Page 11 of Hunt Me

“Where are you taking me?” I asked while moving forward. He pressed his hand against the small of my back. The action was possessive, yet another shiver coursed down my spine instead of annoyance sweeping through my system.

“Within the walls of this lavish resort there are several more private bars. One in particular I highly recommend.”

He led me down the corridor and through the lobby and instantly I could tell he held notoriety. Because I worked two jobs and long hours, I had little time to pay any attention to the social scene in the city that never slept. Yet I sensed whatever importance he held was as powerful as the man himself.

He knew exactly where he wanted to go, heading toward the executive elevator. Once inside, he crowded my space as I inched closer to the steel wall. I was finally able to take a good look at him. He was much taller than I’d expected, standing at least six foot four. Casual in his attitude, he’d unbuttoned his jacket, pushing the two sides away so he could shove his hands into his trouser pockets.

Thick lashes framed his blue eyes and he was very intimidating. Even so, the way he was looking at me created a flutter deep within my belly.

As he crowded my space the air grew thick, and my pulse drummed against my neck.

“What’s it like to own a massive hotel chain?” I asked in a crazy effort to reduce the increasingly explosive heat.

“Ah, so you do know who I am.”

“While I’ve only returned home after several years, you’d need to be living under a rock not to know who you are, Mikhail. Plus, you look exactly like Lilia.”

Laughing, his heated gaze swept my dress once again and I’d never felt so vulnerable.

Or so naked.

“Since you know my name, it only seems fair I learn yours.”

I don’t know why I felt even more vulnerable. “What’s wrong with keeping a mystery?”

“Hmmm,” he said. “You certainly are a mysterious woman. Alright. Then I’ll continue calling you my perfect angel.”

“Just remember, even angels often dip their wings in the waters of the forbidden.” I’d never been so forward in my life. That wasn’t my personality, yet around a man so possessive, I hungered to break free of the studious girl who’d spent all her time doing research and writing white papers.

The girl who’d foregone dating to work two jobs. The girl who’d been careless about her appearance, spending almost her entire college career in comfortable sweats.

The slight ping of the elevator reaching its destination broke the near trance he was attempting to place me in. I wasn’t buying his charm.

He backed away once the elevator doors were opened, waiting until I left the confined space. As we walked into the small bar, I instantly knew the space was reserved for high rollers. Almost every resort had at least one.

His bypass of the hostess was another reminder he owned the resort as well as several others. The table was in the back near a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the Vegas strip. Perhaps he thought he could impress me, but I knew the seedier side of the city, shadows imprisoning thousands of dirty little secrets.

There were several groups of people inside, perfect Barbie doll women clinging to older men. They were boisterous and loud, their laughter and conversations filtering throughout the bar.

“Champagne?” he asked, while already nodding toward a waitress. She didn’t wait for my answer, immediately scurrying away.

“Why not,” I told him. He was playing the gentleman, holding my chair until I eased onto the soft cushion. “I see you’re the kind of man used to getting everything he wants.”

“Is there anything wrong with knowing the most important things in life and ensuring they’re obtained?” As he sat down, I noticed he swept the room, his lips curling as if frustrated with the other guests.

“Not at all. Unless of course the thing or person is unobtainable.”

“Everything can be obtained for the right price.”

“No, not everything.” The same intense hum continued vibrating through me. “Some people aren’t impressed by money or luxurious things.”

“Then what are they impressed by?”

The quickness with which the waitress had reappeared was impressive. After placing two tall crystal flutes on the table, she backed away. She seemed nervous, her hands shaking as she tried to open the bottle, her struggle immediately terrifying her. My guess was the poor girl was used to being yelled at when she made a misstep. I hated holier than thou people almost as much as lecherous men with octopus hands.

I was surprised that instead of acting annoyed and accusing the poor girl of incompetence, he took the bottle from her hand. He even offered an encouraging smile. “A little trick of the trade I learned a long time ago. You don’t twist the cork. You twist the bottle. Keep one hand over the top and the leverage you have holding the bottle makes it almost foolproof.”

The pop was minimal and the girl opened her eyes wide, a tiny nervous laugh escaping. “That’s amazing. Oh, I’m sorry, sir. I’m new on the job. Thank you for helping.”