“You know what?” I say, slapping my hands on my knees. “I don’t want to waste any more time talking about him. This is supposed to be our vacation. I’m over it.”
She grins, sliding her shades back on. “That’s right. Forget him! I like that idea. There are so many other men we could discuss,” she says, tipping her head toward the pool. I look over, spotting a group of guys close to our age, standing in a circle. They all pass glances our way, and one of them winks when he catches me watching. I quickly dart my eyes away.
And on that note, I look over my shoulders. “Where’s Logan anyway?”
She shrugs. “Hell if I know. They’re supposed to be getting drinks, but that was a while ago. The line must be long. Aren’t you going to swim?”
I didn’t miss the, ‘they’re’ in her answer, and I really don’t want to face Luke yet. “Actually, I still want to check out the rest of the casino. Plus, I was thinking about buying a new swimsuit today.” That much is true.
“Normally I would protest, but I do realize I’m lucky I got you to come in the first place. You’ll still go shopping with me later, right?”
“Of course. And you said you planned on lying out by the pool every day. It’s not like I’m gonna miss out. I’ll be here tomorrow and the next.”
“Yeah, that’s fine. There are a couple other pools that are a little more relaxed, less partying. By the way, what did you think of the rooms? Nice, aren’t they?”
I nod. “And huge.” I hadn’t really gotten a chance to look at all of it, but from what I’d seen, they’re pretty fancy.
“Just wait until tonight, when the entire strip is lit up. You’re gonna love it.” Readjusting in her chair, she turns on her stomach, picking her bikini bottoms out of her butt.
My eyes widen when I see her backside. “Crap, Gia! You’re fried! How long have you been out here?”
“Since about nine-thirty or ten. I fell asleep on my stomach earlier,” her voice is muffled from the chair.
“You should probably roll back over.”
“I’m not too worried about it. It’ll be tan by morning. I’ll roll over in a few minutes.”
I hope she’s right, or she’s going to be hurting. “Don’t fall asleep again.”
“I won’t … Oh!” She snaps, lifting her head. “We made reservations at The Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar. We’re supposed to be there by six. It’d be fun to dress up again.”
“Tonight?” My forehead bunches.
She frowns at my expression. “No. Tomorrow night. Is that okay?”
“Yeah … I … I’m just thinking about what I’ll wear.” The lie slips out, and thankfully she accepts it.
“I packed my whole closet, if you’re worried about it. You can borrow something of mine. Logan and I are right next door. Tonight we could cruise the strip, maybe do a little gambling. What do you think?” she asks, shielding her eyes from the sun.
“I think it sounds fun.” I add a bit of enthusiasm to my voice. “I better get going while I still have time to shop.”
“’K, good luck!” She waves. “See you soon.”
Waving back, I slam into Logan as soon as I turn. Pushing my hands off of his hard, chiseled chest, I cause his drinks to spill over. “Ahhh!” is all that comes out of my mouth.
He grins crookedly. “Sorry to disappoint you, ma’am, but I’m taken. However, my friend over here is a stud, and he might be willing to help you.” He tips his head in Luke’s direction, and my eyes betray me, drifting over all the planes and valleys that make up Luke’s body. There’s not a male in this place who could ever compete with the god-like creature standing in front of me. Damn! Why does he have to look so damn perfect? It helps him get away with things he should not be able to get away with. He stares right back at me, but if he noticed me checking him out, it doesn’t show. Swallowing the knot in my throat, I take one more sweep of his body then force myself to look away.
“I hope you’ve got a suit on underneath that,” Logan says to me, planting a chaste kiss on Gia’s lips.
“She’s not going to swim with us,” Gia answers. “She isn’t staying.”
Luke strides away without saying a word. Everything about him looks tense.
“What’s wrong with him?” Gia asks.
Logan shrugs, digging a bottle of sunscreen out of her bag, then points it at her, spraying.
She yelps. “What the hell are you doing?”
“You’re all red. You need it. ” He continues to spray her while she protests. “Move your hands.”
