Page 27 of Unstoppable Billionaire (The Hardcore Novels: Special Editions #2)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Back at the table, everyone is grinning at us. Steve says to me. "Congrats. You broke the spell. Give us a hug." Aurei pulls me closer to him, and Steve looks at him, then says, "Never mind. I'm good."

He looks at Aurei. "Did she tell you that?"

Aurei moves me in front of him, drapes his arms around my shoulders, and laughs in my ear at Steve. "Of course not."

I love that sound. The sound of a rumble of thunder having fun. I turn my face to see his eye crinkled. Perfection. I kiss his arm, and he squeezes me.

A girl comes over to us. She stands across the table and smiles, first at Aurei, then at me. She silently lays a $20 down and walks away.

Scarlett , who is still sitting on Paul's lap, reaches into her pocket, pulls out a $20, and tosses it on the table too. "You won our bet, Siri."

"What exactly was the bet?" I ask as another girl comes up and tosses a $20 down.

"We had a bet that the girl who could get Aurei back on the dance floor would collect a $20 from all the girls who tried and failed."

I smirk at Aurei. "I told you so. I told you they were playing games for you."

He rolls his eyes. "Girls and their drama."

A group of five more walks over and all throw $ 20's down, too, while a solid line forms. Some say to me, "Good for you." Others tell Aurei, "I hope she makes you happy. You deserve to be." Some only say, "Congrats, and good luck."

Resa and her group file by too, and she says. "I hope I get to see Ruth's face when she hears that you won. She bet everyone double that it would be her, so she owes you $40." She knuckle bumps me.

The jackpot continues to grow. Steve takes it on himself to be the banker. He stacks it neatly and keeps count as they file by. He tells each of them his name and that he is available. Some of the girls give him their digits.

The stack of money is getting high. "Damn, Aurei. It looks like everyone here has asked you."

He swoops me off the chair, sits down, then sits me in his lap. "I don't remember telling this many girls no, but I guess I did."

When it appears the last one has come and gone, Steve tells us over 100 girls ponied up. "That calls for a toast!" He pours us all a stiff drink from the Crown Royal bottle. When we are ready, he stands. "Here's to Happy, Happy, Happy!" That cracks us all up, and we clink glasses laughing.

Gaby comes back to tell us that the whole place is buzzing about me. "A mysterious woman has captured Mr. Untouchable's heart."

Aurei smirks at me and rubs my back, playing absentmindedly with my halter strap. "A wild, mysterious woman."

She checks her text. "My boss is here."

"Good." I kiss Aurei. "We can thank him for the VIP table and the bottle of Crown, then get that booty call."

Gaby says, "He didn't believe us when we told him you were here."

I frown at her. "Why did you tell your boss I was here? Isn't he just thanking me for the idea I had tonight?"

"No. We told him because we recognized you from the picture on his desk."

I am stunned. My mouth drops open.

Aurei asks, "Who's your boss?"

She points behind me. "He is."

Everyone turns to look at who has walked up.

"G'Day, Mates." He says to the table in his Australian accent, then he looks right at me and says with affection. "Ga day Cobber."

"Clay!" I jump up. "Oh my gosh!" I kiss my palm, and he kisses his. "What on earth are you doing here?" We slap them together and drag them apart. "No, wait. Don't tell me. You won this club at a high-stakes poker table?"

"Aaa, I did." He laughs. "But what on earth, as you say, are you doing here?"

"This is my home."

"No, Baby, Vegas is your home." He tells me, and the endearment makes Aurei stand up behind me. Paul and Steve exchange confused looks. Clay looks past me to Aurei but says to me. "I see you have made an exception to Rule #1."

"I've forgotten my manners. Let me introduce you." I turn to Aurei and take his hand. He doesn't look at me. He is sizing Clay up.

Clay is a handsome specimen in his early 30's with long brown hair and soft sexy big curls. He is always tan, and his smile is always sincere. He is one of those people that you instantly like.

Clay nods at Aurei and asks me. "So who's the luckiest bloke in the world?"

I grin at Aurei. "Clay, this is Aurei Moore.

Aurei, I want you to meet Clay Quigley." I squeeze his hand, and he looks down at me.

"Clay was my first." I look over at Steve and Paul, who have been taking everything in.

"Clay was my first appointment, and he has been booking appointments with Lei and me ever since. "

Aurei's eyes register my words. He turns his attention to Clay, who offers his hand to shake.

"I'm her number one fan, Mate."

Aurei grasps it and says in full on alpha-male mode. "Not anymore. I'm #1."

"So she's given you the naughty, has she?" He chuckles.

"Clay!" I'm shocked that he would just come right out and ask.

He laughs at me, raising his eyebrows. "So she has!"

