by Piper Rayne
Outside, a car honks its horn three times. A quick glance at my wristwatch tells me that it’s seven on the nose. Asher’s here.
Maeve pumps her eyebrows at me. “You’d better get going. Wouldn’t want to keep your acquaintance waiting.”
I roll my eyes. “Why are you the worst?”
“You know you love me.”
“Unfortunately.”
“I expect to hear all kinds of details when you come in tomorrow,” she says in a singsong voice.
I look to Scooter and sigh. “Come on, baby.”
Scooter warms up to Asher very quickly. The dog has already taken to walking at his heel with little to no direction with his leash. Asher and I walk up and down the aisles of the pet store. Asher’s personal assistant, Todd, is the one just behind us pushing the cart. He seems really nice, though very clearly intimidated by his boss.
“What’s first on the list?” Asher asks me.
“We’re going to need to get him some food,” I explain. “There are probably a few things you should know about buying food. It’s not a good idea to buy whatever you happen to come across. I personally avoid anything with white flour, MSG, soy, vegetable oil, or animal by-products. It’s really all just filler that companies like to use because it’s cheap and easy to ship out, but it’s not actually very good for a dog’s diet.” We get to the aisle dedicated to food. “What size would you like to get?”
“Doesn’t matter to me,” Asher says. “What would you recommend?”
“Well, I like to buy in bulk, but that tends to get really pricey.”
“The price doesn’t matter to me. Just pick a brand you think I should use. I have no budget.”
“No budget?” I echo.
“No budget. I’m leaving it all up to your discretion.”
My heart skips a beat. I can’t remember the last time I got to shop without having to worry about price matching or keeping an eye on every cent.
“You’re going to need some treat, too,” I say slowly. “Scooter’s a really smart dog, but using positive reinforcement will really help him get acclimated to your home and expectations. You can’t go overboard with the treats, though, otherwise it might upset his tummy. I personally like to reward them with fresh apple pieces, or even green peas or carrot bits. It’s much healthier than the premade stuff.”
I look to Asher and find him silently watching. If I’m not mistaken, he looks a little…
Overwhelmed.
“How do you know about all of this stuff?” he asks.
“I’ve been around dogs my whole life. That, and I was half-way through my veterinary studies.”
He tilts his head to the side, looking at me very much the same way he did back at The Grandiose’s lost and found room. “A veterinarian?”
“What can I say? I love animals.”
“You said you only got half-way.” He says this like an implied question, giving me the wiggle room to not answer if I so choose.
I answer anyways, because it’s surprisingly easy to talk to Asher. “My dad got sick,” I say softly. “I decided to drop out to come home and take care of him.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he says earnestly. “Is he…”
“Oh, he’s fine. Made a full recovery. My parents are now living up their retired life in an RV, travelling all over the States. They stop by and visit every now and then.”
“I’m glad to hear it. May I ask why you didn’t go back to school?”
I shrug my shoulders, tossing a couple of size-appropriate chew toys for Scooter into the cart. “I took over the animal shelter after my parents left. If I go back to school, there’d be nobody left to watch over the place.”
“I see,” Asher says. There’s a warmth in his gaze that I hadn’t noticed before, the smallest of smiles pulling at the corners of his lips. The way he looks at me… It makes my heart skip.
I clear my throat. “Uh, but what about you? How does one get into the business of owning a casino.”
“And hotel,” he notes.
I laugh. “Oh, pardon me. How does one get into the business of owning a casino and a hotel. Let me guess. Family business?”
“Would you believe I won it in a poker game?”
I take a moment to consider the possibility. “I think you’re bluffing.”
“You sound pretty sure.”
“You don’t seem like the kind of person to leave something so important up to chance.”
Asher flashes a dashing smirk. “Well, aren’t you smart.”
“Was I right?”
“I built it from the ground up,” he says, pride dripping from every word. “It’s taken me many years, but The Grandiose is finally one of the biggest casinos on the Strip. All of my friends wanted me to turn it into a massive Waffle House, but I have better business sense than them.”
A giggle bubbles past my lips. “That sounds… awful. I’m glad you didn’t listen to them.”
“Me, too.”
“Did you always want to own a casino? I can’t imagine that’s every child’s dream when they grow up.”
“I wanted to be a firefighter,” he says, rather candidly as he picks a chew toy from off the shelf to inspect it. It looks puny in his massive hand.
“Oh, dear.”
“What?”
“Nothing. I just can’t stop imagining you sliding down the firehouse pole.”
Asher chuckles. “Are you flirting with me?”
My face flushes with heat. “I don’t know. Depends.”
“On?”
“If it’s working.”
Asher leans in a little closer. “Surely you don’t have to ask.”
Behind us, Todd groans under his breath. “Get a room.”
All it takes is one pointed glare from Asher and Todd shuts up. A wave of embarrassment rushes over me. I totally forget about the personal assistant that’s been tailing us the entire time. Now that the moment is officially ruined, I commandeer the shopping cart and push it toward the checkout counter.
“Come on,” I say hastily. “We should get Scooter settled in sooner rather than later.”
Asher nods, but says nothing.
