"I don't think that's quite, uh, you, Sunshine," he said in a strangled voice.
She straightened, running her hand from her waist down to her thigh. "Oh, I don't know. Just feel this material. Isn't it something?" Gently picking up his hand where it was clenched on the arm of the chair, she placed his hand on her thigh.
Chad jerked his hand back as though the dress had been as hot as its color indicated.
"What are you doing?" he asked in a gruff whisper.
"Trying to find something to wear for tonight, honey," she drawled, trying not to laugh.
"Well, that won't do at all."
She assumed a disappointed air. "Oh, that's too bad. I always thought that red was definitely my color."
Without looking at him Jennifer sashayed back into the dressing room. She was chuckling as soon as she reached the small cubicle. Curious to see if she could, Jennifer tried to focus in on his thoughts, in a way similar to what he said he had done with her years ago.
All the time she was taking off the red dress and trying on the next one, she concentrated. Slowly she began to pick up his amazement and confusion at her behavior, as well as his embarrassment.
What's the matter, cowboy? Can't you take a little teasing?
"Is that what that was?" he responded promptly.
/ always wondered how I'd do as a dance hall girl.
"You'd be a sensation. However, I don't think my heart could handle much of that."
You'll like this one much better, she assured him.
He did. The blue-green material shifted color like the ocean on a sunny day. The dress fit her snugly to the waist, then flared to a swirling skirt that emphasized her trim legs.
She felt his sigh of relief when she walked out. Her smile was impish. "Is this better?"
"Much," he said with conviction.
After paying for her purchase with her credit card they were soon back on the street.
"Tony asked us to drop in this afternoon if we had time."
"I'd love that." Jennifer recognized that no matter what they did, she would love it. She enjoyed being with Chad, getting to know the physical side of him. C. W. Cameron was still very much in evidence, but the shock had worn off and she was catching glimpses of the Chad she knew and loved beneath the gruff exterior of her employer.
When they reached the ornate lobby of the Lucky Lady, Jennifer paused and looked up at Chad. "Why don't you go on up while I stop in the rest room for a moment?"
"Would you like me to wait?"
She shook her head, still a little shy with him. "That's not necessary. I need to freshen my makeup and it will probably take a few minutes. But I promise not to be too long."
Chad leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips, disregarding anyone who might be watching. "I'll see you upstairs, then."
When Jennifer sat down in front of the mirror, she hardly recognized the glowing woman in front of her. Her hair seemed to have a vitality all its own, her eyes sparkled and glittered, even her skin seemed to have taken on a special glow. Love was the best beauty aid going, she decided with a grin.
Hastily renewing her lipstick and powdering away the shine on her nose and forehead, Jennifer left the ladies' lounge and started toward the elevator. Before she realized what was happening, two men, one on each side of her, took her arm and propelled her through the front door of the casino and into a waiting limousine just outside the door.
"Wha-? Wait a minute. What are you doing?" The car pulled away from the curb and quickly joined the traffic along the Strip.
"Don't worry, lady. Nobody's going to hurt you," one of the men said. She glanced around the car. Jennifer had never seen so much luxury in an automobile before. The driver wore a uniform and cap and the men on either side of her were in dark suits and wore sunglasses.
Chad!
"What is it? Where are you?"
I don't know where I am or where I'm going. Two men just grabbed me as I started toward the elevator and they're hauling me away in a luxury car.
"Who are they?"
I have no idea.
She could feel his fear and anger wash over her, and she almost flinched away from its intensity.
"We're not going to hurt you, lady," the man repeated. "Our boss wants to see you."
"Who is your boss?"
He looked at her without expression. In a flat tone he replied, "He'll tell you, himself."
"Where are you now?"
I don't know. We just passed the Tropicana and seem to be heading out of town.
"Don't worry, Sunshine. I'm right behind you. What does the car look like?"
Uh, it's silver. She glanced around. Has some sort of antenna on the trunk.
The car picked up speed once it left the town area. Jennifer didn't want to give away the fact that they might be followed, so she forced herself to continue looking straight ahead. There wasn't much to see. Occasionally there would be a house enclosed in a high fence. Most of them had swimming pools, which Jennifer didn't find too surprising. The desert was a good place to spend time in the water.
They made a sharp right turn onto a smaller road that took them farther from any other signs of houses. Eventually they pulled up in front of a heavy gate. The driver spoke into a small hand-held mike and the doors slowly opened. As soon as the car passed through, Jennifer turned around and watched the gate close. The gate was the only break in a tall, stone wall that seemed to encircle a multiacre area.
After following a winding road for several minutes, the car eased to a stop in front of a sprawling, one-story home in adobe and red tiles, that was designed for Southwest living. The home was beautiful but Jennifer wasn't in the mood to stand around and admire it.
She was escorted with a great deal of courtesy into the house and was thankful for the air-conditioning that greeted her at the double-doored entrance. One of the men showed her into a large room, which had one wall of glass and overlooked a giant swimming pool. The water looked very inviting.
The sound of ice tinkling in a glass caused her to turn around. A middle-aged woman holding a tray of drinks smiled and said, "I brought you something to drink."
Jennifer smiled. "Thank you." She walked over to the tray, which had been placed on a round coffee table. There was quite a selection to choose from. She poured herself some iced tea from a pitcher, added lemon and sipped the liquid absently.
"Where are you?"
Behind a massive stone wall. Did you ever see the car?
"I got a glimpse, but that's all. Did you turn off the main road?"
Yes. We turned right, just past a white, two-story house on the left that had a cyclone fence. Did you see that?
"Damn. Yes. I passed it a few miles back. Who's there?"
No one at the moment.
"Try to stall them until I get there."
Chad! There's no way you can get onto the grounds. The wall is massive.
"I'll check it out. Just be careful. When you have any more information, let me know."
She wandered around the room, sipping her tea and enjoying the objets d'art that spoke of expensive tastes. Jennifer couldn't believe her attitude toward what had happened. At first she had been startled, then frightened-until she had made contact with Chad. After that, she had calmed down. She knew she wasn't in any danger. She had been treated with courtesy and kindness at all times, except for having been whisked out of the Lucky Lady by a couple of strangers.
Plus she had a great deal of faith in Chad's ability. Jennifer had to admit that she was curious as to what was going on. She had a hunch she'd be told eventually.
When a man walked into the room, Jennifer was ensconced in a comfortable chair, gazing out at the garden surrounding the pool.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, Ms.-" He paused, waiting for her response.
Jennifer's gaze returned from the garden and made an inspection of the man standing before her. He lacked several inches of being six foot, but he made up in girth for his lack of height. She had to admit that his excellent tailoring did its best to conceal his obesity. Her eyes wandered to his face, which was as round as his body, and met a pair of black eyes that seemed to have seen everything in the world and would no longer be surprised at anything else they might see. His gray hair was thinning badly, despite his attempts to disguise it.
Without getting up, she said, "Jennifer Chisholm," in a quiet voice. "And you are-?"
"Max Taylor. You may have heard of me."
"Yes, Mr. Taylor, I've heard your name before. Are you responsible for my sudden visit here?"
He laughed, obviously amused at her attitude. "Yes. This is my home."