by Autumn Reed
“Okay…”
“My dad showed up in Vegas without warning today, and he wants to meet you. Is there any way you can be ready in thirty minutes, so we can have drinks with him before dinner?”
I glanced down at my ratty sweats and inwardly groaned. It would be a stretch, but I could manage. “Okay.”
“Are you sure? I normally wouldn’t spring this on you, but there was that last-minute dinner with your parents…”
I laughed. “So, it’s my turn? That’s what you’re saying, shaming Shane?”
“Pretty much.”
“It’s fine, but I need to go right now if I have any hope of being ready on time.”
“Thanks, babe. See you soon.”
The only good thing about finding out at the last minute was that I didn’t have even five seconds to freak out about meeting his dad before Shane arrived to pick me up. And I definitely would have been stressed. Meeting members of both Cole’s and Nicholas’s families had ended rather disastrously. I expected things to go differently with Mr. Oliver, but there was no way of knowing for certain.
“Is there anything I should know about your dad?” I asked as Shane headed toward the Strip.
“Not really. He’s pretty easy to get along with.”
“No topics to avoid or pet peeves?”
He reached for my hand. “Stop worrying. He’ll love you. Just don’t bring up my mother. That topic is always off-limits.”
That much, I knew. It was so off-limits, Shane hadn’t explained what happened other than mentioning that she left them both. I didn’t even know when or why.
Although I wanted to push him for answers, now wasn’t the time. “What about hobbies and interests?”
“He loves football and Guinness.”
“Is your dad Irish?” I asked, it suddenly occurring to me that Shane was an Irish name.
“His mother was,” he answered with a grin, “and feisty as hell. If you ever run out of things to talk about with my dad, just ask him about his mother. He can easily fill the silence for hours on end with stories of his youth.”
“Good to know.”
When we arrived at Mandalay Bay, Shane left his keys with the valet and ushered me in to one of the resort’s many restaurants. His father was already waiting at the bar and stood upon seeing us, smiling broadly. He was younger than I expected, in his early forties, if I had to guess. I didn’t notice any obvious family resemblance at first, but when he spoke, I realized the men shared the same smooth voice.
“Emma,” he said, holding my hand between both of his, “I’m so happy to finally meet you. My son hasn’t shut up about you for months.”
I highly doubted that. Shane didn’t seem like the gushing type, but I appreciated the sentiment. “It’s nice to meet you as well, Mr. Oliver.”
“Oh, please call me Ted. I’ve never been one to stand on ceremony.”
“Right,” Shane coughed into his hand. “Tell that to the old biddies at the country club.”
“They don’t count. Half of our clients are members of that club. Cultivating my image around the Pasadena elite is part of the job description, unfortunately.”
It didn’t escape my notice that he’d said “our clients.” Though I knew Shane ran the Vegas arm of his father’s real estate business, was it more than that? Was he a formal partner? I couldn’t help but wonder how there was still so much I didn’t know about him.
Shane pulled out the bar stool next to Ted’s and helped me get settled. He remained standing beside me, an arm slung across my shoulder. Though I couldn’t see his face without looking up at him, I felt comfortable this way. Like he was supporting me, trying to ease my nerves.
The bartender approached, and Ted ordered a Guinness for each of us. “Please tell me you like beer, my dear.”
“Of course.” It was a fib, at worst. I wasn’t a huge fan of beer, but I’d only really tried the cheap kind served at most college parties.
“You found a good one, son,” he said with a wink.
Shane squeezed my shoulder. “Trust me, I know.”
“So, Emma,” Ted said with a distinctly conspiratorial expression on his face, “why won’t you come work for us? Shane tells me you’d be an excellent addition to the company.”
I elbowed Shane in the gut, and he let out an exaggerated oomph. “What is this? You’re ganging up on me now?”
He smirked down at me. “I told you I wasn’t giving up.”
Turning back to Ted, I said, “That was nice of Shane to say, but did he mention I have absolutely no background in real estate or business? I’m a journalism major.”
