Hell on Heels (Hotel Rodeo #1)(39)

“And how would you know this?” she asked. Of course he’d know about her involvement in the hotel, but she refused to acknowledge anything. Yet.

“It’s a small world, Mon. Word gets around.”

“How long are you in town?” she asked.

“As long as it takes to get what I came for.” Evan was nothing if not single-minded. “I’m at the Wynn. Come have dinner with me. Let’s talk.”

“Is this invitation business or pleasure?” she asked warily.

“Do I really have to choose? Look, Mon, I admit I was a total dick the night you left.” His confession stunned her. “I want a chance to make it up to you.”

“I’ll think about it,” she replied.

“That’s not an answer.”

“Sorry, Evan, but it’s the only one I can give you right now,” she replied, not wanting to appear eager, but unwilling to alienate him either. “I’ll be back in touch soon.”





Chapter Thirteen


“I’m so sorry, Ty,” Cassie said, “but I already have plans for Itonight.”

“That’s too bad. I was hoping to make it up to you for that canceled dinner.”

“I’m free tomorrow night,” she offered.

“Tomorrow I’m taking a VIP to the bull-riding finals. He’s a potential investor. I’d really like to take a look at your drawings before meeting with this guy.”

“Bull riding? I’ve never been to one of those. Can I join you?”

“Sure, Cassie. I should be able to scrounge another ticket. There’s still a bunch of riders who owe me past favors. Wanna catch lunch before? That is, if you don’t mind something simple and quick.”

“Not at all. Do you like sushi?”

“Sorry, not a big fan of fish, let alone raw.”

“Does Ty do Thai?” she quipped.

“Yeah, I’ve had it a time or two.”

“How about Lotus of Siam? It’s in a seedy strip mall, but it’s the best Thai food in Vegas.”

“I know the place. I’ve got a tight schedule, though. Can I just meet you there?”

“That would be great,” she gushed. “What time?”

“Let’s say two,” he replied. “Don’t forget the drawings.”

“I won’t forget,” she laughed.

Having taken care of item number one on his list, Ty applied himself to number two. He punched the number for hotel housekeeping into his phone. Sheila picked up on the third ring.

“Hey, Sheila, this is Ty. Listen, I’ve got a big VIP coming in tomorrow and need the owner’s suite cleared out.”

“But—”

“Yes, I know Ms. Brandt is staying there. But I’m going to need you to go ahead and pack up her things. Then I need to have the door rekeyed.”

“Sure, Ty,” Sheila replied. “What should I do with Ms. Brandt’s belonging?”

“Take everything to my office. If she shows up in the meantime and gives you any shit, please refer her straight to me. Thanks, Sheila.” He hung up the phone.

With the hotel full, he had little choice but to take Monica out to his place. She might not like it, but she could hardly object with Rosa staying there as a chaperone. Now that he had “Uncle Phil” taken care of, Ty realized he still couldn’t breathe easy. He didn’t have a room for Delaney. Monica was one thing, but he damned sure wasn’t going to put his ex up at his place too!

He scrubbed his face with a martyr’s sigh. Damn all women. The world would be so much simpler without them.

Ty left his office to go down to the saloon, hoping a beer might bring inspiration. Entering the bar, he was surprised to find the place packed in the middle of the day. He nodded to a number of cowboys he knew from his days on the road, taking note of a couple of working girls, a bleached-blonde he didn’t know and a redhead named Tamara.

The latter flashed him a wink and a smile. He tipped his hat.

Tamara was actually a class act when you got to know her—attractive, educated, and well-spoken. He’d even heard she was a former law student. He wondered why she’d given that up. Ty didn’t exactly encourage hookers, but he didn’t begrudge them a living either. Live and let live—as long as they kept a low profile.

“What’s up, Gabby?” Ty asked, slinging a leg over the barstool.

“Hey, Ty!” She smiled back. “How was Oklahoma?”

“How’d you know?” He shook his head. “Never mind that question.” Gabby knew everything. Sometimes he wondered if she was psychic. “The trip was thankfully short and hopefully profitable, but that last part remains to be seen.”

“Oh yeah?” She filled a mug from the beer tap and slid it in front of him. “And how’s that?”

“Too premature to talk about it. ’Sides, if I tell you, the whole place’ll have wind of it within the hour.”

“That’s not fair, Ty!” she protested, her black eyes glittering with mock affront.

“Sweetheart, we both know they shortened your name to Gabby for a very good reason. The riders come in yet?”

“Yeah, we got a bunch of ’em in yesterday.”