He nodded. She saw understanding in his eyes and she realized that if she was going to find any kind of peace with him, it was going to be through bonds of friendship. She wasn’t sure she could risk her emotions with him. He’d made her feel so vulnerable. And she didn’t want to be that woman again.
“Have dinner with me, Shel. Let’s figure this thing out.”
“I…”
“It’s just a meal.”
“I have a lot of work to do here and a short time to do it. I need to hire staff, finish unpacking.” The words sounded like an excuse to her and she knew they were. It was just that even though she’d planned to come back to resolve the past, now that the moment was at hand, she was afraid.
But her running days were over. And at the end of the day, Hayden MacKenzie was still just a man.
Yeah, right.
Hayden entered his office in the casino nearly an hour later. Kathy, his assistant, was gone for the day. The small desk lamp glowed at her workstation. She always left it on for him because she knew he kept late hours. There were two messages from his dad, and one from the star of his European-style revue, Roxy O’Malley.
He dialed the backstage number for the revue venue and got the director. “Roxy called me.”
“She’s onstage right now. Want me to have her call you back?”
“I’ll stop by after the show. Let her know.”
“I will.”
“Any problems?”
“A few guys were hanging around after the first show but security took care of them.”
“Keep me posted.”
He hung up the phone, leaning back in his chair. His office had windows on two sides that showed the Strip out of one, and the Chimera’s hotel building out of the other. One wall held a bank of security monitors and Hayden crossed to them.
He took the access remote and keyed in Shelby’s store. The lights were on but the place was empty. Had she run? But then he saw her. Standing in the shadows staring at something in her hands that he couldn’t make out.
He reached for his phone and dialed her shop. He saw her move from the shadows to the counter near the register and pick up the phone.
“Bêcheur d’Or.”
“It’s me.”
“Hayden.”
Just his name softly whispered. He saw her hand go to her throat and her eyes close. What was he doing?
“Are you okay?” he asked at long last. No matter what he wanted from her, no matter that he intended to find some closure from their relationship whatever the price to her, he really didn’t want to hurt Shelby.
She put her hand on the counter and straightened up. “Yes, why do you ask?”
“I’m watching you.”
“How?” she asked, pivoting to see if he was standing nearby.
“On video surveillance.”
“I’d forgotten that part of Vegas. So, am I on closed circuit?”
“Why?”
“No reason. I just want to know who’s watching.”
He hit a switch and turned off access to her shop at every other monitor except his. “Just me.”
“Why are you watching me?” she asked. Wrapping one arm around herself, she looked small, vulnerable. Not a bit like the schemer his dad had called her.
“I was debating something.”
“What?”
“What would happen if I took what I want from you,” he said.
“What is it you want, Hayden?”
“I thought I told you. Revenge.”
He saw her bow her head. Even though he was several floors above her and in a different wing of the hotel, he felt the sadness that swamped her at his words. “I want to give you that.”
He was surprised. “Masochism your new thing?”
“No, but reparation is.”
“Shelby—”
“Don’t say anything else, Hayden. Let’s have dinner and talk terms.”
Two
Shelby wasn’t sure she could do it. She stood in the suite of rooms she’d been given in the Chimera to use until the shop was open. She was only here temporarily until the boutique opened in three weeks, and then she’d be returning to headquarters in Atlanta, where Paige was holding down the fort, until their next shop opened in the fall. Right now she wished she was back in her safe little condo in Buckhead, watching television and eating fat-free microwave popcorn. Safe but boring. Those words described her life and she had to admit she was ready for a change.
So, here she was in Sin City with the one man who’d never been safe or boring. And she was hesitating in front of her closet as if it was her first date. The last time her choices had been simpler. She’d set out to catch herself a wealthy husband. But this time she had no idea what role she was in.
She closed her eyes and tried to find the confident woman she’d been until she’d glanced up and seen Hayden MacKenzie staring straight back at her with anger, lust and pain in his eyes. She’d known then that the dreams that had been haunting her had led her back to this place to do one thing. To find a way to give this man peace in exchange for what he’d unwittingly given her.
She had a successful career and the life she’d always dreamed of. But did Hayden? Seeing how deeply her choice still affected him made her want—no, need—to make up for it in some way. If parts of her dream life weren’t exactly perfect, well, that was a price she’d happily pay.
She pulled a brightly colored wraparound silk skirt from the hanger and shed her business skirt and thigh-high hose. The fabric was cool against her legs as she fastened it just below her waist. She shrugged out of her suit jacket and tossed it on the chair in the corner.
She had firm breasts so she scarcely ever bothered with a bra. Tonight was no exception. She paired the skirt with a soft white camisole. She took a quick glimpse of herself in the mirror. She looked the way she always did, cool and polished. She tried to fluff her hair up and then realized what she was doing.
Hayden wasn’t really dating her. She closed her eyes, leaning her forehead against the mirror. Then she took a shuddering breath. She was strong, capable, and this was the only penance available to her.
Over the years she’d tried to pay Alan MacKenzie back the money she’d taken. Not in one lump sum, as she’d never had that much disposable cash on hand.
