The Return of the Rebel

As she started for the door, her thoughts turned to her family. Even before learning of her family’s financial problems, she’d made plans to transfer to the casino floor. She was bored senseless working in the accounting department. To think she left the family ranch because the work was isolating and she’d ended up taking a position where she spent her days alone in an eight-by-eight cubicle where silence was the status quo.

But then one day out of the blue her brother had called. She’d been so happy to hear from a family member. She hadn’t heard a word from them since the funeral.

However, Kurt hadn’t phoned with the intent of mending fences. He had news—bad news. The ranch was in arrears on its mortgage. And considering her Ivy League tuition was in large part the reason the ranch had been mortgaged in the first place, he thought she might want to help save their heritage.

The news totally blindsided her. Never once in her life had she imagined that the family had money problems. And to know that she was about to be condemned for yet another Sinclair tragedy was not something she could let happen. She could not change the past, but going forward, she hoped to bridge the gap with her family.

Her fingers gripped the cold metallic door handle. One thought rose above the others: Sinclairs do not give up. No matter what.

Her grandfather had taught her that the first time she’d gotten thrown from a horse. If you wanted to succeed, you had to get back in the saddle and ride. That’s what Sinclairs did—roughed things out.

She leveled her shoulders, released the door handle and turned. “Mr. Burns, you’re right.” His eyes lit up as though he was shocked by her bold confession. But before he could utter a word she rushed on. “Jax and I were having a disagreement. However, at the time I had no idea he was your special guest. I merely thought he was—”

“Here to check up on her for her big brother.” Jax stepped between them to gain Mr. Burns’s full attention.

At last, Jax found his voice, but why now? What convinced him to finally come to her aid?

The answers would have to wait. His motives paled in comparison to her losing her job and letting her family down...again. At the moment, she didn’t have much choice but to go along with his fabricated story.

“That’s right,” she chimed in, trying to sound as genuine as possible. “And I didn’t want Jax reporting back to my family about what I’ve been up to since moving away.”

Surprisingly Mr. Burns’s lips lifted at the corners as amusement danced in his dark eyes. “Let me guess, your family doesn’t know that you’ve been working in a casino and they wouldn’t approve of it.”

This time she didn’t have to lie. “That pretty much sums it up. They are old-fashioned in their beliefs.”

Mr. Burns’s eyes narrowed. “Then unless you’re planning to find another job, I suggest you treat all of Glamour’s guests with a pleasant demeanor.”

She forced a smile on her face. “Of course. It was just a mix-up.”

Mr. Burns turned to Jax. “The question still remains... Would you like me to assign you another host?”

He rubbed the dark scruff on his jaw. “No. Cleo and I will be fine. And we have some catching up to do.”

Mr. Burns’s gaze shifted between them as though making up his mind. “If that is your wish, Cleo will remain as your host. I have you set up in our most exclusive residence.” He handed Jax the key card. “The bungalow should provide you with the privacy you’re seeking. Cleo can show you the way. Do you need anything else?”

“Not at this time. I’m sure if something comes up Cleo will be able to take care of it.”

Mr. Burns nodded. “But remember, I’m just a phone call away.”

“Thank you.” Jax extended his hand to the man.

After they shook hands, Mr. Burns moved past her, pausing long enough to say softly, “One more slipup and you’re done.”

A cold chill ran down her spine. The man had it in for her ever since the episode that occurred shortly after she’d started working in the accounting department. She’d pointed out some irregularities in his expense account, which were subsequently rectified.

Still, rumors were circulating that the only reason Mr. Burns had agreed to the promotion was because it was an all-or-nothing proposition. Either she was successful at endearing the high rollers to gamble at the Glamour Hotel and Casino or she was out on the street. And without a good reference, no other business on the strip would touch her.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure Jax is well cared for.” She pasted on a smile, hoping it would suffice.

“I would expect nothing less.”

The irritating note of superiority in Mr. Burns’s voice grated on her razor-thin nerves. If the man hadn’t been so eager to please Jax, she would be out on the curb right now. The fact she felt indebted to Jax ate at her.

