Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 105679 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105679 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
He instantly switches to serious business owner mode. “I need to take this.”
When he scoots out of the booth and heads off, Dev slides out a few seconds later. “Gotta call my girl.”
They head in opposite directions, leaving Ivy and me to keep the table warm. She sighs happily then runs a hand through her lush hair. Turning her face to me again, she’s all glowy, her smile soft and a little tipsy, but not much. She had two shots to my three. I don’t like drinking more than that. Don’t like feeling out of control. Also, working out the next day with a hangover is the worst.
“So, is this your Vegas poison?” I ask, circling back to the plane convo. “Hanging out?”
“Maybe it is,” she says.
“Or do you still want to see a show?” I give her a long, lingering look. She’s wearing jeans that hug her legs and a crocheted sweater with a red tank top under it. Mostly, though, it’s her mouth and her eyes that I can’t stop gazing at. Her lips are perfection, and I’m dying to know how they taste. The remnants of this tequila haze make me want her even more.
She twirls a strand of hair. “What kind of show?”
The thing is—I think she might want to be the show. “An after-hours one,” I say, since this night has loosened some of my resolve. I’m not even sure what I want to have happen. I just don’t want this evening to end.
But rather than answer, she sidesteps. “Do you like it with the Avengers so far?”
I follow her changeup easily. “It’s only been three games, but yes, I do like it so far.” I feel a little vulnerable with that admission but also like I can trust her with it.
“Three games to no nickname.”
“You noticed that.” Her candy-berry scent swirls around my head.
“And I noticed you liked it.”
Heat sparks higher in me. “You have to stop noticing things about me,” I say, feel-good endorphins flowing through me, making me want to wrap her in my arms and kiss the breath out of her and then fuck her senseless.
Those are things I shouldn’t think. And yet, these dangerous ideas have me in a chokehold tonight. My dirty train of thought is only stopped by the goateed server, who I see heading our way now with the bill and some refills on the water.
He sets down the glasses with a cheery grin. “Here you go. And good luck for the rest of your stay.”
When he leaves, I look around for the guys but lose interest in their whereabouts real quick when Ivy stretches, her chest rising and falling, her top pulling across her tits, the outline of a barbell teasing me. My resistance crumbles a little more.
I lean closer. “You have a piercing.”
“Do I?”
“Do you?” I counter.
Before she can answer me, someone clears his throat. “New plan.” It’s Dev, and he’s returned. Brady is next to him, sporting a grin. Kana looks like she’s stifling a laugh. Stefan’s not here though.
I sit up ramrod straight, jerking away from Ivy. “We were just—”
Dev adopts the biggest grin in the world. “So we have this tradition with the new guy, Hayes. You can’t escape it. It’s a rite of passage.” He takes a beat, then, like he has a winning hand, he says, “You need to get married.”
14
OFFICIALLY FUCKED
Stefan
When I return to the table, my head pops. Are they pulling this prank again?
All my best laid plans go down the drain with this idea. I was hoping to call it a night soon, then take Ivy and Hayes to the Rapture club back at The Extravagant. Indulge in some music, dim lights, and a seductive vibe, then pitch her on a night together with us taking care of her every after-dark desire. Here in Vegas would work for me. A night back in San Francisco would work too.
I had it all planned out solo—what to say in this proposal of sorts. I didn’t ask Hayes in advance because I didn’t want to come at Ivy with a full court press.
I had originally hoped to take them out after the game, but Dev and Brady roped me into drinks, and I couldn’t say no to a couple shots with the team. But no way was I leaving Ivy behind. I insisted she come with us so I could keep her by my side until I could engineer a way out for the three of us.
Instead, I’ve walked back into the double-dog-dare shitshow.
Why did Yasmine have to call on a Friday night at eleven o’ clock to ask about an unusual ticket? Why did I spend so much time talking to her and pacing outside The Winning Hand? I could have prevented this. But now, Dev and Brady and Kana are showing them the pictures.