Alluring Read online

  Alluring by Sarah Curtis Copyright © 2015 by Jeanine Grasso

  All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this publication may be replicated, redistributed, or given away in any form without the prior written consent of the author. The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarities to real persons, alive or dead, and events are coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Cover image © iStock.com/Iconogenic

  To my husband

  Without his support and encouragement

  this book would have never happened

  I love you

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Epilogue

  CHAPTER ONE

  "You have to go. I have a ticket for you and everything," Steph wheedled over the line.

  Alexis Taft sighed into the phone. She so did not want to have this conversation right now at six-thirty on a Wednesday night. She had just gotten home from her day job as the receptionist at a Mercedes-Benz dealership. She was exhausted and still had to eat dinner before heading to her night job, as a cocktail waitress at the Allure hotel and casino, on the Las Vegas Strip.

  Being April Fool's Day, her coworkers had played jokes on each other all day, causing unnecessary mayhem. As the receptionist and focal point at the dealership, one of her duties was to keep everyone in line especially when they acted like children. She hoped the same thing didn't happen tonight.

  "When's the party again?" Alexis asked.

  "A week from Saturday," Steph said, sounding excited.

  "Steph, you know I have to work Saturday nights. I can't afford to miss a shift."

  "You can not afford to miss this event. Do you know how difficult it was for me to get these tickets? I had to sleep with Brad from accounting. Everybody who is anybody will be there. It'll be epic. So please say you'll go. Please. Please. Please. You're my best friend you have to do this with me."

  Alexis felt her resolve slipping. She could never say no to Stephanie Willis once she started pleading. She was such a sucker. "I'll see if I can get someone to take my shift, but I'm not making you any promises." Alexis had to hold the phone away from her ear when Steph started whooping through the line.

  "I know you'll find someone. There's always somebody wanting to make some extra dough. We'll go shopping Saturday morning. We need the perfect dresses."

  "Okay. You know, I don't have a lot of money to spend, but maybe, I can find something on sale." At what point in this conversation did she become resigned to the fact that she would be going? "Now let me go. I only have an hour before I have to leave for work, and I still have to eat something."

  Alexis leaned against the kitchen counter, spooning yogurt, and thinking about next Saturday night. Steph was right. The event will be huge. Allure was having a grand-opening party for their new nightclub, Pulled. People had been talking about it for months. She'd heard the owner of the hotel, Jackson Cole, always tried to think of new ways to revamp the hotel to keep it fresh. And it seemed to work, Allure was the most popular hotel on the strip.

  Alexis started working at Allure two years ago when she turned twenty-one, and had met Steph her first week. The heel of Alexis's shoe broke during one of her shifts. As she stood in front of her locker, cursing the fact that she didn't have an extra pair of shoes, Steph walked into the lounge.

  "What size shoe do you wear?" she asked, opening her locker.

  "Seven," Alexis said, taking in the petite blond with big boobs and even bigger hair.

  "These are a six and a half, but they're sandals so I think you can get away with it."

  Alexis gratefully took the sandals. The heels were higher than she usually wore, but she would make do. "Thanks, you're a lifesaver."

  "Don't think nothin' of it. Us girls have to stick together."

  And they did, becoming fast friends. The recent death of her mother and her sister leaving for college, had left Alexis heartbroken and alone, and Steph had recently had a bad break up with a long-term boyfriend. The two kept each other company and helped each other heal.

  And now because of that friendship, she would go to a party that she didn't really want to go to and couldn't really afford. But she would do it for Steph because Steph had done a lot for her.

  Alexis parked her dark-blue Toyota Sentra in the employee parking area then made her way to the employee lounge to change into her uniform. Allure's cocktail waitress outfits were racy and although she hated how much skin it exposed, she didn't hate the tips that it produced.

  The outfit was a black, one-piece, halter style bathing suit with an attached black and gold striped mini skirt that barely covered her ass. Thankfully, it had built-in bra cups because the back was nonexistent and wearing a bra would be an impossibility. Sheer, black stockings and three- inch, black pumps completed the look.

  Alexis went to the mirror to touch up her fire-engine-red lipstick (that and mascara was all she usually wore) and looked at herself critically. She had mid length, curly, brown hair currently up in a messy bun and brown eyes. She hated her full cheeks and wished they showed more cheekbone definition, but her long, thick eyelashes made up for that. She was five-foot four with decent sized breasts and a flat stomach. Her hips and booty were a bit on the wide side because she hated to exercise, but over all, she was all right. Not gorgeous. Not ugly. Average.