With the door firmly shut, Cleo turned to Jax. Her mouth moved but the words wouldn’t come. At last, she ground out, “Thank you.”

His brows rose in surprise. “You’re welcome. But the part I don’t understand is why your brother didn’t mention that you are working here in Vegas—”

“You’ve been talking to Kurt?” The thought left her unsettled.

Jax nodded. “We’ve kept in touch since I left Hope Springs.”

Why was this the first she’d heard of it? Kurt was five years her senior, but she’d been closest to him out of all four of her brothers. When she’d needed someone to talk to, he was the one she’d turned to. So how had she missed hearing about Jax?

She tilted her chin and met his gaze. “You know, it’s funny he’s never mentioned you since you skipped town.”

“Maybe he thought it was for the best.”

“Why would he think that?”

Jax gave her a do-you-really-need-to-ask-that-question look. “As I recall, his kid sister had a massive crush on me—the kid from the wrong side of the tracks. I’m guessing he wouldn’t want you having anything further to do with me.”

Heat flamed in her chest and licked at her cheeks. “That was a long time ago. You can’t fault me for my lack of judgment. I was just a kid. I’ve grown up since then.”

“Trust me, I’ve noticed.”

The implication of his words only multiplied her discomfort. Why was she letting him get her worked up? Back then she’d been a teenager with raging hormones and a complete lack of sense. And the fact that her family disapproved of Jax had only made him all the more attractive. What girl didn’t go through a stage of falling for a sexy bad boy?

But even now with this mature version of Jax, his sexiness had only escalated. And his dreamy smile still had the power to penetrate her defenses and turn her insides to mush.

“We aren’t here to talk about the past.” She cleared her throat and schooled her facial features into what she hoped was a serious expression. “Why don’t I show you to your bungalow?”

“Listen, I don’t want to get you in any more trouble with your boss, but this arrangement obviously isn’t going to work. So I don’t care how you want to explain it to him, but you can’t be my casino host. Better yet, don’t say anything to him and you’ll officially be my host but from a distance. A long distance.”

“What?” Her chest tightened. “I—I can’t do that. You’re one of the casino’s most valuable players. Upper management would find out immediately and accuse me of neglecting my duties.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.” His brows gathered. “I just want a quiet vacation.”

“And you’ll have one while I take care of you...er, manage your needs.” She pressed her lips together, knowing that with each attempt to dig out of this uncomfortable hole, she was only making it deeper for herself.

A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Cleo, you still have a way of making me smile.”

She glanced up, noticing how his face lit up when he smiled, easing his worry lines. Maybe his new life of luxury wasn’t all chocolate and roses. From the obvious size of his bank account, she couldn’t imagine what problems might be plaguing him. For a second, she considered asking but resisted. It wasn’t any of her business.

“Does that mean I can go ahead and do my job?”

“Still as persistent as ever.” Jax shook his head. “All right. Maybe we can try it on a trial basis. But that’s no guarantee it’ll work.”

It was so much better than a no and it would give her time to soften him up. Hope bloomed in her chest. She would make this work...one way or the other.

Before she could say anything else to amuse him and embarrass herself, she turned to exit the office. “I’ll show you around. I’m sure you’re anxious to get to the tables.”

“Actually there’s no rush.”

Cleo glanced back. “Really? Because if you’re concerned about unpacking, don’t be. I can have the staff do that for you.”

“Are you that eager for me to start losing my money?”

Her gaze narrowed at his snide comment. “I get paid based on how much you wager, win or lose. So if you’ll follow me, I’ll give you a quick tour of the casino on the way to your lodging.”

“That won’t be necessary. I’d just like to get there quickly and discreetly.”

If he wasn’t up to something, why was he acting so strange? And did this have anything to do with his newfound wealth? The questions buzzed through her mind.

He was no longer Jax Monroe, Hope Spring’s rebel. The truth was she never believed that he was a bad boy, more likely misunderstood and living up to people’s low expectations of him. Back in the day he’d been so sexy with his long hair and holey jeans. Every girl in town had her eye on him—including her.

