Unforgettable (5 page)

She set her empty box down. “I don’t
know. I—”

“
Sshhh. You’re ruining the
movie.” He took her hand and held it, diverting his gaze back to
the TV.

Krista decided to let it go for now.
She’d enjoy this one night and then she’d do her best to forget
Neil and hope he’d do the same with her.

“
Let me get this straight. You’ve seen Neil again and you still
haven’t kissed him?” Jamie stared at Krista the next morning as
though she’d lost her mind.

Yes, she had lost her mind, but it was
a good thing they hadn’t kissed. It would bring much more emotion
into this. “I don’t think I’ll be seeing him again. I made it
pretty clear that things would never work between us.”

“
I think you’re passing up
something great.”

Krista rolled her eyes. “I get it. He’s
rich and hot. But where’s it going to go? He doesn’t want kids. I
have a kid. He’s in his late forties, I’m in my late twenties. I
want to get married again. He hasn’t been married yet, so chances
are he never will. Tell me, why would I want to get mixed up with
him?”

“
Maybe you’ll be different.
He’ll fall so in love with you that he’ll want to raise EJ and give
you six more babies. You guys can have a beach house in Italy. And
of course, you will find me a rich friend of his as
well.”

Krista shook her head. “Not happening.
I don’t have time to live in a fantasy world like you
do.”

Jamie stuck her tongue out. “You need
to learn to have fun. That’s your problem.”

Krista turned her back on her friend
and sighed. She was sick and tired of hearing people to tell her to
have fun. She was a divorced, single mom at the age of
twenty-eight. She didn’t have time for fun. Heck, the highlight of
her life was getting whipped cream on her flavored coffee at
Starbucks. Sad, yes, but that was her life. She played it
safe—always. Neil wasn’t safe.

“
What time’s EJ going to be
back?” Jamie asked.

“
Not until later. Todd
called and said they were going to the park or
something.”

“
Let’s go out for a bit
then.”

Krista turned back to her friend. “The
last time I went out with you, you took me to that club. I think
I’ll pass.”

“
Kris, its one o’clock in
the afternoon. I’m thinking lunch, not hunky older men.”

She laughed. “If it’s food, I’m in. Let
me go get my coupon book.”

* * *

Neil walked into The Gentlemans’ Club
and headed straight for the back office. The door was cracked open
and he saw Ian, the owner, at his desk studying
paperwork.

He lightly tapped on the door. Ian
looked up and waved him in. “What’s up?”

Neil stepped inside. “Nothing much. Was
driving by and thought I’d stop in. How’s business?”

Ian put down the paper he’d had in his
hands. “Good. Lots of happy men and women. I’m really glad you came
out the other night. Did you find a young woman to take
home?”

Neil chuckled. “I found one all right.
I haven’t even made it to first base yet.”

Ian smirked. “Damn. Find
another.”

If only it was that easy. “That’s the
problem.”

Ian’s eyes lit up. “Wait just a minute.
Neil Clark, bachelor for life, has stumbled upon a woman he can’t
have?”

He hated to be reminded. Krista was his
pretty that was just out of reach. “Pretty much. And it makes me
want her that much more.”

Ian tapped a pen on the desk. “What’s
stopping her? She was here, after all. She must like older men and
you’re quite the catch.”

“
I don’t think she would’ve
come here on her own. Her friend dragged her here. She’s made it
clear that the lifestyle I have to offer, she isn’t interested
in.”

“
Then forget
her.”

Neil raked his hands through his short
hair. That was the problem. Krista was unforgettable. Like the girl
next door growing up. Always out of reach, but your wildest wet
dream.

Ian leaned back in his chair and rubbed
his chin. “I can see the wheels turning. You don’t want to forget
her. Look, tonight is a special night. We’re doing poker games.
Come back. Maybe someone else will intrigue you and want you.
There’s no reason to waste your time on a woman you can’t
have.”

Neil nodded. Maybe he’d do that, come
back tonight. He liked poker and the thought of sitting down with
his friends and beautiful women sounded like a good evening. “Yeah,
I’ll be back.”

“
Good. There’s a woman,
Beth. You might like her. I’ll make sure to set her up at your
table.”

“
Awesome. Well, I’ve got a
meeting to get to. See you later, man.” Neil turned and went out
the office door.

Maybe the only way to get over Krista
was another woman. Hell, he’d been doing it for years. But then he
thought back to the way Krista felt in his arms on the plane. So
soft. So right. The way she’d moaned as he stroked her back. If it
hadn’t been for the turbulence, he had a feeling it would’ve gone a
whole lot further than it had. Somehow he had to get her alone
again on a date. Get her to let her inhibitions go and then perhaps
he could show her the life she could have with him.

