Vegas Love (22 page)

She clings to me.
 

“Cash, I don’t just Vegas love you, I
love you
love you.”

I kiss her face, her cheek, and her forehead. Then I look her in the eyes and say, “I love you too. And as soon as I’m done showing you how much, I’m ordering you a pizza.”

“You do know how to sweet talk me,” she says then kisses me.

When we finally get out of the hot tub, I grab my phone and place an order.
 

“What are we going to do about Zach? About the ring?” she asks.

“You don’t have to say anything.”

“I want to tell everyone that
we’re
married.”

“Then maybe we should think about doing just that.”

The pizza arrives and as we scarf it down, we talk.

“I’d like my family to know,” I tell her. “What if we go back to Vegas and get remarried?”

“Did you ever picture what your wedding would be like?” she asks me as she pulls cheese off her pizza and eats it.

“Not really, other than lots of friends and family. Have you?”

“I’m a girl. Of course, I have. I want a ridiculously big princess gown, a beautiful location, lots of fall-colored flowers, and a reception where everyone eats a really good dinner, has cake, and then goes home.”

“Goes home? What, no big party? No dancing?”

“No, because the big party I want is the honeymoon. I want to do it the old-fashioned way, where the bride changes into her going-away outfit, everyone stands in a line to see them off, and they go directly to their honeymoon. That’s what I want to spend the most money on. A ridiculously fantastic honeymoon.”

“Where do you want to go?”

“The Greek Isles.”

“If you want a big dress, an amazing view, and a great dinner; then that’s what we’ll do. I want you to have the wedding of your dreams.”

She laughs. “Do you even remember our first wedding?”

“Yeah, I do. You looked beautiful. I have your dress, veil, and shoes. You left them in the hotel room. That’s the other reason we need a do-over. The morning after my wedding, I want to wake up with my wife in my arms.”

“Will you spend the night tonight?”

I don’t reply, just pick her up and carry her into the bedroom.
 

Conflict & Misery

Ashlyn

“Fashion Week is a blur of shows and parties, but it’s really fun,” I tell Cash as we’re headed to the first show. “I have certain designers who I love to wear to events. And they pay me to come, so that’s nice too.”

“They pay you?”

“Yes, the celebrities you see in the front row are usually paid. My stylist, Zoey, works with my publicist and me to determine where I’ll be.”

“You fired your publicist.”

“But I’ve had the schedule for months and I gave it to Vanessa. She was going to follow up on all the invitations and will send me a finalized list. She’s already in New York.”

“What about the clothes you wear to your red carpet events? Do you have to pay for those?”

“No. For the big events, like the Academy Awards, celebrities are sort of walking billboards. They get paid to wear what they do. Someone nominated for an award can earn hundreds of thousands of dollars that night. I, personally, signed a multi-million dollar deal with a designer last year. I’m expected to wear their gowns at major events for three years and shoot print ads for them.”

“Wow, I have a lot to learn about this business.”

“I think you will be a good agent, Cash. You’re a lot like your brothers. Honest and smart. That will take you a long way.”

He gives me a smirk. “I thought you hired my brother because he was hot?”

“Well, trust me, if you are signing young female talent, the way you look, won’t hurt.” I can’t help but laugh.

“I love when you laugh,” he says, running his hand gently across my cheek. “When you’re happy, I’m happy. So will the press be crazy here? Will they all be asking about your
engagement
to Zach?” He takes my hand, touching the ring on my finger. The one I probably shouldn’t be wearing.

“Probably. Cash, I have something I need to tell you. When the reporters ask, Vanessa says I’m supposed to say that
it’s just a ring
.”

“Okay?”

“I’m a good actress, Cash, but that’s going to be difficult for me. Because this is so not
just a ring
to me.” I look down at it. “This ring means everything.”

“I told you before, all that matters is what you think. You know, once they find out we’re married they won’t care what you do. Happily married couples are boring to the press. They like drama, conflict, and misery. We won’t have any of that. Only happiness for us.”

“Don’t forget your vows, Mr. Sexy,” I tease.

“And lots and lots of amazing sex.”

My phone buzzes. I look down at it and frown. “I swear, I’m going to block his number.”

“Whose number?”

“Luke. He keeps messaging me and saying he needs to talk to me. I have nothing to talk to him about.”

