The Big Blind (Nadia Wolf)

by Pierce, Nicolette

  There was a knock on the door. Greyson opened it to let Mya in. She bounded in like a Labrador puppy but stopped in her tracks when she caught a glimpse of me.

  “Nadia, what happened to you?”

  “A little incident involving fire.”

  “I was told Greyson needed supplies, but I didn’t know they were for you. I was coming to check on what he needed.”

  “Nadia is going to stay with me for twenty-four hours,” Greyson said. “Doctor’s orders in case you start getting ideas in your head.”

  Mya put her nose up. “I don’t know what you’re referring to.”

  “Since I’ve known you, you’ve tried to marry me to at least one woman every month.”

  “If you would marry one of them, I wouldn’t have to keep trying.”

  His eyes crinkled with a smile. He gave her a kiss on the forehead, sending her with a list of things to bring back to the room. I relaxed after he gave her a kiss on the forehead. It’s probably just something he does. I wonder if he accidentally kisses his employees or business partners. I smiled at the image of him kissing his newest Japanese business partner on the forehead.

  “Why don’t you go take a shower? It will make you feel better and then hopefully Mya will have some clothes ready for you. If not, just use one of the robes.”

  “We should have stopped at my place. I could have at least changed my clothes.”

  “It’s not a big deal.”

  I steered myself to his bathroom. I stared in wonder at his standup shower. You could fit a small elephant in it. There were showerheads from every direction all facing the center. I searched for a knob to turn the shower on.

  “How do I turn it on?” I shouted.

  “Just step in to it,” he shouted from the living room.

  I stripped off my singed dress and stepped hesitantly into the shower. The water immediately cascaded down and was the perfect temperature. My muscles wilted with unexpected surrender. A basket full of boutique soaps and shampoos were within reach. I smelled each one trying to figure out which one Greyson used. I couldn’t determine the exact one so I picked the calming lavender.

  I stood there longer than I would have in my shower letting the experience and water wash away my headache and the memory of a night I never want to remember. I sighed as I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around myself. I wasn’t ready to leave the place that wrapped me in a cuddly water cocoon, but I didn’t want to keep Greyson waiting. Maybe if I got messy again I could take another shower before my time was up.

  I donned a robe and found my way back to the living room. Greyson was immersed in his laptop but caught a glimpse of me and smiled.

  “I thought I might need to come in there and drag you out. I was afraid you were trying to sneak in a nap.”

  “Your shower is impressive. I think you can reconsider marriage. She wouldn’t really need you. One shower could satisfy a person for a week.”

  “It was that good?”

  “To die for,” I said, plopping down on the couch. I winced as a zing raced through my brain.

  “Are you okay?”

  “It could be a headache . . . or my brain was zapped by a lightning bolt.”

  “Mya brought some stuff. She was insistent that I should let her stay, but I told her she could harass you later if that’s okay. I think there’s some headache medicine.” He dug through the bag and pulled out a bottle. “There’s also an ice pack and a heating pad. I don’t know which you would need. Do you want them?”

  “Just the medicine for now.”

  Greyson brought me a bottle of water and two tablets. I shot them in my mouth and took a gulp of water.

  “You officially have twenty-three hours to go. Do you want to watch a movie with me?”

  “It’s Friday night,” I stated, inspecting him. He was still in a suit and all business.

  “Is that a yes for the movie?”

  “Why aren’t you on a date? Even Frankie has a date tonight.”

  “I don’t plan ahead because I inevitably have to cancel. If I need to find a date, I do so at the last moment.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “What does that mean? I can see your wheels turning.”

  “Nothing really. I think sometimes I would like to be a man.”

  He smiled. “Perhaps in your next life.”

  “Perhaps,” I said. “I want to see your secret spy stuff.”

  “I don’t have secret spy stuff.”

  “Yes, you do. You know everything that happens. You knew about my wager with Caleb as it was happening. You were at the tournament minutes after the lights went out. How is that possible if you don’t have secret spy stuff?”

  He laughed. “Would you like a tour of the super secret spy room?”

  “Yes.”

  “Now aren’t you glad I don’t have a date? Get dressed and we’ll head down.”

  I bounded off the couch but had to grab my stomach and my head to steady myself.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” He asked.

  “Yes. You’re stuck with me for twenty-three more hours, and I’ll drive you crazy if you don’t show me.” Plus, it would keep us out of the penthouse and far away from treacherous temptation.

  I snatched the bag Mya brought and dug around. I pulled out jeans and a stretchy t-shirt. I also pulled out something resembling a bra and panties. But with hardly any fabric, it was questionable. I took my items to the bathroom and dressed. I tied my hair back into a ponytail overlapping my burnt hair with some healthier strands.

  Greyson was waiting when I stepped back into the living room. He had changed from his Armani suit into relaxed jeans and a deep blue button-down shirt leaving the bottom untucked. I stopped in my tracks. His shoulders were wide and his body tapered down to narrow hips. I had the sudden urge to unbutton his shirt, button by button, and kiss his chest all the way down . . .

  He raised an eyebrow.

  I shook the image of his naked body out of my head. I think the conk on my head must have some side effects. If his body was a tenth as delicious as I imagined it, I might have to work harder to keep my hands to myself.

