Secrets and Seduction Las Vegas (Sexy Italian Imports Book 1) (18 page)

“I’ll pick you up when you’re done.”

She kissed him. “It may take a while. If I’m done at a decent hour, I’ll call. But don’t wait up for me.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Was that a double entendre?”

She looked at his jeans. “Maybe.” She jumped out of the car. “Thanks for the ride.”

****

Valerie worked her patient through the crisis, stayed and watched from backstage as he performed his sets, and, during the breaks, she held his hand, giving encouragement. The star would be fine now, but it took all evening to convince him to perform and all night to get him relaxed after the show.

She walked out the front door of the casino at 4 A.M. The manager offered her a room, but she chose a limo ride home instead. Slumping in the back seat, she texted Antonio.
2 late 2 call. Heading home 4 some sleep. C U soon?

She sent the message and fell asleep, dreaming of how she would make it up to him next time she got him alone.

****

Antonio couldn’t get his mind around Valerie having demons. He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. She seemed completely in control of everything in her life, including her emotions. Her text message came in, and he forced himself to fall asleep, his dreams of her too sexual, too raw and hungry.

The next morning, he picked up the newspaper from his elevator. In the kitchen, he poured coffee and sat at the counter. The front page showed a picture of last night’s show at Paris of the world tour for Valerie’s patient.

The reviews were spectacular, but the paper didn’t mention why—Dr. Kane. What an incredible woman. Did he deserve her, though? He could still see her, hear her voice saying,
I wanted to wait until I found the right man
. He’d felt so proud, but now doubts surfaced. What he did on weekends was something he was ashamed of. And when Valerie found out, she’d no longer think he was the right man. He had a lot to talk about with his therapist tomorrow.

****

Jarrodd repeated, “She is a society girl?”

Antonio nodded.

“And she’s only been with one man?”

He nodded.

“How old is she?”

“Twenty-five.”

“Did she tell you why she’s so cautious with men?”

“Her parents kept her in boarding schools, and she attended a women’s college.”

Jarrodd leaned back in his chair and stuck the end of his pen between his teeth.

Antonio waited, already accustomed to Jarrodd’s mental pauses. He looked around the dark paneled office, diametrically opposite from Valerie’s, except for all the books. Soft yoga-like music played over hidden speakers.

He would have preferred relaxing to a rock ballad by Metallica.

Jarrodd came out of his reverie. “Interesting. How did she tell you?”

“It took a while, but she did open up to me.” The double meaning of his words made him visualize her spreading her legs to let him touch her hot, wet softness. He closed his eyes as a wave of desire rushed through him.

“How do you feel about her being that sheltered?”

Pissed at the intrusion on his thoughts, he shot a nasty look at the therapist. “Shit, I don’t know. She’s still just as attractive to me. She wants me, but I keep thinking I’m too screwed up for someone as perfect as her.”

“That’s where I come in?”

Antonio nodded. “What’s the plan?”

“What is my advice?”

“Do you always answer a question with a question?”

“I don’t know, do I?” Jarrodd smiled, his eyes twinkling at his own joke.

Antonio wasn’t in the mood. He raised an eyebrow.

“Sorry.” Jarrodd cleared his throat. “My advice—I considered your stripping from a lot of perspectives. It’s not illegal. It’s not immoral. It makes you feel good.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “Then why do I hide it?”

“It’s very controversial, and it seems to embarrass you.”

“It does, but when I’m there, when I see the effect I have on women, it’s a rush, a high I never feel otherwise.”

“Mm hm. Mm hm. Mm hm.” The therapist took notes. “And you haven’t told anyone. Not your friends, your family, your women. This new woman.”

“No one. I haven’t been back to Italy since I started. I don’t want to leave Las Vegas and miss a weekend.”

“It’s almost like an addiction for you, but I don’t see anything wrong with your continuing it.”

Antonio felt his blood pressure rise. “What about my temper? She says I have anger issues. I need to get control.”

“We’ll work on that, but to start, I suggest you tell her what you’re doing and see how she reacts.”

He shook his head. “I don’t want to lose her.”

Jarrodd just stared at him.

Antonio snapped, “What?”

“Are you developing strong emotions for her?”

