Fool Me Once (First Wives Series Book 1)(11)
“Body language is important when selling used cars.”
His smile slid, but his eyes did that twinkle thing. He sized her up slowly. “I bet you’re into yoga?”
“Only on Sunday,” she said with a laugh.
“Why only Sunday?”
“Because the rest of the week I’m shimmying up a pole and collecting one-dollar bills all night.”
If she had to guess, the way he shifted his hips meant her comment made his mind go there.
“Now that I’d like to see.”
The bartender handed her the bill and walked away. She wrote her room number and scribbled a signature.
“Next time you’re in Vegas, let me know. I’ll hook you up.”
Mr. Single leaned back as their flirting came to a close. “A pole dancing stripper needs to work a lot of hours to afford a cruise like this.”
“Nawh, she just needs a sugar daddy, now if you’ll excuse me, my friends are waiting.”
He turned as she walked away. “Until next time, Miss Single.”
She lifted her hands. “I’m here all week.”
“Lucky me.”
Lori laughed as she walked away, ignoring the heat of his stare on her ass.
Chapter Four
Sugar daddy. Reed couldn’t help but wonder if Miss Single had one of those, past or present. He enjoyed the view as she sashayed away. Honey blonde hair, a sparkle in her blue eyes that wasn’t flighty like her overly animated friend’s. There had been a smirk behind her serious expression, and when she had started on the pole dancing line. She had curves, and that ass . . . yeah, a week on the open sea pursuing that one was a challenge he happily accepted. His eyes landed on the bill, which had her room number on it. One of the penthouse suites. He wasn’t surprised. This woman, and those she surrounded herself with, dripped with sophistication and money.
He took a pull on his longneck beer and opened the daily itinerary the ship provided. He reached for the pen left behind by Miss Single and circled a singles mixer dance party for later that night. None of the women Miss Single was with wore wedding rings, so it was safe to say he’d find them among the unattached on the ship.
His phone buzzed. A number from the States displayed without a name.
“Reed,” he answered, 99 percent sure who the caller was.
“How is Spain?” the female voice asked.
“Balmy.”
“I trust your accommodations are satisfactory.”
He glanced around the deck. “They’ll work,” he said without humor.
“Anything to report?”
“I’ve located my target.”
“Well, I hope so. That suite didn’t come cheap.”
Reed looked around the Haven’s private accommodations and was glad he wasn’t paying the bill.
“She’s traveling with friends.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know yet, I’ve been on board less than an hour.”
She muttered something crass. “I will call you in Rome.”
“Until Rome.” He hung up and signaled the bartender for his bill.
“Don’t look.”
Funny how when someone tells you not to look, that’s exactly what you want to do. Lori found her eyes drifting from the spinning ball on the roulette table.
Shannon elbowed her gently.
Lori snapped her attention away from the table.
“He cannot take his eyes off you.”
“Who?”
The croupier called out the number, placed his marker on the board, and paid out the winners. Sadly, Lori wasn’t one of them.
She took the moment to pick up her drink and briefly scan the room.
Sure enough, Mr. Single stood on the opposing side of the craps table, watching her.
Instead of pretending she didn’t notice him, she lifted her glass in salute and smiled. It felt good to flirt, even though it was against her better judgment.
His answering grin was mixed with mischief.
“That’s the guy you were telling us about, isn’t it?” Shannon asked.
“Sure is.”
“Wow, he is something to look at.”
Lori hummed.
“Needs a haircut, though.”
Lori broke eye contact with him and turned to Shannon. “I know, right?” She set her chips on the table and stood back.
“Place your bets,” the croupier told them. Shannon leaned across Lori to reach the higher numbers.
When Lori looked back up, Mr. Single was gone. A hair of disappointment wiggled up her spine.