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  BLACK JACK

  Book 4 of The Mystic Nights series

  By

  MJ Nightingale

  Black Jack Copyright © 2018 MJ Nightingale

  Published by MJ Nightingale

  Kindle Edition

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.

  This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

  Published: MJ Nightingale February, 2018:

  [email protected]

  Editing: Keriann McKenna

  Cover Design © Melissa Gill at MG BookCovers

  Photography and Cover Image: CJC Photography

  Cover Model: Jessie Reis

  Formatting by: Paul Salvette BB ebooks

  This book is intended for a mature audience of eighteen and older.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Sneak Peek of Chapter 1 Playing for Keeps

  Note from the Author

  The Mystic Nights Series

  More Books by MJ Nightingale

  The Bounty Hunters: The Marino Brothers

  Acknowledgments

  About The Author

  Chapter 1

  ‡

  Could luck strike twice, Dawn wondered as she pulled into the lot of Mystic Nights Casino reserved for employees. She hoped so. Seeing her sister so happy with Lucas Stryker was great, but it made her yearn even more for the love she had waited so long to find.

  She used her security card and swiped it over the magic eye to gain access to the building and went straight to the casino’s employee locker room. She had not emptied her locker and was glad she hadn’t. It had her spare dealer’s uniform and a place to lock up her personal belongings. She needed to get to the floor pretty quickly to cover for Marla and did not want to waste time running up to her suite to change. Because her family ran the casino, and all of them worked there, they each had their own suite on the fourteenth floor.

  Edward looked relieved to see her when she went to the table he was manning. “Where is Marla?” he asked, glancing at his watch anxiously.

  “I’m covering for her tonight. The baby is sick.”

  “Oh, no!” Edward sympathized. “But I’m glad to see you. I love the holiday pay, but I sure as hell didn’t want to do a double today.”

  She couldn’t blame him. It was Thanksgiving after all. “Heading home?” she asked as she helped Edward count and stack the chips he needed to return to the counting room.

  “Yeah, my wife and the kids had dinner with her folks, but she promised to bring me home a plate. I’m famished.”

  “My mom had a buffet laid out for the workers in one of the banquet rooms.” Not all Native Americans liked to celebrate this particular holiday, but hers did and many families that worked at the casino were not Native. Her tribe, the Eastern Pequot, took the day to be thankful for their people, community, and most importantly, family.

  “I know, but my mother-in-law is the best cook. I look forward to her rolls and stuffing every year.” Edward patted his stomach, showing his appreciation for his mother-in-law’s cooking.

  “I understand.” Dawn smiled genuinely. Edward was also a family man, and she knew he wanted to see his kids before they went down for the night. Marla’s shift was from eight to two. Six hours. She got two fifteen-minute breaks and one thirty-minute break during that time. Dealing was fun but standing so long without a break could be hard on the back and eyes. Dawn knew she needed to focus and have her wits about her. As a dealer, you had to pay attention to the gamblers and their tells, and also be mindful of possible cheating or card counting. Still, she loved working on the floor. It was exciting. And since she’d started working upstairs in the accounting department a month ago, she found she missed it, too. So, she didn’t mind when Marla asked her to cover a shift for her.

  It was still early and Edward had only two seats filled at his table. She introduced herself to the duo, an older man and a middle-aged woman, and then dealt them their hands. For thirty minutes they played their cards, winning some and losing some. When one of the pair wandered off to try his hand at roulette, another twosome joined her. They appeared to be a young couple on a date. They didn’t stay long and left when Patrick, a regular at the casino, joined the table. Time passed quickly. Patrick liked coming to the casino once or twice a week just to get out, but he bet low and safe. He was a nice man and always polite.

  Her shift was half over when the woman left, but then two young men joined Patrick around 11:30. It looked like they were already working on a good buzz and bet recklessly. When the men began to complain too much, the pit boss came over to stand behind Dawn as she took their losses from them. Disgruntled, the men wandered away, not willing to put up a fight with big, burly Ivan standing behind her. She thanked Ivan and paid Patrick his meager winnings. It was a slow night considering it was Thanksgiving, and Dawn glanced at the other two black jack tables. Seated at one table was a sexy as sin cowboy type with two women in sequined dresses on either side of him. The women weren’t playing but just watching as he won hand after hand. They hung onto his every word and cheered for him.

  “Looks like Barbara is losing some serious chips to the cowboy. Why don’t you relieve her and give her a break? A new dealer might change the cowboy’s luck.”

  Dawn noticed the man earlier. He was tall, shoulders like a linebacker, and his silver shirt and grey tie were classy with his black cowboy hat tilted at just the right angle. His dark hair was just long enough to curl and give him a boyish look, though the man was probably in his mid to late thirties. Too old for her, but still she could appreciate that chiseled chin and the dimple in his right cheek when he smiled. His eyes, like his tie, were grey. Something about him was incredibly appealing. Dawn nodded, counted up her chips, and handed them to Ivan who would take them to Barbara’s table for her. Barbara was counting her chips as well, getting ready for her break and the dealer change.

