Conviction (A Stand-alone Novel): A Bad Boy Romance (7 page)

"At least look at these casual choices," Autumn pleaded. "We are going to the pool next, and you're not allowed to swim in the nude."

I dropped the frog patterned swim trunks she handed me. "And what about you? Jace said to get something for yourself. How about that blue satin dress. It would go nice with my striped tie. We'd look great together on a date."

"You're not my type and neither is that dress."

"Come on, at least try it on. I'll get a Hawaiian shirt for the pool if you do," I said.

She shook her blonde hair but finally agreed. I tried not to watch as she grabbed a white bikini and filmy sarong as well.

"Coming out?" I asked.

"No."

"Why, it has to look stunning. I know it does. I'm picturing it right now, so you might as well come out," I said. "Don't make me call Jace and tell him you're not following orders."

"I'm buying something for myself." She marched out of the dressing room and over to the counter where she whispered quickly to the clerk.

I tried not to imagine the tiny white bikini I had glimpsed. I was still trying not to picture it half an hour later. The poolside cabana was on the far end of the sun drenched and tourist covered Bellagio pools. The idea of Autumn in the white two piece kept my mind off the looks I got.

I had picked a simple black pair of swim trunks. I even opted to carry the long-board patterned Hawaiian shirt because it was so eye-catching. Now it was too late, and I had to walk the length of the Roman columns and pools shirtless. Surrounded by doughy tourists and comfortable affluent men that had better things to focus on than their physique, I felt like a thug.

I was hard and chiseled where other men were rounded. I had dark hair across my chest while most of the men at the pool were smooth chested. Men pulled their wives and girlfriends out of my path, and mothers tried to block their daughters. A half dozen guys gave me appreciative looks but backed off like the others. By the time I reached the cabana, I was glad to dive into the shaded cover.

Remembering Jace's directive, I pulled myself together and pointed a lounge chair towards the sun. Luckily, that meant I turned my back on the public. I had just settled in and felt the sun warming my skin when a shadow dropped across me.

"Did the waiter stop by yet?" Autumn shaded her eyes and looked for a server.

I shaded my eyes and looked up. The sun lit up her blonde hair like a halo. I tried to keep my eyes on her glowing hair, but the little white bikini was more than magnetic. I forced my eyes closed but the image was burned into my mind. I enjoyed every detail behind my eyelids.

"No. I think the waiter is scared of me," I said.

She flagged him down and I heard her order us two cold beers. "You get those tattoos in prison?"

I opened my eyes. The waiter had only gone a few steps and fumbled his tray.

"Yes. A little primitive maybe, but the guy had real talent," I said.

"He did all four? In prison?" Autumn eyes flared in surprise. "The details are amazing. Are those lilies of the valley?"

"For my mother," I laid back and closed my eyes again. I liked that Autumn was not afraid to look at me. Nothing seemed to intimidate her.

"Jace mentioned her. He said she was an angel."

"Was and is and always will be," I said.

"Cool, suave, charming, handsome, which of my excellent traits are you two clearly talking about?" Jace asked.

"Your assistant forgot to tell me we had a business meeting." I sat up just as Jace plopped down on the lounge chair across from me.

"Jesus H. Christ. I should fire you just so I never have to see that again," Jace said. "Are those fucking washboard abs? You make me sick, King. Sick."

"So no more tanning?" I asked. "Great. What's next? Finally getting down to work?"

"Suit up, my friend. It’s time to gamble," Jace announced.

"No. No way. I'm not letting my parole officer be right," I said. "Gambling is a bad idea, especially for a man without any money. I think it’s safe to say I already spent my advance."

"Meeting some new business partners. Thinking about branching out into tequila," Jace said. "So, it’s business. Suit up and meet me at Bobby's Lounge."

"You can't expect me to fall for that," I said to Autumn.

"He's not lying. The new business partners wanted to gamble instead of having a formal meeting. This is it. Plus," she said, "you're probably due for a little good luck. See you there."

