A door slammed down the hall, followed by yelling. Carol’s eyes widened, appearing shocked by the sudden outburst.
“You’re leaving at the perfect time,” Carol tilted her head toward her and spoke in low tones. “It’s highly unusual for Mr. Royale to yell.”
Kylie stepped in the elevator, but as the metal door started closing, a woman forged herself between the steel and the doors bounced open. Not smart.
Then she caught the woman sniffling, and saw the tears. Oh.
“Bonnie, wait.” A man called out. “Let’s discuss this.”
She knew that voice. The man ran toward them. Macon. Their gazes connected, and he stopped five feet away. The door began to slide close.
Was that guilt written all over his face? What did he have to be guilty for? She glanced at the crying woman next to her. Damn it. A girlfriend, or worse, a fiancée. Was that what he had wanted to tell her? Her chest grew heavy, and she covered her burning face. Not again.
The metal doors couldn’t close fast enough. It was obvious those two had a relationship. She was almost positive, but she had to find out for certain. No, you don’t. You’ll be gone Sunday and never see Macon again, so what does it matter? She uncovered her face. It mattered. “Are you okay, ma’am?” Kylie dug in her purse and pulled out a tissue.
The woman took the tissue and blew her nose. “Not really.”
She shouldn’t interfere. Yes. You need to know. “Did Macon say something to upset you?”
“What? Macon?” The woman glared at her. “Don’t tell me Macon knows about it too. Well, of course he does.”
Kylie shoulders dropped, and the elevator door eased open. What the hell was she talking about? She was more confused now than ever. It’s highly unusual for Mr. Royale to yell, she recalled Carol saying. So was Kylie upset at Mr. Royale or Macon? None of this made sense.
“Screw Macon.” The lady glared at her, then rushed out.
Her jaw dropped, and her palms grew sweaty. What the heck was going on? She stood in the elevator not sure what to do or where to go.
Maybe she’d ruined a perfectly good relationship. Just like her ex-friend had done to her. She punched her floor number a little harder than needed. No. She didn’t want to be that woman. Where’s that Banana Orgasm when I need it?
Kylie hurried to her room, changed into her trusty one-piece, then hurried down to the pool area. After ordering, she sat between Sara and Ashlyn and sucked the frozen drink down as fast she could. Pain shot to her head.
“Ouch. Brain freeze.” She slammed the drink down on the small table next to her and caught Ash and Sara’s raised eyebrows. “Stop worrying. I’m fine.”
“Doesn’t sound like it,” Sara said, half-hidden beneath her floppy white hat. “What happened?”
“Royale didn’t show up for the meeting. He had an emergency.” But Macon showed. The man who charmed Ash’s dress off me. The man who’d broken that woman’s heart. No. She couldn’t blame him for the amazing sex. She’d pursued him. But still.
“Damn. Did you reschedule?” Ash asked.
“They’ll call me if he has time.” She waived the waiter down and ordered another Banana Orgasm. Screw this. She would get to the bottom of it when she met Macon for lunch.
For thirty minutes, she pretended to sleep in the lounger so she didn’t have to hear any more pep talks from her friends. She felt like a fool already, and she couldn’t have them think she was a complete idiot for jumping into bed with a stranger—not that they would, since it was their idea to begin with. Well, maybe not the sex part. It was casual sex, remember? Nothing more. It was good in theory, but she couldn’t seem to separate from her actions. Not that she was in love with him, but she liked him. A lot.
A shadow blocked the sun from her body again like it had done yesterday. Her heart dropped. She opened her eyes, expecting to see him.
Disappointment filled her. It was just the waiter with another round for all of them. Ugh. Why are you so attached to him already? It makes no sense. Don’t let him make another fool out of you. And in that moment, Kylie decided she had to face reality. This was a short weekend in Vegas, and Macon was a fling.
Chapter Eight
Jake grunted behind his desk, shoving files into the corner. “Now we know what that bastard has been up to. Sonofabitch.”
