In the Billionaires Club (15 page)

“Not exactly drama central there. We traded flirty texts and are looking forward to getting together on Wednesday. I think he’s going to take me out on his yacht.”

Lisa sighed. “I’m looking forward to when I can get to the no-drama-flirty-text stage.”

Gin replied, trying to be supportive, “You’re probably already there. You both just don’t realize it yet.” Thinking of Rob, Gin was actually glad that he was honest with her.
So he’s out fucking some model tonight. Who cares?
Gin at least didn’t have to deal with the stressful uncertainty that Lisa was going through.

chapter nineteen

Things just got better and better. Gin and Rob would exchange a few texts a day, usually following up on a conversational point that started during their first date meal or a recent headline or just a provocative comment about their upcoming date. Gin had also been Facebook stalking Rob and searching the news about him. There was nothing about him seeing anyone else.
 

Gin wasn’t naive. She knew it was unrealistic to think that he had already committed to her, but it still felt good that he wasn’t overtly running around with a model on his arm. And to make things even better, Lisa and Bill were pretty much spending every free hour together.
 

They ended up not sleeping together on their movie night, and as far as Lisa was concerned, she was in no rush. This shocked Gin to no end. Lisa was one of the most sexual people she knew, a woman who considered sexual compatibility something that you had to examine early and often in the dating process.
 

That Lisa was in no rush was a dramatic change, and something that Gin considered a real positive sign. Her only concern was that when Bill and she finally did hook up that he wouldn’t ruin everything after she committed so much of her heart to him. It seemed dangerous and unnecessary.

Still, Lisa was happy, so Gin was happy.

Despite everything going so well, Gin was nervous. Her date with Rob was the next night, and Gin had decided that it was critically important for her not to sleep with him. She had to slowly bring him along on multiple levels. She had already shown him that she’d let him toss her over the back of a couch to fuck her. They also had a relaxing and enjoyable conversation at dinner. They had shared some provocative stories without letting it define or overwhelm their subsequent conversations. Now she had to show him that they could just hang out together and relax without any kind of expectation.

The thing was she wasn’t sure that Rob would go for that. He was clearly a sexually aggressive guy. He not only slept with a lot of women, she knew from her own experience that he was unafraid at pushing things in that direction. So while she felt like it was a good idea to not sleep with him, she was afraid that he’d demand it or that he’d be disappointed if they didn’t.

To clear her head and to get her mind off of Rob, Gin decided to head to the Billionaires Club. While she told herself that the reason she was going was due to her comfort in the intimate confines of the dark club, she also missed Vin. Even if all she heard was him insulting Rich all night, she knew it would make her feel better.

She handed her last Club card to Dave. “Hey, you finished
David Copperfield
!” Dave nodded, glanced down at the podium, and picked up a new book.
 

“Yep, reading
The Sound and the Fury
now.”

“Ah, I’ve never read Faulkner,” Gin replied.

Dave smiled. “I’ll let you borrow this when I’m done.”

“Wow. Thanks! Just don’t let slip any spoilers.” Dave nodded politely and waved Gin into the club.

The first thing she looked for was the familiar jeans, t-shirt, and occupied chair at the end of the bar. She couldn’t help but break into a huge smile when she saw that Vin was there. She walked up behind him and covered his eyes with her hands.

He jerked in surprise, but then went very still. “Rich! Get the mystery woman a rum and Coke.”

“Dammit. How did you know it was me?” Gin left her hands over Vin’s eyes.
 

“Oh, I not only know that. I know that you’re wearing a sundress because you like how you look in them. Your hair is up because you find that it makes you look taller. You’re wearing high heels because you think they also make you look taller, and, finally, you’ll have one too many buttons unbuttoned at the top of your dress because despite your denials you like when guys stare at you.”

Gin dropped her hands down and slid into the chair next to Vin. “Wow. Are you psychic?”

“No, it’s just all pretty obvious.”

“I’ve never mentioned being short. Why did you focus on that?”

“Uh. You
are
short.”

Gin couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m five foot two, thank you very much, but you’re right. I guess I’m surprised you picked up on my trying to look taller. Do I come across as self-conscious?” Rich slid a rum and Coke in front of Gin and winked at her before moving on.

