Reckless Nights (Vegas Nights #1)

Sometimes dream crushes do come true.

Vegas Nights, Book 1

Reagan can’t believe her luck—and not in a good way. One minute she’s hanging out with her friends at an exclusive party in Las Vegas. The next, she’s attracted the attention of a famous actor. Not just any actor. Declan Carter, the man on whom she used to—okay, might
still
—have a fangirl crush. Whose blue eyes leave her embarrassingly tongue tied.

All Declan wants is to meet a nice, normal woman who won’t use him as a stepping stone to fame. Something about Reagan tells him she could be that rare woman, and he follows his instinct to invite her back to his suite—where they proceed to have wild monkey sex. All. Night. Long.

What was supposed to be one night of no-regrets sex stretches out into a blissful weekend of two people who can’t get enough of each other. But when the glamour of Sin City wears off, they’re standing on the edge of a once-in-a-lifetime chance to turn a weekend fling into something lasting. Will they take the jump?

Warning: Smokin’ hot sexy weekend with a gorgeous actor? There shouldn’t be a warning—more like encouragement to indulge your fantasies!

Reckless Nights

Karen Erickson

Dedication

To my friends Melody Grace, Cora Carmack, Lexi Ryan, Jen McLaughlin, Christina Lee, Tammara Webber, Jay Crownover and KP Simmon for hanging out with me in Vegas on a Saturday night. This one’s for you.

Chapter One

Declan Carter was holding her hand. Yes, one of her favorite actors, who had seemed to disappear off the face of the Earth a few years ago when he was on top of his game, was grasping hold of her hand like he never wanted to let it go. His long fingers were strong and warm, his palm pressed against hers. Staring at her with those intense, light blue eyes Reagan remembered being mesmerized by from his movies.

Eyes that seemed to pierce her soul and see right through her, like they never wanted to let her go. They’d had that affect when she watched him on the big screen long ago and they were having that exact effect right now, at this very moment. She parted her lips, eager to say something, anything, but no words wanted to come out. He’d struck her silent with just a look.

He still hadn’t said anything to her either, though she’d uttered a lame “hi” in greeting when James introduced him. Speaking of James…

“Talk, man,” James said under his breath as he sidled up to Declan, giving him a nudge on the shoulder. “Swallowed your tongue or what?” James turned his attention on her. “See? I told you that you look damn good in that dress. He can’t even speak, he’s so enraptured with you. And this man can charm the panties off just about any woman.”

“Shut the fuck up, James,” Declan said, his gaze never leaving Reagan.

Slowly she extracted her hand from his grip. This was getting kind of weird. She felt odd, what with this man staring at her and not saying a word. What was his problem?

And no way was Declan enraptured with her, as James so kindly put it. He could have any woman he wanted. She wasn’t
that
special.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Reagan said, feeling stupid. Woefully inadequate. Yeah, she was wearing the awesome dress James had convinced her to buy and she’d spent too much money on. It was red and gorgeous and wearing it made her feel sexy, but maybe…

Maybe this was a mistake. Her biggest dream was coming true, meeting Declan Carter, but it didn’t necessarily feel right. First off, he hadn’t really spoken to her. Second, she was a fraud, wearing the expensive red dress when really she was an emergency room nurse. She didn’t wear pricey dresses and attend glamorous parties in Las Vegas. Her normal life consisted of the graveyard shift five days a week, seeing unimaginable things and sleeping throughout the day when normal people went about their business.

Work and sleep. Sleep and work. That was half the reason she and her best friends Andrea and Natalie had planned this girls’ weekend in Vegas in the first place. So they could let loose and have a little fun. Drink fancy cocktails, dance in a crowded club, gamble and flirt with boys. Men.

Sexy, tempting men.

Things hadn’t started out right. Their flight had been delayed—a few times. Their luggage was lost. They met James when they were going shopping for new outfits as they waited for their still-missing luggage and he insisted they buy outrageous cocktail dresses so he could bring them to an exclusive party.

She was thrilled to be at this party, to be in Declan’s presence. But not if he wasn’t going to say anything to her.

“Come with me,” Declan said in a commanding voice, startling her. He wasn’t asking her to come with him—he was
telling
her.

And she was doing it. Letting him lead her, his hand curved around her elbow, guiding her through the crowd toward the makeshift bar in the corner. The bartender smiled at the both of them, his eyes locking on Declan as his expression turned serious. “Something to drink, sir?”

“Just water for me, thanks,” Declan answered, sliding a look at Reagan. “For you?”

