Roulette

by C. D. Bradley

  She needed to get out of this room. She needed to breathe some cool night air. She sat looking anywhere but at him and when he handed over the mic, she excused herself from the table.

  “Piper, I’ll be right back. I need to go to the bathroom,” Olivia whispered as the crowd stood to applaud his speech.

  “Are you okay? You look pale,” Piper responded, her eyebrows crinkled in concern.

  How could she explain to the friend she hadn’t seen in a decade that a total stranger took her breath away. “I’m fine,” she choked out. “I’ll be right back, I promise.” Olivia stood and started toward the bathroom. She had only taken a few steps when she heard his voice call out.

  “Grace . . .” he breathed with the intensity and desperation of a man pleading for his very life.

  Olivia froze. She dared not turn around. Her breath came short and quick and she closed her eyes. An eternity passed in that moment. She heard steps right behind her and felt the heat of his presence.

  “Dominic,” a woman’s voice called out and he stopped short.

  Olivia didn’t wait. She bolted across the ballroom and up the steps. In a flash she was outside on the dock that led to the water. She gasped and finally allowed herself to breathe. What the actual fuck? Had he really called her Grace? Did she imagine that? Tears stung her eyes and Olivia felt like she would throw up. There is no way. Hell he was probably not even talking to her. She began walking down the boardwalk toward where all the cigarette boats were parked. Maybe a decade wasn’t long enough.

  She just had to get a grip. I am an attorney. I will not let myself get rattled by a male model, Olivia repeated to herself silently as she walked in the cool air. She knew she should go back in there. She hated that she was leaving poor Piper. But she couldn’t go back just yet. She walked on in the darkness. After what felt like a mile of self-loathing, Olivia took out her cell and messaged Piper.

  I’m sorry, Piper! I needed some air.

  Olivia hated herself for ditching her friend. She had to go back. She knew Piper had paid a pretty penny for those tickets.

  Where are you sweetie? The dinner is almost over. Are you okay?

  I am a shitty friend. Olivia stopped walking and looked out over the water. She watched the boats moving in the harbor.

  I’m out on the pier. I’m okay. Heading back now.

  Olivia took a deep breath and willed her legs to move back toward the hotel. No matter who that guy was, he was probably talking to someone else if he even said Grace at all. Jeez, she was not going to get all paranoid and worked up over some book model. She was thankful that no one she knew saw how vulnerable she was for a moment. Olivia moved with purpose back toward the hotel. When she got close she realized the event must have let out as beautifully dressed people had moved out onto the pier chatting and carrying their cocktails.

  Through the crowd, she spotted Piper. There was no sign of the model from the dinner. Olivia reached Piper and apologized. “Piper, I’m so sorry I didn’t make it back.”

  “No worries, Olivia, I completely understand. It can be a little intimidating to be around all those models and authors for the first time!” Piper began telling her about a few of the authors she met and how excited she was for the next day as they moved back into the hotel and toward the bar. Olivia just nodded in agreement. She wasn’t about to admit, even to herself, that she had let a male model completely flip her out.

  They sat down next to the couple they had met from Washington State and Olivia ordered a double Grey Goose with a splash of cran on the rocks. This was without a doubt Olivia’s favorite drink. She tipped the bartender and swirled the pink liquid. She tipped the cool glass to her lips and willed the contents to take her away. Just as she had so many times in the last decade Olivia felt all alone in the crowded bar. The dull roar of voices spilled all around her and filled up the air. They laughed, talked, and enjoyed each other. She couldn’t help feeling like no one really saw her. She sat like a ghost unnoticed by the living.

  His voice floated across the bar and enveloped her. Each syllable that escaped his lips drowned out the rest of the bar until they just faded away. Unable to resist, Olivia looked up. Dominic Kain stood on the other side of the room. A beautiful redhead on his arm. He was nodding at something the woman was saying but his eyes were locked on Olivia. In the room full of people he was looking only at her. His pale green eyes lit up as if someone had lit a fire behind them. Olivia swallowed hard; her mouth suddenly dry as the Sahara.

