Marriage, Vegas Style, page 6
“Mother, I am going to fully support my fiance in every way. I'm not going to allow you to manipulate me or pressure me. Is that understood?”
“This isn't over. I'm sure your father will have something to say about your disloyal attitude. I cannot believe that the child I carried in my body for nine long arduous months can treat me in such a horrible manner. Willful, disobedient, and utterly useless.”
And there it was. Her mother's true feelings finally coming to the forefront. If she wasn't making the advantageous marriage her parents wanted, then she was, in essence, useless to them. A waste of time, space and money.
Although the phone wasn't on speaker, she knew Noah could hear every word, since her mother was practically screeching. She watched as he straightened to his full height, frowning. He moved away from his perch on the edge of the dresser and stalked the few feet to the bed, and pulled the phone from her hand.
“Marguerite, I've always known you were a liar and a cold-hearted bitch. Thankfully, your daughter didn't gain any of your deceitful attributes and is a wonderful, caring and loving woman who is going to be my wife. By the way, don't expect an invitation to the wedding. You won't be getting one.”
With a swipe of his finger, the call ended.
She shook her head as he handed her back the phone. “It's not over, you know. My dad's probably coming up with ways to make this work to his advantage as we speak.”
“I'm aware of how Broderick does business. I used to work with him. As long as you play your part, there's not a thing they can do to influence Mr. Yamamoto and the Japanese contingent.”
He reached forward and grasped one of the tendrils of wet hair draped over her shoulders, and twined it around his finger. “What happened in there…I didn't plan it. Are you okay?”
His concern touched her, and she felt a trickle of heat warming her from the inside. Other than her best friends and her sister, nobody cared enough to ask about her feelings. Maybe it was foolish, since weeks from now they'd be apart for good, but she wanted to spend every minute they had together being together.
“I didn't say no, Noah. I'm capable of making my own decisions, and I chose to make love with you. Are you okay? You didn't get anything out of it.”
He chuckled. “Trust me, watching your face, reading the pleasure you felt was more than enough. This time.” His head lowered and he nibbled at her lips, sucking the bottom one into his mouth and laving it with his tongue.
Her hands slid up and around his neck, threading her fingers into his hair. It was a little longer now than when he'd worked in Boston and she kinda liked it. It made him look—dangerous.
With a quick tug on her lip, he released her mouth and stood, offering his hand. “I'm probably going to be tied up in meetings, going over the plans and calculating some additional costs. I'll leave the credit card on the coffee table in the living room. I should be back here by about six.” He tugged playfully on one of her curls.
“I didn't know you had curls.”
“I usually flatiron it straight, otherwise it tends to be wild.”
His eyes lit with an inner fire. “I like wild, Cyn.”
She gulped and ducked her head, hiding her grin. “Okay, I'll leave it curly—for now.”
“Hand me your phone.” She passed it to him and watched as he put in his number. “In case you need me.”
He pulled her in for a hug, and she wrapped her arms around his waist, luxuriating in his warmth and the shared closeness. Right at this moment, she wished she could freeze time, and keep this memory forever. Reluctantly, she stepped back and tightened the knot on the towel, which had started to slip.
“Have fun with Kiko. I've got to get dressed. See you tonight.”
When he'd left the room, she collapsed on the bed and flopped onto her back. Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined her morning turning out like this. What a way to start the day.
Chapter Eight
Noah walked into the rented office space he shared with his business partner, Dean. He'd been flying back and forth between the Los Angeles office and Las Vegas, holding down the fort while Noah did most of the actual day-to-day dealing with the clients. He was already at his desk, because Noah could hear the calculator keys clacking behind the closed door. He knocked once before opening it.
“Things looking any better?”
“Hell, no. If anything, they're even worse than before. All our preferred vendors have increased their prices for this job. I can't figure out why they're coming in so much higher than we'd estimated. Some of these guys we've used on multiple jobs, but the quotes they're giving us are crap.”
“Have they given you any explanation for the inflated amounts?” Noah slumped down in his chair, and ran a hand through his hair. This was really bad news. If they couldn't get the cost of materials down for the major things needed to construct the massive structure, they'd be blown out of the water by their competition. These overruns were killing them.
“Nobody's admitting anything, but I talked to C & S Supplies clerk. You remember, the pretty little brunette with the big blue eyes?”
Noah bit back a laugh. If there was a pretty girl working with any of their suppliers, you could be damn sure Dean would know them, more often than not in the biblical sense.
“Yeah, I remember her.”
“Well, she didn't come right out and say it, but it was implied somebody claimed we didn't have the funding to pay for the supplies.”
“What the hell!” Noah sprang from his chair and towered over his partner's desk. Dean motioned for him to sit back down, and he reluctantly lowered himself back into the chair.
“I couldn't get her to actually implicate anybody, but if I had to guess, I'd say one of the other bidders on this job is spreading rumors and it's going to cost us a lot of time and effort to quash them. Any idea who might be to blame?”
Noah felt rage burning deep in his chest. The white hot fire of his anger spread upward, until his head felt ready to explode. Oh, he had a pretty good idea who was behind this. It was a tried and true tactic of his former boss.
