Tell Me No Lies Read online

  I didn’t let things bother me, but Rylen, who was the Five’s intellectual, was the most conservative of us all.

  So naturally, Clay, who was his exact polar opposite, wasn’t going to let that go. “Aww, did you want me to stop? Go ahead, buddy.” He worked his hips, acting out a slow grind on the blow-up doll. “I’m sure her friend won’t mind. Seriously, Poindexter, take a stab because it’s all the pussy you’re going to get tonight.”

  “Don’t call me that, you twat. Just because some of us don’t want to see you act like an idiot.”

  “And idiot? I’m sorry, man. We’re not all as smart as you are. Oh, wait. Turns out, someone is.” He gestured to the room around us. “Where’s your million-dollar mansion, smart ass?”

  Rylen turned a bit red, as did Grady. “Whoa, we can’t all be superior gamers like me,” he said as he gave Rylen a pat on the back. “Who could have guessed skipping class to play video games all day would come in handy? Come on, brother. I know the best clubs, and you’re going to love it.”

  Everyone knew that Ry’s record of being the smartest was still ongoing, and Grady did his best to make sure everyone felt welcome. He had shown them his home being as humble as he could, and that only made Clay look even more like an ass.

  “That’s enough of that,” said Nick. “We came to have a good time, and I, for one, am ready to go. I don’t want to sit here looking at you ugly bastards all night.”

  “I agree,” I said.

  “Yeah,” said Clay, turning his attention to me. “Big papa misses his little bear cub. We need to take him out to meet some cougars.” He gave a sound like a big cat’s screech as he raised his hand like a claw in my face.

  I grabbed his wrist and squeezed it tight.

  “Still got those cat-like reflexes, I see,” he said, wincing from the pressure.

  “You better worry about the little cub you have back home,” I said. “You’re going to be cut off the minute you order your first drink at the rate you’re going.”

  “I can hold my liquor, my good man. I’m used to the club scene, remember? It’s my livelihood.”

  “Come on,” said Grady. “Before we have to kill Clay, let’s take him out and see how long it takes him to pass out.”

  “Fine, I’ll settle down,” he said. “Excuse me for being the life of the party.” He got a pouty look, and I could tell that he wasn’t himself. Something more was going on inside Clay’s mind, something he was trying to either drown in alcohol or flush out. Either way, he was going to end up hurting himself if he didn’t sort it out.

  “Come on, man.” I let go of his wrist and put my arm around his neck. “Get your date, and let’s go.”

  He grabbed the blow-up doll and dropkicked her across the room. Everyone laughed as she landed face-up on the lounger.

  “Look, Clay,” said Nick. “She’s ready for more.”

  After another limo ride down the Strip, this time seeing it in all of its spectacular glory at night, we made it to the club where Grady had us set up with a private section that had private accommodations and its own dance floor.

  I had never been to anything like it and couldn’t believe the women who were all scantily dressed and giving us attention.

  Although there were some knockouts, I just wasn’t feeling the vibe.

  Then a hot little redhead in a black dress sauntered up. “Excuse me, but could you help me with this?” Her dress, which had a strap that tied at the back of her neck, had come undone. She turned and lifted her hair, peeking back over her shoulder at me as she licked her lips.

  I obliged, but to be honest, she was such a little thing, no bigger than a twig compared to my mighty oak, that I was afraid I might break her.

  “There you go,” I said, giving her a smile. “You’re all set.” It was the exact same thing I’d said to my daughter after tying her shoe, and I regarded the young woman no differently.

  Only she didn’t take the hint. “Thank you,” she said as she turned around and stumbled into my lap. “Oh, sorry. Wow, you’re strong.” She put her hands around my bicep and looked up into my eyes.

  She was pretty but wore far too much makeup for me and seemed a little too young as well. “Yeah,” I said, not really knowing what to say.

  “My throat is so dry,” she said. “Do you think you could buy me a drink?”

  “Um, sure,” I said. “Have you met my friend, Clay?”

