Mrs. Deacons put a full basket of biscuits in front of Casey. ‘Oh, come on, hon. Don’t outright challenge the man. He’s here to eat, not sweep y...ou off your feet. Well. I’m a poet and don’t know it.’ ‘Doubt if he could sweep me off my feet if he tried. Might work t’other way around, if I’d a mind to it.’ ‘Stubborn, that one.’ Mr. Deacons grumbled and stabbed himself a slice of ham. ‘Gets everything in a family way ‘cept herself. Never figured I’d cheer for someone to knock her up, but time’s. The more wine we had the more Kelly would touch me. Her hand would linger longer and then squeeze for effect.Dinner was served in courses and prior to dessert being brought out Kelly asked that I accompany her to the Ladies Room, which of course, I was willing to do.Kelly took my hand and led me to the hotel lobby where we saw the large expanse of windows on the second floor. It was an open floor plan and the windows allowed us to view most of the city skyline. Kelly was emphatic, "Courtney, we. Before I could catch my breath he told me that he was now playing a hand for double or nothing but he didn't have anything to support his hand. I asked him what he meant and I was stunned when he replied that John had told him that he would accept the bet if he put me up for collateral."What?" John will accept the bet if you agree to do anything he asks for one hour. If I win we owe nothing. If John wins we'll owe $22,000 and he gets to do anything he wants to you."I couldn't believe that my. .. A good blood transfusion worked wonders there. Luckily for me, Stacy and I shared blood types (and no, I won’t tell you which one). A nice, hearty bowl of clam chowder helped as well. The New England kind. The Manhattan variety is okay, but it’s really a stew instead of a proper chowder in my book. A real chowder should always be cream-based and very thick, with lots of potatoes in it.“Indeed ... and with three gangs behind me, we can get this done. That’s enough strength in force to take.