  When Dawn introduced herself to the cowboy, he smiled broadly. “Think my luck has just changed, ladies.” He spoke to the two women on either side. One was petting his arm, as if he were a puppy, and the other was whispering in his ear. She saw the cowboy shake his head. “No, sweetheart. I’m feeling a bigger win coming on. Not tonight.” He winked at Dawn.

  Dawn smiled inwardly, knowing the cowboy was turning down whatever proposition the woman had made. “Oh, you’re no fun, Jackson
,” pouted the blonde with the ruby lips.

  “I told you I didn’t mind the company tonight, but I was here to play cards.”

  “Come on, Susie. Jack is not in the mood to play tonight.”

  Susie, the brunette, slid off her stool and gave the cowboy a kiss on the cheek. “Some other time, then, Jackson?”

  “Yes, sure, Susie.” He turned to allow Molly to kiss him on the cheek as well. When she did and slid off her stool, Jack watched the two women slink away. They were both gorgeous and a great diversion while he played. He was here to score tonight, but not with them. Playing big money was what he was after and to get noticed by some of the other big gamblers. He was hoping to get an invitation to a private game. A game that allowed bets higher than what the gaming commission allowed.

  Inwardly, Dawn cringed as she watched the man named Jackson, or Jack, ogle the two working girls as they walked off. She knew who the girls were. Not by name, until now. But she had seen them in the casino before. They often worked the casino for high rollers, and Jackson qualified given the stack of chips before him. They weren’t allowed to work the hotels but often did. They were not allowed upstairs at all.

  “Ready, Jackson?” Dawn asked, trying to keep the sarcasm from her voice. Non-judgmental dealer. That’s who she was.

  “I’m always ready.” The words were spoken with such a wicked intonation, it made Dawn blush, although it hadn’t been the first time she had heard those words come out of a man’s mouth while working in the casino. But this man was exemplary in every way. If he weren’t so old, she might be interested in a little fling.

  Jackson turned to her, then, and really looked at the new dealer for the first time. She was cute, he thought, as she blushed profusely. Adorable, and looked to be barely out of high school. “Geesh, they hiring high school kids now?” he grumbled, teasing the already red-faced woman. Seeing a woman blush was always a big turn on for him. Not like the jaded working girls who never felt embarrassed because they’d seen it all before.

  “I’m twenty-five. But thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “Well, twenty-five. That is good to know.” His smile deepened and the dimple in his right cheek reappeared. “And, it was a compliment,” he added as an afterthought, realizing then that he was flirting with the girl. He hadn’t done that in ages. He set his cowboy hat in the chair beside him.

  Tossing her hair over her shoulder, Dawn dealt the cards and tried not to react to the man before her. It was hard to do. His penetrating gaze, the grey eyes, had her wondering more about a man she normally wouldn’t have noticed other than as a patron of the casino. Jackson had a ten showing; she had an eight. Ten underneath.

  His under card was a two. Jackson asked for another card and smiled. It was a nine. This beauty had changed his luck. He had been doing okay, but this hand would be a sweet win.

  She smiled in return when he doubled the 200 dollar bet. When she held her ground and revealed her eighteen, he flipped over his two. He had twenty-one. She paid the man his 400 dollars.

  “Thank you, Dawn. I was right. You have changed my luck for the better. A pretty dealer with cherry red lips and brown eyes that sparkle is just an added bonus.”

  Dawn’s mouth became suddenly dry at the personal comments. She quickly glanced Ivan’s way, but he was too far out of earshot to hear their conversation. She took a moment to bite her bottom lip before she spoke. “I’m glad I could be of service, and thank you again for the compliment.” She flirted with him in return, and at his raised eyebrow her stomach did a little flip-flop.

  The easy banter and his winning streak continued. The man was a good card player, and by her count after an hour he was up three grand. They had been joined by two other gamblers who had come and gone. Now it was just the two of them once more.

  “Care to up the ante?” Jack asked. Dawn glanced at the clock.

  “What are you thinking about, Jack?” she asked inquisitively. He had been no less than a gentleman, but his constant winning hands had her wondering if the guy was a shark. She was about to pull a new deck of cards. Ivan had come by twice, and just commented that Jackson just must be having a lucky night at the Mystic. She knew that meant they were being watched to see if he was counting cards. So far, she hadn’t been able to spot anything out of the ordinary. He just seemed to be on a winning streak although he had lost the last three hands in a row and was down five hundred.

  “A grand on the next hand.”

  “I have to get Ivan to okay it and a new deck.” Anything over five hundred had to have approval even in the high rollers room.

