Stone Cold Fox (61)

Collin gasped with his whole body at the sight of me in that dress. It pleased me, since we just had a hell of a week as a couple. His loyalty had come into question for the first time, but his public amazement at my presence washed it all away. I took full control of the moment, smiling brightly, enchanting the crowd. Everyone loves to celebrate love. I never wanted Collin to question me again, so I had to do my part. I allowed my eyes to fill with the perfect amount of tears, not enough for any to actually fall and ruin my makeup but plenty to show the emotion. They glistened. Collin began to cry as well. Perfection. Five hundred people were watching and everyone could tell he was completely obsessed with me. I did it. Here was a man who truly loved me and cherished me. A man about to promise that he would never leave me. I only broke our gaze one time to take a quick gander at the audience, to revel a bit in everyone’s obligatory admiration of me. Amidst the largely unfamiliar faces, I was startled to see one that I recognized instantly.

Dave Bradford. The Cat Man.

He also recognized me, with that knowing grin of his, eye contact activated. Was it genuine? Was it menacing? It was difficult to say because despite my disgust at his potentially sleazy social circle, he looked like a cheat day snack in his suit, momentarily throwing me off-balance. I had to put my focus back on Collin, careful not to let my sights veer in Hello Handsome’s direction again.

But I could not stop thinking about him.



* * *



? ? ?

THE OFFICIANT WAS in the middle of reciting some meaningful passages about marriage that wouldn’t offend anyone’s respective religious sensibilities. And there I was tuning him out, plotting an opportune time to sneak another furtive glance at Dave Bradford. Incredibly fast and imperceptible to anyone else, except for him. He was grinning right back at me. It was unnerving and unsettling and hot and sexy and my mind immediately went to dark places. I wanted to be ravaged by him in the bridal suite at our earliest convenience.

Stop it.

Collin said I do. Seconds later I said the same. And when we kissed to seal the deal on our most blessed of wedding days, eyes closed, it was Dave Bradford I imagined on the receiving end of my lips.

Damn it.

Yes, he was hot, but he was also dangerous. A friend of my foe. In possession of a secret—he knew I had lied when we met. What would he say to Collin? What could I say if Dave told the truth? Why must I always put myself in situations like this? So precarious. So stimulating. Why?

Stupid question. I knew exactly why.

Despite trying not to think about her the entire day, and nearly succeeding, that was the moment. I reminded myself of her in every way and I was ashamed. I should have known there would be no escaping my mother that day.

After all, I was the bride.





DAUGHTER


   LAS VEGAS, NEVADA



MOTHER IS PUNISHING me. I am not allowed to have a life without her. How dare I try? What was I thinking? Not her bunny. So now she wants to show me what that could be like in Las Vegas. What our life could be if she doesn’t work, if we don’t work together, as a team. Mother and I have quickly become “off-Strip” in every way, and I hate it. She puts us up in a one-bedroom apartment in a hellacious building that looks like a motel. She has the money for more, even without Francis. She knows I know that, and it delights her to hurt me this way. If I want us to get out of this, it’s up to me, she says. She will not lift one finger.

Didn’t I recognize everything she did for me?

Didn’t I realize the privileges that came with the life she gave to me?

Didn’t I see that by putting us in front of the right men, we were able to cut the line?

Didn’t I know that girls like us don’t get nice things unless we make the right choices?



* * *



? ? ?

I MEET SEAMUS at a cocktail bar in the Bellagio. I look old enough. I’ve always looked old enough. Meeting men is easy, but I’m looking for a specific type of man. I’ve talked to several men that night, but they were the wrong kind, the kind Mother hopes I’ll find so I’ll come running back to her.

But I’m starting to figure out that I actually kind of know what I’m doing.

Seamus is from LA, he tells me. Well, Manhattan Beach. It’s fantastic, he says. He’s in business, I don’t know what kind and I don’t care, but he loves to gamble and goes to high-stakes poker tournaments, likes to have a pretty girl on his arm, occasionally in his bed if he’s in the mood, and I’m paid for my services.

The perfect part-time job.

Our relationship is pleasant. It feels transactional and I like that. We both know where we stand. It’s good for him. It’s good for me. If I keep this up, I could leave Mother. I come home with money, but not too much. The rest is in the secret bank account Seamus sets up for me. He knows I’m in trouble, he just doesn’t know how much. I don’t share more than necessary to get what I want.



* * *



? ? ?

MOTHER’S MAD THAT I’m succeeding, that I don’t need her anymore. She’s furious that she’s the one who needs me now. Mother is getting older. She’s still beautiful, but she’s no longer young. What will she do if I leave? When I leave. I don’t know. I pretend I don’t care. I don’t want to care. She demands to know my source, but I don’t want to tell her. I want to keep Seamus all to myself. I also don’t want to put him in harm’s way. In her way.