She trailed off when she noticed the dark circles under Rick's eyes, and the tired smile he was giving her. "Rick, is everything okay?"
"Yeah, nothing you need to worry about. It just sucks I can't spend more time with you. I don't know what I was thinking when I asked you along."
Kelly blinked in pain and stepped back from him. "I...I'm sorry. I don't want to be a burden." She moved toward the kitchen and the laptop that was sitting on the counter. "I'll just check the bus schedule and get out of your hair."
Rick grabbed her arm and spun her around into a bear hug. "No, Kell, I didn't mean it that way. I just...I want to be free, free to spend time with you, free to get the hell out of this place, free to ride."
Kelly clung to his words — and him — but she wasn't entirely convinced Rick didn't mean what he'd said. In her experience, comments like that were all too often the real truth, the explanation was simply a lie to make the other person feel better. She hoped that wasn’t the case.
He held her at arms length and took a long, smoldering look down her body. "You look good enough to eat." Then he looked at his watch. "Dammit," he growled. "This reservation was nearly impossible to get. My assistant will kill me if I made her do all that begging for nothing."
He pulled her into him, his desire for her pronounced against her hip. His hands buried themselves in her hair as he lowered his face toward hers. Kelly heart beat so loudly she worried the whole city could hear it. Rick's lips lowered onto hers in a full, gentle kiss. A pulse of love swept through her, and tears pricked her eyes. When his lips broke away from hers, her head was spinning so fast she was glad he was holding on her. Hot kisses trailed down her neck as he breathed her in.
"I guess you'll just have to be dessert."
~ * ~ * ~
Thirty minutes later, they were seated at an intimate table at a tony bistro. It was packed to capacity with a line out the door, but when the maitre'd saw Rick, they were ushered to a booth in the back that was very dark and very romantic.
Rick ordered some wine, again sending shivers down Kelly's body with his musical use of French. The wine was as delicious as the chardonnay he'd served at his cabin, and it immediately melted her fears into a warm flush.
"So how's your business stuff going?" Kelly still wasn't clear on exactly what he came back for, but with her head for business, even if he'd explained it, she probably would have been lost.
"Not great." A shadow fell across Rick's face, and Kelly was sorry she'd asked. "I'm facing some resistance to an, um, agreement that I thought was a done deal. It's fucked up."
He stared into his swirling wine for a moment. "Why don't you tell me about your exciting day?"
Kelly didn't need any further encouragement to not only change the subject but also share her news about Pinyon.
"That's great, Kell, it really is." Rick was beaming at her, and reached out to take one of her hands. "I can't wait to see what you've worked up."
Just then, a flash blinded them. When her eyes had adjusted, she saw Rick and the maitre'd forcefully ushering a man in a suit out of the restaurant. Rick was furious when he sat down.
"Fucking paps! Why is it anyone's business who I'm having dinner with?"
"Paparazzi? Why was he taking a picture of us?" She looked at him with confused eyes.
"Exactly! They can't get enough, fucking vultures! I just want to..." He half-stood, clearly torn between beating the photographer to a pulp and letting it go.
He glanced at Kelly and embarrassment flooded his face. He sat back down and grabbed her hands. "Kelly, I'm so sorry. You had no idea, did you? Of course, why would you? I'm an idiot!" She jumped when his fist hit the table for emphasis.
He took a deep breath to calm himself before explaining. "The local papers, and a few of the national tabloids, sort of see me as a celebrity. I don't get it, but after my dad died and I inherited the company — and that month I was going nuts — they decided I was someone to watch. Can't say as I blame them. There was a lot to cover that first month. They printed shots of me with anyone who looked remotely female, whether there was anything going on or not."
He shot a hand through his hair, tugging on the tufts at the nape of his neck. Kelly almost smiled at the gesture she'd grown to adore.
