Chapter 1 #2
“I’ll remember that,” he said, smirking. “Full house again tonight.”
“She has that effect on people.”
“Yes, she does. So, I heard Nina’s birthday is in a couple days. I hope you don’t mind, but I bought her a present.”
I’d be damned if the hulking mass of a man didn’t look sheepish as if I’d be angry with him that he adored my daughter.
So did almost everyone else. She had them all fooled.
I grinned inwardly at the thought. My daughter would be a heartbreaker when she grew up.
“That’s very sweet of you. You should come to her birthday party. ”
“Really?” His eyes lit up.
I laughed and patted him on the arm. “Yes, really. I’ll send you the details.”
“Thank you so much for the invite. If we’re still in town, I’d love to come.”
“You will if I have anything to do about it. Cross your fingers for me. Will ya? I need an entertainer for my daughter’s party or the woman handling the festivities will cut my balls off.”
It took him a minute to understand. Then his grin turned into a smirk. “I’ll see if I can help make that happen.”
“You’re a good man, Bernie.”
“Maybe wait until Attila the Hun leaves.”
He meant her manager, a surly guy who’d made the mistake of getting in my face. Not good for anyone to do. Scott Jameson was a typical show business prick. The more successful Lainey became, the more money lined his pockets. I’d seen him manhandling her before. That wasn’t going to happen again.
I honestly had no clue how she suffered dealing with an entire pack of pricks. Public relations. Social media gurus. Hairstylists. Fashion coordinators. I’d often wondered if she had any time for herself.
“Thanks for the heads up.” My anger just below the surface, I knocked on her door, trying to curtail my irritation.
“Come in.” Her voice sounded tense.
As soon as I opened the door, every muscle tensed. She was obviously infuriated about something Scott had said to her. As per usual.
“What is it?” Scott asked, way too surly for my liking. His glance was quick, a clear indication I was nothing but an annoyance to him.
His brazen attitude added fuel to the fire.
“It would seem you need to learn some manners, Mr. Jameson. If you don’t have time to find them, I’ll be happy to help.
” I allowed the words to sink in, daring him to challenge me.
Thankfully, he chose not to pick a fight.
“Now, I need a few moments with your… client. She does employ you. Right? Not the other way around?”
He had the nerve to fist his hand, even puffing up. Maybe he could tell by my expression today wasn’t the day to fuck with me since he backed down.
When he started to object, his eyes telling me this could become an issue, Lainey stepped in.
“Don’t mind him, Mr. Dmitriyev. He takes being an asshole seriously,” she said and turned her head toward me.
As soon as she did, a spark of electricity went through me like rocket fuel.
Her smile was slight, but provocative as hell, and while this wasn’t the first time, I sensed she could feel the building connection between us.
How strange since I hadn’t felt anything for another woman since my wife had died seven years before.
But admittedly, it was not the first time since Lainey’s arrival in Las Vegas.
The first meeting, while somewhat contemptuous even though not by her doing had done that.
She’d sized me up in an entirely different way than I was used to.
Most women did so with the intent of bettering themselves in one of several methods.
Money. Influence. Power.
Lainey was different. Her skeptical looks were exactly the opposite. She was wondering what scheme I’d try to pull on her.
The entire role reversal had spurred the desire now furrowing through me like a constant stream of fireworks.
Scott wasn’t too pleased with her reaction, giving me another hateful look before facing her. “It’s time you start taking your career seriously, Lainey. You have the world in the palm of your hand if you’ll accept what you need to do.”
“You mean marrying some asshole? I don’t think so, Scott. I’m tired of being led around by a leash. Some things are going to change.”
Marrying some asshole. While I hadn’t seen Damien Kane during her residency, pictures of the two of them together had been all over the internet. Until they weren’t. Interesting.
“He’s good for you,” Scott growled. “The perfect match. The dream couple. Do you know how many fucking albums you sold when the engagement was announced?”
“All to line your pockets. Jesus Christ. I can’t believe you’re saying that. Just go.” Lainey pointed to the door.
Ouch.
When he didn’t move a muscle, I took a step forward. Today must be asshole day.
No, I didn’t like the guy. In fact, he had a target on his face exactly where my fist was about to go.
“He’s just on his asshole pills today,” she finished, winking at me when she did. She’d obviously sensed I was about ready to toss him out.
