I chance another peek relieved that the new happy couple has moved on and I can come out from my hiding spot. I step hesitantly onto the trail checking both directions to make sure they are gone. I don’t see any sign of them, nor do I know which direction they are heading. Deciding to find my former happiness, I continue on, determined to complete the full three miles before calling it quits.
I hit repeat on my anthem and resume my quick pace. I don't get far when I sense someone running very close to me. I abruptly stop, fearing that Grayson saw me after all, only to be practically ran over by a hard body colliding into me from behind. I stumble forward, a little disoriented from the collision, but maintain my footing enough that I don’t go tumbling to the ground. I pull my ear buds from my ears just in time to hear him.
“What the hell? Why did you stop?” A raspy voice full of humor pulls me from my haze. Instantly my heart rate accelerates even more than it was during my run. I know that voice and as much as I tell myself I need to run, I look up to find Liam staring at me a little confused and even more amused.
“What.... What are you doing here?” I pant out. I feel like I just entered the twilight zone. First Starbucks, now here. Really? Is someone playing some sort of cruel joke on me? Why can't I seem to get away from this man? If I didn't know any better I would risk saying that he is stalking me.
“Well I was running.” He laughs. “Last time I checked this is a good place to do that.” His smile is dazzling and I find myself unable to rip my eyes away from his beautiful mouth, his perfect teeth. I wonder what those lips would feel like on mine. Soft and sweet, or rough, full of passion.
“You okay Addison?” He asks, snapping me from my haze. The overwhelming electricity I feel in his presence burns through me. My knees instantly feel weak when my eyes finally meet his.
“Fine.” I mumble out, mentally slapping my stupid ass for even letting myself think such things. This is the last thing I need. Something tells me that this man doesn't take no easily and honestly if he asked, I don't know if I could tell him no. I need to snap out of it. A man that looks like him can certainly do better than me. I doubt he would even waste his time.
“I.... I gotta go.” I say, quickly turning and taking off in a full sprint with no real warning. He laughs behind me and within seconds is at my side.
“Your quite rude you know that?” He jokes between long strides of his legs. I am already panting and struggling to keep my pace and yet he seems completely at ease next to me.
I keep going, pushing myself harder and faster until every muscle in my legs is burning to the point of true pain. My lungs are begging for oxygen and honestly I just can't force my body to go any longer. I slow to a walk, eventually stopping to lean over, propping my hands on my knees, doing my best to catch my breath.
My legs are twitching and my lungs feel like I inhaled fire. I realize very quickly that Liam stopped with me. I glance up at him only to find him looking down at me. I can't tell if he feels bad for me or if he's about to burst out in laughter.
“You okay?” He asks, seeming genuinely concerned. He grabs my arm and pulls me upright. The minute his flesh touches mine a want so deep takes over my entire body. He leads me to a bench a few feet ahead that sits off the side of the trail. I plop myself down, thankful to be off my feet.
Liam takes a seat next to me, stretching his long legs out in front of him. I want to say something, anything, but I can't seem to formulate words at the present moment. I glance to my side to see Liam wiping his brow with the bottom of his shirt, revealing his toned, defined abs in the process. Oh my god this man is a god. Sweat rolls down his abdomen hitting the band of his shorts. I can't stop my eyes from trailing forward even though I feel like a complete perv for even thinking about doing it.
“Like what you see?” He asks. My eyes break contact with his perfect body to look to his equally perfect face.
“Well I wouldn’t be looking if you weren't flaunting it.” I bite at him not able to control the small laugh that breaks from my throat.
He gives me a heart stopping smile. “Fair enough. I guess I could say the same to you.” He says reaching over and running his finger along my bare shoulder. The contact makes me shudder to the point that I know he noticed. He smiles again and then drops his hand back down, his eyes not breaking away from mine.
The tension between us is so thick. He leans in closer, his eyes still focused firmly on mine. I'm holding my breath, unable to turn away even though I know I need to. Just when I feel like the air around us is about to explode, my phone rings breaking the connection. A little disoriented I pull my phone from my pocket and without looking at the number I answer it.
“Hello.” My voice comes out breathless.
“Addison.” That's all it takes for everything around me to warp.
“Grayson.” I get out in a whisper.
“Hey I'm sorry to bother you but you still have my iPod and I would really like it back.” He says without any remorse.
“Your iPod?” I mange to get out through the anger bubbling inside me.
“Yeah, well I mean I paid for it and I need it. Think you could drop it by the office later today?”
“Are you kidding me? It was a gift Grayson, a gift. Are you really so heartless that you would call me after everything asking for such a ridiculous thing. Why are you really calling? Because if you're looking to speak to a weak heart broken girl that is lost without you, you won't find her here. If you want your stupid iPod you can have it. It's somewhere in the woods next to the bike trail.” I spit, grabbing the iPod and without really thinking, chucking it across the trail into the woods on the other side.
I stand up half tempted to throw my phone too but then calmly press the end button and shove it back into my pocket.