  “That’s Dominic Kain and bestselling author Grace Parker!” Piper interrupted breaking the spell.

  “What?” Olivia asked and grabbed her drink. She was going to need another.

  “Dominic Kain the cover model, he spoke tonight and that is New York Times bestselling author Grace Parker! I pre-ordered her entire Loving Me series!” Piper was gushing now but Olivia had stopped listening.

  Grace Parker. She laughed and drained her drink. God, she was a fool. He had said Grace. Of course there was more than one Grace in the world. She couldn’t believe she had been so easily captivated. She had let her imagination run away with her. She looked at him surrounded by a sea of readers. He was laughing and talking to each one. Who was she kidding. He was a male model in his element nothing more.

  Just then Olivia’s phone buzzed. She looked down to see a message from Mr. Davis. That was odd for a Friday night. He wanted her to call. Olivia excused herself from the group and stepped in the hall that led to the elevators.

  “Mr. Davis. This is Olivia. Is everything okay?”

  THE MORNING OF a book signing starts at the crack of dawn. Dominic shut off his alarm. Six fucking thirty. No time to hit snooze though. He needed to shower and head down to help Mel set up. He still wasn’t sure how he had let her talk him into this. Okay that wasn’t true, Mel was one of the most persuasive people he had ever met. Er uh, Grace that is. He still didn’t understand why she was so adamant that he call her by her pen name at the events. Grace Parker. He still liked to call her Smelly Melly but that probably wouldn’t go over too well.

  He jumped out of bed and stretched his six foot two-inch frame. He reached down to scratch his balls. Fuck they were sore. His cock strained against his shorts. Thoughts of the mystery brunette set him on fire. He was going to have to take care of that before he went anywhere. Smelly Melly would have to wait.

  The woman was a perfect stranger but he knew every inch of her. What he wouldn’t give to have her. Taste her. The cool tile soothed his feet as he made his way to the shower. The moment she walked into the event he had sensed her. Goddamn the way the smoky lace of that dress fell over her curves gave him a chill that went to his toes. She moved effortlessly through the room talking and laughing with her friend. Dark hair fell in loose waves over her mostly exposed back. He wanted to run his fingers down her perfect skin to the small of her back and pull her to him. He almost came up out of his seat when she started talking to a couple of the other cover models. Fuck why did he even care. He didn’t even know her. But he did, and a lifetime ago she was his.

  The warm water of the shower fell down around him. He grabbed a handful of soap and started rubbing it up and down his shaft thinking of her.

  She looked out over the room and caught him staring. The moment their eyes met he knew he had found her. He couldn’t look away. He could see it in her face she felt it too. No one else in the world existed in that moment. He wanted to close the gap between them. He needed to touch her. He knew just how she would react.

  His grip tightened around his cock and he began to move faster. The ache in his balls almost took his breath. He needed to have this woman, to kiss and lick every inch of her luscious skin. He wanted to hear her whimper in response to his touch. He wanted to make her come within an inch of her life. Dominic braced himself against the shower wall and came with the force of a storm that tears through the mountains.

  He stood in the warm water for a moment to regain his composure. When he got the chance t
o put his hands on her, there would be no holding back. Like lightning that rips apart the sky, raw and explosive, if they survived it would be the most intense night of their lives.

  DOMINIC STOOD IN the elevator holding onto a rolling cart that contained two thousand pounds of book shit. He still didn’t know why they needed all that extra stuff. Boxes and boxes of little magnets and koozies and pens. All with his half naked picture on it for fucks sake. At least she didn’t bring as much as she did to the one in Vegas a few months ago. That whole trip was brutal.

  He glanced over at Author Grace Parker and rolled his eyes. She was applying the fifth coat of cherry red lipstick. Her fire engine hair was all done up in some kind of naughty teacher messy bun but she was a doll as always. The elevator doors opened. Dominic held the door for her and then pulled the massive cart out into the hallway. They stopped and said hello to a few readers who were already lining the halls and galley outside the second-floor ballroom. Are they really in line already? VIP tickets didn’t start until 10:00 a.m. but some of these ladies looked like they were waiting to see the Stones.

