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Ive always been a dreamer
01-19-2010, 01:07 AM
Happy Birthday, Jess!

Hope you have a great day and all your birthday wishes come true. I don't know if you'll remember this or not, but here's someone who's giving you a big birthday wave ...

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c95/Pekahchu/Don%20at%20Downstream%20Casino%205-16-09/CIMG3364.jpg

sodascouts
01-19-2010, 01:08 AM
Here to our favorite blackjack dealer! :cheers:

I hope you have a great birthday, kickin' back and takin' it easy.

Here's a stroll down memory lane for ya...

Fun in Tulsa!

http://www.donhenleyonline.com/images/DHenleyJessTulsa03.jpg

http://www.donhenleyonline.com/images/DHenleyJessTulsa04.jpg

http://www.donhenleyonline.com/images/DHenleyJessTulsa01.jpg

http://www.donhenleyonline.com/images/DHenleyJessTulsa02.jpg

Fun in Tampa!

http://www.donhenleyonline.com/images/DHenleyJessTampa09-02.jpg

Don rockin' at the Downstream Casino!

http://www.donhenleyonline.com/images/DHenleyJessDownstream01.jpg

Have a great day, sweetie! You deserve it!

Happy birthday Jess!

Koala
01-19-2010, 02:04 AM
Happy Birthday Jess! http://www.smilies.4-user.de/include/Geburtstag/smilie_geb_091.gif
Hope you have a wonderful day!

http://www.donhenleyonline.com/images/DHenleyCMA2008.jpg

Maleah
01-19-2010, 02:28 AM
Happy birthday Jess!!!!!! Thanks for always being a joy here on the board! So glad you joined us!! :birthday: You're an :angel:

AzEaglesFan
01-19-2010, 03:44 AM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESS, HOPE YOUR DAY WAS FULL OF FUN AND FAMILY :birthday:

MikeA
01-19-2010, 06:33 AM
Yes, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESS

Prettymaid
01-19-2010, 07:47 AM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESS.
Remember this? (Where's Jess)?
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c95/Pekahchu/Eagles%20in%20Columbia%203-17-09/CIMG3184.jpg

TimothyBFan
01-19-2010, 08:45 AM
A very happy birthday Jess!!! If memory serves me right, you're off for a few days so I hope you get to really enjoy today and have fun at your dinner with the family tonight!!

And we know who really took this pic...
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e136/williehoo/Don%20Henley/DonHenleyJesspic.jpg

and this one...
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e136/williehoo/Don%20Henley/DonHenleyJesspic2.jpg

And I've always loved this story....
http://www.donhenleyfans.com/woods/UNT%20Lecture.htm

and the pictures that do along with it!! Good job Jess!

Peekaboo
01-19-2010, 11:18 AM
Thanks so much everybody. I loved the trip down memory lane. Those are some pretty AWESOME memories. I can't wait to have more of those.

So far my day is starting off pretty good. I just arrived in my hometown about an hour ago. I had to work last night so I will be going to bed shortly. When I wake up i'll help my mom get things ready for the dinner this evening. It's supposed to be a nice day today with the temp in the high 50's and low 60's so we will be cooking out. My family is having a dinner for me and my cousin, Jenifer. It's her 18th and my 26th. After dinner i'm gonna go have a margarita or two (maybe 3 :grin:) with a few friends. It's gonna be a good time.

When the clock struck midnight last night, all of my supervisors and coworkers were telling me Happy Birthday and the players at my table put up bets for me. Thankfully I busted and everybody won. Ironically, I was on table 26 at the time. Also, I went on break right after that table and as i was walking to the break room One Of These Nights was playing in the casino. :grin:

Stars
01-19-2010, 11:40 AM
Happy Birthday, Jess! Hope you have a fantastic day, and a wonderful year ahead!:cheers::birthday::partytime:

EagleLady
01-19-2010, 11:54 AM
Happy Birthday Jess

eaglesvet
01-19-2010, 12:03 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PB!! AND MANY MORE TO COME!!:cheers::birthday::soda::headbang::blueblob:

tbs fanatic
01-19-2010, 12:11 PM
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY PB. HAVE FUN :cheers:

ticky
01-19-2010, 12:17 PM
Happy Birthday Jess!! (I know I posted this on FB but I thought everyone might appreciate the return of the 'fro, click for the whole video)
http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/assets/production/11/31/55/93/56sc1m.jpg (http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/Qjr2OCsgnhPFIOQK)
You know more is coming *G*

Brooke
01-19-2010, 03:04 PM
Hey, Don's got some great moves and great hair there, Ticky! :rofl:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESS!

