catch up with her. “And I thought you were hungry.”
“We’ll find food on the way.”
At my scowl, she laughs, even as she threads her fingers through mine. I can’t remember the last time I held hands with a girl. It always seemed like a juvenile gesture. But right now, holding Trix like this, it makes me feel buoyant.
“Don’t be such a grouchy pants. It’s gonna be fun,” she says, tossing me a wink.
“I don’t do fun either.”
“You do now,” she says, tugging me down the sidewalk.
I look back at my driver and signal him that we won’t be needing the car after all.
“We’re going to make the most of our time together, Warren,” she tells me with joyful confidence.
And you know what? I believe her.
That’s what scares me most of all.
Chapter 23
Trix
“I’m probably about to win a million dollars.”
I look over at Warren from my spot on the stool, and he’s surrounded by a smoky haze that seems to be everywhere in this casino. After dragging him all over, I saw a billboard earlier about striking it rich, and since I need money, it seemed like a sign from Destiny.
“You’re actually down five hundred, and it’s only been five minutes,” Warren points out.
I sigh at his negativity. “You have to spend money to make money, War and Peace,” I tell him pointedly. “And anyway, I’m also winning at life, because I just got to cross off play a video game from my list.”
Warren looks at me from where he’s leaning against the slot machine. He’s a real good leaner. All strong biceps and pecs pulling against his shirt, and he’s even doing the ol’ one ankle crossed over the other move. He looks hot.
But what’s really hot? The way he looks at me.
I can’t believe that after all this time of watching him, I’m on the receiving end of that delicious intensity I knew he’d be good at. Warren Knight wants me. And that fact is heady, and flattering, and so damn intoxicating.
“I’m not sure that playing the slots counts as a video game,” he says dryly.
I point at a digital screen that has a scantily dressed woman walking back and forth and holding a 777 sign. “What do you call that, mister hotshot CEO?” I ask him. “That’s a video. And this is totally a game.” I punctuate my fact by yanking down the lever once again and watching the numbers spin.
I’m so excited that I’m practically bouncing in my seat. Warren seems to appreciate the movement that it creates with my boobs, because his eyes are locked on them. Then the slot machine stops spinning and…
“You lost again.”
I scowl at the screen. “Motherfucker.”
I hop off the stool and turn to face him. “That was fun. Thanks for letting me lose your money.”
He reaches out for my hand and threads his fingers through mine. I wasn’t sure how he was going to react to the gesture when we left his building earlier, but ever since, he’s been taking my hand all day. Even after I made him eat a hotdog from a food cart.
“Anytime.”
I glance over at one of the bars beside us, where a woman is currently crooning old eighties love ballads to patrons. There are several couples in the space, and I bite my lip, glancing down at my cupid mark.
“I’m going to grab a drink,” I tell Warren as I start making my way towards the bar.
“I can get it for you,” he says, but I shake my head.
“I’ll be quick. You stay here and watch my ass sway as I walk. I want to know if it’s an A plus or if my form needs improvement.”
He seems appeased with his new duty, so he settles against another machine, hands in pockets as he watches me go.
Turning back to the bar, I make my way over to the tables. I have to be quick and stealthy about this. I’ve never attempted to Lust this many people before, but I’m here, there’s a love song being sung over a microphone, the lighting is low and smoky, people are tipsy and high on the chance at striking it rich, so it seems like a perfect opportunity to try.
I take a deep breath, and I blow. And blow. And blow some more.
Beautiful pink tendrils escape my pursed lips like ribbons, mixing with the cigarette smoke and magenta mood lighting.
My cupid mark tingles as the vapor settles around people left and right. I keep blowing, one breath after another, until