by Molly McLain
Fucking hell, he was half hard just watching her drink.
But no matter how tempting, she wasn’t gonna make him forget either and, unlike the flirty blonde, this one had fire in her eyes. Like she’d burn him—hell, anyone—if they got too close. She took a full inventory of the crowd, and her grimace and slightly upturned nose when her gaze swept over all the paired off duos didn’t escape his notice. Even Sam and the flag sisters earned a distasteful glare.
He’d bet a hundred bucks she was on the rebound, and probably a guaranteed firecracker in the sack, with all that pent up man-hate brewing inside of her. Maybe he wasn’t so tired after all...
“Can I buy you a drink?” he called down to her and she jerked her attention back around. When her chocolate eyes finally landed on him, they widened just enough for him to know she liked what she saw, even if she didn’t want to. So he smiled. Not only the polite thing to do, but she was also beautiful. That face. So pink and fresh. Subtle and natural unlike so many of the other women he’d come across in Vegas.
He couldn’t look away, nor could he quit grinning.
“You look thirsty. Let me get you something to take care of that.” He gestured for the bartender to stick around and the brunette rolled her eyes. “What’ll it be, sugar?” He leaned a forearm on the bar and turned all of his attention toward the one thing on this entire trip that might be able to distract him from the shitty reality of his life.
Instead of reciprocating, the spunky brunette gave him the palm of her hand. “For one, there’s nothing sweet about me, so cut the sugar shit. Two, do I look like the type of girl who needs a guy to buy me drinks?” She motioned for the bartender to fill one of the empty glasses in front of her and dug some cash from her purse. “No offense, but you’re also way too pretty. Not my type anymore.”
Fuck me and don’t be gentle about it. “Once bitten, twice shy, huh?” Undeterred, he rotated his stool so he faced her head on. He also tugged at the long sleeve of his gray Henley, revealing his inked forearm. His guaranteed ace in the hole, because chicks...chick loved his tats.
But this one? She snorted, downed the third shot, and slid off the seat just as quickly as she’d climbed on. That wouldn’t do.
“Hold up. You just got here. You can’t leave yet.” He got to his feet too and the woman propped a hand on one luscious hip, fully leveling with him for the first time. She was taller than he expected, in fact, he bet his chin would rest on top of her head if they danced. Maybe he should ask her to do that. Thaw her out a bit.
“I’m pretty sure I can do whatever I want.” She lifted her left hand and waved it between them. “There’s no ring on this finger. Definitely not yours.”
“Well, no. Not yet. But—” Not yet? Way too much to drink, man. Way too much.
A small, almost imperceptible smile lifted the corners of her mouth and he chuckled, rubbing a hand around the back of his neck.
“That’s not what I meant,” he clarified. “But you look like you came here for a reason and I don’t want to scare you off.”
“Do I look scared?” One dark eyebrow lifted above one of the prettiest, sultriest eyes he’d seen in a long time. Hell, everything about her had that same pull. The full curve of her breasts and hips, and the long, lean lines of her legs in that snug pair of jeans. Even the way she cocked her foot to the side called to him. Made him wanna pull her in close, just to feel her body pressed against his.
“Nah.” He shook his head, flashing what he hoped was an appeasing smile. “Look, I’ve probably had too much whiskey and I’m sure I’m coming off as a total player right now, but I assure you I’m not.” Shit. “Well, wait...I actually am, but I’m not trying to hit on you. Not because you aren’t totally hot, because you are. Way hot. But...” What in the ever-loving fuck, man!
“But what?” She took a slow step forward, her head tipped to the side, those smoldering eyes dancing beneath the bar lights.
“But you look like maybe you’ve got something on your mind that no amount of alcohol is gonna work out. I know a little something about that.” He gestured to this empty shot glass on the bar next to his beer. “Maybe I could lend an ear. That’s all I’m offering. Really—”
“No thanks.”
Well then. He lifted his hands and retreated back to his stool, wishing he’d kept his mouth shut. Why the hell had he thought he’d be able to help someone else with their issues when, according to the Corps he couldn’t even deal with his own?
