Page 55 of High Roller

“Sorry,” I murmur. “I had to stop in the bathroom.”

Victor offers his arm. “No. I’m sorry for snapping. You didn’t deserve that. Shall we go to dinner?”

I slip my hand through his arm, and together we walk into the parking lot towards his car. I can’t shake the sense that something is about to change between us.

Chapter 18

Victor

Ican’tdecidewhatto do about the sudden difference in the way I look at Gracie. Especially not when I also can’t get pictures of Lili out of my head. But what we experienced during our needle scene was real, and sleeping next to her that night left me wanting more. If I’m going to move forward, I have to determine how real the feelings are, and whether or not she is experiencing them too, so I force my way into taking her to dinner.

She’s sitting next to me in the passenger seat of my car smelling fucking delicious. How have I not noticed that before?

“Are you using a new perfume?” I ask as I flip my blinker on and change lanes. People who don’t use their blinkers to change lanes should lose their license if you ask me.

She looks at me with a strange expression and plays with the locket at her throat. “No, Sir.”

I reach over and squeeze her shoulder. “We’re not at the club, Grace. Call me Victor.”

She smiles at me as a hint of pink appears on her cheeks.

“Habit,” she murmurs.

“I like whatever you’re wearing. It smells nice. Fresh.”

Fresh? I want to smack myself silly. This is not how I usually talk to a woman.

Then again, I don’t make a lot of small talk with women. I would rather get straight to the point.

“Grace, are you attracted to me?”

Her frown deepens and so does the color in her cheeks. “I… yes? You know I am. I think you’re handsome. I always have. And I see the goodness in you that most people overlook because of your grumpy exterior. But you scare me too.”

“I should.”

Dammit, I silently curse myself.

“Why do you say that?”

I give her a half smile. “Not like I would hurt you on purpose. But I’ve done things. Extremely illegal and dangerous things. That’s always going to be hanging over my head.”

A little shudder runs through her, and I hate that. I don’t want her to fear me, despite what I said. But she’s always known who and what I am. I’ve never lied to her about that.

“That’s not the part that scares me.” She finally whispers.

I’m not sure how to respond to that, or if I really want to hear what part scares her, so I focus on the road.

After another minute of silence, she clears her throat and looks at me directly. “Victor, is this a date?”

I pull into a restaurant parking lot and shut the engine off. “Would it change things if I said yes?”

She lays her head back against the seat. “I still get the sense you’re having me take care of a woman you have… feelings for. It hardly seems right to go on a date with you.”

“Then we won’t call it a date. We’re two people enjoying a meal together, and that’s all.” I don’t bother denying my feelings for Lili. Mostly because I don’t know what they are. It also doesn’t matter what they are because it can’t go anywhere.

I get out of the car and open her door for her. “I love this place,” she says as we walk into the all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant.

“That’s why I picked it, butterfly. I’ve heard you talk about it before.”

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