He reached the balcony and paused to take in the sprawling casino floor. Ah, glorious. His kingdom. The place was flooded with men in dark suits, oiled hair gleaming in the gaslight while they spent money on frivolous games they had no hope of winning. The sight never ceased to please him.

Except, this evening, it didn’t. Because she was here.

He spotted her right away. The light glinted off her blond hair and creamy skin. Full red lips revealed white teeth when she smiled or laughed, which was often. She was a lone beautiful flower in a field of dirt and sticks. Why in hell was she here, at his casino? What was her end game?

A nearby door closed and the soft thud of footsteps approached. Clay didn’t bother turning. Only one person dared to come up here.

“She’s alone again tonight,” Jack said. “Want me to show her out?”

“No,” he answered quickly. Too quickly.

Jack chuckled. “I see.”

Clay shot a menacing look over his shoulder. “Shouldn’t you be dealing with our other problem?”

“The boys’ll handle him, don’t worry. I thought you might need help with her.”

“I don’t need help. I need her to stop distracting my patrons. They’re ogling her instead of losing money.”

Jack eased toward the railing and peered down. “Can’t blame them. She’s a pretty one.”

Pretty? No. Pretty was too tame a word to describe her. Too superficial. Birds were pretty. A shiny gold piece, the sky at dusk. A royal flush. Those things were pretty.

She was radiant. A feast for the eyes. With a gaze that sparkled with mischief. A sly smile with hidden secrets. She was sunshine in a stormy sky. Warmth and light in the midst of the very worst element. Namely, him.

“I can blame them,” Clay growled. “It’s as if they haven’t seen a woman before. She’s nothing special.”

Jack remained quiet, the word liar hanging between them in the shadows. Lucky for Clay, Jack didn’t bother to say it aloud. Instead, his friend said, “Do you plan to stand up here and loom over her all night like a specter? Or should I bring her to your office?”

“And why would I meet with her?”

“To find out why she keeps comin’ back.”

“I assume it’s because she continues to win. Have we spoken to the staff? I want her to lose money, not gain it.”

“What happened to ‘the house has no need to cheat because the house always wins in the end’?”

“The house is clearly failing when it comes to her.”

Jack paused. “I’ll speak to them.”

“Good.”

“I suppose that means you’ll continue to admit her.”

“I haven’t decided.” It was untrue and they both knew it. She had intrigued him . . . and he was not a man easily intrigued.