“Um, white wine, please.” How boring. She should’ve asked for some sort of fancy cocktail but she didn’t know the names of any cocktails beyond a Sex on the Beach or a Blow Job shot.

Yeah. That would be moving kind of fast, rattling off dirty-named drinks.

The bartender set the wineglass on the bar and Declan grabbed it, offering it to her, their fingers grazing when she took it from him. A zing shot through her at the simple touch, and his eyes widened the slightest bit before he turned away to accept his glass of water. She took a gulp of her wine, hoping the alcohol would soothe her nerves. This was no big deal, right? Hanging out with an actor, having a drink with him. She could handle it.

Play it cool, Reagan. After all, he’s just a man. He puts his pants on in the morning one leg at a time, just like everyone else.

Yeah. She’d just thought of Declan without his pants on. And that just sent her pulse throbbing.

The moment he turned around to face her once more, that sexy gaze meeting hers, her heart tripped over itself. She brought the glass back to her lips and took a healthy drink, smiling nervously when she found him watching her intently.

“Nervous?” he asked with a raise of his sexy eyebrow.

How can an eyebrow be so damn sexy?

“Thirsty,” she answered. “It’s hot. Here. In Vegas.” Oh God. Could she sound any dumber? She wasn’t out hiking through the desert—she was in an air-conditioned room in a giant hotel.

“Indeed it is,” Declan said, his voice laced with amusement. “Where are you from?”

“Los Angeles.”

“Ah, me too.” Of course. He was an actor, for God’s sake. “It can get fairly hot there too, don’t you think?”

“But this is a much…drier heat.” That they were talking about the weather was totally lame, right? God, she sounded like a complete ninny who didn’t know how to make small talk. “I’ve never been here before.”

“You haven’t?” He looked surprised. “But it’s kind of close.”

She shrugged. “I’ve been busy with school and now work. I don’t get much time off.”

“What do you do?” His question was polite, the tone of his voice almost…bored? Oh no, she’d blown it. He was losing interest because she was babbling like an idiot and talking about the weather.

“I’m an ER nurse.” She finished off her glass of wine, not even worried if he thought she was some sort of lush or whatever. He hadn’t ordered an alcoholic drink and she remembered reading something years ago about him being a total partier. Maybe he’d changed his ways?

“Really? Now, that’s fascinating.” And he sounded sincere. He even moved closer to her, his head dropping, his mouth near her ear. “I just got a new role for a movie, and I’m playing a doctor.”

“Oh?” She tried her best to repress the shiver that stole over her at his closeness, but it was no use. And she had a feeling he noticed, what with the sly smile that curved his perfect lips.

Perfectly kissable lips.

He stayed close to her, as if he didn’t want anyone to overhear their conversation. “Yeah, this role is my comeback, my first serious role I’ve ever taken on. The doctor I play is a recovering addict who’s tempted by all that surrounds him at the hospital. Pills, women, violence. The man has serious problems and he’s trying his best to overcome them.”

“Sounds interesting,” Reagan said, tilting her head toward him. If he moved just an inch more toward her, she bet his mouth would be brushing her earlobe.

“It is. The role both pushes my limits yet is something I’ve suffered from as well.” He laughed, sounding a bit embarrassed. “I probably shouldn’t have admitted that.”

She loved that he’d admitted that. “We all have our problems.”

“Yeah.” He smiled ruefully. “Just some of us haven’t had them splashed all over the gossip magazines and websites for all the world to see.”

Right. She recalled seeing a few unflattering photos of him coming out of a club, looking a little worse for wear. And that one particular incident when he threw a photographer’s camera on the ground and smashed it to bits. “That was a long time ago, though, right?”

“I hit rock bottom. Sometimes that’s what it takes to make your life turn completely around.” He rubbed his hand along his jaw, and she could hear the rasp of stubble as he brushed it with his palm. She wondered what that face would feel like pressed against hers. Or maybe rubbing against her inner thighs…

“I’ve spent some time at local hospitals recently, hanging out in their ER,” Declan continued as he stepped away from her. Disappointment flooded her at the loss, which was borderline ridiculous. “And I’ve seen some crazy shit.”

She laughed. “That’s a mild way of putting it.”

“I bet you have some fascinating stories.”

“I’ve seen my share of crazy.” She brought her glass up to her lips, realized it was empty and felt like an idiot. How she wished she had something to do with her hands. All she could think about was reaching out and touching him. He’d probably freak, though. Push her away. How many women did he have to push away on a daily basis? He was so handsome. He seemed very charming. Sweet. Sexy. She liked how he looked at her as if no one else mattered.