Wishing you a wonderful day with family and friends! :birthday:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/desperado74/Extras/bdayparty.gif

And Don is thinking-"Where is she?"
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/desperado74/Eagles/Columbia%202009/March1709.jpg
There! Jess! Happy Birthday! :wave:

EasyFeeling
01-19-2010, 03:55 PM
Happy Birthday, Jess :D

http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/midi/musik/k034.gif

Super Frey
01-19-2010, 04:59 PM
:partytime: Happy Birthday Jess:birthday:


:cheers:
SF:blueblob:

Freypower
01-19-2010, 06:28 PM
Have a very happy birthday Jess!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/ozeagle/Other%20Eagles/DonTulsa.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/ozeagle/Other%20Eagles/MrHenley.jpg

Glennsallnighter
01-19-2010, 06:37 PM
Happy Birthday Jess!!! :birthday:. Hope you are having a wonderful day off work and are enjoying Dinner with your cousin.

Hope you have a wonderful year with plenty of love, luck and happiness and of course a little bit of

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t236/Irisheaglesfan/DSC02041.jpg

and
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t236/Irisheaglesfan/doncaddointerview2.jpg

or perhaps :wink:

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t236/Irisheaglesfan/Henley1.jpg

Have a great one!!! :nod::nod::nod:

GlennLover
01-19-2010, 07:22 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESS!!!!!!!!!:birthday:

Have fun in Margaritaville!!!:partytime:

http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss232/1Cdn/Don/eagles-eagles-concert-pavihao-at-7.jpg

http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss232/1Cdn/Don/Donjackson-1.jpg

Wildthyme
01-19-2010, 07:25 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESS!!

Have a wonderful day with your family and friends and may your night be filled with sweet Don dreams :)

Troubadour
01-20-2010, 12:02 PM
Again, I'm sorry I'm late to this, but a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, Jess! I hope this year is an awesome one. I can't wait to see you again in a few months. :mrgreen:

Here's to a future full of friendship, fun and Eagles shows! I'm thrilled to bits that we met. You are amazing. :cheers:

Now, some hot guy and his friend want to wish you a great birthday...

http://www.donhenleyonline.com/images/DHenleyHotFro.jpg

http://www.donhenleyonline.com/images/DHenley1975October.jpg

http://www.donhenleyonline.com/images/DHenleyGlennLRHug.jpg

http://www.donhenleyonline.com/images/DHenleyCharlotte09.jpg

http://www.donhenleyonline.com/images/DHenleyThackerville09.jpg

(I can almost hear you sighing from here!)

Big hugs from across the pond.

Peekaboo
01-20-2010, 06:20 PM
Thanks so much everybody. You guys are so sweet and might I add AWESOME. Those were all some really great pics and the video ticky posted was hilarious. Thanks, Rhonda.

I had a wonderful birthday yesterday. A lot of my family and my closest friends were there to celebrate with me. There was tons of food for everybody. My mom and dad put the dinner on for me and my cousin and they did a fabulous job. Dad pulled out the grill and mom got all of the side dishes prepared. Her potato salad is the best in the world...all challengers are welcome;-). Our cake was red velvet and it was DEEEEELICIOUS!! We all had fun laughing and telling jokes and stories. It was was a wonderful evening.



(I can almost hear you sighing from here!)


I was literally LMAO when I read that because I was checking out the pics and I actually did sigh, especially after seeing that pic of Don from the WinStar show. I'm still laughing as I type this. :hilarious::hilarious::hilarious:

ticky
01-21-2010, 08:50 PM
Sorry this took so long, but I finally got it finished! Happy Birthday Jess!!!

