“I’m not going to lead you on, Nadia. If I did, I would have David, Mya, Remy, and you all kicking my ass. I’m going to tell you right now you probably won’t hear from me for a while. I tend to focus on work and forget the people around me. So, with that being said, can we make a date for six months from now?”
He was being honest. Something made me relax with his request. He wasn’t trying to ditch me. He had to work now and play later.
“I think that can be arranged,” I said, though part of me hated having to say it. I didn’t want to be separated from him after knowing him for such a short time.
“You’ll come to the casino and play, right? You won’t be afraid about giving me space, will you?”
“I might swing by. What if I want to play at a different casino?”
“Is this a trick question? Is there a hidden message?”
“Not really. I’m just trying to understand what you expect from me, and if it’s something I can live with.”
“It absolutely kills me to say this. I have no right to expect anything from you, nor do I have any claim over you. We are completely free from each other for six months. But in exactly six months, I want you at my house and ready.”
“Ready for what?”
“You know damn well for what,” he growled, bringing me into his arms.
“What if I fall in love with someone in that time?”
“Then I will have lost you.”
I nodded. This was the hand dealt to me. A six month break from a man I barely knew, but a man who could steal my breath away with one look. This wasn’t too horrible. I needed to work so I could fix my car anyways. I could live with this. Who knows what six months could bring?
A slow smile spread on Greyson’s face. “Nadia, that all begins tomorrow. I still have you for tonight. You aren’t allowed to sleep; doctor’s orders.”
“But what about the police? You told Remy you would go back to the casino.”
He smiled. “I never told him what time. And you, sweetheart, are mine tonight.”
Chapter 27
Greyson pulled his car to the front of the house, and we both slid out. He stepped in front, blocking me from entering the house.
“I’m going to make a few phone calls to start issuing statements. I’ll come find you in one hour,” Greyson said.
“Is that a warning?”
“Take it however you want. I will find you.”
“I don’t know. Maybe I should make you wait for six months.”
“That would hurt you as much as it would hurt me.”
I smirked and walked into the house. The sound of laughter floated from the great room. I followed its happy melody and found Mya and Frankie. I had forgotten they were here.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Oh, Nadia! You’re back! Where’s Greyson?” Mya asked.
“He’s here but has to make a few calls.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. I wanted to see him. I think David came to me in a dream. He tucked me in bed and was saying sweet things. He even said he was coming home soon. I don’t know if I just dreamed him or if he’s dead and his spirit came back. The whole thing was really confusing because it was so real.”
“What does your heart tell you?”
“I’m hoping it’s telling me he’s still alive. I don’t think his spirit would tell he was coming back if he knew he was dead.”
I nodded. “That sounds reasonable. Some people are soul mates, and it’s been known they can feel and hear each other even when they are far apart.”
“I never thought about it that way.” She smiled. “I like that idea much better.”
“Oh, Nadia,” Frankie interrupted. “Before I forget to tell you, we have to be up and out of here by eight tomorrow morning. You have to pack so you can catch your plane.”
“Eight o’clock is in a few hours. Why do I have to catch a plane? Where am I going?”
“You’re playing in a segment of the Latin poker tour. I got you all hooked up.”
“I have no money. How is this possible?”
“I used your money from the gigs to buy the airplane ticket. You’re sharing a room to cut costs. But you’ll need to win some money; otherwise you’ll be stuck there.”
A Frankie alarm clanged in my head. “Why would I be stuck there?”
“I was only able to afford a one way ticket.”
The clanging grew louder. I think it was telling me to kill Frankie. “You took my gig money and bought me a one-way plane ticket to where exactly?”
“I’m not sure. All those names are foreign.”
“Where the hell am I going, Frankie?”
“I told you. It’s in Latin.”
“So . . . in South America?”
“Isn’t Latin a country? I was never good at geography.”
My eye twitched as the clanging grew deafening. “I’m going to go take a bath. I think I must be tired because I swear you told me I was flying to Latin tomorrow with no way of getting home. And I’m going to be sharing a room with an unknown person; and Latin is a country!”
“Don’t get your value-pack panties in a bunch. It’ll be good for you to travel outside of Las Vegas. I’m jealous! You’ll meet all my Hispanic cousins.”
“Frankie, you’re a tenth Hispanic. You don’t even know your heritage. You can’t even say hello in Spanish.”
“Who needs to say hello? Nobody here says it. And you need to spread your name out there. I have every confidence you’ll win enough money to buy a ticket back home. If not, I have your dad on speed dial.”
I stood to leave but stalled by a thought. “By the way, did you happen to get the scorpion video from Catarina?”
“Yes, and I had to pay a fortune for it. I took it out of the gig money for promotional purposes.”
I let out a threatening growl and stomped from the room. I retreated to Greyson’s room with the hot tub in mind.
My body ached from all the beatings and my head ached from Frankie and evil Catarina. That’s why she had dinner with Greyson. She wanted money and was going to get it any way she could. I knew Greyson well enough to know he might have dinner with her but wouldn’t give her a penny. I was itching to ask him the details of the dinner. I just couldn’t. If anything had happened between Greyson and Catarina, he wouldn’t be on my tail ready to pounce.
