High Stakes

by Cheryl Douglas

  “Um, I met someone, and I could use your advice.” She needed someone to tell her she couldn’t possibly be feeling what she thought she was.

  “Ohhh, this is gonna be good.” There was rustling in the background. “Okay, I’m awake now. Fill me in.”

  “His name’s Liam Bryson,” Alisa whispered, careful not to alert Liam’s staff that she was talking about their boss. “He owns Bryson’s… You know, that boutique hotel chain?”

  “Shut. Up.”

  Alisa couldn’t help but laugh. Her friend had always had a flair for dramatics. “Seriously. He was seated beside me on the plane, and we just started talking.”

  “Go on.”

  “Well, I came back to his hotel with him, and we’re having dinner now.” She drew a deep breath. “I like him… a lot. I mean, a lot, a lot.”

  “Define a lot.”

  Alisa laughed as butterflies flitted around in her belly. “I wish I could. This connection we have is so… intense. That’s the only way I can think of to describe it. I mean, I’ve never felt this way about anybody.”

  There was a long pause before Lena asked, “Not even Nick?”

  “Not even Nick.”

  “Oh my God. So, what’re you gonna do? You gonna sleep with him?”

  Alisa winced at her friend’s candor, not that she was surprised. “I don’t know. I want to, but… that may make it even harder to walk away tomorrow, ya know? This was just supposed to be a fun little fling, to get my mind off of work for a while, but it’s turning into so much more than that.” She held her hair back from her face. “And I don’t know what the hell to do about it.”

  “Where does he live?”

  “San Fran.”

  “Damn.”

  “I know. Not only that, but he has a daughter. And he’s older, a lot older.”

  Lena laughed. “Your dad’s gonna bust an artery when he hears about this.”

  “I know, that’s part of the problem.”

  “Oh. My. God!” Lena shrieked.

  “What? What is it?”

  “I just Googled your hotel tycoon.”

  Alisa’s stomach fell. She should have known he was too good to be true. “What’d you find out about him? Is he married? Gone down for tax evasion? Kids in every state?”

  Lena laughed. “And you say I over-dramatize?”

  “Would you just tell me already? I need to know whether I’m going back in there or hailing a cab, so I can get the hell out of here.”

  “He’s freakin’ gorgeous, girl!”

  “That’s it?” Alisa’s heartbeat finally started to return to normal. “That’s what you’re freaking out about, the fact that he’s good-looking? Jesus, you almost gave me a heart attack.”

  “Sorry, but good-looking… to describe this guy? Come on, Ali. Did you forget your glasses again?”

  “Shut up. Okay, you’re supposed to be my friend. Tell me what I should do.”

  “Isn’t it obvious?”

  “No! If it was, I wouldn’t be calling you, would I?”

  “Honey, if you let this guy get away, you’re crazy.” There was a moment of silence before her friend said, “Listen, just by scanning this stuff about him online, he’s the real deal. He donates a fortune to charity. Oh, and look, there he is with his daughter at some father/daughter thing. Awww, that’s so sweet.”

  “Would you stop? I already know he’s incredible. I called you because I wanted you to tell me I’m acting crazy, falling for a guy I just met.”

  “Honey, I can’t say that I’ve ever experienced it, but enough people have claimed to have fallen in love at first sight. So I guess it can happen.”

  “Stop! I didn’t say I’m in love with the guy. That would be crazy.”

  “Who says?”

  My father, for one. “It just is.”

  “Who the hell cares what anybody else thinks? You deserve to be happy, and it’s been a long, long time since I’ve seen you happy. Hell, even with Nick you were guarded ’cause you didn’t think you could trust him.” Lena sighed. “Speaking of that dirt bag, I guess I should tell you he dropped by the store looking for you today.”

  Lena was the manager of Alisa’s store and, according to her, her self-appointed bodyguard. “Oh hell no. What did he want?”

  “He brought a couple dozen roses. He said today would have been the anniversary of the day you started dating.”

