Las Vegas Honeymoon (2 page)
Read Las Vegas Honeymoon Online
Authors: Francis Drake
“Only if you use my extra ticket at the KA show tonight. It’s at nine-thirty, right there at the MGM.”
Mary and The Idiot Groom had tickets to a show on their wedding night? Mary was lucky the
guy’d
been late, lucky to have overheard the conversation, even if she was a little upset now. That’s when he knew, regardless of the strain on him, he would do anything he could to make her feel better while they were together.
He smiled. “Sounds great. I’ll make reservations for eight-fifteen. You want to meet me at the restaurant?”
She picked up her carry-on bag and started toward the back of the suite. “I think I’ll go over early and try my luck at the slots.” She turned half way around and winked. “Ralph forgot I had the envelope with all our spending money. I intend to have a good time on this honeymoon, even without a groom.”
“Let me add to the fun, then. There’s a cocktail party tomorrow evening. I could use a beautiful escort so I’m not prey for other single women there.”
She laughed. “Poor baby. I’d be happy to run interference for you, but I didn’t bring anything fancy to wear.”
“We can take care of that tomorrow.” He knew exactly the kind of dress he’d love to see on her.
“Okay, but watch yourself, mister. After all, I’m a free woman now, you know.”
“Watch
yourself
. I’m free, too.”
A blush touched her cheeks. How long since he’d seen a woman blush? It was as big a turn-on as if she’d stood there naked. “I’ll buy your dress. It’s small payment for the room.”
“Don’t worry, Dan. I’m sure I’ll think of some way for you to pay me for the room.”
With that, she walked into the bedroom, leaving a warmth in the air and that big, old hard-on in his pants.
Chapter 2
Hours later, Dan and Mary exited the KA theatre. “That was absolutely fantastic,” Mary said.
“It sure was. I have a confession to make.”
Mary stopped and swung around to face Dan. The evening had been great so far. She’d come out a couple hundred dollars ahead in her gambling, dinner had been delicious and the conversation interesting. She hoped he wasn’t going to spoil everything by telling her he’d found a room elsewhere, or—worse—that he’d lied earlier and had a wife at home, after all. Her brief experience with men, meaning Ralph, hadn’t exactly inspired confidence that they were the honest gender of the species.
“And what might that be?”
“I saw the show last year. But I enjoyed it far more tonight. Must have been the company.” His smile put the flashing lights in the casino to shame. She’d have to use all her willpower to keep her hands off him while he shared the adjoining apartment. His school reputation as the guy with the most notches on his belt had been much more than rumor. What had she been thinking to offer the wolf a place right next door to the lamb?
She hadn’t been thinking. She’d been enjoying her pity party and the looks of admiration Dan gave her. Now she’d have to watch every word and gesture to be sure
she
didn’t become a notch on that infamous belt.
Starting to walk again, she said, “I understand how you could see the show over and over. I don’t think you could pick up everything in one time.”
“How about a night cap?”
Surely one glass of wine couldn’t hurt. “That sounds good. And you can continue telling me what you’ve been doing for the past few years. Like, do you still play the field when it comes to dating?” Damn! Where had that come from?
He seemed amused. She couldn’t ignore the streak of heat racing up her arm when he reached out and took her hand. Lacing their fingers, he said, “What kind of question is that to ask a man?”
“I just wondered because you, well, everyone thought, in school….”
He laughed. “Like you, I’ve changed from what I was in high school.”
“Really?”
He tugged her to a stop. His eyes were serious though his lips turned up in a half smile. “We’re not kids anymore. Kids throw away their time because they don’t know what they want. Now I do. I work hard. I developed a new process for our company, and I pour all my energy into it. I don’t spend much time out of the office, so I don’t date much. I haven’t given much thought to finding someone to love.” He swept the back of his fingers down her cheek. The noise and lights of the casino floor faded to nothing. “You wanted to build a life with someone. I’ve barely considered adding a wife to mine.”
