Taming the Carefree Billionaire - Marie Higgins Page 0,11
tie a bit. He wasn’t sure if that was the choking feeling he’d been experiencing for the past hour, or if it was because of the woman he was with.
He gazed around the room, checking out who else was dining there. His focus stopped on a table with two beautiful ladies. He’d caught the blonde gawking at him earlier. The brunette seemed more interested in her meal. Thomas noticed that sitting on the floor by her feet was a black helmet. It was hard to imagine the slender woman as someone who would ride a motorcycle. As he pictured her on one of his black and red BMW S1000RR, he couldn’t stop the grin stretching across his face. He liked women who enjoyed a good adventure, and since he was a gambling man, he’d bet good money that she was one of them.
Thomas finished his wine and dropped a large tip on the table. His phone beeped with a notification as he stood up. He opened the text message from his father.
Did you contact the tabloid paper? His father texted.
No. Thomas typed back. I’ve been busy today.
Call the paper!
I’ll put it on my ‘to do’ list tomorrow. Thomas texted back.
He pocketed his phone and casually walked toward the front, passing the table with the two beautiful ladies. He flashed his charming smile at them. The blonde’s cheeks grew pink and her eyes widened. He loved making the girls blush. But the other woman just glared.
Immediately, his mind skidded to a halt, even though he continued to walk. Where had he seen her before? That scowl looked so familiar.
Suddenly, he remembered her from across the gaming table as he was rolling the dice. She was the lady taking pictures! He should turn back to her table and give her a piece of his mind. But then, what he didn’t need was to cause another scene where people with cell phones would make him look like the jerk in this situation. How could he make them believe he was the victim?
Perhaps he should just wait in his car until she left, and he’d follow her home. Then he’d be able to corner her and tell her what was on his mind. Of course, he’d also give her a couple hundred dollars to pay for her camera since it was his fault it had been broken. But that’s where his niceness would end.
Just as he reached the front lobby, his date left the bathroom and met him. “Thank you, Dusti. It has been a pleasure to have drinks with you.” He took her hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles like a gentleman.
“Are you ending the evening so soon?” She pouted and batted her eyes.
“I do have some business with my father this evening,” he lied. “Let me walk you to the door.” He moved with her as they left the building, stopping under the covered patio canvas. The street was busy, and the parking lot was filling up quickly.
“Thanks for the drinks, Thomas. I hope we can meet up again sometime.”
Dusti’s voice had turned sultry. He knew what that meant... he also knew she was going to be very disappointed when he didn’t invite her back to his place.
“I’ll be sure to thank Cole.” He winked. “Have a good evening.”
Dusti turned in the opposite direction from where he was parked, heading toward the south parking lot. Thomas needed to remember not to let Cole fix him up on dates. Thomas could get women himself, so why did his friend think he needed help? However... perhaps he did need help because he couldn’t remember where he’d parked his car. If only this place had a valet service.
“Excuse me, Mr. Powers.” A mousy voice interrupted his searching.
Thomas turned to see the little round man who he’d thought had only appeared in his dreams, but this time, the man wore a pair of brown tweed trousers and a plaid brown and yellow shirt with a bright orange tie.
“You again?” Thomas said. “Why are you following me around? I told you I don’t need a pilot.”
“I’m not in need of a job, sir.” The man twisted his pudgy hands against his pudgier belly. “I’m here to help you.”
Thomas rolled his eyes. “I don’t need any help, unless of course, you can help me find my car.”
A few people walked past him and looked at him as if he had two heads. The middle-aged man in the group slowed, narrowing his gaze on Thomas.