Gold (All that Glitters #2)(15)

Good.

“And I’m glad you left your card. It would have been a tragedy for us to meet and have no way to get in contact with each other,” she teased.

“Why is that?”

“Because,” she said lightly, “then you wouldn’t be able to take me out.”

“You are forward, aren’t you?”

“You’re the one who bought me Tiffany’s earrings and then left a phone number.”

He laughed. “True.”

Check…

“I’ll be in town again in two weeks. Dinner?”

Mate.

“I’d love to.”

TWO WEEKS FLEW BY with two more wins for the undefeated Gamblers football team. But instead of celebrating their winnings or using the time to study for her rapidly approaching set of midterm exams, Bryna was getting ready for her upcoming date with Hugh. She wanted to be on her A game. This was her first official foray into digging. At least the first time she had consented to participating. Whether or not Hugh realized what this was, was a different story.

He was handsome, but to her, it was a game. It was a way for her to feel in control and get what she wanted. No feelings. No emotions. No connections. He didn’t even need to know about the game to participate. And if he turned out not to be the perfect target, she could find other ones here in Las Vegas. If she really went searching, it would be easy enough to find a guy who came into the city on business and wanted to take care of a pretty face.

But Hugh was the pièce de résistance. There weren’t many sugar daddies out there who could top a resort owner. She would make it work.

Bryna fitted the Atlas diamond earrings into her ears and adjusted her Harry Winston B around her neck—the perfect finishing touches to her ensemble.

Since she wasn’t sure where they were going, she had gone for a killer outfit but nothing too fancy. She wore a skintight racerback burgundy dress and black high heels with gold glitter bows. She had a matching black clutch. Her hair was twisted around the back of her head into a loose side ponytail where it flowed long and curly over her right shoulder.

She was prepared for anything that might be thrown her way. By the time the doorbell rang at her condo, she was cool and confident.

When she answered the door, Hugh was standing in the doorway in the hottest tailored suit she had ever seen. He paired it with a black button-up, no tie, and the top button was undone. He was freshly shaven and looked utterly delectable.

His easygoing smile was her favorite characteristic about him. He drank in her beauty but still held the self-confidence of a man who was used to getting his way. She found that super hot.

“Bri,” he said. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yes. It’s good to see you,” she said, meaning it. She grabbed her clutch and followed him through the door.

Her heart was beating with excitement. She couldn’t believe she was doing this—actually following through with her plan. It was exhilarating.

A black town car was waiting for them at the front of her building, and the driver held the door open for her to climb into the backseat. It was spacious and decadent, but a part of her had hoped for a sports car. Her father, Lawrence Turner, was obsessed with them and had passed that obsession on to her. She had learned to drive a stick at a very young age, and guys who drove them would get an automatic pass from her.

The drive was short, and soon enough, they were pulling up to the backside of the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. Bryna was surprised. She had expected a little more glitz and glamour from the man who owned his own resorts. She could go to a casino hotel any day of the week, not that she did. The only time she ventured to the Strip was when she wanted to go shopping. Most locals avoided the tourist traps.

“This way,” he said. He took her hand and directed her through the glass doors.

A man greeted them at the entrance. “Welcome to the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. Allow me to escort you.”

Bryna raised her eyebrows but didn’t say anything. Maybe she had been too hasty in her assumptions.

The man took them through a side elevator not accessible to the public. Up, up, up they went. Still, Bryna remained silent. Anticipation was a knot in the middle of her stomach.

Where the hell is he taking me?

The elevator dinged open.

“Here you are,” their escort said with a grin.

When Bryna rounded the corner with Hugh, her mouth dropped open. There were only a couple of upscale restaurants inside the Paris hotel, and she had kind of figured he would choose the best, but she hadn’t expected this.

They were inside the Eiffel Tower Restaurant, renowned for its French cuisine. It sat over a hundred feet above the Vegas Strip, overlooking the Fountains of Bellagio, which were lit up at that very moment.

But the most incredible thing was that the restaurant was completely and totally empty. Not a single person was inside. Candles blazed on every table, and soft classical music filtered in through the speakers.

“What is all of this?” she asked breathlessly. More of her surprise came through with her question than she should have let on, but she couldn’t help it.

Hugh had set a new bar for a first date.

“The head chef and I are close friends. When I told him of my intentions, he offered a special culinary experience unlike anything you’ve ever seen. I assume you like French food?” he asked casually, as if renting out the Eiffel Tower was no big deal.