Dirty Beginning (Dirty 0.50)

“Sorry. Just thought you should know that it was a joint effort. You supplied the information and got them warmed up. I just closed the deal .”

I roll my eyes. “No, you win. I didn’t close the deal, as you say. I couldn’t even answer their simple ques

tions .”

His smile widens. “I was happy to just call it a tie, but if you want to go on a date with me that badly, you can just ask .”

I roll my eyes for a second time. “So, what happened after I left ?”

He shrugs. “I answered their questions and told them it was happening whether they wanted it to or not, and it would be better if the company as a whole was behind it .”

I frown when he puts his arm around me, but I admit it does relax me a little to have it there .

“Who has the ultimate decision then about if the expansion will go on or not ?”

“Right now, your grandfather .”

I nod, realizing that the only reason they even had a meeting with half of the company was to get them behind the decision. It was never for them to decide the fate of the company. My grandfather was always the one who was going to make that decision. If I had just gone straight to him with my speech, maybe things would have been different. Maybe then, he would have realized that I was more than just a pretty face. Too late now .

“So, when is this date I have to go on ?”

He tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His touch sends chills down my arms .

“You are eager .”

“No,” I say, shaking off the chills. “Just ready for it to be over .”

“Tomorrow then .”

I nod although I have no idea why I agreed to go out with him. All he wants is another chance to fuck me. I don’t plan on giving him that pleasure, but as his eyes travel over my body, stopping at my chest, I don’t know if I’ll be able to resist his temptation .

K illian is late, thirty minutes late. He hasn’t called. He hasn’t texted. Nothing .

I pace back and forth in the living room of my new room that feels more like an apartment than a hotel room. It’s the presidential room. It’s the room Dad and I would stay in when we stayed at the hotel .

I just had most of my stuff moved into the hotel this morning. I couldn’t live in the family house any longer. I like living by myself. And I like that hotel rooms feel more like home than my own house ever will. It will also help to be closer to the offices below. If I’m still committed to figuring out how to convince my grandfather that I can do this job, then I need to learn from everyone in the casino—from the maids to the card dealers to the managers. I need all the help I can get to learn this business .

And if I’m being honest with myself, I didn’t want Killian picking me up from my parents’ house. I wanted a place of my own, however temporary .

I pace again. I should have had Scarlett stay. She would have known what to do when he didn’t show up. I should call her and tell her to come back, that we should just have a girls’ night instead .

I hear a knock on the door. I open the door, and my jaw drops. Killian is standing there. That, I expected. What I didn’t expect to see was him dressed so casually. He’s in dark jeans and a T-shirt. His hair isn’t gelled like usual. Actually, it looks a little unkempt. And a five o’clock shadow completes his look .

He grins at me when he sees my expression. I look down at how I’m dressed. Shit! I’m in a dress, a nice dress. I was expecting formal Killian. All I’ve ever seen him in is suits. I thought that’s what he would wear since he came straight from work to pick me up. He’s not .

“What’s wrong, princess?” he asks smugly .

“I need to change,” I say. I turn to run back into my bedroom to change .

He grabs my arm. “No time .”

He pulls me into the hallway, and I hear the hotel door shut behind me before I can protest. We enter the elevator, and he presses the button for the ground floor. I can’t look at him. I’m too embarrassed .

Scarlett helped me decide what to wear. She told me to wear this black lace dress that is slightly see-through, so I did. I shouldn’t have .

“I like your hair like this.” His thumb caresses my exposed neck due to my hair being styled on top of my head .

I quickly forget why I’m supposed to be embarrassed when he is looking at me like this. I lick my bottom lip, preparing for the kiss that always follows that look .