Dates were starting to book through my website and tonight was my first date since the one I had when I first arrived. It happened to be with Derrick from the strip club. He was back in town and wanted to try his luck at the craps table. I had no idea how to play craps, but like everything else, I was going to fake it.

After checking my back office and the details for my date with Derrick, I walked into the kitchen and stopped and eyed what Paul was doing then asked. “Whatcha doin’?” He placed a few more items into a backpack. “Packing for our date.”

“Our date?” I asked, confused.

“Yep.”

“When are we going on a date?”

“Now.”

“Seriously?”

“I don’t joke about dates.”

I looked at what he was wearing. “Do I need to change?” I was wearing jean shorts and a tank top and he was in basketball shorts and nothing else.

He stopped stuffing the bag and turned to me. “Just your shoes actually. Or maybe something you’d wear to the gym.”

I raised an eyebrow. “We’re going to the gym?”

“Nope.”

“Are you going to tell me what we’re doing?”

He turned and caged me against the countertop. “Well, I’m going to get you all sweaty and then feed you.”

I laughed. “Why are you being so vague?”

“You know I like to fuck around.” He took my lips, silencing me for a few seconds.

“Fine, don’t tell me. Will we be back in time for my date tonight?” The sentence sounded weird as it rolled off my tongue.

“Of course, gorgeous.”

I changed and so did Paul and then we jumped in his Jeep. I hated not knowing the plan when it came to things—anything. I was a planner.

“Where are we going?” I asked again as we drove farther out of town.

He looked over at me and smirked. “Oh right, I forgot. You can’t go with the flow.”

I stuck my tongue out at him.

“Lean that closer over to me.”

I did as he asked and we kissed briefly and then he returned his attention back to the road. We drove some more and then finally turned down another road.

“We’re going to Mount Charleston?” I asked as I read the sign.

“Yep.”

“To …?”

He chuckled. “Hike.”

“Oh.” I smiled. I could do that. It beat going to the smoky casinos and since we were driving for a while, I knew we weren’t going to a gym.

“That’s the sweaty part and then we’ll have a picnic.”

“I can handle that.”

He squeezed my hand that he was already holding and he smiled.

Drip

Drip

Drip

I clenched my thighs trying to relieve the ache building between them. No matter how much I wanted to deny it, I wanted this sinful man beside me.

We hiked a five and a half mile trail that looped around. I followed Paul because I had no idea where I was going even though it was pretty much one way and was clearly marked. I was enjoying being outdoors, taking in the scenery; the vast mountains, lush trees and when we started hiking, the sky was blue with only a few white clouds. By the time we were heading back, a few darker clouds had started to roll in.

“I think it’s going to rain.” I looked up at the sky.

“We’ll be fine.” I gave him a questioning look. “It’s only a few clouds.”

We found an empty patch of grass and Paul opened his backpack. He pulled out a thin, plush blanket just big enough for the both of us. I expected him to pull champagne from his backpack, but instead he had sandwiches, fruit, chips, and water packed. He even had a cookie for each of us.

“Thanks for lunch,” I said, breaking off a piece of the cookie.

He was laying on his side with his elbow under him for support when he leaned in and took my lips. It tasted of the chocolate from the chocolate chip cookie. “I really like spending time with you, Andi.”

My face heated despite the chill that was starting to move in with the clouds. “I like spending time with you too.”

“Tell me about your life before moving to Sin City.”

I tensed briefly, trying to stare him in the eyes so he didn’t know I was about to lie to him. “You know, dates and stuff.” I shrugged as if it was no big deal since it was what we did here.

He chuckled. “No, gorgeous, besides working.”

Well, shit. All I did was work, even if it wasn’t escorting. I shrugged again as I took another piece of the cookie. “Normal girl stuff like manis, pedis, getting my hair done.” Really I did none of that stuff. I occasionally treated myself to a pedicure and I, of course, got my haircut. But I didn’t care. I didn’t care about any if it.

“Why did you move to Vegas?”

“I’d heard escorts made more money here, so I wanted to give it a shot.” Luckily I was prepared for that question. It really didn’t make any sense for me to move to Vegas without any friends or family here.

“Friends?”

I decided to tell him the truth on this question. “My best friend is a guy who I’ve known practically my entire life. My other best friend, Catherine, lives in Florida and I see her maybe once a year.”

“Why is that?”

I sighed. “We’re just too busy and don’t plan anything since we don’t live in the same state.”

“I guess I can see that, but your job allows you to make your own schedule.”

Shit! “Not Cat’s. She works as a dental assistant and I’m not really sure how her vacation works, but we don’t plan vacations. Sometimes she comes up to see Seth and I. You’re right, though, we definitely need a girl’s trip … I’m just not a big flyer.”

“You’re scared to fly?”

“Not scared really. Just only flown a few times.”

Paul sat up and reached over, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. “Well, anyone who doesn’t take the time to spend even a minute with you, is crazy.”

The way he looked at me caused my insides to flip flop. In a simple look, he made me feel as though I was the only girl who existed.

He made me feel wanted.

Needed.

Cared for.

They say the eyes are windows to the soul and Paul’s eyes gave him away. There was something there. Deep. He came off as a smart ass, sexy as sin escort who did everything on a whim because he could; never wanting to settle down and having too much fun. But I could see right through him. I saw the way he looked at the older couples on our date and felt him hold my hand that much tighter.

Paul Jackson could easily be my forever.

I cleared my throat to keep myself from attacking his lips. I was loving my time with him, and I didn’t want it to end too soon. “Okay, your turn. Tell me something about yourself I don’t know. Past. Present. Future. I don’t care.” It was silly. I had done such extensive research on him, there was not much he could tell me I didn’t already know.

Looking up to the darkening clouds as in deep thought for just a few moments he looked at me and shrugged, “I don’t like Brussel sprouts.”

Laughing, I went to playfully punch his shoulder for being a smart ass, but when my fist connected to his shoulder, he grabbed it and yanked me toward him. He fell to his back, pulling me down so I was laying on top of him. Just that fast, the air around us went dense.

I couldn’t breathe.

Using both hands to swipe the loose hair from my ponytail, he paused and cupped my face with both hands. “Who are you, Andi?” he whispered. “How has some lucky bastard not swept you off your feet yet?”

I took my first full, deep breath in what felt like way too long and smiled. “I’m just me.”

When he didn’t smile back but continued to look at me as if he was seriously trying to answer his own question, the butterflies in my stomach started up again. Doing the only thing physically possible—because I knew I wouldn’t be able to speak a single word—I brought my lips to his.

This kiss wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t wild as if we were trying to satisfy a craving we were both fixing for. This connection was slow and passionate. This was one of those moments little girls watch in movies, hoping and praying they will experience it at least once in their lifetime just to feel that connection with another person.