15. Talking and Tequila #2
The bartender wasn’t kidding. The Speakeasy has barely cleared out, but I do not see the man who grabbed me by the arm right before Payne kissed me for all the world to see.
Or at least his clients.
I guess I should be thankful it was a closed event. Otherwise we’d be the talk of Winslet by sunup.
Payne must be off the clock even though he’s still footing the ever-growing bar bill, because he doesn’t say a word to anyone. With a firm hand, he leads me through the lounge and atrium.
“Where are we going?” I whisper.
He leans down and puts his lips close to my ear. Goosebumps run up my bare arms when his warm breath hits my skin. “I have a room for the weekend, so I don’t have to go back and forth. I’m not having this conversation in public.”
We’re two steps from the elevators when I come to an abrupt stop. “I’m not going up to your room with you. If you want to talk, we can do it here.”
He jabs the button to call the elevator then claims my hand in a tight embrace. “Sorry, Red. We’re talking in private. When you find out what this is about, you’ll thank me.”
I try to pull my hand from his, but his hold is resolute. “Stop doing that.”
He looks down at me through a devastatingly handsome hiked brow. His whiskey eyes are sharp and piercing. “Stop doing what?”
I lower my voice as another couple steps up to wait for a ride. “The nicknames—it’s too much. Red, Rubes ... you need to stop.”
He looks over my head and lifts his chin to the other couple with a smile that would dazzle anyone to hand over their bank accounts or panties. “I hope you had a great evening and are enjoying the manor.”
The man and woman are fit, stylish, and probably in their mid-forties. But sixty is the new fifty and so on, so who knows.
The man drapes his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “It’s more than great. Our old financial planner would never do this. We’re looking forward to getting outside tomorrow.”
The elevator dings, and the doors open. There’s no way I can stand here and argue with Payne without looking like an idiot. He’s getting exactly what he wants.
After the elevator doors close, the woman turns to me. “You and your brother were amazing. Really, a great show. Who knew there would be this level of entertainment in the middle of nowhere. We live in the suburbs and have to go downtown for live performances.”
“Thank you so much. We’re new to the manor. I’m happy you liked it.” The elevator zooms up four floors before we know it, saving me from further small talk.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Payne calls as they say their goodnights and exit the elevator. Payne swipes his card again and presses the button for the top floor suite.
I yank my hand from his and move to the other side of the elevator. “The penthouse. So swanky.”
He throws me a glance from the corner of his eyes. “For your information, I didn’t book the penthouse. Devon comped it to me for the weekend. Trust me, this is no vacation. I haven’t had one of those in years.”
“Hmm,” I mutter under my breath. “I assume you would’ve gone on your honeymoon solo.”
“Add that to the list of things we need to talk about, after we talk about the shit at the top of the list.” The elevator dings, and the doors open. When I don’t move, he holds his arm out to hold the door. “After you.”
Since I have no escape, I put one flip flop in front of the other and stalk off the elevator with my head held high.
There are only two doors in the small hallway.
I stand back and cross my arms as Payne goes to the one on the left, unlocks the door, and holds it open for me.
I force myself to cross the threshold and try not to think about being alone with him.
“You have five minutes. I’ll call Blake to come and get me so you don’t have to take me home. ”
Wow. This is no normal hotel room. Places like the manor don’t fit into my budget for overnight stays. I’ve never seen anything like this.
I move through the entryway and around a center table with an enormous bouquet of flowers that are taller than me.
A chandelier hangs over it that looks so old, I wonder if it’s original to the estate.
Beyond is a living area with enough seating for a cocktail party.
But my eyes are drawn to the floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase Lake Winslet and the mountains that frame the little town we grew up in.
The moon is almost swollen full and shining bright on my life that’s holding on by a thread.
I ignore the sound of the door closing behind me, solidifying the fact I’m alone with Payne Deacon for the first time in over a decade. I move to the dining table and stare out at the moon as I hear him move around the small kitchen.
“Devon loaded the place up for me. Wine, tequila, vodka, whiskey...” I hear ice clink in a glass. “What can I get you?”
