Free Werewolf in Las Vegas by Vicki Lewis Thompson Page A

and thinking about the feud that probably killed my dad. His doctors told him to stop obsessing over Harrison Cartwright because it was bad for his heart. But he’d been betrayed by his best friend, and he never got over it. Every time I looked at that bar, I was reminded of that. So I set up the poker game.”
    She gazed at the richly patterned carpet at her feet. Finally she looked up. “That’s all Cynthia wants, Luke. To have that kind of control over her destiny.”
    He met her gaze and couldn’t help smiling. “You’re good, Giselle. I didn’t even see that one coming. Nice try, but the two situations are completely different.”
    â€œI don’t agree.”
    â€œCynthia’s a semester away from graduation. Her brain is fine-tuned right now, in the groove. She’ll never be more ready to finish that degree than she is now. If she puts it off for a few years, I’m afraid she’ll struggle like crazy to get back up to speed academically.”
    â€œOr she might come back more focused than ever and blow away the younger students.”
    â€œDancing is like any other sport. It’s great when you’re young and athletic, but it’s not a career for a lifetime.”
    â€œSo what? I’m not very familiar with this field, but it seems to me she could teach, or choreograph productions, or—”
    â€œOkay, sure.” He gazed out at the kaleidoscope that was Vegas. “But I think she’d be bored to tears living the life my mother had.”
    Giselle stood there without saying anything for several seconds. Finally she spoke. “Okay, I get it.”
    He looked at her in surprise. “What do you get, exactly?”
    â€œYou see your sister trying to follow in your mom’s footsteps without realizing she’s nothing like your mom, even though she looks like her. You think she’s liable to end up being miserable from the lack of mental stimulation.”
    â€œYes, exactly! So how do I—” The doorbell chimed. “We can talk about it later. Dinner’s here.” But elation filled him. Giselle finally understood why he was so determined to get Cynthia back on track. Although he’d met her only a couple hours earlier, he no longer felt alone in his quest.

Chapter 6
    A portly gentleman with all the bearing of an English butler rolled a double-tiered cart through the living area and over to the linen-covered dining table by the west window. Giselle breathed in the aroma of grilled steak, roasted veggies, and . . . werewolf?
    For one electric moment, her gaze met that of the formally dressed man in his sixties. No doubt about it—the butler was a werewolf. She was dying to know the story behind this bizarre situation but figured she wouldn’t be getting it soon.
    â€œGreetings, Mr. Thatcher!” Luke seemed really happy to see him. “I’d like you to meet Giselle Landry from San Francisco. Giselle, Mr. Thatcher has been serving our family for . . . is it almost twenty years now?” He glanced at the butler.
    â€œAlmost, sir.” He bowed in Giselle’s direction. “Pleased to meet you, Ms. Landry.”
    â€œSame here, Mr. Thatcher.” The butler hadn’t reacted to her last name, and yet if he was Were, he would know the Landry pack was one of the most powerful in the Bay Area. He’d probably spent twenty years learning to keep his expression neutral and his mouth shut. She wondered how he fit into the Cartwright/Dalton history. “Are you originally from London?”
    â€œHertfordshire, madam.”
    â€œYou’ve brought us some heavenly smelling food.”
    â€œI daresay you’ll enjoy it.” He started unloading the contents of the cart onto the table. “Our chef is the best in the state.”
    â€œAnd he’s not happy because I order pizza half the time,” Luke said.
    â€œHe makes you a very good pizza,