“I appreciate the offer, but coming down here was a mistake. I’d rather wallow in misery by myself in my room.” She hefted her purse a little higher on her shoulder and flashed a genuine, if not sad, smile. “Happy New Year.”
He watched her exit the bar in the mirror behind the display of bottles. She had the right idea. There was nothing down here for him but a bigger headache in the morning. So he tossed some cash on the bar, ignored the bartender’s third disappointed frown, and called an end to his evening well before midnight.
There was nothing happy about this past year and the one coming up didn’t look all that promising either.
Chapter Two
The sexy, dark-haired stranger was right—no amount of alcohol would make her forget about the gaping, Grand Canyon-sized hole in her self-confidence. The three shots of Jose should’ve loosened her up, but it was like they’d gone down her throat and poured right out of her stomach, making her feel....nothing. Nothing but stupid.
She hurried across the glossy, white marble floor of the lobby, her sights set on the convenience store, so she could grab a couple bottles of water to wash the pointless booze out of her system. She was stowing her purchases in her purse on her way to the bank of elevators when she ran smack into a tall, hard wall of muscle that seemed to come out of nowhere.
“Whoa, baby, sorry about that.” The guy from the bar gripped her upper arms, steadying her on her feet. Not only was he even better looking up close and personal, he smelled amazing, too. Bastard.
“Are you really? How do I know you didn’t follow me and purposely stumble into my path?” She tried to shift out of his hold, but he held on tight, his mossy green eyes searching her face.
“Hey, I know you,” he slurred and her eyes slid down to the fullness of his bottom lip. Fullness that guaranteed he’d be a great kisser. Jerk.
“You do know me. From the bar about ten minutes ago, remember?”
He shook his head. “No, I mean, you’re from Nebraska, right? River Bend?”
“Um....” There was no way he could know that, unless... “Are you friends with Sean and Russ?” she asked, referring to Mark’s Army buddies who’d come to the wedding earlier.
“Who?” Finally releasing her, he stepped back, his face pinched. Dammit, he had those chiseled cheekbones she liked, too. Ugh. “I don’t know who you’re talking about, but I know Josh and Tony. I’m Brody Nelson and, if I’m not mistaken, you’re Reed Fletcher’s girl.”
Oh, hell no. “That I am not,” she snapped, pulling her shoulders back and eyeing the elevator just a few feet away.
“Yes, you are.” He gave a brusque laugh. “I just saw you a couple month’s ago when I was in town for Tony’s birthday.”
So maybe his name sounded familiar, but that didn’t mean she owed him any more of her time. “You might be right, but look...I’m tired and it’s been a long day. I just want—”
“Yeah, yeah. Me, too. I’m headed up—”
“Hey, sexy. There you are.” The blonde from the bar appeared out of nowhere, her creeper focus narrowed in on Brody like a heat-seeking missile. Another blonde, this one shorter, curvier, and dressed in a slinky, black dress, accompanied her. She, too, couldn’t take her eyes off of the man. Sure, he was good looking, but he was also drunk and having a hard time standing up straight. If they wanted in on that, more power to them.
“Uh...” Brody stammered and the ghost touch of his fingers grazed down Jenny’s forearm. A discreet plea for help? From her? Ha. Good luck with that
. “Didn’t realize you were looking for me,” he muttered.
“No, probably not. You’ve had a lot to drink.” The bartender smiled deviously and her friend laughed. Jenny’s eyebrows lifted. These two gave on the prowl a whole new meaning.
“You know what that means, right?” the more petite woman asked, her teeth scraping all coy and stupid-like over her bottom lip as she stepped forward, her boobs jiggling under a low neckline. “You’re gonna be a hell of a lot of fun.”
Unless I want to get sucked into some weird fuckfest, that’s my cue to leave. Jenny stepped aside, removing herself as the barrier between the barracudas and the meal they clearly intended to devour.
“Where you going?” Brody snagged her hand and, though he didn’t tug her back into his space, he did blink down at her, his dark eyes both hazy and wide at the same time. “I thought we had plans.”
