“I did. I saw an attractive, confident woman sitting at the bar. I sat and said hi.”
“Which I’m sure you do all the time.”
“Not as often as you think,” he mumbled.
“But you did. And we talked. I was shocked that you approached me and maybe it gave me the courage to continue with that act.”
“So that is what it was?”
He wasn’t so sure he liked that, but it was explaining the different versions he’d gotten about her from her father and Blair. He was more in line to believe Blair and his own opinion mixed in.
“The short version. We had a few drinks, you were easy to talk to. When you jokingly threw out the suggestion for your room, I was going to say no, but that wasn’t the word that came out.”
He wanted to grin at that, but held it in. “It was a great night.”
Her face flushed deeper. “It was. And then I woke up with the ‘oh shit’ moment. Having never done it before, I didn’t know what I should do, how to act, nothing. It was better for me to leave on my terms. I only went to my room. Let’s be honest, I’m sure you could have figured out who I was if you wanted with Eli owning the casino. I know you have some shares too.”
He wasn’t surprised she knew that. “I could have. I didn’t.”
“And by you not doing that, it told me what I already knew but saved me even more embarrassment that I was just another mark on a list.”
“Actually,” he said, leaning back. “Since you’re being so honest, I’ll share the same. That isn’t why I didn’t do it. My brother and Griffin?—”
“Griffin?”
“Eli’s head of security and best friend. He’s like the fourth Bond son. I didn’t need them to know I’d been ghosted. I’d never hear the end of it.”
“And that’s the only reason?”
“It is. I wanted your number. I wanted to know more about you. I hadn’t wanted it to end that way.”
“That’s why I’m here? For that reason?”
“Some. The other is the job.”
“You’d really want me to be your assistant after what happened?” she asked. “I’m not sure that’s wise and you come across as a fairly intelligent man.”
“Thanks, I think,” he said, laughing.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to insult you.”
“It’s not nearly as bad as waking up to an empty hotel room.”
“Sorry there too, but I told you why.”
“You did. Moving on to the second reason you’re here.”
“That’s it?” she asked. “You’re going to act like it didn’t happen?”
No, he wasn’t. He didn’t want to.
But she did. And in order for him to have another shot at her, he had to let her think he was doing it.
“Isn’t that what you want?”
She held his gaze. “It’s for the best.”
“I can put it behind me if you can. If you can’t and would rather not proceed with the interview, I’m good there too.”