"They went positively apeshit over that stupid wedding. The chapel even sold our wedding photos — ones I don't even remember taking! After that, I sobered up and quit with the dramatics. When things with Elizabeth didn't work out, I started traveling a lot to our company-sponsored bike rallies. I've pretty much kept a low profile ever since."
He glared over her shoulder, as if expecting the photographer to still be lurking. "I guess word got out that I'm back in town. Guy probably followed us from the apartment. Asshole."
Kelly went from confused to furious in a split second. "You mean they follow you around like you're a Kardashian or something? That's crazy! You're a business owner, not a movie star. Unless you're not telling me something." She smiled at her little joke.
Rick didn't. He just glared at his glass of wine. "Every time I'm here...I'd love to just get on my bike and never look back. Too many bad memories. Too much bullshit."
Kelly reached across the table and put her hand over the one Rick was using to pluck threads from his napkin. "Hey. I'm really sorry. Do you want to leave?"
"No!" Diners near them turned to see if more excitement would ensue. He lowered his voice and leaned forward. "No, they can't win. I won't allow it. Let's just forget about it and enjoy our dinner, okay?"
He smiled and appeared to relax some but Kelly could see he was still tense. In fact, she'd noticed that since they crossed into the city limits Rick was different. He wasn't as relaxed, as happy as he'd been on the road.
"A toast." Rick's voice startled her. "To the most beautiful woman I've ever had the pleasure of dining with."
Kelly flushed at the compliment, not because she was pleased by it, but because she was embarrassed Rick would say such a lie, and so loudly. She wasn't blind. She could see she didn't fit the mold here. Just walking around earlier in the day, she could see that the women here were lean and fit and well-dressed. All the ladies in this restaurant fit that description. The brief glow of confidence she'd felt earlier had evaporated the instant she walked into the place. She shifted uncomfortably at the thought her dress might be riding up her full thighs.
She peeked around and other couples were glancing over, smiling. They're laughing at me. Great.
Mortified but trying to hide it, Kelly clinked glasses with Rick and drained hers in one swallow. He raised an eyebrow but said nothing, just reached over and refilled her glass. She couldn't meet his eyes.
Just then the food arrived. She'd stupidly ordered prime rib with a loaded baked potato. She was suddenly aware that every woman around her was eating salad or some other rabbit food. And here she was ready to dig into half a heifer. "I'm the heifer," she mumbled as she picked up her knife and fork.
"What's that?"
Kelly didn't realize she'd said it out loud. "I, uh, I said it looks good."
Rick grinned at her. "I love that about you. You aren't one of these Vegas Barbies who couldn't possibly be seen eating real food in front of her man, much less in public."
Kelly was sure he was just trying to make her feel better for being such a glutton. Diversion seemed to be in order. "Barbies?"
He chuckled. "Yeah, you know, the scrawny little things with the bleach blond hair and bolt-on boobs who are constantly working out, don't have an ounce of fat on them and would die before anyone saw them eat."
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
"It is," he chuffed, bitterness infusing his words. "Trust me, those women are insane. Nine times out of ten, they're status-driven and money-hungry. They don't care about anything but themselves and what kind of shiny new thing their neighbor just bought. They're soulless, really. I should know, I married one."
"Was she that bad?"
"Worse." He s
tabbed a scallop and popped it in his mouth.
"I know it's been a while since I've been on a date, but isn't it still considered bad form to talk about exes?" The twinkle in his eye told her he was teasing her, but his meaning was clear: Drop it.
She eased her hand across the table and inched her fingers over his warm, calloused hand until it came as close to covering it as possible. Rick gazed down at her hand on his. When he looked up, Kelly's chest tightened at the emotion in his eyes. Anger, frustration, and ...something else. Sadness? Guilt? Resignation? She couldn't place it, but her heart ached at his suffering.
~ * ~ * ~
The rest of the meal was spent quietly enjoying their meal. Kelly told him more about Greta and Pinyon, and he was relieved she'd found something to occupy her time. "I'm not going to be around much the next few days," he said, waving away the dessert cart as it passed. "I just needed one fucking signature, but now there are...complications. Means I get to spend time with a bunch of tight-ass lawyers instead of you."