  Alisa glanced at the date on the diamond-studded watch her parents had given her as an engagement gift. Just because the relationship hadn’t lasted didn’t mean she didn’t still love the watch. Even if it did serve as a bitter reminder that she’d trusted the wrong man. “Oh God, he’s right.” He found new ways to torture her every day, as if his lying and cheating hadn’t been enough.

  “I threw his flowers in the trash and told him to go to hell.”

  Alisa smiled through her tears. “I love you.”

  “I’ve always got your back, you know that.”

  A dark shadow fell over her, and Alisa looked up to find Liam towering over her. “Um, I’ve gotta go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?”

  “You better, and just remember what I said. You deserve to be happy. If this guy can make you happy, I say go for it.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” She disconnected the call as Liam sat down on the bench beside her. “I’m sorry I took so long.”

  “I was worried you weren’t feeling well. You had quite a bit to drink.” He settled his arm around her and drew her close. “You seem upset. Is everything okay?”

  “Nick stopped by the store with flowers.” She felt his arm tighten around her waist. “Today would have been our anniversary.”

  “Great,” he muttered.

  She looked up at him. “I’m sorry, we only have this one night together, and I keep talking about my ex. That’s not fair to you.”

  “I wish you’d stop saying that,” he said, brushing away the tear sliding down her cheek. “Why can’t we have more? Hell, I have a private jet. I can fly anywhere I want, whenever I want, including Nashville.”

  She laid her head on his shoulder. “Yeah, and you also have a daughter to raise and a company to run. As it is, you probably don’t have enough hours in the day. How do you propose fitting a long-distance relationship into the mix?” When he didn’t respond right away, she knew she’d made her point, but it still hurt. She didn’t want it to be impossible. She wanted to explore this thing between them more than she wanted anything in a long, long time.

  “So, you gonna go home and get back together with that son of a bitch?”

  “No, it’s over. We’re over.”

  “It better be.” His hand glided up and down her bare back. “I’m gonna be keeping my eye on what’s going on in his camp now, and if I hear so much as a whisper about you taking him back, I’m gonna fly to Nashville and beat the hell out of him.”

  Alisa smiled. “My hero.”

  “Hey.” He slid a finger under her chin, coaxing her to look at him. “You deserve so much better than him, sweetheart. Promise me you won’t settle for anything less than you deserve.”

  “I promise.”

  Knowing that her lying, cheating ex still had the power to hurt her this way ate Liam up inside. He wanted to believe that this Nick guy wouldn’t be able to wear her down with charm and false promises, but he knew there were no guarantees. The ring he’d bought for her was burning a hole in his pocket, and he thought about John’s story.

  Without thinking about the ramifications, where they were, or who might be watching the scene unfold, he dropped to one knee and pulled the ring out of his pocket. “Alisa, I’ve been a lot places and met a lot of people, but no one has made me feel this way.”

  The color drained from her face when he held up the ring she’d admired. “Oh my God, what are you doing?”

  “Following my heart… maybe for first time. I’ve always been so guarded, because I never wanted to risk getting hurt, but, baby, I’m giving you that power, right
here, right now. You can make me the happiest man alive, or you can destroy me. What’s it gonna be?”

  She covered her face with her hands. “This can’t be happening. You can’t be serious.”

  “We go our separate ways and chances are, we’ll never see each other again. Is that what you want?” He knew he was over-selling when he should have sat back and let her make her own decision, but he’d never been one to rest on his laurels and there had never been so much riding on one little word. He knew if he lost her now, he’d be crushed.

  “No, of course not, but my father… my family. If I came home engaged to a complete stranger, what would they say?”

  He knew Trey Turner would talk her out of marrying him inside an hour. He couldn’t let that happen. “If it was a done deal by the time you got home, there’s not a damn thing your dad or anyone else could do about it.”

  Her mouth fell open before she whispered, “What are you…?”

  “Marry me right now, here, tonight.”

  “You’re insane.”