“How many more has he gotten?” Macon asked.
“I don’t know. Williams offered Bonnie twice what we pay her.” Jake bounced a pencil off his desk so high Macon caught it. “Why didn’t she come see me? We’ve been together so long. I need her, Macon.”
“When does she start working for that asshole?” Macon placed the pencil on the desk far from Jake’s reach.
“Two weeks.” He stood and paced his office, overlooking the Vegas strip. “Two lousy weeks. Isn’t there a law against stealing someone’s employees?” Was the man too lazy to find and train his own employees? Or maybe Mark knew Jake only hired the best.
“Could be. Good news is you have two weeks to do something about it.”
“I have no choice but to counter-offer.” He kicked the metal trash can. Luckily, it was empty, but it made one hell of a noise. “I was so pissed when she told me that I just let her walk out of here. I never expected Bonnie to be one of the few that left.”
“You realize Bonnie knows stuff. Personal and business,” Macon said.
He cringed. She knew more personal business than one ought to. She could do lots of damage. “No shit.” God, did he know. He glanced at his watch. “Damn it. I have a lunch date with Kylie in two minutes.” If she shows after that scene earlier. “Keep your eyes open for that scum.”
“What? A date?” Macon smiled. “With the girl from last night? Wait. I thought her name was Ashlyn.”
“Don’t sound so shocked about me having a date. Isn’t this what you’ve been after me to do? And her real name is Kylie.”
“Isn’t that special? You both lied about who you are.”
Jake rushed out of his office, leaving Macon standing there, amused.
…
Kylie sat on a bench, fiddling with the strap of her purse in front of the fountain. Her shoulders were drawn down, yet she still took his breath away. Then he lost sight of her due to several people coming in and out of the lobby, blocking his view, but then he’d seen enough. His hands fisted. Anger burst through his pores, and he practically ran toward her.
Don’t let him see you sweat. Jake faked a smile and walked up to Kylie just as she and Mark Williams embraced like old lovers. Sonofabitch. Was Mark trying to pay him back for what happened with Julia? Flames shot through the top of his head. You fucking bastard. Kylie’s mine. I won’t let you steal her too.
“Get the fuck off my property, Mark. Now.” Hell. He’d lost it anyway.
Kylie flinched, her startled gaze widened. “Is something wrong? Do you know each other?”
Jake frowned and faced her. Had this all been a set up? “How do you know him? Are you working for him?”
“No. My father’s firm designed the interior of all the guest rooms at The Vault.” She glanced at Mark. “We wished he would’ve given us the lobby and casino phase too, but another firm—”
“You designed Mark’s hotel?” he roared. Wait. Calm yourself. She is a designer, idiot. He cleared his throat. “So you designed The Vault?”
“Well, not me personally. Mark preferred Billy’s scheme over mine.” She angled her head as though not understanding why he was upset. “But the firm I work for did.”
Mark grabbed Kylie’s hand. “Come, darling. Let me make it up to you. Since your father called and told me you were here, I’ve been trying to reach you. Join me for lunch, love?”
“Sorry. I’m already having lunch with Ma—”
“We’re late.” Jake grabbed tugged Kylie’s other her hand and pulled her away before Mark gave his true identity away…unless Bonnie already had in the elevator. No. She couldn’t have. Kylie was about to call him Macon. She didn’t k
now yet.
Guilt ate at him, and his stomach churned. Soon. Very soon she would know who he truly was. They just needed to do it in the right place with no interruptions.
He shot a glare over his shoulder and watched Macon and Will haul Mark’s ass out behind them.
…
Kylie stepped near the valet parking entry and the dry air sucked the moisture right out of her opened mouth. Macon waved and a black Rolls Royce stopped in front of them. “Nice perks for Head of Security.” A little too nice.
The driver turned completely around then scratched his head. “Where to, Mr.—”
“Take us to Flame,” Macon cut the driver off.
“Who’s Flame?”
“You’ll see.” Macon squeezed her hand, tight.
