Owen smiled and picked up our suitcases.
The suite turned out to be an exclusive two-bedroom villa. The main room featured a fireplace flanked by two couches. The dining area had an eight-foot table and full bar. There were two bathrooms and every luxury imaginable.
"I've got the master suite. Artemis and Alan have one bed. Tony and Milan have the other. Scottie called one couch, but I saw him reuniting with Alison in the lobby, so you might be able to snag that. Oh, you know how it works, Owen. You're welcome anywhere," Anya said. She smiled at him and strolled to the door of her room. "Get dressed. We're going to dinner."
I had the distinct feeling she was not talking to me, but after
I met the small crowd of friendly gamers, it did not matter anymore. Luckily, Darla had thought to pack a little black dress, because Anya was not kidding when she said dress up. She reappeared in a shimmering sequin dress that caught the light like fireworks.
"You look wonderful," Owen said.
I was surprised he was talking to me. The black dress fit like a second skin and the neckline was lower than I was comfortable with. I had layered a few beaded necklaces on in order to make it feel more decent.
Owen, on the other hand, looked stunning in his fitted black suit. He wore a black shirt underneath with no tie and had left the top few buttons opened. I was about to tell him how handsome he looked when Anya whisked him away. I was left to follow with the rest of the ragtag gamers.
I stopped at the elevator, sure that I would have to wait for the second one, but Owen reached for my hand and pulled me in. I bumped against his chest in surprise. My eyes were riveted to his chest, revealed by the open buttons. He smelled like sandalwood and leather.
I was just coming around to feeling foolish when Owen slipped a hand around my waist and tucked me close to his side. "I'm glad you're here," he said and dropped a kiss on top of my head.
He had done the same thing for years, a quick squeeze and a light kiss on my head, but now there was heat. I felt more than warm all along where his arm encompassed me. His hand flexed against my waist, testing the curving of my hip.
I knew I was not imagining things, because I caught an angry flash from Anya's dark eyes.
"Me, too," I agreed and slipped my arm around his back. "How about this time drinks are on me?"
Owen smiled, thinking of the last time we had drank together. The elevator doors opened and we went out together, despite Anya stepping between us. She had made reservations at Mizumi, the Wynn Hotel's four-star Japanese restaurant.
She was obviously about to tell me I did not have a place at the table, when Owen said. "Good thing Scottie went off with Alison. We won't have to ask them to set an extra place."
Anya smiled at him, but her eyes blazed when they flicked over me. It was obvious Anya had planned more than fun and games for the tournament, and I was definitely in her way. She moved deftly between the red and white chairs, and somehow insinuated herself between Owen and I. When he pulled out a chair and smiled at me, she slipped into it and thanked him. His lips quirked in a quick frown and he moved to the other side of the table.
"Who wants to order some fugu?" Owen asked.
"No, no thanks," I said. "I've read medical studies on eating blowfish."
"Damn. And here I thought you'd be a sushi virgin," he squeezed my knee.
The sushi was ocean-fresh and the saki warm. Owen was telling stories punctuated by his friends, and I could not stop smiling. Finally, I excused myself to use the restroom and smiled all the way there. Until I realized Anya had followed me.
She slipped in while I was washing my hands and caught my eyes in the mirror. Anya smiled sympathetically. "It is so nice of Owen to bring you here, get your mind off everything. I know he feels like Sienna's death was his fault. You must be the best way for him to assuage his guilt."
She led the way back to the table, knowing full well she had poisoned my evening more assuredly than a plate full of fugu.
Chapter Nine
Quinn
I had assumed the gamers were night owls, but when we were still playing and it was 3 am, I was barely staying conscious. Owen was going full force, but he noticed and pulled me against him. I fell asleep on his shoulder as the party continued around me.
When I woke up in the morning, I was curled up on the couch under a blanket. Owen was stretched out on the floor beneath me, his arms tucked behind his head as he slept. I looked down and let myself have a long, leisurely study of him. Years of stolen glances were not enough.
Owen's blond hair was thick and he had it cut short enough to be effortless. Whatever happened, it was mussed perfectly. I was surprised by the sculpted contours of his arms. In between playing, he must work out. Then again, Owen had always looked like a quarterback, lean and hard. While he slept, his wide mouth was curled in a small smile, but his square jaw made him look like a warrior. I half-expected him to fly awake and draw his sword.
I squeezed my eyes shut. It was too easy to mix reality with Dark Flag. Especially after spending hours in the game and falling asleep still within its world. I had to remind myself this was the real world, albeit in Vegas, and here, things were different.
There was one similarity, though. In both worlds, I was still an outsider. Owen's friends had spent hours showing me their best moves and giving me all the insider knowledge I needed to navigate Dark Flag, but I was still a newbie. Half of the night, Anya had targeted me and I died countless times. She called it training, but it was obvious she was trying to get me away from Owen.
I slipped out of my covers and climbed over the back of the couch so as not to disturb Owen. The truth was I had come to Vegas to be close to Owen, but the more I saw of the gaming world, the more I knew it was the place for me. In a way, Anya was right – if I wanted to be there, I could not slip in on Owen's good will. I had to earn my place.