Chapter Nine
Autumn
I walked down the back stairs to the kitchen and was surprised to find it occupied. In the two weeks since I had started staying over at Jace's mansion regularly, I had never run into anyone in the kitchen. The chef had been put on call, and the refrigerator was always stocked, but hardly another soul set foot in the place. I had begun to wonder what Ayden subsisted on.
There he was, in loose silk pajama bottoms and a clean white tee shirt. I could smell the warm soapy scent of him and knew he had just come from the shower. My pulse skittered, and I almost missed the bottom step.
"Autumn?" Ayden said. He had whipped around with the wooden spoon raised like a weapon. "Sorry, you surprised me. Isn't it a little early for you to be sneaking down the back stairs?"
"No, don't apologize. I'm the one who should be sorry. I probably should have let you know that I stay over in the blue room when we work late or have an early meeting. I've been here most of the last two weeks." The last part came out like an awkward confession.
"You mean I've had a house guest this whole time and never knew it? Man, my instincts are slipping." Ayden flipped the wooden spoon and wielded it like a knife. "And so is my cooking."
He lunged for the stove, but it was too late. Dark smoke billowed up the stainless steel hood and Ayden flipped on the exhaust fan just in time. He coughed and flapped his arm as he grabbed the now-charred skillet and threw it into the sink.
I peered at the grisly remains and asked, "What were you trying to make?"
"Salmon crepes. After eating at the Venetian, I just can't seem to go for plain toast anymore." Ayden grinned.
It had been three weeks since our escape to the Venetian penthouse, but we still talked about it almost daily. Just the mention of it buoyed my heart up to the ceiling faster than the plume of smoke from his failed crepes.
"You know we have an on-call chef, right?" I stepped around the charred remains in the sink and headed for the coffee maker.
"Who needs a chef when I can make omelets." Ayden grabbed a clean, copper-bottomed skillet from the hanging rack. Before he gathered up all the ingredients, he reached into the refrigerator and pulled out the cream for me.
"Thanks," I said, trying to subtly inhale the warm soapy male scent of him. It was intoxicating. "When did you learn to make omelets?"
"Not in prison. They don't really allow cooking classes there. I found an old cookbook of my mother's and mastered the art of omelets when I was teenager. I knew I could survive off them without starving and without making a huge mess or fuss," Ayden explained.
I leaned on the counter next to him, "Dazzle me then."
Ayden grinned then looked up to the stainless steel exhaust hood. He flipped the fan to low and said, "I'm relying on muscle memory. Let's hope this works."
He whipped the eggs into a froth and poured them in the hot pan. While it cooked he chopped up green onions, cubed a few thick slices of ham, and shredded some sharp cheddar cheese. By the time he has tossed all the ingredients together and added salt and pepper, the eggs were cooked. He gave the pan a sharp push and the omelet slipped up the side and folded over.
I applauded. "That was quite impressive, Mr. King."
"Here's the real test." He cut a small bit, blew on it gently, and then held it to my lips.
I closed my eyes and savored the bite but, more than that, I savored the warm closeness of his body. Ayden lingered and when I opened my eyes, I saw his fixed on my mouth with a hungry look that had nothing to do with breakfast.
"Delicious," I whispered. Ayden nodded without taking his eyes off my lips.
Suddenly overheating, I stepped back around the kitchen island and found a safe seat on one of the tall stools. Ayden rolled his hard shoulders and shook himself as if waking up from a dream. He handed me my forgotten mug of coffee and then divided the omelet onto two plates.
I polished off my plate with a satisfied sigh. "Thank you. Now are you ready to get back to the real world?"
"This is not the real world." Ayden told me as we met on the front steps fifteen minutes later. He was in his black-on-black suit that was fast becoming a sexy signature look. Except this time he wore a black tie.
The limousine pulled up, and the driver hopped out to open the doors for us. "What do you mean?" I asked Ayden with an innocent smile.
He slid into the limousine next to me. "In real life eating omelets in your pajamas is not followed up by a chauffeured limo ride to a multi-million dollar corporation board meeting."
