Page 5 of His Lair
I look around. I don’t know why he’s talking to me like we know each other. We don’t. “Ah… yeah.” I nod like an idiot, because I can’t think straight when I’m around him. My body is yelling at me to jump him and get the release I’m desperate for.
“Have you eaten?”
“Eaten?” I parrot him.
“Yeah, dinner?” Sammie places a hand on my lower back, guiding me out of the casino door.
“Um, no,” I tell him, trying to relax my body. I avoid people touching me, unless I initiate it. I’m just not that into physical contact.
“Great. I’m starving. Join me,” he says. He’s not asking. He’s telling me I’m joining him for dinner.
“I don’t want to bother you, sir. I have a really tasty bowl of ramen waiting for me at home.” I force an awkward smile on my face. It’s not that hard to do. This whole situationisawkward.
“You think it’s a bother to have dinner with a beautiful woman?” Sammie chuckles.
I can feel the blush creep up my neck and cheeks. Right now, I feel every bit the naïve college girl I’m pretending to be. I’m also at a loss for words.
“Cute.” Sammie chuckles. “Come on, I know a great place. You like burgers?”
“It would be very un-American of me if I didn’t.” My stomach rumbles as Sammie guides me to the right of the casino, his hand never leaving my waist.
People on the street part when they notice us. Or I should say noticehim. I can feel the presence of the two soldiers he has at our backs. They’re about four steps behind us and do not blend into the crowd whatsoever.
“Do you ever get used to the staring?” I whisper.
“What staring?” Sammie asks.
“Everyone is looking at you.” I glance around at the crowd, at the eyes focused on the man at my side.
“Nah, they’re not looking at me. They’re all just wondering what deal I made with the devil to get you next to me.” He winks, and my stomach does a little flip.
“Smooth, but theyarelooking at you,” I tell him. “I take this same walk on the regular and never get this kind of attention.”
“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t notice you, Lailani.” Sammie turns and guides me into Johnny Rockets.
“Johnny Rockets? This is the place you know?” I lift a curious brow while doing my best to ignore his comment. I’m not blind. I know he notices me. A little more than I’d like him to.
“Yeah, you heard of it?” he asks.
“No, never,” I deadpan. There’s a Johnny Rockets on almost every corner of this strip.
“Well then, you are in for a real treat, babe.” He guides me into the fast-food restaurant.
Sammie slides into a booth that faces the front entrance. It takes everything in me to position myself on the opposite seat. I’ve been trained to keep an eye on the exit, on who is coming and going. I can’t be that girl right now, though. Right now, I’m just your average struggling college student.
I pluck the menu from the table and scan it for the least messy option I can find. The problem is they’re all really big burgers. “What is your poison?” I ask, trying to get a gauge on what Sammie’s ordering.
“I always go for the triple bacon,” he says. “How about you?”
“Single bacon,” I reply, dropping the menu.
“I’ll go up and order. Anything else?” he asks me.
“A side of fries—oh, and some onion rings and a Coke. Please.” I pull out a twenty from my bag and hold it out to him.
“What is that?” He eyes the bill like it’s personally offended him.
“For my meal,” I state the obvious.
