having a bit of a tiff.” Lexi curled her arm around Calder’s. Hard muscles flexed under her fingers.
Slightly mollified by Calder’s generosity, Madison’s scowl deepened at her gesture. Not wanting his annoyance to turn to suspicion, Lexi grabbed the drink from the bar.
“There are lots of beautiful women here tonight.” She set the glass down in front of the brunette whose hair Lexi had styled less than an hour ago. With a smile she announced, “This gentleman would like to buy you a drink.”
The woman frowned. The man sputtered. And Calder led Lexi away.
“You’re late,” he repeated, his breath whispering over her ear, his deep voice shivering over her senses. A warm hand in the small of her back directed her to the elevator that would take them down one floor to the casino floor. “I’ll let it slide because watching you hand Madison’s ex-wife that drink was the most fun I’ve had all day.”
She eyed his solemn expression. This was him having fun?
“That was his ex-wife?” No wonder she seemed so interested in their interaction.
“Yes. She eats at the restaurant every Friday night after her spa treatment.”
“And he comes in every Friday night to pick up pretty young things in front of her?”
“Every week for the last six months.”
“People are strange.”
“You have no idea how strange until you’ve lived in a casino.”
“Believe me, working in a casino is as close as you need to get to see strange.” She’d learned that as a dancer. But that was in the past. Now she cut and styled hair, a day job so she could be at home with Jazi when she got custody.
His eyes narrowed on her. “You work in a casino?” They were a dark, twilight blue. Her heart pounded. She’d only ever seen one other person with eyes that color. Jazi had his eyes. She swallowed in a suddenly dry throat. She’d found Jazi’s father.
A hundred emotions rushed through her, love for her goddaughter, hope, fear, anticipation, trepidation. But she forced herself to concentrate on the conversation. “Hasn’t everyone who lives in Las Vegas worked at a casino at some point?”
“That doesn’t answer my question,” he stated.
“I work at Pinnacle’s actually. At the Modern Goddess Salon.” She wasn’t surprised he didn’t know her. The spa rented the space. “Is that going to be a problem?”
His brows contracted and she realized he was actually thinking about it. He sighed. “No. It’s not a problem.”
“I was a last-minute replacement.” Lexi advised him, sticking as close to the truth as possible. “I’m afraid I don’t know anything about where we’re going.”
“I never reveal the destination until we’re en route.”
Of course not. Everything she’d read on the man indicated he was a very private man. He walked with purpose and speed. Luckily her dancer’s grace allowed her to keep pace.
“Hmm. Kind of makes it hard to know how to dress.”
The fact he wore a tuxedo meant the occasion was formal. She tugged at the hem of her black minidress, hoping she met his requirements.
“I provided the information that it was a formal event.” His dark gaze ran over her, the intensity in the navy depths sent a shiver down her spine. “You’ll do.”
“Good to know.”
She’d gone with the classic little black dress. Wide band sleeves rested just off her shoulders and flowed to a vee in front showing off a hint of cleavage. The material clung to her curves in a loose fit, allowing her to move. It was more provocative than sexy. And because Lexi liked sparkle and shine, the fabric glimmered with every step she took.
The automatic doors swooshed open to the glittering entrance of the casino. There were lights and movement everywhere. People, cars, taxies and valets flowed in a ballet of arrival and exits backlit by a cascading water feature.
A car waited for them and a valet rushed over to get the door. “Good evening, Mr. Calder, Lexi.”
“Hi, Miguel, how’s the new baby?”
A huge grin lit up his face. “As pretty as her mama.”
“Miguel and his wife just had a baby girl a month ago,” Lexi told Calder. “Her name is Saralynn.”
There was no change to Calder’s expression, but he nodded at Miguel. “Congratulations. Lexi,” he gestured to the open door, “we have to get going.”
“Of course.”
Cold fish—check.
Strangely disappointed, she slid in and across the seat. When she glanced back, she saw Calder tip Miguel with a couple of hundred dollar bills. She perked up. Maybe not so cold after all. He joined her, his large body taking up most of the space. She suddenly felt crowded and overly warm. Definitely not cold now.
She might panic—if she were the type to panic—if he didn’t smell so good. No fancy cologne for him. He smelled of soap and man. And he made her mouth water.
Rein it in, girl, you’re on a mission here.
As a distraction, she focused on his generous gesture. It gave her a sense of hope. He’d stated in more than one article that he didn’t want kids or a family, that he didn’t have the patience or skill set for a long-term relationship so why set himself up for failure. Her plan rested on the fact he meant what he said, but it helped to know he wasn’t totally dispassionate about kids. She needed him to care enough to act.
“How do you know Miguel?”
Jethro ground his teeth, annoyed he let the question slip out.
How she knew the other man didn’t matter as long as she was a pretty armpiece and was able to intercede when required to redirect the conversation.
A task she should have no problem with since she’d been chattering ever since they met.
“Just from working at the Pinnacle. I’ve been at the spa now for a month. I like to talk to people so I’ve met a lot of the Pinnacle employees.”
Yes, he could see her as a people person. Where he was not.
“Miguel treated his wife to a day at the spa after Saralynn was born. I thought it was a wonderful gesture and suggested to the owner that she put together a package just for new mothers and publicize it throughout the casino and hotel. She agreed to give it a try. We’ve had quite a few women come in.”
“So you’re in marketing?”
“Oh, goodness, no. I’m a dan—a hairdresser.”
His head swung around and he rolled his gaze over her, accessing every curve. The escorts at Excursions were a