I patted his knee. "I don't know what to tell you. Welcome to your real world?"
Ayden laughed and pressed a hand over mine, trapping it against his leg. The heat was instantaneous. He dragged my hand a few inches up his thigh. My fingers flexed against his hard muscular leg despite my brain's repeated command to stay focused on business. It was a relief that the ride to the office was short. A minute longer and my daydreams would have gotten the better of my self-control.
The limousine stopped, and I pulled my hand away but Ayden held on. "I couldn't do this without you," he said.
I gave him a light smile that belied my melted heart. "Neither could Jace."
I took the chauffeur's hand and exited the limousine to the sound of Ayden's hearty laughter. Once on the sidewalk, I came face to face with David. Ayden was still chuckling when he joined us and the sound obviously rubbed David the wrong way.
He sneered at me, "I would think the board would frown upon you two making alliances."
"My position as liaison is only until a CEO is voted in. Then I will decide if I want my old role back." I gripped my briefcase with two hands but refused to show any more irritation.
"Best of luck, then," David said, "because once I'm voted in, I plan to find someone with better references than a casino waitress."
Ayden took my arm and squeezed. I could feel his arm muscles bunched with the effort it took to resist pummeling David, but he simply steered me towards the office.
David had to jog on his short legs to overtake us, but he was determined to reach the double doors first. He burst into the office, making demands before the doors shut behind him.
"Secretary, I need the reports I prepared. They're on my desk. And can you make sure the coffee is fresh this time before you bring a cup? Two sugars and a cream. You can handle that, right?" David did not even look at Darla as he marched past to the conference room.
Ayden's arm was iron. He tried to pull loose from me, but I hung on. Three board members were standing near the far windows and had stopped their conversation when they witnessed David's rude entrance.
Darla gave me a worried look, but I waved her on with a smile. "Don't worry. We're fine."
"I'm really sorry, Ms. Bishop, Mr. King. Everyone's in the conference room. I'll check on you in there."
"Not a problem, Darla. You're doing great," I said.
We filed into our seats just as David was urging the board to start the meeting. Mr. Anton frowned at him, and then called the meeting to order.
"After much careful consideration, we have decided there is a need for an interim CEO of Knight Holdings. The board, unfortunately, is not unanimous in its decision regarding who should take the position permanently. Until the time the board votes without contest, we have decided David Rooke should act as interim CEO," Mr. Anton announced.
Darla dropped David's coffee in the doorway, but other than that, no one said a word. David himself stood up, preened, and then thanked the assembled board members, many of whom did not acknowledge his presence. Conversations sprung up regarding day-to-day business, and the meeting moved on to other things.
I leaned closer to Ayden and whispered, "I had no idea. They must have made the decision this morning."
I felt his blue eyes pierce me then soften. "I know. I believe you."
The meeting adjourned after less than an hour. David took up post by the door and tried to shake everyone's hands as they left. Ayden clasped his hands behind his back and towered over David.
"No hard feelings, right King?"
"No congratulations either until the decision is finalized," Ayden snapped.
I refused to acknowledge David's mean smile and followed Ayden into the lobby. Mr. Anton caught us near the front desk.
"I hope you know this doesn't mean it’s over. I assure you that I am still campaigning to honor Jace's wishes and appoint Ayden," he said.
Ayden patted his shoulder. "Seems like you have an uphill battle. Jace's good opinion carries a lot of weight, but it might not outweigh a long stint in prison."
"There are only a few hold outs that believe David is the safer choice and, while they cite your past as a problem, they are mostly concerned with seeing independent proof of your worth," Mr. Anton said.
"So all Ayden has to do is prove himself?" I crossed my arms. "I would think the same should be said for David Rooke. Public opinion is very low and that does not bode well for his leadership skills."
"Excellent point. I think I'll encourage a few of my fellow board members to stay and meet the staff," Mr. Anton rushed off across the lobby.