  “Maybe, but I know what I want. You. As my wife.”

  “How can you possibly know that? You don’t even know me.”

  “I know what my heart’s telling me, and I think you do too. If you’re willing to be honest with yourself?”

  She looked from him to the ring and back again. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say yes. Not because I want you to, but because you want to. Don’t think about what anyone else will say or think, just do what’s right for you.” He took a deep breath. “Even if that means walking away from me right now, Alisa. I’m willing to let you go, knowing that I did everything I could, if that’s what you want.” His eyes fell to her hand. “Either way, it has to be your call.”

  She raised her left hand. “Shall we see if it fits?”

  His heart wouldn’t allow him to believe she was saying yes until he heard it with his own ears. His hand trembled as she slid the ring into place. “Is that a yes?”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  He breathed a sigh of relief as his chin fell to his chest. “Let me make the arrangements. It shouldn’t take long. We routinely do weddings on-site at this hotel.”

  She grabbed his hand when he would have sprinted down the hall. “Liam, this is crazy. We’re not really gonna do this, are we?”

  Damn. He’d almost let himself believe having everything he’d ever wanted was possible. His business, his daughter, and an amazing woman to share his bed and his life. “We’re not gonna do anything you don’t wanna do. If you need more time, I’ll wait.” He knew if he let her return to Nashville without his ring on her finger, the chances of him seeing her again were slim. She had an ex who wanted her back, an overprotective father who would lose his mind if he found out she was seeing a much older man with a teenage daughter, and a business to run. He would have no place in her life, but if he were her husband, it wouldn’t be so easy to walk away.

  He hated feeling desperate and uncertain. It was so unlike him. Maybe it was knowing his brother was in his vacation home with the love of his life, or knowing that John, the blackjack dealer, would give anything for one more day with his soul mate. Whatever it was, he didn’t want to be alone for one more day, and he couldn’t risk letting the woman of his dreams walk out on him. “So, are we doing this or not, sweetheart?”

  “Okay, let’s do it.”

  Alisa wandered around the crowded hotel, trying to make sense of what was happening. Had she really just agreed to marry a man she’d just met? Was she losing her mind?

  She wandered into the casino and sat down at the blackjack table. “Hi,” she said to the gray-haired man behind the table.

  He tipped his head to look at her. “Hey, you’re the lady I saw coming out of the private dining room, aren’t you? Mr. Bryson’s girlfriend?”

  She held her left hand up and smiled, deciding to try the word on for size. “It looks like I’m his fiancée now, soon to be his wife.”

  The man, whose nametag read John, chuckled as he laid the cards out in front of her. “Well, don’t that just beat all? I guess my story about my Mary made him stop and think.”

  Alisa caught the attention of a passing waiter. “Tequila.” She took a second to think about what lay ahead. “Better make it a double.” She turned her attention back to John and smiled. “Sorry about that. You were telling me about Mary?”

  His eyes filled with tears as he looked down at the narrow band of gold making an indent on his left ring finger. “We met right here in Las Vegas almost forty years ago. Met her one day; made her my wife the next.”

  Alisa’s mouth fell open. “And you told Liam this story earlier?”

  “Sure did.” He smiled. “I was settin’ up the table for you two when I got a call tellin’ me y’all had changed your mind about playin’ blackjack tonight. Yet here you are, without him. You wanna talk about it? I’m a pretty good listener.”

  The waiter appeared with her drink and she proceeded to take the salt and lime before downing the shot. She winced. “One more, please.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  John raised a bushy gray eyebrow. “You sure that’s such a good idea? I don’t think Mr. Bryson would like it too good.”

  “You just let me worry about Liam. I’ll handle him.” She wasn’t certain anyone had ever handled Liam before, but she was willing to give it a shot if he chose to give her grief about having a few drinks before her wedding. God, just thinking about it made her break out in a cold sweat. What the hell was she thinking? Oh yeah, she was thinking he was the sweetest, sexiest, most successful man she’d met in ages. He loved his daughter, spoke highly of his mother, donated millions to charity, didn’t sleep around… He was perfect, and she’d have to be crazy to let him go.

