Goddess of Vengeance - Jackie Collins [127]
* * *
Prowling around the edge of the dance floor, Bobby was experiencing an emotion that was new to him. Jealousy. He was actually jealous! He could hardly believe it himself. There was Denver, the woman he loved – the woman who professed to love him – and she was dancing closely with another man, handsome and muscular.
The deejay was playing some kind of slow smoochy sound, and the dude on the dance floor was taking full advantage. He had Denver pulled in close, and it looked like she was enjoying it.
Fuck it! Bobby was livid. He hit the deejay stand in a hurry.
‘What’s this slow-assed shit you’re playing?’ he demanded. ‘Change it to something fast now! You’re turning this place into a morgue!’
Startled, the deejay switched to Pitbull, and Bobby nodded his approval. He glanced over at the dance floor to watch them separate, but they didn’t.
What the fuck? Was the dude deaf? He still had Denver pulled in close and she was making no move to get away.
Bobby felt the burn, a jealous burn he’d never felt before, and he didn’t like it. The burn was mixed with a slow rising anger, an anger that was telling him to do something. But what? He’d never found himself in this position before. Ever since he could remember, girls were always fighting over him. Girls in high school, girls in Greece where he’d spent the summers with his father’s family, girls in college, girls in clubs. Girls, girls, girls. Bobby Santangelo Stanislopoulos. He was always the prize, always the guy they wanted.
So no, he had never actually found himself in this position, and it was a pisser.
He circled the floor, hoping that Denver would notice him. But she didn’t, because the dude she was dancing with was talking into her ear while pressing up against her. Meanwhile, everyone else on the floor had split apart.
‘What’s up, Bobby?’ Gia asked, appearing beside him. Sexy Gia with whom he’d once spent several memorable nights.
‘Nothing much,’ he said.
Gia got it immediately. ‘Your girlfriend looks like she’s having a good time,’ she murmured with a spiteful gleam in her eye. ‘Who’s the guy? He’s cute.’
Bobby narrowed his eyes. ‘Do you know him?’ he asked.
‘No,’ Gia replied with a low laugh. ‘But I’d like to.’
In a fit of pure frustration Bobby took Gia’s arm and pulled her onto the dance floor.
Let’s see how Denver would like this turn of events.
* * *
Max took a cab to The Cavendish where Billy had informed her he was staying in one of the high-roller villas. Of course he was – he was a movie star, and movie stars always scored the best accommodations.
She was beyond excited. Billy had come to Vegas especially to see her, and after the gloom and despondency she’d been feeling about their short time together, this was totally unexpected and more than awesome. She couldn’t have wished for a better present.
Billy Melina is my birthday present, she thought. He flew to Vegas just for me.
OH . . . MY . . . GOD!
Then she remembered that Ace had also made the trek to Vegas to see her, and she started feeling pretty guilty about the way she was treating him.
Hmm . . . Ace was a cool guy. But Billy was cooler.
Shivering at the thought of seeing Billy again, she wished that she’d worn a better outfit. She had on leggings, high boots, a cut-off top and a slouchy sweater. Nothing spectacular, but cute enough.
Thank God Billy hadn’t booked into The Keys. Awkward. She could just imagine Lucky’s face if she spotted her darling daughter with the soon-to-be ex of her best friend. Even more awkward, Venus was in town, and was obviously going to be at her birthday party.
Max felt another twinge of guilt, but only a twinge. It wasn’t as if she had come between Billy and Venus; their divorce was well under way when she and Billy had gotten together.
After the cab dropped her off at the front of the hotel, she made her way through the casino, and out the back to the leafy paths that led to the villas.
Billy had sounded totally psyched to hear from her, and if he was telling the truth, he’d come to Vegas only to see her. How great was that?
Okay,