Cleo couldn’t wait to tell her mother about this amazing transformation. Suddenly her excitement dipped. The gaping hole in her heart throbbed. Sometimes when she got excited, she’d forget that her mother was no longer speaking to her.

“Was there something else?”

Cleo glanced up at him, unable to recall their discussion. “What?”

“You were about to show me to my room.” Jax’s penetrating gaze met hers, making her turn away before she said or did something stupid.

“Follow me.” She started toward the players’ area.

“Is there a back way to my room?”

She nodded and turned around, guiding him down a long nondescript maintenance hallway. Jax may be tall, handsome and mysterious, but she had to remember that he was her client—a stranger to her now.

She didn’t even know if she should trust him, but a little voice in the back of her mind said that he was still the same good guy down deep where it counted. He was also the guy her family didn’t approve of—at least not for her. It niggled her that he was good enough for her older brother to pal around with, but when it came to her, she’d been forbidden to hang out with him—not that it had stopped her.

The silence between them stretched on. She didn’t do well with awkward moments. “We’re having a vintage car show in our convention center, if you’d like to look around—”

“Maybe later.”

So much for conversation. She didn’t recall Jax being this quiet when he was a kid. In fact, there were times he hadn’t known when to shut up. She couldn’t believe she was missing that smart-mouthed kid—the same kid who would go out of his way to put a smile on her face. What in the world had changed him so drastically?

She stopped and pushed open a heavy steel door. The glare of the Nevada sun nearly blinded her. She blinked and her eyes soon adjusted. As she moved along the secluded footpath, the sound of laughter, the cacophony of voices and the splash of water filled the air.

Jax grabbed her arm, giving her pause. “I thought we were taking the back way to my room.”

An army of goose bumps raced over her skin. She pulled away from his touch and ignored the fluttery feeling in her chest.

She lifted her chin to face him. “We are. Your bungalow is in a secluded area just beyond the pool. Don’t worry, there’s a path over here on the side that we can use.”

As they passed the pool she found herself glancing over at the crowd of young people on summer break, enjoying themselves. Her family were ranchers—and ranchers didn’t take holidays. Or so her parents told her every time she asked them if they could go on a trip like her friends did.

It was always expected that when she wasn’t in class, she would be at home helping out. It’s what her brothers did. No one ever seemed to understand she was different. Was it so wrong to want to hang out with her friends? Or take vacations?

It was always presumed she’d become a rancher’s wife—just like her mother and grandmother. After all, she was a Sinclair and ranching was in their blood. Except somehow the love of ranching had skipped over her.

“This sure is different from Hope Springs,” Jax said, as though he, too, were thinking about the old days.

“Is that good or bad?”

“Neither. Just an observation.”

The desert air was dry and hot as it rushed past them. Even though the private walkway was ensconced with palms trees, large rocks and various types of greenery, she gazed longingly at the glimpses of the enormous pool that had a wall of granite with a beautiful waterfall on one side. A dip in the cool water was so tempting. But employees were forbidden to indulge. She wondered if that rule could be suspended if someone like Jax invited her for a swim. After all, her priority was to keep her clients happy.

“What has you smiling?”

She was smiling? She hadn’t realized that her thoughts had transferred to her face. She’d have to be careful in the future. The last thing she needed was Jax getting any ideas about her meandering thoughts.

“I was just imagining how nice it’d be to take a dip in the pool.”

“It is hot out.”

“It’s always hot in Vegas.”

“So how is it that the only Sinclair girl ended up in Las Vegas? I’d have thought you’d be back in Hope Springs with a cowboy by your side and a baby in each arm.”

Cleo stopped short on the narrow path. He almost ran into her. “Not you, too. You sound like my parents.”

“Calm down. I can see I struck a chord. I just thought that with your close-knit family that you’d never want to leave.”

“Well, you’re wrong. Besides, you did the exact same thing. I don’t see you rushing back.” She eyed him accusingly.

