26. Our First Kiss
Jared
We drive in silence, and I’m not sure if I’m imagining the tension wrapping its sticky fingers around us, or if it’s just me. Having Sophie in my home, sharing a meal with me was…pleasant.
Her presence made the house feel different. Less empty.
I wasn’t ready for her to leave, but I’d already promised her I’d drive her home after breakfast. Her words from last night in the car ring through my head for the thousandth time.
I trust you.
At the time, I convinced myself the words were just drunk-speak. But this morning, she took my word for it when I said nothing happened between us. She stayed for breakfast instead of demanding I take her home at once. She trusted me.
And fuck if I almost didn’t break her trust, nearly lunging right over that bar to ravish her when she walked into the kitchen looking all fresh-faced and beautiful with those adorable freckles on display. I wanted to kiss each and every one of them, and I barely resisted the urge.
I reminded myself who she is to me. My assistant. An employee of my casino. A woman who barely tolerates my presence.
But I can’t deny the pull she has on me. A pull that’s only getting stronger every fucking day.
Hell, I could’ve have easily pulled up her employee record last night and found her address, drove her home, and tucked her into her own bed. But I didn’t. Instead, I took her to my home and tucked her into my bed.
And fuck if she didn’t look like she belonged there.
I push the memory aside as I pull the car into her apartment complex’s parking lot. Easing into an empty spot, I stop and shift the transmission into park. I glance over at Sophie, but she’s staring through the windshield, her pink tongue darting out to wet her lips. When she turns to face me, my breath catches in my chest at the sight of her sweet smile.
Leaning over in a rush, she brushes her soft lips against my cheek before pulling back just as quickly. Flinging open the door, she climbs out, then leans back in to meet my gaze.
“Thanks for taking care of me, Jared,” she says, and my heart thumps at the sound of my name on her lips.
Before I can respond, she straightens and closes the door, giving me a little wave through the windshield before hurrying up the sidewalk toward the building’s entrance. I watch her until she disappears inside, then stare at the closed door for several more beats as I rub my fingertips over the spot where her lips touched my skin. Our first kiss.
Well, sort of.
Heaving a sigh, I shift into reverse and pull out of the spot. I need to clear my head, and the best place to do that is on the casino floor of The Black Hart. I pull the car out onto the road and head toward the strip.
As soon as I walk out onto the casino floor, the flashing lights and constant chiming loosen something in my chest. This really is my happy place, and I know how lucky I am to call it mine.
Wait. What? Fuck. Sophie is starting to rub off on me. I don’t believe in luck. She does.
“Jared, wait up,” a familiar voice calls out, and I turn to see Sam striding toward me.
“Hey, man,” I say, clasping his outstretched hand and pulling him in for a bro-hug. “How’s the floor today?”
“It’s good. Busy for a Sunday morning.” He pauses to peer at me for a moment, then asks, “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be off today.”
“Just needed to clear my head,” I say, my gaze drifting over the crowded blackjack tables to a nearby bank of brightly lit slot machines.
“Something bothering you?” he asks, rocking back on his heels. “I just went on break, so I have some time if you want to talk.”
I can’t talk to him about Sophie. Sam is my best friend, but I’m not ready to admit to anyone that I’m having dirty thoughts about my assistant. That I liked seeing her in my bed, even though I didn’t join her there. That a simple kiss on the cheek nearly brought me to my knees.
“Oh, you’ve got it bad.”
“What?” I ask, snapping out of my thoughts and meeting Sam’s gaze.
He shakes his head. “Would this sudden need to clear your head have anything to do with a certain redhead?”
“What?” I repeat, my eyes widening with faux horror. “What do you mean? Why are you bringing up Sophie?”