  “I just didn’t expect to see you without a suit,” I said to cover my obvious ogling.

  “I do have a little bit of a life outside my suit,” he said, scooting me out the door.

  I would love to help him out of his suit. Down girl!

  He led me into the elevator where I stood on the opposite side so I didn’t do anything I might regret. We arrived on the main floor where I followed him down a few hallways leading to various parts of the casino. This part was all public space, and as a frequent player at this casino I had seen it all before.

  “Greyson,” a woman called out.

  I turned around to see Catarina and instantly groaned. Greyson glanced down at me.

  “I thought it was you,” she said as she neared him. “I saw you at Lupier’s performance tonight. The main act was great, but I can’t say the same for the opening act.” A slithery smile escaped aimed directly at me.

  “What can I do for you, Catarina?”

  “Have you been avoiding me lately?”

  “No, I’ve been busy.”

  “You’re always busy,” she said, casting an evil eye in my direction. “But not so busy as to spend time with her. You know she’s been playing around with Caleb, right?”

  My eyes narrowed.

  “Catarina, I’ll talk to you later. This isn’t a discussion we need to have now,” he said.

  My stomach lurched. Did Catarina already sink her claws into Greyson? Is there a man alive who hasn’t had a Catarina sample platter?

  “Alright,” she said, stepping closer. Her finger gently touched his shirt button. “Later tonight?”

  “No, I’m busy.”

  She flashed her eyes at me. “Don’t bother with her. She’s so plain and boring. Why would you want her when you can have me?”

  Greyson sidestepped her slipping his hand int
o mine. “Goodnight, Cat.”

  Catarina glared while Greyson led me away.

  When we were far enough away, Greyson peered down at me. “Sorry about Catarina.”

  I shrugged. “She dove into every poker player’s bed already. I’m sure she wants to set her next score higher. Maybe that’s why she’s been netting magicians too.”

  “Which is why I’ve been avoiding her.”

  I stopped in my tracks. My hand slipped out of Greyson’s. “You mean you haven’t already?”

  “Slept with her? No.” Greyson’s fingers threaded through mine, resuming our path.

  When I didn’t speak, because I was trying to comprehend a man passing up sex, he said, “Are you stunned into silence?”

  “I didn’t think the day would come.”

  He chuckled. “When a man can resist having sex?”

  “Frankly, yes.”

  He used his key card to access an employee-only hallway and once more to access a room.

  My eyes widened as he opened the door and allowed me in.

  “It’s like a spy film,” I said.

  The walls of the large room were covered in monitors. Strategic stations with buttons and switches were posted along the monitor walls for security to watch.

  A man in a security uniform hurried over to Greyson. “I wasn’t expecting to see you,” the man said.

  “I’m giving Nadia a tour. Did Remy notify you she would be in the penthouse for the next twenty-four hours?”

  The man’s eyes drifted to me but snapped back to Greyson. “Yes, he said she would be here.”

  Greyson asked him a few questions about various business issues as I roamed around the room peering at monitors. They must have hundreds of cameras on property. Some of the monitors had only one camera dedicated to it while others flipped through several camera shots. I halted when I caught a glimpse of the high stakes room. Caleb was still there.

  It’s not uncommon for a poker player to work the table for an entire day. So I didn’t think anything about it until I spotted the dealer sweeping chips away from Caleb.

  “What the hell?”

  The man at the station nearest to me flicked his eyes up in my direction then back at his station of monitors. “Caleb’s been losing all night.”

  “Do you know how much he lost?”

  “I would guess a quarter of a million.”

  Chapter 8

  A loss of a quarter of a million to me would be the end of the world, but to a player like Caleb, it was more like a kick to the groin. Either way, I wouldn’t wish it upon him . . . maybe a little. What was clear to me – Caleb was on tilt; his emotions were controlling his game. Since I’ve known him, he’s never been on tilt.

  “Can you pull him out?” I asked the security officer.

  “He has plenty of money. If he wants to lose it, that’s his business.”

  I turned to Greyson. He must have overheard the conversation and nodded. One word to the security manager and moments later a plain-clothes security officer entered the high stakes room and whispered something in Caleb’s ear. Caleb nodded though his jaw was clenched tight. He had his remaining chips paid out and left.

  “What did security say to him?” I asked the security officer.

  “They don’t say much. He probably just asked him to give up his seat for the next player. It saves the player from any embarrassment. He could have refused.”

  I nodded. My phone buzzed in my pocket. I took a peek and read Caleb’s name on the caller ID. I wasn’t ready to talk to him. After a quarter of a million dollar loss, I doubted Caleb was ready to talk. And I was on Greyson’s tour, so I ignored the call and pocketed my phone. I would have to face him eventually but not now.

  I continued my tour along the wall of monitors. In one, I observed workers moving stacks of money in a sterile room. In another, I spied a man and woman making out in the lobby. I halted and gave them a second peek. Greyson had stepped close to me and viewed the monitor too.

  “This is nothing. Sometimes the camera catches couples who don’t make it to their room.”

  “Really? They just go at it wherever they happen to be?”