“That’s different—”

“How?”

“You know I couldn’t stay there.” His posture grew rigid. “After my mother died, my father only got meaner. I wouldn’t wish that life on anyone.”

The pieces of the past started to drop into place. “That’s why you were always out and about. You were trying to avoid your father.”

Jax nodded. “It was easier than having to deal with him.”

“But why did you have to play into the negativity by being at the center of all of the trouble in Hope Springs? How was anyone supposed to give you the benefit of the doubt when you never gave them a chance to trust you?”

His blue eyes stared straight at her. “Why didn’t you write me off like the rest of them?”

“Because I saw there was more to you than you were willing to let on.” She wasn’t going to say that she’d had a bad case of puppy love. Thankfully they arrived at his bungalow, putting an end to this awkward conversation. “This is where you’ll be staying.”

She swiped her master key card and pushed open the door. When she stepped back to let him pass, he shook his head and waved at her to go ahead. “Ladies first.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

So the bad boy had transformed into a gentleman. She definitely approved of this change. But that didn’t mean she’d let her guard down around him. In her experience, people only showed you the side of them that they wanted you to see.

She’d been so foolish in the past, always looking for the good in people. She’d been too trusting—too understanding. And what had that Pollyanna attitude gotten her? A broken heart and being disowned by her very own mother.

In the end, people always let you down.

“This is nice,” Jax said, drawing her back to the here and now.

“Yes, it is. It’s our most private and exclusive residence on the grounds.”

This was actually the first time Cleo had been inside the bungalow. Only the most valued players were invited to stay here. And it was hard to believe Jax was now one of the elite. A man like that would not need or want for much.

But that still left her wondering, what was up with him using an alias? And his request for privacy was so different from the Jax she knew back in Hope Springs. In those days, he seemed to open his mouth just to annoy someone who was hassling him. Now he put thought into what he said and, more important, what he didn’t say.

So what twist of fate had put him in her path? And why did it have to be him who held her future in the palm of his hand? Her stomach dipped. How did she get him to agree to keep her on as his host—permanently?

CHAPTER THREE

JAX KEPT HIS eyes on the room and not on Cleo. Did she have any idea how irresistible she looked? How in the world did she think that they were supposed to spend time together with her wearing a dress that accentuated her curves? But then again she’d look good in anything, including a paper bag.

“Do you like what you see?” Cleo glanced at him from the entryway.

Oh, he definitely liked the view. Way more than he should. He cleared his throat. “Yes... Yes, I do.”

Forcing his attention back to his surroundings, he observed the oversize leather couches. They looked inviting. He could easily envision settling in and watching a baseball game on the big-screen television. In fact, the idea sounded like something he’d enjoy indulging in right now.

Not so long ago, he used to work nonstop. But then he’d gotten sick and everything had changed. He had yet to regain his stamina after his medical treatments. It frustrated him to have to slow down, but until this court case was resolved there really wasn’t any work he could do. This was his first vacation. He was curious to see if it was as great as people let on. Or if he ended up as bored as he imagined.

“If there’s anything you’re missing, just let me know and I’ll take care of it for you.”

He was positive the one thing he wanted, she would not supply. Not that he should or would act on the desire to taste her sweet lips. Cleo was the very last person he’d have a fling with. She deserved so much more—more than he could offer anyone.

“Would you like me to get you anything? Extra towels? Some food?”

“I don’t think so. You can go.” He didn’t miss the frown at his dismissive tone and total lack of manners. His weariness was messing with his mind. “Thank you for showing me here, but I’ll be fine on my own.”

He turned his back to her and eyed up the couch. After a little television and some shut-eye, he’d be good as new—he wished. But with each day that passed, he was feeling a bit more like his old self.

Cleo firmed her shoulders. “I’d like to finish our talk about me staying on as your casino host. Perhaps we can come up with some sort of compromise.”

He was intrigued. “What sort of compromise?”

She shifted her weight from one blue suede stiletto to the other, deciding just how much information she had to impart. Considering that not only her job but also the possibility of mending fences with her family was riding on her bringing in a large influx of cash, she had no choice but to be totally honest.

