15. Knight
Chapter Fifteen
KNIGHT
Trix was crying on my shoulder.
That pathetic little man-child was going to suffer.
And then I’d make him suffer more. Traction wasn’t good enough for that kind of monster.
I’d find out exactly what he cared about, and then I’d destroy it so meticulously that he thought it was the work of those he trusted.
And then I’d break down his sanity. It shouldn’t be difficult.
If I let Nix help me…No. I wasn’t sharing his suffering.
That she was letting me drive said exactly how much he’d hurt her. I’d been riding by, because Mimi’s café was one of the places I drove past four times every day, when I’d seen her go in. I’d gone around the block, and when I got back, there was Blondie.
So this was it. If I’d given her advice based on cool logic and hard facts, I would have recommended that she never let him know that he had a child.
Mostly for her own safety, but also, my own personal best interest dictated that she stay living in my hotel for the rest of her life.
Since we’d talked, I’d put in the best day care in Las Vegas, which had been very popular with the employees, particularly since I’d included it in their automatic benefits.
I’d never considered the needs of the single mother as much as I should have.
Now I had a whole new outlook on the subject.
At any rate, I’d pulled up at the curb and watched the short conversation through the window.
It didn’t take a lip reader to know what was going on from his expression of disgust and her humiliation and then rage.
He’d accused her of trying to get money out of him.
It was laughable. He really had absolutely no idea the kind of woman he’d been conquered by.
Up to that second, he thought that she was his conquest.
And now she was wrapped around me on my bike, sniffling.
I’d never been so happy and angry at the same time.
I shifted down and went faster. When we got to the Hoover Dam, I pulled over, slowing down until we were parked.
It was all my fault that she was in this situation.
I never should have given her advice. What did I know about her situation?
I could only ever be on the other side. And now she was hurting.
The worst thing about me was how much I liked the way she was wrapped around me, even when it was caused by her pain.
She was holding onto me so tight, her knees squeezing my hips, her fists in my shirt like I’d been caught in her fetal position.
I sat there, staring at the dam and trying not to say anything stupid.
Anything would be stupid. If I said a single word that referred to her encounter, I’d be incredibly insensitive.
If I said something about another topic, I’d be equally insensitive but also idiotic.
Not talking was the only option. If it happened to go with enjoying her squeezing me so tight while I watched the water pound over the dam, so be it.
With her pressure folded around me, my mind shut off, and I let happiness bubble up and over the edges of my sanity, just like that water.
I didn’t want her unhappiness to be my happiness, and I’d happily trade my misery for her joy, but I couldn’t help loving her needing me, touching me, squeezing me painfully tight.
After a long time, she shivered and relaxed her hands. It took a few more minutes for her knees to relax, and then she finally straightened up away from me. I didn’t speak, didn’t turn around.
“Why did you stop?” Her voice was rough, so incredibly attractive it gave me shivers.
“I didn’t bring my passport. It was either here or Mexico.”
She sighed and put her face down on my back for one deep, shuddering breath before she swung off the bike and walked over to the ledge.
I stumbled, following her quickly. She was not allowed on the edge of tall things without me to fall over with her. That wasn’t right. To keep her from falling. Unless she wanted me to fall with her. Who could say no to a suicide pact? Right. She had a baby to consider.
She leaned on the cement barrier and stared down. “I’ve never been here before.”
“It’s a good place to watch the sunset.” That made it sound like I came here with women often to have romantic evenings, like I’d brought her here for seduction. Because nothing says ready for romance like crying for forty-five minutes.
She didn’t glare at me, only nodded and slumped over her arms like she had no strength left.
We stayed like that, staring at the cascading water, the sweep of cement that ended in the churning waves below until the sun lowered past the horizon.
Who would have thought this day would end with me watching the sunset with Trixie ‘Dragon’ O’Hara?
It would have been blissful if I wasn’t so worried about her.
I cleared my throat. I’d been quiet longer than she could possibly expect me to.
