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As Amber left the table and went back to the podium, I made my approach.
“Amber?” I asked. She looked up at me with big brown eyes. Something flashed behind them and that wide flirty smile settled into something more demure and polite. I saw her gaze travel all the way down my body, from my horns down.
A flame of desire rushed through me and I quickly smothered it. She was a professional. It was her job to evaluate who she was talking to.
That was all.
“Mr. Ryrik,” she said softly. “Is there something I can do for you?”
“Yes. Walk with me.” I signaled to the front of the house manager that I was taking Amber aside and he nodded in understanding. They weren’t at all busy that day.
Amber matched my pace as I led her to the casino floor, her hands folded in front of her.
“Excuse me, Mr. Ryrik, but did I do something wrong?”
“Not at all. I just wanted to get to know you better.” I stole a quick glance at her face and noticed the slightest blush of pink spread on her cheeks. “I realized I failed in that regard. I should be better acquainted with all my staff. Like him,” I said, gesturing towards a man working at one of the bars. “That’s Clancy. He’s been here about two months now, and he’s already pulling in more tips than some of the bartenders who’ve been doing this for years.”
Amber whistled. “How does he do it?”
“He listens to me. I gather information on our guests and pass it along to my staff. It helps them perform their jobs better. See the woman he’s serving?”
Amber nodded. “Mrs. Perkins?”
I hesitated a moment. How would she know who Mrs. Perkins was? She never eats here, just drinks and plays slots.
“Yes. I told Clancy about her two dogs, and Clancy knows to ask her about them every time she drops by.”
“That’s genius,” Amber replied. “So you don’t just know all the staff, you know all the customers, too?”
“Yes, that’s part of my job. If you ever have trouble with a customer, come to me. I can probably help you get along with them much better. Like those two.” I nod at two brothers, green-skinned Darguns loitering by the bathrooms. “That’s Tumeil and Turnbal. They’re brothers. They seem suspicious, but they just prefer to play at otherwise empty tables. They’ll wait hours for one to open up if they have to.”
“Oh, are they shy?” she asked.
“Paranoid. But otherwise harmless. And that gentleman.”
“Veran Kwiskill,” Amber said. Again, I had to pause. “Let me guess. He’s a widower three times over, so be extra flirty but don’t go home with him. Unless you want to be his number four in the ground.” Amber looked up at me with a knowing little smirk.
“Good guess.” She was dead right. Veran had lost three wives under suspicious circumstances, but this wasn’t common gossip. He was a deeply private person in public. I had to dig to find that much out about him.
How did Amber know?
As an indentured human, she knew just a few too many details about our clientele. She was either very good at her job, or she was up to something.
I studied her, noticing that smile still on her pretty face. Her cheeks were bright pink and her eyes wide as she looked up at me. And there was that pesky feeling again. A sort of possessiveness for something that had never been mine.
I’d never felt like this for a woman before. Certainly not one of my own employees. I indulged in a quick daydream of her grabbing me by my horns as I fucked her against the wall.
I shook my head. I had to focus. But the urge to move in closer and take her by the hand persisted. Even as I was sure there was something amiss.
I wanted to let it go, but something about her bugged me.
I brought Amber back to work and had a drink at the bar. I settled in for another round of intel gathering, this time much less lucrative.
Until a few hours later, when I noticed Amber standing in the corner of the casino with someone I could not place. Even after getting a better look at his face, I had to admit I had no idea who he was.
They spoke for some time, then he bought her food from a grab-and-go kiosk. That feeling squirmed around in my stomach again. I couldn’t tell if it was jealousy, suspicion, or a horrid mix of both.
Alarm bells rang in my ears. I had a bad feeling about that pretty little hostess. But I also couldn’t deny the allure of her smile. I hoped, for both our sakes, my suspicions were unfounded.