“Everything okay?” Liam's voice pulls me from my oncoming melt down just in time. He steps next to me but I don't look at him. This pain I feel, this anger, it all stems from men like him. Assholes who think they walk on water, that will use and discard women with no remorse.
“Everything's fine.” I spit. “I have to go, please don't follow me.” I say still not looking at him.
“Addison wait!” He shouts, but I am already in a full on sprint and eager to be away from here. Away from the place where I spent so many mornings with Grayson. Away from the place where for just a moment I almost let myself forget why I need to stay away from Liam. He's no good for me but he's someone I know I will never be able resist.
I run the remaining distance back to my apartment in a daze. By the time I reach the steps that lead up to the front door I feel like absolute shit for the way I treated Liam. Even if he is a player, he's never done anything but be nice to me and he doesn’t deserve to pay for Grayson's mistakes.
Regardless, that doesn’t change the fact that he is no good for me. I am going to go out tonight, get drunk as hell, dance my ass off, and forget all about the man that broke me and the other one that is slowly consuming me.
Chapter Eight
As we pull up outside Bella Vita my insides instantly seize up. “I thought you were taking me to Caesars Palace.” I whine from the backseat of Sam's Mustang.
“Relax.” Kristina says, turning from her place in the passenger seat to look at me. “As of Monday you are officially working for this casino. What better way to learn your product than to experience it yourself.” She gives me a little wink before turning her attention to her seat belt as Sam puts the car in park and waits for the valet.
She, of course, has no clue that the reason I don't want to come here has everything to do with a certain bartender that I am trying to forget about. I take a deep breath and peel myself from the backseat as Sam gets his ticket from the valet. With any luck we will stay as far away as possible from Serendipity and then I will have nothing to worry about.
With my new found optimism, I plaster on a fake smile and follow Sam, Kristina, Dana, and Charlie into the entrance of the casino. Stacie and Michelle are suppos
ed to meet us here but I hear that they always say they will come whenever an outing is planned but never end up showing up. Once we pass through security and have our I. D.s checked, we make our way onto the main floor where the majority of the slot machines are located.
I tug at the hem of my black knee length cocktail dress, wishing I had chosen to wear something a little more conservative. As much as I try to convince myself otherwise, I know I will be glad I wore this dress if a certain handsome bartender decides to make an appearance.
Our first stop is at a little bar tucked in the corner of the spacious floor. I order a cotton candy martini and wait to the side as the others get their drinks before making our way down the row of slot machines on the right side wall.
“I love the Wheel of Fortune slots.” Sam says with a grin. “You wanna check them out with me?”
“Sure.” I answer politely trying to forget all about the fact that Sam had asked me out a couple weeks ago and has since made things a little bit awkward. What I used to view as just Sam being friendly now is viewed as him trying to make a pass at me. I know it's probably not the case but now that he planted that seed, it's hard to shake.
“We'll be at the black jack table up by the front.” Dana says before turning and walking away with a little wave, Charlie following close behind. I was surprised to learn that Dana had invited him seeings how we have little to do with him or any of the other I.T people at work. Charlie's not much of a looker, not ugly but certainly not good enough for Dana. For whatever reason she has a huge crush on him, or that's what Kristina told me earlier today anyways. From what I gather she has always been into the more jock type but Charlie is far from that. He's a computer whiz and not the biggest on fashion. He always wears the same pleated front slacks with a button up collared shirt. His brown curls are wild and are in need of some serious taming but other than that his face is soft. There is a sweetness to him and his big brown eyes convince you he is the sweetest person to ever walk the earth. Truth is, he might be.
I'm happy that Dana is focusing on someone who will probably treat her the way she deserves. Although I am pretty confident that Charlie is completely oblivious to Dana's interest, for now anyway.
“Earth to Addison.” I hear Sam chuckle from behind me. I turn to face him with an apologetic smile. “Come on, they are over here.” He says taking my hand to lead the way. I don’t miss the intentional contact and hope that I made myself clear the first time he made advances at me.
I try not to over think it and allow him to lead me through the crowds of people until we reach a row of progressive Wheel of Fortune slot machines. The casino is rather crowded but there are two machines open side by side so we sit down together. I pull a twenty out of my wristlet purse and feed it into the machine.
“You want to bet max. That way if you hit the jackpot you will win all that.” Sam says, pointing up to the moving number above the machines that reads eleven thousand eight hundred and six dollars.
Sam follows me and inserts twenty into his machine as well. I hit the Wheel of Fortune bonus almost instantly and scream out in delight. “Whoops, sorry.” I say to a startled Sam next to me.
After thirty minutes I have turned my twenty into one hundred and fifty and thanks to the very attentive waitress, am now on my third martini. I have never gambled before and must say I love the rush. It's so exciting with every button push that I could win. Of course my martini's probably play a huge part in why I am enjoying myself so much. Sam has pretty much stayed quiet beside me other than little chit chat here and there, and for that I am grateful. I'm rather liking being lost to my own excitement and not having to entertain someone.
“I gotta hit the ladies.” I say to him as the urge to use the bathroom comes on strong.
