Quick Dirty Luck: A Love Between the Pages Novel Read online

  “Fucking hell,” she muttered.

  I snapped out of my X-rated daydream when I heard her swear under her breath. I watched as she cleared her throat and pasted on a fake smile.

  “Mr. Kingsley, what a surprise. It’s good to see you again.” The tightness around her eyes betrayed the false sincerity of her words. I didn’t understand why she was going to the trouble to put on airs with me. She’d shown her true feelings in full-color last night. I wanted that girl back. She may have been a pill, but at least her passion was authentic. I had no use for the fakery that was so abundant in this town.

  “You don’t really seem happy, Alexis,” I finally replied. “One would think you don’t like me very much.”

  “I don’t even know you. How could I not like you, Mr. Kingsley?” she said through gritted teeth. I think I even saw her eye twitch.

  “That’s another thing,” I said slowly as the dim bulb over my head started to light up. “What’s with this Mr. Kingsley business? So, you learned this is my casino. Why does that take us off a first name basis? I was Kent last night, and I’m still Kent today.”

  “I really don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Why isn’t it? My mom thought it was a when I was born, anyway.” For all the things about her that fascinated me, Alexis was pretty good at confusing the fuck out of me, too.

  “I just-just-” she stammered. Taking a deep breath, then letting it out in a whoosh, she turned to face me with a hand on her curvy hip. “Just trust me, you’re going to want me to call you Mr. Kingsley when all is said and done.”

  I shook my head side to side slowly, whistling as I did. “I can think of a lot of things I’d like you to call me—Sir being at the top of the list, preferably while you’re gasping in ecstasy—but not Mr. Kingsley. I’d think my dad had suddenly entered the room. Not exactly the scenario that’s been playing in my head since I saw you in those shoes of yours. Which incidentally, you should wear all the time.”

  The server passed her the plate of pancakes covered in a mound of the thick, rich cream with huge, juicy strawberries surrounding it all. She picked up her tray and quickly turned away from me, heading toward the coffee station. I followed her dutifully, not ready to let her get away from me quite yet. I wasn’t leaving her side until I had her promise we’d have dinner tonight.

  I watched as she poured herself not one, but two cups of our killer French roast. If I liked her before, I was downright in love with her now. The girl knew what good coffee was. All other details could be worked out between us. If she’d selected one of the frou-frou flavored coffees—or God forbid, tea—it very well could have been a deal breaker. Even with the shoes.

  Though I had a cup at my spot where Jasper still sat watching us, I poured myself another. When she tried to walk off toward the other side of the dining room, I gently took her arm and steered her toward our table.

  “Just what do you think you’re doing?” she hissed.

  “I’m taking you to sit with me and my brother, what do you think I’m doing?”

  “I want to sit by the windows and take in the beautiful sight of your atrium.”

  “Another time. For now, you’ll just have to take in the sight of me.” I flashed what at any other time I would have been sure was a killer grin, but with Alexis, I couldn’t be certain of anything. She wasn’t like other women I knew. Any other would have been falling all over herself to get up to my room if I paid half as much attention to her. Alexis stormed out of it last night. She was always running away. It made me want to chase her.

  She sighed unhappily but allowed me to direct her to the chair next to mine. As we sat, I motioned toward Jasper. “This tool is my brother. Don’t pay any attention to him.”

  “We actually met briefly last night in the high stakes room, though I didn’t get your name. I’m Jasper Kingsley,” he said as he stretched his hand out to her, smiling.

  To my displeasure, her face lit up with a bright smile. She slid her hand into his without reservation and gave it a light shake.

  “Reina Dare,” she said with a quick glance in my direction.

  The name gave me a second’s pause. Where had I heard it before? And why did she tell me her name was Alexis last night? What the hell was going on, here? I whipped out my phone and sent that twerp, Geoffrey, a text message, demanding to know the room number of Reina Dare. He responded within seconds. I opened my mouth to say something, but Jasper’s grin grew wider as he turned toward me, confusing me even more.