****************************************

Jessica was working the second half of a back to back shift and her tail feathers were dragging. It was her own fault, she’d agreed to trade with her friend, Andi, so she could go to a family reunion in Texas. Of course then Andi would take her three days in June so she and Lou and Christi could drive west for the Eagles concert in Sacramento. She was really looking forward to that. Lou was flying from England. It was a long road trip but well worth it. Right now, however, she was starting to wonder if she’d make it through this shift! Still she smiled and welcomed the guests cheerfully. She kept her mind on her work and every now and then she’d get a nice big tip. It wasn’t that bad as long as they kept the caffeine coming she was pretty sure she’d make it through the next…, she snuck a glance at her watch, UGH… 4 hours. She stifled a yawn and smiled as the very handsome man in sunglasses and a cowboy hat sat at her table.
“Hi and welcome. Do you have a Players card?”
Jess barely glanced at the man. It just didn’t pay to egg on the weirdos and any guy sitting at her table in the middle of the casino wearing sunglasses at 9:00 at night was a weirdo. He handed her two one hundred dollar bills.
“How would you like that back, sir?” Jess tucked the bills into the cash box and started counting out chips. She could see a flash of white as he threw a bright smile back at her.
“Surprise me.”
Jess sighed and counted out 8 $25.00 chips and placed the stack of chips in front of him. She was just getting used to dealing the high rollers table and seeing how much money flew through her hands each night staggered her nightly. She used to think “there’s my car payment, there’s my rent, there goes a new water heater…” now she kept thinking “There goes Eagles tickets..” Her family and friends teased her about her obsession with the musical group, but she couldn’t help it. They made her happy, and Don Henley, well he made her weak. She dreamed about him, imagined his laugh and smile and sighed. Dealing had become mechanical and she didn’t need to think too much about it so occasionally her mind wandered. Every now and then an Eagles song would play on the speakers over her table and she always smiled.
She shuffled and dealt the next hand when Witchy Woman came on over her head. She smiled and glanced up to the next table over where Christi was dealing. They were both silently mouthing the words and Jess grinned.
“That’s a great song.” Jess started at the deep male voice. “Do you like The Eagles?”
She looked at the stranger at her table and nodded.
“I’ve been a fan for years.” The man’s sun glasses were distracting but somehow he looked vaguely familiar as if she’d known him from somewhere, a teacher from her school? Maybe someone from her bank? That odd feeling of familiarity and attraction made her stare just for a moment. She quickly looked away and shuffled the deck for the next hand.
“Oh couldn’t be for that many years. You’re too young to remember them.” The man smiled at her with all those white teeth. It gave her butterflies and she could feel the heat rushing to her face and hands. Quickly she dealt out the next hand and waited till it was finished. She had regained her self and she spoke to the man without looking at him.
“I think The Eagles are timeless. Their music reaches everyone from 3 years old, like my niece, to 70 like my grandfather. “
The man was quiet. Jess was tempted to look up and see if he was listening, but she could see him through her peripheral vision and she knew he was watching her. She realized it’d been a while since he’d mentioned her age and blushed again. Maybe he didn’t know what she was talking about? Maybe he thought she was just nuts. Then he sighed, lifted his cowboy hat and ran his hand through his hair.
“Well, maybe 20 years ago, but I doubt they’d reach the youth of today.
Jess smiled a knowing smile. She was just 23 herself and she knew a lot of other friends, some younger, who were as infatuated as she was. Well, maybe not as much as she was. Jess was a true die-hard fan.
“Oh, I don’t know about that.” She dealt the next hand. The man was not having a good night and was down to four of his chips. Jess shuffled the deck and was getting ready to deal the next hand when the man stood.
“I’m done. Thanks Jess.” He smiled at her and dropped the four remaining chips in her tip jar. Jess looked up just in time to see the man turn and walk away, all four of his chips lining the bottom of her tip jar. Her eyes widened briefly and she went back to dealing. She couldn’t wait to tell Christi. $100 was the biggest tip she’d ever gotten. She just wished she could remember where she’d seen him before. If she could just see him without his hat and glasses, but she looked around and he wasn’t even on the floor any more. There seemed to be a big commotion at the bar in the center of the casino but that was nothing new. There was always someone who won big in the casino buying drinks for the constant crowd in the bar.
Christi had a better view of the bar from her table and was looking at the crowd there. She was speaking to a man who’d come from the bar to sit at her table. He leaned forward to say something to her and Christi’s eyes went wide and she became very animated. Obviously she was very excited but Jess would have to wait till break to find out why. They had 15 more minutes till break and Jess’s mind was on the crowd, the man who sat at her table, Christi’s reaction to the man at her table and the excited glances she kept throwing Jess and that 15 minutes dragged.