  They grinned up at him as he passed. Dominic smiled back and said hello to each woman. He knew how important they were to Mel. Her readers were her friends and fans. No matter how awkward he felt about all the attention, it meant a lot to Mel and that’s all that mattered. They reached her table and he began unloading box after box of books and swag. He knew better than to ask where it went. His job was to unload and she would do the rest. She was so particular but that was one of the things he loved about her most.

  Once the cart was empty he set up her event banners. Every time he did this he couldn’t help but blush at the giant black and white version of his exposed torso. The ladies seemed to love it though and Mel was happy so who was he to complain. With his part of set up complete, he kissed Mel on the cheek and wished her luck. He planned to stay out of her way until it was time to start. He hoped to catch a glimpse of a certain brunette.

  Dominic stepped out into the hall and started toward the lobby. Whoa, he hadn’t figured on the number of fans that would already be gathering. Every few feet he was stopped by another group of eager and smiling faces. He obliged each one. Some of the women had stories to tell. Some just wanted to say hello and take a selfie with their favorite book boyfriend. By the time he made it to the lobby it was almost time to head back for the VIP signing. He stepped onto the marble floor and spotted her. He tried to cross quickly in her direction, but she was heading out toward the pier. He almost reached the door when the photographer for the event stopped him.

  “Dominic, we need to do some pre-event photos with all the authors and models could you join us on the main staircase?” Snapper called out as he hustled to catch up with him.

  Dominic stopped and sighed. Just before he turned around he saw the edge of her pale blue skirt disappear around the corner of the building. “Of course,” he answered. He was here to do a job not chase ghosts.

  AFTER PHOTOS DOMINIC took his place beside Mel at her table. The doors opened and the VIPs began to enter the room. Mel’s table was in the center back. Some people came directly to them while others meandered through the tables and made their way over. He waited and watched for her. This is stupid. He gave out a thousand smiles and hugs. He stood and took a thousand more selfies with adoring fans and quickly downed a shot of Jameson.

  As he set the glass down he saw her. She was just entering the other side of the room with her blond friend. His mouth went dry and he reached for another shot. They were talking and laughing with some other author. God, he still didn’t know her name. She had to be a professional of some kind. She stood straight and tall like she owned the fucking world. Her pale blue skirt fit snuggly over that perfect ass. It ended just above her knees in a slight ruffle that moved when she walked captivating him. He longed to pick her up and set her on the book table. Everyone else in the room be damned. He wanted to hike that skirt up over the lace panties he knew would be there and bury his head until he heard her scream.

  Another group of readers came up blocking his view. He talked with each one and smiled for pictures. He could see her in the next row. Her friend was madly engaged with an author but she was staring at her phone with the most perfect frown across her lips. Oh that pouty mouth. She didn’t seem the least bit interested in the conversation. She was texting furiously. If looks could kill the phone would have melted in her hands. She gripped it like a vice. He couldn’t help but picture her taking him with that tenacity.

  He would make her forget all about that damn phone. The light behind her illuminated the white blouse and outlined her silhouette exquisitely. He wanted to shove the table out of the way, cross the room, and pull her to him. He wanted to taste her sweet mouth. His eyes moved down her delicate neck to the hem of that fucking blouse. He pictured ripping it open exposing soft full breasts that he would take in . . .

  “Can we take a picture?” A charming blond woman with glasses interrupted his wicked thoughts.

  “I’m sorry . . . um . . . yes of course!” Dominic got a hold of himself and turned his attention to the woman in front of him. “Are you having fun today?” he asked and smiled. He hoped like hell that when he stood up, his straining cock wouldn’t be fully on display like a teenager after riding the damn school bus. He flashed back to middle school and having to walk around holding a textbook over his crotch.