He shifted in his seat. When he thought about her, he felt desire. And something more. Something he didn’t know he could feel. Possessive. “Possibly.”

“Then it’s imperative you are honest with her.”

Antonio’s brow wrinkled. How? How did you tell someone you were addicted to a cheap thrill? “My gut tells me to wait.”

Jarrodd sat back in his chair and tossed his pen onto the desk. “Wait for what? Or until what? Until she has given you her body? Her heart? What does your ‘gut’ tell you to wait for, Antonio?”

His anger sparked immediately. “Go to hell.”

Jarrodd shook his head. “Hard questions? I know you’ve asked them of yourself. Am I right?”

Antonio took a deep breath, released his anger. “Yeah.”

Jarrodd looked at him, waiting for more.

“How do you tell a psychologist something like that? She’s going to analyze me and kick my ass out of her life.”

“She might. But better now than later after you’ve made her fall in love with the person she thinks you are.”

Love. Antonio didn’t want to think about it. He stood. “I’ve got a lot of information to process. I appreciate your help.”

“Same time next week?”

“I’ll call you if I need to talk.”

Jarrodd frowned. “I would suggest a few more sessions, but I understand if you’d like to take some time to digest all this. Call me anytime.”

Antonio left, riding his motorcycle home, feeling more confused than when he’d arrived. He should either tell her or quit his weekend job. But it would be easier to just keep things the way they were. Wait until he could decide what his feelings were for her. And what hers were for him.

Shooting through the Desert Inn super-arterial tunnel under The Strip, he considered stopping at her office, seeing if she was free to take a bike ride. It was Wednesday. He remembered her mentioning her day was packed with appointments, so he kept the bike headed toward home. He wanted to see her tonight. Hell, he wanted to see her every night.

He pulled into his garage, took the elevator upstairs, grabbed the phone, and called her as he took off his jacket.

“Hello.” Valerie’s sexy voice heated him deep inside.

“Come over after work.” He sat on the leather couch, envisioning her in her office, wearing a pantsuit, swiveling around in the chair behind her desk.

“I wish I could. I’m meeting my mother for shopping and dinner.”

“After?”

She gave a heavy sigh. “I have a very early meeting tomorrow morning. I need to prepare tonight and get some sleep. I’m sorry.”

He decided to break his rule. “Tomorrow? After work?” Did he sound desperate?

“Really? You’d give up your writing to see me?”

He heard the pleasure in her voice. “Only for you, baby.”

She moaned softly into the phone. “How can I resist?”

He was hard instantly. Phone sex. “I’ll cook.”

“See you around five tomorrow?”

“I’ll be waiting for you.”

She gave a sexy hum. “I’ll be thinking about you.”

“
Ciao
.”

“
Ciao
, bello.”

He hung up. What would happen tomorrow night when it was time for him to leave for the strip club? He wouldn’t know what time it was. The minute she stepped into his house, he’d dedicate himself to getting her into bed. And keeping her there all night.

****

Valerie met her mother at the Fashion Show Mall on The Strip. Dena was sitting in Starbucks, sipping her tea, and Valerie plopped down in the chair across from her.

Her mother slid a steaming cup toward her. “You look tired. I have herbal tea for you.”

“Thank you.” She stifled a yawn. “It’s been a long day. I’ve been looking forward to this all afternoon.”

“A lot of patients today?”

“Not many, but the ones I saw were very needy.”

“Anyone I know?”

She couldn’t disclose patients’ names. Her mother was just making conversation.

“I think you’d recognize all of their names.”

“Interesting?”

“Challenging.” She sipped the orange-flavored tea. “A lot of different people with a lot of unique problems.”

“It’s wonderful you can help them. You’re making quite a name for yourself.” Her mother’s smile lit her face.

“You saw the magazine?”

“Yes. I have it right here.” She reached down into her tote and pulled out a Las Vegas magazine containing an article about the best local doctors. Valerie made the list as one of the top three psychologists. “We are very proud of you.”

Not so long ago, her parents tried to discourage her from starting her own practice. Did her mother’s pride come from having a daughter recognized in a magazine, or from the actual work Valerie did? She shook off the negative thoughts.

“Thank you, Mom. I can’t imagine how I could be one of the top three in only a year. I think Monica had something to do with this.”

