that sheâd confessed so much to him.
âWeâre not through yet.â
âIâm tired, Max. I need a break. I know that I owe you an apology for what happened on the plane.â
âNo, you donât. I really donât mind waiting. When we do make love I want to take you in a bed, where I can stretch you out and really worship that luscious body of yours. But I want it to be about more than sex when weâre together.â
She warmed inside, where the real Roxy had always lived. The shy dancer who just wanted to lose herself in the movements. She knew the image she projected was of an outgoing woman who could come through anything. But deep inside sheâd always felt insecure, still the awkward adolescent whoâd been dropped off at a group home.
Max, for all his worldliness, had seen past the facade to the woman beneath.
A group of Japanese tourists were headed straight for them and Max used his body to move her out of the flow of traffic. He backed her up against the sun-warmed wall of the casino, his tall muscular body surrounding hers and caging her.
âHave dinner with me tonight,â he said, rubbing his lips over hers. His breath was minty and warm.
She opened her mouth, hoping for a deeper kiss, but he only nipped at her lower lip and lifted his head.
âIâm waiting.â
âAre you asking me?â She knew he wasnât. He was so used to having his way.
âOnly if I have to. I think thereâs something between us that deserves to be explored.â
âShouldnât you be playing poker? That is why you came to Vegas.â
âI think Iâve hit the jackpot already.â
She started to close her eyes against the charm she saw in his, but then she forced them open. She made herself look up and down the strip. To see the fake Eiffel Tower and pyramid. To remind herself that this was Las Vegas, baby. The place where sinful behavior was indulged in. Men like Max came to Vegas for one reason and one reason alone.
But the way he held her didnât feel as though he was looking for a cheap thrill. And heâd stopped earlier, on the plane, when she was willing to go further. âWhat do you want from me?â
âA chance.â
âWhy?â
âBecause itâs been a long time since anyone has interested me as much as you do. I love the contradictions of you. The mystery of what makes you tick. And I want to solve it.â
She leaned forward, breathing in the scent of his aftershave mixed with the salt from the sea breezes. âMax, Iâm not worth all this effort.â
âYou are to me. Iâll pick you up. Does eight sound good?â
âYouâre not going to listen to me are you?â she asked.
He gave her a half smile. âI always listen. Itâs just that sometimes you say things you donât mean.â
âHow can you know that?â
âBecause Iâve held you in my arms and looked deep into your eyes. Iâm beginning to know what makes you tick.â
âThen maybe I should pass on dinner. If you figure me out then Iâll have no place to hide.â
âYou donât need to hide from me.â
âWhat about you?â
âIâm not hiding from you.â
But she knew he was. He was dazzling her with fancy plane trips and expensive trinkets. He was keeping the focus on her and she was letting him. âWhat about from yourself?â
âIâm forty, the CEO of an international conglomerate and Iâve lived a full life. Thereâs nothing to hide.â
She tipped her head to the side studying him. She knew he had secrets. Real secrets, the same as she did, and she wanted to know them, because she already liked him too much. She was very afraid that before too long, liking would turn to love. And, as heâd said, he was a sophisticated, successful man. The kind that didnât marry a former topless dancer.
Six
M ax spent the
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