I should be hiding from Greyson right now . . . but he gave me an hour. I wanted his hot tub . . . and him. Even if it’s just the physical piece. God, what a physical piece!
I turned the bathwater on and let the water run while I stripped off my clothes. My toe touched the water to test it. Perfect. I slid the rest of the way in and closed my eyes.
I let go of the urge to strangle Frankie, along with all the stress of the last few days. I only had two worries, but those could wait until after the bath. My first worry was Dagor who was still on the loose. The second worry was Frankie who was still on the loose.
I’d have to research online to find where the Latin poker tour was being held. As for Dagor, I didn’t know what to do about him. Maybe taking the trip to South America would get Dagor off my back. It could work.
“You look comfortable,” Greyson said from the doorway.
“I am. I’m trying to relax and your hot tub is making it so much easier.”
I watched Greyson as he unbuttoned his shirt, stripped it off, and let it fall to the floor. My pulse kicked up.
“You don’t think you’re coming in here, do you?” I asked.
“I know I am.”
“This tub isn’t big enough for both of us.”
Greyson smiled. “It’s a two person hot tub.”
“Only a pervert would buy a two person hot tub.”
He slipped off his belt and unbuttoned his pants. I watched as he slowly pulled down the zipper. I bit my lip.
“Only a pervert watches a man undress with such delight,” he said.
“Touché.”
“Move over or I�
�m dragging you out.”
My eyes quickly darted from his particularly well-endowed parts to his eyes. “You wouldn’t.”
“You know I would.”
I moved over and watched while he slid in on the opposite side of the tub.
“Your eyes are telling me a whole different story than your words,” he said.
“You can’t trust my eyes. They’re still bruised. They don’t make sense half the time.”
“Let me kiss them and make them feel better.”
“If you’re kissing things that hurt, I have a whole list for you.”
He smirked. “One thing at a time. I’m sure I’ll check each item off your list before dawn.”
“It’s nearly dawn now.”
“We better get started.”
I boldly moved towards him. He watched me as intently as I had watched him. His hands grasped at my hips as I neared him, settling me on top.
“This is much better,” he said.
I lowered my mouth to his. His hands ran up my back to my neck. He drew me in to deepen the kiss.
A cell phone rang in the distance. Greyson winced.
“Do you need to answer that?” I asked.
“Yes, but I don’t want to.”
I moved to the side, but his hands kept me in place.
“I’m trying to let you answer your phone.”
“I don’t want to.”
“You said you needed to.”
“They can wait.”
I shook my head. “No way. Both of us will be thinking about the phone call.”
“I sure the hell wouldn’t be thinking about a phone call. All I want is you.”
“Then it might just be me who will be thinking about it. You would flee from me and make a phone call when we were done. If we were married for ten years, I might give you that luxury. But we aren’t even dating, and you’ve been trying to coerce me to have sex with you for the last few days. Either I have you all to myself or the casino does.”
He nodded though his eyes were telling me he was somewhere else.
“Just go make your phone call and come back after,” I said.
He gazed at me for a moment before standing to wrap a towel around himself. I relaxed into the tub as he retreated to the bedroom.
I’m sure if he was with one of his usual girls, they would be quite happy to give him a quickie before he had to tend to business. I didn’t like to dwell upon it. Even I was having second thoughts. I fidgeted in the tub. I gave up and drained the water. I heard Greyson on the phone as I wrapped the towel around me and tiptoed into the bedroom.
I spied him as I entered the room. He was near the unlit fireplace with the towel wrapped loosely around him. Perhaps he just needed me to reciprocate what he gave me our first night together. We could leave the sex part for six months from now. I’d desperately need it then. I smirked as the idea swirled in my brain. Hell, why not? It would keep him thinking about our planned date.
I snuck up behind him. He was so engaged in his phone call he didn’t see or hear me. I looped my finger into the towel and tugged, letting it fall to the floor. Greyson was about to pick it up when I wrapped my arms around him. He turned to look at me. My eyes must have told the whole story because he said into the phone, “I think I need to go.”
I shook my head.
He arched his brow. “I don’t have to go?”
I whispered, “No.”
He continued his phone conversation while watching my every move. I made sure to stay quiet while I kissed his chest and then moved lower to his abs. I kept my eye on him as I continued to move lower. His eyes grew wider and wider, until. . . “Oh, sweetheart!”
“Uh, no, not you,” he said into the phone. “Never mind. Just go on with what you were saying.” Greyson tried to grasp my arm to stand me up.
I smiled at him but stayed where I was.
He was growing tenser by the moment. It was taking everything he had to hold back. It made me want him more. I gave him more play time, grabbing his butt as my tongue flicked and teased. He groaned.
“No, I just stubbed my toe. I seriously need to go. Call me back when you have the release ready. No. . . . not release . . . the . . . whatever it is you’re doing,” he said and hung up.
“Nadia, get up now,” he growled.