* * * * *

I was not surprised to find my suit already tailored and ready to wear. I wondered if that was what Autumn had secretly arranged with the clerk at the store. The heather gray suit and crisp white shirt felt great, and I walked into Bobby's Lounge already feeling like a million dollars. Then I saw Autumn.

She wore the light blue satin dress I had made her try on earlier that afternoon. The halter-top hugged her neck and showed off the creamy expanse of her shoulders before it plunged low. The waist gathered in tightly, highlighted by a band of the same light blue satin. The skirt skimmed her rounded hips and dropped firmly to her knees.

"You gamble?" I managed to ask despite the heaviness of my tongue. I forced myself not to drool over her.

"Yes, but not tonight. I have been trying to get out of games like this with Jace for years. Thank you!" Autumn said.

"That dress is all the thanks I need," I smiled.

She slapped my arm. "Now don't freak out, but the buy-in is $20,000 minimum. This is high limit poker action. You know how to play?"

I cocked an eyebrow at her. "Isn't it a bit clichéd, the idea of a bunch of guys sitting around prison playing cards?"

"Coming from a guy who had tattoos drilled into him by another inmate with god knows what kind of instruments," Autumn said.

"Trust me, not even god wants to know." I laughed at her look of horror. "It was a real kit, sanitary and all. Like I said, he had real talent, and it became one of his privileges."

"So you know how to play poker?" Autumn asked again.

"Just watch and see," Jace said. He introduced his potential business partners, and I was relieved they looked familiar. Celebrity means something entirely different in prison, but I had actually seen the two actors on television.

We headed into Bobby's Lounge and to the private game. In the back room there were two tables, four television monitors, heavy music on the overhead speakers, and a few high rollers. And then there was Autumn.

She was iridescent in the blue satin dress. It was hard not to watch her greet the bartender like an old friend. She laughed and chatted then smiled over at me. I sat waiting at the table, and she probably only ordered me a drink, but I could not read the look in her eyes. Autumn's chocolate brown eyes were dark, inscrutable, and her smile completely mystified me.

"Club soda with an orange twist," she said.

I took the drink. "Thanks. That another one of your dates?"

"The bartender? No. Way to loose for me. I like a man in a suit and tie, remember?"

I looked down at my open shirt collar. "Watch what you wish for, Autumn Bishop. I could get there one day, and then you'd be in trouble."

"First you have to survive poker with the sharks," she smiled.

I settled in to my place at the table and shut everything else out. The one way I had survived fifteen years in prison was by focusing on what I really wanted. It’s why the lilies of the valley tattoo meant the most to me. I remembered them in a mason jar next to my mother's hospital bed while she described the man she wanted me to become: strong, independent, smart, loyal, hard-working, honest, and trustworthy.

I had added on to her description over the years to include perceptive and shrewd. Those traits had been honed to a fine edge, and that edge was my lucky charm.

Jace whistled as we cashed out. "$100,000. That is impressive. I'm glad I hired you for legit work before I found out about this talent of yours."

"The money's yours, Jace. For the clothes, the place to stay--"

"Don't insult me."

"I'll do more than that if you don't take the money," I said.

Autumn stepped between us. "Jace will take the $20,000 from the buy-in, and the rest is yours."

"The best assistant in the world, don't you think? Let's buy her a drink," Jace said.

"Done. But can you do something for me?" I asked Autumn. "I need the name of a good banker."

"Done," she said. "Now how about that drink?"

Chapter Five

Ayden

I left the door open hoping that Autumn would stop by on her way in to see Jace. The last few days I had the door open as I was carting sorted boxes out of the home office. I carried some to the basement, stored the party supplies in the large kitchen pantry, and sent some of the NFL swag to charity. Slowly the dark hardwood floors, built in bookshelves, and wide antique desk emerged. It felt good to clear the space, and it lessened my guilt at staying in Jace's mansion.

He refused to accept my rent money so my first order of business at the clean desk was to figure out how to make deposits into his home account. Autumn introduced me to a banker to take care of my Vegas winnings and together we set up automatic rent payments.

I was glad everything was on the books. Now I had good, solid things to report to my parole officer.

"Wow, I had almost forgotten the room looked like this," Autumn said. She knocked belatedly on the open door and smiled.