Mike showed up at Jess’s table to take over and giver her her break before Christi’s replacement came by. Jess headed for the back, her locker and the break room to wait for Christi. The whole casino was charged tonight. There seemed to be whispers and rumors spreading like wild fire. All she could catch was someone important was in the casino having a personal party, who, she had no idea. Christi came into the break room nearly on Jess’s heels.
“Oh my God, Oh my God Jess! Did you hear? Can you believe it? You must be going crazy! “
Jess’s eyes grew big in sympathetic response to Christi.
“Wait, slow down. I’ve only heard that someone’s here. Do you know who it is?”
Christi looked at her like she had gourds growing out of her ears.
“You’re kidding. You don’t know?”
Jess rolled her eyes as her friend grinned at her.
“Just tell me!”
Christi looked like the cat who swallowed the canary.
“I will, I just want to enjoy the moment.”
Ethan came bursting into the break room just then. He was so handsome but about a gay as a person could get. All the girls working there agreed it was a huge waist of gorgeous man flesh.
“OH my God! Can you believe it? The Eagles! ALL of them, are partying in the lounge right now! A HUGE party and here we sit in the break room! WHY didn’t I go to bartender school?”
Jessica dropped her coke can on the table. It didn’t tip over but it splashed and fizzed over.
“Thanks a lot Ethan! I was just about to tell her.” Christi glared daggers at him.
He shrugged and smirked. His long straight blond hair waved across his forehead.
“You snooze, you loose.”
Jess was mopping up the spilled coke in a daze. Her mind kept going back to the man at her table. There was something niggling at her brain, some connection that wanted to be made but she was missing it. She tossed the sticky wet paper towel into the garbage can and sat at the table staring blankly across the room. Still, The Eagles were here, in her casino! That mean’s Don is here. Don. OH my God, the connection clicked.
“OH.. My.. God… it was him. IT WAS HIM!” Jess dropped her coke again. All the fizz was gone now so it just sloshed a little.
Christi and Ethan had been talking excitedly about the party in the lounge and what must be going on there now. They stopped and stared at Jess. She looked at them her eyes wider then her head and her mouth hanging open.
“Did you see him?” she looked at Christi. “The man at my table tonight? The man with the hat and sunglasses? I KNEW I had seen him before. I cant believe it! I talked to him! He SMILED at me!” She paused and slumped in her chair. “He gave me a $100 tip.”
“WHO?” Christi and Ethan asked simultaneously.
“it was him.” Jess’s voice was hardly more then a whisper.
Christi leaned across the table gently gripping her friends shoulders in both hands and looking her in the eyes.
“who?” she said quietly but firmly.
Jess looked into her friends face. “Don.” She mechanically told them the whole story, the conversation, the tip, his smile and her feeling that she’d known him from somewhere. When she finished she sat in stunned silence while Ethan and Christi tossed excited questions at her. Garth, the pit boss and their manager, came into the break room. Christi and Ethan were still excitedly animated, talking fast and loudly. Garth cleared his throat.
“I need someone.” He looked around at the three on break. “Jess, you look calm. Come see me after break.”
Calm, she thought. Of course she looked calm. She was catatonic. Ethan left for the bathroom to primp and Christi went to call her husband and tell him what he was missing. It was his night off and he was home with the twins.
Jess sat at the table listening to the clock tick and going over her time with Don at the table, his smile and his laugh. She just wished she had looked at him, really looked at him, just once. She glanced up at the clock and her break was up. She dumped her flat coke in the sink and tossed the can into the recycling bin and headed out to the floor to find Garth. He probably wanted her to open a new table or take over someone else’s. She’d heard the new girl had called in sick, maybe Garth wanted her to take up the slack. Whatever it was, Jess didnt mind. She’d had her thrill for the night, for the week, for the year as far as that goes. He’d been so close she could have touched him.
Garth was on the floor watching over one of the tables.
“Jess, I have a special job for you.” Garth lead her away from the tables and any ears that might over hear. “I know this is against policy, but we have a special situation here. We have a VIP Party in the Governor’s Suit tonight. They’ve requested private tables at a private party there. Because of the delicate nature of the situation, we’re going to allow it. I want you to run the table there. I’ve already sent Tony and Marcus up with the equipment. You just head up and they’ll let you in. I cant even begin to tell you how top secret this is. You can tell absolutely no one about this. Do you understand?”
Jess’s knees had began to tremble when he’d mentioned the VIP’s. She knew exactly who it was. She still had no idea why they were there, though.
“Y…Yes.” She stammered. Garth eyed her warily.
“Are you going to be able to do this?”
Jess nodded her head firmly. She may not be able to speak without stammering but she wasn’t going to show any weakness.
“Okay, then. Head on up and get ready. The guests are all down at the bar right now, but they’ll be heading up shortly.”