  “Fine.” He nodded but his grey eyes were alight. He needed to take the chance now and was glad when he saw the big, burly pit boss come over.

  Dawn repeated his request, and at Ivan’s nod she secured a new deck from a locked box below the table. Ivan remained at her side while she unwrapped the deck, shuffled, and let Jackson cut the cards.

  She had a ten up and he had the Jack of Spades. How fitting, she thought. Her under card was a Queen. Twenty. A great hand for the house.

  “Do you want another card?” she asked and watched his eyes. The grey in them looked like storm clouds. He looked at his under card and did not even blink or smile but shook his head in the negative.

  She showed her hand. Twenty.

  Then he smiled but did nothing. He was waiting for her to ask.

  “You going to show me your card?” she asked patiently.

  “Because you asked so nicely.” He flipped over his other card. An Ace. Also, black.

  “Black Jack,” she whispered in awe while he smiled that sexy as sin smile again.

  “Mmm, I like how you say that, Dawn.” His voice was like gravel and made her imagine saying that under him in bed. “I like hearing you say my name.” He was a mind reader.

  Again, that coil in her stomach began to turn and reached down into her soul where she’d vowed not to fall for a guy ever again. “Good game, Jackson. The round is yours. It’s almost closing time. How about one more hand?” She encouraged him.

  “Same odds?” he asked.

  Ivan nodded from his post. He’d been watching, too.

  She nodded. He looked at the dealer and wondered if he should. The moment he won the hand, he saw the two men he hoped had been watching get up and leave. He had been working on trying to get into a game with them. He heard about the Olson brothers and knew they played high stakes. Knew they were connected to the Santorini family. They had noticed him, which was good. He didn’t need to play another round now. He could take his four grand, go back to his room, and relax, but Dawn had been needling him all night. The sexy kitten got under his skin. In a surprisingly good way, too. The hot little ticket had not backed down from his flirting; and although she played coy, it had him incredibly interested in the little minx. Her long black hair, her petite little body with the curves. Those cherry red lips. He felt a twitch.

  “But if I lose, you have to have to have a drink with me. I need a consolation prize.”

  Dawn felt heat seep into her core. A drink with him was tempting. But he’d have to lose. She wanted to have that drink. She was ready to throw caution to the wind. He’d been toying with her all night.

  “If you win, then I’ll buy you a drink.” She was blatantly flirting and couldn’t stop herself if she tried.

  His eyes went round. The kitten was fierce. And surprising. He wanted her. Wanted to see what was under that dealer’s blouse and those tight black pants.

  She bit her lip, hoping he knew what she was offering.

  He knew.

  “Deal.”

  He didn’t care if he won or lost because he knew he was taking this little kitten to bed.

  Chapter 2

  ‡

  Dawn was covering another shift for Marla whose six-month-old had a bad cold and was just finishing up when she spotted the man from the previous week, Jackson. She hadn’t been able to get that night she spent with him out of her mind.<
br />
  He had been the most amazing, generous lover she’d ever experienced. She’d been shocked. Had expected to slip out of his room quietly after sleeping with him, but the man held her all night, whispering sweet words, and reaching for her time and time again. They’d even had breakfast in the morning together. There hadn’t been any awkwardness. He was just as charming as he had been the night before. She woke up to a table laden with food, juice, and coffee. When it was time for her to leave, he kissed her at his door and thanked her for an incredibly wonderful evening.

  Now, he was sitting in the high-roller room with a group of men who often came on the weekends, and he was smiling. His smile brought back fond memories for Dawn. In fact, it had been very hard to get thoughts of Jackson Black out of her mind. Jack had been an excellent lover, and she regretted not getting his number; but there had been something about the man that bothered her. He was older than she was by at least a decade. But it wasn’t his age that alarmed her; it had been something she could not quite put her finger on. He hadn’t revealed much of who he was over breakfast other than his last name. He’d asked her questions about herself. Nothing too personal. She thought he might ask for her number and had been slightly insulted when he hadn’t. But she’d shrugged it off. She didn’t do one night stands often, but she knew he was one she’d never regret.

  Seeing him again in the high-roller room meant that he was a serious gambler. He had hinted as much over breakfast. She was happy having a night or two with him, but she did not think he was the type of person she should become seriously involved with. But the sex! Damn! It had been mind-blowing. Most of her friends were settled down; and now that her sister was, too, her evenings were spent home alone. She really didn’t enjoy going out by herself. Maybe Jackson could be more, a fling at the very least. She could handle that, she mused to herself. A slightly older man who knew how to treat a woman. She felt butterflies take flight in her stomach.

  She threw caution to the wind and quickly went to change out of her uniform. Perhaps she could track Jackson down before he left the casino. She knew this wasn’t a relationship that could go anywhere; but if he was up for another fun evening, she was game.