He waived a hand through the air, as if to say my major was of little consequence. “It takes more than a business degree to succeed in commercial real estate. Good instincts, research skills, and the ability to communicate clearly are an excellent foundation, and I’m sure you have those in spades.”
Okay, I saw his point, but I still had trouble with the idea of accepting a job from Shane. It would feel like I was taking advantage of my relationship with him to get ahead, and that was completely unacceptable.
Ted patted my hand. “I can see you’re unconvinced, and that’s okay. I’ll let you off the hook for tonight. Now how about them Chargers?”
“Emma’s a Colts fan,” Shane said sadly.
Ted’s mouth fell open. “I take it all back. Can’t have a Colts fan working for me.”
“You do realize football season is over, right?” I teased, grateful Ted had changed the subject so I wouldn’t feel pressured about the job.
“It’s Chargers season year-round to Dad,” Shane replied.
“Says the soccer fan,” Ted retorted with disgust. “At least I raised you right when it comes to real football. I still haven’t gotten over Nic’s obsession with the Giants. That boy grew up in California. He could have at least gone with the 49ers.”
“You should have seen his face when he found out Emma is a Colts fan,” Shane said, laughing. “I thought he was going to cry.”
“I bet. Do you spend much time with the boys?” Ted asked, clearly referring to Cole and Nicholas. He merely sounded curious, but I immediately froze, unable to speak or even breathe. Oh shit.
Shane’s arm moved down so that it was cradled around my waist, his touch reassuring. “Actually, Emma is in a relationship with all three of us.”
I didn’t say anything as I waited for Ted’s reaction, my face burning with a cross between embarrassment and anxiety. I’d been so concerned about normal meeting-my-boyfriend’s-father issues, the torrid foursome hadn’t even crossed my mind. That’s what we should have been discussing in the car, not Ted’s love of Irish beer. Dammit.
On the other hand, I was rather proud of myself for not anticipating this problem. Maybe I was starting to view it as less of a problem and more of an acceptable part of my life. Nevertheless, Shane could have warned me that he planned on springing it on his father fifteen minutes after I met the guy. I could have prepared…or at least attempted to.
Ted looked between me and Shane several times before his gaze settled on his son. “Is that so?”
The hostess approached and announced that our table was ready. I couldn’t decide if her timing was perfect or atrocious.
“Dad, why don’t you have dinner with us?” Shane gave the hostess his most charming smile. “Is there any way you can seat three of us?”
“S-sure, follow me.”
“Only if it’s okay with Emma,” Ted interrupted.
Still stunned silent from Shane’s admission, I just nodded.
Once we were seated, I studied the menu like I’d never seen one before. As difficult as it had been to tell my parents about the Ts, this was in some ways worse. Ted didn’t know me, but I wanted him to like me, approve of me. He was important to Shane, which meant he was important to me. Would he still think his son had “found a good one”?
Shane pulled me close to him in the booth and kissed my cheek before whispering, “Are
you okay?”
He looked so concerned, I forced a tremulous smile. I didn’t want him to think I was angry with him. He shouldn’t have to worry about me losing my composure over this. Be brave, Emma.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“How did this come about?” Ted asked once we had ordered. His tone didn’t betray his feelings on the matter.
Shane cleared his throat. “It kind of started with a bet.”
Ted shot him a dirty look. “Please tell me you didn’t make some sleazy bet about which one of you would catch Emma’s attention first.”
“Something like that,” Shane hedged. “Anyway, by the time Emma uncovered our scheme, none of us wanted to lose her, and she felt the same way.”
I appreciated that he didn’t point out that I’d been the one to actually suggest continuing a relationship with all three of them.
He turned to me and squeezed my thigh. “It’s been a few months, and things are going well. We’re all happy.” That made me smile.
Returning his attention to his father, Shane said, “I hope you can be supportive.”