“I’m taking Logan’s side on this,” I say, putting in my own two cents.
“Grrr … fine!” she relents, letting him finish spraying her. “Seriously guys. I never burn.”
When he’s finished, he turns the spray on himself, then frowns at me. “So why aren’t you swimming with us?”
“I’ll swim tomorrow. I want to check out the rest of the casino and maybe do a little shopping while I’m at it.”
He sips on a beer, climbing into the chair I’d just been sitting in. “You hit any slots yet?”
“About an hour ago.” I swing my thumb toward the casino. “Lost forty bucks pretty quickly. I’m not sure what the big deal is on gambling. I didn’t really enjoy it.” Of course there were other things that may have prevented me from having a good time.
“Yeah …we’ll see what you think after you win.”
I let out a long sigh. “All right. I guess I’m gonna get going.”
“See ya.” Gia waves. “Good luck finding a suit.”
Logan raises his hand in the form of a salute, then I take the path back toward the casino, seeing no sign of Luke.
I purchased two bikinis yesterday within the first hour of shopping, then went back to my hotel room to get ready for the night. The events of the day had exhausted me, and I fell asleep pretty quickly by the end of it, only to be woken up a few times by my cell phone. Sean must have a screw loose if he thinks I’d give him a second chance, but judging by his messages he’s dealing with some serious regrets. There’s this guilt that’s been festering in my soul, for letting things go as far as they went with him.
The four of us tried out the Boulevard pool today, where we rented a cabana. Other than a few clipped words here and there, Luke and I didn’t speak. He’d given me my space, and I’d been appreciative for it. Last night, when we’d all walked the strip, we were both somber, keeping our distance. Whenever Gia brought up our quiet demeanor, we’d seemed to be on the same page, just shrugging it off, pretending to be oblivious.
We’d spent nearly all day at the pool, with nothing resolved, but the air was different between us. Several times our eyes would lock, and the heat of his gaze had sparked a fire within me, causing several moments of awkwardness. An accidental brush of the skin would fluster me. I’d ordered a drink to calm my nerves, but it only made my reaction to him worse.
Now I’m standing in front of the mirror, wondering if I’ve chosen the right dress for the evening. It seems fitting since I’ve made the decision to talk to him tonight. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since our last conversation, and believe I owe it to him to hear the rest of it. He made a lot of sacrifices, and I’m starting to realize I’m not the only one who’s hurting. Every now and then I see the pain in his eyes. Maybe after dinner we can find a place to be alone and clear the air between us. I think it’ll be a relief for both of us.
The last time I’d worn this, it’d been wrapped in a box with a pretty red bow on top. It’s the nicest dress I own. I feel a sense of feminine power, and I will need all the strength I can get, if I go through the plans I have for the night. I press my fingers to my toenails, making sure the polish is dry enough, then step into my matching red stilettos, before shoving a pair of sandals into my purse. There’s no way I can handle these three-inch stems for more than a couple of hours, but they’re meant to go with the dress, and I like the way they accentuate my legs.
Leaving my hair down in loose waves, I make
my eyes smoky the way Gia had shown me, then dust my lips in a nude gloss. I barely recognize my own reflection, but I’m satisfied with my appearance. Peeking at the clock, I try Gia on her cell phone, getting her voicemail. A few more minutes and we’ll be late. I grab my purse and head next door, anxious to see what she’s wearing.
“Hey, you in there?” I knock and wait for a response. “Hello?” I knock again. Pressing my ear to the door, there’s not a peep on the other side. I assume they left already. It would’ve been nice for Gia to tell me.
I look for the restaurant on the casino map and make my way toward the elevators. Finally finding the sushi bar on the third floor, a beautiful brunette with shiny straight hair greets me with a friendly smile. Her name is Amy.
“Yes, I’m part of a reservation for six o’clock. It should be under Gia.”
She opens a black book. A crease forms between her brows as she looks it over. “Could it possibly be under another name? I don’t see a Gia.”