  He smiled. “Unless we reach them in time to prevent it.”

  I wasn’t sure I wanted to see all that so I continued on my path. Something caught my eye. I stepped back and bumped into Greyson. He held me in place so I wouldn’t topple over.

  I leaned closer to the monitor. “I recognize him. He was standing in the parking lot across the alley when we left the theater.”

  I don’t know what made me notice him. There was something still and calm about him; like a person watching and waiting, not caring how long it took. The man that was leaning against the car behind the theater was now standing outside the casino staring dead center into the security camera. Greyson glanced at the monitor. A muscle in his jaw twitched. He tightened his grip on my waist.

  “Hey, there’s no reason to give me a bruise.”

  “Sorry.” He released me and called the security manager over. “Bring him in,” he said, pointing to the monitor.

  “I only said I saw him at the theater. Why do you want to bring him in?”

  “I have outstanding business with him.”

  “Who is he?”

  “I thought I knew the answer to that question, but I seem to be mistaken.”

  Greyson turned to the security manager. “He’s already moved out of camera range. Make sure to find him and keep security on alert.”

  The manager nodded and was already giving orders through his radio.

  Greyson blew a calming breath and peered down at me. “Ready to go?”

  “Yeah, sure. Don’t you want to know if they find him or not?”

  “I already know they won’t find him. Let’s not think about him.” His hand rested in the small of my back. “Let’s go to the restaurant. I’ll buy dinner.”

  “I can’t say no to that.”

  He guided me through the back hallways, around the casino floor, and in to one of the fancier restaurants. Crisp white linens covered the tables and a person designated to remove the crumbs after each course stood ready and waiting.

  “We can’t go in there,” I said.

  “Why not?”

  “Because we aren’t dressed appropriately.”

  “They’ll serve us.”

  “Only because you’re the boss. I wouldn’t feel comfortable. You can’t go throwing your money at people and buy your way.”

  “Most people like it when I throw money at them.” A playful smile twitched at the corners of his mouth.

  “I don’t want to be a part of your money throwing,” I said.

  A little of my stubbornness was showing through. But I didn’t feel comfortable in a setting where I was way underdressed, and outclassed too, with a man who could easily fit in any situation life threw him.

  “Where would you like to go?”

  “I could go for a gigantic burger with fries.”

  He chuckled. “You don’t care about me throwing my money around; you just want a burger. Let’s go,” he said, capturing my hand.

  I noticed my hand was becoming comfortable in his. Instead of knocking out my breath each time he touched me, it was more of a zing with oxygen still being allowed to flow to my brain. I welcomed the change since I appreciated my brain cells and would like them to stay healthy.

  We strolled into a restaurant that appeared as if it was under water. Colorful tropical fish swam in the glass walls and darted back and forth.

  Caleb was seated at a corner booth with Catarina draped on his arm. His jaw was visibly clenched, but he made no attempt to remove Catarina from his side. So much for Lupier and Greyson; now she’s glommed on to Caleb. I briefly wondered at her indiscretion, hopping from man to man. Then I realized I didn’t care.

  “Greyson, I hope you don’t mind, but I think Catarina found your replacement.”

  He observed the couple in the booth and chuckled. “Do you want to st
ay or go?”

  “Let’s stay. I’m famished.”

  Caleb glanced up from his menu. Our eyes caught for a moment but it felt uncomfortably longer. Greyson slid his hand to the small of my back, showing me to a booth at the other end of the diner and we both scooted in.

  Service was noticeably better dining with Greyson. We ordered within seconds of sitting down, and they had the food to our table in five minutes.

  “The staff knows you, don’t they?” I asked as I chomped down on a fry.

  “I make it a point to know my staff and to climb down from my tower as much as possible.” He winked. “Why?”

  “No reason. It was just an observation.”

  “Tell me about yourself.”

  “Hmm . . . I play poker for a living. I help Frankie out two days a week at the chapel where I also live. My parents live back home in Colorado. My life is really routine. Except, I have a notion that will change now that Frankie has appointed himself as my manager.” I shuttered.

  “Where did you learn the card tossing tricks?”

  “I didn’t have much of a life in high school. I had a handful of close friends, but my hobby was poker and my friends didn’t understand. So, while they were off being girls, I was learning my newest trick in the basement. But I made money by betting with my dad’s friends. They bet me I couldn’t do a trick, and I bet them I could. Most of the time, they owed me.”

  Greyson cracked a smile.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Nothing. Just a visual of you as a teenager popped into my head. But don’t worry, it was a cute image.”

  “It’s really not cute. What about you? Tell me about the Greyson Miller that isn’t found in the pages of Forbes.”

  “There isn’t anything fascinating about me.”

  “You saying that only confirms my suspicion there is.”

  I studied his face and my eyes drifted to his hair. His dark hair would look sexy tousled from bedroom activities. I would love to run my fingers through his hair, curl them in his thick locks and lead his lips to mine. Whoa! Where did that come from? Maybe I should go see a doctor about my head. I don’t have insurance, but I think they might take credit cards.

  Greyson shifted in his seat. His leg moved against mine. Heat traveled the length of my leg and didn’t stop.