“C…can I just ask, I think I know who they are, but why are they here?”
Garth sighed and pursed his lips. “No one is supposed to know this. If word got out we’d be over run. They’re doing a benefit concert for Mercy Corp and aid for Haiti. The seats are selling for five grand a pop and the audience is mostly other VIPs.”
Jess smiled. “That’s so cool of them.”
Garth smiled as much as Garth ever smiled then scowled. “But top secret so…” He made a motion as if he were zipping his lip. He glanced over the casino like a chicken hawk. “Get to work.” And he walked away.
Jess headed for the bank of elevators at the far end of the casino and wondered what Garth had meant by other VIPs. She figured it would mostly be local government officials, maybe some TV personalities and some of the rich folks around town. Still, it was such a terrific and thoughtful thing for the guys to do. The Governor’s Suit was in the penthouse and had its own elevator behind the desk. Jess waved to Bea who was working the desk for the hotel that night and told her Garth had sent her. Bea nodded and clicked the button to call the Penthouse elevator. Jess waited patiently as the elevator worked its way down to the lobby. When it opened Jess was surprised and had to smile. Still she wondered at the baroque style of the blue satin wall, marble tile and mirrored ceiling. What really made her blush was the gold lame’ bench with the blue satin cushions in the back of the spacious elevator and the idea of what it had seen over the years. She’d heard rumors, never names or faces, but rumors none the less. The doors slipped closed and the elevator moved quickly without prompting towards the penthouse. That was the only place it went. Just as Jess thought she might be doing a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory/Glass Elevator trick and bursting right through the roof, the elevator slowed and came to a stop. The door slid open and Jess was faced with a hall way that was back to the same Native American designs and muted earth tones the rest of the casino and hotel consisted of.
A pair of frosted glass doors with the casino’s initials etched in them consumed the right side of the hall way. She knocked lightly on the doors and saw a shadow from the other side grow into a man shape as he neared the door. Tony opened the doors.
“Hey gorgeous, we’re almost ready for you.”
Jess blushed and smiled back at Tony. He was always teasing her although she knew he was more interested in Ethan that her. Marcus glanced up from assembling a baccarat table and grinned at her. The Blackjack table was already up and sitting over by the French doors that lead to the balcony. They were open and a cool summer breeze wafted through the room. Again the contrast of the baroque style of the room clashed so sharply with the Native American motif of the rest of the hotel, it made her smile. It did feel as though you were walking into a very different world here. The deep and powder blues and golds and occasional pinks seemed ethereal and untouchable.
“Yeah, I know.” Tony was watching her as she gazed in awe and amusement at their surroundings. “I heard the original owner’s wife designed this room. It was supposed to be their place.”
Jess looked at him and raised her eye brows.
Tony shrugged. “No accounting for taste.”
Marcus stood up and adjusted the baccarat table into its place. “OH I don’t know. I kind of like it. It’s like a spread in Penthouse Magazine. All we need are the girls.”
Jessica gave him the stink eye with a furrowed brow and narrowed eyes.
“Not that I mean you.. Or I meant your just.. I mean.” Marcus back peddled and stammered. For a big man with dark skin he blushed from his head to his feet as far as Jess could tell. She just laughed and shook her head.
“Don’t worry about it. I know what you mean.”
Tony gathered up his tools and the cart they’d used. He tapped Marcus on the back of the head.
“Come on Shakespeare. Lets let the lady get her table set up for the game. We gotta make ourselves scares. Keep the magic alive.” He smiled at Jess. “Just think of us as the casino fairies!” and made twinkle fingers at her.
Marcus furrowed his brow. “Speak for yourself. I'm a casino commando! Shock and awe baby! That’s me. Shock and awe!” they backed out of the room leaving Jess laughing. Before the door could swing shut, in came Ethan and Thomas. Ethan had managed to talk Garth into letting him man the baccarat table and keep an eye on the poker table. Thomas was there to tend bar. The suit had a full bar on the opposite side of the room from the tables and Thomas looked very at home there. He was a tall, dark young man with a narrow face that always reminded her of Lou Diamond Phillips. He was also very serious and mostly kept to himself. Ethan was animated and trying hard to contain his enthusiasm. He sidled up to Jess.
“Can you believe it? Have you snuck into the bed room yet? Are their things in there? OH I’m just dying here.”
Jess shook her head. “No I haven’t and you’d better not either! In fact you’d better calm down before you get sent down!”
“Right, right, you’re right.” Ethan took a few deep breaths and closed his eyes. He began to hum something.
“What is that? What are you humming?”
Ethan opened one eye and looked at her.
“Shhh.. it’s my mantra. I'm trying to center and focus.”
Jess looked at him. “Right, well go center and focus over your baccarat table. You need to set up. So do I.”
“Right. I'm focused. I'm centered. I'm ready!”
