The Sure Thing

Ben, Liana, and Dan

"Looks like everythin's on track to go ahead with the club," Ben announced at the breakfast table. He'd just opened the mail and Richie Roberts had sent him all the legal paperwork.

"Guess I'll be getting in touch with the real estate office to close the deal on the property," Dan Evans said, draining his coffee.

"You'll wanna go ahead and contact the construction comp'ny too," Ben told him with a smile. He was happy about the news. He'd been looking forward to going ahead with his plans for a gambling club.

In spite of the way he'd been feeling about everything that had happened with Libby, Dan gave Ben a smile. ""Got that under control too. How soon you want 'em to start?"

"Yesterday," Ben told him, leaning back with a sigh.

As Dan left the room to make his calls, Liana smiled at the expression on her husband's face. "I know this is supposed to be a gentleman's club, but will ladies be allowed."

Ben grinned over at her. "The owner's wife'll always be welcome, darlin'. You plannin' to take up gamblin'?"

Privately he was thinking that there was no way Liana would be spending very much time in the club. Oh, he couldn't wait for her to dress up so that he could show her off at the grand opening. She belonged on his arm, right beside him for things like that. But he didn't want her visiting it very often. Didn't want her to lose that fresh and innocent way she looked at the world.

She raised an eyebrow at him. "You never know. I just might be good at it." She was teasing him.

"As a matter of fact, I'll make a bet with you right now, Ben Wade. I'll bet I can get you to go back upstairs to bed with me instead of out to the stables."

Seeing the look in her eyes, Ben's own darkened. "No point in bettin' on that, darlin'." He got up and took her hand to lead her toward the staircase.

Stopping briefly at the bottom step, he kissed her thoroughly. "It's always a sure thing."