by Mia Carson
Christopher Devois might be a staple in the Vegas community, but not in a good way, and Sam saw first-hand why the feds were so concerned with him. He owned several casinos and resorts, and for years, the FBI had tried to link him to several mobs stretching across the country and possibly ties to the cartel. So far, they had nothing solid to go on, but Devois was either getting sloppy or assumed Sam would be like all the other businessmen in the city and look the other way. Those men needed Devois and his money. Sam did not.
“Make sure to keep a record of every transaction until they’re able to move in on him,” Sam said and returned the files to Marcus. “And keep this quiet around the office. I want only you and Betty watching these accounts from now on.”
“Do you think one of his guys works in our office?” Marcus whispered.
“I’m not taking any chances and let some lackey drag my company down.”
“Understood.” He tapped the folder against his hand and frowned. “Do you want me to double-check the other business accounts and see if they’re linked to Devois? Just in case?”
Sam nodded. “Do it, but make it part of the audits so no one questions it.”
“I guess I know what I’ll be doing all weekend,” Marcus mocked with an exaggerated sigh. “Why don’t you take the rest of the day off? Go hang out with your Friday night girl?”
“I don’t leave early, you know that,” Sam said stiffly.
“Not even for her?” Sam shot him a warning look, and Marcus shrugged. “I’m just saying. See you in the morning, boss.”
Sam occupied the next hour calling Agent Higgins and informing him of what he found. Not wanting to spook Devois until they knew for sure they could nail him and hold him, he told Sam to update them on the accounts but that this was good news for their case. Once he hung up, Sam paced restlessly around his office before muttering, “Fuck it,” and left early. He passed a shocked Betty at her desk and checked the address for Harley again on his cell. He planned on going home first, but the need to see her again was too strong, and before he realized it, he pulled up outside her apartment building and parked behind a rundown Chevy truck.
His boots sounded loud as he stomped up the steps to the eighth floor and knocked on door 8C. He was three hours early and wondered if she was even home when he heard the lock slide free and the door cracked open, stopped by the chain.
“Sam!” Harley exclaimed with a bright smile. “Hang on.” She closed the door, undid the chain, and opened the door all the way. “You are either really early or my clock stopped.”
He scratched at the stubble on his chin. “I can go if you want.”
“No, I don’t want you to go,” she said quickly and stepped to the side. “Come on in. I was getting ready slowly, but I can hurry up.”
“Nothing fancy. We’re just going to a bar,” he informed her as he glanced around her tiny apartment.
She screwed her lips up to the side, watching him. “I know, it’s not the greatest, but it’s got a floor, a roof, and working utilities.”
“At least with the money you got last week, you can find something nicer,” he said slowly, worried about her living in such a shitty place. “Do you live alone?”
“Nope, I have a roommate and currently, my baby sister lives with me. Do you mind following? I’m going to find my shoes and fix my hair,” she said and nodded towards the short hallway. He walked behind her, trying not to count the number of cracks in the ceiling and walls. “I can practically hear you thinking about taking me away from this apartment. Stop it.”
He smiled guilty. “Can’t a guy worry?”
“Yeah, he can, but don’t think you’re going to waltz into my life and whisk me away.”
“I’d never think of doing that,” he lied, and she burst out laughing. “All right, the thought crossed my mind, but I understand the need to prove yourself. Please, promise me, though, that you’ll move somewhere else.”
“I’ll work on it as soon as everything falls into place,” she assured him as she sat on her tiny bed and slipped on her sandals. “Huh, funny.”
“What is?”
“Us,” she said and motioned between them. “I thought this would be awkward, but I’d swear I’ve known you forever. That’s not normal, is it?”
Flashing her a charming smile, he stepped closer. Immediately, her breathing quickened as her eyes darkened. “That’s not a bad thing. It means we can skip the weird moments of dating someone new.”
“There is that,” she whispered. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you.”
“I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one losing it.” He reached her and pulled her to her feet. “You’ve haunted my dreams every night since we were together.”
She swallowed hard and his body tensed with its need to hold her close. “Were they good dreams? I’d hate to be the cause of nightmares.”
He ran his hands through her hair and with a gentle kiss told her without words exactly what type of dreams he’d had. Dreams that gave him a throbbing erection and a hunger for her growing stronger. Dreams of him tearing that damn corset from her body and showing her exactly what loving a woman like her should be like for the first time.
She melted at his touch, grabbing his shirtfront and pulling him even closer until their bodies were smashed together. Harley ignited a part of him that had felt dormant for years, and all he wanted to do was stay with her as he found himself again. The kiss deepened and they tumbled back onto her small bed. He rolled them so she was on top as he explored her mouth with his tongue, never getting enough of her sweet taste.
“As much as I hate to interrupt this moment,” she said against his lips, “my roommate will be home soon.”
“How soon?” he asked as his hands slipped to her t-shirt and slid up her back. She shuddered at his touch, wiggling her hips against his.
