Page 12 of High Baller

“No. I don’t want to see someone fake, especially on the first date,” I cut in. “Dress in something you feel comfortable in.”

“Jeans and a T-shirt it is then. When Derek drops you off…” He laughs when I furrow my brows. “It’s safer that way. No pictures, remember? Anyway, I'll give you some flowers, tell you how beautiful you look, because I know you'll look stunning, then I'll push my luck and give you a kiss on the cheek. I hope you wear the same perfume you wore at the club. Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent,” he says with a smirk, surprising me. “It took me a while to find out which one you were wearing.”

He took the time to find out my perfume, it’s my all-time favorite, and the only one I buy repeatedly.

“What’s for dinner?” I ask as Trey swims a little closer, and this time, I don’t move.

“Now that one, I'll admit I'l have to think about, as I'd like to make you something special.”

“You'll cook?” I ask.

Trey swims a little closer. “For you, I'll cook,” he whispers.

“Why are you trying so hard with me?” I ask “You can get any girl you want, so why are you still trying with me when I’ve already said no?” I like a man that tries to get the girl, but Trey can get any girl he wants.

“The night in the club, the second my eyes saw you, everything else became a blur. It was just you. You might think I’m crazy, but that’s my reason,” Trey explains. I lick my lips when our eyes lock. “I'll play music once we finish dinner, would you like to dance?” Trey asks, holding his hand out for me.

“I would,” I reply.

Trey moves closer, his hands lowering to my hips. As the gap between us closes, I place my hands on his chest, sliding them down toward his tattoos. My finger strokes over the roaring lion tattoo as the other hand skims over the words, love me for who I am. Sixty percent of his chest is covered in tattoos, so is his back and arms, and every single one of them are a turn on for me.

“What are we dancing too?” I ask.

He lowers his head, his face inches away from mine. “There are so many songs that I'd love to play while I’m with you, but for now, John Legend’s Stay With You.”

“Not that easy dancing in the pool.” I laugh as he tries to spin me under his arm.

He releases my hip, then his hands take mine, pulling them up and letting them rest on the back of his neck. “I think if we were closer it would be easier,” he whispers in my ear as he gently pulls my hips closer to him. I shiver when his fingers brush against my skin. His lips brush along my jaw, then back up to my ear. “Will you have dinner with me tonight?” His voice is low and full of desire.

“As much as the date sounds perfect, the answer is still the same.” I pull away from him, swim to the side, and get out of the pool. “Thank you for the dance.”

“Shorty, before you go,” he says, and I stop in my tracks as I bend to pick up my dress. “At least let me look at that sexy body of yours. Can you turn around? I already know your front is perfect, but I wanna see the rest of you.”

“Goodbye, King.” I turn around in a quick twirl so that he can check out my ass, then I pick up my dress. Without a backward glance, I walk out of the pool room to find Calvin. I need to leave before Trey can get close again. I think I just used all my will power to swim away from him just now, and I’m not sure I can do it again.

“See you again, shorty.” I hear Trey say from behind me as the door closes.

I smile to myself. I like the nickname he has for me. It’s a shame that I'll never see him again, and by the way my body is still humming from his touch, I’d say it agrees with me.

***

As we all board the plane, Dave pulls me and Calvin to one side. We’ve gotten lucky today because we get to work the first-class cabin. I always love working this area, as we get to snack on some fancy stuff within the galley, and the passengers are all business people that get little rest, so as soon as the plane is in the air, they go to sleep. Easy flight.

“You two can work the front, and I'll be in the galley, my head is pounding today,” Dave says, and both Calvin and I glance at each other.

“But we need a senior with—”

“Yes, there needs to be one working in the first-class area, but I trust you,” Dave cuts in. “If you can just help me get things ready in the back, Calvin can greet the PAX.”

“Do you need any painkillers?” I ask as I join Dave in the galley to get the drinks ready.

“No, thank you. I took some before we boarded, and I‘ll take more in four hours. So, Calvin told me that there’s this—”

I lift my hand to cut Dave off, already knowing what Calvin has told him. “There’s nothing to say. I won’t even see him again, so there’s no point in having this conversation, is there?” I knew that Calvin would’ve told him about Trey.

“Never say never. He found out which hotel you were in, what makes you think there won’t be flowers on your doorstep when you get home?” Dave turns his head a little to the side as I ignore him.

Will there be flowers when I get home? Do I want flowers when I get home?