Too Grand for Words (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (9 page)

Vince was a savvy businessman. With an almost imperceptible expression, it was enough for Steven to send a message. One that said, “don’t go there.”

“My ex-wife and my girls read all your books. They loved them. They’re a real hit. You’re very talented, Ms. Viterra,” Vince offered.

“Thank you,” she said.

“Did you feel that quake a couple hours ago?” Vince asked.

“Yeah, we felt it all right,” he said. “There wasn’t any damage here, was there? It was pretty strong out in the canyon.”

“Not too much. A few things fell over, but I think we’re getting used to them now. There’s been so damn many lately.” Vince extended his hand. “I gotta go, so I’ll see you tomorrow. It was nice to meet you, Moira. Hey, are you staying here at my hotel?”

“Yes.”

“That’s great. What if I send some books up to your room—would you sign them for me? My ex would get a kick out of that, and my girls.”

“Of course, it would be my pleasure.”

“Tomorrow at three, I’ll meet you at the clubhouse, Steven.”

Moira swirled like a dervish, glaring at him as soon as Vince walked away. “You know Vince Laker? You’re golfing with Vince Laker?” Without waiting for an answer, she abruptly turned to leave.

Before she could get too far, he gently grasped her arm. “Moira, wait. I know him through business. We’ve known each other for years, long before he owned half the town. It’s not a big deal.”

“How the hell did he make the leap to knowing who I was?”

He swallowed. Jesus why the hell did she have to be so on the ball? “He probably saw your face on the back of your book. He has to learn faces quickly. He’s a shrewd businessman.”

She planted her hands on her hips, eyeing him. “I’m not buyin’ it. Something else is going on here.”

“He said his daughters read your books. It’s his business to know people.”
Christ, she’s not buying it all right.
What the hell was he going to do?

“Fine, I’m going to go take a shower,” she said, slipping from his grasp.

Moira practically ran away from him, and he knew exactly what she was doing. He dove for his cell phone and dialed quickly. “For the love of God, Vince,” he began.

“Steven?”

“Yes, just listen to me. Moira’s on her way in and she’s coming after you. I haven’t really been up-front with her.”

“Up-front meaning?”

“She doesn’t know who I am, and I want it to stay that way. At least for a while.”

“I see. Yup, there she is, and she’s looking for someone. Guess that would be me.”

“Jesus, just…”

“Don’t worry, Steven. I think I get it. You’re trying to impress her so the negotiations run smoothly. A little wining and dining can’t hurt.”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then what exactly?” Vince asked with curiosity.

He stuck his free hand deep in his jeans pocket, taking a few steps toward the car. “I don’t know. I just want a chance to get to know her, it doesn’t have anything do with—”

“She’s seen me, and she’s coming, and looking very determined I might add.” He chuckled. “Don’t worry, old friend. I won’t blow your cover.”

Moira ran into the resort, searching the casino floor quickly. “Which way, which way?” she said to herself. She spotted Vince and darted after him. Security watched her with interest. If she appeared too frenzied they might just leap on her. “Mr. Laker,” she called out.

Vince was putting his cell phone away when he saw her. “Ms. Viterra.”

 
“Mr. Laker, I know this is going to sound like an odd question, but—” Damn, he had made her resort to this. She was being ridiculous, not to mention unprofessional. “Who is Steven Porter?”

“Who is Steven Porter? Sounds like you know him already.”

“I mean, what does he do? Why does everyone know who he is but me? Why do you know him, for God’s sake?”

“Through business,” he said, turning and beginning to walk.

She kept up to him, getting the feeling that she’d already been had. Vince appeared to be a reasonable man. Somewhere in his fifties, and dressed in an expensive suit, he radiated the aura of a man well heeled. Like Steven, he had a presence, although it seemed harsher, grittier. He didn’t stand that much taller than her, but something about him said, ‘don’t mess with me.’ She imagined he would have to be like that in order to have accumulated all the wealth that he had.

“What kind of business?” she asked. “He’s not a crook, right?”

Vince broke into a hearty laugh. “No, Ms. Viterra, he’s not a crook, although some might think that. He’s a damn good businessman though.”

“Business in what?”

“He hasn’t told you, huh?”

“Well, to be honest, no. We’ve been kind of playing this cat-and-mouse game, and I think he’s enjoying it more than I am. I’m just trying to find out what he does. Why would people know who he is unless he was someone—important?”

“And that bothers you,” he stated.

“Of course it bothers me. I’m an officer with the Coast Guard, I’m not a…a…” Her attention wandered to the casino floor where a woman dressed to the nines, coiffed to the tune of thousands strolled by. “Her. I’m working class, not a blue blood.”

“Ms. Viterra.” His voice lowered a notch. “I don’t think Steven would give a shit about that. But do I need to remind you that you are a best-selling author, and that does carry some weight, you know.”

“That’s nothing compared to my real job,” she said, waving the thought off with her hand. “Well, shit.” She ran her hand through her hair, she felt like pulling it out actually. “You’re not going to tell me either. In fact, that was Steven on phone when I ran up, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, it was. And no, I’m not going to tell you what he does. I’ll leave that up to him. I can tell you that he’s intrigued by you, and for him—that’s unique.”

“Why—?” She gazed at all the beautiful women that roamed around the casino. “Why…” The question died on her lips again.

“Why—doesn’t he have some woman hanging off him already?”

Her brows pulled together. “Yes.”

