If she'd been sober, it probably would have annoyed her, but she was just tipsy enough to not take offense. She needed less aggravation, not more. The croupier asked for bets to be placed, and she put down some chips without really glancing at the number or the color.

"I'd have said gigolo, but you're not oily enough for that." The vodka had loosened Julianna's tongue, broken down some of her English reserve, and she studied the bottle of beer in his hand. Domestic, not imported. College student on a lark?

"I take it this is not your regular haunt?"