Page 28 of Sins

“Is it really that, or because you don’t want me working with male clients and fulfilling their requests?” I smiled playfully, while I secretly felt a sense of pride that he liked what he’d seen.

“I would be lying if I said it wasn’t partially that.” He leaned back as the waiter placed our meal in front of us. Everything smelled amazing.

I set my phone down and decided to speak candidly. “Grim, I haven’t accepted the offer from Yen Hong, and to be truthful, I don’t see myself there. However, if this is your way of trying to keep me here?—"

“Don’t insult me, Kenna,” he interrupted. “You’ve got talent, and I want you to design those rooms for me. I want to see what you can do because, as you know, we have another hotel going up soon, and I could use your ideas.” He took a bite of his roasted potato and chewed slowly.

“Wow.” I pushed at a piece of asparagus and thought how exciting that would be. “All right, yes, I’ll do it. Thank you.”

He smiled with pleasure. “You’re talented.” He gave me a quick glance. “Don’t hide it.”

I sighed and looked out at the view of the twinkling lights that could be seen far out in the distance. The summer was coming to an end, and there was a tiny bit of a nip in the air. I loved the relief our clients felt when the temperature dropped,but winter was just around the corner, and Vegas just wasn’t the same without the heat.

Grim stood and draped his jacket over my shoulders. He really could be a gentleman.

“Thank you.” The material was like butter on my skin, and I found myself breathing in his fresh, clean smell. I licked my lips and tamped down the sudden urge to rub myself.

He sliced into his perfectly done rare tri-tip and savored the taste for a moment. I tried to hide my amusement. “What?” He tilted his head.

“You’ve eaten the finest of meals all over the world, yet you still get so much enjoyment from every meal you eat.”

He thought for a moment and took another taste. “I want to make sure it’s up to par.”

“See, I don’t think it’s that.” I wasn’t going to let him get away with that. I loved that he had shown me a moment. I liked this side of him. “I think this might be one of the times in your day that you stop and actually enjoy something.”

“Perhaps.” He shrugged. “I never really thought about it. I guess I’ve tried to focus on things that bring me enjoyment lately.” He made a point of side-eyeing me.

I focused back on my plate, and we both enjoyed the small talk that came with it.

A while later, I slid out of the booth, and he wrapped an arm around my waist as we headed toward his private elevator. I swore everyone watched us, and I suddenly felt unsure if I wanted that kind of attention. There was nothing between us at this point, and I wasn’t totally sure what I even wanted from him.

“Join me for a nightcap at my place.” He pulled out a keycard and tapped his button.

“Well.” I took a moment to think about it. I didn’t want to sound too eager. “I guess I really should check on Leal. But,” Iraised my chin, and he gave me a serious look, “tomorrow is a new day, I’m not asking for dinners or for you to spend money on me. I’m just asking for a little effort. I deserve it.”

He smiled. “Understood.”

Simon

“You got anything to drink?” Kurt slammed into the living room table with a curse. He reached for my best bottle of merlot, but I plucked it from his hand and replaced it with a bottle of J&B scotch. I kept one on hand for the times he made his late-night calls such as this one. I turned on the lights and used my foot to gently push back the vase that was in danger of being knocked over. Kurt was a damn fine investigator, but he turned to the bottle too often for my liking.

“Why don’t you take a seat?” I practically shoved him into a chair so he wouldn’t send my Death Star model crashing to the floor, “and tell me why am I so lucky to have you visit,” I checked my watch, “just after midnight?” I tucked the bottle of wine into a cabinet, to keep it out of sight.

He spun the top off the bottle and chugged the scotch. I touched my nose to hold back my rection. “I’m worried about Cameron.”

“I’m worried about you,” I countered, but when he took another sip, I sighed and eased into the chair across from him. “When have you ever worried about Cameron?”

“Since he fucked up the Gates hit.”

“How can you be so sure it was him?” I felt a jolt to the chest. That had been one of the biggest blindsides I’d experienced yet with Cameron, and I’d had a few. I had no idea he’d been responsible for the hit, but I knew now by the way he’d been acting; he’d done it.

He’s acting guilty as fuck. I’ve known him longer than you have.”

“I knew he was growing more and more frustrated with Grim, but I never dreamed he’d go to such extremes.” I looked away and rubbed my hands on my thighs. “And then to find out it was Leo.” I shook my head. “Fuck.”

He hiccupped. “Even I could see Grim was moving in on Kenna, but it was stupid reckless of him to do something like that.”

“Yeah, it was.” I saw him scowl as I inched my glasses up my face but didn’t say anything. He always let me know he hated my glasses.

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