is a wise choice. Are you a guest at our hotel?” I nodded yes, and he continued, “I would further recommend that you place the check in the vault at the front desk rather than taking it to your room. We can have security escort you over there, if you like.”

Still stunned, I mumble something about, “Yes, that would be good.” Marco still had one strong hand at the small of my back, steadying me, and I noticed through the fog I was in that I was beginning to like the feeling of his hands on me.

The cashier asked me if I wanted the taxes taken out now, before he made out the check, and I said yes. He asked me for ID, and I gave him my driver’s license, and then he made out a whole bunch of papers for the taxes and some other rigamarole. I had to sign my name about 15 times, and then he gave me a paper with a breakdown of what the beginning balance of my total winnings were, all the taxes, for the state the Casino was in and my home state, and my $575.00 in cash, and a processing fee, and the final check came out to just over $15,000.00. That was a big comedown from 29K, but it was a lot more than I had in my pocket when I got on the bus that morning!

The cashier handed me the check finally, I counted out my money, and I signed a receipt for both. Then he motioned to one of the security guards, and told him to escort me to the hotel desk. As I turned to go, I asked Marco, “When do you get off work? I’d like to buy you dinner, or something.”

Marco grinned again and said, “I clocked out over two hours ago. I just stayed on with you, because – well – I just like being with you.” And he ducked his head and looked up at me, his bright blue eyes framed by his long, dark lashes.

I grinned right back at him and said, “So tell me, do you know a place where 500 bucks will buy two good steaks in this town?”

His eyes were dancing as he said, “I sure do! Let me get changed out of my uniform clothes and I’ll meet you at the hotel desk.”

The security guard escorted me back to the hotel desk, and I dropped off the check with the desk clerk. He entered it into a register book that I had to sign, and put it in the vault, and then gave me yet another receipt. I had not seen hide nor hair of Tom or his mother all night, so I called up to our room. There was no answer, so I left a message, “Tom, this is Shane – I hit it big in the slots and I’m going out to get something to eat. Don’t wait up.” With that, Marco came back, now in a