The Risk: A Billionaire Romance (Wagered Hearts Series, Book 2) (16 page)

“I’m not though! I think I was just confused. I mean, I hardly know you and the next thing I know, I’m waking up in your bed,” I said.

“It’s strange, I feel like I’ve known you a lot longer. But you’re right. We are practically strangers,” he said. “How about we fix that?”

I was momentarily dazzled by the blinding smile he shot me and it took me a moment to understand what he’d just said. The low rumbling chuckle that rose from him snapped my attention back to his face.

“What do you mean, exactly?” I asked.

“Go out on a date with me. Let’s get to know each other.”

“You’re asking me out on a date?” I asked, not quite believing my ears.

“I believe I did just that, yes,” he said.

Despite my best efforts and the constant reminder to take caution and slow down, I couldn’t help the way my pulse quickened in excitement. I’d known this feeling before and it was always the precursor to one of “Mel’s Bad Decisions.” Even so, I wanted to say yes. I thought I’d learned my lesson already, but clearly I was wrong. Still, I kept fighting the good fight, trying with all my might to turn him down. It would be the best for the both of us, I reasoned. I’d be doing him a favor.

“Well, what do you say?” he asked. He looked confident, but I could see the sliver of nervousness and tension in his tightly controlled body. It was as if my answer was the most important thing in the world to him in that moment. I knew then that I couldn’t say no. I didn’t want to. Not when he was sitting there looking at me like that. Not when my mind kept flashing back to that night in Vegas.

“I’d love to,” I answered.

His face transformed to one of pure pleasure and I couldn’t help the answering smile that reflected in my face as well. We made plans to meet again on Friday for our date while he walked me back to my apartment. He left once we reached my building and for a moment it looked as if he were going to lean in and give me a kiss before he caught himself.

After he left, I felt as if I were on cloud nine. I hummed to myself as I rode the elevator up to my apartment, but once I got inside, my mood slowly began to deflate. Now that I had time to think without his presence muddling my thoughts, my doubts came creeping back. All those times I told myself I was done with relationships—done with risking my heart only to get burned in the end, done with feeling like a fool, it all went out the window when I was with Ryan. There was no denying the effect he had on me. One look, one smile, one touch was all it took to send all my resolve crumbling to ashes.

I wrestled with my umbrella as a strong gust of wind almost ripped it from my arms. I’d been standing, huddled under the eaves outside a record store, but that didn’t provide nearly enough shelter. Another gust of wind flipped my umbrella upside down and I cursed under my breath as I threw the now useless contraption in the trash can near the curb. It was a particularly nasty night with the wind blowing and the rain pelting against the tin overhang as I stood waiting for Ryan to show up for our date.

Since I was running late from work, I told him I’d meet him at the location. He seemed reluctant to do that and suggested that he’d pick me up from my office, but then later called me to tell me he was running a little late as well. We decided that it would be best for me to just head on over by myself since it was midway between my offices and where he was coming from in Brooklyn.

When I arrived, I had to look around to make sure I was in the right spot. It was a non-descript street in the Lower East Side with only the record shop and a pharmacy open at the time. It certainly didn’t look like any where for us to have a date. Then again, I had no idea what Ryan had planned. When I asked him about it earlier, he was very reserved and secretive, saying he wanted it to be a surprise.

I had only been waiting for 20 minutes but it felt like a lot longer. All my calls to Ryan went straight to voicemail. If I didn’t know any better, I’d almost be afraid that he’d stood me up. But somehow, I just knew Ryan would never do that. A black Town Car finally pulled up right in front of the record store where I was standing. Ryan stepped out of the car, a look of apology and frustration on his face.

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” he said. “Have you been waiting long?”

“About 20 minutes,” I said.

“I’m so sorry. I got stuck in traffic. There was an accident that closed off a lane,” he explained.

I waved it off, finding that I didn’t mind now that he was here. “Don’t worry about it. So, what are we doing exactly? I hope you’re not bringing me record shopping because I already looked through their selection,” I said pointing back at the record store.

“Not quite,” he smiled. “Come on, I’ll show you.” Ryan grabbed my hand and led me back into the store, past the aisles of records and the long checkout counter, towards a door in the rear that said “Employees Only”.

