“I’m in room 1801,” I replied, a little too breathlessly.
When the car came to a stop in front of the casino, Gannon didn’t get out, but the driver did. Once we were alone, Gannon reached over and cupped my face, then leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips. I hadn’t been ready for that, but it was a wow kind of kiss.
“I’ll see you at seven,” he said, dropping his hand and leaning back just as my door was opened.
I managed a nod and climbed out of the car on surprisingly wobbly legs. Damn, what was it about that man?
Four hours later, and my heart was beating harder than it ever had in my life. I didn’t know this man, and he could potentially be a serial killer or just out of prison. Yet here I was inviting him to my room like it was no big deal. And I was sober. I was doing this without the aid of vodka to make me stupid.
Maybe I should have had a drink or five.
I stood looking at myself in the mirror and decided I looked like I wanted to be fucked. There was no way he’d miss the obvious invitation. I had spent the entire four hours preparing myself for tonight, which might have verged on pathetic.
The knock on the door startled me even though I had been expecting him. My nerves were working overtime. I had to decide what I was going to do. It wasn’t like I’d never had a one-night stand, but this guy was . . . different. He was as terrifying as he was attractive. The fact that I knew so little about him and that he knew a good deal about me—I’d had to talk a lot to fill the silence—put us on an uneven playing field. I wasn’t sure I liked that.
Taking a deep, calming breath, I opened the door and stared up at Gannon. All common sense started to slip at the sight of him, but I grabbed hold of my senses and held on tight. Even though the man could fill out a pair of jeans like nobody’s business.
Jesus, I needed a drink of water. No, I needed vodka. Lots of vodka.
He didn’t move toward me, which helped some. It gave me a moment to figure things out. His spicy smell was messing with my head and making it hard to recall common sense.
“You look beautiful,” he said, and my heart did a little flutter thing. Suddenly, those four hours of preparation were completely justified.
“Thank you,” I replied, stepping back so he could come into the suite.
His gaze swept the room as if he was quickly scoping for danger. Then he studied me for a moment. “You look nervous. We can just have a couple of drinks. Nothing more.” He was reassuring me. That helped. “I’m just not big on the club scene.”
I frowned. He had been in a club last night. Why was he there if he wasn’t into clubs? “Why did you go last night?”
He smirked at me while crossing his arms over his chest. “I was in a mood.”
A mood. I guessed I was in a mood, too.
“If this frightens you, then let’s forget it.”
Gannon Roth must not know the effect he had on women. How was I supposed to forget this? I shook my head. “I’m good.”
“Just drinks, Nan,” he said, as I turned to walk over to the bar.
I needed some courage. No man had ever made me feel this edgy. I was afraid that if he tried to leave, I would run and tackle him. Which would be a little scary for him.
“What would you like?” I asked, reaching for two glasses.
“You got whiskey?”
“Jack or Woodford?”
“Jack is good.”
I grabbed the bottle of Jack Daniel’s and poured him a glass, then poured myself some Grey Goose and cranberry juice.
Gannon made himself comfortable on the white leather sectional at the window that overlooked a view of the Bellagio fountains. I held out his drink. “Here you go.”
“Thanks,” he replied, taking the glass from me. “Nice place.”
It was one of my favorite hotels in Vegas. If it wasn’t available, I stayed at Caesars Palace. “You staying here, too?” I asked, sitting down beside him with enough room between us that it wasn’t awkward.
“Yeah, just not quite as high up or with as much square footage,” he said with a smirk.