I peeked up with a smirk. “I’m just giving you a goodbye gift.”
“It’s time for me to give you a goodbye gift.”
My eyes widened. “No, it’s okay.”
“No, really. I need to properly thank you for making me sound like an ass on the phone. Look, I’m even turning off my phone.”
I chuckled as I hurried away. He had me within his reach in a few steps, my towel was ripped away. He captured me and carried me to the bed where we both fell on it. He landed firmly on top of me.
Greyson grinned at me before he slid lower. I grasped at him to pull him back.
“It’s my gift,” he said.
I felt his warm breath, the stubble on his face, his lips, and then . . . oh, God!
Chapter 28
I laid on top of Greyson trying to regulate my breath. “Greyson, I don’t think we can gift anymore. I’m all gifted out.”
“Are you all gifted out for six months?”
“I think I’m gifted out for two years.”
“Good.”
My phone buzzed. I reached to grab it off the nightstand. It was a text from an unknown number. It must be David.
Watch the morning news. It’s my wedding gift to you.
Wedding gift? I showed the message to Greyson. His eyebrows shot up. He flipped on the television and found the station. I shrugged on a robe.
“It should be on in a couple of minutes,” he said.
“Why did he say wedding gift? It doesn’t make any sense.”
“He likes to egg me on. This is just another way to mess with me.”
“Gee, I didn’t know marrying me would be a source of conflict.”
“You misunderstood me.”
“It’s on,” I said. My eyes widened as I watched the video of an aerial view of a house on fire. It looked like Dagor’s house.
An eight building explosion lit up the Vegas skyline last night as fire and emergency crews responded to the calls. All buildings, including a house, belonging to Dagor Moliente are reduced to ashes. As crews sift through the wreckage, no casualties have been found. Investigators say this was no accident as several explosives and accelerants were used to make the powerful explosions. Police are still looking for Dagor Moliente.
Greyson and I looked at each other briefly but didn’t have time to say any thing when the next story hit.
In other news, Lost City Casino has been found with dirty money. A printing press in the casino was found pumping out millions of dollars worth of counterfeit money. Jason Biggs has been arrested for counterfeiting and attempted murder. Greyson Miller, CEO of the Rotunda Casinos, found the printing press late last night in a storage room at the Lost City Casino. He was shot by Jason Biggs moments later. Sources say Miller is already out of the hospital and recovering. Workers who were the last to see Greyson Miller say he was planning on marrying professional poker player Nadia Wolf this weekend. No word on if the wedding will proceed.
I heard an “eek” and running footsteps down the hall. Mya burst through the doors and squealed, “You didn’t tell me you’re getting married! I’m so happy!”
“It was a joke,” I said to Greyson. “They can’t really think we’re getting married.”
“It looks like they did,” he said. He watched Mya who was still bouncing up and down. “Mya, it’s not true. Nadia and I don’t have any plans to get married. In fact, we aren’t going to see each other for six months.”
Mya’s smile fell. “Six months?”
“I have to repair the casino and get it back on its feet. If I tried to date Nadia during that time, both of you would end up hating me.”
“But . . .”
“It’s
okay, Mya,” I said. “I’m flying to South America tomorrow.”
Greyson turned to me. “You are?”
I shrugged. “Frankie told me when we got back.”
“Mya, can you give Nadia and I a moment? We need to get ready to go.”
“Sure.” Mya closed the door on her way out.
“So, do I need to be worried about fighting off a Brazilian or Argentinean man?”
“According to our agreement, I’m free for six months. I might have a desire to try out the South American menu.” I kept my poker face in full force. I nearly let out a laugh, but I wanted to see what Greyson had to say.
He growled instead. “Just remember our date in six months.”
“Six months is so far away. I’ve heard South American men are known for their sexual prowess.”
Greyson eyed me. “You’re just screwing with me. I can see right through your poker face.”
I chuckled. “I need to get back to work. My poker face is suffering.”
He kissed my forehead. “Come on. I’ll scrub you down in the shower. You can work on your poker face while I try my hardest to break it.”
Frankie dropped me off at the airport. He called to me as I was rushing through the departure door.
“Don’t forget to send me a postcard. Make sure to give me status updates so I can update the website.”
I gave him a wave and ran to the departures. A long line brought me to a dead halt. There was no way I could check my bag and make it to the gate before it boarded. I already had my ticket Frankie preprinted. I’d have to abandon my bag if I wanted to catch the plane.
I’m going to kill Frankie. I told him I didn’t need to color coordinate. Just give me jeans and a hoodie and I’m good to go.
I left my bag behind a plant and called Frankie to return and pick it up. I rushed to security. It was another long line, but they had enough stations opened to whisk me through with five minutes to spare.
I raced through the crowded airport. This is ridiculous! Why am I bothering killing myself to board a plane to a place I don’t want to go to?
What did I have to keep me in Vegas anyways? Just another day sitting at a poker table. I guess I might as well sit at a poker table where I don’t understand the language. It could help my game.
The Big Blind (Nadia Wolf) Page 25