Uh...what? “Pretty sure you have other things to do. Since it’d be rude to keep these lovely ladies waiting, I’ll just get out of your way.” She nodded toward the elevator and made to leave again, putting a solid ten feet between them.
“Come on, sugar. Don’t be like that,” he tried again and she had to give him an A for effort. Or desperation. Still, she kept walking. The faster she got to her room, the faster she could put this weird scene and this icky restlessness behind her.
“You’re really gonna walk away like—” Brody stopped short when a beefy hotel security guard rounded the corner with a scowl on his face.
“Macy,” the big man rumbled, his chin to his chest and his dark eyes piercing right through the smaller blonde. She looked between the uniform-clad man and the bartender, her mouth opening and closing like a guppy for long enough to be obvious. She was up to no good and she’d just been busted.
“H-hey, baby,” she finally squeaked out. “What are you doing in this part of the hotel?”
“I saw you walk in on the security camera. Saw you go straight to the bar, too.” He flicked a dismissive glance at the bartender, who smirked. Then he swiveled a hard glare, complete with a grunt, at Brody. “You planning on fucking my girl, man?”
The elevator opened, but Jenny didn’t move. How could she? Now if only she’d grabbed that popcorn she’d seen in the store downstairs...
The bartender crept away from the scene, but her friend moved closer to Brody, whose glazed eyes and fogged brain still looked to be processing the situation.
“Nothing wrong with having a little fun, Ray.” The little blonde, Macy apparently, put a hand on Brody’s chest. “You do it, too.”
“I don’t even know you,” Brody mumbled, his words sliding out of his mouth without control. He followed the plea with a stumbling side step and had to use the wall to keep himself upright.
“You sure about that?” The guard took two steps forward and reached out for the front of Brody’s shirt.
“Whoa!” The interruption erupted from Jenny’s lips on its own accord and she flinched. Damn do-good conscience. Damn sympathetic side for men who didn’t deserve it. “Listen, I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”
Over Brody’s shoulder, the guard shifted his focus to her and a small smile softened the hard line of his lips. “You in on this playdate, too?”
Is that what they called orgies in Vegas? Jesus. She shook her head. “No. I mean—”
“I’ll let her do you.” He winked. “But only if I get to watch.”
“What the fuck, man?” Brody shook loose from the guy’s hold, but lost his footing and almost uprooted a potted plant when he tipped toward it. Jenny wrapped an arm around his waist before he made a fool of himself and a mess.
“Sorry, but we’re not into that kind of thing,” she explained to the guard, as Brody slipped an arm across her shoulders and leaned into her. Cripes, he was heavy. “We’ll just be on our way.”
“Yeah,” Brody yammered. “On our way. To our room. Alllll the way upstairs.”
Please, God, let him at least remember what floor he’s on.
The guard laughed, while his girlfriend pouted behind his back. “Y’all have a good night.”
“Oh, we will.” Brody pressed a smacking, lingering kiss to her temple and she bit back a groan. Just get him in the elevator.
She steered him toward the glossy steel doors with a sigh. “Come on, big guy. Let’s get you to your room.”
“Or yours. Whatever.” A low laugh vibrated from his bulky body to hers and he leaned in again, sniffing her hair. “Mmm, you smell like flowers.”
“Oh, good. That’s my stealth asshole defense system kicking in. You’ve got about five minutes until you can’t feel your dick. No promises on your ability to breathe, either.”
He snorted as the doors opened and his feet got tangled up beneath him. Instead of reaching out for something stable to keep him upright, his free hand somehow landed on her boob. He grinned as she wrapped her fingers around his wrist and promptly removed the big paw.
Like that had been anything close to accidental. “Not so smooth when you’re wasted, are you?”
“Totally smooth,” he slurred and she rolled her eyes, shoving him into the elevator car.
Why was she helping this guy again? It wasn’t like he’d even remember meeting her in the morning, therefore it was even less likely he’d know if she left him to the wolves. Josh and Tony would never know.