“Great, Sponge Bob. Now, let me get ready.” Jess drew out a deck of cards and saw much to her delight they had an image of the Eagles on the backs from their One Of These Nights album. Jess would have known it anywhere. She was wondering if maybe Garth would let her have one of the used decks after the party when she noticed another deck with their picture from Long Road out of Eden on the back and she squealed. Ethan looked at her then looked at his cards and squealed as well. They looked at each other then Jess made a pushing down motion with both hands telling him to be calm and centered. Ethan began humming again. Jess blew out a sigh and set up her card shuffler with 3 decks of cards. Her table was clean and set. She was ready.
The three stood ready and looking as professional as they could. Jess’s stomach was alight with butterflies and she was afraid she’d break out in a cold sweat soon. This was taboo bit Black Jack dealers, well, card dealers of any kind. A nervous dealer made nervous players, nervous players bet small and seldom. She took a few deep breaths and relaxed her shoulders. After a few minutes She and Ethan looked at each other. They both looked at Thomas who seemed to be counting the olives and skewering them with toothpicks. Ethan looked at Jess and shrugged.
“I'm sure they’ll be here soon.” Jess was trying hard to relax.
“I don’t know. I’ve done these things before. I’ve spent hours waiting for a private party only to have them show up at sunrise and want me to stay and feed them screw drivers till noon.” Thomas was now stacking olives using tooth picks and olives to make an elaborate tower. Jess couldn’t decide if it was really creative of kind of gross. Just as Thomas was putting the crown on the top of his olive pyramid, the doors opened and people started pouring in. Thomas scrambled to devolve his pyramid and Jess watched the people coming in. There were some very impressive familiar faces in the crowd but she tried hard not to gawk and to keep her mouth from hanging open. Tom Petty came in with Sheryl Crow. His Honor, Governor Henry came in with a beautiful woman on his arm. Jess assumed it was his wife. Still she did not see any of The Eagles there yet. Somehow Tom Cruise was on the balcony with a shady looking man. Jess figured he must be an agent or a Scientologist. Finally she saw Glenn come in. He was with another couple she didn’t recognize and they were laughing. Jess couldn’t stop staring. He was as handsome and charming as she had imagined he would be. They wound their way through the thickening crowd to the bar and Thomas served up martini’s with flair and Glenn and his companions began to mingle. By now, Jess had a full table and she had to concentrate. She smiled and dealt hand after hand to faces as familiar as Cameron Diaz and Kid Rock, but she kept her eye on the door. Joe came in with Timothy and his wife a little later. She felt kind of bad. Everyone was drinking and Joe was mingling but she knew it was hard to be the only sober person in the room. Jess was dealing the next hand to a table full when she felt it more then saw it. Don was here. She looked up. He’d lost the hat and sunglasses so she could see his deep blue eyes and his soft hair. He’d let it grow out a little since she’d seen him in concert last year. She didn’t realize she’d been staring till one of the players at her table cleared his throat. She apologized and finished out the hand, much to her clients dismay, the poor man was having a bad night. She looked up and Don was watching her as the man tossed down his last bad hand, cursed and walked away. Jess felt bad. Her attention wasn’t completely on the game. It wouldn’t have made any difference to the outcome but still, all the people who sat at her table deserved her full attention. That was her job after all. Her table emptied and she was getting ready for a new group when Don walked across the room and sat down. Jess’s heart was about to leap out of her chest and she could feel herself blush.
“Hi Mr. Henley. Would you like to play a hand?” Jess was proud of herself for not stammering.
Don smiled at her. Now that she saw him without the sun glasses and hat she didn’t know how she could have not known who he was before. She’d spent hours memorizing that smile.
“Hi Jess, please, call me Don.” Jessica dealt out a hand for Don. No one else had come to the table so it was just the two of them. Don glanced at his cards and made a signal for another card. “Look, Jess, don’t let that guy before bother you. He’s got some problems.”
Jess glanced at Don blankly for a moment then remembered the previous player who’d cursed and tossed his cards away. She smiled and nodded.
“Oh, don’t worry. I'm used to guys like that. He spends all his time in the casino and doesn’t have much life beyond that. I feel sorry for his family.”
Don sighed and nodded. “Me too. He’s my brother in law.”
Jess cringed. “Oh Mr. Henley, Don, I'm sorry. I didn’t mean..”
Don stopped her by putting his hand over hers and he smiled.
“It’s okay. I agree with you. He’s my wife’s brother and his wife walked out on him about a month ago for exactly this. I cant stop him from throwing everything away, but at least here, I can keep an eye on him and everything goes to charity.”
Jess smiled, “It does? I didn’t know that.”
Don smiled. “yeah, small reward for his stupidity but at least someone will benefit.”
“That’s very generous of you all, donating all the proceeds to charity.”
