The more I got to really know Paul, the more he was chipping away at my resolve. I didn’t come here with the intention of getting into any kind of relationship, but he was slowly working his way in …

And I loved it.

Paul sat us up with my knees straddling his hips and softly ran his lips over mine before I advanced again. It was as if my mouth was designed for his. I parted my lips, inviting the invasion of his tongue. He swept one hand to the back of my neck, deepening the kiss while the other hand traveled down and wrapped around my lower back to hold me tighter.

As though someone had flipped a switch, the sky opened up and started pouring. On instinct, I started to stand and make a bee line for the nearest cover, but before I could lift myself up, he grabbed my arm and stilled me.

“Wait …” he pleaded. He was wearing his usual devious smile.

Being in this moment with him I felt happy and free. Like I didn’t have a care in the world. It was just us—Andi and Paul—enjoying the here and now, and I didn’t want it to end.

I tipped my head back feeling the rain on my face and spread my arms out to the sides. Paul’s hands gripped my hips, making their way around my waist. I looked back down at him and laughed. Needing to touch him, I brought my hands back and ran them through his finger length brown hair. He dipped his head, resting against my chest and in response, I simply wrapped my arms around him. I knew what he was saying without him speaking a single word. I felt it too.

And it scared the hell out of me.

“Should I be jealous?” Paul asked as I came into the living room dressed for my date.

I looked down at my fire engine red dress. “It’s not my fault you told me to dress casual for our two dates.”

He pulled me down so I was straddling him on the couch and it caused me to squeal. “But I’m the lucky one who gets to see you in your pajamas.”

I smiled and leaned forward to kiss him briefly. “Exactly and you’re gonna make me late.”

“Where are you going?”

“The Palazzo to play craps.”

“Do you know how to play?”

I shook my head and laughed. “Do I even need to know how to play?”

“Not looking like this.” He laughed and ran his hands up both of my bare thighs until they rested on my ass. Goosebumps pricked my skin and that butterfly feeling returned to the pit of my stomach.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

“Well, I’m going to wing it, blow on the dice, flirt.” I shrugged.

He groaned. “Yeah, this whole dating other people thing isn’t working.”

“How do you think I felt all week?”

He leaned his head back on the couch, looking up at the ceiling, but not removing his hands from my butt. “I never thought I was a jealous man before you.”

“I thought you didn’t date before me?”

He raised his head just enough so his gaze could meet mine. “No, I said I hadn’t been in a serious relationship in a long time.”

I smirked. “So we’re in a serious relationship?”

The grip on my ass tightened and he moved in one swift motion so I was laying on the couch and he was hovering over me, one leg on the floor. “Yeah, gorgeous, we are.”

“I’m kidding, sugar lips.”

“Sugar lips?” He grinned.

“You don’t like it?”

“I’ve upgraded to a nickname?”

I nodded.

“I guess it could be worse like,” he paused for a beat, “dingleberry.”

I laughed—hard. My stomach clenching and tears pricking my eyes. If I didn’t stop, I would have to fix my makeup and for sure be late for my date. “Dingleberry?” I finally said, still with laughter in my voice.

“Do you know what a dingleberry is?”

I chuckled again at the visual. “I do, and if you want me to call you a turd, I will.”

He kissed my lips. “Sugar lips is better.”

“Good. Now I’m really going to be late.” I pushed on his chest so he would let me up off the couch.

He kissed me one last time.

When I was walking out the door, he yelled, “Are you sure you don’t want to blow me for luck first?”

After valet parking, I walked into the Palazzo and found my way to the LAVO Lounge where I was meeting Derrick. My back office instructions said that he would be waiting for me before we hit the tables. The LAVO Lounge has a bar and restaurant on one side and a nightclub on the other. I’d been told it could get pretty steamy on the dance floor.

When I entered the swank, dimly lit bar, I scanned it for Derrick. The lounge could be described as a modern day speakeasy with deep crimson plush furnishings, rich woods throughout, and high back chairs to make any man feel like a king. I spotted Derrick sitting at the bar, dressed in a pair of dark slacks and a charcoal grey button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. He was definitely easy on the eyes and I questioned why he would hire an escort. He’d mentioned he had a wife at home.

He turned and smiled. “Andi with an I.” He stood and I leaned in to kiss his cheek.

“Hello, sweetie.”

“Baby girl, I’m anything but sweet.”

“Is that right?”

He winked. “Maybe you’ll find out.” I laughed, ignoring the innuendo. “Margarita again?” He nodded to his drink and that’s when I saw his forearm and the dragon tattoo sticking out of the rolled up sleeve.

In his suit, Derrick looked like a well-dressed business man, but underneath I would bet he was tatted up. Not everyone is who they appear to be. Some people will do anything to appear to be the perfect person on the outside.

“Yes, on the rocks with salt please.”

“I remember.” He nodded to the bartender.

I sat in the empty chair and waited for my drink. “So, what kind of business are you in town for?”

With a straight face he answered, “Porn.”

I laughed. “Well, we are in Vegas after all, but I wasn’t expecting that answer. What are you an actor?” I glanced down at his tattoo and then back up to his eyes.

His gaze followed mine and he laughed. “No, I’m only kidding. I’m a salesman trying to get our shit in every hotel on the strip.”

The bartender placed my drink in front of me and I took a sip. “What kind of shit?”

“The toiletries in the hotel rooms.”

“Really? That’s cool.”

“Not really.” He laughed and took a pull of his beer. “But I don’t want to talk about work, Andi with an I.” He grabbed a piece of my long dark brown hair, twirling the end then releasing it.

I smiled. “Other than strip clubs, what’s a man like you do for fun in Sin City?”

“I only gamble with a lucky charm because I always lose, and I hate going to the corny shows by myself, so I just like to look at tits and ass.” His gaze roamed up and down my legs then rested on my boobs before finally my eyes as he waited for my response.

I grabbed my drink, took the final sips and stood, ready to get the show on the road.

The cheers of people could be heard all around us as we walked toward the tables of the Palazzo. People smoked cigarettes, drank and bumped into us—basically it was your typical Saturday night in Vegas.

“Do you know how to play?” Derrick asked as we got closer. His hand was in mine, but it felt weird. It wasn’t Paul’s and I missed him. I missed his smell, his touch, his laugh, his voice, and it hadn’t even been two hours. It was probably because I was out with another man. Yeah, this whole dating other people thing sucked, but I had no leads on the sex trafficking situation and I had to keep going until I did.

I shook my head. “I’m more of a blackjack girl.”

“Let’s try craps and see what happens. I want to see your mouth blow something.”

My gaze darted to his. “I’m good at that.” I really wasn’t. I’d never given a blowjob a day in my life. We could thank the curse for that.