  Clay had already run off several girls with his come-on-strong attitude, so I only thought it fair that he met his match.

  “I like you,” she said. “Not that your friend isn’t hot too. I mean, I guess what I’m trying to say is I don’t mind both of your company as long as you are there.”

  Clay moved closer and put his arm around the girl, untying her dress that I’d just tied. “I’m open to anything,” he said.

  She caught the front of her dress, where she didn’t have much to hold it up. “Hey!” She turned to me. “Your friend is an asshole,” she said as she ran to the next victim.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you?” I asked.

  “You wanted her gone. Why? I have no idea, but I thought I’d speed things along. You’re welcome.”

  “Yeah, well, you’re not wrong there, but why didn’t you want to fuck her? She’s cute. That skinny-butt type you like.”

  “Hey, Beth wasn’t a skinny butt.” He turned and gave me a sideward look. “Don’t tell her I said that. But she’s got a nice ass. Plump and gorgeous, ripe as an apple.” He sighed. “I used to love taking a bite out of it. You should see it now. Even better. And her tits? Motherhood looks damned good on her.”

  “Why aren’t you with her instead of here, drunk off your ass and trying to put your dick in anything that will accept it?”

  “She wants me to settle down, and I’m just not there for some reason. Every time I think about settling down, I just get scared.” He played with the olives in his drink, poking them with his toothpick. “I just don’t want to get old, I guess. Turn into my father.”

  “You don’t have to. Look at my dad and me. We’re a good team, but we don’t act and think just alike. And your kid needs a father, a man who is settled down.”

  “I guess I just feel like I’m running out of time, you know?”

  “I get it. But time’s up. He’s born now. He’s here. And he needs you.”

  “I just need something more for myself. I’ll figure it out by the time he’s old enough to know better.”

  “Well, for the record, I think you’re an idiot. You could have something really nice, but you’re fucking it up. I didn’t have a choice when it came to Heather, and fuck, I tried harder than you are.”

  Clay sighed and took another drink. “Yeah, fuck me. I’m such a piece of shit.” As a pretty blonde walked by, his attention turned to her. “Mmm, speaking of fucking me, I’m going to go see if she will.”

  I didn’t have time to say a word, and he was already on the move. I stayed at the table and polished off a few more drinks. I spoke with a few more ladies, not one who was worth leaving with, though I did have a nice conversation with a rodeo queen for nearly three hours. She was in town for her sponsor, and while she was sexy, she just wasn’t my type either.

  But I did invite her up to one of Grady’s friend’s suites in a hotel across town. I eventually ended up on the balcony alone after putting the rodeo girl in a cab hours earlier. It was easy to feel that my first night in Vegas wasn’t at all what I thought it would be. Maybe I just wasn’t cut out for this type of life. All I really needed was my daughter and a job to keep her fed.

  It was the wee hours of the morning when I decided to be a good guy and made sure the others—especially Clay, who had almost left with the blonde—got in the cab when the party ended.

  After a long drive back to the hotel, I turned to see Nick, who looked like he had his own agenda. “You coming?” I asked him.

  “Nah. I’m starving. And I don’t feel like calling something up. Do you want to
come with?”

  “Okay, sure.” I was hungry too and hated for Nick to have to hang alone.

  I turned to my old pal. “Where to?”

  “The hotel has the best breakfast buffet in the city. Biggest fluffiest waffles I’ve ever had in my life. I mean, hands down the best.”

  “Sounds good to me.” I walked with him, hoping the whole trip wouldn’t be like last night. Waffles were one of my favorites, but I didn’t think they were going to work miracles.

  Chapter 8

  Tara

  I was glad I had gotten home early and had rested up for the hectic morning at the Golden Flower Hotel’s buffet. “I need another pan of waffles,” I said, telling Ben who was standing around watching the floor.

  “Where’s Karen?”

  “I have no idea.” I wasn’t about to get into it with him about my friend. He had hired her first, and why he was keeping her on if he hated her lack of work ethics was beyond me. I just knew the days were a lot longer without her around. “She’s probably stuck in traffic.”

