Silver and Chrome: A Bad Boy MC Romance (32 page)

Chapter Seven

"Oh
my god, you are not!"

"I
am, I'm in his room right now," I can't help but smile at Evelyn's
reaction. 

"Wait
a second, what about Harrison?"

Evelyn
just finished telling me that Chase Anderson was regarded as one of the best
poker players in the world, and had apparently won millions playing it.  He had
a reputation as something of a ladies' man, although she wasn't sure how much
of that was just rumor based on his good looks.  He lives in Vegas, but flies
around to play in some of the biggest games around the world.  My roommate was
a bit of a fan girl when it came to poker players a couple of years ago, and I
know she still sort of follows them.  She grew up with a father who was a semi
pro himself, but living in Toronto with a family meant he never gave living the
lifestyle a real shot.  He taught the game to Evelyn when she was young and she
was into it for a while, even earning enough to pay for some of her college
tuition.  But she was never really into it as much as her father, and as far as
I knew she gave the hobby up completely a couple of years ago after graduating.

She
actually met Harrison at a game and the two of them had been casual friends
ever since.  She was the one that initially introduced us, and consequently I
wasn't too thrilled with having to tell her what happened.

"We
broke up," I finally said, blowing out a long breath as I prepared for her
response.

"What? 
What happened?"

"It
doesn't matter," I say, embarrassed to admit to the actual circumstances
of having my boyfriend using me as a poker chip.  "It's been a long time
coming.  I mean, I knew it wasn't going to last Evelyn, I just didn't think it
was going to blow up here."

"Oh
Lila, I'm so sorry.  Is there anything I can do?  Maybe I can talk to
him?"  Although Evelyn and Harrison have remained friends while we've
dated, they aren't that close.  I'm hoping that means things won't be too
awkward now.  After all, Evelyn and I have been friends a lot longer than she's
known Harry.

"No,
definitely not.  There's nothing for him to say.  It's really over,
Evelyn."

"Wow,
okay.  Wait... you're single now and you're in the hotel room of Chase
Anderson?  Spill, girl!  I need details here."

I
try to hold back a laugh at Evelyn's eagerness for details, but I don't want
her to read too much into it.  "Nothing.  I just couldn't go back to the
room with Harry last night-"

"Hold
on, you spent the night there?  With Chase?"

"It's
not what it sounds like," I protest.  Well, it is actually, but as I
expect to end things with him today, I don't want my friend to get her hopes
up.  "Look, I'll tell you all about it when I get home on Monday, okay?  I
need to get showered and figure out what I'm going to do with myself for the
next couple of days."

"You
better.  You don't just drop a bomb like you spent the night in Chase
Anderson's hotel and then leave it at that..."

"I
know, I'm sorry, but I really need to get out of here.  We'll talk soon."

I
feel a bit guilty about lying to Evelyn.  She and I have been best friends
since high school but I really did need to hurry.  Chase was going to be back
in a little over an hour and I really don't want to be here when he returns. 
It's time for me to get out of here and find another hotel.  I remember seeing
some cheap ones off of the main strip when we were looking to book our
vacation, but Harrison had nixed them all because they were too far from the
poker games he wanted to play.  At least that means they'd probably be the last
place he'd want to come looking for me.

I
took a shower that ended up being longer than planned.  Showers have always
been my weakness, and are usually where I do a lot of my thinking.  Something
about the hot water pounding down across my head and shoulders as the sound of
it hitting the walls and floor of the tub fills my ears just relaxes me.  It
lets my mind wander free. 

In
this case, my thoughts lead me to a plan where I wait until evening when
Harrison is likely back at the poker tables and then call the room.  If he
answers I hang up, but if he doesn't then I go up and collect all of my stuff. 
Move everything out without having to see him again and before checkout time
when who knows what will happen to it all.

Of
course, I didn't spend the whole shower thinking about Harrison.  I spent a lot
of time thinking about Chase as well.  From what I'd read on the web, confirmed
with additional details from Evelyn, this guy was the real deal.  Not at all
like Harrison as I first suspected.  Apparently this guy takes gambling to
another level.  Perhaps there is some truth after all to his argument about
what he does being more about skill than gambling.  On some level, I'm
beginning to wish I had met him under different circumstances.  Maybe we could
have been more than just a one night stand.  Then again, I can't imagine any
other circumstances where our paths would ever cross.

I
stop the shower and step out, wrapping a clean towel around my body.  I'm not
at all looking forward to wearing my dirty clothes from last night again, but
at least I now have a plan to get the rest of my stuff back.  I won't have to
be in them for long.