“Are you sure we should be back here?” I asked.

“Of course,” he said, as he pushed open the door.

We entered a little store room stacked high with boxes and plastic crates filled with vinyl albums. To the left was a metal door with a keypad lock. Ryan walked up to it and entered in a code. The door beeped two times before it clicked open. I was too surprised and curious to do anything but follow when he grabbed my hand again and pulled me through the open door.

We descended down a dimly lit flight of stairs, with the harsh fluorescent neon lights flickering above our heads. After we reached the bottom of the stairs, Ryan navigated us through a labyrinth-like underground maze. He did it with such ease and confidence, it was obvious that he’d been here many times before. It didn’t look like anywhere I ever expected to be brought for a date. I half wondered if he was leading me to some underground dungeon or sex club and found the idea not entirely unappealing. The thought immediately sent a flush of heat to my cheeks and I was glad it was so dark that Ryan couldn’t see me blush.

“You’re not going to murder me and dump my body here are you?” I asked, partly to break the silence and partly to take my mind off those distracting images.

Ryan laughed a low rumbling sound. “Not at all,” he said.

Once the path straightened out, I could hear the faint sounds of music up ahead. We finally reached a door at the end of our path. He knocked three times and it was opened by a dashing older gentleman wearing a tuxedo and a pencil thin mustache. He recognized Ryan immediately and let us in. As I got a good look at the interior, my jaw dropped.

“What is this place?” I asked, awestruck.

“It’s the Otto Club,” Ryan said.

“How come I’ve never heard of it before?”

“Because the owner doesn’t want it known.”

“Why not? This place is amazing,” I said.

It was true. There was a real decadence and glitz about the place that was straight from the twenties. The interior was lush with black velvet drapes and surprisingly high ceilings with a crystal chandelier in the center of the room. The art deco furniture added to the vintage feel. At one end of the club was a stage where a band was playing. The dance floor in the center of the room was surrounded by tables.

“Is this one of those secret speakeasy bars?” I asked.

“Not quite and don’t let the owner hear you saying that,” Ryan laughed.

“Why not?” I asked.

“He’s not a fan of those trendy speakeasies that are popping up all over now,” Ryan explained. “He thinks they stole his idea since he’s been running this place for the past 20 years now. I’m not exactly sure if it’s supposed to be a speakeasy, a Weimar era cabaret, or a jazz club. Maybe it’s a mash up.”

“Why the cloak and dagger routine to get in?” I asked.

“Because it adds an air of mystery and forbidden pleasure that most people seem to crave,” he said.

“Is that what you crave? Forbidden pleasure?” I asked boldly. The question came out before I even had time to censor myself.

“I don’t see why any pleasure should be forbidden,” Ryan said, watching me under heavy lidded eyes. It was a look that made my skin tingle and my heart race. I’d seen that same look that night in Vegas. “Besides, he likes to think this place is a bit more exclusive and high end. He only throws one of these parties every month or so.”

“He sounds prickly, like my mother,” I said.

Ryan let out a bark of laughter before grinning at me. “I never made that connection before, but now that you mention it, he is somewhat like Cora. But please, definitely do not mention that to him.”

“Did she somehow manage to offend him too?” I asked sheepishly. “Actually, don’t answer that. I don’t want to think of work or my mother right now.”

He took my hand and walked me to a table near the stage. There were quite a few people on the dance floor and I noticed they were all dressed to the nines. The men all wore tuxedos and women looked dazzling in short beaded dresses or long backless gowns and pearls and diamonds dripping off their necks and wrists. They were dancing to a jaunty little tune and for a moment, I got lost watching them.

“It really feels like we’ve stepped back in time,” I said, keeping my eyes on the dancers.

“It does,” Ryan said. “Otto is many things, but he’s no slouch when it comes to one of his clubs.”

“Is Otto the owner?” I asked swinging my eyes up to Ryan.

“Yes, he’s right there standing near the pillar by the bar,” Ryan said pointing him out.