Her breath hitched. She waited for the sting behind her eyes and tightness in her throat that should accompany her lost dreams of a life with Ralph. By now the tears should have started, but her eyes remained dry. He studied her face, then stared at her mouth. Her lips parted; her tongue darted out to wet them. His eyes darkened, watching.
“Of course,” he murmured, “there will be some free time during the convention. I’m due for a break.”
God, she wanted him to kiss her in the worst way.
How could she be so fickle? Hours ago, she had stood ready to marry another man. Now she could hardly remember what he looked like. All because Dan Higgins, the boy she’d dreamed about throughout school was here before her, so close she could smell his woodsy aftershave. This reality topped any adolescent fantasy. She wanted to feel his lips on hers, his arms around her, his body crushing her into the mattress. Whatever remnants of Ralph remained in her memory, she wanted squelched, and Dan had everything it took to accomplish that. No other man could have made her this crazed.
Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me.
Instead, he squeezed her hand and they continued to the bar in silence.
Dan pulled a bar stool close to one she chose. They sat and ordered.
“You know,” she said, “I always pictured you on Wall Street. But I guess joining Higgins Enterprises made more sense.”
He snorted a laugh and nodded thanks to the scantily clad waitress when she set the glasses on the table, wine for her, whiskey for him. “If you grew up thinking your father and brother were like gods and they paid no more attention to you than to pat you on the head, you might think twice about joining the company where they were already leaders. For years I felt like the useless, younger addition to the firm.”
Elbows on the table, she leaned forward. “Why’d you stay? Someone of your brains and talent could have made it anywhere.”
He reached out and took her hand. His thumb caressed her palm, sending flames of desire through her. “Back then, I still fumed at feeling worthless, while never doing anything to shake their image of me. I took an easy route to avoid work and lived down their image of me.”
She returned his smile. “And then one day you were finally ready to prove them wrong.”
Dan chuckled. “I should have known you’d understand. After all, look what you did. Lost your excess weight and made everyone face the beautiful woman you always knew you were.”
“I didn’t always know I was beautiful. I don’t know it now.”
“You should ask me, then.”
At the piercing look he gave her, she gulped her wine. “Don’t say things like that. You know as well as I do that you never gave me a second thought when I was fat.” It still hurt to use that word about herself, but facts were facts.
“I took you to the prom, didn’t I?”
He had done that. She’d resigned herself to not attending the major dance of her senior year when suddenly Dan called and asked her to go. She had been afraid to ask why back then, wanting to live the magical evening thinking he liked her. Now she wanted to know. “Why
did
you take me?”
“Come on, we were friends. Don’t act like I didn’t know you were alive.” He sat quietly for a brief moment. “I wanted you to feel as special as I thought you were.”
“So…you did like me?”
“I can’t believe you didn’t know. You might have been a little overweight, but you were nice. And smart. Lots of kids liked you, but you were too shy to see.”
Could that have been true? Could her own self-image kept her from knowing others saw her in a different light? Good God. Could her mother have been right all those years?
“Would you like to go back?” His voice was low and very sexy. The chords
skittled
through her, striking every nerve like a ball in a pinball machine.
She finished off her wine. “Okay, yeah, that would be good.” Her insides felt mushy, melted from listening to Dan, thinking about Dan, remembering how she’d felt about Dan years before. Or was it the wine?
Who cares? You’re on your honeymoon
alone
. Life doesn’t get much more pathetic.
Then she glanced at the sexy man cradling her hand. She was the envy of every woman in the room, and there wasn’t a damn thing pathetic about that.
* * * *
After returning to the
Unlike the
old
you.
She rushed to the bedroom and slipped out of her dress and bra. Standing in nothing but her bikini panties, she thought of Dan on the other side of the wall and her breathing sped. Years ago, she would have killed to be in this position. Then, as a shy, bookish geek, the popular and friendly Dan Higgins had befriended her. She’d wrapped the memory of her senior prom night in cotton and cradled ever since. Dan as a lover was something she’d dreamed of back then, though she had no idea what such a thing entailed.
