“Believe me, working in a casino is as close as you need to get to see strange.” She’d learned that as a dancer. But that was in the past. Now she cut and styled hair, a day job so she could be at home with Jazi when she got custody.
His eyes narrowed on her. “You work in a casino?” They were a dark, twilight blue. Her heart pounded. She’d only ever seen one other person with eyes that color. Jazi had his eyes. She swallowed in a suddenly dry throat. She’d found Jazi’s father.
A hundred emotions rushed through her, love for her goddaughter, hope, fear, anticipation, trepidation. But she forced herself to concentrate on the conversation. “Hasn’t everyone who lives in Las Vegas worked at a casino at some point?”
“That doesn’t answer my question,” he stated.
“I work at Pinnacle’s actually. At the Modern Goddess Salon.” She wasn’t surprised he didn’t know her. The spa rented the space. “Is that going to be a problem?”
His brows contracted and she realized he was actually thinking about it. He sighed. “No. It’s not a problem.”
“I was a last-minute replacement.” Lexi advised him, sticking as close to the truth as possible. “I’m afraid I don’t know anything about where we’re going.”
“I never reveal the destination until we’re en route.”
Of course not. Everything she’d read on the man indicated he was a very private man. He walked with purpose and speed. Luckily her dancer’s grace allowed her to keep pace.
“Hmm. Kind of makes it hard to know how to dress.”
The fact he wore a tuxedo meant the occasion was formal. She tugged at the hem of her black minidress, hoping she met his requirements.
“I provided the information that it was a formal event.” His dark gaze ran over her, the intensity in the navy depths sent a shiver down her spine. “You’ll do.”
“Good to know.”
She’d gone with the classic little black dress. Wide band sleeves rested just off her shoulders and flowed to a vee in front showing off a hint of cleavage. The material clung to her curves in a loose fit, allowing her to move. It was more provocative than sexy. And because Lexi liked sparkle and shine, the fabric glimmered with every step she took.
The automatic doors swooshed open to the glittering entrance of the casino. There were lights and movement everywhere. People, cars, taxies and valets flowed in a ballet of arrival and exits backlit by a cascading water feature.
A car waited for them and a valet rushed over to get the door. “Good evening, Mr. Calder, Lexi.”
“Hi, Miguel, how’s the new baby?”
A huge grin lit up his face. “As pretty as her mama.”
“Miguel and his wife just had a baby girl a month ago,” Lexi told Calder. “Her name is Saralynn.”
There was no change to Calder’s expression, but he nodded at Miguel. “Congratulations. Lexi,” he gestured to the open door, “we have to get going.”
“Of course.”
Cold fish—check.
Strangely disappointed, she slid in and across the seat. When she glanced back, she saw Calder tip Miguel with a couple of hundred dollar bills. She perked up. Maybe not so cold after all. He joined her, his large body taking up most of the space. She suddenly felt crowded and overly warm. Definitely not cold now.
She might panic—if she were the type to panic—if he didn’t smell so good. No fancy cologne for him. He smelled of soap and man. And he made her mouth water.
Rein it in, girl, you’re on a mission here.
As a distraction, she focused on his generous gesture. It gave her a sense of hope. He’d stated in more than one article that he didn’t want kids or a family, that he didn’t have the patience or skill set for a long-term relationship so why set himself up for failure. Her plan rested on the fact he meant what he said, but it helped to know he wasn’t totally dispassionate about kids. She needed him to care enough to act.
“How do you know Miguel?”
Jethro ground his teeth, annoyed he let the question slip out.
How she knew the other man didn’t matter as long as she was a pretty armpiece and was able to intercede when required to redirect the conversation.
A task she should have no problem with since she’d been chattering ever since they met.
“Just from working at the Pinnacle. I’ve been at the spa now for a month. I like to talk to people so I’ve met a lot of the Pinnacle employees.”
Yes, he could see her as a people person. Where he was not.
“Miguel treated his wife to a day at the spa after Saralynn was born. I thought it was a wonderful gesture and suggested to the owner that she put together a package just for new mothers and publicize it throughout the casino and hotel. She agreed to give it a try. We’ve had quite a few women come in.”
“So you’re in marketing?”
“Oh, goodness, no. I’m a dan—a hairdresser.”
His head swung around and he rolled his gaze over her, accessing every curve. The escorts at Excursions were a mix of entertainers and professional businesswomen. He’d made it clear he preferred the latter. He had more in common with a businesswoman. And the one time he took a date to the next level had been with a dancer. He’d regretted the slip.
He preferred to keep his social and sexual encounters separate. He prized the discretion and privacy Excursions’ services provided. He liked that sex wasn’t part of the arrangement. The last thing he wanted was for the line between social and private to blur. That could only lead to complications and expectations he had no desire to deal with.
He never lacked for partners when he needed sexual release.
Casual dates with no promise of a follow-up were harder to come by until a friend recommended Excursions.
Having a new woman on his arm on a regular basis gave him the image of a player. He didn’t care. He wasn’t out to impress anyone and it gave warning to those who would expect more from him, all the better.
He’d made the mistake of sleeping with a date only once. She’d been a stunning woman of mixed race and he’d been out with her several times. Her intelligence and grace made him the envy of every man at the foundation dinner they’d attended. He’d been receiving an award and drank more than usual to offset the attention. Being in the limelight tore at his nerves but his date thrived on it. She’d been the perfect person to have on his arm that night and the high of the event had carried them upstairs when she made her interest clear.
Alliyah was gone in the morning and the next time he contacted Excursions he asked for a professional woman so he hadn’t seen her again.
Excursions’ quality control was slipping if they’d sent him a dancer. And he didn’t even have her name beyond Miguel’s addressing her as Lexi. He usually got notice and a new profile when he was getting a replacement date. He liked to know something about the women he spent time with even when he paid for the pleasure. He sent off a text.
“A dancer.” He repeated.
“No. I told you, I work at Modern Goddess. I used to be a dancer.” She licked her lips drawing his attention to the sultry lines of her mouth, the perfect bow over a plump bottom lip. “Now I do hair at the spa. I just thought pampering a new mother totally made sense. I remembered how tired and stressed my roommate was after having my goddaughter, Jasmine.”
“Hmm. What’s your name?”
“Oh, goodness.” She laughed—an infectious sound that filled the back