"I'm so sorry, Ayden"
"Don't be." He blinded me with a genuine smile. "At the Venetian you asked me what I want, and I've been thinking about that. I really want a chance to prove myself and now I have it. The board appointment did not really mean anything to me until today, but now it’s just the challenge that I need."
"And that is exactly why you deserve the position over that self-impressed toad," I snapped.
Ayden arched an eyebrow at me and leaned on Darla's empty desk. "You really don't like him, do you?"
"He's always been impossible to work with, but I made it work. Jace ignored his obnoxious personality, and I managed to do the same for a while." I rummaged in my purse for my phone.
"Sounds like more than that," Ayden remarked.
I looked around and noticed we were alone for the moment. "I don't trust him anymore. There are two many little things that don't add up. I can't help but think he's up to something."
Ayden surveyed the glass fish bowl offices too then cleared his throat. "I gotta confess that when I heard about Jace's accident, my immediate thought was that David had somehow caused it. I dismissed the thought at the time because it seemed like I was trying to find someone to blame. The more I think about it, though, the more it doesn't add up like you said."
I found my phone and gripped it hard. "You mean how David insisted that Jace attend that totally unnecessary meeting?"
"And he fought to make sure I could not attend in Jace's place," Ayden added.
I pulled up the file on my phone and handed it to Ayden. "I can't do anything with a hunch, so I've been putting together some research on David's accounts. There is a long list of dead ends and questions."
David exited the conference room with his chest puffed out. Our eyes met and the mutual disgust for him was clear.
"So what's the plan?" Ayden asked. He nodded to Darla as she returned to her desk. "I think we can all agree that David needs to be brought down a notch or three."
I took my phone back and punched a number. "The easiest way to do that is to do something far out of Mr. Rooke's league. Hello, Cassandra? It's Autumn Bishop. Yes! I'm so glad you got it. When I saw it, I thought of you first."
David sauntered over towards us.
"Well, I suddenly have a free evening, and I was hoping there was room at Avenue for two?" I asked, loud enough for David to hear. "I'd love for you to meet Ayden King."
David's beady eyes had brightened at the mention of Las Vegas' most exclusive restaurant. Seeing his sour mouth pucker when I mentioned taking Ayden was enough to have Darla smothering a smile with both hands.
"You do? It’s not a problem? Oh, I am so glad I called. We'll head straight over. Thanks so much. See you in a bit," I said. I hung up the phone and linked my arm through Ayden's. "I think you'll love Avenue. It’s just your style."
"Oh, it is!" Darla screeched. "I saw an interior design spread on it. It has those ultra-masculine dark wood paneled walls, but the booth seats are lined with heather gray crushed velvet. So gorgeous."
It was hard to tell if she was talking about Ayden or the restaurant, so I added, "And the food's not half bad."
David straightened his suit coat and stuck his nose in the air. He marched out the front doors of the office and did not look back.
"He's been trying to get a reservation there for two months," Darla explained with a wide grin.
* * * * *
Ayden leaned back against the limousine seat and tried to scrub the rueful smile off his face. "So besides making his eyes bug out with jealousy, how do you think we should deal with David?"
I was so glad to hear the 'we' in his question that it took me a long time to formulate an answer. Ayden could have easily decided I was playing both sides of the CEO debate, and I would not have blamed him. It just proved his business acumen that he instantly realized I had nothing to gain by backing David.
"Well, one way is to forget about him completely and concentrate on the board. You could go out of your way to meet with each member individually," I said.
"Chit chat and cocktails is not going to prove to them I have what it takes to be CEO," Ayden pointed out.
"We could take the opposite approach then and concentrate on proving that David is not right for the position." It annoyed me that board members could witness his rude treatment of employees and say nothing. "How about we hire a private investigator? I'm sure a professional could dig up some dirt on him."
"Feels like I would get dirty by association." Ayden slapped his hands on his knees. "I wonder if we could provoke David into showing his hand. What do you think he would do if I started personally visiting all those questionable businesses you found in his accounts?"
I grinned. "I think not only would it make you look like a hands-on and thorough CEO, but it would make David apoplectic."