“Then you shouldn’t reply.”

Killing Me

Cash

I’m sitting in the VIP section of a club surrounded by models.

I can see why my brothers enjoy the perks of their jobs. Carter is being fawned over by Vale. Cade has a stick of a girl sitting on his lap. She’s gorgeous and he seems into her, but the broad smile suddenly slides off his face. I half expect to see Mom when I turn around, but instead I see Palmer Montlake, dressed in a slinky black dress that hugs her long body in all the right places.
 

Palmer completely ignores Cade, walking straight up to Carter and giving him a hug. Then she greets Ashlyn. “So are we going to do that movie together, or what?”

“What movie?” Ashlyn asks.
 

Palmer narrows her blue eyes in Cade’s direction. “If he didn’t tell you because of me, I’m going to kill him.”

“I just read the script,” I blurt out.

She looks me up and down, then there’s a flash of recognition. “Are you—?”

“I’m Cash, yes.”

“You’ve grown since the last time I saw you,” she says, giving me a hug too.

“I think the last time we saw each other I was still in high school.”

“So how did you get the script?”

“He’s working with Cade,” Ashlyn says. “But he didn’t tell me about the script. Why not? I’d love to work with Palmer.”

“I was reading it when the news broke about your engagement,” I say.

“What’s up with that?” Palmer asks, grabbing Ashlyn’s hand and looking at the diamond. “That’s fucking gorgeous.”

“It’s not an engagement ring from Zach,” Ashlyn replies. “So, Cash, tell me about the script.”

“You two play sisters who go home for a funeral. Which you think would be sad, but it really has some funny moments. I liked it.”

“When would it start?”

“Next year,” Palmer says. “I hope you decide to do it. And I hope his”—she nods toward Cade—“feelings toward me don’t influence your decision.”

“His feelings?” I ask, just to see what she’ll say.

“He hates me,” Palmer states with a shrug, but then she glances at him with the same haunted look Cade was wearing.
 

It’s not hate, I realize. It’s regret.
 

We chat for a bit and when Palmer leaves, I whisper to Ashlyn, “Are you ready to go back to our hotel?”

We’re in the elevator heading up to our room when I can’t take it any longer. I push her into the corner and shove my tongue down her throat. It’s been killing me not to kiss her.
 

As soon as the elevator doors open, I scoop her up and carry her into our room, where we can’t get our clothes off fast enough.
 

She unzips my pants and pushes me on the couch, jacks her dress up, and sits on top of me.
 

But that’s not what I want.
 

I flip her over and bury myself in her.
 

“Wow. What got into you?” she asks, laughing.

“Did you see the way Cade and Palmer looked at each other?” I’m holding her tightly and running my hand through her silky hair.
 

“You mean how they act like they hate each other, but their eyes tell a different story?”

“That’s exactly what I mean. You’re very observant.”

“So are you, apparently. But that’s one of my most favorite things to do. I love to people watch.”

“Really?”

“Yes, sometime I will have to show you.”

“You could show me something else for now,” I say, finally pulling her dress completely off and reveling in her naked beauty.

Negative Press

Ashlyn

I get an email from Vanessa every day with what she calls my daily dashboard. This is something that Brandi never did for me, and I’m not sure I like it. Part of me wishes I didn’t know what people were saying about me, but Vanessa has a completely different approach and it feels much more cultivated and professional.
 

Listed first on my dashboard is the positive press.
 

There are multiple links for stories and photos of me attending the fashion shows and parties from yesterday.
 

Under the neutral category are all the stories regarding my secret engagement to Zach.
 

Are they or aren’t they?
 

Will Zach choose love over his family?
 

Zach in hiding while Ashlyn attends Fashion Week.

Then there is the negative press column.
 

Zach’s mother says the couple broke up last week and are not engaged
.
 

Zach defies his family with secret proposal to Ashlyn.

Mama Ellison refuses to sit by Ashlyn Roberts at fashion show.

What follows is an article quoting Zach’s mother—live from Fashion Week—saying that her son is not engaged. Which must have led others to infer that Zach is defying his family.
 

Another article goes on to report that there is more to the story. Their
inside
sources close to the family say that Zach’s mother was very upset by my sex tape. That she will never allow her son to marry someone of my moral character.