“It isn’t to walk out of here without being memorable?” I sigh, feigning disappointment. “There goes my plans to set someone on fire.”
He leisurely runs his gaze over me and I pretend that I don’t notice, focusing on my drink. The man goes from hot to cold in the blink of an eye until I’m not entirely sure where his mind’s at. He’s made it clear enough that he’s interested, but by how quickly he cut off our kiss earlier, I’m not sure if I crossed some forbidden line. Flirting is one thing, but follow through another beast entirely.
“There’s no escaping them remembering you-“ he leans forward and hooks a finger in my collar, drawing me closer “-though I’m afraid you’re going to stick in their memories for the wrong things. Sleeping with the enemy is a dangerous game to play. No one will trust what side you’re on now.” He waits patiently for an answer, merely holding our position without concern for who might be watching.
“So you admit it then?” At his raised eyebrow, I clarify, “That you want to sleep with me.”
He smirks, softening. “There are many, many things I want to do to you, angel, and none of them involve sleeping.”
Knowing that I’m playing with fire, I drop my hand to his knee, sliding a palm up his thigh. “Shame then, that I have a test to finish. Care to spill part two so we can get it over with and free up our night?”
Grinning, he sits back, releasing me. “You’re going to give me a run for my money, pretty girl. Won’t be long and I’ll be out of a job. Julian will send you in and men will be throwing information at your feet without me ever having to lift a finger.”
Lifting my hand from his thigh, he grabs my glass and places it back in my hand, curling my fingers around it. Despite the subtle rejection, he keeps his hand wrapped around mine for a moment.
“Can’t give them the wrong idea,” he says with a wink.
And now I’m just utterly confused. “In what regard? You literally stole me away from Ev and claimed you wanted to play with me.”
He clucks his tongue. “Nothing’s ever black and white. People start thinking that all it takes is a pretty enough face to distract me, the worst of our clients will start sending girls as a peace offering to buy themselves more time on their debts or try and garner favor. Can you imagine how annoying that would be for me?”
Swallowing, I try to get a read on what angle he’s playing. “But if they think that you only have an interest in me, doesn’t that put a target on my back? For people thinking they can get to you through me, I mean.”
His eyes light up with humor and he takes his good sweet time replying. Slamming back his drink, he slides his empty glass down the bar to the waiting bartender who hastily refills it, coming back to top mine off as well.
“If there’s someone suicidal enough to think that they can use you as leverage after not only seeing my interest in you, but knowing that you came here on Ev’s arm? Lord, I’d like to see the balls on that guy.” He winks, but I simply roll my eyes.
“You think pretty highly of yourself.”
“Says the woman assuming people will want to use her as leverage,” he counters instantly, leg bouncing, growing restless. Seeing my face, he immediately backpedals. “Wasn’t saying you were wrong, just… fuck.” He swipes a hand over his face. “Stop it.”
Taking pity on the man, I try and pull him back to the task at hand. “Test. Part two.”
Taking the olive branch, he clears his throat. “Now that you know what the security looks like, you can steal something without getting caught.”
My eyes widen. “What the fuck?”
He shrugs. “I don’t make the rules.”
Cursing, I lean closer. “What am I supposed to steal? I’ve never stolen more than pocket change!” I hiss.
Leaning his elbows back on the bar, he tilts his head towards the floor in front of us. “No time like the present to figure it out.”
On the floor alone again, I weigh my options. If I were to simply hang all over some dude, pretend like I was trying to seduce him and his wallet were to wind up missing, there’d be no doubt that he’d accuse me. So that’s out.
Money is a hell of a, well, gamble in this place, where valuables are what they’re going to be watching. Money, chips, purses, watches; all of them will be exactly what not only security will be keeping an eye on, but the clientele as well. You don’t show up at a casino andnotwatch your valuables.
It dawns on me suddenly and I grin. He just said that I needed to stealsomething.
Walking straight out of the casino to the lobby with my drink in hand, I hop on the elevator, taking it up a couple of floors. Wandering through the halls until I see the maid service cart, I hastily rush forward, snatching a towel and retreating back to the elevator before anyone comes out of the room.
With a grimace, I turn my back on the camera in the top corner, slipping out of my dress and leggings, remaining in my underwear. The ribbons on the back of the dress make it easy enough to band both around my stomach, and by the time I’m coming to a stop on the top floor, I’ve just finished wrapping the towel around myself to conceal my clothes.
Tilting my head upward, I pour the fruity drink over my hair to wet it, and make me smell like a lush at the same time. Leaving the glass behind, I amble out into the hallway, meandering around the halls until coming across another maid.
“I’m so sorry to bother you, but can you help me?”
She looks me up and down, fighting an eye roll of her own, since it’s certainly not the first time she’s seen it happen. “What room?”