“Ouch. What’s wrong?” She pulled her hand from his and rubbed her fingers. “Why were you so harsh toward Mark? Has he done something to you?”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He placed his arm around her shoulder, tugging her toward him as if staking his claim. “Sorry, but the guy’s a thief. He’s stealing Masquerade’s employees, and he’s worked his way up to our top employees now. Employees who know a lot about how we run this business.”
“You sure?” It surely seemed more than that. Could that have been what the drama was about earlier with the woman in the elevator? Had he caught her talking with Mark, or was there something between them. She surely hoped not. “Bonnie too?”
Macon’s stare penetrated straight through her. “Why do you ask? What did Bonnie say?”
“Not much, really. I heard you two yelling, and I heard you call her name.” She tried leaning back, but he held her firmly. “Is there something else you’d like to share with me?” She took a deep breath. Here it comes.
“She’s leaving me.” The words literally deflated him as he said them. Ouch. So they were a couple. She frowned. Damn it. Could they just turn the car around—now? “Not because of me I hope?”
He blinked. “What? Why would you think that?”
She slipped her shoe on and off nervously. Men could be so dense sometimes. “Seriously? The woman got in the elevator crying. You were yelling. I’m not dumb, Macon. It looked pretty obvious.” She turned her head to stare out the window. “Take me back, please.”
He sat quietly for a second, took her chin with the crook of his finger and turned her face toward him. “No, love. You got the wrong idea. There’s nothing between us. Not like that.”
“You said she’s leaving you. What else could you mean?” Please be something else. She dug her feet into the floor, not wanting to hear the word girlfriend come out of his mouth.
“She’s my secretary. Was my secretary.”
Like that was going to convince her. “Lots of people date their secretary.”
“I’m not lots of people.” His expression was serious.
Relief flooded her. “Oh. Sorry. I thought…never mind.” She released a long, deep breath and kicked her shoes out of the way. “That’s good.” But he still hadn’t told her what he wanted to talk to her about. She’d give him until the end of the night and see if he brought it up again. If he didn’t, then—then what? She didn’t know.
A tiny smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “My fault. I should’ve explained. She’s going to work for The Vault. For Mark.”
She took his hand in hers. “She means a lot to you, doesn’t she? You can’t change her mind?”
Her mind felt so much lighter. Why was she so relieved? She knew. She didn’t want someone else with Macon. Not like that. Not now. Not until she left Vegas. Truthfully, if Mr. Royale liked her designs, she could be around more, she could be hands-on, and she would love the chance to get to know him better. No, you don’t. Broken heart, remember. But the truth was she hadn’t thought of her broken heart once since she’d been spending time with Macon, other than the brief run in with Brett. Then the only emotion that emerged was pure anger toward him.
The car stopped, and she glanced out of the window. “Um. What are we—”
His door slammed closed and in the next second he was at her door, opening it for her. Airplanes? Runway? “Are we having lunch at the airport?”
“Not today. Do you like to fly?” he asked, pulling her out the car, guiding her toward a small engine plane.
“In that?” She followed him into the cockpit. “So…where’s the pilot? The crew?” How on earth had he managed to sneak his boss’s limo and now his airplane? Jake must trust Macon fully.
“You’re looking at him, Clyde.” He leaned into her and kissed her lips. The warmth teased her mouth and left her flushed from head to toe.
“Buckle up, love.” He cranked the engine and fiddled with a bunch of dials. After speaking in the mic for a moment, the plane lurched forward. “You’re stuck with me now, kiddo. At least for a little while.” He smiled that sexy, charming smile—the exact same one he wore most of last night.
Chapter Nine
In a little less than an hour, they landed at a private runway in the backyard of a grand mansion. “Damn. This is beautiful. Whose place is this?”
He didn’t answer her, but instead helped her down from the plane, holding her hand tight while they walked toward the gorgeous home.
“You like?”
“Wow. I thought my dad’s house was massive. This house makes his look like a mini-mansion.” And no one had ever called her parents’ home a mini-anything. “Where are we?”