“I’ll always support whatever makes you happy. I have to ask, though…is this your way of telling me you’re bi-sexual? It’s cool if you are—”
“Dad,” Shane hissed while I hid my laugh behind my hands. “No. Definitely not.”
Ted lifted his hands in surrender. “Sorry. It seemed like a legitimate question. You’re an only child, after all. I would expect you to have trouble sharing. It would be easier if…”
“Dad, stop.”
“Okay, okay,” Ted said, laughing. “So, tell me, Emma. Which of the boys makes the best boyfriend?”
“You can’t ask her that, Dad.”
Ted fake scowled at him. “Is your name Emma?”
“Yes,” Shane deadpanned.
Ted rolled his eyes. I didn’t think I’d ever seen a grown man do that, and I let out an inelegant snort, making all three of us laugh.
“Seriously, Emma. I’m curious about this. I haven’t met any of Shane’s girlfriends since high school, and as far as I know, Cole has never had one. I bet Nic makes the best boyfriend. Am I right?”
“Um…” I glanced at Shane, who shrugged, giving me permission to answer. Or at least, that’s what I assumed the shrug meant. “They’re all different. Nic is generally laid back, which is nice but also kind of surprising considering his background. Cole is really romantic and fun. And Shane seems to know what I need and want before I do. It can be disconcerting but also reassuring.”
Shane squeezed my thigh. “She’s being too generous. I’ve been out of town so much, I’ve been a shitty boyfriend.”
“That’s on me,” Ted said seriously. “I’ve already promised him no travel for a while to make up for it.”
The rest of dinner flew by. The banter between father and son kept me laughing, and I found myself relaxing completely.
Once we left the restaurant, lingering in the casino, Ted turned to me. “I’m not sure how much Shane has told you about his mother, but it wasn’t a love match. We were young and stupid, and it ended horribly. But I got a second chance, and I’m thankful every day for my wife. So, please don’t think I judge you for your choice. You have to grab hold of love when you can and hang onto it.”
His easy acceptance was almost overwhelming, and I had no doubt that my smile was brilliant. “Thank you, Mr. Oliver.”
“Ted, remember? Now, I’ve hijacked enough of your evening. Shane, call me in the morning?” He gave me quick hug. “Hope to see you again soon, Emma.”
After he made his way to what appeared to be a Blackjack table, Shane pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my head. “How much trouble am I in?”
I chuckled. “None, actually.”
“Really?” he asked into my hair. “Your face said differently when I told Dad about the foursome.”
I drew back enough to look up at him. “It caught me off guard, but I’m not mad. I honestly can’t believe he took it so well.”
“I knew he would, but I still wanted to give him a chance to meet you before the big reveal. First impressions and all that.”
“You didn’t want him imagining me as some kind of femme fatale?”
“Something like that. I didn’t actually plan on telling him tonight, but I told myself I wouldn’t lie or let you lie.”
“It’s really okay,” I assured him. “I’m glad you did.”
“Good. I’d hate to cancel the second part of our date,” he said as he took my hand and started leading me away from the exit.
“There’s a second part?”
“The night is just getting started.”
Chapter 3
As we passed shops and restaurants in the resort, I wondered what Shane was up to. Maybe he was taking me to a nightclub? Or a show?
“When we had dinner with your parents in January, you displayed an appalling lack of knowledge about Vegas tourism,” Shane said. “It’s something I hope to remedy a little tonight.”
“I came to Vegas for school, not to play tourist,” I retorted playfully, only partially defending myself. He was right—most people probably experienced more of Vegas in a weekend than I had in almost four years.
“Yeah, because no one ever has a good time in college.”
“Whatever, smartass Shane.”
When we approached the large “Shark Reef Aquarium” sign, my excitement heightened then plummeted. The ticket counter was closed, and no one was around. “I think we’re too late.”
“Nope,” he said with a smile, pulling out his phone and shooting off a text. “We’re right on time.”
A moment later, an aquarium employee opened the door and waved us in. “This way, Mr. Oliver.”
