“Never. The marks are too embarrassed. Also, I never get as much as I got from you. It’s usually a few hundred. I can spot the guys who carry a wad. Not as big a wad as you, though. I saw all those hundreds at the table, but boy, was I surprised when I opened that suitcase! Sorry I had to take the bag, but I couldn’t get all that into my purse.”

“I guess not. What made you call me?”

“Even a grifter can get horny,” she said. “Anyhow, you have a way with a girl’s nipple. If I hadn’t already slipped you the mickey at that point, I’d have had you in the sack in no time.”

“Where are you?”

“That would be telling.”

“I can look up the area code of your phone.”

“Okay, I’m in Charleston, where I live. I work up and down the coast, but home is here, and I don’t foul my own nest.”

“What did you do with the money?”

“That hundred grand? It’s already in the stock market. My broker doesn’t mind cash.”

“You ever get to New York?”

“Sometimes. I like New York, there are lots of elegant bars where a girl can get bought a drink and make a score, and there are so many ways to get out of town in a hurry, if it becomes necessary.”

“Why don’t you come up tomorrow for a couple days? I’ll get us a nice hotel suite.”

“Really?”

“I still haven’t worked the other nipple.”

“Oh, you know how to get a girl wet, don’t you?”

“How about it?”

“You’re sure you’re not still mad at me?”

“Nah. I’ll tell you the whole story about the bank.”

“Do I get to pick the hotel?”

“Sure.”

“The Four Seasons,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to stay there.”

“Done. I’ll meet you there tomorrow. What time?”

“Well, let’s see, there’s a plane midafternoon, plus cab time. Say, six o’clock in the bar?”

“You’re on.”

“I’ve got your number—you want mine?”

“It’s in my phone now.”

“Night-night, sweetie. Dream about me.” She hung up.

Ryan called the Four Seasons and booked a suite. He gulped at the price, but he had the money, so what the hell?

Chapter 56

Ryan picked up his dry cleaning and laundry and packed a three-night bag, just in case. He was as horny as he had ever been in his life. It had been weeks since he’d gotten laid, and he was very itchy.