  “So, you and Mary really made it work, huh? Even though you barely knew each other when you got married?”

  “Oh, I knew all I needed to know. I knew she was the one.”

  Alisa placed her bet and picked up two cards. “Hit me.” She propped her chin in her hands as she watched him deal another card. “Do you really believe you can know that quickly? I mean, I believe in lust at first sight, I experienced that today, but love? Is that even possible?”

  He chuckled. “It must be, ’cause that’s the way it was for me and Mary.”

  The waiter returned and Alisa proceeded to down her second shot. She cursed when her stomach started churning. Liam was right; alcohol on a nearly empty stomach was a bad idea. “You still love her as much today as you did back then?”

  His eyes filled with tears as he looked at the cards laying facedown in front of them. “I did what I promised I would on the day we said ‘I do’… loved her ’til her dyin’ day. Just wish it had been the other way around, ’cause I sure do miss her somethin’ fierce.”

  Alisa covered his cold, arthritic hand with her own as tears blurred her vision. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea you’d lost her.”

  Liam came up behind her. “There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” He glanced at the dealer. “Hey, John.”

  “I was just keepin’ your young lady here company, Mr. Bryson.” He winked. “I can see why you wouldn’t want to let her get away. She’s a real keeper, just like my Mary.”

  Liam smiled down at her, pressing a chaste kiss to her lips. “I think so, too.”

  The waiter who’d been serving her returned. “Another double tequila, ma’am?”

  Liam all but growled. “You’ve been serving her double shots of tequila?”

  “Liam,” she said, grasping his arm. “It’s not his fault. I ordered them.”

  He turned his fury on her. “What the hell were you thinking? You had the liqueur upstairs, the wine at dinner, you barely touched your meal…” He held his hand up. “You know what, Alisa? Maybe this was a bad idea. If you have to get drunk to marry me, I’m not the right guy for you after all.”

  Alisa watched, dumbfounded, as he walked away. If she hadn’t bel
ieved in love at first sight before, she did now.

  “Ma’am,” John said, flipping the card over, “you win, congratulations.”

  If that was true, why did she feel like she’d just lost… the best thing that ever happened to her?

  Chapter Eight

  Alisa was the one who’d had too much to drink, yet Liam was the one who felt sick. He’d put himself out there, for once, and he’d been shot down. In front of dozens of his employees, no less. He stalked past the private dining room he’d hastily arranged for the wedding that was never going to happen and punched the button on the elevator repeatedly as he cursed his stupidity.

  “Liam, wait.”

  He wanted to pretend he hadn’t heard her, but he couldn’t.

  She stopped in front of the dining room and her mouth fell open.

  He’d had huge floral bouquets delivered and the table was set with their finest bottle of champagne, two glasses, and a decorative white cake.

  “You did all of this for me?”

  “No, I did it for us. But I guess I was just fooling myself, wasn’t I?” He glanced at her left hand. She was still wearing the ring. He wondered if she would continue wearing it when she returned home, and if so, would she think of him when she looked at it?

  “I’m sorry.” She pressed a hand to her stomach. “I did have too much to drink. I guess it’s kind of a coping mechanism…. My father was right about that.”

  The elevator doors opened and she rushed forward to reach for his hand before he stepped on. “Can we talk for a minute?”

  He had nothing left to lose. “Sure, why not?”

  She led him into the dining room and sat down in the chair she’d occupied earlier while he remained standing. “What I feel for you scares me,” she whispered. “I thought I was in love with Nick, but I can see now that I wasn’t. Maybe what I’m feeling for you isn’t real, either?”

  “Nothing like kicking a guy when he’s down,” he muttered, sticking his hands in his pockets, as he began to pace the room.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t want to hurt you; I’m just scared. After what happened with Nick, I don’t know if I can trust my own judgement anymore.”