“Breaking the seal already?” He laughs when I stick my tongue out at him. “Go, I'll hold your machine.” He says smiling widely.
It takes me about ten minutes to find the bathroom. I swear I looped the floor twice over before seeing the neon sign that reads Restrooms not twenty feet from where my machine sits. Sam probably thinks I fell in.
I enter and exit the ladies quickly, trying to make up for the wasted time looking for it to begin with. I pull my phone out on my way out the door to shoot the girls a quick text and see how their luck is going. Unfortunately that means I wasn't paying much attention to where I was walking and almost instantly collide with someone just feet from the exit.
“Crap.” I say when my phone slips from my hand and takes a hard bounce on the red carpeted floor. I reach down to retrieve it and then stand back up to apologize to whoever I ran into, but the moment I look up words fail me.
Are you kidding me? Standing in front of me with a very pleased look on his face is of course the one person I wanted more than anything to avoid. “Are you stalking me?” I ask without really thinking it through.
“Considering this is my place of employment I would say that it is you stalking me.” Liam retorts on a small laugh.
“I am in the casino, not the bar. So this makes it equal territory.” I can't believe I am standing here joking with this man when I should be heading for the hills. The alcohol blinding my ability to think clearly.
“Fair enough. How about we chalk it up to a chance encounter? Although I must say, I am growing rather fond of you running into me all the time.” My cheeks burn and I know I must be blushing crimson. What the hell is wrong with me?
He looks even better than earlier today, if that's possible. Loose fitting jeans that hang on his hips partnered with a black collared shirt with gray stripes left unbuttoned revealing a tight black undershirt. Everything about this man makes my insides clench in a way that I need them not to. I have to get away from him or I might just jump him right here in front of everyone on the casino floor.
“Well it was nice seeing you again Liam but if you will excuse me, I have a someone who is probably wondering where I am.” I say not waiting for a reply. I chance a glance behind me before turning the corner and regret it instantly. He hasn’t moved from where I left him, instead he's watching me walk away. I try not to linger but it takes everything I have to turn away. I refocus and within a minute locate Sam in the same place I left him.
“I was about to send out a search party.” He jokes as I take my seat next to him.
“Sorry, took me forever to find the bathroom.” I laugh. A young red headed waitress approaches and hands me another martini.
“Hope you don’t mind that I ordered you another.” Sam says, taking his beer from the waitress.
“Thank you.” I say draining half the contents in one drink. The coolness soothes the heat threatening to tear my body apart. I go for another sip and almost choke on my drink when I see Liam approaching.
I don’t have time to react otherwise I would be panicked, instead I just sit there looking like a love sick school girl that gets all tongue tied when the boy she's crushing on actually talks to her.
“Addison, You dropped this.” He says holding out my drivers license that must have fallen out of my purse when I pulled my cell phone out.
“Thank you.” I manage to get out. Relieved that he found it but now fully aware that he knows where I live. Why do I have to be so on top of things? I updated my address and had a new license made a week ago. Had I waited I wouldn’t have to worry about it. Then again, do I really think that he would just show up at my house? I am certain that I am not as irresistible to him as he is to me.
“Liam Mason.” He says turning his attention to Sam. He extends his hand and Sam takes it. Both men sizing each other up as they shake.
“Sam Anderson.”
“Sorry to interrupt your date but I thought you might need that.” Liam says turning his position to face me again.
“It's not a date.” I blurt regretting it instantly when I catch sight of Sam. I realize right there that this was all part of the plan. He was hoping to get a few drinks in me, loosen me up, and then what? I would change my mind about da
ting him? Not a chance.
“We work together.” Sam says clearing his throat. “Just good friends.” He says giving me a small grin. Relief floods through me. Perhaps I am running away with things again and Sam never expected this night to turn into anything other than what it is at the current moment.
“Well it was nice to meet you Sam. Addison.” He says giving me a wink before walking away.
“Who was that?” Sam asks before I have even processed the encounter. He was curious about Sam, that much was clear. Why would he care if I was on a date and yet he made it a point to call it out as one.
“He's one of the bartenders at Serendipity.” I say casually as if it's not big deal.
“Uh huh..” He draws out slowly.
“Don't be that way. We have already established that a relationship is not in my near future.” I say turning my attention back to my slot machine.
The conversation dies and we don't speak again until forty five minutes later when Dana shows up with Charlie. “We are gonna hit the bar. Kristina disappeared in there about an hour ago. No telling what shes gotten herself into.” She laughs but I know she means it seriously. Kristina has a way of getting herself into trouble when left to her own devices. Just ask the handful of men she has picked up in the last six months. Or you could ask them, if she had any idea who they were.
She's not what you would label as a slut. She doesn’t sleep around all the time but she gets herself way too drunk, makes bad choices, and then ends up regretting it the next day. I guess that's what happens when you spend years in a controlling relationship. Once free she just went wild. Thank god I have more self control otherwise I could be in the same position.
Consumed (The Breathless Series, #1) Page 5