  “Reina Dare,” he said, drawing out each syllable of her name as he looked at me with that shitty know-it-all expression I hated. My fist clenched involuntarily in anticipation of connecting with his nose. “I’ve heard quite a bit about you since you ran out of the game room last night.”

  I clenched my fist tighter and gave him the look I used to give him when we were kids and I had been about to kick his ass. The little shit just grinned wider and leaned forward in his seat, seeming to be thoroughly interested in anything that came out of Alexis-Reina’s mouth. I sighed. I knew the feeling all too well even if my more immediate goal was putting something in her pretty mouth.

  “Don’t believe everything you hear, especially if you hear it from this bastard,” she said, pointing her butter knife in my direction. Was she really joining forces with my brother to give me shit? No, no. That couldn’t happen. I needed to get rid of him quickly.

  “Shouldn’t someone be guarding our money?” I asked Jasper with a pointed look and a raised eyebrow of my own.

  “We have a whole security force, Kent. Our money is safe.”

  “I’m sure there’s still something security-related that requires your immediate attention.” I kicked his ankle hard under the table to let him know I meant business. I leaned back so Alexis-Reina couldn’t see me and mouthed, “Your balls are next.”

  Jasper chuckled softly but discreetly inclined his head toward me, silently acquiescing to my not-so-subtle hint he should fuck off. He turned to Alexis-Reina with a genuine smile, all evidence of his mischief erased.

  “Much as I ever hate to say my brother is right, he has a point this time. I’m in charge of security in this place. I should check in and make sure everything is ship-shape.” He leaned in and took her hand again, only this time he brought it to his lips and kissed it softly. He wasn’t going to live to see his thirty-fourth birthday.

  Alexis-Reina giggled. She actually giggled! She hadn’t struck me as a giggler with that sexy, husky voice. I didn’t know if I liked it, and I sure as hell knew I didn’t like my brother being the cause of it. Jasper stood and tossed his napkin on his plate.

  “Reina, it was a tremendous pleasure to officially meet you. Kent...” he paused to fix me with that infuriating smug look, “I’ll catch up with you in a couple hours.”

  The asshole finally left, and I was able to focus my entire attention on Alexis. Or Reina. Whoever she was. Sadly, it seemed she had turned to ice in two-point-five seconds. I really had my work cut out for me. Now that I had her captive attention, I was going to make up for the ground I lost last night.

  “Alexis, er, Reina,” I began. “We’ll get to the issue of your real name in a minute. For now, I’d really like to know what made you do such an about-face. I thought we began to hit it off last night. Why did you run off, not once but twice? Was it because of Missy? I promise you, she is not now, nor was she ever my girlfriend.”

  An indecisive look passed over her beautiful face as if she had two competing thoughts and didn’t know which she should express first. Finally, she opened her mouth to speak.

  “Are you trying to tell me you never slept with her?” she asked, a tart undertone lacing her words. She sat back and crossed her arms over her chest as if she were daring me to deny it.

  Now, under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t think twice about saying nothing had happened. I wouldn’t be able to explain it if someone asked, but I found I really didn’t want to lie to Alexis—I couldn’t think of
her by any other name at this point. She deserved better than that from me, from anyone.

  I sighed. How could I tell her the truth without making myself look like a total dick? That was the catch though, wasn’t it? Since Marguerite, I really was a dick when it came to women. I decided to be as transparent as possible to show her I was trustworthy. It could backfire on me, but better to have the truth out now, than have it bite me on the ass later.

  “I didn’t say that. We were together one time. I’d had way too much to drink and had a regretful lapse in judgment.”

  “Intoxication is no defense,” she replied, refusing to let me off the hook. God, it was sexy.

  “No, I agree it’s not.” I leaned back in my chair, picking up my fork and twirling it between my fingertips as I looked down at my empty plate in thought. “It was months ago. Since then—and who knows, maybe because of it—I’ve had to reevaluate my behavior with the opposite sex. It’s a decision that I regret.”

  “I guess we all make mistakes, sometimes,” Alexis replied, her face softening.

