“Oh, I’d love to see the coast some time,” I said, playing with my necklace and wondering how much of this conversation had turned into exaggeration. “Doesn’t the salt make everything difficult?”

He shrugged. “Not so much for ley line witches. I feel bad for earth witches, locked into a path that has no power.”

My mouth dropped open. No power? Hardly. Earth magic’s strength stemmed from ley lines as much as ley line witches’ spells. That it was filtered through plants made it more forgiving, and perhaps slower, but no less powerful. There wasn’t a ley line charm written that could physically change a person’s form. Now that was power. Chalking it up to ignorance, I let it slide lest I drive him away before I got a chance to know just how big of a jerk he was, first.

“Look at me,” he said, clearly recognizing that he had stuck his foot so far down his throat that his toes might wiggle out of his ass. “Here I am bothering you, when you probably want to play some before your boyfriend gets back.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I said, not as excited as I could be for the subtle inquiry as to my attached status. “I told him he couldn’t take me out on a decent date for sixty dollars, and he accepted the challenge.”

Lee ran his eyes over the casino. “How’s it going?”

I sipped my drink, wishing the ice cream hadn’t melted. Behind me there was a loud cheer as something good happened. “Well, so far I’ve gotten sugared and passed out in a vamp dance club, insulted my roommate, and tripped the security system of a casino boat.” I lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. “Not bad, I guess.”

“It’s early yet.” Lee’s gaze followed the rolling dice behind me. “Can I buy you a drink? I’ve heard the house wine is good. Merlot, I think it is.”

I wondered where this was going. “No thanks. Red wine … doesn’t sit well with me.”

He chuckled. “I’m not particularly fond of it either. It gives me migraines.”

“Me too,” I exclaimed softly, truly surprised.

Lee tossed his bangs from his eyes. “Now, if I had said that, you would have accused me of dropping you a line.” I smiled, feeling shy all of a sudden, and he turned to the cheering at the table. “You don’t gamble, do you?” he said.

I glanced behind me and then back to him. “It shows, huh?”

He put a hand on my shoulder and turned me around. “They’ve rolled three fours in a row, and you haven’t noticed,” he said softly, almost in my ear.

I did nothing to either discourage or encourage him, the sudden pounding of my heart not telling me what to do. “Oh, is that unusual?” I said, trying to keep my voice light.

“Here,” he said, motioning to the craps man. “New roller,” he called loudly.

“Oh, wait,” I protested. “I don’t even know how to bet.”