“You can be such a bitch, Lainey. You know that?” His huff was not nearly as irritating as what he’d just said to her.
“Hey. You. Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to treat a woman with disrespect? If you were one of my men, you’d be fired. Now, why don’t you find a hole to crawl into.”
I wasn’t asking him.
I was telling him he was about to face my wrath and thankfully for the little weasel, he knew it.
She stifled a laugh while I glared at him. I’d had it with his nastiness and bullshit and didn’t need to take it any longer. The residency was complete.
She’d be returning to her life in LA.
When my cock stirred, I was surprised. Didn’t that give me an ache I didn’t need?
He kept a glare on his face but left like a good little boy, throwing a tantrum by slamming the door behind him.
I’d heard all the stories about Lainey from the beginning of her rise to fame.
Once considered a diva, word on the street was she’d been tamed by a long-term relationship with a fly-by-night actor.
Was I jealous? Perhaps. The truth was she’d been good for his career, bringing him back to being considered an A-list actor after years of drugs and booze.
I was still surprised the two were together.
I was also suspicious of the ‘romance,’ but it wasn’t my place to give a damn.
Obviously, there was a rift between them. None of my business.
Or at least it shouldn’t be.
Lainey was unable to hold back laughter any longer. “You are something else, Mr. Dmitriyev. Very… formidable.”
“Is that what they call it these days?”
She brushed hair behind her ear casually, but I could tell she was nervous around me. There was no reason to be. “I could call it being chivalrous. That’s what my mother would say.”
I pressed my hand against my heart. “A great compliment. You’d make my mother happy.”
“The way you are with everyone in your employ is why I’ve thoroughly enjoyed spending a few months in your employ. You remind me there are decent employers. I’m sorry about Scott. Part of his job is to pressure me into doing things I don’t appreciate.”
“Then don’t do them. I have a feeling you also don’t mind egging on his mood swings.”
She pressed her fingers against her lips as if I’d just discovered her greatest secret. “Don’t tell anyone.”
“You secret is safe with me.” The banter with her was easy, almost as easy as her voluptuous figure and warm, wet lips were on the eyes.
How many times had I reminded myself that making advances on an artist under contract was never a good idea?
Also, there was the reprehensible concept of poaching another man’s girl.
That wasn’t like me. But I’d thought about it more than once.
“I meant what I said,” she stated clearly, a shadow of something very personal and upsetting crossing her face.
I tried to shove aside my untimely desire as I walked closer.
Almost instantly the scent of her perfume hit me in a way that wasn’t good for standing in front of her.
My cock was almost fully aroused. My only hope was that my suit jacket was hiding my condition.
Even now, I wouldn’t want her to think of me as a lecherous son of a bitch.
I pressed my hand against my chest for a second time. “I’m honored.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s just me you’re talking to. I’m so glad things went well these past few months.” When she slapped her hand over her mouth, I cocked my head. “That was presumptuous of me. It did go well. Didn’t it?”
“You brought the house down. You are one incredible star, lady. Beautiful to boot.”
Another awkward moment. I wasn’t winning any points today. I wasn’t used to needing to give compliments and not because I didn’t appreciate or value women. I did very much. I simply had held no interest in getting close to anyone. Fulfilling carnal needs was something else altogether.
She gave me a little mischievous look. “I’m going to miss being here.”
“When are you leaving?”
“Day after tomorrow.”
What the hell. I had promised Halle I’d find an entertainer. “I couldn’t convince you to stay a little longer. Could I?” Why did my voice sound more possessive than I’d intended?
Lainey narrowed her eyes and I’d be damned if she didn’t give me a hard, hot, and sinful onceover. “It depends on what you have in mind.”
“Well,” I said as I took a step closer. “You see, there’s this party.”
“I like the sound of it already.”
“Don’t say that yet. It’s my daughter’s birthday party and you happen to be the next best thing to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”
“Hey, don’t knock peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I lived off them for years,” she said, laughing. “You’re inviting me to your daughter’s birthday party? That adorable little Nina?”
“That wild child of a daughter Nina and yes, but there’s a catch.” I tried to give her puppy dog eyes. I might as well forget about trying. Something else I could check off as sucking at. Boy, I was on a roll.
“Hmmm…What’s the catch?”