His expression remained politely interested but, overall, impassive. “So you bartend?”
“I bartend. And do books.” I didn’t know why it was important for me to include that. He was the CEO of this entire building. Silver was like a small city, and Gideon was the mayor.
I poured drinks part-time and taught addition and subtraction and grammar full-time. I was proud of my work. Both jobs. But next to Gideon, I felt like the girl who’d been left in line when her hotter friends were let in.
“And the books,” he murmured and selected another piece of meat and cheese. He held the food up toward my mouth. “A real family business.”
I snatched it from his fingers. Surprise flitted through his dark gaze and the corner of his mouth quirked so slightly I almost missed it.
I chewed on my food. Whoever did their purchasing knew what they were doing. The flavor was excellent. Every part of this casino was meticulously run.
What was it like working for Gideon? He looked like he never smiled. Was he a tyrant or a fair boss?
My brothers were amazing guys—excellent to work for and all-around gentlemen. They also bought their own hype and could be frustrating.
“A real family business,” I parroted and collected more food. I assembled a crostini, some of the spicier meat, and the smoothest cheese. I held it out for him.
Instead of grasping the food, he circled his longfingers around my wrist. His tanned skin made my pale flesh stand out.
I watched—gaped—as he lifted my hand closer to his mouth. Then he took a deliberate bite.
He locked his gaze with mine as he chewed.
“Is it good?” I sounded ridiculous, but I had no idea what to say. No man as good-looking as Gideon James had eaten out of my fingers.
Had I fed any guy like this?
He gently took the remaining meat and cheese compilation and brought it to my lips.
Oh god, oh god, oh god. He wanted me to eat out of his hand?
I’d eat off this man’s chest.
I overshot my bite, thanks to the bourbon Bloody Mary, and my lips closed around his fingertips. Instead of being a sophisticated and sensual woman, I was a half-lit, sloppy girl.
But from the way his pupils dilated, I wasn’t sure he agreed. The idea was heady. Could I, Autumn Kerrigan, small-town teacher, do something that a Vegas CEO as powerful as Gideon James found sexy?
He swallowed, his Adam’s apple working up and down, completely mesmerizing, and watched my lips as I finished chewing.
I couldn’t break eye contact as Sera appeared to deliver another drink for me, loaded with even more olives than all the others had been.
“You tell me, firecracker. Is it good?”
“Very.” My attention wasn’t on my taste buds. The green in his eyes caught the dim lights overhead.
He shifted to face me more fully, like he was going totell me a secret. “What’s it like working for the family business?”
“Tate’s in charge of Bailey Beef. Teller’s in charge of Copper Summit. Summer manages the Bozeman location. The daily operational and financial decisions are made by them. Larger ones that affect the whole company need all of us. We’re the board.”
His attention intensified. “And your spouses?”
My excitement swelled. “Tate’s wife works with me at the school. We were friends before they married.” She wouldn’t have left me outside the club. “Wynter’s husband runs his own distillery—Foster House.”
A dark brow lifted. “I’ve heard of it.”
“Summer’s husband has his own successful business. I don’t know. Maybe if a spouse wanted to be a part of the company, they’d get hired on.” I took another drink and set my glass on the table. I didn’t know what to do with my hands, so I folded them on my lap, but with the way I was sitting, the angle was uncomfortable. I looked like I was posing for family pictures.
He took my hand and my heart stammered. His rough thumb stroked over my knuckles. “Maybe what I’m asking, Autumn Kerrigan, is why you’re not married.”
