"Because it's important to me to treat you, that's all. End of story."
I bit my lip. I needed to say one final thing about what happened at the pool before I could put it to rest. "I hated seeing you touch her, Carson, and that scared me too," I said quietly.
He closed his eyes for a beat, dropping his head. When he looked back up into my eyes, his own were filled with regret. "I used her to get back at you. It was wrong on so many levels." He shook his head slightly. "I didn't know what to do with it. I've never been… jealous before. It was unchartered waters."
"You were jealous?" I asked. "Of Parker?"
He nodded. "Yeah. I wanted to drown him in the pool."
I laughed, but quickly covered my mouth and shook my head. "That's not nice."
He smiled. "No, it's not. It's also illegal. So I held myself back and chose to be an ass**le instead." His face went serious. "I really am sorry."
I smiled and said softly, "Me too." I paused, looking into his sincere eyes. "Half an hour?"
He nodded. "Yeah. Half an hour."
On his way to standing up, he stopped and brushed his lips on mine. "See you soon."
He walked out the door and I fell back on the bed. "Life is wild," I reminded myself quietly.
After a few minutes, I got up and hopped in the shower. I shaved everywhere and then got out and patted myself dry. I spritzed on some perfume, just a little, and then blew my hair dry and used a curling iron until it fell down my back in soft curls. I applied a little more makeup than I usually did, including two coats of mascara to darken my light brown lashes. They wouldn't be anywhere near as lush as Carson's, but nature was cruel that way; giving long, dark lashes to boys who didn't appreciate them. I kept my mind on mundane things while I got ready, turning on the radio and singing along to a few songs as I got dressed.
Not knowing if I'd go out to a nice dinner or not while I was here at the conference, I had only brought one cocktail dress, a little black number that I had borrowed from Abby that was hanging in the closet. It was short and strapless with an eyelet lace embellished waist and skirt that flared out. It was sexy, yet demure. I loved it and I hoped Carson would too. I slipped on my black heels just as I heard a knock at my door.
When I opened it, Carson was standing there in a pair of black dress slacks and a light, sage green shirt that did all kinds of crazy things to the color of his hazel eyes. He had obviously done a little something with his hair–slicked it back slightly. He started to grin, but then his face went serious as he looked me up and down. "Not nice, Buttercup."
I laughed. "What do you mean?"
"How am I supposed to sit through an entire meal when all I'm going to be thinking about is getting you back up to my room and f**king you senseless? That dress does crazy things to me."
I laughed and shook my head as I grabbed my room key and my license. I handed them to Carson. "Do you have room in your pocket for these?" I asked.
He took them and put them in his back pocket as he took my arm.
"Where are we going?" I asked as we stepped on to the elevator.
"I made a reservation at Olives. That okay?"
"Yes. I mean, I haven't been to any of the restaurants here."
He pulled me to him as the elevator made its descent, enveloping me in that singular scent that made my hormones flash fire through my body. I couldn't help leaning into him and sticking my nose in his neck, inhaling deeply.
He chuckled. "You like the way I smell, Buttercup?"
"Mmmm," I breathed, not coming up for air.
"I like the way you smell too," he whispered. "It makes me hard." And I could feel that indeed it did.
I leaned back, looking up at him, that spark flaring between us.
"Do you have running shoes?" he asked.
I raised an eyebrow, confused at the unexpected change of subject. "Planning on ditching the bill?" I asked.
He laughed. "No, I was thinking we could go hiking tomorrow morning if you're up for it. Red Rock Canyon has some beautiful trails. We'd have to go early though. In the summer, it gets pretty hot by the afternoon."
We stepped off the elevator.
"I'd like that," I said. "I did bring running shoes. Remember though, I have to be back for the one conference presentation at two. I'm trying to get into a law class in the fall and the professor who teaches it is presenting tomorrow."
"We'll be back in plenty of time for that." He looked at me. "What time does your flight leave on Monday?"
"Six a.m." I said quietly. "Yours?"
"Seven. We could ride to the airport together."
I nodded but decided I didn't want to think about that. We were here now and I was going to enjoy the last of our time together.
We arrived at Olives and I looked around. It was beautiful, with the same Mediterranean style as the rest of the Bellagio. I waited back a bit as Carson leaned in and spoke to the hostess. She giggled and nodded her head and he smiled back at me, offering me his arm as we followed the hostess to our table. We walked out on to the balcony, overlooking Lake Bellagio where we had watched the fountain show and I gasped. "It's beautiful," I whispered. Carson just smiled at me and pulled out my chair. "It's not hot dogs on the strip, but I figured, we gotta eat, even if we have to slum it." He winked at me.