“Goddamn, you’re pretty.” Unlike the guard, Brody’s dark green eyes never left her face and a wave of pleasure rippled down her spine. No man had ever held her gaze this long before. Not even Reed.
Psshh. Whatever. “You’re lucky he didn’t break your nose.”
“You wouldn’t have let him.”
So damn cocky. “You don’t know that. Just because you know Josh, doesn’t mean you know me.”
“You’re wrong.” He said the words with conviction. Liked he actually believed them.
“Don’t let this go to your head. I just didn’t want to have to fill out a witness statement for the cops after Rocky down there pulverized your face.”
“Uh huh. More like you didn’t want to tell my boys you let me get my ass beat.” A lopsided grin spread across his face and, for a second, she let herself study the confident curve of his bottom lip. God, with a mouth like that he’d definitely done a lot of kissing and other naughty things involving his tongue.
“That wouldn’t have happened. You’re wasted, but I’m pretty sure you’re not the kind of guy who’d just stand there and take it.” Her gaze slipped down to his chest and then his arms. They were covered by long-sleeves, but the fabric snugged over bulging muscle. And she’d seen the tattoos in the bar. Definitely a guy who could defend himself.
“So you’ve been checking me out,” he observed and she felt the heat flushing her cheeks. “Good to know.”
Good Lord. “What floor are you on?” She watched the numbers creep up toward eighteen—her off point—and realized she hadn’t thought to ask him first. “You should be safe to get to your room without being ambushed again.”
“I’ll be fine. And I’m on eighteen.”
“Imagine that. So am I.”
They rode the rest of the way in silence and he followed behind her, stopping three doors before her own. “You gotta admit—this is damn coincidental.”
“Or karma hates me more than I thought.” She cringed as soon as the words left her mouth. He wasn’t that bad. He just...well, he was a man.
“Shit.”
“What?” She stopped at her door and glanced over her shoulder.
“I think I lost my keycard.” He pulled both of his pockets out. Empty. “Dammit.”
Dammit indeed. He was in no shape to go back downstairs by himself and all she wanted to do was crawl in bed. The elevator dinged in the distance and she sighed. “Check your back pockets. Maybe you put it there and don’t remember.”
Frowning, he reached around, but came up with nothing but his wallet, which he fumbled to open.
“Here, let me.” Back down t
he hall she went, taking the worn leather from his hand. His fingers brushed hers and she pretended she didn’t notice how long they were. How rugged in that works-hard-for-a-living sorta way that made her panties a little damp. Instead, she focused on flipping the billfold open and—well, well, Mr. Brody Nelson was a United States Marine. Who used Magnum condoms. “Nope, nothing in here.”
“I’ll have to go downstairs.”
Ugh. Why are you doing this to me, Universe? Why? “I’ll go with.”
“You’ve done enough—”
“Well, if it isn’t the lovebirds.” The security guard and apparent ninja, smiled from further down the hall. “Everything all right here?”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Brody’s voice rumbled at the back of his throat, only loud enough for her to hear. “Is this guy Batman or what?”
“It’s possible. This is Vegas, you know.”
The man continued toward them and the hair on the back of Jenny’s neck rose. Suddenly she imagined Brody in a hotel room with the chicks and this dude and... Shudder.
“Honey,” she laughed, tangling her fingers with Brody’s and tugging him to her door. “Our room is over here, remember?”
“Wha—”
“Just play along,” she bit out and quickly swiped her card in the door, shoving it open and then pushing him inside. She got the door closed and dead-bolted behind them just in time to hear the guard chuckle in the hallway. “Something is seriously freaking wrong with that guy. His friends, too.”
“You’re telling me?” Brody grinned, sweeping his gaze from her to the suite. “Nice spread. Way nicer than my digs.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t pay for it.” She told him about Ally and Mark’s wedding and the fact that they’d floated her tab, though she wasn’t sure why. She didn’t even like this guy. Still, she dropped her purse on the table inside the door and offered her hand. “I’m Jenny, by the way, and if you’ll excuse me to the ladies’ room for a moment, I’ll go downstairs with you.”