"Come on in," I offered. I stood up from the desk and lead the way to the kitchenette. "I'm just figuring out this whole French press coffee thing. I need someone with a, um, more sophisticated palate to tell me if I'm doing it right."

She sipped the cup I handed to her and nodded. "Tastes great to me. Are you looking for an apartment?"

I had the laptop open on the short counter. Two tabs were open, one showing a French press instructional video, and the other listing local apartments for rent.

"Yes. I want to make my own start and really build up what is mine. It’s hard to do that here when Jace blurs all the lines with his generosity," I said.

"It’s nice to hear someone else complain about Jace’s generosity. Usually it’s just me telling him to rein it in, and I feel like a monster," Autumn said.

"I really can't imagine anyone thinking you're a monster," I replied.

Autumn was wearing a sheath dress in chocolate brown that matched her eyes. An open lace cardigan, brown snakeskin heels, and a tiny, delicate pearl necklace completed the outfit. Her golden blonde hair was loose and hung in a smooth curtain down her back.

"Thanks, you don't look so bad yourself." Her cheeks took on a rosy light.

I wanted to touch those rosy cheeks, brush a finger across her pink petal lips, but my cell phone rang. I had to pat every pocket in my suit before I realized it was on the counter behind the French press.

"This stupid thing. Hi, Jace. Yes. I'm all ready to go. In a navy blue suit and white shirt. No, no tie. What? Come on, that's not work. Yes, fine. I'll be there in a minute," I said.

Autumn smiled. "Let me guess. He wants you to change into your swimming suit and meet him by the pool." She put down her coffee cup and headed to the door. "Time for work?"

I offered her my arm and she took it. "I gotta say, I like the commute."

"How can you two look like a magazine spread for Forbes when it is this nice out?" Jace asked. He was basking in the sun on a cushy lounge chair.

"You hired me to work for you, and I just can't call that work," I said.

"I should order you to do it." Jace tipped his sunglasses off and glared at me. "It’s only been five days since you got out. Why can't you relax and take a little vacation?"

"My parole officer gave me a list, and I'm going to check every single thing off," I said. "There's no way I'm going back in."

"Stop acting as if you were actually a criminal. You took the fall for something that wasn't even yours. Now at least have a screwdriver and enjoy yourself," Jace said.

I could feel Autumn's eyes studying me. She had no idea why I had gone to prison. I moved to the bar cart just to escape her scrutiny. My prison time was a large part of my life, and I wanted to be accepted for it, not forgiven for it.

"So, tell me how work is going for you anyway," Jace said. "I hear the home office is looking better than it has in a decade. And my assistant here let me know about these mysterious deposits into my housing account."

"Rent. There's nothing mysterious about paying rent," I said.

"You’re impossible, man," Jace groaned. "And speaking of impossible, how's working with David?"

"He's, ah. . .we just haven't figured it out yet. David is, um, particular." I took a long sip of my screwdriver and handed one to Jace.

"I think the word you are looking for is irritating. A lot of people find him irritating," Jace said. "He's always reminded me of a bug. Buzzing around all impressed with himself. He doesn't make it easy for anyone, me included."

"Then why do you keep him on?" I wondered.

"Loyalty. David's been with me for years, longer than Autumn."

"Speak of the devil," Autumn said. She nodded towards the terrace outside the home office.

David waved me over, flapping back his suit coat, and putting his hands on his hips. His foot tapped the flagging stones as I walked towards the house to meet him.

I liked Jace's analogy of David as a bug. I would not let him get to me. There was nothing he could do that I could not shoo off. I had to stop in the door and chant that like a mantra when I saw David sitting at the desk with his feet up.

"Oh, I wasn't sure if you were going to pretend to work today or not," David sneered.

"I'm ready. What do you need me to do?" I asked.

"That's the problem. What am I supposed to do to keep you busy? I'm fresh out of crayons and coloring books," David said. He dropped his feet to the floor and sat up.

"I'd like to get started on some projections," I said. "That way I can see which businesses are going to yield a return, which need developing, and which ones need to be reevaluated."