My
phone says that it's already after one, but I still figure I have enough time
to clear out of here before Chase gets back.  Which is why I let out a
surprised yelp when I see him sitting on a chair in the bedroom waiting for me.

"I
thought you weren't coming back until two?"

"My
mind wasn't on the game, I'm out early," he says, standing and flashing a
smile that explains what his mind had been on instead as his eyes rove over the
towel I have wrapped around me. 

"Chase,"
I begin, meaning to explain that I need to leave, that this whole thing can't
continue as much as I'm now wishing it could.

A
knock at the door stops me.

"I
got you something," he says as he disappears into the other room.  I hear
the door open and some quiet voices before he returns holding a garment bag in
one hand and pulling the zipper open with his other.

The
bag falls open and I take a sharp breath at the beautiful black dress it
reveals.  "It's gorgeous."

"I
saw it on my way back from the casino and knew you would look stunning in it. 
Let's go out to a club tonight.  You can wear this, I know the rest of your stuff
is still back at your hotel."

I'm
still staring at the dress.  I can tell it's a designer outfit that I would
never be able to afford on my own.  I open my mouth to protest, but he steps
forward, pressing his fingers against my lips.

"Say
yes, Lila.  Just say yes."

His
shockingly blue eyes are pressing into me, I can almost feel their weight and
force of will.  It's so hard to say no to those eyes.  Besides, where else do I
have to go?  The plan I had to get my stuff back was mostly born from my desire
to not have to put back on yesterday's outfit.  Now I have something else to
take its place.  At least for later.  Until then, I have a feeling I won't need
any clothes anyway. 

Besides,
just because I stay one more night doesn't mean anything.  My flight leaves
Monday regardless.

"Yes." 
The word falls from my lips at the exact same moment that I let my towel hit
the floor.

Chapter Eight

"How
is it that you have so many clothes here?"  I'm staring at the inside of a
closet that rivals the size of my bedroom back home, and it's filled with
expensive clothes and shoes. 

"What
do you mean?"  Chase is standing in front of the mirror adjusting his
collared shirt.

"You
said you live in Vegas, but not in this hotel room.  Why do you stay here so often
that you have your entire wardrobe here?  Don't you ever go back home?"

"It's
just easier to stay here," he shrugs, still focused in the mirror. 
"The games are here."

"Don't
you ever miss your house?  Your stuff?"  I'm already homesick, but part of
that has to do with feeling vulnerable after breaking up with Harry.  I
actually don't feel as bad when Chase is around.  He's so confident in
everything he does that I feel some of that confidence seeping into me just by
being around him. 

"I
guess I'm used to it," he says, turning from the mirror to look at me. 
"I spend a lot of time on the road."

I
walk over to him and put my hands on his collar, adjusting it a bit myself
before looking into his cool blues.  "Still, you must get tired of living
in a hotel room.  Even one as nice as this."  I look around again,
wondering how long it would take me to get sick of such lavishness.  "I
guess I'm just wondering what your place looks like."  You can tell a lot
about someone from seeing their home, and even after Googling him and talking
to Evelyn I still feel like Chase is a mystery.  Almost more so now, since it's
hard to know where reality begins and the rumors end with someone even sort of
famous. 

"It's
nothing special," he says, turning back to the mirror to inspect the
adjustment I just made.  "I don't spend a lot of time there.  No room
service."  He flashes me a grin through the reflection.

I
purse my lips at him.  I might not make a living out of reading people like he
does, but I can tell when someone is trying to change the subject.

"Come
here."  He holds out a hand and I step forward, letting him pull me
closer.  "I was right."

"About
what?"

"You
do look stunning in that dress."  His lips are strong and my knees weaken
as he presses them against mine.  "Let's get going."

Minutes
later we're riding along the brightly lit strip in a limo.  Harry and I had
walked this way during the day, but it was much more interesting at night. 
Especially within the cool air conditioning of the chauffeured car. 
"Where are we going?"

"XS."

"That
could be anywhere in Vegas.  Isn't that the foundation that all of these
casinos are built around?"

"Not
excess
," Chase smiles.  "X S.  It's the club at the
Wynn."

"Ah." 
It means nothing to me.  I'd asked Harry to take me to a club, but he
complained that they were all too expensive with long lines to get in and a
waste of time.  He'd rather just lose his money slowly at the poker table
instead of actually trying to wring any enjoyment out of those same dollars.  Of
course, when I said that he argued that at a club, the money was gone for sure
but when he played with it, he at least had the potential to win more.  That
potential rarely turned into reality though, and we'd had that argument over
and over again over the months we were together.  At any rate, I consequently
have no idea what the club scene is like in Vegas and whether XS is anything
special.