They better not have cancelled without telling me. I swear I’ll wring her neck. “How about Logan?”
Her eyes scan the book. “No. I don’t have a Logan either.”
“Do you have a Luke?” I don’t know why Gia would put it under his name, but it’s worth a try.
“Yep! I have a Luke.” She smiles. “Follow me.”
A surge of unwanted jealousy shoots through me. I bet you do. Squashing the thought, I trail behind her. The dimly lit restaurant’s sophisticated, yet casual, style makes me feel at ease. When we stop in front of a small table, she pulls out a chair, then mentions something about our server, but I’m too entranced by the sight of Luke to make out her sentence.
Standing, he towers in a white button-up shirt that fits nicely over his broad chest and shoulders. His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, showing off his muscular forearms. A loose tie hangs around his neck, and black slacks frame his long, lean legs. When I finally meet his handsome face, his penetrating gaze nearly knocks the wind out of me. And here I thought I was powerful … Ha!
I take my seat, watching his throat bob.
“You look…” The heat in his stare says enough. “Beautiful.”
“Thank you.” I clear my throat. “So do you … not beautiful … but handsome.” My cheeks flood with heat. “Where is everybody?” I ask when he sits across from me, resting his forearms on the table.
“They … uh … passed out after we got back. Said to go without them.”
I frown. “I’m right next door, and nobody thought to tell me.”
“Is this going to be a problem?”
“What?”
“You and I alone together. We don’t have to do this.” A flash of hurt shows on his face, but the next moment it’s gone.
“Listen, I’m sorry about the way I handled things. I … I’ve thought it through and … I’m ready to listen … to all of it.” I lick my lips. “I won’t run away this time. That was immature of me. Once I was able to clear my head, it helped me see things differently. I know you would never intentionally hurt me. That just isn’t you.”
His body relaxes, and he leans back in his chair, studying me. His mouth tips up at the corners. “Really?”
I nod.
Continuing to look me over, he says, “Thought you’d never talk to me again, then seeing you in that dress.” He shakes his head. “I’m surprised to see you wearing it.”
“Why?”
“C’mon. You know why. Figured you’d burn it.” He twirls the ice in his glass.
“I love this dress,” I tell him, thinking back on the night I’d opened it. He’d come back for me, and I had betrayed him, falling into the arms of another man. The memory of the pain in his expression from the words I’d then spoken brings me close to tears. I hide behind a menu, not wanting to explain them.
We’re saved from the uncomfortable silence when a waitress comes by to take our orders. Never being a fan of seafood, I go with a chicken dish, while Luke orders the sushi. Moments later our server brings by two bottles of Kirin Light and a small container of sake, along with two shot glasses.
Luke pours the sake into a shot glass. “Ever try a sake bomb?” he asks, cocking a brow at me.
“No. Never.”
Pouring a third of his beer into a larger glass, he asks, “Wanna try one?”
“Okay,” I say, grinning, my curiosity piqued.
Smirking devilishly, he repeats his earlier action, pushing the drinks in front of me. When our fingers brush, there’s a surge of electricity.
Am I’m the only one who feels it, or does he feel it too?
“You okay?” he asks.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Maybe he doesn’t feel it.
Picking up his own shot glass, he says, “This is how it’s done.” Dropping the entire shot into the beer glass, he swoops it up, and gulps it all down in one sip.
I squirm in my chair. “I’m not sure if I can do that.”
“It’s not as bad as it looks.” He chuckles softly. “The beer mutes the taste of the sake when mixed together. I’m not gonna pressure you to do it, though, if you’re scared.”
“I’m not scared.” I squint at him. Dropping the shot into my beer glass, I gulp down all the liquid, then slam the glass on the table, feeling very unladylike. “See?” I wipe my mouth. “Not scared.”
He flashes his dimples. “Wow, you’re a natural!”
My throat burns, but I play it off like I’m fine. “Learned from the best!”
“You want another?”
“Uh yeah, give me a minute.”
“Gotta say, I’m impressed.”