  Ben gave me a hard look. “Don’t you ever get tired of covering for her?”

  “She’s my best friend. And besides, you’re the one who keeps giving her second chances, so don’t blame me.” I gave him a hard look. “Are you going to get those waffles? Please?” He technically didn’t have to do anything but manage, but with the hoard of kids who had shown up with their parents, we were busier than expected.

  Ben didn’t say anything but went back to the kitchen.

  “I told you not to do that,” said one of the mothers to her child, who was touching everything within reach. “I’m not buying all of the biscuits because you want to touch them all.”

  I reached over and moved the ones the child had handled.

  “You shouldn’t have made him come down here,” said the father. “I asked you to come and get our food and bring it back up. How hard is it to do that?”

  “How hard is it for you to sit down here with your family for a nice breakfast for a change? All you’ve done is run off to play slots.”

  The man gave his wife a narrow stare. “I’d rather pull a crank than spend all day with one.”

  “That’s real nice,” she said. “I don’t know why you even brought us at all.”

  “Me either.”

  I cleared my throat, and a voice from behind me said, “Excuse me, could you at least please take your argument to your table? You’re holding up the line.”

  I spun around to see Karen tying on her apron. Her hair was perfect, and she looked good, but it was probably from the extra sleep she’d gotten.

  The woman, who looked like she could mop the floor with Karen, put her hand on her hip. “We’re waiting on more waffles. Apparently, you don’t know how to run a buffet.”

  “Hot waffles coming through,” said Ben as we stepped out of the way.

  “Here’s your waffles.” Karen waved her hand over the tray. “Help yourself.”

  The woman looked at Ben. “Are you the manager here?”

  “Yes, ma’am. What can I do for you?”

  “This girl is rude. She needs to learn some manners and how to treat a customer.” The woman got her child’s waffles, and she and her family stormed away, cursing the entire time.

  “Poor kid,” I said, hating that the boy had to put up with his parents who probably only noticed he was there when he did something like touch food he wasn’t supposed to touch.

  As I mumbled to myself, I turned to see Ben had pulled Karen aside. “What’s your problem?” I heard him ask.

  “I don’t have one. But clearly, the woman does, and frankly, I don’t know how she can be married to him.”

  “If you think you’re funny, you’re not.”

  “Damn. I was hoping to quit and become a comic. I guess I should just keep my day job.” She glanced over at me, and I shook my head, trying to discourage her.

  “Keep it up, and you won’t have it either.”

  “Come on, Benny Vinnie.” She used her flirty voice, but he wasn’t buying into it today.

  “Don’t you Benny Vinnie me. You’re taking advantage. And not only of me but of Tara, who had to wait on your tables. I’d think you’d treat your friends better, but you’re not a good one.”

  I could see the light go out of Karen’s eyes at that point. That was when I felt like I had to step in.

  “Actually, Ben, she’s letting me take on some of her tables so I can make a few more tips. I kind of need it for rent.”

  “Well, that’s still not an excuse for her showing up late, and if it happens again, I’m going to have to let you go. And before you go telling me I can’t make it without your charm and personality, let me remind you that this is Las Vegas, honey. There’s a girl like you on every corner.” He stormed away, and I turned to go back to the buffet to make sure it was in order before I stepped away to check the tables.

  Karen came up to me. “Thanks for speaking up. He’s right. I’ve been a shitty friend. But hey, if you really need to keep a few of my tables today, go ahead.”

  “Thanks, and don’t beat yourself up. Ben is just in a mood. It’s been crazy around here.” I looked across the room, which was thinning out a bit. “You missed the mad rush of kids.”

  “Yeah, there’s a beauty pageant in town.”

  “Oh yeah, I forgot about that.” I tried to imagine the little boy in a pageant and decided that wasn’t the case for his family. “Some of these parents… the way they talk to their kids…” I shook my head. “It’s a wonder they ever stopped fighting long enough to reproduce.”