A lot.

“I’d love to hear your stories.” He sipped from his water, then took her empty glass from her and set them both on a table nearby. “Want to go outside?”

Reagan frowned. “Outside?”

“Yeah. There’s a balcony right over there.” He waved his hand toward the double doors that stood on the opposite side of the room. “Great view of the city. Not many people sitting out there, I bet. Allows for more privacy?”

“Privacy?” Her voice squeaked, and she cleared her throat, berating herself for sounding like a mousy little twit. She needed to remember she was a sophisticated woman in a sexy dress talking with a famous actor.

Or at least, she needed to pretend she was all of those things. Maybe she needed more liquid courage. Or maybe not, considering he just implied he was a recovering addict.

“I’d like to pick your pretty little head for gruesome emergency room stories.” He smiled, the sight of it sending a spiral of heat throughout her body, settling between her legs. He made
pick your pretty little head
sound downright dirty. “Especially if you have good dirt on the doctors.”

She laughed. “I have a little bit.”

“Perfect.” His smile grew, showing off a dimple in his right cheek, and she melted a little bit. She had a serious thing for dimples. She had a serious thing for this man, period, though it was all based on his good looks and charisma on the screen, nothing more.

Maybe, just maybe, she could learn a little more about him. And end up with a story to tell for years to come.

Declan couldn’t stop staring at Reagan. That sexy red dress she wore accented every single one of her assets—and she had plenty of them. Smooth, bare shoulders, full, perfect breasts and curvy hips. Those long legs filled him with all sorts of images, like having them wrapped around his hips while he plunged deep inside her body…

Yeah. Just thinking like that made him break out in a cold sweat. He hadn’t had sex in a while. It was all a part of his recovery plan. He’d pretty much given up the booze and the drugs for good. Eventually, he gave up the women too, but definitely not for good. That was on a temporary basis only.

He had to allow an indulgence here and there. But the women he’d been with since he’d become sober just didn’t do it for him, not like they used to when he’d been in a drug- or alcohol-induced haze. It was obvious that the women he used to go for were fake. Plastic and completely over the top. He was so over that. He wanted someone real.

And Reagan was definitely, one hundred percent real.

Not that he knew her that well, but he could tell she wasn’t a phony. Her conversation, her reaction to him, was authentic. She blushed, she stuttered and she stared at him as if he was the best thing she’d ever seen in her life.

He liked it. He needed it. Not the adulation and the screaming fans, the media praising him and the studio execs kissing his ass.

More than anything, Declan needed calm. Quiet. Someone who would listen to him when he had something to say. A woman who wanted to take care of him and not expect anything in return. He wanted to be normal.

Yeah.
Normal.
He had no idea what that was like. He’d grown up with a single mom determined to make something of herself. And when that didn’t work, she focused on him and became determined to turn him into a superstar.

He modeled. He did commercials. And when he was in his teens, he made his first movie. A summer beachside romance with a bunch of terrible dialogue and lots of kissing scenes with his leading actress. He became an instant success, a teen heartthrob—holy hell, he hated that word. All the teenage fans wanted him to be their summertime boyfriend on the beach.

So he gave them what he wanted and spread himself way too thin way too fast.

He’d banged that poor actress he’d worked with more times than he could count and then dumped her the day the movie premiered. Once he’d had his first taste of true fame, he’d fucked through an endless streak of groupies, girls willing to do anything to have one chance with him. He drank and drugged himself into a stupor. He made lots of movies—some good, some awful—and spent the money as fast as he made it.

And then it ran out. Just like everything else.

This time around, he was doing things differently. The new, serious movie role with the acclaimed director and big-time producer called for his utter devoted attention. He rehearsed endlessly. Worked with an acting coach, something he’d never done before in his life but knew he needed. He shadowed ER doctors to get a real sense of what they dealt with day in and day out, and seeing that sort of shit in real life blew his ever-lovin’ mind.

The experience prepared him. Made him realize this role was not just another movie. It could change his entire career if he handled it right. His co-stars were stellar. The director believed in him. All he had to do was prove he could handle it.

He thought he was ready for the role of a lifetime, but nerves ate him. Turned him into a seething, on-the-edge mess. His friends convinced him to come to Vegas one last weekend before he started filming. The assholes. They were just trying to get him laid. They’d complained time and again the last few months that he was acting like a grumpy dick, especially lately.

Damn it, he wasn’t grumpy. He was trying to be serious for once in his life. Throwing him into a party situation—no matter how completely different it was from his past parties—wasn’t the answer. But his friends meant well and he could appreciate them for that.