I looked to see a short portly man standing near the bar dressed in a tight black suit. He was surrounded by three beautiful women dressed scantily in crystal encrusted showgirl costumes with large feathered headdresses. He had black hair that was slicked back and a handle bar mustache turned up at the ends. He looked like a villain straight out of a silent film.

“Is that thing real?” I asked pointing to his mustache.

“Unfortunately it is,” Ryan answered.

“So, how did you find out about this place if it’s so secret and exclusive?” I asked, turning my attention back to Ryan.

“I own the building.”

“Oh.”

The arrival of the waiter stalled any further conversation as we placed our orders. Once he left, I turned back to Ryan and gave him a sheepish grin.

“Everyone here is dressed so nicely, even the waiters. I feel like a real schlub right now,” I admitted.

I had worn a forest green sheath dress that I’d also worn to work that day. My hair hung in loose waves down to my shoulders. There was not one pearl, diamond, or jewel on my body and I felt like a real Dowd looking around the room at the elegant and beautiful gowns the other women wore. In short, I felt very out of place.

“You look beautiful,” Ryan said.

“Thanks,” I said, “though, you really don’t need to make me feel better. I wasn’t fishing for a compliment.”

I noticed that Ryan had also come straight from work and was still dressed in his regular work suit, and not the standard black tuxedo on every other gentleman. Still, he looked like a million bucks in his charcoal grey suit with light blue shirt and black tie. It may have been a little modern for this kind of establishment, but there was no doubt that Ryan just oozed elegance.

Our drinks soon arrived and the stage began to fill with burlesque dancers. I noticed the three women who were chatting with Otto earlier had also taken the stage front and center. Ryan and I sat back and enjoyed the show.

I’d been to musicals and plays before, but had never actually been to a cabaret. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen before. There was a real air of intimacy with the performers actually engaging with the audience and getting up close and personal. I was shocked that there was even nudity. I heard Ryan chuckle at my startled gasp as one of the male dancers started stripping down.

“I’m sure you’re quite familiar with this type of performance. Didn’t you get onstage at one of these shows in Vegas?” Ryan leaned in and whispered in my ear.

I groaned, suddenly recalling flashes of that evening. I remembered being onstage with several muscle bound half naked men. There might have been a lap dance in there as well, although I couldn’t remember if I was the one giving or receiving it. I hid my face in my hands and shook my head.

“Don’t remind me,” I mumbled. “I acted like a complete idiot that night.”

Ryan reached over and gently lifted my face so I could look into his eyes. “I have very fond memories of that night,” he said softly.

His touch sent a thrill through me and I was lost in his deep, intense gaze. Suddenly the background noise and atmosphere faded away and it felt as if Ryan and I were in our own little world. It didn’t matter that there was a performance going on with the audience and performers becoming steadily raunchier and more risqué. All I could focus on was the man sitting in front of me.

I swallowed past the sudden knot in my throat and licked my lips, watching as Ryan’s eyes following my every move. Even in the darkened club I could see his eyes darken until they were almost black. There was a tension in the air between us that felt thick with desire. I didn’t know if it was the wine I’d drunk, or the sexually charged show we had watched, but my mind could only think of one thing. If I was being honest, I’d been thinking about that night in Vegas ever since I got back. I tried to remember the feeling of being wrapped in his arms and how it felt as he kissed me and caressed my body, but those were only short flashes of memory. I wanted to see and experience it again in living color.

“Let’s get out of here,” Ryan said softly. It was half a question and half statement. I shivered at the deep bass of his voice vibrating against my ear, but managed to nod my head wordlessly.

***

We both stood up and made our way to the exit.

“There’s another exit just around this corner,” Ryan said, leading us towards the back of the club to a fire exit. This one was not guarded, and once we passed through, there was a short flight of stairs that led towards street level. He opened the heavy metal doors and we were deposited off a side street at the back of the record shop.

Ryan pulled out his phone and called his driver to meet us out front. Once we got in his car, we headed back to my apartment since it was the closest. The drive back to my place was absolute torture. All I wanted was to fling myself on him, but with the driver not two feet away in the front seat, I knew I had to reign myself in. Ryan hardly looked worse for the wear. If it weren’t for the slight clenching and unclenching of his fist, I’d think he was completely unaffected.