“I’d better start at the beginning.” She worried her bottom lip as she sorted out in her mind a good starting point. “The thing is I sort of went over Mr. Burns’s head to get this position and now he’s out to get me.”

Jax’s eyes lit up as a smile tugged at his lips. “What do you mean sort of went over his head? You either did or didn’t do it.”

She hated how he put her on the spot. “Fine. I went over his head. But I wouldn’t have had to if he hadn’t kept passing me over every time there was an opening. And I’d already impressed his boss with a special project I’d previously worked on.”

“Some things don’t change.” Jax laughed, remembering how he’d envied the way her father catered to her. He’d never known anything close to that amount of love. His own father had been too caught up in his own needs to worry about his son. The sobering thought killed off his laughter. “Why should I care about this mess you’ve gotten yourself in? I’m not the one who decided to buck the chain of command.”

“So beneath that designer jacket and short haircut, you’re still the tough, ‘don’t care’ Jax, aren’t you?”

“You don’t know a thing about me.” The fact that she didn’t think he’d changed stung more than he’d expected.

“Then why don’t you tell me how you ended up in this exclusive bungalow?”

He let out a frustrated sigh as exhaustion coursed through his body. “This is exactly why I need another host. I shouldn’t have to explain myself. A stranger wouldn’t butt into my life.”

A pained look crossed her face, making him regret his heated words.

“You’re right. You don’t owe me any explanations. I just need you to forget everything that happened up until this point and give me another chance to be the best casino host you’ve ever had.” She twisted her hands together. “But there’s one more thing you should know.”

His patience was wearing thin and he was so tired. “What is it?”

“This job isn’t just for me.” Her voice was so low, he almost missed what she’d said.

“What are you talking about?” Then a thought struck him. His gaze sought out her left hand, finding her ring finger bare. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t a single mother. “Who’s relying on you?”

She wrapped her long honey-gold hair around her finger in a similar manner to the way she used to twist her father and brothers around her pinkie. But they were a long way from Hope Springs and he wasn’t so easily swayed. If only he could get past his fascination with this grown-up version of Cleo. It was just a lot to take in at once.

“It’s the ranch—the Bar S.” Her worried gaze met his. “It’s in a serious bind.”

The worry in her eyes ate at him. “Kurt never mentioned anything about problems with the ranch when we’ve talked.”

“I’m sure it’s a matter of Sinclair pride. That’s what got us into this trouble in the first place. It seems my father had been juggling money to cover his bases for quite a while without telling anyone that the Sinclair fortune had dwindled to nothing.”

The knowledge that the high-and-mighty Sinclairs had come down off their lofty spot in the community didn’t give Jax the satisfaction he once thought it would. Maybe it was the distressed look on Cleo’s face that drove home the reality of what she was telling him. People were about to lose their way of life—their home.

“But I don’t understand. What does any of that have to do with you being my casino host?”

“I need money to send home to put toward the mortgage. It’s in arrears.”

The Bar S was mortgaged to the hilt? He’d always looked at that ranch in awe and dreamed of one day having a spread just like it. Why hadn’t Kurt mentioned any of this to him?

Later he would have to call Kurt and see if there was something he could do to help. Just as quickly, he realized he couldn’t do that without mentioning Cleo. This would take a lot more thought before he acted. And right now, he needed to straighten things out with Cleo.

In his exhausted state, his brain just wasn’t making all of the necessary connections. “So you want to be a casino host to make money for the family?”

She nodded. “The position pays a lot more than being an accountant.”

He leaned back on the banister at the bottom of the steps. “Oh, yes. You mentioned making a percentage of what I wager.”

She cocked her head to the side and stared at him intently. “Are you okay?”

“Of course. Why?”

“It’s just... Oh, never mind.”

This wasn’t good. The last thing he needed was for her to figure out that something truly was wrong with him. It was difficult for him to maintain a normal existence while waiting for his test results without having to deal with the pitying looks or the sympathy.