  Alexis left the lounge and made her way to the casino floor. All casinos had particular sounds and smells. Overhead music playing popular pop hits. The bells and dings from a variety of slot machines. The excited cheers and shouts of people winning. The light trace of cigarette smoke hanging in the air. The various brands of perfume and cologne. And the smell of desperation.

  Alexis worked in the high roller section of the casino. Being a weeknight, the congregation of gamblers on the casino floor was small, but she did spot a few regulars that she saw almost nightly.

  She stopped at a poker table that had four men sitting around it. Three, she knew by name. The fourth guy was new. After a moment of stunned staring, she reluctantly pulled her eyes away from New Guy's devastatingly handsome face. She had never seen anyone so beautiful. He made her heart beat faster, and she had a hard time swallowing. Trying to keep a professional expression, she said, "Good evening gentlemen. Can I get you something to drink?"

  Hank, a gray-haired, distinguished looking man, impec
cably dressed in a dark-gray suit, white shirt, and pink tie spoke first. "I'll have a gin and tonic."

  She had her drink tray tucked between her hip and her left hand, as she wrote Hank's order on a pad of paper that rested on top of the tray.

  Mike and Sam were thirty-something friends that came to the casino often and only played poker. Both were average looking. Mike had blond hair and blue eyes. Sam had brown hair and brown eyes. They were always well dressed and polite. They ordered their usual beers.

  Alexis turned her attention back to the new guy. His light-brown hair was longish, falling over his ears and down his neck. The top was tousled, as if he'd ran his fingers through it and a large chunk fell across his forehead in messy disarray. His sharp cheekbones transitioned into a strong jaw, covered in at least a few days worth of growth and his firm, full lips sat under a long, straight nose, in perfect proportion to his face.

  But, his eyes were what held her spellbound. They were a deep, forest-green surrounded by thick, dark lashes. Beautiful. "And you sir?"

  "I'll have a water," he drawled, leaning back in his chair and stretching his arms over his head, causing his muscles to pull and flex. He wore a Cowboys football jersey that he seemed to fill out rather well, considering it was a baggy shirt. Alexis forced her eyes back to her pad as she jotted down his order. Then not daring to look at him again, she turned and walked away.

  She stopped periodically, taking a few more drink orders on her way to the bar. Andy, a tallish, lanky, dirty-blond, surfer type was the bartender on duty.

  "How's it going mi amigo?" He asked, in a really bad accent.

  Alexis smiled. "Isn't it supposed to be amiga because I'm feminine?"

  A stray lock of hair fell into his eyes as he shrugged. Tilting his head, he said, "There's no doubt that you are one hundred percent feminine."

  "Just fill my orders, please," Alexis said, putting a stop to his banter. You would think after two years, she would be used to the flirting but she wasn't. She always felt slightly uncomfortable around the opposite sex but when they flirted or started coming-on to her, she got down right nervous. She blamed her awkwardness on never having a boyfriend while growing up. Going to school, working, and tending a fatally ill parent didn't leave much room for socializing.

  And now, she still didn't have time to socialize. Having to pay her mother's medical bills and her sister's college tuition, she needed to work two jobs. She didn't have time to go out on dates or have a boyfriend so as pathetic as it sounds, she was still a virgin at the age of twenty-three. A couple of times, she thought about taking one of the guys who hit on her home, to get rid of her virginity once and for all, but in the end she couldn't do it. As corny as it sounded, she wanted her first time to be special and with someone she cared about. An impossible feat, she knew, if she never dated.

  She circled her way around her section, dropping off drinks until she arrived back at the poker table. Mike and Sam joked and laughed about a famous actress that was recently in the headlines. As she set their beers down, she took a quick peek at New Guy. He had a slight smile as if he found Mike and Sam amusing, but he didn't participate in their revelry.

  She set his water down by his elbow. He looked up and gave her a charming smile. "Thank you."

  Between the smile and his voice, butterflies set flight in her stomach. What was wrong with her? He was simply another pretty face. She never reacted like this. She gave him a small nod of acknowledgment before turning her back on him to deliver Hank's drink. She had to get out of there fast. She was losing her grip on reality. A reality where, she didn't get flutters in her stomach or tingles down her spine from the smile of a gorgeous guy.

  She was two hours into her shift when it happened. Heat seared her back, and a hand clamped down on her shoulder. She stiffened her spine when tingles raced through her body as a voice whispered in her ear, "You're so exceedingly beautiful, I can't seem to keep my eyes off you. Say you'll come home with me, so I can watch you all night."

  Alexis took a step sideways, dislodging the hand from her shoulder and turned. Standing before her was New Guy. She felt a momentary ping of disappointment when she realized all he wanted was a one-night stand. If she were being truly honest with herself, she probably would have said yes if he had asked her out on a date. Her attraction to him was that strong. He'd put on a baseball cap, so his face was partially shadowed, but she remembered every captivating feature. He had to be more than six feet tall because even in her heels, she barely reached his chin.