“Not at all. I was just guessing based on the fact that one, you’re short, and two, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you not wear high heels.” Vin looked over at her. “But you really shouldn’t be self-conscious. You’re very beautiful how you are.”

Gin turned away. He stomach gave a little flutter as she took in the compliment. Sure, Vin was just a friend, but whenever someone as handsome as he was said you were beautiful, it meant something. “Thank you, Vin.”

He replied by taking a sip of his drink. Gin did the same, and as she put her drink down, Vin asked, “So how are things going with Rob?”

“Good. We swap texts multiple times a day, and I told you we’re going out tomorrow night, right?”

“You may have mentioned that.”

“He told me to bring a swimsuit. Do you know if Rob has a yacht? We’re getting together at six, which seems a little late to go to the beach. I just don’t know what he has in mind.”

“Gin. Use your head. It’s not about the beach or Rob’s yacht. You in a swimsuit is one piece of clothing away from you being naked. That’s a shortcut for someone like Rob.” Gin was silent and stared at Vin long enough that he glanced at her. “Oh geez. I’m sorry, Gin. I’m being an asshole again. I just don’t trust him. Sorry.” The words came out in a rush, and as Vin finished he took a long drink and then added. “I’m just not a good friend. You can do better than hang out with someone like me. I’m too negative.”

Gin put her hand on Vin’s arm. “No. Don’t be like that. I told you before. I like you without a filter. I
need
you without a filter. I just don’t want you to be angry or disappointed if I ignore your advice or comments.”

“How could I ever be angry with you, Gin?” Vin looked at her with what looked like a deep sorrow in his yes. “I just want you to be happy.”

“Can I tell you my plan for tomorrow?” Vin nodded. “I’m just going to hang out with him.”

“Not sure what you mean.”

“I’m going to show up, whether it’s a campfire on the beach or watching the sun set on his yacht, and I’m just going to hang out and talk with Rob. No affection. No making out. Definitely no sex. Not even intense conversation. I just want to see if we can enjoy us being together without having to be ‘together.’”

Vin glanced at her. “That’s smart. I can’t imagine any guy seeing you in a bikini and being able to focus on just hanging out. Poor Rob. You’re basically going to torture him.”

Vin was just a friend, but he didn’t seem to have any reservations about stating how hot Gin was or complimenting her on her sexy body. She figured it was just Vin being Vin—the man with no filter. Still, whenever he said something like that it gave her a little thrill.
 

“So what do you think?”

“I think I need another drink, and I think Rich is asleep on the job again.” Vin tapped his glass loudly on the bar. “You hear that sound, Rich? You are hearing a glass hit the bar. What you are not hearing is the sound of alcohol sloshing around in that glass.”

Rich walked over drying his hands with a towel. “How’d you like to hear the alcohol sloshing around in the bottle as it impacts your head?” As always, Rich smiled as he said the words.
 

“You see how he threatens the customers, Gin? I honestly don’t know how he keeps his job.” Rich rolled his eyes and slid a full glass over to Vin.
 

“Rich, I think I know why Vin is always so cranky.” Gin grinned.

“Yeah?”

“I think he just needs to get laid.” Gin gave a little laugh as she said the words, but Rich looked a little shocked and glanced at Vin.

Vin stared at his drink but then turned and looked at Gin. His blue eyes were as intense as always. “Speaking of getting laid. You asked what I thought of your plan to tease Rob. I don’t think it’s going to work.”

“Hey!” Gin furrowed her brow. “My plan isn’t to tease Rob. It’s just for us to relax and enjoy each other’s company.” Rich wandered off as the conversation turned personal.

“Gin. You in a bikini is going to distract any male alive from just relaxing and hanging out.”

“That’s kind of sad. Maybe you can’t think beyond your dick, but I would hope that a mature man would be able to look past his libido and just enjoy a woman’s company.”
 

As she said the words, Vin’s face went ashen. “I- I’m not saying that.”

“Sure you are.”

“Well, I guess I am, but that’s not what I mean.”