Our trip past the cashier goes off without a hitch. I’m so used to paying for everything in dollar bills and spare change that it’s almost stunning how easy and quick the process is when Asher simply flashes one of his many credit cards over the card reader. With a soft beep and the printing of a receipt, we’re out in the parking lot in the blink of an eye.
When we get to the car, one of the fanciest Maserati’s I’ve ever seen in my entire life, Todd busies himself by loading up the trunk. Scooter sniffs at the wet pavement, probably looking for a nice place to mark his territory.
“That should be everything,” I tell Asher. “If you have any questions, feel free to let me know. I, uh… I think you have my number already.”
“Dinner,” he says quickly.
“Sorry?”
“Come to my place for dinner.”
“Oh, um…” I’m too flustered to string together a proper sentence.
Is he asking me on a date?
“For Scooter,” he adds, shattering any hopes I had. “I’m sure he’d appreciate a familiar face while he gets used to his new home.”
I think about declining, but Asher has a point. Scooter isn’t as skittish as Gaga is, but that doesn’t mean he won’t act out in different ways. At least for a little while, my being there might help him grow used to his new surroundings.
I nod and smile. “Sure. Dinner sounds great. For Scooter.”
Asher grins. “For Scooter.”
6
ASHER
Not for Scooter.
I don’t have anything against the dog. He’s actually kind of growing on me. When I initially asked Lake to dinner at my place, I’d meant it in a hey-are-you-interested-in-me kind of way. I’m normally much more straightforward than this. I’ve been mentally kicking myself for not just saying what I meant, but I jus
t don’t know how to talk to Lake.
She’s different. She doesn’t throw herself at me, doesn’t do anything overt to try and win my favor. Using Scooter as an excuse was really the only way I could think of getting her comfortable enough to come over.
Looks like this dog is turning out to be quite the wingman.
After Todd drops us off at The Grandiose, I send him home for the night. I know my nephew well enough to know he’ll do nothing but silently judge, the way all young men his age tend to do. Lake and I take the private elevator all the way up to the penthouse.
Mary is already waiting at the door to retrieve our coats.
“Mr. Chase,” she greets, voice thin and hoarse from years of smoking during her youth. “Welcome home.”
“Mary, this is Lake,” I say. “Lake, this is my house keeper, Mary.”
“House manager,” Mary corrects, like she always does. She winks at Lake. “It sounds much more dignified that way.”
Lake laughs and winks back. “Gotcha.”
Mary bends down to let Scooter get used to her scent. “Hello, little guy. I hope you’ll like it here. As long as you don’t make potty on the Persian rug, we’re going to get along just fine.”
Scooter barks, licking happily at Mary’s hand as if to say we have a deal.
I watch as Lake looks around the space in awe. I don’t know very much about how she lives, but if the sad state of the shelter is anything to go by, the extravagance of my penthouse is likely overwhelming.
“You live here?” she asks, risking a few steps forward to take in more of her surroundings. “You must really love what you do if you’re willing to sleep where you work, huh?”
I know it’s a rhetorical question, but I can’t help but answer. “I like to have my fingers on the pulse. If there’s ever a work-related emergency, I can be there to fix it.”
“Don’t you get tired of it? Constantly working.”
“Do you?”
“No. I love what I do.”
I smile at her. She’s answered for me. “Would you and Scooter like a tour?”
Lake nods sheepishly. “Yes, please.”
I place my hand on the small of her back, a delightful shiver snaking down my spine when Lake lets me.
My home offers a fantastic view of Las Vegas in all of its glorious splendor. I never grow tired of the sight. The clash of neon lights mixing with the bumper to bumper traffic are more captivating than the stars. Out on the balcony, there’s an infinity pool, water appearing to seep right over the edge. I show her to the main living room, the piano bar and lounge, the home theater. Lake is quiet the whole time, taking it all in. It’s hard not to notice the way she keeps her hands in her pockets, like she’s afraid she’ll break something if she touches it.
“And this is the room I think I’ll give to Scooter,” I tell her, showing Lake to one of the many bedrooms I own. It’s one of the smaller ones, the perfect size for the little dog. It’s been serving as a guest room for years now, but no one has ever been lucky enough to use it. Scooter may as well take full advantage of the space.
“Wow,” she marvels. “I’m sure he’ll love it.”
“I hope so.”
Scooter enters his new room and sniffs around, familiarizing himself with his new home. It doesn’t take him very long before he’s hopped up onto the bed, turning in a circle to find a comfortable position before finally lying down.
“Yeah,” Lake says with a light laugh. “He definitely loves it.”
I have to admit, Scooter’s pretty damn cute when he wants to be.
“So,” she says with a click of her tongue. “You live here all by yourself?”
I nod. “Yes. Why?”
Lake shrugs. “I don’t know. With all this room… Doesn’t it get lonely?”
I take her question to heart. In truth, I don’t think about it much. Ever since Natalia, I’ve always lived alone. I like being independent, able to move about of my own accord. Save for my house manager, there isn’t any need to check in with anyone. I can do what I want. I’m my own man.
