Liam stared out his office window, watching Wade try once again to cajole the female picketer. She ignored him and continued to pound the sidewalk, on a mission to drive him nuts. Didn’t she have a job? A life? Maybe someone paid her to harass the tourists as they attempted to have a little fun in his casino?
Maybe that was it. Ever since he broke ground on his first casino, he’d made the old boys of Vegas nervous. He knew for a fact some other casino owners resented him as an upstart, even that Trump asshole.
He’d recognized the art of the deal at a young age, purchasing derelict buildings at a steal and revamping the sites. In attracting a younger, hipper crowd, he’d alienated some of the old guard. Perhaps one of them had decided the best way to force him off the Strip was to hire a ginger hellion with a hefty chip on her shoulder.
Naw, why would they hire just one? Tons of starving actors around to organize something more impressive than that.
“Ignore her,” he almost growled to himself like a tiger prowling its cage. And yet time and again, he was drawn to his window to see if she was still there.
He trudged over to his desk, but didn’t manage to do much more than shuffle the headshots of famous singers he considered booking. He hadn’t yet found the right talent for Vice’s soon-to-be-opened piano bar Decadence. Even major headliners had campaigned for the spot. He didn’t want a superstar, though. He preferred to keep his venues free from the circus-type atmosphere plaguing other Vegas casinos. It was better to remain a little mysterious and sophisticated, and he needed a singer who would add to that ambience.
Having a lunatic on the sidewalk did not lend an air of sophistication. Gritting his teeth, he tossed the photos back onto his desk and stalked back to the window.
Wearing an outfit that would have made Xavier salivate with the need to “reinvent” her, she continued to march and watch. Cropped jeans hugged her ass. A striped blouse made her resemble a candy striper. Completing an ensemble which shouldn’t have looked sexy, but somehow did, was a pair of sneakers. When she turned, he spotted how the top two buttons were undone, and wondered what her cleavage would look like up close and personal.
“Jesus Christ. She’s a damned nut job. Stop fantasizing about the shape of her tits, you moron.”
He went back to the headshots at his desk, flipping through them with disinterest, but his thoughts soon turned to the redhead outside. He tossed the entire group of photos into a drawer with disgust.
She’d messed with his day. Now she was messing with his brain. Time to act.
He removed his tie, suit vest and cufflinks. He then rolled up his shirt sleeves and unfastened the top two buttons on his shirt. Content that he resembled most men at the end of a hard day’s work, he marched to the elevator, summoned it and got inside.
As it dropped, he grew aware of how his heart thumped in his chest, but attributed it to heading into battle. He smiled, more than ready to spar with her.
Once outside, he put a finger to his lips when Wade spotted him. His security specialist nodded, and hustled back inside, more than ready for a break. Shoving his hands in his pockets, Liam approached her.
The first thing he noticed was how the late-day sun shone on her golden-red highlights. He’d only ever seen that color in one other place, in the sky, just as the sun dipped below the horizon. How was he supposed to maintain control when she looked like a fucking sunset?
He meandered toward her and forced a smile. “You seem to have had a busy day.”
She whipped around and her eyes widened. He saw her give him a quick once-over. Did she like what she saw? Interesting. There was some perverse satisfaction in that.
“It has been busy.” She narrowed her hazel eyes at him. “Do you work here?”
So, she didn’t recognize him. Good. “Yes, ma’am, I do.” He crossed his arms over his chest and nodded, noting how her gaze dropped to his exposed forearms. Her lips parted. Clearly, working out had its merits. “And word inside is you’ve upset the big boss.”
Her nostrils flared as she dragged her gaze away from his arms. “About time.” She put her sign down and picked up her purse. “Do you know Liam Doyle?”
“I’ve heard one or two things about him.”
She stepped closer and her lips did the most amazing thing, curling into a flirtatious semi-smile. “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to share them with me? The other guy kept on sucking up about him as if he was wearing a wire.” She paused. “You’re not wearing a wire, are you?”
He laughed out loud. He couldn’t help it. This was way too much fun. He sidled close to her, leaned in conspiratorially, and put a hand on her elbow. Her very soft elbow. “I’m not wearing a wire. But are you sure you want to know the truth about Doyle? I don’t know if you can handle it.”
She gawked at him and then at his lips. Her voice came out in a whisper. “Try me.”
He murmured in her ear, taking note of her lilac scent. “Well, I hear at midnight he sprouts black wings and horns. And he’s always searching for innocent maidens to add to his coven.” He bit on his bottom lip, suddenly wishing he was gnawing on hers.
At first, her eyelids did this fluttery thing that made his imported pants spring to life. But then she blinked and began to laugh. “And here I thought I was dealing with a mere businessman. I didn’t realize Doyle was cousins with Lucifer.”
“What’s your name?”
She regarded him from out of the side of her eye, her mouth still bearing the same flirty grin. “What’s yours?”
“Consider me a friend who wants to give you some advice.”
The smile disappeared from her face. “And what would that be?”
“Don’t mess with Liam Doyle. He doesn’t take to it kindly.”
The coquettish shine in her eyes hardened. “Is that a threat?”
“No, sugar. That’s not my style.”
“What exactly do you do here? Are you in security?”
“Never mind that.” He waved his hand. “Look, you’ve had your fun. Why don’t you run along home now?”
She reached for her sign and tucked it under her arm. “I will go where I damn well please. And you can tell your friend Mr. Doyle to expect me tomorrow. Maybe next time he’ll be brave enough to confront me himself.” She turned on her heel and walked down the manicured pathway leading to the taxi bay.
Liam stared at her ass as she walked away. Brave?
Game on, sugar. He’d show her brave.
As promised, she returned the next day, bright and early. At first Liam ignored her, but by mid-day, he finally leaned on his windowsill and allowed himself to take her in. Trying to dispel the annoying case of lust that had plagued him ever since talking to her, he pried his gaze away and looked at the people around her.
She had attracted a little crowd of gawkers today. Word must have spread about the asylum escapee holding vigil outside Vice. Some of the bystanders had their camera phones out. Wonderful. She could end up going viral. A few patrons had already begun to complain. It wouldn’t be long before she started driving them away.
Reporters from the local news stations had begun asking questions, too. That was perhaps the worst thing possible. He’d done his best to deflect attention away from the red-haired elf and toward the delights of Vice, but he hated that she’d hijacked some of his press. He watched as yet another press vehicle pulled into his lot. Shit. Was that one of the hounds from that crap Vegas morning radio show? He did not subscribe to the “any publicity is good publicity” school of thought. Before long, he’d have Kardashians begging invites from him.
All this because of one woman. One.
He needed to get rid of her, but Wade had proven unwilling to do the job. Dammit. Wade might patrol the casino like a bloodthirsty gladiator, putting the fear of God into all would-be cheats and hustlers, but it seemed he had a soft spot for the ladies. Or this lady at any rate. After spending the better part of his day talking to her yesterday, and dealing with her again today, Wade was practically friends with her.