“California.”
They stepped into the massive marble entrance. She glanced up, her jaw dropping at the sparkling chandelier. He tugged her into a formal dining room where a long table was set with candles, plates, flowers, and goblets. Sure beats any nice restaurant she’d ever eaten at.
“Friends in high places, huh?” Still not believing they were in California and in a place this exquisite.
“Something like that.” He pulled her chair out, and she sat. She could get use to this.
For hours they chatted like long-lost friends again, and she almost forgot that he still had to tell her the truth of whatever he had to say. She wasn’t ready for him to ruin it just yet, though, so she didn’t bring it up.
The filet and lobster were divine, but the company was much better. Never had she relaxed and been herself with a man in this way, except for last night. She thought it had been the liquor at first. Maybe now was because she was in a million-dollar executive home being entertained like royalty. Her insides flowed with warmth.
Macon was romantic. Something she’d never truly experienced before. But what did it matter? She had to let him go after the weekend was over. The warmth inside her chilled some. Even if she did get the chance to run this job, it was only temporary. Like her and Macon. A fling. That was all.
They laughed. They kissed. He held her in his arms on the veranda while they ate the best crème brûlée she’d had in her life. This was what being with a normal man felt like, minus the special surroundings. “You never said who the billionaire was that allowed you to entertain and impress girls.” She licked the hard-crusted sugar off her lips.
“Are you entertained?” He slid his arm around her waist.
“Very.” She smiled.
“And are you impressed?” He faced her completely.
“I don’t need expensive things to be impressed. Why are you avoiding my question? Does a secretive movie star live here? Maybe a rock star?” She pointed at him. “Oh, maybe Channing Tatum?”
He laughed, filling her with a heat she didn’t need to get used to.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” He pulled her closer to him. “Would you rather be with Magic Mike right now?”
“Well. If I’m going to be honest—no. I’m enjoying the man I’m with very much.” Macon’s gorgeous eyes and sexy dimples made Tatum look ordinary.
“That’s a good thing, because I left word with your friends that we will be very late getting back. They were just slightly upset that you’ll be missing the ball thoug
h. Are you?”
“No. But when did you do that?” He was mighty confident but not in a bad way. She liked that and liked missing the ball even more.
“Earlier when I went into the kitchen to grab our dessert. I knew after our main course we would be here for the night.” His gaze fixed on her.
“You are sure of yourself, aren’t you?”
“Not exactly. But I do have something to tell you, and I wanted us to be alone.” He closed his eyes for a quick second. “Please hear me out.”
She tensed. Here it comes. Couldn’t he wait until their date was over? She was enjoying this moment too much. “If you think you might upset or hurt me, then don’t say anything. Please wait until we get back. Unless you are going to tell me you are married or gay.” She paused. “Because that’s a long flight back.”
“I’m single, and I’m not gay. I think you know that.” He stared at her for a moment as though fighting with himself. “Are you sure you want to wait?”
“Yes.” This could be her last night with him. Then she could sever the ties in her mind. First, she wanted one more magical night with the best lover she’d ever had before it was over. Maybe she was selfish for wanting that, but it was exactly what she needed.
“As you wish.” He leaned in and kissed her—gently at first, then his kiss turned demanding. Powerful. After several long minutes, he lifted her off her feet. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you all day. I want to see you dance again.” He nipped her bottom lip. “When I saw your handprints on my window earlier today, all I could think about was being inside you again. I want you so bad.”
“Let’s skip the dancing.” She nipped back at his bottom lip, and he moaned as he carried her up the grand stairs. At the top, he pushed open a pair of white doors. Lights came on instantly. The square footage of this bedroom was three times the size of her bedroom in Phoenix. “Can I move in?” She laughed.
“Anytime, Clyde. Anytime.”
“You say that like you own the place, Mr. Eastwood.” He said it like he owned her, too. She would cherish tonight forever. Her heart felt heavy. There were still good men out there. Too bad she would have to give this one up soon.
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