“I hate you a little right now,” I muttered.
“Because I’m right?”
“Yeah.” My reply was grudging at best.
He grasped my waist and lifted me down to my feet. His lips pressed to my forehead, and I closed my eyes as a warm fuzzy sensation surrounded me at the closeness.
Less than twenty-four hours ago, I’d been alone and stranded, unsure of my future. Now I had Luke…and I was still unsure of my future. But I had a feeling whatever it was, he’d be right there. It didn’t seem as if he planned to give me a choice. Strangely, nothing in me rebelled at that. That would take some getting used to.
“I’ll go change my clothes then,” I said. New panties were a must, and there was no way I was going out dressed in my old T-shirt while he looked like some high-end magazine model. “I’ll be right back… Do you think Four Seasons has French toast?”
“If they don’t, they will by the time we leave,” he promised.
I licked my bottom lip then bit it as I nodded. Right… He was a billionaire, and he made things happen. That would take some getting used to, too.
Chapter Six
~ Luke ~
Watching Las Vegas through Laura’s eyes was kind of amazing. I don’t know that I’d ever been excited by the strip before. My family had lived here our whole lives, so the lights and the crowds and the noise were all just background to us.
But Laura was a breath of fresh air. She squealed like a little kid at the shark exhibit, ate candy at almost every place we visited, and pulled me physically by the hand into shops and through different casinos. It was amazing. I don’t know that I’d ever had that much fun.
“Are you ready for dinner?” I asked, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and pulling in her in for a kiss.
“I could eat,” she admitted. “Where are we going?”
“Well, what’s the one place you asked me to take you that I haven’t yet?”
“Really?” She looked up at me, a huge smile on her beautiful face. “They have food there?”
“Of course, they do.” I had to release her to grab my phone. I shot a text to our driver to come pick us up. We were at the wrong end of the strip and had done quite a bit of walking. I wasn’t about to make her walk another eight miles to dinner. “Rick will be here in a few minutes with the car.”
“What’s your life like?” she asked suddenly, peering up at me with a small smile on her lips.
“What do you mean?” I tugged her hand and led her to sit on a bench near the valet booth to wait for the car.
“I mean, what’s it like to be a billionaire? You just swiped that black Amex everywhere we went today. You send a text, and car is coming to get us and take us to dinner somewhere I’m pretty sure you need a reservation to get into, but I’m betting you don’t. You flew across the country in a private jet to rescue me then immediately flew me back. I mean…my God, Luke. What is that like?”
“First of all,” I told her. “If you just wait another year or so, you’ll be so used to it you won’t even think about it. My life is your life, now. You’re free to swipe my Amex anywhere you damn well please. But don’t think for a second I take it for granted. My father worked his ass off to build our company, and my brothers and I continue that legacy. To this day, I work twelve to fifteen hours a day sometimes. I don’t just push paper in my ivory tower. I’m on the job sites, I’m lifting steel and climbing scaffolds, right next to my guys. I’ve worked for every penny, Laura. And I’ve done it so, now that you’ve come along, I can give you the world.”
“That was beautiful,” she said. “Total bullshit but it was nice.”
“You’re such a brat,” I hissed, swooping in to kiss her. “It wasn’t bullshit. I do work really hard.”
“Oh no!” she said quickly, her hand squeezing my arm. “Not that part. The part about me getting used to it. I don’t think I could ever adjust to that much excess. Especially knowing how hard you work for it.”
The car pulled up, so I helped her inside before climbing in as well. Traffic was a disaster, and it took half an hour to make it up to the Paris Casino and Hotel. Since I wasn’t sure how long we’d have to wait for a table, I told Rick to just head home, and we’d grab a taxi back to the penthouse. He didn’t look happy, but he didn’t argue with me. Probably because Laura was there.
Rick had been with my family since I was a kid, and he took his job very seriously. He absolutely hated it when any of the Malloys offered to take public transportation, but I hated keeping him out until all hours of the night.
“Have a nice time, young lady,” Rick offered as he held the door for us.
“Thank you,” she said, smiling brightly. “It was lovely to meet you.”
“You, as well,” he said, bowing slightly before closing the door and walking around to the driver’s side again. “Mr. Malloy, will you be heading into the office tomorrow?”
“If I do, I’ll call you. I’m undecided, at the moment.”
“Yes, sir.” He got in the car and pulled away.
“Is he always that formal?” Laura asked.
“Never. Not once in the thirty years I’ve known him.” I laughed. “He’s a great guy, and I think he assumes I’m trying to impress you.”
“Do you usually try to impress women?” she asked, her tone light, but the
