Twenty-Three
Alison
The way her heels clacked against the marble sounded as if they were ticking off seconds from a clock. Counting her last seconds of innocence with every stride.
She tossed the sequined clutch she carried to the party on the couch, expecting Hunter and Drew to pounce as soon as she was free.
Hunter walked to the bar. “Should we order dinner and have a drink while we wait?”
Her eyes widened. “We’re having dinner first?”
Drew laughed. The sound of his voice was clear and deep. She loved it.
“Yes, baby. We’re starving. And there is no reason for all of us to be hungover tomorrow. Don’t forget. We’re here to work. Tomorrow is going to be huge for all of us.”
He kissed her on the cheek in passing, when he walked to meet Hunter at the bar.
She felt stupid. She felt like she was inexperienced. She was. She’d never slept with two men before. There were a few books she had read with a small scene here and there, but she didn’t know what actually happened. How could she satisfy them? How could they both want her so desperately?
“What should I order?” Hunter asked. “The chefs know our favorites, but we don’t know yours.” He looked at Alison. “What do you want tonight, sweetheart?”
What she wanted was to be hauled to the master suite and touched and teased, but that wasn’t on any of the five-star restaurant menus.
“Maybe a grilled chicken salad?”
“You have the world’s best chefs at your beck and call and you want a chicken salad? You can do better than that.” Hunter strolled forward, handing her a drink. “You can have anything you want. Think about that. Anything.”
“I’ve tried to tell you. I’m simple. I don’t need fancy dinners and bottles of wine that cost a thousand dollars. I’m fine with chicken salad. It doesn’t have to be something from France I can’t pronounce.” The frustration in her voice came to the surface.
“Hey, hey. Don’t be upset. I just want you to be happy. I want to give you the best.”
Hunter quickly wrapped an arm around her. Within seconds Drew was on her other side lifting her eyes to his.
“The money doesn’t define us, Alison.”
“It doesn’t?” It was difficult, but she broke free from them and walked to the window. She could see all of Las Vegas from here. The city sparkled in front of her like a diamond. “Look at this view. Look at the suite. The jet. Even this dress I’m wearing, and the panties I’m not.” She glared at them. “The money is everywhere I turn. It’s almost all I can see.”
Hunter looked quizzically at Drew. “What’s going on? What is all the
money talk about?”
Drew shoved his hands in his pockets. “I don’t know all of it. She mentioned tonight that she might not be a fan of our billion-dollar company and what we have in our bank accounts.”
Alison chewed the inside of her cheek nervously. She may have just ruined everything.
“Alison, is that true? You have something against our empire?”
“I know you don’t see it, but money is fleeting. Life is fleeting. What if you spend all your time worried about money? Making money so you can spend it? What if you wake up one day and the money is gone and you have nothing else in your life? Do you ever think about that?”
“Why do you think we are so crazy about you?” Hunter asked.
“What?” She blinked.
Drew met her at the wall of windows. “Why do you think we want you, Alison?”
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “Sex?”
Hunter made her feel dizzy when he tilted her chin toward him. She looked in the depths of his eyes. They seemed warmer. As if he could protect her. Keep her safe.