"Then it’s a plan," Ayden said.
The weight of our suspicions dropped on my shoulders, and I studied my fingers as I thought out loud. "I should have sat down with the doctor that pronounced Jace's death, but it seemed like a moot point. Now I think I should go back and ask him a few questions. And I still have the badge numbers of the police that notified me. They were at the scene of the accident and maybe they saw something more than just a driver losing control."
"No, Autumn. You don't need to dig into any of that if it will make you uncomfortable."
I shook my head. "The feeling I have that David was somehow involved is what makes me uncomfortable. I'm sorry, but I will be happy to prove it was just a tragic accident. It’s better than thinking someone I worked with for years was capable of such a thing."
Ayden took my hand and kissed the back of it. "And that is why you will always be the better person." Then he smirked, "Except for that time when you made fancy reservations just to rub it in some poor schmuck's face."
I laughed. "It was partly that, and partly that I want you to have this experience."
The limousine stopped outside of Avenue and as the door opened, it felt like all the frustration and worry from the midday meeting disappeared. I took a deep breath and enjoyed Ayden's first glimpse of the exclusive restaurant.
The old-fashioned limestone exterior was crowded with people hoping to have a drink at the bar. The line swelled against black velvet ropes. He stopped on the sidewalk and looked far down the block to the end of the line.
I laughed and slipped my arm through his then nudged him towards the front doors. It impressed me how he took one look at the Roman-pillar sized doormen and did not miss a step. For all his bravado, his jaw dropped when the two huge men stepped back and opened the double doors for us without a word. We walked right through, much to the amazement of the waiting crowd and Ayden himself.
Before we could go three steps inside the doors, the owner rushed over. Dalton Max was a key restaurateur and developer in Las Vegas and, like Jace, he prided himself on being personally present at his establishments as much as possible.
"Autumn, you look as lovely as a spring day," he declared, with a booming laugh. "And this must be the Ayden King I have been hearing so much about. Dalton Max at your service. Welcome to Avenue."
"Jace helped Dalton here get his start in the club business and, to be honest, I always liked his taste a little bit more," I told Ayden.
"And everyone knows that Autumn has excellent taste," Dalton Max said. He led us personally to our table and held out the sleek leather chair for me. "There's a bottle of champagne on its way for an aperitif, but I will also send the sommelier over directly."
"Thank you, Dalton. You are a most wonderful host," I smiled.
Ayden's laser blue eyes tracked around the restaurant. The walls were floor-to-ceiling dark wood paneling as Darla had described, but the masculine effect was softened by an eclectic collection of mirrors mounted only inches apart. It made the walls glow with reflected light from the simple yet elegant chandeliers. We sat at an intimate table near the front windows but, along the far wall, were the large, semi-circle booths whose seats were lined with heather gray crushed velvet. They were the perfect compliment to the heavy leather chairs and dark-stained tables scattered across the dark blue and star-patterned carpeting. A dark tin ceiling completed the atmosphere of an old world supper club.
I followed his eyes around the wide square dining room of Avenue. Cassandra waved from the hostess stand. The bartender winked, and two servers grinned as they passed by the table to say hello to me.
"Do you know everyone in Las Vegas?" Ayden asked.
"Side effect of growing up here and going into the hospitality business," I shrugged. "Plus I met a lot of people while scouting investments with Jace."
Before Ayden could respond, two servers in long white linen aprons and perfectly pressed shirts arrived to present the champagne. In an easily choreographed routine, one prepared the ice in a silver stand while the other popped the cork. Then the first server produced two crystal champagne flutes and held them, while the second server poured. Within less than a minute, we were holding the glittering champagne flutes and on our own again.
Ayden tried to speak but had to start over twice. "That was. This is. The service here is incredible."
"Exactly. It’s something that Jace always wanted to emulate. That's why I wanted you to see it. This is what you can bring to Knight Holdings. Restaurants and clubs with this caliber service will prove to the board that you are the right person to lead." I raised my glass to Ayden and took an effervescent sip.
