With that parting shot and a dangerous glimmer in his eyes, I spun and skipped down the steps that led to the main floor and the stage. I swept my hair around one shoulder and walked away without looking back, no matter how badly I wanted to.
Yes—work was my priority, but if he wanted to fuck with me, then I’d fuck with him right back.
I had no doubt his day would be a lot more uncomfortable than mine.
I’d lost my mind. I knew I had.
Going to three strip clubs with a man who was my client, market research or not, was downright insane.
Not that I had any time to contemplate it.
“I can’t believe you just ran off to Vegas without informing me or your father.”
“I didn’t run off, Mom. I’m here to work. Michelle’s stepson’s mom died, so I’m taking this contract for her.”
She scoffed disapprovingly. “You should have told her no. You have a responsibility to be here for Allie!”
“Good grief, woman. She knows I’m here. I called her as soon as I landed. I’m coming back for the dress fitting”—hopefully—“and I’ll be back in plenty of time for the rehearsal dinner.”
Silence rang through the line.
“Oh,” she said. “I suppose, if she’s okay with it...”
“She is,” I said sharply, glancing at the clock.
Five to eight. She still had enough time to bring something else up.
“Why didn’t you call her before you left?”
And there it was. “I had to finish up a contract for another client before I could leave. I didn’t have time. She understood.”
“Your job is too important to you.”
That’s a matter of opinion, but whatever. It wasn’t like I had a cat to fill my time.
“I’m buying you a cat when you come home. You need something else to do.”
“I don’t want a cat,” I groaned.
“Why not?”
“Because. They’re assholes.” I was asshole enough for my apartment, thank you very much.
“Only when your father trains them.”
“Mom, you’re killing me here. I don’t want a cat. I love my job. Allie doesn’t need me to hold her hand through the wedding. She can call me anytime. I’ll be home when it matters.”
Two knocks sounded at my door, and I stood, making sure the laces of my heels were tied around my ankle.
“Please give me a break. I can’t take your neurotic phone calls every ten minutes.” I opened the door to West Rykman, who was looking hot as all get-out in a white shirt, his sleeves rolled up yet again, and dark-blue jeans. I motioned for him to come in and tuned back in to Mom’s rambling.
“...neurotic is very hurtful, Mia. And why do you have time for Allie’s calls but not mine?”
“Because Allie is the one getting married, not you.” Guilt trip in three, two, one...
“You’ll note that but not that your words have hurt me?”
I rolled my eyes. Right on time. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I have to go, okay? I have to work.”
“Work? What work could you possibly be doing at eight in the evening in Las Vegas?”
I pursed my lips. I could tell her, but then I’d probably give her a stroke.
“Business dinner,” I lied smoothly.
“Isn’t that late?”
Not late enough if she could call me. “It was a last-minute addition to my schedule. Everyone was busy before.”
West raised an eyebrow as I spun my lie.
“Okay, Mom, my cab is waiting! Bye!” I cut her off before she could finish saying one word.
I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. Good. God. There was always something, wasn’t there? Anyone would have thought she was the mother of the bride with the way she was going on. I accepted that Allie’s mom had been her best friend since they were fifteen, but fuck me. She needed to give me a break.
“That sounded...uncomfortable,” West noted, his eyebrow still raised.
“Everything about my mother is uncomfortable,” I drawled, grabbing my purse from the kitchen counter. The open-plan living space in this apartment was lovely. “Let’s go before she calls again and finds out I’m lying.”
His deep laugh follows me out, and I lock the door.
“Why are you lying to her?” he asked.
I sighed and ran my hands through my hair as we stepped into the elevator. “Honestly, if I told her the truth, she’d probably die of horror. On one hand, she wouldn’t call me almost every day anymore, but she’d probably guilt-trip me from beyond the grave, and if she did that, she’d probably know I was lying about the apologies too.”
“Sounds complicated.”
“Complicated, dysfunctional, lunacy... They’re all the same, aren’t they?”
His lips tugged up in a half smile. “I guess so.”
The elevator doors dinged open and we both exited it. I held my hands close to my body to avoid inadvertently touching him. Lord only knew what would happen if I did that.
“Right here,” he said, touching my back and guiding me toward a sleek-looking Audi.
There went my no-touching, huh?
He pushed a button on his keys and the lights flashed. Then he opened the passenger’s door for me. I paused before I got in, but if he noticed, he didn’t say anything.
With Mom over and done with, this was still a bad idea.