Page 66 of Diamonds & Deception

“I need to stick around here. There’s a car waiting for you out front.” He gives her the make, model, and driver’s name.

Daisy is tap dancing by the door, indicating she needs to be let out. I take her leash down from the hook and attach it to her collar.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Avery is already gone, leaving me alone with Trey. I’m not exactly feeling threatened by him, but the warm fuzzies aren’t emanating from his body either.

“I need to let Daisy out.”

“Drake said you’re not to leave.”

“Well, that’s too bad. My dog needs to go out.”

Trey snatches the leash from my hand. “I’ll do it. Stay.”

“It’s one thing to talk to my dog that way. I won’t be given commands like I’m an animal or an object.”

Trey runs his tongue across his teeth and gives me an unimpressed stare. “Drake would like you to stay in the confines of his luxurious penthouse while I take care of Miss Daisy’s needs.”

I hadn’t taken Avery’s brother for a sarcastic one. I lift a brow and nod. “You can’t rush her or she’ll be whining to go out in a few hours. Unless you feel like doing a middle-of-the-night potty call, let her sniff around until she... gets it all out.”

He mumbles something incoherent, and most likely unflattering, as he walks to the elevator. As soon as the doors close behind him and Daisy, I go back into the kitchen for the spare key.

My curious nature has me wondering what Drake is doing and who he’s with. I vaguely remember him mentioning something about a charity gala when he was on the phone last week and I pretended not to eavesdrop.

By the drop in his tone, I could tell there was someone he wasn’t interested in seeing. He’d muttered something aboutherandsheand I had figured it was an ex-girlfriend. I rush to the elevator and, unsure which ballroom Drake would be in, hit the button for the bottom floor.

While I wait for the elevator, I take out my phone and log in to the casino website to see if it mentions anything about a charity event.

“Bingo.” I push the button for the eighth floor. My time is limited before Trey gets back with Daisy. Really though, what am I afraid of? What will Drake do to me for slipping out against his wishes? Maybe if he told me why he didn’t want me to leave I wouldn’t be so eager.

Music from the ballroom flows into the foyer. It’s a ticketed event so I can’t get inside, but the key I hold in my hand will get me into all the employee access doors. I avoid the attendants at the front and go in search of a side entrance.

I use the keycard and push through the door. It’s a storage room of sorts. I walk through it and it opens to another hallway. The music grows louder as I make my way through a maze of hallways and doors. Finally, I come across the back entrance to the private restrooms.

I’m way underdressed and not wearing the all-black ensemble of the employees makes me stick out like a sore thumb. All I want is a peek. No one pays me any attention as I inch closer. All the men look the same from afar in their tuxedos.

The dance floor is only half-full and a beautiful woman wearing a stunning red evening gown dances intimately with—Drake.

I swallow the lump in my throat. Wow. It didn’t take him long to move on. The gorgeous blonde is nearly eye-level with him in her towering stilettos. She laughs at something he says and her fingers toy with the ends of his hair.

I’ve seen enough. I backpedal my way through the maze of hallways and doors holding my tears at bay. I make it to the elevator and swipe the keycard to get me to the penthouse.

I’m such a fool. Avery put those hopeful thoughts in my head that maybe Drake does still care for me. The way the woman was latched on to him is enough to douse the fire that I had burning for him.

I refuse to look deeper into his actions. He’s a nice guy who came to my rescue not because he cares, but because he pitied me. When the elevator opens, I run to his penthouse door, praying Trey isn’t back yet.

I don’t see Daisy’s leash and let out a sigh of relief. No sooner have I put the keycard back when Trey and Daisy come in.

“Thank you. Good night.” I hurry to my room with Daisy at my heels.

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