As I walked away, I studied the card the clerk had passed me. Her name was Kate Summers. I couldn’t help but think it was a fitting name. When she smiled, she positively lit up a room. When she frowned, the world seemed somehow darker. This woman was positively intriguing and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I wanted to get to know her better.

“What are you thinking?” Harry pushed the button for the elevator.

I shrugged. “The usual. Gotta do some research to prepare for my meeting. Hope I can get in on Monday. That kind of thing.”

“Oh. The way you were handling the card, I thought you might be thinking about her.” He chuckled.

“Nah. No mixing pleasure with business,” I joked.

“I thought it was the other way around,” Drew muttered.

“When we get upstairs, you should go lay down. I’m guessing you don’t want any dinner.” I watched his reaction. He all but heaved. “And Harry and I will come upstairs to check on you. I bet you’ll be feeling better after a nap. Maybe we can hit the tables.”

“Good idea.” He held his head in both hands and covered his ears. “Why is everything so loud?”

“It’s not. That’s your hangover.” Harry shook his head. “This can’t be the first time you’ve been drunk.”

“College. Frat party. I’m out of practice.” He pressed his face against the cool stone inlay on the wall. “I could stay here. So nice.”

“Hey, I bet they have cool stone in your bathroom. That would be a much wiser idea.” I threw an arm around his shoulders and helped him out of the elevator. Harry opened the door with his key card. Soon enough, we had him set up and comfortable.

“Call us if you need anything.” Harry laid the phone next to him on the nightstand.

“Yes. We’ll come back after dinner.” I strode over to the door that let him into my room and opened it. This way, I’d only have to open mine and we’d be able to wander in and check on him. Then we exited the rooms. Standing in front of my door with the key card in position, I managed to open it when Harry interrupted my thoughts.

“Shall we drop our luggage then go?” Harry frowned. “I’m hungry.”

“Well, that’s because we drank our lunch, then drove here. We haven’t eaten since breakfast.” I sighed. “I’m going to be downright cranky. Let’s just eat downstairs.”

Luckily, Harry had been on these missions with me before. He knew the drill. He’d pose and I’d take pictures all over the hotel so we could share them with my father later. These were great for negotiating the deal. He’d set the max price and then my job was to make it happen within his parameters.

We ate and explored the place until finally, it was nearly ten at night. “Ready for the casino?” Harry rubbed his palms together.

“Sure.” I shrugged and we made our way to the elevators. “We’ll get Drew and have some fun. We’ve earned it.”

“Damn right.” The elevator doors opened and he motioned for me to go first. I was so distracted, I barely paid attention to what I was doing. I started to walk into it when I nearly collided with Ms. Summers. “Oh, Kate,” I murmured without thinking. I’d been playing with her name in my head ever since I caught sight of her gorgeous heart shaped ass exiting the registration area in the tight skirt earlier.

Her head tilted to the side and her eyes narrowed in response. “Mr. George.” She nodded.

“Please, call me Ty. What are you doing here so late?” I grinned, uncharacteristically happy to see her.

“Please, call me Ms. Summers. Oh, and what am I doing? Right now, nothing.” She crossed her arms over her chest and her brow arched. “I’m stuck in an elevator,” she commented pointedly.

I chuckled and stepped aside. For some reason, I had a feeling I’d truly enjoy sparring with her. “Have a nice night.”

Kate glanced at her phone. “By the time I get home, I’ll eat and go to bed. She sighed.” Then she looked me in the eyes again and I saw more than a hint of sadness in her deep blue eyes. “Enjoy your stay.” She brushed past me and sashayed down the hall.

“What was that about?” Harry stared at me wide-eyed. “She’s the enemy. That’s what you always say. Never get too close to the enemy.”

I nodded even as I followed her with my gaze. “I know, but this time may require a different approach.” I motioned for him to join me on the elevator and we rode in silence up to our floor.

When I entered my room, I found Drew lounging on my sofa. “Took you long enough,” he grumbled.

“I see the coffee I sent up worked.” I grinned. “You could’ve come down. We had dinner, then walked around the hotel doing recon.” I winked. “You know the drill.” I stretched. “So, what do you think of the place?”

“I like it. I think it could use some updating. And the suite situation is crazy.” He shrugged. “What is it you say in the business? The place has good bones. You can fix the rest.”

I nodded. “We can fix about anything. Tomorrow, we’ll check out the amenities. Tonight, however, Harry would like to hit the casinos. Are you in?”

“Miss out on a night of gambling and a few friendly wagers, no doubt? Never.” He stood and smiled, albeit sadly.

“Apparently, the melancholy hasn’t quite worn off.” I frowned. “We’ll see if we can’t fix that.”

