“You are a stubborn little lady, do you know that?” he calls out after me.
I stop and turn back toward him. He stands casually with his hands tucked into his pockets wearing that smirk.
“And you’re very persistent, Mr. King. Do you know that?”
He looks perplexed as he frowns. “Hmm, I guess I am…so will you? Let me carry your bags?” He jogs the small distance to catch me up and I laugh.
“Will it soothe your ego if I do?”
“Very much so.”
“Fine.” I shake my head with a small laugh. “You can carry them to the elevator. After that, I’ve got it covered, okay?”
“You’ve made my day,” he says with a smile.
He takes my bags, sending little jolts of electricity through me when his fingers brush mine. What is it about him that does this to me? I flex my fingers when I’m relieved of the bags and their weight. My arms feel like they’ve been pulled out of their sockets.
We walk through the foyer and toward the elevator. “So, did you buy half of Vegas?” he says jokingly.
“Let’s just say, I decided it was time for a change of image.”
“Oh really? Well, your image looks just fine from where I’m standing.” He winks and I bump his shoulder with mine.
“Are you always so smooth with the ladies?” I ask, loving the easy banter between us.
“Only the pretty ones with amillionshopping bags…”
“I do not have amillionshopping bags. There may be ten, but not amillion.”
He slows to a stop as we approach the elevator. “So what brings you here to Vegas? Business or pleasure?”
“I … uh … I’m just visiting a friend.”
Shit, I wasn’t prepared for that question. There’s something about him that makes me want to tell him the truth, but that’s a ridiculous notion. What do I tell him? That I left my husband because he hit me when he found out I didn’t want children and that I married under a false name because I was running from my ex-fiancé?
“I see.” His eyes skim over the poorly camouflaged bruise on my cheek. “So do you have any plans for the rest of the afternoon, or has all this shopping left you exhausted?”
“No, no plans this afternoon, and shoppingistiring I’ll have you know.”
“You do know that the concierge can get you anything you need?”
“Yes, but I’d feel a little uncomfortable sending the concierge to Victoria’s Secret.” I start to take the bags off him one by one and he grasps his hands around the handles tightly.
“You mean to tell me there’s a bag from Victoria’s Secret in this lot?” He looks like the cat that got the cream and holds up the bags to the light one by one to see if he can see through them.
“No…uh, yes, there is but…oh, you know what I meant.” I swat at his upper arm playfully but the moment my palm touches him I get the urge to keep contact and my fingers involuntarily squeeze to feel his bicep. I force myself to pull my hand away.
“I don’t want someone else doing my underwear shopping is all. Give me those!”
He chuckles and hands the remaining bags over to me, then presses the button for the elevator and the doors glide open. I step in and turn to him scowling, but really I’m fighting a grin.
“Would you consider joining me for a drink this evening?” He smiles a lopsided grin and it creases one cheek, flashing a deep dimple.
“I … um, I already have plans …”
Shit, I hate lying. I really want to have a drink with him, but I can’t, I just can’t.
Disappointment flashes across his handsome face, but he nods and doesn’t press me further. “Well, I hope you enjoy your evening, and if you change your mind…”