He reached for one of her hands, bringing it to his sinfully soft lips. "You have no idea how much that kills me."
Sweet butterfly kisses burned into the back of her hand. A shudder rippled through Kelly and she caught herself before anyone could hear the moan that was forming on her lips. If Rick told her right now that she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever dined with, she would believe it.
"Wanna get out of here?" Rick's voice was so thick it nearly cracked.
Kelly could only nod. She didn't trust her voice.
Warmth spread through her body when he pulled her upright and into his arms. Holding her hands in his, he wrapped his arms behind her and drank in her face with his gaze. His hot breath caressed her cheek. Her lips ached for his, which were parted and just inches away. All it would take to connect would be to stand on her tiptoes.
She felt herself moving slowly upward when the waiter moved into their circle of lust and whispered, "Shall I put this on your account, Mr. Knight?"
"If you would, Jake." Rick's intense gaze never wavered from Kelly's face. "Let's go."
Chapter Nine
Kelly had no idea where Rick was taking her, and she didn't care. It just felt so good to be back on the bike, even if she was a little exposed by having to hike her dress up to straddle the seat. The glitter and neon of the city whizzed by as they sped out of town and the warm wind took her breath away.
Thirty minutes later, they hooked onto a side road that led them on a dusty trail to a secluded spot on a hill overlooking a quaint Mediterranean-like village nestled on the shores of a lake. "That's the MonteLago village and Lake Las Vegas," Rick explained, as he pulled a couple of wool army-style blankets from his saddlebag and laid one on the ground.
"It's lovely," she breathed.
"Not half as lovely as you." Pulling her down with him, he said, "If I can't spend as much time with you as I want, I'm going to make the most of the time we do have."
"They can't survive without you, even for a week, huh?" Kelly moved to straddle his prone body. He let out a low moan as she unzipped his leather jacket.
"Mmm, soon. Right now I'm up to my ass in alligators and the vultures are circling. If I just had one more week... Hey! Why not?"
"Why not what?" Kelly said distractedly. She'd been so focused on sliding her hands along the ridges of abs under his shirt, she'd barely heard what he was saying.
"Stay another week. I have a feeling these negotiations are going to take several more days, so if you stayed, we'd have that final week to play. Why not? What do you have to go back to?"
He didn't mean it to sound cruel, Kelly was sure, but his words were a bitter reminder that she didn't really have much at all to go back to, except bills she couldn't pay. If she stayed an extra week, those bills — especially the impound bill — would just keep getting bigger.
But her heart thudded at the prospect of staying longer, especially if it meant seeing more of Rick. It would also allow her to spend a little more time at the Pinyon, which only enticed her more.
"I'd love to, Rick, but..."
"No. No buts."
She grimaced. "I'd love to, although...I have some things of my own to deal with at home.”
"What could be so important?" Rick pulled her down next to him so her back was pressed up against his chest and her head was tucked into his shoulder. As he snaked his arms around her, his warmth enveloped her. His heart thudded gently against her. It was suddenly hard to remember what exactly could make her leave the comfort of his arms. Oh yeah, the car.
"My car, for one. It's probably been towed by now and those impound fees are going to wipe me out. If I stay another week, they'll probably be more than the car's worth."
Rick nodded against her cheek. "What else?"
"Well, my rent's due in a week and, as you might recall, I quit my job. No paycheck means no rent, which means eviction."
"Mmm-hmmm. Is that it?"
Kelly barked out a sarcastic laugh. "Isn't that enough?" Irritation rose in her chest at his apparent dismissal of what, to her, was a significant financial disaster.
Rick adjusted himself so Kelly was on her back — but still in his arms — and he was looking down at her. A strong finger outlined her eyebrow, her cheekbone, her nose, and finally her lips. His tongue slicked across his own in anticipation of kissing her.
"Don't worry about it, beautiful. Just stay another week."