  She finally cut into her pancakes and took a bite. My mouth dropped open, and my hand immediately went to my lap as I watched her close her eyes, a look of rapture gracing her face, moaning loudly as she chewed. I knew it was the pancakes but damned if my dick cared. Without thinking, I growled and had to exercise all the self-control I possessed to keep from launching myself over the table and tackling her to the ground. Alexis’ eyes popped open when she heard me. I instantly feigned a look of innocence and cleared my throat. I picked up my cup and took a sip, hiding any evidence of the drool dripping down my chin. Looking embarrassed, she brought her napkin to her mouth and gave a little laugh.

  “Good?” I asked mildly.

  “Heavenly. These are the sweetest strawberries I’ve ever tasted. Where on earth do you get them?”

  I made a note to stock the refrigerator in my suite with those ripe beauties.

  “I’ll have to ask Dustin. He’s in charge of food service for the hotel.”

  “Dustin?”

  “My youngest brother. He was in the VIP room last night as well. It’s a family business here,” I replied with no little pride. I loved my family, and together, we made one hell of a team. Even if I did want to murder at least one of them once a day.

  “You have more than one brother? Any sisters?” she asked as I nodded.

  “Yes, Tallulah is the baby of the family. She oversees all the interior design of this place.”

  “Oh, lovely. I adore the look and style of this hotel. It’s the most elegant around.”

  I grimaced slightly and took another sip of my coffee. “This was my dad’s vision. Since he’s retired, we’re taking it in an entirely different direction. Tallulah is presently doing a whole redesign of the interior. We’ll begin an entire renovation in the next couple of weeks.”

  Her eyes grew wide as her fork clattered to her plate. She put a hand to her stomach as she suddenly looked sick.

  “Are you okay, Alexis?” I asked, immediately concerned.

  “I... I’m sorry, Ke- er, I mean, Mr. Kingsley. I need to go. I’m not feeling well.”

  “Was it the pancakes?”

  “No…, no. They’re delicious.” I watched as she visibly gagged. “I need to go.”

  She stood hastily, bumping the table and making the water in our glasses slosh over the rims. I watched as she dropped her napkin on the chair and hurried out of the restaurant.

  What’d I do now?

  Four

  Alexis

  I made a run for it, out of the restaurant and straight into the ladies’ room across the lobby where I locked myself in a stall and willed my stomach to settle. Kent’s reminder I wanted to talk about Limitless Lust triggered the unfortunate memory of the night before. I told the man to shove his hotel up his ass. How could I make any deal with him after that? Andrea was counting on me, and I’d been nothing but rude to the one person who could make things happen for us.

  I sat on the floor next to the toilet and banged my head on the cubicle wall.

  “For fuck’s sake!” I hissed out in frustration, not expecting an answer. I jumped in surprise when I heard Kent’s voice.

  “Alexis? Are you okay?”

  He sounded genuinely concerned, but I couldn’t let him see me like this. It was probably far past too late, but I needed to salvage any shred of respectability, so I could at least find a way to save our event.

  God, this is a mess.

  “Open the door, Alexis,” he said forcefully, a tone I hadn’t heard from him before. It made my ire rise.

  “No,” I snapped petulantly. Damn it, I wanted to sound much firmer. He needed to believe I was confident and determined. I needed to impress him as a businesswoman.

  “This isn’t a negotiation. Either you come out, or I’m coming in. You can’t stay in there forever, anyway.”

  “This is the ladies’ room, and the last time I looked, you’re not a lady,” I huffed.

  “This is my hotel. Do you really think someone is going to throw me out?” He sounded like his patience was fading, but I really didn’t know why he cared.

  “Then go do some hotelier type things!” I implored.

  “I am! I’m seeing to the welfare of one of my guests. Now... Open. This. Door,” he growled.

  “No!”

  “Are you always impossible? Alexis, just open the door before I kick it in.”

  “You won’t damage your own property!” I snorted. “Just go away and let me be!”

  “I don’t bluff, sweetheart.”