Dena laughed. “She e-mailed everyone she knew and asked us all to vote for you. And for her. She’s in here, too.”

“She’s always in there. She is very good at what she does.”

“You two make a great team. She heals the outside, you heal the inside.” Dena flipped to the page she marked and handed the magazine to Valerie.

“Very profound, Mother. You should be our publicity agent.” She took the magazine and looked at the headshot of herself.

Should she have gone with a more professional look?

Wearing a blouse, her hair left long and straight—the smiley pose reminded her of a college yearbook photo. She shoved aside her uncertainty. Something about being with Dena always made her second-guess herself.

“Oh, I am. Unofficially. I talk you two up every time I’m with the girls or at the club or at the office.”

Dena’s face showed affection. Valerie loved her mother, but she didn’t know her well. Spending so much of her life in boarding school and away at college, her mother seemed more like an acquaintance. This last year, since she moved back to Vegas, she took every opportunity to spend time with her.

Dena finished her tea. “What do you need to shop for?”

“The usual. Shoes, dresses, bargains.”

“Me, too. Let’s get started.”

Valerie followed her mother to her favorite store. They tried on a couple dresses, modeling for each other in the dressing room, and each bought one. They found a sale at two shoe stores and a clearance on business suits at Ann Taylor.

As they walked around the mall carrying their bags, Dena was unusually quiet. She touched Valerie’s arm, stopping outside Victoria’s Secret, and pointed to a sexy undergarment, taking a deep breath. “Do you need anything here?”

Valerie was surprised, and her face warmed. “No. I can’t think of anything…”

“Dear…” Her mother waited for a couple to pass by then tipped her head and asked quietly, “I just wondered if you and your new man-friend have advanced your relationship to that stage yet.”

Slightly amused, slightly annoyed, she shook her head. “We don’t know each other very well yet, Mom.”

“Good. I’m glad, dear.” Her shoulders visibly relaxed. “You’ve been so careful, and I want to make sure you don’t jump into anything too quickly.”

She started walking. “I’m confident I’ll know when it’s right.”

They strolled, looking in windows, turned into Neiman Marcus, and headed to the restaurant.

Dena stopped walking again at the bridal shop. “Isn’t this beautiful?” She pointed to a Vera Wang.

“Lovely.”

“Valerie, Monica told me what happened.”

Damn, what had her sneaky sister done now? “And what was that?”

Dena put her hand on Valerie’s arm again, her eyes filled with worry. “She told me a few things about this new guy you’re seeing.”

“His name is Antonio, Mom. You spent an evening with him, and you didn’t seem too concerned.”

“Well, Monica has some concerns.”

“What did she say?” She made a mental note to find Monica and throw her off the Hoover Dam.

“That you broke up with Troy for this man.”

“Mom…” She looked at the people walking by them. “Can we sit down and talk about this? Let’s go into the restaurant.”

When they were seated, Dena gave a half-smile. “I’m treating for dinner tonight, dear.”

Valerie mumbled, “Tanstaafl.”

“What?”

“Sorry. It’s a saying.
There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
”

Dena looked at her blankly. “Meaning you’re going to have to listen to me lecture you?” She snapped her menu shut. “Fine. I will. Your sister thinks you should be with Troy, not Antonio.”

She looked at her menu, not really seeing it. “Of course Monica sees it that way. She set me up with Troy.”

“Yes, she told me. You and he were a perfect couple.”

“We were in many ways, but I didn’t have the feelings for him that I have for Antonio.”

“Monica told me what kind of feelings you have for him.” Her face tensed into an uneasy grimace. “But that’s not something you can build a life on, like marriage and children. It’s just…” She lowered her voice and leaned forward. “S—e—x.”

She would usually laugh at her mother’s spelling that word, but today she felt more anxiety than amusement. The waitress arrived and took their order, and, though tempted to have a double vodka on the rocks, she echoed her mother’s request for a glass of pinot grigio.

Valerie folded her hands in her lap. Her first instinct was to tell her mom to mind her own business, that she was an adult and could make her own decisions. But the best way to ease her mother’s worries would be to confide in her. “It did start out that way, but we found it’s deeper. Unexpected. We connect on so many levels.”