“Yes, she does. So, I heard Nina’s birthday is in a couple days. I hope you don’t mind, but I bought her a present.”
I’d be damned if the hulking mass of a man didn’t look sheepish as if I’d be angry with him that he adored my daughter. So did almost everyone else. She had them all fooled. I grinned inwardly at the thought. My daughter would be a heartbreaker when she grew up. “That’s very sweet of you. You should come to her birthday party.”
“Really?” His eyes lit up.
I laughed and patted him on the arm. “Yes, really. I’ll send you the details.”
“Thank you so much for the invite. If we’re still in town, I’d love to come.”
“You will if I have anything to do about it. Cross your fingers for me. Will ya? I need an entertainer for my daughter’s party or the woman handling the festivities will cut my balls off.”
It took him a minute to understand. Then his grin turned into a smirk. “I’ll see if I can help make that happen.”
“You’re a good man, Bernie.”
“Maybe wait until Attila the Hun leaves.”
He meant her manager, a surly guy who’d made the mistake of getting in my face. Not good for anyone to do. Scott Jameson was a typical show business prick. The more successful Lainey became, the more money lined his pockets. I’d seen him manhandling her before. That wasn’t going to happen again.
I honestly had no clue how she suffered dealing with an entire pack of pricks. Public relations. Social media gurus. Hairstylists. Fashion coordinators. I’d often wondered if she had any time for herself.
“Thanks for the heads up.” My anger just below the surface, I knocked on her door, trying to curtail my irritation.
“Come in.” Her voice sounded tense.
As soon as I opened the door, every muscle tensed. She was obviously infuriated about something Scott had said to her. As per usual.
“What is it?” Scott asked, way too surly for my liking. His glance was quick, a clear indication I was nothing but an annoyance to him.
His brazen attitude added fuel to the fire.
“It would seem you need to learn some manners, Mr. Jameson. If you don’t have time to find them, I’ll be happy to help.” I allowed the words to sink in, daring him to challenge me. Thankfully, he chose not to pick a fight. “Now, I need a few moments with your… client. She does employ you. Right? Not the other way around?”
He had the nerve to fist his hand, even puffing up. Maybe he could tell by my expression today wasn’t the day to fuck with me since he backed down.
When he started to object, his eyes telling me this could become an issue, Lainey stepped in.
“Don’t mind him, Mr. Dmitriyev. He takes being an asshole seriously,” she said and turned her head toward me. As soon as she did, a spark of electricity went through me like rocketfuel. Her smile was slight, but provocative as hell, and while this wasn’t the first time, I sensed she could feel the building connection between us.
How strange since I hadn’t felt anything for another woman since my wife had died seven years before. But admittedly, it was not the first time since Lainey’s arrival in Las Vegas. The first meeting, while somewhat contemptuous even though not by her doing had done that. She’d sized me up in an entirely different way than I was used to. Most women did so with the intent of bettering themselves in one of several methods.
Money. Influence. Power.
Lainey was different. Her skeptical looks were exactly the opposite. She was wondering what scheme I’d try to pull on her.
The entire role reversal had spurred the desire now furrowing through me like a constant stream of fireworks.
Scott wasn’t too pleased with her reaction, giving me another hateful look before facing her. “It’s time you start taking your career seriously, Lainey. You have the world in the palm of your hand if you’ll accept what you need to do.”
“You mean marrying some asshole? I don’t think so, Scott. I’m tired of being led around by a leash. Some things are going to change.”
Marrying some asshole. While I hadn’t seen Damien Kane during her residency, pictures of the two of them together had been all over the internet. Until they weren’t. Interesting.
“He’s good for you,” Scott growled. “The perfect match. The dream couple. Do you know how many fucking albums you sold when the engagement was announced?”
“All to line your pockets. Jesus Christ. I can’t believe you’re saying that. Just go.” Lainey pointed to the door.
Ouch.
