Free Nan Ryan by Silken Bondage Page B

But you treat her right or I’ll kill you. Now, go.”
    While dozens of puzzled, disappointed men shouted and booed and whistled, Johnny quickly picked Nevada up and tossed her over his shoulder.
    “You’re coming with me whether you like it or not,” he told her as he carried her through the angry, shouting crowd.
    Overjoyed, wanting nothing more in the whole wide world than to go anywhere with Johnny Roulette, Nevada said happily, “Oh, Johnny, you came back for me! You do love me, Johnny, you do!”

9

    “No, Nevada,” Johnny told her firmly when he had carried her from the smoke-filled gaming room, outside onto the Moonlight Gambler’s deck, and down the companion-way to the wooden wharf. Setting her on her feet, he stood looking down into her expectant, upturned face. “I don’t love you. I’m never going to love you. Get that through your head right now.” She started to interrupt. He stopped her. “But you’re my lucky charm—I need you. And it’s evident you need me as well.”
    Nevada blinked at him in confusion when he took her arm and guided her across the levee, lecturing her sternly. “You have no business entertaining on the Gambler , Nevada. It’s time you aspired to something higher and I am going to help you.”
    Almost running to keep up with his long, sure strides, Nevada clutched at her skirts, looking up at his dark, handsome face with questioning eyes. “How? What?”
    They had reached the levee’s edge. Johnny handed Nevada in front of him up onto the steep wooden steps that led to the Memphis city streets. He said, “I’ll make you into a genteel, cultured lady so that you can one day meet and marry a fine gentleman.”
    Nevada stopped abruptly, whirled about, almost bumping into him. He stood on the steps just below. Hands going to her hips, she said, “Hellfire, I don’t want no fine gentleman. I just want you!”
    “Nevada, you can’t have me, so stop talking nonsense. And stop cursing. And get on up the steps, we’re going over to the Silver Slipper.”
    She frowned at him. “You’ll teach me to be a lady at the Silver Slipper?”
    Johnny frowned back at her. “No. I’ll find out if you’re really my lucky charm. You’ll learn to be a lady in London.”
    “You’re taking me to London with you?” Her eyes began to sparkle and she smiled again.
    “That’s up to you,” Johnny said, turning her around again and pushing her up the steps. “Bring me luck, I’ll take you to London.”
    “I’ll bring you luck, Johnny Roulette,” Nevada assured him over her shoulder, thinking that nothing could be more wonderful than a romantic ocean voyage. Just the two of them. Johnny Roulette and her. Alone together on the high seas. Making love in an opulent stateroom as they had on the Gambler . By the time they reached England, Johnny would realize he loved her as much as she loved him.
    Those pleasant thoughts were running through Nevada’s head when Johnny ushered her along the cobblestones of the steeply sloping Memphis waterfront and into the plush gambling casino called the Silver Slipper on Front Street. Perched on tall, sturdy pilings at the river’s edge, the Silver Slipper, Nevada noted with breathless curiosity, had silver-painted walls and ceilings and a small stage where silver curtains were parted to reveal a silver stage upon which a tall beauty with silver hair and a shimmering silver dress and high-heeled silver slippers stood beside a gilt piano singing “Silver Threads Among the Gold.”
    Nevada was all eyes.
    Johnny Roulette was not He hurriedly guided the gaping Nevada across the crowded silver-walled hall to a pair of double doors at the back of the big room. Holding her by the arm, Johnny lifted a hand and knocked.
    One of the doors opened and a pallid-faced man in evening clothes smiled in recognition.
    “Johnny, come in,” he said, and nodding to Nevada, “Miss.”
    “Tell Crook I need five thousand. I’ll sign a marker,” said Johnny.
    “At