Something Real (Whiskey Men, #2)(18)

I clear my throat and look around the big room. Yeah, it’s big, but I don’t think it’s big enough. “I just don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable, that’s all.”

She walks past me toward the patio door, smiling at me over her shoulder. “Uncomfortable? In a five-star hotel with turn-down service, three restaurants, room service and… a pool!” she squeals as she gets the door open. She points over her shoulder. “Ford, we have a private balcony that leads to a rooftop pool… and there’s a hot tub.”

I walk up behind her and love seeing the excitement on her face. “So I guess you approve then?”

She walks onto the patio. “I wish I’d brought a bathing suit.”

I suck in a breath. Thinking of Lilian in a bathing suit is not going to help me at all. I jerk my eyes off her ass when she turns back to me. She’s shaking her head. “Forget that thought. We won’t have time to swim.”

The disappointment on her face has me commenting, “We can make time, and I’m sure they have bathing suits in the shop downstairs.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m sure they’re a fortune. Plus, we’re here to work.” She passes by me on the way back into the suite. Her body glides against mine, and I suck in a breath on contact.

“You okay?”

I nod, walking back into the room, holding my hands in front of me. That’s all I need is for her to see that I get a semi just from her rubbing against me. She’s going to think I’m some old perv or something. “We have two hours before dinner with the Ogles. What would you like to do until then? Rest, go see some of the sights, go to the casino? You name it.” Heck, anything to get out of these tight quarters. There’s no way I’m going to keep my hands to myself this weekend. I obviously didn’t think this through.

She reaches into the pocket of her jeans and pulls out a twenty dollar bill. “I’ve never gambled before, and I budgeted twenty dollars just for that.”

“Sounds good. Let’s go.”

She doesn’t budge, though. “Is dinner in the hotel?”

I nod.

She gestures to the dress pants and shirt I’m wearing and then toward her own jeans. “I’m going to go freshen up and change for dinner since we probably won’t come back up before then. I won’t be a minute.”

She points around the room. “Which bedroom do you want?”

Fuck me just hearing her say bed has my dick coming alive. This was a terrible idea. “Either one. They both have their own bathroom, so pick whichever you want.”

She smiles and rolls her suitcase to the bedroom. I grab mine and go in the opposite direction. I busy myself by unpacking to keep my thoughts off of Lilian in the next room naked. I’m sitting on the edge of my bed, counting down from a hundred when I hear Lilian call my name.

I take a deep breath and walk out of the bedroom with a forced smile on my face. My mouth drops when I see her, though. I’ve seen her dressed up before, but nothing like this. Her hair is swept up with tendrils framing her face. She has on a fitted dress that goes below her knees. It’s very conservative but still sexy.

She tilts her head. “You okay?”

I nod. “Yes, I’m good. You ready?”

She grabs her purse off the counter and takes two steps before stopping and turning her back to me. “Shoot. Sorry, I couldn’t get my zipper up. Can you help me?”

It’s like a punch in the gut, taking my breath. She’s positioned herself next to me, baring her back to me. My first thought is there’s no bra strap. That’s all I’ll be thinking about the rest of the night. When I don’t move—heck, I’m not even breathing—Lilian looks over her shoulder at me. “Ford?”

I move then, closer to her, lifting my hands to her dress. “Yeah, sorry.”

I grab the zipper that starts at the curve of her ass. I know I shouldn’t, but as I drag the material up, I let my knuckles caress her soft skin. She trembles, and goosebumps form on her arms. I take it slowly, and when I reach the top, I release the zipper and put my hands on her shoulders. Her whole body shudders, and I try to get myself under control. I’m her boss. She’s too young for me. I shouldn’t be doing this. I repeat these things over and over until I force myself to let her go and take a few steps backward. But no matter how far I go, I can still feel the softness of her skin under my fingers.

“Ready?” I ask in a strangled voice.

She clears her throat. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

I follow behind her, wondering if she feels it too. Can she see a future between the two of us? My thoughts go back to the plane ride here. I understand how she’s feeling about her sister, and I understand that she thinks she may have to leave, but what she doesn’t realize is that I can’t just let her go. There’s no way I can let her leave. No, there has to be another way.





Lilian





The last two hours Ford has taught me about gambling. I had some luck at the slot machine, and when I turned my twenty dollars into fifty, I knew I had to stop. Ford has stuck right by my side. He hasn’t spent a penny, instead watching me the whole time. I figured he’d be bored, but every time I’ve looked at him, his face has been lit up like he’s enjoying himself.