“What do you mean then?” Gin stayed on the offensive. She considered Vin a close friend, and his comment hurt and offended her. She needed him to explain himself.

Turning to face her, Vin took a long drink of his bourbon. He took a long breath, and then, with a very earnest look on his face, stared into Gin’s eyes and said, “You are smart, funny, and beautiful. I know that. I hope you know that. Rob has a reputation for dating loose, hot, and beautiful. All I’m saying is that if you want him to see the you that I see, you should not present to him the you that he sees.” He reached out and put his hand on Gin’s. “Does that make sense?”

Gin felt a surge of affection for Vin. What he said made total sense, and his ineptitude at being able to say it was due entirely to his just spouting whatever was on his mind. “It
kind of
made sense,” Gin replied, laughing. “But I’m going to have to spend time translating Vin-speak into a practical plan.”

“I readily admit to needing that kind of guidance.” Vin turned back to the bar, letting go of Gin’s hand. She felt a little empty as he was no longer touching her.

“Okay, so let me bounce my Vin-speak plan off you. I’ll go to my date with Rob without wearing something that shows off my tits and ass. Maybe I’ll wear a swimsuit, but I’ll have a terry robe or something over top of it. Then we’ll spend the evening just sharing each others’ company.”

“I think a good indication as to what his intentions are will be seen in how badly he tries to get you out of your robe,” Vin replied.

“Totally. I like this plan. Thank you, Vin.”

He smiled. “Like I said, Gin. I just want to see you happy. I sincerely hope that Rob is a total gentleman and you have a casual and relaxing evening.”

“But you don’t think that will happen.” Gin said it as a statement of fact.

“No. I think he’s going to try and get you out of your robe, and if he succeeds at that then he’s going to try and get you out of your bathing suit.”

Gin squinted as she peered at Vin’s face. “Do you think he’ll be successful?”

Without looking at Gin, Vin replied, “I think you need to do what you think will make you happy.”

chapter twenty

The next day Gin decided to keep it simple while not completely avoiding sexy. She wore a white one piece bathing suit with a plunging neckline that showed off her tits and a bottom that rode high on her hips without being a thong. It was definitely sexy, but it was a far cry from the thong and string bikinis that she made a habit of wearing on the beach. That outfit drew stares from men
and
women.
 

She skipped the terry robe and went with a thin, partially transparent white cover-up. It had a wide neckline that hung off one shoulder. The white-on-white of the suit and the cover-up made for a sexy outfit that was still somewhat subdued.

There was a knock on the door. Gin opened it to find a middle-aged man standing straight with his arms behind his back. “Ms. Langdon, I’m Mr. Greene’s driver. Are you ready?”

“Yes. Just give me a moment.” Gin took one last look at herself in the entryway mirror.
You look good. Hot, but not too hot.
 
Shortly after locking the front door behind her, she was in a black Lincoln Town Car, heading out of Oakland.

“Are we heading to the beach?” Gin asked.

“No. Mister Greene has a boat at his private dock in Paradise Cay. You’ll be joining him there.”

“Thank you.”

They pulled into a private drive that led directly to the bayfront marina. The driver drove all the way up to a large dock, which was more like a large wooden pier that had a huge yacht moored to it. “Mr. Greene is waiting on his yacht. I’ll call him and let him know you are on the way.” The driver waved an arm toward the boat.

Gin thanked him and headed toward the yacht. She was halfway there before she realized that she had never asked the driver his name.
Bad,
Gin, bad. You must not think like some entitled bitch.
 

Rob was standing on the boat looking like he stepped out of a fifties black and white romantic comedy. He wore khakis and a loose white linen shirt, while his big smile and face could have come from a movie still.
 

“You look like an angel in white,” he said.
 

Gin curtsied. “Why thank you, sir.” She looked at the wide bridge that led to the boat. “I guess I’m supposed to say something like, ‘permission to come aboard?’”

“Permission granted.”

Gin walked up, taking Rob’s hand as he helped her step over the gunwale. He lifted her hand and kissed it on the back.
Okay, this is what I’m talking about
, Gin thought. Romance, relaxation. It’s what she wanted. They did the hard fuck thing. Now they just needed to be comfortable with each other.