  “Make-up sex is a bitch. That’s what got my sister, and now’s she’s expecting her third.” All of a sudden, she glanced up. “Oh, baby. Look at those two.”

  I turned to see two men who were being seated in my area. “You’re not kidding.” I turned and flashed her a smile. “Lucky me.”

  Both of the men were handsome, but the taller of the two, who had to be at least six-three, was absolutely gorgeous. His hair was cut short, and he had a little stubble that gave him a rugged look.

  “Didn’t you say you wanted to trade some tables?” Karen asked.

  “No way,” I said, not taking my eyes off of him.

  “Oh no, I think you’re in love.”

  My cheeks reddened. “Shut up.” I had to go over and wait on them, and I didn’t want the man to think I was weird.

  As they talked across the table to each other, I made my way over with a nervous smile, hoping the guy wouldn’t be a jerk.

  “Hello, and welcome to the Golden Flower. My name is Tara. We are currently serving our breakfast buffet if you’re interested, or you can order from the menu. Can I get you started with something to drink?”

  “We’ll have the buffet,” said the other man. He was good looking too, but his friend was tattooed and downright sexy. “I’ll have orange juice and a cup of coffee.”

  “I’ll have coffee.” The tattooed man looked up at me with the most amazing olivine eyes. They were sparkling like peridot, and his dark hair and thick lashes made them even more vibrant somehow.

  “Okay.” I nodded, my tongue suddenly feeling heavy in my mouth as he mesmerized me. “Is that all?”

  “For now,” he said. His eyes lingered down my body. I felt my face burn and my pulse quickened.

  He smiled. Sweet agony. He’s hot.

  “Do you know if there’s a newsstand around?” asked his friend. “I’d like a newspaper.”

  “I think there’s still one in the hotel lobby,” I told him. “But there’s free wi-fi, so most people just use their phones.”

  “He’s a bit old-fashioned when it comes to technology,” said the hot one.

  “Nothing wrong with being a little old fashioned.” It had always been appealing in some ways, especially when it came to having relationships.

  “See?” said his friend as he got up from the table. “That’s what I say, and yet, I never hear the end of it. I’m going to grab that paper.
I’ll be right back.”

  “So what about you?” asked the hot one. “Are you old fashioned too?”

  “In ways, I suppose. But newspapers? I’ll stick to my cell phone.” I laughed and realized that something about him made it easy to talk to him. I was still a nervous wreck, wondering what he thought of me, noticing the way his eyes lingered on my body, all the while unable to tell if he liked what he saw.

  Of course, he doesn’t. Don’t overreact and don’t get your hopes up. You don’t even know his name.

  “I’m Zane Ballard,” said the man. “Tara’s a pretty name. Old fashioned as well but in a good way.”

  “Unlike Zane. I like it, though.” I smiled, feeling my cheeks grow warm again. “Well, I should get your coffee. Your friend will be returning soon.”

  As I walked away, I glanced back over my shoulder to see him staring at me.

  I went to the kitchen, and Karen came around the corner after me. “Oh man, he was so looking at you.”

  “What?” I knew he had been, but I was scared to death that he was laughing at me on the inside. Fuck him if he was, but I wanted him to like me.

  “Come on. You can’t tell me you didn’t notice. He was practically undressing you with his eyes. He’s definitely into you.”

  “I barely know him, Karen.” I fixed their coffees and put them on the tray.

  “Well, what the hell are you doing hiding in here?” she asked. “Get back out there.”

  “I’m not hiding. I need to pour some juice.” My hand was shaking so badly that I made a mess and had to wipe the side of the glass.

  Karen felt bad for me and helped me out, only to rush me along. “Get his friend’s name and their room number and see if they want to hang out later.”

  I shook my head as I walked out the door. I wasn’t about to let her try and take advantage of the men. Neither looked like the type she usually worked, and both seemed to be pretty reserved.

  I carried their drinks and found his friend had already returned. He had the newspaper open and was squinting to read it.