Chances (Mystic Nights #1)(5)

As he finished crossing the casino floor, Jonathan was proud of all they had accomplished in the last four years. The casino was doing great. Their debts to the builders were nearly paid and his people, the Eastern Pequot, would soon begin to reap the benefits from the government sanctioned casino that took his mother and others nearly twenty years of legal battles to get off the ground. The first and toughest difficulty had been getting sanctioned and recognized by the state as a tribe. And she had spent nearly ten years doing that. For his mother, Tawny Sassacus, her children and her people always came first.

Jonathan took the escalator back up to the second floor and crossed the large open slot room, making his way over to the entrance to the theaters. He finished with his duties, and glanced at Theatre A thinking about Aliya. Last night, and again this morning. That woman was . . . Special. And not just because she had been willing, finally, and allowed him to take her to his bed. All month long, he had been thinking about that particular conquest. Something he rarely did. And now that he’d had her, normally she would have been out of his mind by now. But, shockingly it wasn’t the case. Perhaps, it was because she hadn’t asked for more or expected more than what he was willing to give. She hadn’t asked or hinted to him wondering if he would call, like the others before her.

There was something about her—a certain air of mystery. He couldn’t figure her out and it bothered him. He found her intriguing. She was his own age, not a flighty chatter box like the girls he usually ended up with. Fuck, he just didn’t know. He couldn’t put his finger on it exactly, but for the second time in less than twenty four hours, he was about to do something he’d never done. He was going to see if she wanted to hang out again.

Instead of going up to the third floor where the banquet halls and ballrooms were located and the fourth floor where his own executive office was, he passed the box office people and ducked into the darkened hall.

Proceeding down the corridor, an hour before the early seven o’clock show, he found himself on the mezzanine level. The dancers were practicing some of their routines for tonight’s show though none were in their costumes yet. He recognized many from last night’s party. Those who were off today would be at tonight’s party.

Taking a seat, he looked down onto the main theatre where rows of seating climbed imperceptibly to give the best views and vantage points. This theatre, like Theatre B, sat 580. The new one would seat over 800.

Aliya was directing the show, and he watched her work. He was fascinated. Entranced. She wore grey cut off sweat pants, a faded blue Yankee t-shirt, tied at the waist, and her hair tucked up into a sexy knot on her head. He’d never thought of this grunge look as appealing before. But on her it worked. She was sexy as hell, and didn’t know it. He’d thought a lot about her all day.

When she clapped her hands twice, the dancers stopped and gave her their full attention. “Looks good,” she called. “Go hydrate and you can start with make-up and costumes.” Without hesitation the dancers filed out obeying her orders. When they had cleared the stage a few members of the crew came out to start prepping it for the evening’s show.

He cleared his throat and called her as she swung her duffel over her shoulder. She was getting ready to leave. “Aliya wait.”

He saw her bring her hand to her forehead in a salute over her eyes to peer into the darkness. Once he was in view, she gave him a soft smile and dropped her hand. Her duffel bag slid from her shoulder.

“Hey Mr. Sassacus,” was her casual answer as she stood on tiptoes and then back down onto her heels to flex her calves. She repeated the motion until he stood before her. “What’s up? Was there something you wanted?” she asked, peering quickly over her shoulder at the stage crew who continued to work quietly behind them. The question wasn’t a loaded one, but a carefully worded one, although she could tell from the mischief in his eyes he was thinking of all the possible ways he could answer. A slow smile began to slide across his features.

“Nothing. Just checking in on you. Last night was great. Very memorable.” He cleared his throat, but stated the words softly so as not to embarrass her if she wanted to keep this between just the two of them. His intentions were good in that moment. Normally he wouldn’t care.

Aliya blushed and looked down. “Yes, it was. This morning too.” He watched her shift from one foot to the other. Before he could speak, she was talking again. “And don’t worry about me if that is why you are here. I’m good. I know what last night was. And really, I’m good with that. I’m not looking for more.” She picked up her bag and began to leave.

“Woah! Where are you headed so fast? I . . .” Jonathan reached out and lightly stroked her arm.

“I’ve got a show . . .” She tried to pull away from him, but couldn’t help looking at the spot on her arm he clutched. It was on fire.

He felt it too. “I know but I thought maybe Friday, we could . . .,” his words were spoken huskily. It did something to her. Made her feel things she hadn’t felt in a very long time.

She laughed trying to appear unaffected by this man’s slightest of touches. “Really Jonathan. It’s not necessary. I had a great time. Fantastic. But I’m really not looking for a relationship right now.” She wasn’t. And from what she had heard, he wasn’t one to want to pursue a woman either. So his being here, and suggesting a repeat performance had her a bit baffled. No, she subconsciously shook her head to clear it. Getting involved with this man would be a mistake. A huge one. Especially not with another super alpha man like Jonathan Sassacus. She’d been there once, and did not want to go down that road again. Plus, this one was her employer. It was just all wrong on so many levels. She knew his reputation enough to know a longer relationship would only end up disastrous, even though she’d only been working there just over a month. Rumors ran rampant in a business like this, and also in a small tightly knit community like Lantern Hill. A few years older than she, she vaguely remembered his high school reputation as well.