  “Oh, yes, thank you!” She stepped around the side of the table as he rose to meet her. Thankfully she was looking him in the eyes. He was sure she was going to have a surprise when she saw the pictures later. They posed and smiled. He could tell by her friend’s giggle when she took the picture that the secret was out. As soon as they were done, he sat as quickly as possible.

  “Would you care to sign my book?” she asked hopefully. “My name’s Kathy and this is my sister Christine. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

  “Absolutely. Thank you, Kathy,” Dominic answered and opened the book to personalize it. Without looking up, he felt her presence as she approached.

  “Kathy!” Her angelic voice drifted over him like a cool stream after spending a lifetime in the barren desert.

  “Olivia! Hi! I didn’t know you were a romance fan!” Kathy responded. Thank you, sweet Kathy. Now I know her name. Olivia.

  “Well, not exactly . . .” Olivia hesitated. “This is all very exciting but I didn’t know it even existed until my friend Piper invited me.

  Dominic finished writing and looked up. There she was. Just a few feet away. He could reach out and touch her. His blood boiled. She belonged to him. Heart racing he stood causing her to turn and meet his gaze. Her large almond shaped hazel eyes stared back at him. Like a sunburst over a deep emerald sea their sheer beauty and innocence pulled him in. His mouth suddenly dry again he silently handed the book back to Kathy. He couldn’t take his eyes off Olivia. She embodied the ghost of his dreams and every fantasy he dared not long for.

  Just as he opened his mouth to speak, THUD. Her friend plopped a stack of books fifteen thick onto the table for him to sign. The stack shook the table and his conscious back to the present.

  “Hello, Dominic! It is so wonderful to see you! I have every book you have been on the cover of. Would you sign them for me? My name is Piper,” she chirped and pointed at the name tag over her left boob.

  “Sure,” he said sitting back down like a deflated balloon. “Nice to meet you, Piper.” He opened the books and began signing them one by one. As he handed each book back to Piper he stole glances at Olivia. She stood talking to Kathy and Christine for a moment and was then deeply engrossed in her phone once again. She didn’t even notice he was there. He felt like a kid watching the ice cream truck drive away. He tried engaging Piper.

  “This is quite a collection,” he said as he picked up another book to sign. “So where are you ladies from?” He looked back and forth from Piper to Olivia. Olivia never looked up.

  “Well, Liv is from here in Virginia.
I live in Rhode Island. I teach at Brown,” Piper answered waving off Olivia who was still buried in a conversation that was causing her eyebrows to furrow into a deep crease.

  “Wow, that’s quite a trip, I lived up that way a long time ago. Did you fly in or did you drive?” He just needed to keep her talking. Eventually Olivia would finish her call and join Piper in the conversation.

  “I flew in last week,” she blurted blushing. Piper had one of those cute faces that was oddly familiar but not particularly memorable.

  “So how did you guys meet? She doesn’t seem as interested in all this as you are.” Dominic observed as he signed slowly trying to drag out time until Olivia got off that damn phone.

  “She’s not, obviously.” Piper nodded in Olivia’s direction. “She’s just pissed at some guy named Vincent. It’s nothing. We’ve been friends a long time. We were roommates at Yale.”

  Piper looked at Olivia wistfully. “This was supposed to be our girl’s weekend. But she’s married to her job now and stinking Vincent,” Piper huffed.

  “Married?” he asked, breaking out into a sweat as he signed the last book in the stack. Before Piper could answer Olivia hung up the phone furiously. She looked at them tears brimming in her eyes through pure rage.

  “Vincent Trudeau has screwed me over for the last time,” she practically yelled. Olivia took a breath and calmed herself. “Piper I need to step out in the hall for just a sec. I’m sorry.”

  “Aw shit,” Piper said eyes wide. “Thank you for signing these. I better go. I know Liv, she’s gonna need a drink. Hope to see you tonight on the cruise!”

  “Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Dominic called after her and meant it. He didn’t know who this Vincent guy was but he was sure he could make her forget all about him.

  Just then Kathy came back. She had forgotten part of her pre-order. “Kathy, do you know Olivia?” he blurted hopefully.