Gentleman Sinner(27)

I growl to myself and flip on to my front, burying my face in the pillow. This isn’t good. I have nothing to focus on except the images in my head. Of him. ‘Damn it,’ I mutter, glancing at the clock. Seven o’clock. I roll over and stare up at the ceiling, my thoughts speeding into overdrive.

Just do it, I tell myself. Open your mind. I have two choices. Meet him, or stay here and drive myself mad thinking about him. I sit up abruptly, my eyes darting around the dim room. This is crazy, but no matter how hard I try to push him away, the bottom line is, I want to see him. For my sins, I want to see Theo Kane. Test him. Try to figure him out. Explore the insanely deep effect we seem to have on each other.

I jump up before I can change my mind, and fly to the wardrobe, flicking through the hangers of clothes. After too much deliberation, I settle on a cream – probably too tight – cap-sleeved dress and some muted gold sandals. Keeping my foundation light, my green eyes heavy with smudged grey eyeliner, and my lips bare, I scrunch my waves into a tousled mess and run fingers coated in serum though the ends, giving it extra shine. I stand back from the mirror, chewing my lip, nervous as shit. But I have to do this. I’m going around in circles and Theo is following closely behind. Bite the bullet. Dip a toe. See what happens.

I scribble a note for Jess in case she wakes up, telling her to call me when she rouses from the dead, and leave it on the bedside before heading for the door. I’ll be two hours, tops. Hopefully she won’t wake within that time and I can sneak back in. She’ll never know I went anywhere, eliminating my need to explain my reasoning for going.

I spend the entire cab ride to the Bellagio going over that reasoning, shaking like a leaf, butterflies erupting in my tummy and going wild. I wander into the lobby, gazing around at the marble interior in awe. Trying to absorb the palatial foyer, I hover near Reception, keeping a lookout for Theo’s driver. The area is busy, a constant stream of people coming in and out, gambling machines dinging and players cheering.

‘Miss White?’

I turn to find Callum behind me. He’s his usual suited, ominous self, his blond hair looking lighter today, maybe from the sun. ‘Hi.’

‘I’ll take you to Mr Kane.’ He points across the way, and I look, seeing he’s indicating towards the elevators.

‘Where is he?’ I thought I’d be put in a car and taken to a restaurant, or maybe just walked to one in the hotel.

‘If you’ll come this way.’ He takes the lead when I fail to, getting a few steps ahead before stopping and looking back at me where I’m rooted to the marble, beginning to worry. ‘Miss White?’

‘You’re taking me to his room, aren’t you?’

He looks at me with definite unease. He thinks I’m going to refuse and be difficult, and I can see he’s bracing himself for it. ‘Mr Kane has a suite.’

‘A suite?’

‘Yes, a suite. Not a room, but many rooms.’

If I didn’t know him better, I’d say he was laughing at me. Many rooms, including a bedroom. ‘I see.’ I fiddle with my purse, glancing at the elevator again.

‘You’re having dinner with him in his private suite.’

I ignore the fact that he’s just told me what I’m doing and look at him cautiously. ‘Private?’

He nods, joining his hands in front of his big body. ‘Ready?’

I raise my chin and straighten my back. ‘Yes.’ I pass him, flicking him a curious look when he steps back, even though I’m making a point to keep a comfortable distance from him. I come to a stop at the collection of elevators. ‘Is there a written rule that says you have to be a huge motherfucker to work for Theo?’ I ask as I step into a lift and peek up at him.

There’s a definite curved lip threatening to break out as he presses the button to Theo’s floor. ‘We’re more friends than work associates.’

‘You are?’ I ask, surprised. ‘I thought you were his driver. Or his bodyguard.’

‘I’m both of those, too.’ He looks down at me. ‘But more the latter.’

I tilt my head in question. ‘Why? Does someone want to hurt him?’ I’m digging for information, and I’m not the least bit ashamed.

Callum looks like he could laugh. I guess it is quite funny. I doubt there’s a man alive who could hurt Theo. ‘Not exactly,’ he says, sweeping his hand out when the doors open.

I step out and look left and right, waiting for Callum to give me some kind of indication of which way I should be going. ‘Not exactly?’ I ask as we head left down the corridor.

‘No,’ he answers flatly, passing me. My interest in that particular topic vanishes when I clock the double doors at the end. The muscles of my legs become weaker as I follow Callum until he comes to a stop. He opens the door and moves away, again putting a big space between us and clearing the way for me. And again, I flick him a curious look as I enter. He does that a lot. I’ve seen him move away from Theo, and he always gives me way more space than I need. Does he have a phobia? I can’t help but wonder if he thinks I’m infectious or something.

My steps slow as I’m hit with opulence of ridiculous proportions. And the atmosphere. I’m not imagining it. Theo’s presence is hanging heavy in the air, and I haven’t even laid eyes on him yet. My weak legs give a little, my hand reaching for a nearby table that’s decorated with an elaborate flower arrangement.