“Who do I need to talk to first?” He seethed, realizing he'd have to calm down if he wanted to have a chance at dealing with the manufacturers and suppliers. Don't let the jackass get the best of you. When you take this contract away from him, you'll be the winner of both the casino contract and the girl. And she is a prize worth having. He smiled as he remembered their time in the shower that morning. Oh, yes, he definitely planned on repeating that again, maybe tomorrow morning after a long night of making love.
“Hello, Noah?”
He jerked back to the present, realizing Dean had been talking to him. “Sorry.”
“No problem. I'll deal with C & S Supplies. You might want to talk with Salvetto.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose, already feeling the beginnings of a headache at the thought of dealing with George Salvetto. They'd worked on previous jobs together and butted heads constantly. Salvetto was one of the biggest concrete suppliers for California and Nevada. They'd argued about quality constraints and cost overruns on other jobs. They were both type A personalities and neither wanted to give an inch.
“Have you gotten the final conceptual estimate from the building estimator yet?”
“He promised he'd have the final to us this afternoon.”
“What about the 3D printer availability? We need to get the mockup completed in time for the final presentation to Mr. Yamamoto and the consortium.” Noah reached for the blueprints he'd sat down when he'd come in. “The last of the changes were done last night after I met with them. We need that visual to show them exactly what it's going to look like when it's finished.”
Dean nodded. “We're scheduled to start printing today at noon. They've promised it will be completed the night before the final presentation.” He flipped a paperclip up in the air and caught it. “I've got to tell you, it was a stroke of genius coming up with the idea to do a 3D scale model of the casino and shopping complex. I know everybody involved can read blueprints, but to see an actual scale model with all the bells and whistles—pure genius.”
“Well, it better work because it's costing a bloody fortune. I'll drop these final plans off and go meet Salvetto. Wish me luck.” With a quick salute with the blueprints, he walked out the door and down to his own office space. He spread the blueprint sheets across his drafting table, looking over the modifications he'd made after he and Cyn had gotten back from dinner the night before.
The costs on the project were astronomical but the benefits far outweighed the risks. This was a make or break project for his firm, and while it wouldn't bankrupt him, he be damned if he'd let anything stand in his way.
Everything looked exactly how he envisioned it when he'd first been approached as one of the firms invited to bid. He couldn't help being a bit nervous. After all, this was the biggest job they'd contemplated undertaking but they were more than up to the task. He'd hired the best people for his team, from structural engineers to design engineers, and environmental specialists to ensure all national and local guidelines were not only met but exceeded.
The only thing left was to win the prize. That meant blowing the competition out of the water, fair and square. No shady deals, no underhanded back door bargains. He left that for other men, like Broderick Evans.
When all was said and done, and the dust settled, he planned on having not only the casino contract but the girl of his dreams. As far as he was concerned, when it came to Vegas, he intended to come out the big winner.
Chapter Nine
Cyn was having a ball. She'd picked up Kiko and then headed back to the Bellagio, where she'd made reservations for a full and complete spa day. They'd spent the latter part of the morning having full body massages and facials.
Kiko was hysterically funny, as she'd come to realize. The woman had never been to an American spa before. Heck, she'd never been all that pampered. She'd grown up in the country, a simple farmer's daughter who'd fallen in love with a businessman visiting her small community. When she'd married him, she had no idea that her entire life would be turned topsy-turvy.
The poor thing was like the proverbial fish out of water, and Cyn was just the girl to teach her all about relaxation and luxury.
“That tickles.”
Cyn laughed. “It won't tickle for long. Brace yourself, because this part is going to hurt a little.” She watched as the esthetician placed the cloth strip over the hot wax she'd just spread beneath Kiko's eyebrow.
“Ouch!” Kiko turned to glare at her. “I thought you said a little. That hurt a lot.”
“One more time and you're finished, I promise.”
“Hmm. Why do I suddenly not trust you?” Kiko leaned back and let the other eye be prepared, the wax sticking to all the little hairs. After a second, there was another shriek, and another glare.
“All done.” Their consultant covered up her supplies and left them alone. It was nearly time for their beauty appointments, where they'd get the full treatment. Hair, nails, and makeup. Cyn wanted Kiko to have a day she'd never forget—well maybe forget about the painful waxing.
“Do you go through that torture all the time, Cyn?”
She sputtered. “That's nothing. Some women have what's called a full Brazilian wax. Personally, I've never done one, but it's probably a lot more painful than just your eyebrows.”
“Full Brazilian? What is this?”
Uh oh. Maybe she'd crossed a little too far over into the too much information zone. “You're probably not ready for that one.”
Kiko frowned and narrowed her eyes, a move Cyn was quickly coming to realize meant she wasn't about to let the subject drop. “Tell me.”
“Okay. It's where a woman has all the hair removed from her…” she pointed to her vaginal area, and Kiko's eyes widened.
“People wax down there?”
“Oh, yeah. Smooth as a baby's bottom.” Cyn chuckled before crossing her legs and covering her hoo-ha.
“Why?”
