KING: Las Vegas Bad Boys(40)

Chapter Sixteen





Claire



As we walk toward the house–well, the freaking castle–something has changed. The shame I felt for not being honest, for hiding the thing I am most proud of, is still heavy on my heart. But Landon is looking at me differently. He didn’t ask me to leave. And what started as reckless sex in a shed became a moment more intimate than I have ever experienced.

We dressed quietly, he took my hand, and I swear to God to took my heart.

But I know this feeling of protectiveness over me is fleeting. Landon is such an alpha man that of course he’s surging with emotion right now. He thinks it’s his job to protect me, that I’m his responsibility.

But I don’t want to be anyone’s obligation. Landon and I played make-believe last night, and I know it confused the lines of what was real and what was fake.

Right now he thinks this is real. And even if I want it to be real, too, I’m not a fool. In the moment it might seem sexy to take claim over me. But the reality is a five-year-old girl he has never met. The reality is bed times and sippy cups and no other woman. Ever. I’d be a fool to think he’d give up so much for me.

Also, I don’t know if the only dirt Geoffrey found was the truth of my daughter. Or if he found more.

If he found everything.

“So this is how we’re going to spin it,” Landon says. “We go back in there, and we tell them that of course I knew about your daughter. That you were just upset to be blindsided that way.”

“You think they will care? I thought your old-school parents want the company to go to someone really traditional? This might compromise them even considering you.”

“Geoffrey is awful. Even with a kid, we’re a better choice.”

“Ouch.”

“What did I say?”

“Well, even with a kid is a pretty harsh way of putting it,” I tell him. “Like we’re second rate because of her.”

Landon’s lips turn to a frown. “Why did you hide her?”

“Because it isn’t anyone’s business.” I pull my hand from him and walk toward the house with crossed arms. Defensive, yes, but I am always defensive when it comes to Sophia.

“It isn’t about enjoying the time you have each day that doesn’t revolve around diapers?”

“There are no diapers.” I raise an eyebrow at him, interested to see where this leads.

“Wait, how old is your kid?”

“Sophia is five.”

“No shit?” Landon runs his hands through his hair. “You had her when you were a teenager?”

“Hate to break it to you, asshat, but I’m not the first woman to have a baby at nineteen.”

“I know.” Landon shrugs, uncomfortable. “It’s just hard to imagine. You’re so beautiful and smart and–”

“I think you should stop trying, Landon. You’re in pretty deep.” I shake my head, hating the fact that for a moment I actually thought that maybe, just maybe, Landon isn’t the guy I assumed he is. That maybe he would be my knight in shining armor.

“I know that all sounds bad ... but, look, I’m trying to picture the Claire I know with the Claire who has a five year old. I can’t believe you’ve kept her a secret.”

“It’s for exactly this reason. You see me totally different now.”

“Is that a bad thing? To be seen as you are?”

“As I am or as you see me? I think they are two different things.”

“I think this can become a game of semantics that I will indubitably lose.”

“Why, because I’m a mom?”

“Exactly.”

“Do you still want to do this? Really?” I ask him, wondering if we should cut our loses, screw the cash prize, and just go home. Me to my daughter, him to his hotel room.

“Do you?”

“Can you just man up and say what you want?” I brace myself for his reply.

“I want you.”

“Stop it, Landon. I can’t play that game.”

“Fine,” he says, seeming to swallow the rest of his words. “Let’s do what we came here to do. Show them how in love we are. How responsible I am. Fuck, they’ll think I’ve changed completely, now that a child is involved.”

“We can try,” I tell him, wanting to try because, even if my heart is all wobbly, falling all over in places it shouldn’t, I do want the money. It’s what I came here to do. Not fall for a guy I have no claim over.

I came here for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. I came here to change my life.





Landon


Holding her hand as we walk back in the house isn’t difficult. Mostly because watching Fiona and Geoffrey’s ghastly reaction to the entire scene is priceless. Everyone has their breakfast dishes cleared, and they appear to have been waiting for us to make our return.