Fifteen minutes later we were wandering into the casino. “Pick your poison, gentlemen.” I made a swooping motion with my arm to encompass the room. Slots?”

Harry laughed. “There’s no skill in that. Pure luck.”

“Craps?” I pointed to a couple of tables with players to our right.

Drew sighed. “I suck at dice. You know this.”

I grinned. “This may be why I suggested it.”

“So, your plan to improve my mood is to have me lose money? Brilliant.” Drew rolled his eyes.

“Dude, you have more money to lose.” Harry winked.

The way they stared at each other, I felt like I needed to intercede. “Well, then we should try our hands at Blackjack.” Then without waiting for them to respond, I walked to the nearest open table.

A lovely young woman with her hair pulled into a dark bun stood solemnly while waiting for us to get seated. I glanced at her nametag. “Hello, Talia. Did I pronounce it correctly?”

“Yes.” She nodded and began to deal the cards.

We’d done this so many times before, we fell into a routine, while Drew continued to fall into a funk. “You’re such a killjoy,” I grumbled. “Let it go. Have some fun.”

He shook his head morosely. “I look around. There are all these couples. See.” He pointed to other tables, to people walking around. “Couple. Couple. Couple of lesbians. Old couple.”

“Not everyone. Look at us, three handsome, virile, single guys.” I smiled.

“Yeah. I’ll always have you, but I want more. I want to get married.” He frowned.

Harry looked aghast. “Since when?”

I rolled my eyes. “Since the funeral today.”

“Whoa. That long.” Harry jabbed Drew in the shoulder. “What’s the rush?”

“We’re thirty.” Drew mourned. “I asked my uncle a few months before he passed why he never married.”

“Dear God,” Harry muttered under his breath.

“And?” I was barely paying attention. I had a ten of hearts and a Queen of spades. My focus was on my hand.

“He told me he missed his window.” Drew rubbed the back of his neck. “It made perfect sense. There really is a window. A point where you really get too old to share your life with anyone. A time when anyone you’d be interested in is already taken. I feel like…my window is closing.” A waitress stopped beside us to see if we wanted anything.

“Coke for me, please.” I nodded seriously. I rarely drank while gambling. I needed to concentrate. This was why I usually won. So far, my friends had yet to pick up on this.

“Make mine a Crown and coke.” Harry ordered.

With a sigh, Drew averted his eyes. “Scotch on the rocks.”

I rubbed my forehead. He’d spend the bulk of Sunday recovering. I had no idea why he thought any of this was fun. A thought occurred to me and I brightened. “I bet you can’t go the rest of the trip without drinking.” The guys were rarely able to pass up bets. This one might save him some anguish.

“Fuck, Ty. Why not make a bet I at least have a shot at winning?” Drew groaned.

“Yeah. Why not make a marriage bet? I’m sure Drew would have that in the bag.” Harry chuckled.

As I watched, however, Drew completely perked up. “What kind of marriage bet?”

My eyes widened. “Yeah, Harry. What are the parameters of this bet?” Despite my competitive nature, I might not mind losing a bet if it would cheer up one of my oldest and dearest friends. He was seriously bringing us down.

Harry tugged at his chin. “I was joking. I didn’t think you’d take it seriously.”

“Well, now we are. So, what if we say, first to get married before the end of the year wins…a new car!” I grinned. Their lips didn’t even twitch. “You know, because on all the game shows, the big prize is a new car? I was trying to be funny.” I shrugged. “You two are killing me.”

“Too long. Too far out,” Drew complained.

“Six months?” Harry shrugged. “I mean, we have to meet and fall in love.”

“Does it have to be love?” Drew glanced back and forth between us. “I don’t think my parents are in love, but they aren’t alone and they are still together after all these years.”

“Well, it can’t just be anyone we meet. Hell, if that was allowed, I could probably get hitched tonight.” I scanned the room. “There are tons of hot, single chicks in this town who wouldn’t mind marrying a billionaire bachelor.” I turned to our dealer and gave Talia a smooth grin while waggling my eyebrows. “What do you say, Talia? You in the market for a husband?”

Her cheeks turned crimson. “Place your bets, sir.”

Her words hit a nerve. Drew straightened. “Three months. First one to marry gets the car of his choice, paid for by the other two. Oh, and the prize isn’t paid out unless the marriage lasts at least one year.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Anyone can get married. I plan to stay married.”

“I’ll take that bet.” Harry held out his hand to shake on it.

I raked a hand through my hair. Losing this bet wouldn’t break me financially, it wouldn’t even slightly wound my reputation, and it might help Drew recover from whatever was eating at him. I shrugged. “Fine. I’ll take that bet.” Then I reached out and shook their hands.