And I had important things to say. “I’m sorry for my bad advice.
Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?
Also, did you tell him your name and address?
That’s probably a bad thing, particularly the way you…
Not that you weren’t completely justified, and if you need a witness, I will one hundred percent back you in whatever you say he did to deserve that. ”
Her eyes widened and then narrowed as she turned to study me.
“I didn’t break his arm. That’s not enough, though.
He’ll probably press charges.” She sighed heavily, and her cleavage did things I wasn’t being distracted by.
“I said I was dragon. It’ll take him a five-second search to find the dragon of Las Vegas.
Maybe he won’t give me that much thought. I didn’t break his arm.”
I rubbed my chin. “I know a lawyer. Owes me a favor. I’ll ask him to preemptively set up a case for you if he tries anything.” I had a team of lawyers. I’d need them if this kid tried to bring a case against my dragon.
Her brows furrowed over her glorious brown eyes with their specks of gold. Whiskey eyes. I could easily get drunk from staring into her eyes.
“Preemptive lawsuits? That sounds made-up. No, it’s fine.
I should have expected that reaction. He’s a money boy.
Thinks all anyone cares about is getting money from him.
That’s normal. We should get back. I need to eat.
I did research, and it turns out that if you eat smaller things more often, you’re less likely to get nauseous.
The less you eat, the worse the nausea gets. ”
Why didn’t I have crackers in the side panels of my bike? I would. Also in every pocket I owned. I would be the cracker king. Also crazy, so doubly the cracker king because that’s what she thought about billionaires thanks to me, that we thought the only thing anyone cared about was our money.
I cleared my throat. “There’s a little place on the way back, Mexican, but you can order whatever you want. Vegetables without the spices, homemade tortillas. Does that sound like a plan?” It sounded like a date. I should not try to get Trixie to go out with me while she was emotionally vulnerable.
She gave me a wry smile. “I’m not up for public stuff. If it’s all the same to you, I’m going to drive back home now. Did you catch the part where I’m driving?”
I nodded. “I did. Are you going to charge me for the honor of being my driver? You should. Maybe you should be more about the money so you can afford a better floor in the Providence. You deserve the best.”
She gave me a funny smile. “I can afford the best, but I don’t need it. I’m building my mutual funds and 401 K. For just me, I don’t really need even a two-bedroom suite, but I like the space in case my mother comes to visit.”
I nodded as if that made sense. “My mother died when I was eight.” What? I’d just said that out loud? I cleared my throat and went over to the bike, pulling out helmets and handing her the cuter one. It was blue instead of black. Not that she didn’t love black.
She gave me an awkward thanks, looking at me like she didn’t know what to say about my dead mother.
She swung her leg over the seat and pulled my bike upright.
“I’m sorry about your mom. That sucks. I’m also sorry for bringing up mine.
You could tell that I was about to complain about her.
I shouldn’t when I know she does it out of love.
Mostly. And some people don’t have mothers to drive them crazy. ” She revved the engine.
I climbed on behind her, hesitating before I put my hands around her waist. “Is this okay?”
She immediately shifted against me so we were bike-spooning. “Yeah. It’s more comfortable and safe on a long drive. Are you ready to go?”
“Absolutely. Also, there are coms in the helmets in case you want to complain about your mother on the way back. I’d be delighted to talk about anything you want.”
She sniffed as she pulled out of the parking lot. “I got a lot of snot on the back of your shirt.”
I smiled at her helmet. I loved that she’d gotten close enough to me to leave a mark. “That’s good to know. I’ll be sure to take it off the second we get back to the hotel.” And then put it behind glass labeled, ‘tears of a goddess.’
“Or you could tell people it was dandruff.”
“And ruin my reputation? My entire reputation is based solely on my glorious hair. Without that, I’m nothing.”
“Thanks, Horse.”
“For having great hair? You’re welcome. Yours is pretty good too. We could wash our hair together sometime if you want.”