Don shrugged. “Least we could do.” Don watched his brother in law from across the room sitting at Ethan’s baccarat table and getting more and more agitated.
Jess saw Don’s eye grow dark in frustration and embarrassment.
“Maybe I can help.”
Jess watched Ethan till she caught his eye and thumbed her nose nodding towards the aggravated man. Ethan gave an almost imperceptible nod and at the end of the hand announced he was going on break and the table would open again in 15 minutes. The man cursed and tossed down his cards.
Don watched him walk to the bar. Don’t turned and smiled at Jess.
“Did you do that?”
Jess smiled softly and shrugged. “We get breaks. Ethan can take his first.”
Don laughed quietly. “Thanks.”
Jess took a deep breath and looked at the man at the bar downing shots of whiskey like water.
“Well, I cant control the bar or anything else if he leaves this room, and Ethan will be back in a little while.”
Don grinned. “Jack doesn’t have any money. I told him I’d back him in this room only if he wanted to play. He leaves here and he’s broke. He wont play at the same table with me because I wont let him get away with the rude behavior and besides, he’ll be drunk before Ethan gets back.”
Don looked relieved but he was still obviously disappointed and embarrassed by his brother in law’s behavior.
The last hand Jess had dealt out to Don was a bust so Jess asked if he wanted another hand.
“I think you’d better keep dealing till Ethan gets back from break.”
Jess nodded and dealt another hand. No one else came to play the tables the rest of the night and Jess and Don played hand after hand. Don was funny and charming and Jessica had a wonderful time.
Jack had been true to Don’s word and had wandered into the bedroom and passed out. Ethan had come back from break and dealt for four more hours earning a very full tip jar. The baccarat table as abandon about 1:30 and Ethan packed it in and called it a night. Thomas began cleaning up the glassware left around the suit at about 2am.
“So, don’t you get a break sometime?” Don shuffled a stack of chips that sat before him. He’d definitely made up for the lost ones earlier that day.
Jess started at his question and glanced at her watch.
“Oh! Wow, I had no idea it was that late, or early. I was off work about 3 hours ago.”
Don flinched. “I'm sorry I kept you so long. I didn’t mean to run you off though. I just thought you might like to have a seat and a drink, but you probably need to get going. I’ll help you clean up.”
Jess stood for a moment in stunned silence. Don stood and started to pick up the cards.
“I’d love a drink.” Don looked at her and a grin spread across his face.
“Terrific. What’s your pleasure?”
Jess grinned broadly. If he only knew…
“I’ll have a beer.”
Don smiled and nodded. “Have a seat and Ill be right back.
Jess moved to the balcony. The night was warm but there was a soft breeze blowing and it felt good to get off her feet. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes letting the cool night air drift across her skin.
She only opened her eyes when she felt a slight shift in the breeze and smelled a warm spicy scent on it. Don was standing before her smiling down at her holding a cold beer.
“You must be exhausted. It’s been a long night.”
“You’ve no idea.” She said with a deep breath. She felt so relaxed with him now. The sun was about to rise and they’d spent the whole night together talking and playing cards. It wasn’t exactly the way she’d imagined spending the might with Don. That thought made her blush. She took a slow pull off her beer and snuck a glance at Don. He was watching her with a question in his eyes and a smile touching his lips.
“Someday you’ll have to tell me what it is you think about that makes you blush when you go away like that.”
Jess grinned and shook her head.
“I don’t think so.”
Don laughed. He sipped his drink and Jess stifled a yawn.
“I'm sorry. I’ve been working for the last 48 hours. I'm a little sleepy.”
Don nearly choked on his drink. He looked incredulously at Jess.
“You’ve been working for 48 hours straight?”
Jess smiled at Don. The hours were taking their toll on her and she was having a hard time staying awake.
“I cant, in good conscience, let you drive home in this condition. I’d be devastated if you got hurt. Why don’t you stay here? At least for a few hours?”
Jess took a deep breath and shook her head, but her eyes wouldn’t stay open.
“I insist.” He stood and pulled her up by her hand. His arm was strong and supportive around her waist as he lead her to one of the suit’s bedrooms and helped her remove her shoes, and covered her with a light weight blanket. He leaned forward and placed a light kiss on her forehead.
“Sweet dream, Jess”
She wasn’t sure how well this would go over with Garth and she knew Ethan would have the news of her fall from grace all over the casino before nightfall, but there was just no way Jessica could have declined. She knew Don was right, she wasnt going to make it home without falling asleep. So she slept.
It was nearly 5pm when she awoke and the suit was empty. There was a note by the bed.
“Dear Jess,
Thank you for everything. You’re an Angel and a friend.
Love, Don”
There was also a picture. It was one of Don’s publicity shots from The Long Road out of Eden tour. A wonderful full face shot with a windy desert behind him and It was signed.
“Dear Jessica,
I’ll never forget the night we spent together.
Thanks for everything, You’re the best.
Love Don”
Jess grinned. Maybe she’d work double shifts more often.