I cross my arms so tightly, I hug myself from the cool chill of the room as I turn to him. He’s pouring himself a bourbon.
“I didn’t come here to drink. You’re down to four minutes. If I were you, I’d use them wisely.”
There’s a cool demeanor about him that I haven’t seen since I’ve been back. It reminds me of the old Payne.
Calm.
Confident.
Even cocky.
All things I love about him.
And right now, he looks like he has a secret.
He takes a sip of his drink. “I’d rethink that if I were you.”
I tip my head to the side. “The drink or coming up here with you? And when did you start drinking?”
Ice rattles in the crystal lowball that dangles from his veined hand as he stalks toward me. “I rarely drink but tonight calls for it.”
What I don’t tell him is that I don’t trust myself to be near him unless I’m in complete control. He’s already kissed me once. I don’t need anything else to make me stupid. I’m good at that all on my own.
“Three minutes, Payne. If you don’t think I’ll run out of here and walk home if I have to, then you must’ve forgotten who you’re dealing with.”
He takes one more sip as he stalks toward me. I force myself not to move. Unlike when I was overcome by the beauty of the suite, right now, I see nothing but him. “Suit yourself. And I refuse to be put on a clock. You’re not leaving here until you tell me everything.”
I drop my arms with frustration and bite my words out. “Tell you everything about what?”
He reaches around me, and his glass lands on the dining table with a thud. His gaze drags over every feature of my face, down my body, pausing heavily on my breasts, and down to my toes before they make it back up to my eyes. “Do you know the man who grabbed you tonight right before I kissed you?”
I white knuckle the table behind me and shake my head. My heart is beating so fast, I can’t form words.
“His name is Ansel Reid. Does that ring a bell?”
“No. Should it?”
He lowers his voice, and there’s something about the way he’s looking at me that makes me think he wants to reach out and touch me, but he’s doing everything he can not to. “For the first time tonight, I believe you.”
I think back to the incident in The Speakeasy right before Payne kissed me. “Why would I know him?”
“You shouldn’t. He’s my client. He was referred to me by someone else, so I don’t know much about him. At least, I didn’t until tonight.”
“Why are you being so elusive?”
He pulls in a deep breath. “Ansel Reid works for Enzo Caruso.”
I gasp.
He nods slowly. “I see that name rings a bell.”
No. It can’t be.
My heart pounds in my chest so heavy, I can hear my blood thrumming in my ears.
“How do you know that name?” I whisper.
His tone remains strong and clear. “It doesn’t matter now. The only thing that matters is that I do. You came back to Winslet to hide.”
I’d take a step back, but there’s nowhere to go. I do the only thing I can do since I’m plum out of choices—I lie. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He doesn’t touch me, but he does move so close I feel the heat from his body. “Neither one of us has time to bullshit, Ruby. You think you’re safe here in Winslet, but I don’t think you are. Not now at least. The sooner you tell me everything, the safer you’ll be. I can make sure of it.”
I shake my head and feel the threat of tears. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
It’s like he can’t take it another moment, because he lifts his hand and claims my chin between his thumb and forefinger.
“I do. And if I were a betting man, which I am not, I would guess Caruso knows exactly where you are, thanks to Ansel Reid. Which means, if you think you’re hiding from Enzo in Winslet, your time is up.
I can help you, but I need to know what I’m dealing with. ”
I can’t control my pounding heart or my emotions any longer. My breaths come quicker, and my tears spill over.
Payne’s hold on me changes.
His thumb drags across my bottom lip. I think he’s going to kiss me again, but he doesn’t. His patience for me to spill all my secrets perseveres, but he does bring his other hand up to brush my tears away with the backs of his fingers.
Gentle.
Caring.
Protective.
My heart craves more of it.
I swallow hard. There’s no denying it. If Payne is right, then I’m in trouble. I have nowhere else to go. And if the next words that come out of my mouth mean anything, I’m in trouble in more ways than one.
“I think I’m going to need that tequila after all.”