But now that I think about it, there is something cold and indifferent about the place. Despite the fact that I’ve lived here for years, the decor and furniture all give off a hotel vibe. Nice, but generic. Family photographs are few and far between. There are no signs that this place has been particularly lived in.
Lake swallows. “Sorry. Ignore me. I shouldn’t be so nosey.”
“I don’t mind,” I reply quietly.
When Lake smiles, sweet and shy, my heart stops. She’s absolutely breathtaking. Painted in the lights of the city, Lake appears almost angelic. Captivating and beautiful and the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever had the luck of laying my eyes on.
My gaze falls to her lips and I’m suddenly unable to look away. I wonder what they feel like. I wonder what she tastes like. I wonder if she’s as soft to the touch as she looks. The urge to lean forward and kiss her is strong, but what’s even stronger is Mary’s poor timing.
“Mr. Chase?” Mary calls from down the hall. “Dinner is served!”
I clear my throat. “Right this way.”
“O-OK,” she mumbles, following my lead.
The dining room is rarely ever used. When I invite my friends over, we normally just gather in the living room to watch football on the plasma TV. The dining room is reserved for special occasions, special guests.
And I’m pretty sure Lake qualifies as a special guest.
One of the perks of owning a casino that’s open 24-hours is that its kitchens are always at my disposal. All I have to do is make a phone call, and the chefs downstairs can whip up whatever my heart desires. I’ve sent an order for a three-course meal, complete with a calamari appetizer, a steak entree, and tiramisu for dessert. Scooter joins us, sitting just off to my right, watching me like a hawk in the hopes he’ll get a few scraps to chew on.
Such a good boy.
“How do you like it?” I ask her after she’s taken a few bites. “If you’re craving something else, just let me know. I can have the chef send something different up for you.”
Lake shakes her head, mouth full of food. “This is more than delicious, thank you.”
There’s something wonderfully soothing about watching her eat. She savors every bite, appreciates every morsel. Knowing that I’m the one spoiling her brings me a great deal of joy. She probably doesn’t get to eat like this very often.
“Is there anything else I should know?” I ask her. “About the dog.”
Lake nibbles on her bottom lip as she reflects. It’s incredibly difficult to look away. A part of me wonders if she’s doing that on purpose. “The most important thing to have is patience,” she says. “Scooter’s a very smart dog, but he’s also got a short attention span. I like to take him out several times a day for a long walk. That way he’s usually too tuckered to run around at night and make a ruckus. If that doesn’t work, you can always tire him out with tricks.”
“Tricks?”
“You know, the basics. Sit, roll over, lie down. I was busy teaching him how to play dead, but he gets too excited to stay still for very long.” Lake beams. “Do you want me to show you?”
Her excitement is contagious, the air around her electric. I once again can’t find the strength to say no. I can’t seem to deny her anything.
“Sure,” I tell her.
Lake hops up out of her chair and kneels down next to Scooter, having swiped a few bits of carrot from off her plate. I leave my own seat and join her, crouching down to watch her work.
“Scooter,” she says firmly. She makes a finger gun and shouts, “Bang!”
The dog just stares at her, too distracted by the promise of food to realize he’s just been given a command.
“Come on, Scooter,” Lake says with a sigh. “You’re embarrassing the both of us here.”
I chuckle. “Maybe he just needs a warm up?”
“Good idea. Scooter? Sit.”
The dog does so an
d Lake laughs, handing Scooter a treat. We spend the next ten minutes like this, asking him to do simple tricks and working our way up to slightly more complicated ones. At this point, our dinner is entirely forgotten. We’re simply having too much fun to remember our own meals. When he finally plays dead, Lake lets out an adorable squeal of delight.
“Good boy!” she cheers, feeding the last of his treats to him with a well-deserved belly rub. “See? You just have to be…” Our eyes lock as her voice trails off. There isn’t much space between us, only a couple of inches. Lake glances at my lips, her cheeks a lovely dusting of pink. “Patient,” she finishes softly, barely above a whisper.
Damn, she’s beautiful.
I really want to kiss her, but I don’t think that this is the right time or place. Then again, when is it ever?
“Lake?”
“Yes?”
“What are you doing tomorrow?”
“I’m scheduled to open the shelter.”
“That girl you work with, do you think she could take over your shift.”
Something amused flashes across her face. “I think that depends.”
“On?”
“What you have planned.”
I smirk. “Let me take you out tomorrow. What do you say?”
7
LAKE
“Yes! A million times yes!” Maeve shouts, jumping up and down. The shelter has been open for all of five minutes, but there isn’t a guest in sight. “I knew there was something going on between you two.”
“It’s just one date,” I insist.
She pumps her eyebrows at me. “Which could lead to another date, and then another. Next thing you know, you’ll be walking down the aisle and saying ‘I do.’”
“Don’t you think you’re getting ahead of yourself?”
“Not at all. Trust me, I have a good sense about these sorts of things.”
“Can you watch the shelter for me, or not?” I ask, trying to keep focused.
“Of course I can. You cover for me all the time. Now I can finally return the favor. What are you guys going to do? Is he going to take you to a five-star restaurant? Maybe go dancing? Oh, maybe go and watch a show?”