“Like ten minutes soon, and that is not enough time to do everything I think we want to do.” He wanted to argue that he could definitely do something worthwhile in ten minutes, but when she licked his lower lip, he hugged her close to his body and grunted. Ten minutes would never be enough with Harley.
“Right, you win,” he muttered and stood up with her. “Dinner?”
“Dinner—that thing where you eat with someone else, right, and talk about random things?” she said, hopping up on her toes to kiss him again. “It sounds like a great time to me.”
His deep, throaty laugh echoed around the tiny apartment as they walked towards the door. He couldn’t remember the last time he was so comfortable around a woman, or willing to laugh and let loose. Being with Harley was easy, and as she locked her door, the insane idea struck him that maybe, after all this time, he’d finally found the one woman he actually wanted to be with.
Get through your first date before you propose to her, he told himself sternly. At least the first date.
Chapter 6
Harley leaned against Sam’s side in the booth as she listened to the drunk patrons do karaoke. The past few hours with this man were unlike any date she’d had in the past. She debated all week whether to call him, unable to get him out of her mind. Stress from her job built up, and Ricky stopped by once to tell her he was still waiting to hear back from Devois about the other end of her deal. Before she realized what she was doing, she pulled Sam’s business card out and called him. Really, she wanted someone to talk to, just as a friend, but the second she opened her door to find him there she knew she was in trouble. Calling him was what she’d planned on doing once this mess with Devois was over, but here she was having drinks with Sam and that damn deal hovered over her head like a death sentence. If she could keep it casual with Sam until that night was over then she could officially date him, but that was going to be harder than she first assumed.
Now, she wanted the night to last forever, snuggled close this side safe from the rest of the world. She glanced at her cell and frowned. “Damn, I should be getting home.”
“It’s barely ten,” he commented
and draped his arm over her shoulders. “One more round of drunken singers.”
“I have to work at four,” she informed him with a sigh as she snuggled closer against his side. “I guess I could just sleep like this. Drop me off at work in the morning, would you?”
He kissed the top of her head, and she tried to hold onto the feeling of belonging he gave her. “You know, there are always openings at my company. I could give you a better job if you really wanted one.”
“You already gave me five-hundred-thousand dollars—for something you didn’t even get, mind you.” She stared up at him with narrowed eyes. “I still can’t believe you did that, and I’m not about to take a job.”
“Why not?”
“One, because I haven’t finished my college classes and I’m pretty sure I’d piss a few people off at your company who’d worked their butts off for years to get their jobs,” she explained. “And two, I don’t want them to think I got the job because I’m dating the big, bad, hot-pants CEO.”
He rested his head back against the booth. “I guess you’re right. Is it too late to sign up for fall classes?”
“Where were you a few years ago?” she murmured.
He leaned down and slanted his lips over hers. “Still finding myself.”
“And now? Have you found yourself?”
Brushing his fingers along her cheekbone, he sighed. “I thought I had before, but with you, I think I’m finally there. Is that too much?” He cringed and leaned back. “That might’ve been too much.”
“Sam, whatever this is between us, I feel pretty safe saying it’s real and it’s not too much.” Mentally she kicked herself. Keep it friendly! Casual! You can’t date him, you idiot! Too bad she couldn’t listen to her own damn advice.
“Are you sure? I can’t stop thinking about you and being with you is so right.” He kissed her again, and she wished there wasn’t a table in the way so she could sit on his lap and deepen the kiss. “Weren’t you wanting to leave?” he asked against her lips.
“A few more minutes,” she murmured and shivered when his hand cupped the nape of her neck. “Or an hour.”
Laughing, he kissed her forehead and pulled back. “Nope. If you insist on keeping your current job, I’ll get you home so you’re not a zombie tomorrow.”
“I wish I could quit and be done with it,” she muttered as she slid out of the booth.
“Why can’t you? You earned enough money last week to live off for a while if you wanted.”
Harley sucked in her cheeks as she picked at her nails. “Yeah, of course, but I have to wait a while before that money clears. It was all in the contract I signed,” she lied.
Sam’s blank stare told her he didn’t believe her, but he didn’t argue with her. “I still think you should go back to school if that’s what you want to do.”
“It is and I will,” she promised. “Once everything’s settled, I will.”
Everything settled, of course, meant potentially sleeping with another man, which was why the voice screamed in her mind she had to wait with Sam. She had to. If he ever found out, it would kill her and possibly ruin whatever chance at a relationship they might have. Unless she found another way to get Ricky to leave them alone and close that damn deal.
Why don’t you just tell him the truth? Come clean now before you get any deeper into this.
“Harley? Are you all right?” he asked.
“Yeah…sorry, I was thinking.” What if she did tell him? Maybe he could do something about it—or maybe he would get sucked into Ricky’s net, too, and get hurt. Harley was ready to risk herself and her reputation to save her sister, but she wasn’t going to risk Sam’s. “I just remembered I’m only working the early shift tomorrow.”
His lips twitched as he held her hand while they left the bar. “Are you trying to subtly ask me what I’m doing tomorrow night?”
“If I was, what would you say?” The words came out of her mouth unbidden, but there was no taking them back now.