My mouth dropped open, and Shane’s grin spread. “After you, milady.”
Once we were inside, the employee handed Shane a bag from one the shops we’d passed. “Here you go. Everything is arranged. Meet me back here when you’re done.”
“Thank you,” Shane replied.
“What did you do?” I whispered as the young man disappeared.
He shrugged. “I rented out the aquarium for an hour. Now we can enjoy it in peace and quiet.” He offered me the bag. “For you.”
I opened it to find a pair of glittery slip-on sneakers. They were fun, but more than that, the gift was incredibly thoughtful. He’d anticipated that I’d wear spiky heels and ensured that I’d be comfortable.
“Shane, this is too much.”
His hands lifted to my shoulders, and his thumbs grazed my neck. “I’ve given this a lot of thought, and I wasn’t kidding when I said I’ve been a shitty boyfriend.”
“No, you haven’t. You’re busy. I understand.” He was naturally closed off, and he’d been out of town a lot, but he hadn’t done anything wrong.
“It’s more than that, babe. I still haven’t redeemed myself from the bet. Nic and Cole have, but I haven’t.”
I started to protest, but he placed a finger over my mouth. “Let me do this. I want to.”
How could I argue with that? “Okay.”
After slipping on the sneakers and stashing my heels, we walked hand-in-hand through the aquarium. He was right—the experience was so much better with just the two of us. It felt like we were in a bubble, encompassed by magnificent sea creatures. From the jellyfish, stingrays, and sea turtles, to a golden crocodile, I was enthralled with them all.
When we entered a tunnel with sharks swimming overhead, I stopped and shook my head in wonderment. A bistro table was positioned in the middle of the walkway. On top of the pristine white tablecloth sat a pair of takeout containers and chilled bottles of water.
“Dessert?” Shane asked, pulling out a chair and waiting for me to sit.
“But, of course.” I opened the container to find a large slice of cheesecake topped with fresh berries. “This looks delicious.”
“There’s also triple chocolate cake.”
He held his fork out, th
e decadent-looking cake tempting me. Leaning over the table, I slowly drew it into my mouth, my eyes never leaving Shane’s as I chewed then licked my lips with obvious satisfaction. His gaze darkened, and before I had time to react, his mouth was on mine, devouring me. Who needed dessert when I had scrumptious Shane to satisfy my appetite?
When he finally released me, I couldn’t resist a small laugh. “I feel like I’m living a scene from a romantic comedy.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“No, but it doesn’t seem real. Are you real?”
“Only if you want me to be,” he said with a wink.
“If it’ll keep you from saying more cheesy lines, then yes.”
He dramatically placed a hand over his heart. “I’m wounded.”
I took a bite of my cheesecake and closed my eyes in pleasure. Even better than the triple chocolate cake. Not better than Shane’s kisses, though.
Deciding to change the subject before I ended up attacking him in front of the sharks, I asked, “Now that you’re going to be in town more, can I finally interview you for my project?”
His eyes lit up with excitement. “Yes, and I even have a surprise for you.”
“What kind of surprise?”
“I talked Nic and Cole into purchasing another one of the vacant buildings in the warehouse district. Our offer was just accepted today.”
“Are you serious? What will you do with it?”
“We’re converting it into lofts.”
“Oh my god, Shane, that’s incredible. Please tell me Nic is doing the design?”
“Yes, thanks to you.” He placed his hand over mine. “I swear he’s been a different person since you convinced him to submit a bid for Chelsea’s renovation. He wouldn’t listen to me or Cole on the subject. He needed you.”
Heat crept up my neck. “It wasn’t that big of a deal. I just pushed him in that direction. He did all the work.” Chelsea had accepted Nicholas’s bid the week before, and it was a distinct possibility that I was more excited about it than he was.
“It is a big deal, Emma. You’ve changed his life for the better. Can’t you see that?”
I thought of his odd behavior on Saturday night and wasn’t so sure.
