s not what you think.”

“No? Really?” Marco smirked. “Because it usually is. Listen, pral, there’s no need to make a fuss. If you’re too squeamish to dump her cold turkey, just tell her the truth—that you’re finished here, that your next stop is Vegas, and that you’ll see her when you’ll see her. It’ll be easier than you think.”

You have no idea.

“What?” Marco shrugged. “You’re a Gypsy, and she knows it. We never stay in the same place too long.”

“No, we don’t,” Kes agreed.

“Besides, she’s a smart girl. I’m sure she knows it can’t be serious between you two.”

“Why do you say that?” Kes stared at his cousin, perplexed. “Why would she know it can’t be serious?”

“Because you belong in different worlds, that’s why.” Marco knit his eyebrows and stared back at Kes. “Please don’t tell me you actually want it to be serious.”

“Why not?”

“Jesus Christ.” Marco clasped his hands over his head. “You aren’t just screwing her—you’re actually into her. I should’ve realized it earlier.”

“What’s wrong with that? I thought you were OK with her. With us.”

“I’m OK with you sleeping with gadji women, no strings attached, like you’ve done in the past.” Marco leaned in and put his hand on Kes’s shoulder. “The Gitane girls are out of bounds before marriage, so a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do.”

Kes glared at him. “I think it’s stupid that our women don’t enjoy the same freedom as the men.”

Marco removed his hand but didn’t comment.

They sat in a fraught silence for a few long moments.

“How serious is it?” Marco finally asked. “Are you planning to bring her into the family?”

“Hey, hold your horses. We aren’t even . . . a thing yet. Not officially, anyway.”

“But you’re hoping to be.” Marco smirked. “Wow. How did you go from telling everyone you weren’t made for relationships to being so into someone?”

Kes shrugged. “I don’t have the foggiest.”

Marco gave him a long, probing look and shook his head. “As I said, sleeping with a gadji is one thing, but letting it get serious? I can’t believe you allowed her to creep into your heart and pollute it.”

“What the hell, Marco?”

“Are you so changed by living among them? Are you so transformed that you’ve forgotten who you are?” Marco screwed his face up at Kes. “They’re unclean. They’re alien. You can’t attach yourself to one. You can’t betray your people like that.”

Kes stood. “I have some errands in town. I’ll be back in a couple of hours, and I suggest you change your tune by then.”

“Or else? Will you kick me out, pral? Will you disown me and your entire family and never break bread with the Gitans again?”

Truth was Kes had no idea what he’d do, so he just shook his head and walked out the door.

As he strode down the street in the direction of the Park Citroën, where he intended to sit on a bench for the next two hours, he couldn’t help but replay Marco’s words in his head. How could someone so young and modern consider his actions a betrayal? Or was Kes missing something? Was he too blinded by his feelings to see the reality? Was he truly renouncing his origins and giving up his soul for a pretty gadji’s smile?

A gadji who might never admit she had feelings for him. And who didn’t want a future with a Gypsy.