He swung her around and embraced her warmly. “I’d say I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“Your seven or actual seven?” she asked with a wry smile.
“Smart ass,” he murmured and captured her lips with his.
He dropped her off at her apartment, and Harley felt as if she was floating on clouds. Her sister asked about her night, and Harley told her with a wide grin that she was happier than she’d been in a long time. Brianna wanted to hear all about the date, so Harley spent the next hour or so sitting up with her sister and talking to her about Sam. Her struggle to hold out was failing quickly and she hated herself for keeping such a large secret from Sam. She would have to tell him and soon, when the time was right.
And she would have to tell Ricky to find another way for her to pay him back what Brianna owed. Two nights with Sam and she was hopeless to resist the pull to him.
The next few days passed quickly, and Harley’s life was finally looking up. Her possible meeting with Devois still loomed on the horizon, but with Sam, the future didn’t seem so bleak, until she reminded herself she had yet to tell him the whole truth. It ate at her, but she couldn’t seem to find the words or the right time to bring up the issue. They called each other every night and texted throughout the day. They went out whenever they could, him taking her to the same bar outside the city where they could have their booth and enjoy each other’s company. One night, they went to his penthouse and attempted to watch a movie. They made out on the couch instead, and her body still tingled when she remembered how his hands were so gentle and demanding at the same time, wanting to hold every inch of her.
When she walked into his place that night before the make-out session, she’d stared in amazement at the huge fish tank in his living room. “That’s an impressive tank,” she told him.
He grinned as he led her to it. “It’s peaceful to look at.”
“I can see why. How many fish do you have in there?” she asked as she watched the colorful fish dart from one end of the tank the other. She pressed her hand against the glass and smiled at yet another interesting quirk about Sam.
“Ten, I believe, and an eel and a few starfish,” he said with a laugh. “I had a fish when I was younger, and my mom helped me take care of it.” His eyes took on a faraway look as he stared at the tank. “It’s one of the few good memories I have of her before she died.”
“She meant a lot to you,” Harley said and rested her hand on his arm.
He nodded and wiped quickly at his eyes. “Yeah. Yeah, she did.”
They talked about their lives, but he didn’t talk about his past after that conversation about his mother, just as she didn’t talk about hers. As comfortable as she was around him, there were some parts of her life she felt were too dark to share so early on in a relationship. That, and she worried if she opened up about her parents, she would slip about her current predicament with Ricky and her sister.
She was working on a way around the Devois situation, but nothing came to mind except trying to run with what money she had. It wouldn’t get them far and Ricky would catch up to them, one way or another. He had men all over the city, and from what Brianna had told her, his network stretched all the way to the West Coast. Harley couldn’t even figure out how to get out from under his eye in the city long enough to try and leave. She had spotted a car parked outside their apartment lately with two men sitting in it. The idea that Ricky was watching them put her even more on edge than before, and it was hard to keep the truth from Sam.
A week after their first official date, she texted Sam in the morning to see what he was doing for lunch. She had the day off and hoped to swing by his office to tell him they needed to talk before this went any further, but he didn’t text her back right away as usual. She waited an hour and tried to call him.
“Hello?” he answered, his voice rough.
“Sam? Are you okay?” she asked, worried. “I tried texting.”
“Sorry, I’m not at the office today,” he told
her. “It’s not a good day.”
“What’s wrong? Do you want me to bring you anything?” All her well-laid-out plans of telling him the truth disappeared to hear him so depressed.
“No, I’m just out of sorts today,” he explained, but his tone of voice told her it was much more than that. He sounded lost and in pain. She knew that tone. She’d heard it from her own mouth many times before. “I don’t think I’d be very good company today.”
“If you’re sure,” she said as she picked up her keys and purse.
“Yeah, I’ll call you later, though.” He hung up, and Harley stood at her door for a long time before she made up her mind to go see him in person—just to be sure he was all right. She knew without even having to think about it that he would do the same for her.
She drove her shitty truck across the city, smirking at how out of place it looked amongst the fancy sport cars in the garage of his building. The ride up to his floor took forever, and she had a moment of doubt where she almost rode it right back down, but the doors opened and her worry for Sam overrode everything else. She knocked on his door, calling his name softly.
“Look, if you don’t want me to stay I won’t,” she said when he didn’t answer right away. “But you didn’t sound in a good place and you know I’m here for you if you need me.”
She rolled her eyes at how terribly cheesy her words sounded, but the door opened and the overwhelming pain in Sam’s eyes tore at her heart. She didn’t even get another word out before he took her hand and pulled her inside, hugging her close. She wrapped her arms around him securely, wondering what was going on today that had him so broken up.
“You came over anyway,” he whispered into her hair.
“I wasn’t going to let you wallow alone,” she said. “Want to talk about it?”
“No,” he said as he leaned back and the need to escape from his pain hit her like a tidal wave.
She traced along his jaw and smiled softly. “Sam, I’m here for you, whatever you need.”
“I need you,” he growled and kissed her fiercely.