But after graduation, she’d gone to college in the north and he’d stayed home in Georgia. They hadn’t written. They weren’t girlfriend and boyfriend, after all.
When she met Ralph, he’d seemed special, too. Like Dan, he was handsome, charming and popular. He’d taken time to befriend her and made her feel as though only she existed in his world. How wrong she’d been! Maybe she was wrong about Dan, too, but if he wasn’t right for a lifetime anymore, he was at least right for a night.
She hooked her thumbs in the waistband of her panties and pushed them off. Her knee length robe slid over her skin like silk. Sexy described the way she felt, sexy and free to be whatever she wanted to be. This was the chance to live those dreams she’d explored only in the dark of night.
What happened in
Las Vegas
stayed in
Las Vegas
.
The commercial message flew into her head. Who would know if she stepped over the line of propriety? Ralph had done so more than once, evidently. This was her turn. Being the cheat
ed
instead of the cheat
er
would serve Ralph right. And who better to take revenge with than her first love?
She paused at the adjoining door. Raising her hand to knock, she held her breath. Before her fist struck the wood, Dan’s did. She swung the door wide, hoping she looked sexy rather than surprised that he’d actually want to spend time with her. He lofted the bottle high with one hand and held two glasses in the other. His tie and jacket were history, and his collar button was undone. Even better, his shoes were off, giving him the look of a late-night friend.
Of course, he’s still dressed, and you’re standing here in a robe and nothing else.
His gaze slid down her body and crawled back up, striking heat every inch of the way. What must he think? She’d overestimated his interest and now presented him a tasty morsel of tart. She blushed warm at her forwardness.
“I thought you might want some wine before bed.”
“Wine would be nice.”
“I like your robe. The color looks good on you.”
“Thanks. I-I probably should have stayed dressed, but this is comfortable.”
He slipped past her into the room. His arm brushed her breast, sending a thrill to the tingly area between her thighs. “Speaking for myself, you could have worn a bit less and it would have been just fine.”
Her cheeks flamed hotter. “I feel naked enough in this.”
At the table Dan removed the cork from the bottle. Mary left the connecting door open, not wanting Dan to think she was suggesting he stay in her room, though the picture of the two of them in her king size bed set her blood running swift and hot. He poured the wine and handed her a glass. She took it, smiling her thanks. “Let’s sit over here on the sofa.”
“Sounds good.”
She sat at the end of the sofa while Dan settled in the middle. He set the bottle on the coffee table. Holding up his glass he said, “To old friends.”
“Oh, yes.” She gently clinked her glass against his. She sipped. The dryness of the Chablis struck her tongue and she puckered slightly.
“That’s why I bought Chablis,” he said. “I knew it would make you look like you want to be kissed.”
“Really.” Mary gathered her wits. This was her chance to flirt and she did so outrageously. Looking up from under her lashes she asked, “Do you think I want to be kissed?”
“I hope so.”
Her heart fluttered and took flight.
“Why are you sitting so far away? This is a big sofa but you don’t have to prove it.”
“I-I, uh, don’t know. Now that you mention it, I guess I am being a little silly.” She scooted a few inches toward him.
“
Closer.
” He took her hand and tugged until their thighs touched. He tapped his glass against hers this time. “To old friends who want to be current friends, too.”
Mary didn’t think she could breathe, much less sip. And she didn’t. She gulped instead, almost emptying her glass. With a wolfish smile, Dan leaned over and grabbed the bottle. Before she could protest, he filled her glass again.
“Keep drinking like that, and you’ll be tipsy before you know it.”
Her head already swam, although she thought it might be from Dan’s arm slipping around her shoulders, and the scent of his mint toothpaste, which she could smell because her nose was mere inches from his face.
