Page 1 of A Dream for Daphne

PROLOGUE

The sounds and lighting were stimulating Daphne’s brain like never before.

Her eyes were darting around and trying to take it all in. Maybe absorb some of it for luck.

It wasn’t working because she hadn’t won a darn thing.

She moved away from the slot machine at Foxwoods Casino to try her chances at another one.

Luck was something she never thought she had, but lately, it seemed to be bopping her on the head like a game of Whack A Mole. Only she was getting hit more than popping back down.

All good in her eyes!

And anyone who thought getting bopped on the head was good had some serious confidence issues.

She knew. It was hard to break away from it.

But she was trying.

She was in a new state, living in a wonderful remodeled cabin within walking distance of the water. All by herself too.

She had never lived on her own. What a wonderful feeling it was.

Not to mention, for once in her life, she wasn’t working multiple jobs. Just one.

She was a nanny and it was awwwwesommmmme.

But it was also a lonely life when she wasn’t working.

She had no friends here. No social life.

She pulled up her big girl panties and decided to come to the casino and blend in enough to feel as if she wasn’t sitting home channel surfing and trying to stay awake before crawling into bed at ten.

Before this move, she wasn’t even getting home from her second job before eleven.

But here, she knew no one other than her brother, Aster, and she lived in a remote area with only the owners on the property in the distance.

Walking around some now, Daphne found a slot machine that was calling her name and took a seat. A server came around and she ordered another wine and got back to playing her games.

Ten minutes later a man sat down next to her.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hi,” she said back. He was cute.

Dark hair, a rough growth of beard on his face, his brown eyes smiling along with his friendly grin.

“Having any luck tonight?”

“Not really,” she said. “But I’m not spending much either. I don’t have it in me.”

She might be making more than she ever had before and had very few living expenses at her new job, but she wasn’t going to waste money foolishly either.

She just couldn’t do that knowing how precious every dime had been to her in life.

“Been there and done that,” he said. “I’m Abe.”

His hand went out and she took it in hers. “Daphne,” she said. No reason to give her last name.

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