Read Online High Stakes by Cheryl Douglas - Free Book Online Page B

was happening between them, but it was intense and terrifying
and exhilarating, all at once. “Don’t say those things. Please.” She closed her
eyes when she couldn’t stand to look at him anymore. This was too much. Tonight
was supposed to be about having a good time, not falling for a man she may
never be able to forget.
    He stood up and walked around to her side
of the table. He dropped to one knee and eased her around to face him. “Please
believe me when I tell you that I’m just saying what’s in my heart tonight,
sweetheart. I’m not trying to wear down your defenses or coax you into bed. I
never asked for this, I never expected this, but I’m not going to try and deny
it’s happening, either.”
    “This is an impossible situation.” She
shouldn’t feel the weight of remorse weighing so heavily on her when she
thought about never seeing him again, but she did. She liked this man, a lot,
and she believed, with time, it could evolve into more, but their time together
was running out and they both knew that. “We live thousands of miles apart. I
have my family and business in Nashville. You have your daughter and your
business in San Francisco. Tonight is the only night we have, so why waste time
pretending this could be more than it is?”
    “I’m not pretending.” He held her hand in
his and bowed his head. “You think I don’t know this is crazy? I’m not supposed
to feel this way about someone I just met. The thought of never seeing you
again isn’t supposed to make me feel physically sick, but it does.”
    Someone cleared their throat in the doorway
and Liam whispered a curse. “You can clear now, Robert. Thank you.”
    The waiter glanced at the food remaining on
their plates as Liam stood up. “Was there a problem with the food, sir?”
    “No, everything was fine. My apologies to
the chef.”
    Alisa was still reeling from everything
he’d said to her when she reached for her wine glass again. How was she
supposed to process the fact that she was falling for a man she’d just met and
would never see again?
    “Robert, wait,” Liam said.
    The waiter turned toward him. “Yes, sir?”
    “I want a blackjack table and dealer in
here.”
    “Of course, sir.”
    Alisa smiled up at him. “What’re you up
to?”
    “Tonight wasn’t supposed to be like this.”
He eased into his seat and tipped his head back. “I wanted to show you a good
time. Instead, I’ve unloaded all my problems on you and made you feel sorry for
me. The least I can do is try to salvage this night with a little fun.”
    She loved that he was thinking of her, and
she suspected that would always be the case with him. He’d put her first, and
with that realization, she fell just a little deeper. “That’s so sweet, but…”
She was surprised when she stood up, intent on reaching out to him, and swayed.
“Oh, I guess I had a bit more than I thought.”
    He glanced at the second empty bottle of
wine on the table and muttered a curse. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you’d had
so much.”
    “It’s not your job to take care of me. I’m
a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
    Liam reached for her, pulling her into his
arms. “Just for tonight, will you let me take care of you?”
    She laid her head on his chest and smiled
when she heard the steady beat of his heart under her ear. “Fine, but just for
tonight.”
     
     
    Liam wandered through the lobby while Alisa
slipped out to use the restroom and two of his staff set up the blackjack table
in their private dining room. He glanced into the window of the jewelry store
and saw the ring, her ring. He had this crazy, impulsive urge to give
her something to remind her of him and the one night they’d shared.
    “Excuse me,” he said to the neatly coiffed
young woman behind the counter. He extended his hand. “I’m Liam Bryson.” He
reached into the breast pocket of his suit and extracted an embossed business
card. “My…” He faltered as he searched for a