Playing the odds by Nora Roberts

pout. She shifted toward Justin so that her considerable cleavage was in full view. "You seem to be tremendously lucky. Do you have a system?" Running a finger down his sleeve, she smiled. Serena wondered how she would like her nose pressed into the green baize.
    Amused at the obvious tactic, Justin allowed his eyes to roam up from the deep plunge of her bodice to her face. "No."
    "You must have some secret," she murmured. "I'd love to hear it… over a drink?"
    "I never drink when I play." He blew a stream of smoke past her shoulder. "One interferes with the other."
    "Bets?" Serena said just a tad too sharply.
    "I believe I've had enough cards this evening." Letting her thighs brush Justin's, she rose, then dropped a hundred dollars worth of chips into her purse. Serena had the small satisfaction of knowing she'd started with four. "I'll be in the lounge," she told Justin with a last lingering smile before she turned away.
    "Better luck next time," Serena said before she could stop herself. She turned back to find Justin grinning at her.
    "Cash me in?"
    "Certainly." Then he'll go chasing after that redhead with the size 38C personality, she thought furiously. Quickly, she stacked and counted his chips. Seven hundred and fifty dollars, she calculated, and only became more angry. "Dale's busy, I'll take care of this myself."
    Watching her stride away, Justin tried to remember her father. It wasn't easy.
    Serena came back with a stack of crisp bills and a white slip attached to a clipboard. Swiftly, she counted the money out, then passed it across the table. "You had a profitable evening." After slipping the paper into the compartment under the table, she reached for the cards. Justin took her wrist.
    "Another hand?" he asked, enjoying the quick jump of her pulse beneath his fingers.
    "You've already cashed in," she pointed out, and tried to tug away. He tightened his grip.
    "A different bet, between you and me."
    "I'm sorry, it's against the rules to have side games with the passengers. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to close up the table."
    "No money." He watched her eyes narrow in fury and smiled. "A walk on the deck if I win," he said smoothly.
    "Not interested."
    "Not afraid to go one on one, are you, Serena?" The hand that attempted to remove his from her wrist paused. "You still have house advantage," he said quietly.
    "If I win," she began, then carefully removed his hand, "you'll keep away from me for the rest of the cruise?"
    He considered the question. It was, after all, a much wiser course than the one he was pursuing. Taking a last puff on his cigar, he crushed it out. It wouldn't be the first time he left his fate to the cards. "Deal."
    He glanced at the two and five in front of him, then at the ten Serena had showing. Nodding for a hit, he drew a queen. His first thought was to stand, but another glance at Serena showed him she looked entirely too pleased with herself. He'd have bet every dollar in his pocket she had an eight or better in the hole. Keeping his eyes on hers, he gestured for another card.
    "Damn!" She tossed down the four of diamonds and glared at him. "I swear, Justin, one day I'm going to beat you." Disgusted, she turned over the jack she had in the hole.
    "No." He rose, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Because you're trying to beat me, not the cards. I'll wait for you outside."
    Dale glanced over to see his best blackjack dealer sticking her tongue out at the back of a passenger.
    Leaning back against the wall, Justin watched Serena through the glass doors of the casino. He thought he could almost see the combination of annoyance and frustration simmering around her. He felt much the same way himself. With a shrug he reminded himself that he had left it up to chance. The bet could have been as easily lost as won.
    Idly, he fingered a twenty-five-dollar chip still in his pocket. Some might say he'd had an unusual ran of luck. Then again, he mused, it might have been luckier to have lost