The desire coursing through her couldn't quite overcome the fear she had of going back to a stack of bills, but it was a close call. She wanted to give herself over to him, invite those full lips to explore anywhere they wanted, but the responsible part of her wouldn't allow it.
Her voice husky with lust, she replied, "How can you say that? It may not be a big deal to you but it's huge for me." Something else was huge for her and it was pushing into her hip, distracting her.
Rick paused. His face grew serious. "I know it is, Kell. I know. That's why you don't have to worry about them."
She didn't understand.
"They were the first pieces of business I took care of when we got here. My assistant tracked down the car, which was pretty easy. What wasn't so easy was finding out your address without tipping you off. I knew you'd refuse if I offered, so I had a friend find out where you lived, then I paid your next six months rent. Oh, and your car is parked right out front."
Kelly was speechless. "You did...all that?"
An odd mix of pride and wariness crossed Rick's face. She had a mix of emotions swirling around inside as well. On one hand, she was flattered that he'd taken the initiative, but on the other, she was insulted at the implication she couldn't manage her own responsibilities.
She pulled free of his arms and sat with her back to him, lost in thought, trying to suss out what she was feeling. His warm hands grasped her shoulders and tried to turn her but she shrugged them off and stood. His proximity was confusing her thoughts. “I need a minute."
She walked into the darkness and he let her go. The golden lights of the village twinkled against the black night, reflecting on the water. What should have been a peaceful scene grew ugly with the anger and humiliation that consumed her. How dare he? He'd made it clear this was a short-term fling and now he was changing the rules of the game. She'd been flattered that he'd organized a wardrobe for her, but had been uncomfortable with using any of the spending money he'd left on the counter. Now he'd just taken it upon himself to pay her bills like she was his mistress or something. Some women might have been thrilled, but she'd always been proud of her ability to take care of herself. She was fiercely independent and didn't like the idea of being beholden to anyone.
Besides, didn't he realize that spending another week with him would just mean her heart would be even more broken at the end of it? She'd fallen hard for her motorcycle man, and she knew deep down that she wanted much more than a short-term romance. She also knew deep down that Rick had been burned in his marriage, and that he was already planning th
e route back to her apartment.
Her emotions struggled with each other as she looked out over the beautiful vista. The desire to stay for two more weeks was overpowering, but those damn alarm bells kept ringing inside her head, warning her that staying would only mean more heartache, more pain. She'd thought she could handle a fling. She'd thought she could refrain from being swept away by love. She was wrong.
No, as well-intentioned as his gesture was, she had to leave. Maybe the sooner the better, for her heart's sake.
He was lying on his back with his arms behind his head staring up at the stars when she returned. He looked over at her and patted the blanket, inviting her to lie down next to him. If this was the end, she figured she might as well enjoy it.
"So?"
She lay there for a moment, soaking in his heat, his scent, staring into oblivion. Steeling herself, she took a breath. "I can't."
Rick was silent.
"Thank you for, um, taking care of those things, but I didn't ask you to. I didn't want you to. I don't need someone to take care of me. I've been doing quite nicely on my own, thanks."
Anger was bubbling up and she tried to squelch it with some deep, cleansing breaths. "I'm sure you didn't mean anything by it, Rick, but it feels wrong to me. Dirty. Like I'm your whore or something."
At those words, Rick sprang upright and leaned over her. "That's not fair, Kelly. I didn't do it as some kind of fucking payment. I did it because I didn't want a bunch of stupid bills to affect your decision to stay here."
She raised herself up on an elbow to face him, trying to put the pieces of what he was saying together. "Wait, what? I'm lost. You just said taking care of those bills was the first thing you did when we got to town, but now you're saying it was so I would stay another week. This was supposed to only be a two-week thing so that last argument doesn't really stand up."
Rick's face softened. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, which she shook free irritably. Don't get all sweet with me, she fumed internally as she glared at him.
Vegas Knights Page 8
