Free Double Blind by Heidi Cullinan

that half his attraction was to the ambience, given how often he lectured people on the importance of the players in the game and the integrity of the host or casino, but the fact was, that element was here too. The people at the Nugget were usually good, but like anywhere else, they could be bad. But there was generally a reliable supply of live ones. A lot of tourists came to the Golden Nugget because they liked the ambience. And the dealers knew him there. He always tipped them well, so they were always happy to sit him down at tables he would be most likely to enjoy. They knew him well enough to know that for him the best table wasn’t necessarily the one where he was most likely to win.
     
    One of his favorite floor hosts was working tonight, and she smiled when she saw Randy. When he slipped a twenty-five chip into her hand, she kissed him on the cheek.
     
    “Hey, Mandy,” he said, touching her on the arm as he leaned in close. “Got any good tables for me, sweetheart?”
     
    Mandy nodded at the back of the room. “Several. Number Six has a businessman from Atlanta going on tilt and two live ones, though I’ll warn you that Buddy’s over there already and might think you’re poaching. But Five has some good action, too, and it might be better, if you’re in one of your moods. Two little old ladies from Milwaukee. They know their poker, but they’re handicapped a bit because they’re used to playing home games for pennies and nickels. The rest of the players are pretty vanilla, and Steve is working prop there. I’ll have to pull him if you go over, but I could use him on Three, to be honest.” She glanced over Randy’s shoulder, noticing Ethan for the first time.
     
    Ethan was oblivious to the both of them, too busy taking in the room and trying to bluff the fact that he was significantly intimidated. Randy saw Mandy take in Ethan’s handsome face and quiet, easy stance. Her eyebrows lifted, and she looked both appreciative and hopeful.
     
    Randy stepped back and drew Ethan forward. “Slick, this is Mandy Carter, one of the prettiest, nicest floorpersons in Las Vegas.”
     
    Ethan smiled and accepted her hand with a polite smile. “Ethan Ellison. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
     
    “Pleasure’s all mine,” Mandy said, leaning into Ethan a little and turning up the wattage on her smile as he drew back again. “What brings you to Vegas, handsome?”
     
    Randy caught the shutter that passed over Ethan’s face, but he also caught the quick recovery smile. “Just thought it was time I saw the place for myself.”
     
    Randy was pretty sure that if Mandy could have reached Ethan’s sleeve she would have put her hand on his arm. “Let me know if you need someone to give you a tour.”
     
    “I’m teaching Ethan how to play poker,” Randy said. “Thought I’d start him out with some nice low buy-in, no-limit Hold ’Em.”
     
    “Table Five’s what you’re after, in that case.” Mandy winked at Ethan. “You’re learning from the best there is, honey. But if he roughs you up too much, you just holler, and I’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”
     
    “Thank you,” Ethan said politely. Then he glanced at the tables again before frowning at Randy. “Do you really think I’m ready?”
     
    He wasn’t even close, but Randy wasn’t going to tell him that. He clapped Ethan on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, Slick. I won’t let the little old ladies eat you.”
     
    “Little old ladies?” Ethan repeated.
     
    Randy passed Mandy another ten chip as he led Ethan past, but she grabbed his hand and held him there, her eyebrows lifting in inquiry before she jerked her head discreetly at Ethan, who had his back to them and was watching the tables again. Randy gave her a rueful smile, then reached over and placed a bold hand against a firm, fine globe of Ethan’s ass.
     
    Ethan jumped, then glanced over his shoulder and gave Randy a quelling look.
     
    But Mandy caught it and all the