DonFan
01-22-2010, 02:30 PM
Happy belated birthday Jess!

I'm so glad I got to meet you-twice. And we know who really took this pic...and that is our mutual friend getting Don's autograph. Great night!
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e136/williehoo/Don%20Henley/DonHenleyJesspic.jpg


http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e136/williehoo/Don%20Henley/DonHenleyJesspic2.jpg

Brooke
01-22-2010, 03:05 PM
Wow! What a great night with Don, Jess! :cool:

Another great one, Ticky! :thumbsup:

Troubadour
01-22-2010, 03:50 PM
Wonderful work, as always, Rhonda! :applause: I'll bet Jess won't stop smiling for the next week or so.

sodascouts
01-22-2010, 04:53 PM
One of your best yet, Rhonda! Good work!

Peekaboo
01-22-2010, 07:21 PM
That was a pretty freakin' AWESOME story, Rhonda. Thank you so much for that. I LOVE IT!!! And Lou is right, I won't stop smiling after reading that, especially when i go back to work on Sunday. Now i'm gonna be on the look out for guys wearing sunglasses and a cowboy hat.

Rhonda, that was pretty cool that you included Christi (and her twins) in the story. Everything was pretty true to how it is in the casino with dealing, our breaks, and even with the lounge and center bar. You nailed it when you mentioned looking at my watch and saying "UGH!! 4 more hours." And also when you mentioned seeing people gamble away all that money. I have actaully thought many times before "There goes an Eagles ticket. There goes another Eagles ticket. That's my rent payment right there." You get two thumbs up from me. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Koala
01-23-2010, 04:40 AM
Ticky, I just read the story, great work!:thumbsup:I love to read it your stories!:)

Glennsallnighter
01-23-2010, 06:36 PM
Rhonda, as always I just LOVED that story...... keep writing woman! :thumbsup:

Molly
01-25-2010, 06:04 PM
A very belated Happy Birthday, Jess!