Gentleman Sinner(26)

I look down at my wrist, lost in my thoughts. He told me he needed to touch me. I like it when Theo touches me. I hate it, but I like it. I sigh, so confused by it all, and especially confused by the man who is the source of my muddle. Everyone around me seems intimidated by Theo Kane, and I can’t figure out why I’m not. Not in that way. For the first time in my life, I am desperate to be intimate with a man for no other reason than . . . to just be intimate. My need to prove myself that I’m not broken isn’t featuring in my thoughts at all.

‘Shit, Izzy,’ I breathe as I collect my drink and head back over to our sun lounger, spotting Jess at the bar with Denny and Kyle, laughing and slurping. I catch her eye, and as she makes a move to break away from the boys, I hold up my hand in indication that I’ll come to her. One sec, I mouth, and she nods, returning to her drink.

I sit on the edge of the bed and pull out my phone, loading up Google and quickly typing in his name. It takes a few seconds to give me the results, and when it does, there’s nothing connected to the strapping, handsome man who’s infiltrated my girlie holiday. Not. One. Thing.

I frown and spin the phone in my hand, thinking. Everyone appears on Google somewhere these days. Okay, so I don’t, but that’s because I’ve made a point not to put myself on any social media platform that could lead to Google results. Only someone hiding something wouldn’t appear online. So what’s he hiding?

‘Izzy!’ Jess calls, snapping me from my silent pondering and waving me over. I smile and throw my phone back in my bag, standing and pulling off my caftan and slinging it on the lounger. He told me to cover up and I did, but not because he told me to. It’s been a long time since I feared repercussions from a man. Theo Kane won’t change that.





Chapter 6

We hung out with the boys for the rest of the day, Jess getting progressively closer – literally – to Kyle, while Denny was happy to laugh and mess around with me after he’d picked my brain about who Theo was and whether he should be worried. I’d laughed it off, but he must have sensed my conflict because he didn’t make a pass or push his luck the whole time we chatted and laughed in the sun. I was grateful. So were the few girls sun-bathing nearby who Denny gave the eye a few times. The fact that I wasn’t bothered spoke volumes. I couldn’t think beyond Theo’s summons to dinner and whether I would be going, but I kept my frustrating debate to myself. When Jess had asked what went down with him, I’d given her a condensed version of the truth, and I neglected to mention Theo’s dinner request. We’ve saved forever and waited just as long to have this holiday. I feel bad enough that Theo has showed up and interrupted it. I won’t give Jess reason to believe it will be ruined beyond that. No dinner.

No.

Dinner.

I make a conscious effort not to get totally wasted, sipping sensibly for the rest of the day. I need to keep my wits about me. Jess, however, doesn’t take it so easy. She’s well and truly pissed as we wander through the casino floor, heading for the elevators that’ll take us up to our room. It’s six thirty p.m., and the atmosphere around us is pumping.

‘I had the best day,’ Jess slurs, punching the call button for the elevator. ‘Let’s shower and head out.’

I laugh as we enter the lift. ‘You sure you don’t need a power nap?’ I’m hoping it’s a resounding yes, because I’m feeling sluggish after a hard day sunbathing, socializing, and pretending I’m not in internal turmoil.

‘Hell, no.’ The doors close and carry us up to the twelfth floor. ‘If I sit down, I won’t get up again. Power through.’ She raises her arm to cheer herself on, and then staggers back. I catch her just before she hits the wall.

‘We’ll head out at midnight.’ I try to reason with her. If we go out now, I’ll be carrying her home by eleven. ‘Denny said things only get going then, anyway. Have a nap.’

‘No.’ She’s adamant, leading the way when the doors open, zigzagging down the corridor. ‘No one sleeps in Vegas.’

I smile with an exasperated shake of my head and take the key card from her fumbling fingers when she fails after three attempts to get it in the slot. ‘There.’ I push the door open and let her go first before following her in. ‘I’m going to jump straight in the shower,’ I call.

‘I’m going to find the Red Bull.’

I close the bathroom door behind me and turn the temperature dial of the shower to cool, quickly stripping down and hopping in. I groan, letting the water rain all over me for a few relaxing moments before I wash my hair, shave, and scrub.

I jump out and grab a towel. ‘All yours,’ I say as I leave the bathroom, coming to a stop at the sight of Jess sprawled on the bed. My shoulders drop, and I heave a deep sigh. She’s unconscious and snoring lightly. ‘No one sleeps in Vegas,’ I say to myself, pulling in my towel and settling on my bed, annoyed that I’m now more than awake after my shower. I flick on the television and scroll through the channels a few times, hoping tiredness will return soon and I can join Jess for a few hours’ sleep before we head out.

Fifteen minutes later, I’m still wide awake and getting quite pissed off about it. ‘Jess.’ I shake her and get a few snorts in return. ‘Wake up.’

Nothing. She’s out for the count.