Page 43 of Shameless
“You know this is the only day we can sightsee since I have work.”
“I’ve been to The Strip,” he argued and kissed my throat.
“So, you’d rather stay in bed and watch sappy movies all day?”
He raised his head and met my stare. “Um, no. Let’s watch football.”
“I’m not watching football all day.” I rolled my eyes. I didn’t mind watching Dallas play since I’d grown up watching the Cowboys when I lived in Texas, but watching hours of men ramming into each other and trying to get a ball wasn’t something I wanted to do.
“It’s Sunday.”
“Then how about you stay here and watch football and I’ll go do something else?”
He shook his head. “No, sweet thing. I’m just teasing you. I’m a gambler at heart and itching to check out the casinos.”
“You mean lose your money?”
“Hell no. I bet there’s some hold’em tournaments. I’ll run the tables.”
“Will you buy me something pretty then?” I batted my eyes playfully. I didn’t mind if he wanted to play cards because I too liked to gamble. It was one of the reasons I stayed away from The Strip, but since Blake was in town for only a few days, I figured he’d want the Vegas experience. I would play some slots while he played in a tournament.
“I’d buy you the moon if I could.”
My heart melted. “There you go again.”
His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“Making me all giddy with your words.”
“They’re only the truth.”
I swallowed, wanting to confess how much I liked him but also scared that whatever we had was just a fling in some way. I wanted to believe it wasn’t, given that he’d come to Las Vegas and was staying with me, but he also had to come because of his company. But then, he’d gone out of his way to plan the perfect afternoon where we could be alone and watch the sunset within only a few hours of him getting to town.
Before I could say anything, he rolled onto his side and faced me. He said, “I’ll be honest with you. I never expected to want to be in a relationship with someone so soon after being engaged and almost getting married. Hell, I wasn’t looking, that’s for damn sure, but the weeks we were apart, all I could do was think about you.” He trailed his finger along my cheek. “Wondered what you were doing at that exact moment, or what you had for breakfast. I know we talked a lot over the phone, but it’s not the same.”
“So, what are you saying?” I wondered.
“I’m really hoping I can find a good location for Club 24 and it works out so I can move here and see where our relationship goes.”
“Like boyfriend and girlfriend?”
His finger trailed down my neck. “Yeah, if you want to put a label on it.”
I sat up and wrapped the sheet around my chest. “Are you ready to be in an exclusive relationship again?”
“I think if it were anyone else, I would say no, that I want to keep just being friends with benefits.”
“Then why me?”
“Your laughter, your wit, your charm, your sweet sexy ass.” He grinned and I snickered. “In all seriousness, you’re an amazing woman who I want to learn more about each and every day. I think things happen for a reason. Everything in my past has led me to this day, this time, this place. If there is an opportunity here, I don't want to let it pass by without seizing it and seeing what happens.”
“Wow,” I breathed, not sure what else to say. Banging on the front door startled me. “What the hell?”
“Expecting someone?”
“Uh … No.”
“Want me to go see who it is?”