Life. Crap. Where had that thought come
from? Maybe Ian was right. He needed to find another woman. Krista
was making him think things he hadn’t thought about in a long time.
Not since he was young and thought the life of wife and kids was
what he wanted. But when the woman he supposedly was going to marry
ran off with his good friend, the betrayal had been more than he
could bear. He swore he’d never love another woman again. However,
there was something about Krista that told him she’d take no
less.

He’d be at that poker game tonight and
if he had his way, whoever that Beth woman was, she’d be riding him
home tonight.

*

Neil walked through the doors to the
club that evening, ready for a good game of cards. This was one
card game he enjoyed—and a nice cigar to go with it sure didn’t
hurt.

The place had practically been
transformed. The seating areas were all pushed up against walls,
and several large round tables had been set up. Neil went to the
bar first to order a brandy. After the bartender gave him his
drink, he turned and looked around. Ian waved his arms, catching
his attention.

Drink in hand, Neil made his way across
the club.

“
I was worried you weren’t
going to return,” Ian said.

“
I’m a man of my
word.”

“
As am I.” He pointed toward
the poker area. “You’re at table three, and that beautiful blonde
over there is Beth.”

Neil eyed her, seeing a busty woman in
a deep purple dress that clung to her like a second skin. She had
on layers of makeup, and while she was attractive, he couldn’t help
but think of Krista and her natural beauty.

“
She’s gorgeous, isn’t she?”
Ian nudged him.

Neil nodded. To some man out there she
was a looker. And for tonight, she would be to him. As much as he
wanted to try to get to know Krista, she’d made it clear she wasn’t
interested. What other choice did he have then to move
on?

“
Games are about to start.
Go have a seat.” Ian slapped him on the shoulder and walked
away.

Neil went to the table. Beth turned to
him with a giant grin. “Hi, I’m Beth.”

“
Neil.”

Now that he was only inches away from
her, he couldn’t help but wonder how old she was. Was she even
legal? He was certain a woman had to be twenty-one to get in the
club, but this woman didn’t look like she’d been out of high school
long.

As he took his seat, he asked, “What do
you do for a living, Beth?”

She tapped her bright pink nails on the
wooden table. “I’m in college right now and not
working.”

Young, very young. “What are you going
to school for?”

She shrugged. “I’ve not decided yet.
Just kinda having fun right now.” She leaned closer, letting her
breast rest on his arm. “I’m up for any kind of fun.”

Oh, he bet she was. He smiled and
winked. “Know much about poker?”

“
Oh, I’m not playing. I’m
here to cheer you on.” Her tongue moistened her full bottom lip. “I
was a cheerleader in high school. I’m
very
flexible.”

He knew just her type. The type he
could bring home tonight and keep in his contacts to call whenever.
Leave it to Ian to find him the type of woman he usually liked. No
commitment necessary.

“
Perhaps you can show me
some moves later.”

She placed a hand on his upper thigh.
“Or we could skip this game and find out now.”

“
As tempting as that sounds,
I happen to like taking money from unsuspecting victims. You just
sit here and be my good-luck charm.”

Beth giggled and scooted closer to
him.

The dealer at the table got the game
going. After the first round, Neil realized he was playing with
some good players. Tonight might be a bit of a
competition.

As the dealer dished out the next few
cards, he couldn’t help but feel like someone was watching him. He
glanced around but didn’t see anyone he recognized. Maybe some
pretty woman was watching him from afar.

The club was still packed, even though
it wasn’t a typical night. As he picked up his cards to see what he
had, he heard someone clear their throat from behind him. Laying
the cards down, he turned to see a woman. She looked familiar, but
he couldn’t quite place her.

“
Neil Clark,
right?”

He nodded.

“
I can’t believe you.” Her
tone was loud.

“
Quiet down.” He waved his
hand. “What did I do to you?”

She rolled her eyes and placed a hand
on her slender hip. “It isn’t what you did to me. It’s my best
friend.”

Ah, one of his past bed romps must have
gotten her feelings hurt. “Tell your friend it was just a one-time
thing and not to take it personal.”

“
Oh believe me; I’ll be sure
to let her know what I saw here tonight. You and that woman.” She
huffed. “Thank God Krista never went all the way with
you.”

Krista.

Neil stood quickly, but the woman had
turned her back and was strutting away fast. He pushed through the
crowd, hoping to catch up to her, but she was out the door before
he could catch her. He followed her in time to see her climbing
into her car and driving off.

Damn it!

“
Who was that?”Beth asked as
she came up behind him and laced her arms through his.

Neil shook her off and stomped off
toward his own car. Having Krista think negatively about him was
the last thing he wanted.

Beep, beep, beep. Beep, beep, beep.

Krista rubbed her eyes.

Beep, beep, beep. Beep,
beep, beep.

Pushing herself up from where she was
laying on the couch, she glanced around, disoriented. She must’ve
fallen asleep while watching TV.