Page 51 of Playboy For Hire

“I still think you’re counting cards,” Violet said.

“Of course I am.” Thea grinned. “How else am I going to win?”

“That’s illegal in Vegas.”

“It’s not illegal,” Marjie corrected her. “But they’ll kick you out of the casinos.”

“Are we in Vegas? Are we in a casino?” Auntie Thea looked around the room like she was scanning for slot machines and craps tables. Light streamed in through large glass windows, splashing the palms and tropical plants that surrounded us with warm sunshine. A giant birdcage stood at the far end, filled with songbirds. “Where’s the waiter with my martini?”

Violettsked. “Tease all you want, but if you keep this up, you won’t be coming on our girls’ trip.”

“You’ve been talking about that damn girls’ trip for five years,” Thea grumbled, “and it still hasn’t happened. I’ll worry when you’re on the plane and not a minute before.”

“She’ll be too busy with that Jimmy Sullivan,” Marjie said to Violet with a sly smile. “She won’t even notice we’re gone.”

“Just what are you implying?” asked Thea.

“That you’ll be too busygetting busy,” Violet cackled, and Marjie joined in.

“I am a lady,” Auntie Thea said, “and I would never stoop to such conduct.”

“Don’t act so prim and proper,” said Violet. “I’ve seen the way your mouth waters when you look at him.”

“Heisfairly mouth-watering,” Marjie put in.

“Well, he’smineto water,” Thea snapped. “I’ll thank you both to keep your harlot eyes off of him.”

“And what claim do you have on him?” Marjie shot back. “I don’t see a ring on his finger. Or yours.”

“It’s none of your business if you do or don’t,” Auntie Thea said. “He’s still mine.”

Violet laughed. “Oh, you can have him. That man’s dentures give me the creeps.”

“I don’t know,” said Marjie. “I can think of some situations where a lack of teeth could be advantageous.”

“Get your mind out of the gutter,” Thea said. “And back off.”

We went back to playing the game after that, but Violet wouldn’t let the matter drop.

“Maybe we’ll do that girls’ trip this weekend,” she said. “We’ll see how you like it then, when the rest of us go to Atlantic City without you.”

“I see we’ve taken a step down from Las Vegas.”

“I can’t do it this weekend,” said Marjie. “I’m getting a shot for my carpal tunnel on Saturday. What about next week? I bet hotel rates are cheaper midweek.”

Violet shook her head. “No, I’ve got my knitting circle on Wednesday. I’m this close to finishing a sweater for my great-grandson. We’ll have to do the weekend after that.”

“Nope,” Thea said, peering over the top of her cards. “I have my grand-niece’s engagement party.”

“Who said you were invited?” Violet said.

I blinked, actuallyhearingwhat Auntie Thea had just said.

“Whose engagement party?” I asked.

“Julie’s, silly.” Thea looked at me in consternation. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten the scene she and her young man made at your grandparents’ party.”

“Oh. Right.” I flushed, my heart pounding. In fact, I almost had forgotten, what with all the moping I’d been doing about Ryder.

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