Page 21

Chapter

Twenty

Tenley

I watch Paddy over the top of my open menu while he talks wine with the server. Several crazy thoughts are whizzing around in my head. To be honest, the way he was so dismissive towards me only minutes after being downright flirty and suggestive has me wondering if he has a dual personality. His persona switched so quickly I damn near got whiplash. I’m pissed, hence why I’m currently hiding behind the menu. I’m trying to hold it in but if circumstance had been different, I’d have tossed his ass to the curb, and I’d be halfway home with a takeout pizza. I don’t care how fucking good looking he is, that kind of behavior is a major red flag in my book.

It could be a good thing and exactly what I need to help me put things into perspective and get my head back in the game. Because that’s exactly what this is; a game, albeit a dangerous one.

In my head, I remind myself precisely what this is.

This is a fake date. A means to an end. Keep your eye on the endgame, Ten. An explosive, exclusive story that will elevate my career and set me on a path that will only lead to great things.

“Tenley?”

“Yeah.” Shaking my head clear, I snap back into the now, realizing that Paddy had been trying to get my attention.

“You okay? I think I lost you for a minute, then.”

“Sorry, was trying to decide what to order.” I drop the menu slightly and give him my best fake smile. “It all looks so good.”

“I can recommend the Bison Tenderloin,” he offers. “But to start with, if you don’t have any problems with shellfish, why don’t we get the Seafood Tower sharing platter? It has a few unique items on it, including lobster, so if you’ve not had them before, it’s the perfect way to try it and see if you like.”

“I’m happy to go with that.”

“Then allow me to order for both of us.”

I can’t deny the food is out of this world. The lobster? Oh my God, each morsel is heaven to my tastebuds. The oyster, however, yuk. I ate two, thank the lord there were only four in total on the plate, but that was only because I was determined to look like a hard ass rather than a wimp by refusing.

The conversation continues to flow and the flirtatious man is back, although it quickly disappears anytime the server comes close.

By the time I’d demolished the delicious main course, I was full to bursting, and despite the menu having a choice of lip-smacking cocktails and desserts, I gracefully decline. I’d already had a little too much wine and was buzzed. The last thing I needed was to make any decisions that could easily come back and bite me in the ass.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t like me to order another bottle of wine? He asks. His hand, palm down, slides across the table towards where mine is, playing with the edge of my discarded napkin. It stops, leaving the tiniest space between them. A slight movement of his little finger is all it takes, and it is slowly, discreetly stroking over my thumb.

“Are you trying to get me drunk?” I catch his gaze. It’s hot, intense and has been there constantly except for when we’ve had company at the table. I’ve done my best to keep eye contact, but at times, I’ve had to break the connection simply so I don’t fall headfirst into those intoxicating green pools that seem to promise lustful sex, heat and mind-blowing orgasms.

“Not too drunk,” he winks back at me. “I’ll get the bill, and then we can hit the casino.”

We spent an hour or two in the casino. Paddy plays the tables while I sit back and watch after insisting that it’s not right to take money from him after he’d spent so much on dinner. Truth is that taking money from him would make me feel dirty.

The thing with these places is if you’re playing the tables, the drinks are never ending and free. With every shot of whiskey Paddy orders, he orders me one too. Little does he know that while his attention is taken, watching the dealers and the cards on the table, I’m pouring the majority into his glass. Alas, it doesn’t seem to take much effect other than him becoming vocal and affable with those around the poker table.

The chips are still piled high in front of him, but in the last two hands, he’s lost a substantial amount. What was an early winning streak appears to have ended.

“Paddy,” I tap him on the shoulder to get his attention, but he doesn’t respond. On my third attempt, it works.

“Tenley,” he swings around in his seat to face me.

“It’s time to cash out. I got an early start in the morning, so we need to get going.”

“Jesus,” he hisses when he checks his watch and sees that it’s after twelve. “Now you know why they don’t have clocks in these places.” He waves to one of the guys standing by the table who, by the way he’s dressed, must work for the casino. “Can you get this cashed up for me?” Paddy plucks out an orange chip and hands it to the guy who slips it into his pocket.

“I’ll get that sorted for you right away, sir.” his smile is big enough to tell me that the chip he’s received in gratis is worth a substantial amount. “Would you like to wait, or should I put it against your room to collect on your departure? ”

“Room will be fine,” he responds. “It’s 2010.”

“Of course, sir. Good evening to you both and I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay here at the Alexandra.” With that, he’s gone, and I’m stood open-mouthed and seething.

Paddy Dunne has booked a room. How fucking presumptuous of him.