What was she, the information police? “Well, I've never had it done, but I have a friend who writes—sexy books.” She watched the pink color flood Kiko's cheeks. “She said that her research showed women are more sensitive when the area is smooth, and it's more pleasurable for certain types of sexual activity.”
Kiko nodded sagely. “Oh, you are talking oral sex.”
Now it was Cyn's turn to feel the heat rush into her cheeks. Would her new friend never cease to amaze her? So calm and serene one moment, and then she blurts out about oral sex.
“Right.”
Kiko tilted her head, staring off into the distance for a long moment before turning back to Cyn. “We should have this done.”
Cyn swallowed so hard she nearly choked. “What?”
Kiko nodded vigorously. “It would please our men if this was done, yes? Therefore, we should do it.”
“You did hear the part about how it hurts, right? Be very sure you want to do it, because once you start, you don't want to stop halfway through.” Please let me talk her out of this.
Kiko stood and smoothed down her white terrycloth robe. “I understand. We will do this. Shall I call the attendant?”
Cyn threw her hands in the air. “I'll do it.”
Walking through the door, she eased it shut behind her and banged her forehead against the wall. Me and my big mouth. Next time, think before you insert your foot. Sheesh!
Within minutes, both women were ushered into separate rooms and underwent the agonizing embarrassment of having hot wax applied to their nether regions, having the hair yanked out by the roots, and then the cheerfully smiling attendant grabbed the tweezers to, as she so cheerfully put it, clean up the stragglers.
Cyn swore that it would be her first and only full Brazilian ever.
When she met Kiko in the hall, she took one look at her face and had to fight her laughter. Kiko looked like she felt, violated and in a lot of pain. Oh, and fully exposed and bare.
“You okay?” she whispered to her friend.
She nodded. “My husband had better think it worthwhile or there will be consequences.”
“Well, you can always make him get his waxed off.” She slapped her hand across her mouth when she realized what she'd said. What was wrong with her today, that she couldn't keep her mouth shut? She normally had more control of her fine motor skills—like talking.
Kiko's eyes grew as wide as silver dollars. “Men do this also?”
“Most men don't. I swear.” Cyn made a cross-your-heart motion. She definitely needed to rein herself in, before she lodged her foot any further in her mouth. “Time to get our hair done.”
“Okay.”
Seated in the salon chairs, Cyn knew exactly what she wanted done. She'd promised Noah she'd let her curls free, so she instructed her stylist to enhance the natural curls with a diffuser. The end result when she'd finished was astonishing. It had been so long since she'd allowed herself to be anything but the perfect polished princess her family expected. Even in school, she'd maintained that image.
But here, staring back at her in the mirror, was the real Cynthia Evans. The one she refused to let shine. It was the first step to loosening the stranglehold she'd allowed her family to maintain on her and it felt good. Really, bloody, marvelously good.
“You look beautiful.”
She spun around at Kiko's voice and took in her transformation. Her hair was trimmed into a stylish cut, shorter in the back and tapering longer toward her chin, curling under just enough to give it body. It suited her face and gave her a delicate ethereal appearance.
“Wow yourself. You look amazing.”
“I thank you for this, Cyn. I've never spent the day with another woman friend, having a girl's day out.”
Cyn stood up and impulsively gave Kiko a hug. “Well, hopefully this won't be the last time. I'd love to get together with you whenever you're in the States.”
“I would like that also. Thank you.”
They grabbed a cab and she dropped Kiko back at her hotel. Thank goodness she had Noah's credit card because she needed to pick up a few items, and her cash was depleted. It had been a long day and she had just enough time to grab a couple of things before meeting Noah back at the suite.
After picking up her purchases, she headed back to the hotel. Noah hadn't returned yet, so she decided to curl up on the sofa and check her messages. She eased down very cautiously onto the cushion, because darn it, that area was still kinda tender. With a quick slide of her finger across her phone, she scrolled through her missed call log.
Yep, dad had called several times. Fortunately, nothing from mom. Oh, yeah, Noah had pegged her when he'd called her a liar. She'd been the one to tell Cyn Noah would be marrying Hannah. Bet that would have been a big surprise for both of them. She loved her sister dearly, but also knew her mother would steamroller over her and she'd have ended up Mrs. Noah Cochran before the dust had settled.
There was a voicemail message from Charlotte, and she dialed, putting the phone on speaker. Her friend's voice came on quickly. She sounded breathless.
“Cyn, by the time you hear this I'll be halfway to Wyoming. It's a long story, and I'll get in touch as soon as I can. Jared took off without a word, so I'm chasing his sorry ass down and he'd better have a darn good explanation for leaving without a word.” Char laughed and Cyn couldn't hide her wince at the bitterness contained in the sound. “Don't worry, I'll call in a couple of days once I've caught up with him. Oh, and tell Diana I haven't been able to get hold of Gloria either. I'm getting worried—she's never not answered when one of us calls. Keep me posted. And good luck on your quest to find you know who. Love ya.”
“Which one of your friends was that?”
Cyn jumped at Noah's voice. She hadn't heard him come in. He settled down onto the couch beside her and stretched out his feet, leaning his head back against the pillows. He looked tired, she realized, noting the dark circles beneath his eyes, and the deeper lines beside his lips.