He winks at me when Aurei answers. "Yes, she has."

"She is quite the special Sheila."

"Yes, she is something special, alright."

He slaps Aurei on the arm. "That's bonzer, mate! I'm truly happy for you two."

I beam at them and introduce the rest. "Clay, these are Aurei's cobbers, Paul, and Steve. And this is Scarlett , my new friend."

They all say. "Hello. Nice to meet you."

Clay spies the stacks of money on the table. "What have I missed?"

I laugh. "I won a longstanding bet tonight among the local girls."

"That's some big bikkies. You must have been dancing."

I roll my eyes. "It wasn't that kind of dance."

Scarlet tells him, "The local girls had a bet running who would get the lucky bloke there to dance again."

"Ah! And Seary won the dance and the man."

Aurei grins at me. "Yes, she did." Then he extends Clay an invitation. "Please join us."

Clay pulls up a chair and sits. He tells us how he won the club a couple of months ago only to find out it's struggling.

He's been here a few times to get acquainted with the staff and the business.

He flew in earlier today to decide the future of the bar.

"Imagine my surprise when I got the call that you were here.

" He looks up and points to the stripper poles.

"They have poles to work with. That's a plus, eh mate? "

"Yes, but they are too high and too far away to be effective," I answer.

Paul looks up at them too. "This used to be a Gentleman's club. Can you bring that back at least a couple of nights a week?"

"Don' know, mate. What's the local talent like? If you have good dancers, it won't matter." Clay explains.

I clap my hands together. "Clay, I have the perfect plan."

Everyone turns to look at me.

"Let me talk to Cat and Bart for you. They have always had a problem with dancer burnout.

This would be an ideal place to send the girls for a much-needed vacation.

We live right here at the World's Most Beautiful Beaches.

They could come to get some fun and sun, some R & R, and work your bar on rotation. "

Everyone is silent.

"They could use this place as a testing ground for new routines too.

And not only that, but when I talked to Cat last, she told me Laura was pregnant.

Maybe she would like to move here and raise her kid away from Vegas.

You could hire her to manage it all for you.

She could run the bar and help the girls work any kinks out of any new routines here, without the pressures of Vegas. "

Clay beams at me. "Holy-dooly! That's a fantastic idea!"

I smile. "It's just logical. If you want, I'll text her tomorrow for you and let you know what they think."

Aurei says firmly. "You're busy tomorrow."

"Oh…, yes, we are." I grin at him. Turning to Clay, I offer. "I'll text her next week."

"Perfect! Just give me a tingle then."

Aurei says to both of us. "I'll text you what they think." Which makes everybody laugh.

"Sure, mate. Jess has my … digits." He looks at me.

"Listen, I'm tired from the flight, but I had to come to see for myself that you were here.

" He looks to Gaby. "Gaby girl, do bank this cash in my office for Seary.

" Then he stands and nods his head to me.

"As usual, it has been an incredible evening in your company. "

"Likewise, my old friend."

He kisses his palm, and I kiss mine, and this time we shake hands. He pats Aurei on the shoulder as he turns to walk away. "You're the luckiest bloke in the world."

"Affirmative." Aurei agrees.

"Hooroo!" He says as he walks off.

Paul, Steve, and Scarlett look at the two of us. Paul speaks first. "Vegas?"

"Yes. I'm a dancer in a club out there."

Scarlett slaps the table. "Well, that fucking explains a lot! I've never seen anyone dance like you before."

Paul asks. "Which club?"

"Been Jammin'."

Scarlett rolls her eyes. "Fucking A! That's the premier nightclub out there!"

Steve asks. "You're a celebrity?"

"No. I'm not a celebrity, but I've danced for some."

"This is so cool! I love Vegas!" Scarlett asks Paul. "Have you ever been to Sin City?" She doesn't wait for his answer. "I love it there. The gambling, the slots, the shows, the nightclubs!" He pulls her to him and kisses her to shut her up.

Steve looks at Aurei. "Is that how you two really met?"

"No," Aurei says firmly. "We met in the apartment building."

"But you saw her in Vegas?" Paul asks as he ends the kiss.

"Yes. I saw her dance there before we met here."

"When?" Steve asks.

"On my trip in November."

Paul smiles. "Ok then. This didn't just happen. You checked her out."

Scarlett giggles. "You're a celebrity! That's so fucking cool!"

I say again. "I'm not a celebrity."

"Around here, you are! And what about that Aussie dude? He's hot! I'd do him! Gaby, have you done him?"

Gaby slides onto Steve's lap and says to Scarlett . "No, but isn't he fucking awesome? I just love his accent."

Steve rolls his eyes. "He looks a little wormy to me."