“Thank you.” I sip on my water. We’re both quiet for a moment, before he leans in, talking just above a whisper.
“So about this talk … when do you think we should have it?”
“The sooner the better.”
“Tonight?”
I nod. “Not here, though. We could walk down the strip, find a place to sit maybe.”
Leaning back, he takes a long pull from his bottle. “You sure you’re ready?”
“I need the closure. Something tells me you need it too.”
“All right then. It’s settled. We’ll do it tonight.”
By the end of dinner, we’ve cleaned every bit of food off our plates, and shared the rest of the sake. Our conversation is light, and we’ve had a few laughs, though most of them are at my expense. Luke talked me into trying a bite of his sushi. As soon as the gooey texture landed on the tip of my tongue, I knew I was in trouble. Closing my eyes, I tried to chew it fast then attempted to swallow, but my stomach protested. I involuntarily gagged, and Luke nearly choked on his food when he laughed.
After leaving the restaurant, Luke and I stopped by my room to drop off my heels. I was uncomfortably stuffed and didn’t feel like carrying them. We took a slow walk down the strip, stopping at an empty bench in front of the Bellagio. And here we sit. The lights reflecting off the water has a calming effect, and we watch the fountains shoot toward the sky.
Luke lets out a long breath, looking out over the water. “He was a good man, Reese. Spent a lot of time with him.”
I move closer, so I can hear him better. “My father?”
He nods once. “May not have seemed that way when you were a kid. Shit, I hated him back then. Seeing him hit you … I wanted to hurt him.” He swallows. “’Course I was just a punk kid then. The man I got to know years later wasn’t the same man. He adored you.” He finally looks at me.
“He really did change, didn’t he?” My voice shakes with emotion.
“He hated himself for what he did to you, blamed himself for what had happened to you while he was in prison.”
Warm tears roll down my face. What happened with Ronald was never my father’s fault. “I’m glad you were able to see the good side of him.” I sniff. “It just hurts because I miss him, you know? We had started to get close. Do you think … do you think that when he died, he went in peace?”
He searc
hes my face apprehensively.
“I don’t mean physically,” I clarify. “I saw the bruises, but … he made amends with the people he’d hurt ... and he died doing what he loved.”
Luke’s eyes water, and he looks away. “Yeah. I think he went in peace.” His response helps me relax a little.
“What did you talk about, besides what you were there for?”
Rubbing the stubble on his chin, he says, “Most of the time it was him doing the talking.” He gives me a sideways glance. “He uh … liked to lecture me a bit.”
I frown, confused by what he means.
“It wasn’t a bad thing. Just got deep, whatever the topic—God, forgiveness, alcoholism, church.” He turns to me. “But mostly … we talked about you.”
I can’t hide my smile. “You did?”
“All the time. He made me promise something.”
“What was it?”
“He made me promise that if anything were to happen to him, I’d protect you.” Looking me dead in the eye with the face of determination, he says, “No matter what happens, I’m keeping that promise. I owe it to him.”
I have to look away from him. “Wow.” I lick my lips. “That makes me feel like a burden.”
“You know that’s not true. Think about it.”
I don’t know what to think. My mind goes back to my dad. “Yesterday, at the hotel, what did you mean when you said my father wasn’t supposed to be there?”
He drops his head. “Years back, Andrew and Glenn had a run-in. He’d arrested my father on assault charges. It would’ve been too risky for Andrew to go undercover. Glenn could’ve recognized him. So instead, he acted as a middle-man—sending messages from me to the Feds and vise-versa. It worked fine at first.”
“Then what happened?”
“A man who partnered with Glenn put out a hit on me. Andrew tried to get me out, but the Feds weren’t ready. They were too close to cracking the case, and they didn’t want to screw everything up.” His jaw clenches. “Then one day Andrew just showed up, said if they wouldn’t help me, he would.” Shaking his head, he continues, “Scared the shit out of me, seeing him there. I knew it was a bad idea, but the man was stubborn. He wouldn’t listen.”
Breaking Ryann Page 9