Vegas Vacation Read Online Free PDF

her head. “No. So tell me about the cane?”
    “It’s a general issue wooden cane,” he said guardedly, the walls he’d erected going back up hard and fast. The cane was his business, no one else’s.
    “Yesterday you were limping heavily and leaning on it. This morning you run into my room, gun in both hands, cane nowhere in sight. If I didn’t know better, I’d say it was a crutch.”
    His face burned along with the pit of his stomach. He had to change the subject, and fast. “I’d rather discuss your plans for today.”
    “I wanted to see the Grand Canyon, but it’s raining, so maybe not. I don’t want to do anything that involves creeps in blue suits who like leering at me.”
    “OK. No leering at you or wearing a blue suit.” He paused, fork halfway to his mouth. “And I won’t creep, either.”
    “You’re silly.” She broke off another piece of pancake, looked at it and put the fork down. “Dad’s over five thousand miles away, and still he’s controlling me. One thought of him and I’m no longer hungry. He was so cross on the phone, said it’s my fault Raleigh’s sick. If I hadn’t come away, he’d be all right.”
    Martin laid a gentle hand over hers, keeping his voice soft. She didn’t need yelling at. He felt nothing but compassion for her. “It isn’t your fault. What you need is a distraction. We’ll go and get the chip you wanted to start your collection with. Do you have a list of the casinos you need?”
    She nodded. “Yeah, I do. Figured I’d start with the one here.”
    “OK. Get dressed, and I’ll see you in a minute.” He watched her get up before finishing his breakfast. Then he headed into his room and put on a tie. He checked the gun then slid it into the holster. Grabbing his jacket, he shrugged into it then looked at the cane. Truth was he didn’t need it, at least not the way everyone thought he did. But that was no concern of anyone but him.
    Leaning on the cane, he headed back into the sitting room. He stared out at the fountains although they were barely visible through the rain.
    Tamlyn stood beside him.
    “Ready?” Martin spoke to her reflection
    “Willing and able.”
    “Then let’s go.”
     
    ****
     
    Tamlyn followed Martin across the lobby. What was the real reason behind the cane? She knew he didn’t need it and he’d changed the subject quickly enough. Did he know how that smile of his affected her? For that matter, did he realize how little his scars mattered?
    They headed into the casino, and she paused for a minute to let her eyes adjust to the darkness. “Where’s the best place to get a chip?”
    Martin glanced at her. “Pick a table and ask. You’ll need to show your ID to prove you’re over twenty-one.”
    “Don’t I look over twenty-one?”
    “That’s beside the point. It’s a legal thing.”
    Tamlyn glanced around and pointed to an empty table. “That one.”
    Martin nodded. “OK.”
    Tamlyn walked across to the table, her heart in her mouth. Miranda made this sound so simple.
    The dealer smiled at her.
    Tamlyn smiled back. “Hi. Would it be possible to have a one dollar chip, please?” She pulled her ID out of her bag and showed him.
    He checked her ID then took the dollar. He sorted through the chips and handed her one.
    Tamlyn smiled. “Thank you.” She put it in her bag and turned away. She wandered across the casino. Despite the early hour some of the tables were busy. “Can I play something?”
    “Play something?” Amusement tinged his voice.
    “Yeah. I can’t come all this way and not play.”
    Martin raised an eyebrow. “OK, how about the slot machines?”
    She pulled a face. “I’m not a child.”
    “Good, otherwise I’d arrest you for underage gambling.”
    “Where do I get the quarters from?”
    He nodded. “You don’t need quarters anymore, the machine takes twenties. You can get change from the cage over there. I wouldn’t get too much though.”
    “Are you my father or my