Lotus Blossom by Hayton Monteith Read Free Book Online

the scratch on the door that not even the cleaning fluid masked completely. “Good-bye,” she said, and hurried away.
    She barely noticed her growling stomach as she photographed the flux of customers in the early shift. It was a good shift for a Foto girl because the diehard gamblers didn’t arrive until much later. There were more tourists in this shift.
    While she worked she thought about what had happened.
    She had stayed too long in Las Vegas, and should never have involved herself with Dash. He represented everything she feared and hated. If it hadn’t been for men like him, her uncle would not have been charged with a crime he hadn’t committed. She must never forget that. She had the copy of the file. She had stayed longer than she should have, and right at that very moment Hans Melford might have discovered the scratch and be piecing things together. She shuddered at the thought, then smiled at a customer who raised a quizzical eyebrow at her.
    “That’s a great picture.” A round man with eyes like agates smiled at her, then showed the instant camera print to his equally plump wife
    “Thank you, sir. Ah, excuse me just a moment.” Lotus left the gaming room where she had been taking pictures and went out to the lobby to the rows of public telephones. She dialed and waited. “Petras? Yes, it’s Lotus. I’m ready to leave, if I can get a flight out tomorrow. You will? Oh, that’s nice. Of course I’ll get over to the house. Yes, I’ll be here, if you want to call me back. They’ll page me. Thanks.”
    When she hung up the phone, she stood there staring at the receiver, listening to the signal that told her the connection was broken. Tomorrow she would be leaving Las Vegas, leaving Dash. Her heart seemed to squeeze in her chest, sending a pain of loss through her whole system. She was losing Dash!
    “Aren’t you going to hang up the phone?” His silken laugh coiled around her as he took the receiver from her hand and replaced the instrument. “You’re pale. What is it? Aren’t you feeling well?” He lifted her, cameras and all, up his chest so that he could scrutinize her. “You’re working too hard . . . and now you want to give up your lunch. No way. You’re eating with me. Do you want to make yourself ill?”
    Lotus looked into his eyes and shook her head. I want you, she said in her mind, her hands coming up to clutch his neck. I’m losing you and I don’t want that. Her eyes felt damp.
    “Lotus . . . baby.” Dash felt her panic. “I’m getting you out of here.”
    “Can’t.” Lotus gulped. “Have to work.” Where had all her restraint gone? What had happened to the stiff-upper-lip theory she had always subscribed to? She rubbed her hair against his chin.
    He let her slide down his body, keeping her sheltered from the curious eyes of passersby, but not releasing his hold on her. “I’m getting you out of here. Hans will find someone to fill in for you.” Lotus felt immobilized, disoriented. “Can he do that?”
    “Yes.” Dash looked around him, his face a polite mask as people gazed at him. “Let’s go.” Keeping his arm around her, he led her to the office, went through the outer office to his own, then punched a few buttons on a console. “Hans, I want to see you, please.”
    When the stocky assistant entered, his eyes narrowed on Lotus, but other than that he made no sign that he even knew she was there. “You wanted me, Dash?”
    “Yes.” In short sentences Dash told Hans what he wanted done. “Get Harry to find a substitute for Lotus.” Then he dismissed him. He looked at Lotus. “You’re still white. I don’t like that.” He punched a few more numbers on the console then spoke again, his voice muffled when he half turned away from her. When he faced her again, he was smiling. “You’re coming with me. I’m taking you to my house.”
    “But I can’t, my own shift starts in a short time and . . . Lotus bit her lip. She had been about to say that she