“I know what you’re thinking.” Maybe he can see the steam that’s metaphorically blowing out of my ears. “And before you say anything. Yes, I did book a room here on the pretense of having you sleep with me, but…” He jumps up off the seat, and if it wasn’t for my quick action, stepping forward and wrapping my arms around him to support his weight, he would have hit the floor.

Looks like the alcohol has taken hold after all. He’s hammered.

“Fuck,” he mumbles when he staggers again. “I’ll be right in a second or two.”

“Paddy, I don’t think this is a good idea. I should go.” I need to go.

“Tell you what,” he slurs. “Be a darling and help me to my room. The key card is in my pocket.” When the hell had he managed to pick that up? Did he do a detour when visiting the bathroom? “Then if you want to leave, I’ll call you a cab to take you home.”

Shit! This is not a pleasant situation. He’s a big man, a strong one at that. I really don’t want to be in a room with him alone. But then again, he’s about thirty minutes from being comatose. Could this be my chance to get him to talk? Loose lips sink ships, so they say, and they don’t get any looser than when someone is tanked .

“Okay, let’s get you to the elevator and up to your room.”

By the time we’ve hit the twentieth floor and room 2010, Paddy has come around somewhat, still staggering but walking with little aid.

“You are really beautiful,” he mumbles while I try to get the keycard to work. He leans in and sweeps the hair back from my face with his hand. “Your eyes remind me of the blue sea at Benone Beach.”

“And exactly where is that?” I ask as the door clicks open, and I step inside.

“Home. The north coast of Ireland,” he explains as he wavers in behind me. “I’ll take you there one day. You’ll love it.” He stops still as if he’s suddenly remembered something. “Can’t do that,” he mumbles before walking further into the room and sitting on the edge of the California king bed that dominates the large space.

“What made you move to Nevada, when you still seem to associate Ireland as being your home?” I slowly walk towards the bed and stand in front of him.

“Carrickfergus, North of Belfast. That’s where my heart is. Work brought me here.”

“Do you miss it?” I ask, trying not to go with a natural progression of questions without being too obvious.

“Every day.” He lets out a deep, heavy sigh. “For now, I do what I’m required to do, and that’s how it has got to be.”

“Sounds like you have little say in the matter. Why not get a job back home?”

“If only it was that simple.” He reaches out, grabs my wrist, and pulls me onto his lap. “Less about me, you’ve yet to tell me what you do that has you rushing off for an early start?”

Damn. I’d done well to avoid it up to now and I’m surprised it’s taken this long.

“I work in the offices at one of the big communication companies in the city.” It’s not a total lie, I’ve just bent it a bit. Okay, a lot. “Why did you book a room when you have an apartment here? Can’t be that far away. Where did you say it was?”

“It’s on Double R Boulevard,” he pipes up. I’m about to go in with another question that might give me something more when he adds. “I thought we’d done talking about me. In fact, let’s cut the chat period.” His hand slides behind my neck and before I know it, his lips are on mine and he’s kissing me without reservation. I try to get up and off his lap, only for the arm around my waist to tighten its hold. His tongue pushes into my mouth, hot and demanding.

Wrong. This is epically wrong.

With my hands firmly on his chest, I push him away and thankfully, it’s enough to break the kiss.

“Paddy, I’m not going to sleep with you.”

“Why not?”

“You’re drunk.”

“Not that drunk.” I raise my brow at him in response to him trying to wiggle his seductively. Instead, it’s all over the place, like he’s had a botched-up facelift.

Once again, I attempt to leave his lap, but being hammered certainly doesn’t deplete his strength and by all accounts, neither does it reduce his ability to get hard judging by the firm rod that’s pushing between my ass cheeks.

“Besides that, I really need to go. I need to be up early for work,” I reiterate. “Early meetings of which it is imperative that I’m there for.”

“Okay, okay. But you could still stay. Snuggle up with me. Promise, no sex.” He holds up his hands as a sign of his honesty. Stupidly, I hesitate and miss the opportunity to escape before his arms are back around me. “We could talk some more,” he offers while stroking his hand slowly up and down my spine, causing me to shiver at his touch.

“We keep our clothes on,” I counter. The thought of getting more information is too tempting to do otherwise.

“Are you open to negotiation?” he asks. I nod in agreement, wondering what he’s going to come back with. I can still say no and just leave. One thing I don’t think Paddy Dunne would ever do, and that’s force me into something I didn’t want to do, otherwise he could have done that already. “We could strip down to our underwear. Don’t know about you, but formal wear is so fucking uncomfortable.”