Before
the car has even stopped, it is obvious that the club is packed.  The lineup is
huge, and I'm looking at Chase dubiously, wondering whether or not he has a
plan B.  He seems unconcerned, though, and helps me out of the car before
briefly speaking to the driver and watching it take off. 

"Come
on," he says, grabbing my hand and pulling me along next to him. 

"I
think the line starts over there," I motion in the opposite direction to
where he's leading.

I'm
not sure if he heard me or not, because Chase only quickens his pace and I have
to hurry to keep up with him.  I'm thankful for the strong grip he has on my
hand as there are so many people around us now I'm worried I could easily lose
him.

"Chase!"

There's
a big man standing by a separate entrance, smiling at the poker player as the
two slap hands in some complicated greeting. 

"Ace,
my man, how's your game?"

"I
think I need a few more pointers.  Dropped a grand at the 2/5 at MGM last
night."

"Ouch. 
You're still too curious, stop looking people up on the river."

"Shit
yeah, I know."

"Well,
give me a ring and we'll talk about it some more.  You got space for two
tonight?"

"Of
course, you know I do."

All
of sudden the man swings open the heavy doors and Chase's casual and confident
hand is ushering me forward into a throng of beautiful people surrounded by
loud, pulsing music. 

My
senses are overwhelmed with the sights and sounds around me.  The club is dark,
but multi colored lights beaming across a sweaty crowd light up the room as
people bounce and sway to the music.  Chase's hand closes tightly against mine
as he weaves his way through the crowd, either finding a path or making one as
he goes, I'm not sure which.  He soon stops in front of a bar and orders us
drinks. 

"What
do you think?"  His lips are next to my ear but he's still talking very
loudly so that I can hear him over the music.  His hot breath causes a shiver
to run up my spine and I wonder how long we have to stay here before we can go
back to his hotel bedroom again.

"Intense,"
I yell back.  He smiles, taking that as a positive as he presses a glass into
my hand.

"Hi
Chase!" Two gorgeous blond girls walk up to the poker player and hug him. 
He speaks briefly to them before they smile and one tries to grab his hand as
she walks away.  I look over at him questioningly.

"Fans,"
he shrugs, looking embarrassed.  "Come on, let's dance."

He
pulls me back into the crowd and I drop my drink back onto the bar before it's
out of reach.  All of a sudden our bodies are pressed together as gorgeous
young people surround us, all of them dancing and sweating in unison to the electronic
sounds coming from the massive speakers all around the club.  It doesn't take
long to forget everything and lose myself in a similar way.  Chase is a great
dancer, and I'm happy to let the crowd push and jostle us together so that our
bodies are pressed tightly as we grind.  His lips find my neck in the crowded
low light and I laugh, raising my eyes to the sky.  This is what I needed after
all.

We
dance for what seems like at least an hour before he grabs my hand and leads me
from the floor again.  I'm tired and hot but elated and buzzed at the same
time.  Leading me through the crowd, Chase brings me through an opening and all
of sudden we're outside.  Just like inside, beautiful people surround us, the
only difference now is that there's a pool and the people milling about it are
wearing even less than the ones inside.  The desert air is warm, but still
cooler than inside the center of the crowd so I welcome the break.

"What
do you think?"

"It's
fucking fantastic," I say, my face grinning wildly.  "I need another
drink though."

"Of
course, wait right here."

I
open my mouth to say I want to come with him, but before I can he's disappeared
into a crowd of people.  I shrug, deciding to take in the sights of this
amazing club while I wait.  There's simply nothing like this back home.  The
outdoor area is enormous, with a huge pool taking up a large part of it.  I
wonder how people managed to get a swimsuit in past the bouncers and the dress
code rules, and how drunk I'd have to be to feel comfortable swimming amongst
all of these gorgeous people.  I watch them for a few minutes before I realize
that it's taking Chase an awfully long time to get our drinks.  There's a bar
on the other side of the pool, which is where I thought he'd gone, so I pick my
way through the crowd until I'm close.  I spot his blond hair and chiseled jaw
immediately, but he's not alone.  He's talking to a strikingly beautiful
brunette, whose hand is resting familiarly on his arm and he's making no
attempt to remove it.  As I watch, he leans close, speaking into her ear and
then she throws her head back and laughs before leaning forward and kissing him
on the cheek.  She's clearly not just another fan.

I
walk quickly up to interrupt them and she turns to me even before he does.

"Lila!"
he says when he finally notices me.  He sees me glaring at the girl next to
him.  "Lila, Let me introduce you two.  This is Denise Parks.  She's
my..." he pauses for just an instant before her voice chimes in to finish
his sentence.

"Girlfriend." 
I feel my eyes widen as I turn my glare away from her and slide it onto him.