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Johnny glanced at his watch. “As it is, we’re gonna be late. You took so fuckin’ long to get dressed.”
“But isn’t it aways worth the wait?” Caustic remarks were her only source of defense—and fun.
He shot her a long look, then diverted his attention back to his phone.
Nick greeted everyone personally as they entered the VIP area. Some of the guests had already been to the club while others had not. The newcomers showered him and Samson with compliments. They raved about the huge space having an intimate feel and much more comfortable than some of the vast clubs like Omnia or Hakkasan.
Everyone settled into the erotic atmosphere, enjoying the luxury, house music, endless flow of liquor, and the hottest male and female waitstaff. Nick’s constant communication with the bouncer at the door told him ninety percent of the people had arrived. As with any party, a twenty percent decline was expected.
Nick scanned the space again, checked with the door bouncer again, but clearly Johnny and Cheryl hadn’t showed yet. Logically, he told himself this was a party to celebrate their successful year in Vegas. Bring in important people and host the best party in town—but who the fuck was he kidding, he wanted to see Cheryl—and to really be fuckin’ honest—to rub Johnny’s nose in his success.
Nick was engrossed in a conversation with the general manager of LIV at the Fontainebleau when he caught a glimpse of Cheryl. Instead of taking the elevator up, she and Johnny chose the spiral staircase to the VIP area.
They reached the top of the stairs and Johnny immediately abandoned her to join a group of city officials. She stood alone leaning against the railing as if to regain her balance. Her eyes swept the room but they didn’t settle on him. Understandable with the crush of people, lights, and music.
The sleek black dress she wore differed from the one she wore in her home. She shifted to the side giving him a better look at the dramatically cut dress showing off every inch of her slender figure. The short dress tied at the neck, then plunged to the small of her back while the slight wave of her hair tumbled over her shoulders.
He stared but he didn’t care. When she turned in his direction their eyes connected.
9
Cheryl mentally prepared for the night ahead as she strained against the colored lights illuminating the VIP section. It took a few minutes to adjust to the crowd around her, and then she saw him. Staring right at her. Their eyes connected for less than a second but it was enough. Like a scene in a cheesy love story one second was all they needed.
She checked herself, squared her shoulders and kept her expression neutral. Just another night out socializing, but of course that was a lie. She was truly impressed by what Nick had accomplished. Back in New York he’d dreamed about owning a first-rate club like this and now this huge glittering gem in the heart of Las Vegas was his. Knowing the hard work him and Samson put in against many roadblocks, namely her father and his mob connections, made this even more spectacular.
Johnny appeared at her side whisking her to the other side of the room. They stopped at quite a few tables and finally settled with an eclectic group of guests ranging from elected officials to a celebrity chef. Johnny had no trouble regaling them with Hollywood gossip, but Cheryl was more than happy to remain quiet and scope out her surroundings.
She drank sparingly at these events. She couldn’t afford to have any secrets slip out at an inopportune time. Luckily, since arriving she hadn’t seen Nick again. She guesstimated there were at least one hundred guests, so getting lost in the crowd was a very real possibility. One she hoped to accomplish for the rest of the evening until it was time to leave—which couldn’t come too soon.
“Everyone enjoying themselves?” the deep voice rasped behind her and she slowly turned on the leather banquette.
“This is some hot place you got here.” Johnny’s booming voice was like a nuclear explosion. “I especially like the fish tank in the dance floor with the fuckin’ pariahs.”
“You mean piranhas?” Nick corrected with a smirk to the others at the table.
Cheryl snickered and Johnny threw her a deadly glare.
“Whatever.”
Nick switched his gaze to Cheryl. “I assume this is your lovely wife.”
Johnny jerked his head in her direction. “Yeah, Marie.”
Cheryl swallowed hard and forced a smile. “The club is beautiful.”
“Thanks.” Nick’s eyes lingered making the others at the table take notice, then flicked his gaze back to Johnny. “I didn’t know you got married. Was this before or after your stint in Rikers?”
Johnny’s jaw clenched, his complexion paled, then his expression hardened. “After.” He spit out the one word with venom.
Cheryl lowered her head and inwardly smiled at Nick’s comment. The last thing Johnny wanted to talk about in front of the city council was his prison record.
“Congratulations.” What Nick’s tone lacked in enthusiasm it made up for with sarcasm. “I had no idea.”
“I like to keep her to myself.” Johnny huffed out a dirty laugh. “In the bedroom where she does her best work.” Johnny glared in her direction and Cheryl feared he sensed the spark of tension between her and Nick.
“Isn’t that right, Marie?” He slapped her ass then squeezed it clearly stating she was nothing more than property.
Nick’s eyes widened and his fists clenched at his side, then he nodded to the other men and moved on. Johnny stared after him, probably annoyed at Nick’s lack of response.
