No, she needed to keep up the pleasant façade, needed to keep her emotional distance. It was the only way she’d survive this. Survive him.

Simmons dropped them off at one of the largest casinos on the Strip. Trevor didn’t speak at all but placed a hand on her lower back and guided her through the door and into the elevator. As they slowly climbed to the twenty-first floor, he stood with his back against one wall, his hands thrust in his pockets, and stared at her. She looked straight ahead and did her best to ignore him but could see his reflection in the brass doors. It was going to be a long night without Brynn, Mags, and Nigel as a buffer.

The doors slid open, and still not speaking, Trevor escorted her to a restaurant she’d only heard about. It was even more beautiful than she’d imagined. The white and ivory décor should have felt impersonal but, instead, was inviting. As they were shown to their table, Allie’s eyes traveled upward to the enormous glass bubble chandelier that encompassed the middle of the restaurant. The maître d’ took them to a corner table by the window, which allowed them a view over the lighted city, making the Strip’s neon signs look exotic in the night sky.

Trevor held Allie’s chair before taking the seat across from her. “What do you think, Allison?” he asked, nodding toward the view.

“It’s very nice.” She watched his jaw tighten. She was getting under his skin and she was glad. He deserved it.

She picked up a menu. She’d never heard of most of the dishes listed, but when the waiter appeared, Trevor ordered for the both of them. She hated when he did that.

“I think we’ll start with the caviar and a bottle of ’96 Cristal. Then we’d each like a tasting menu with the wine pairings. Thank you.” He handed the waiter his menu.

She didn’t like caviar. He probably remembered that and ordered it on purpose. Allie thought back to some of her worst customers. The ones who were angry about having a room too close to the ice machine. The drunk ones she’d caught peeing in the hallway. The ones who called her a fucking bitch for not having two queen-sized beds in one room. She smiled as she handed the waiter her own menu.

Trevor leaned back in his chair. “You look lovely tonight.” He didn’t sound happy about it.

“Thank you.” Her eyes skidded over him and got caught in his gaze. Those gray eyes were so penetrating, so intense… She blinked and looked away, directed her attention to the street below. She ignored him, refusing to look his way again until the waiter brought their champagne and caviar.

Trevor fixed her a plate of blinis and topped the thin pancakes with a scoop of caviar and a dollop of crème fraîche. “Here you are, darling. Eat up.”

Allie took the plate and nibbled the blini. This stuff was disgusting. She swallowed it with a gulp of champagne.

Wearing a concerned frown, Trevor reached out and patted her hand. “I forgot, you don’t like caviar, do you, darling?”

“It’s fine.”

“It’s an acquired taste. You’ll get used to it. I’m sure that if I ate…” He waved a hand at her. “What did you eat? Something made of hamburger no doubt.” He gave an affected shudder. “I’m sure it would take me a while to get used to that.” He gave her his most charming, sexy smile.

“I’m sure it would.”

She poked at her food and even managed to choke down a couple bites by the time their dinner arrived. The waiter poured a red wine, and when she glanced down, she wasn’t sure what was on her plate. A small steak with something on top.

“Filet Mignon Rossini,” the waiter said. He turned and left.

“Steak with foie gras, black truffle, and cabernet sauce.” Trevor cut into this steak.

Allie did the same. After taking a bite, she decided it was the best thing she’d ever tasted in her life. She glanced up to find Trevor staring, a strange look on his face. When he saw her notice, his blank mask slid in place. She shifted her gaze and stared at his nose.

“How is it, darling?”

“Very nice, thank you.” Her cheeks were becoming sore from smiling so much. But she wasn’t backing down. Not when it bugged the hell out of him.

“By the way, since we’re here, I got a room. We haven’t fucked in a few days, what with the relatives in the house. Try your wine, love. It’s absolutely delicious.”

Allie continued to smile, but it was an effort. He was pushing her as far as he could. He wanted her to break. And a part of her wanted it too. She wanted to tear into him, tell him what an ass he was, how much she hated the sight of him. Still, she refused to give him the satisfaction. And she knew that her pleasant persona was driving him apeshit and this was his retaliation. Well, she wasn’t backing down. He wanted a fuck-toy mistress, he was going to get it. With both barrels.

She tilted her head, her heart pounding in her chest. No fear of tears now. She was pissed. “Whatever you want, Trevor.” She took another bite of steak, but it had lost its flavor.

“Excellent,” he said in an equally pleasant tone.

Allie cut her food but ate little of it. Eventually, the waiter took away her almost-full plate. She wanted to eat, just to show him she wasn’t bothered, but her stomach wasn’t that strong. She felt unsettled and suddenly nervous. Could she go through with it? Or would she back down and let him win?

The waiter was back immediately with a green sorbet. Her stomach twisted into knots.

Laying down his spoon, Trevor regarded at her coolly. “Not hungry? Anxious for the rest of the evening?” He didn’t seem to expect an answer. “I know how you feel. Let’s get out of here, yes?”

He pulled out his wallet and left a few folded bills on the table, then walked around and pulled back Allie’s chair. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “So nice to have an eager partner.”

When she stood, he placed a hand on her elbow, guiding her out of the restaurant and back into the elevator.

***

What was it going to take to wipe that insipid expression off her face? He couldn’t take it anymore. This wasn’t Allison. The Allison he knew was loving and gave him hell and pulled him out of his cross moods. This woman was a bloody automaton, and it was pissing him off.

They got off on the seventeenth floor. He pulled the key card out, and with an electronic whoosh, the door opened. “I knew we wouldn’t be here that long—unless you’re up for multiple rounds, darling—so I didn’t book a suite. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.” A king-sized taupe-covered bed dominated the space.

He spun her around and, with his hands on her shoulders, pulled her to him, her chest pressed against his. “Have you missed fucking me, Allison?” If he’d been hoping for a blush, a gasp, or any reaction at all, he was sorely disappointed.

“Yes, of course,” she said. “Would you like my hair up or down?” She stared past him with wide blue eyes and waited, that stupid smile etched permanently on her lips.

Trevor was in a vicious mood. He knew exactly what she was doing. At first, she’d been acting aloof and pleasant because he’d hurt her, but now she was doing it just to get his wick. Well, if she thought she could push him over the edge, she didn’t know who the hell she was dealing with.

He released her and took a step back to slide out of his jacket. Tugging at his tie, his gaze never left her face. “Hair down.”

He watched as she once again removed the pins, placing them on top of the dresser to her right, her hands shaking slightly.

Good. She wasn’t as indifferent as she pretended.

She ran her fingers through the long tresses and rubbed her scalp a few times before letting her hands fall to her sides. Her hair was in disarray now.

He unbuttoned his shirt but left it on and unfastened the cuffs. With detachment, Trevor looked her up and down. “Take off the dress.”

He watched her throat move as she swallowed. She hesitated briefly, then reached behind her and began to unzip the back.