  "I'm sorry, but I don't go home with strange men."

  "I can promise you," he took his finger and trailed it up her arm, "I'm not strange."

  Alexis felt goose bumps sprout along her arm where his finger touched. She took a tiny step back to break contact. Getting flustered, she stuttered, "Wh ... what I meant was, I don't do that sort of thing."

  "Well that's a shame because that's the only thing I do."

  "Then it appears our association is at an impasse. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to work."

  She was proud of herself for walking away. However strong the attraction, no good would come from a night with Mr. Gorgeous.

  * * * * *

  Jackson Cole watched the stunningly beautiful woman walk away. The bare, slope of her back was the single most sexy thing he had ever seen. That she turned his proposition down, was for the best. He knew better than to get involved with employees, but he felt drawn to her. He couldn't seem to stop himself from approaching her. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and he had seen his fair share of beautiful women. Hell, he probably slept with most of them.

  Every so often, he would visit the casino floor. He liked to interact incognito with the patrons and staff to make sure things ran smoothly. So far, he hadn't been disappointed. His guests were happy and the staff was friendly and courteous.

  His eyes searched out the bewitching cocktail waitress as he made his way to the elevators. There she was, over by the five-dollar slots, talking with an older woman. He stood transfixed, watching her laugh at something the woman said. Her smile so captivated him, he wanted to keep her smiling forever. He shook his head at the sheer ridiculousness of his thoughts. He sounded like a besotted fool. He turned his back on the dazzling display and promised himself he wouldn't look back. It was a hard promise to keep.

  He couldn't stay away. Every night before going upstairs to his penthouse, he would stop by the casino and watch her. He loved to watch her move. The sway of her hips as she walked. The graceful line of her arm as she handed out drinks. The way she tilted her head when she listened to someone speak. She had turned into a bedtime addiction, and he needed his fix before going to sleep.

  He wasn't sure how long he had spent pondering but when he looked to the last spot he had seen her, she was gone. His eyes searched the floor, seeking her out.

  "Looking for someone?"

  Jack turned his head. She stood about five feet from him. Close enough to be heard but far enough to make it obvious, she didn't want to get too close. Her voice was huskier than he remembered. Sultry. So either she had a cold, or he made her nervous. Her nose wasn't red, and her eyes weren't watery, but she was twisting and playing with her fingers. He'd go with nervous. He didn't want her nervous. He gave her a charming smile to put her at ease.

  CHAPTER TWO

  He was here again. Alexis saw him lounging against a pillar near the entrance to the 100 dollar slot machines as she served an older woman her drink. Saturday nights were busy in the casino, but she didn't have any trouble spotting him.

  The last two nights, he had been in a suit, but he dressed causal again tonight in black boots, faded jeans, and a black T-shirt, that even from a distance, she could tell he filled out
really well. He had a ball cap pulled low over his face, but she knew it was him, Mr. Gorgeous.

  He had come every night since they met on Wednesday. He usually stayed for about an hour, watching her work from some random spot in the casino. He hadn't tried talking to her again, and she found that odd. Why would he keep coming, if not to talk to her? She knew he didn't need to work up his nerve. That man didn't have an ounce of insecurity in him. So what was the issue? She had to find out. Maybe it was stupid to approach him, but he became impossible to ignore.

  She went to the bar and clocked out for her fifteen minute break. She took the long way around a bank of slot machines to approach Mr. Gorgeous from the side, stopping a few feet from him. She had butterflies in her stomach, nervous to talk with him. She never approached or started conversations with men. She didn't fear him. He wasn't creepy in any way. Just the opposite in fact. He made her feel jittery and out of sorts. Like a school girl, talking to her long time crush for the first time.

  He was scanning the room.

  "Looking for someone?" She asked, her nerves making her voice sound throaty. She couldn't keep her fingers still, and her heart, with it's frantic beating, felt as if it was about to explode.

  He turned to her and smiled. The smile was her undoing. God, she couldn't believe how utterly magnificent he was. He nearly turned her into a puddle on the floor. She had to pull herself together.

  "I think I've found her."

  She gave him a wry smile. "You think?"

  His devastating smile never faltered. "I know I've found her."

  "Seems to me, she found you." Her expression turned serious. "Why are you watching me?" She straightened her spine and gave him a hard look, challenging him to produce a good reason for watching her every night.

  He gazed at her a moment, rubbed the back of his neck then looked down at the floor. He pondered a moment before shaking his head and sighing. He looked up. "Truth?"

  Alexis couldn't help it, she smirked. "That would be nice."