Dmitri looked at me sideways. “You seem interested in drugs.”
“Why not? A hundred grams would make more money than everything Caitlin and I have sold so far in our business.”
“You researched drugs too, didn’t you?”
I laughed. “No, but movies come in handy.” I noticed two menstanding at the door at the bottom of the stairs. They bowed to Dmitri, but he didn’t acknowledge them. He just walked through as they pulled the doors open.
We stepped in, except we weren’t on the casino floor. We were on a balcony above it. Excitement kicked in. I slipped my hand from Dmitri’s and moved to the railing, leaning forward to finally see what a casino actually looked like. My mouth fell open. The floor below stretched wide and low-lit in gold, every table occupied, people fully absorbed in cards, chips, and bets that seemed to carry weight far beyond money.
“Oh, my God.” My eyes moved across the floor and landed on the woman moving between tables. She wore bikinis, moving around as she served drinks to customers.
My excitement about the casino faded. I stepped back from the railing and crossed my arms. “I see,” I said. “So this is where you spend your nights. This is why you come home late. What a sight.”
He turned to me and smiled as if he found me more entertaining than anything below. He reached for me, but I stepped back.
“You know what? Forget drugs. I’ve changed my mind entirely. DK Holdings is clearly doing well. There must be real money in that direction.”
He still couldn’t seem to stop smiling. I looked back down, and honestly, those women were stunning. If I could look at them and admit it, there wasn’t a man in this room who could pretend otherwise.
I looked back at Dmitri. “You can look. Stop pretending I’m more interesting than what’s down there.”
“How cute.” He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me in. “Tell me something. Are you jealous?”
“Jealous?” I scoffed. “I am not jealous.”
“Yeah?” He leaned in and pressed his lips to my cheek.
“Do you come here every night?” I asked.
He kissed the side of my neck too, unbothered. “Why would I, when I have a wife?”
“Then why do you always come home late? You’re lying to me. Did one of them give you a lap dance? I’m sure they did.” I pushed him off. “You know what? I’m leaving. You just ruined our first date.”
He caught my hand before I could go far and pulled me back, my chest hitting his. “I love you too,” he murmured with a grin.
“I didn’t say I love you,” I said.
“You’re acting like you do.”
I sighed and turned my face. “I want you to eat dinner with us,” I said. “Dinners matter. They hold a family together. So, will you be coming home early?”
He didn’t respond at first.
I nodded slowly. “You can’t. I knew it.”
“Done.”
“You will?” I asked.
“That’s what my wife wants.” He kissed my chin.
I nodded, settling back into his hold. “That’s all, then.”
“Nothing else?”
That was enough for now. If I wanted something else, I would make it happen. One thing at a time.
“For our date, let’s just go for a ride,” I said.