  “You need to back off!” I exclaimed as I stormed out of the stall in a cloud of exasperation. I pushed past him on the way to the sink, knocking us both off balance in the process. Though he was considerably taller than me, we managed to crack skulls. Well, his nose hit me right in my left eye, but I wasn’t sure who got the short end of the deal.

  “I don’t know why you’re fighting this,” he said, pinching his nose, which made it come out in a nasal whine.

  “I’ve told you all you need to know. I don’t go out with cheaters, liars, or assholes. I’ve said it all in English. Do you have some other first language that prevents you from understanding? If so I’ll gladly pull up a translator on my phone and spell it out for you that way,” I growled as I clutched my eye, wondering why he wouldn’t just let it go. I couldn’t seem to stop digging my grave with him though I very much wanted to fix the situation.

  “Argh! Why are you such a jerk?” I said, my intended tact and diplomacy evaporating as he smirked at me clutching my head.

  “I quite like it when you’re all fired up.” He laughed again, and I could feel it reverberate in his chest. “But seriously, I think we might want to leave the restroom.”

  “Best idea you’ve ever had. You can leave.”

  “Together,” he replied as he continued with that infuriating smirk on his face. “If you think I’m going to leave you alone when you’ve just been sick you’ve got another think coming. We can either go to your room or mine.”

  “I’m not sleeping with you,” I blurted out. His smirk grew to a full-blown grin.

  “I didn’t say you were, love… as tempting as you look as tempting as you look green around the gills.”

  I dropped my head in defeat. There was no way I would salvage the signing because as soon as I managed to put some distance between me and Kent, I was going straight home to Palos Verdes and becoming a recluse. It’d worked for Stacy for a time. I could go back to being just sweet Alexis Lane, writer of saccharine romance.

  “Come on, Alexis. None of that.” His finger gently brushed my cheek. “Let’s head upstairs, get you cleaned up, and into your bed to rest.”

  Since I’d given up, I followed him out of the room, eyes on the heels of his shoes. I knew people were watching as he guided me out of the ladies’ room, but Kent didn’t notice. Either that or he was so convinced by his own self-importance, he didn’t give two shits everyone in the lo
bby thought we’d just had sex in the toilets. He dragged me yet again by the elbow to the elevator, worried I might make a run for it if he let go even for a second. Being honest, I wouldn’t have minded so much, but his grip was a little tight.

  “You’re hurting me, Kent,” I said under my breath.

  He loosened his hold almost imperceptibly and muttered a quick apology before pulling me into the elevator.

  “Get in, Princess.”

  “I can look after myself, you know.”

  “Do as I say, Alexis.” His voice was gruff, his eyes dangerous.

  “Fine,” I grumbled out in annoyance. “Eighth Floor.”

  He let go of my arm when the doors closed. He knew he had me trapped. I went to step away from him, so I could lean against the wall and catch my breath, but the second I made to move, he grabbed me and pulled me back against him. I considered fighting, but he was a heck of a lot more comfortable than the wall would have been. I closed my eyes and waited for us to reach my floor. I could hear his heartbeat under his shirt—it steadied my own.

  When the doors reopened, I didn’t move, I wasn’t sure I could. I seemed to be rooted to the floor. Like any natural caveman, he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder, seemingly mindless to the recent precariousness of my stomach. As he carried me out of the elevator, I wanted to protest—seriously I did—but not a word fell from my lips. I was exhausted, and frankly, he smelled delicious.

  “Where’s your key card, Alexis?” he asked gently as we approached my door.

  “How do you know this is my room?” I retorted.

  “Princess, everything you see here is mine. Just like I already knew which floor you were on, I know which room you’re in. I make sure my interests are covered.”

  I got the impression he wasn’t just talking about the hotel. The feminist in me bristled with distaste at the same exact time my body shivered from his domineering words. I was a sucker for a possessive man.

  I reached into my back pocket and produced the key card. Hanging limply over his shoulder, I watched as he managed to keep me steady while expertly opening the door. Anyone would think he does this sort of thing on a regular basis.