“Always did before,” he offered. “I would think that eventually he, like every man, wants someone who means something, not just fluff. I’ve known him for years, and he’s had it all, has it all, but the one thing he never did do was settle down. He’s never been married except to his business aspirations. And once he acquired what he wanted he was pretty well covered with women.” He paused. “Well, the guy’s always been covered by women to be honest, lucky bastard.” He chuckled.

“And what were those aspirations?” she asked, trying to get that one by.

Vince shook his head. “Sorry, Moira, I promised him I wouldn’t divulge.”

Frustrated, she knew she was getting nowhere with Vince. “Fine, guess I’ll just have to Google him. Where are the computers in this place?”

“We have a room for computer use toward the elevators for the suites.”

“Great, thank you. And it really was nice meeting you, even if I did drill you a little. I’m sorry, but he’s driving me crazy.”

“Wouldn’t you rather hear it from him? If you look him up you’re going to find him, and I think you’re going to misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand?”

“It’s important that he tell you. He will when he wants to, but until then—have fun.” He gave her a friendly smile and extended his hand. “It’s no wonder you write such good books. You’re a pretty zealous sleuth.”

“Comes with my other job, too,” she said, shaking his hand.

“Are you here by yourself?”

“No, I brought some off my officers for their first adventure to Vegas. The girls and I are all crammed into one room actually.”

“Well I think I can take care of that. How many are with you?”

“There are five of us.”

He nodded at her. “Go to the
VIP
check-in in a few minutes and it’ll be rearranged.”

“Thank you,” she said, still deliberating on his words of advice.

She spotted her crew, and gave a quick wave.

“Who was that?” Callie asked, as Vince walked away.

“That, my dear, was Mr. Las Vegas, Vince Laker.”

“What? No way,” Mandy said.

“I think we’re getting new room assignments. We have to go to check in in fifteen minutes.”

“What’s happening?” Sasha asked as she caught up to the group.

“I think he’s putting us in separate rooms,” Moira told her.

“Who?” Sasha asked, still not up-to-date.

“Vince Laker.”

“You know Vince Laker?” Sasha said, her eyes rounding. “Here we thought you were an impoverished government employee like the rest of us.”

“I don’t know him, Steven does,” Moira corrected.

“Never mind, the important thing is I get my own shower,” Callie said happily. “Now I don’t have to share with you counter hogs.”

“Hey,” Patti said, giving her a scowl. “We’re not the ones with a ton of makeup and so many creams it would make the Oil of Olay factory feel needy.”

Callie turned to her coworker with her hands on her hips. “Maybe you should have tried some and you wouldn’t be all wrinkly at thirty.”

Patti gazed at Mandy for help. “Can I kill her now? The staffing cut wouldn’t be that bad.”

“Callie, I hate to tell you this, but you’re gonna get all wrinkly one day, too,” Mandy said.

They all laughed as they watched Callie stomp toward an empty slot machine.

“Was I that naive at twenty-one?” Mandy asked.

“Nah, you were like a little old lady already,” Moira confided.

“Thanks, ma’am.”

“Don’t mention it. So, should we go have a drink while we wait?” Moira suggested.

“Sounds good,” Sasha said, leading the way. “The one thing I can always do, is drink.”

Moira let the other women walk ahead, then grabbed Mandy’s arm to stop her.

“What’s wrong, Moira?” Mandy asked, reading her face.

“Mandy, Steven is coming back to get me for lunch. I don’t think I should go.” She twisted her hands together.

“Why not? It’s just lunch with a gorgeous guy.”

“Mandy, you’ve seen him. Why would he want to take me out for lunch? Besides, he knows Vince Laker, personally. Steven is not just some regular working stiff. He drives an ultra expensive car, he knows people like Laker. And when Steven introduced us Vince knew who I was.”

“Moira, you’re starting to sound paranoid. Of course people know who you are. You wrote a bunch of best sellers, duh.”

“Fine, maybe, but Steven doesn’t make sense.”

“Okay” She stared at her.

“Okay what?”

Mandy wrapped her arm around her shoulder. “I know you never take advice. You never listen to anything except those inner demons of yours, but for once hear me out.”

She nodded for Mandy to go on.

“Life doesn’t end with a crappy marriage. You’ve had one, and I’ve had one, but you don’t see me rolling over and dying.”

“I didn’t roll over and die.”

“No, you just holed yourself up at work or in front of your computer, and now you’re living your life through that.”

“You know why I do that.”

“You can’t possibly believe that’s true.”

“Really, an earthquake strikes, and I almost slip to my death.”

“Moira, it’s coincidence.”

“Maybe it is, but I don’t need anything more than work and my hobby.”

“I guess you’re missing my point.”

She shrugged.

“This is Las Vegas. You are an attractive woman in the prime of your life, and a blistering-hot man has asked you for lunch.”

“A blistering-hot man who won’t tell me who he is. What if he’s some kind of syndicate boss, a hit man, or a drug lord?”

“Shit, woman, no wonder you write books. Give your head a shake, Moira. Stop making him into something bad. You never know.” She paused. “Maybe he’s someone very good, or better yet, very good at something if you catch my drift.”

She swallowed hard. “Ah…”

Mandy grinned at her discomfort. “I’ll say it the way you can understand it. Take that over-the-top, sizzling body of his, and screw his bloody brains out the first chance you get.”

“Mandy!”

“Oh don’t Mandy me. Just listen to me for a change. The man practically stripped down naked in the cave. You can’t tell me you weren’t attracted to that?”

“May–Maybe,” she stuttered.