Cassandra swept by the table and kissed my cheek. "Don't be surprised when Dalton arrives with the chef's recommendations. I know you don't like us to fuss over you, but we just can't help it. Make no mistake, Mr. King, Autumn is like carrying loaded dice. You'll always win."
She spun away to greet other tables before Ayden could formulate a word. The long, intense gaze from his blue eyes felt like champagne bubbles all over my body.
I blushed. "We talk each other up, part of the servers' code," I explained.
He shook his head, "No, there's more to you than that."
I was relieved when our first course arrived along with Dalton and the chef. Minutes after we savored our first bites, the sommelier appeared at the table.
Ayden immediately took charge of the decision-making. After debating how a peppery finish would compliment our steak tartar, he decided on a Zinfandel. The sommelier signaled a runner, and the bottle arrived immediately. He presented the cork to Ayden who sniffed it like an expert and then swirled the deep red wine in his glass. He breathed in the aroma and even had a few choice observations to make about the nose.
I was floored. After the sommelier shook Ayden's hand and left us to our dinner, I gaped at him. "That was masterfully done. I am impressed. I don't mean to be rude, but where on earth did you learn to do that?"
"There was a wine appreciation course every winter," Ayden said with such a straight face my eyes narrowed in suspicion. He broke easily and laughed. "I've been getting a few pointers from your friend Trent. Everyone's right. You are the one for me to know."
I reveled in that pause as our salads arrived. The thought of being someone that Ayden wanted was too delicious to ignore. There were thousands of practical reasons against us, but I allowed myself one whole course to pretend they did not exist.
Darla had been right. Ayden was gorgeous, and the old world charm of the restaurant fit his style. His black hair shone under the chandeliers, and his blue eyes lit up like glowing sapphires in contrast to the dark-toned surroundings. I was glad he had ditched the black tie in the limousine and loosened his black shirt. The unbuttoned collar drew my eye to his square jaw, his wide shoulders, and the taut muscles of his chest.
Celebrities flowed in and out of Avenue as we lingered over our food. I could not tear my eyes away from Ayden long enough to marvel over the blockbuster faces and award-winning artists. His eyes drifted over people with only slight flickers of recognition. Everywhere he looked he was impressed, but not affected, not star struck or envious. Ayden was solid, comfortable in his own skin, and that drew my eyes to him again and again.
The only time I saw him shift in surprise was when a jazz trio began to play. He sat up and turned around in his seat to see the musicians casually stirring up an old favorite on a small dais by the bar. A smile smirked around the edges of his mouth as he turned back to the table and shook his head.
"Not used to musical accompaniments to dinner?" I asked.
He shot me a warning glance with a smile. "Funny thing was it probably would have improved the atmosphere of the cafeteria. A few inmates tried to petition for music. They even read studies on it, but it was shut down."
Ayden picked up his fork and nonchalantly went back to eating, but I knew his tells. Underneath the table his knee jiggled up and down, too slight to be felt, but I saw the linen tablecloth move. And he smiled every time the bass stood out with an impressive run. He was enchanted, but there was no way he'd admit it.
A small crew of servers cleared enough tables to create a tiny dance floor and a few couples spun around it slowly. The jazz was soft and dreamy, a honeyed love song that meandered through improvisations and eventually wound back to the chorus.
"Blue Moon," Ayden said suddenly.
My heart stopped, and I had to pretend to listen while I caught my breath. "Yes, yes I think it is."
Ayden smiled, pleased with himself and the restaurant and the entire atmosphere. It was easy to think we'd slipped into another time. I looked at my dinner companion again and could easily imagine him as a gangster or a smooth player in the Rat Pack entourage.
I surprised us both by blurting out, "We should dance."
He tossed his white linen napkin on the table and stood up in one fluid move. I gulped down one last sip of wine for courage and took his extended hand. Ayden's other tell, tapping his fingertips against his thumb, was in full swing, and I realized he was just as nervous as I was. The thought fused me to him as we circled together and into the dance.
"I love this song," he murmured, his voice low and hypnotic.
It was better than any music I had ever heard.