Hard Luck (The Vegas Obsession Series, #1)

by Chloe Grey

  “The woman hates me,” I grumbled.

  I had to get to court and I couldn’t be late. I could give a thousand reasons why I needed to leave, yet there I was, still staring at her. She looked so helpless.

  “I’m supposed to avoid puppy dogs,” I muttered.

  She wasn’t a puppy dog, but I was sure damsels in distress ranked right up there in Shannon’s book. She could be such a hard-ass, but that’s why I hired her.

  Knowing full well I would regret my next move, I still did it. I put the car in drive and parked beside her car. I couldn’t leave her there; not without trying to help her out. When I walked over to the driver’s side, she looked up at me, despair still in her adorable eyes.

  “What now?” she asked.

  “Open the hood,” I said, walking around to the front of the car. She didn’t budge.

  “I don’t need your help,” she argued, starting to open her door.

  I didn’t have time to argue with her. “I... open... the hood.” What was it about her that made me stutter?

  She sighed, falling back into the driver’s seat. I heard her pull the tab for the hood so I could open it up. I took a look at the engine, but everything looked intact. As I checked all the possible problems, I heard her door shut, and soon, she was behind me, looked over my shoulder. I could feel the warmth of her breath and smelled her fragrance; whether it was from her shampoo or perfume, I wasn’t sure. All I knew was it made my cock hard as a rock.

  “Any ideas?” she asked, still hovering over me.

  I was distracted enough.

  “Um...” I pulled away from her, struggling to get my hard-on under control.

  “It could be the starter... a spark plug... any number of things.”

  She turned around and faced me. I could barely stop myself from kissing her tender lips right there and then.

  “So, I’m stranded until I can get a tow truck.” She turned to her car. “Just perfect!”

  I felt for her. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was looking for her to forgive me, or if I knew how frustrating it was to have so many things go wrong. It didn’t matter. I wanted to help her out.

  “You’re not stranded. Come with me.”

  She whipped around and looked at me, then let out a mocking laugh.

  “I am not going anywhere with you.”

  “Why not?”

  “I’ll get Monica to take me home. Thanks for the offer.”

  She turned back around and shut the hood of her car, but she wouldn’t look at me.

  It was my out. She handed it to me on a silver platter and I could leave and still go home and relax, and make it to the court with no issue. I offered her help and she wouldn’t accept it. That wasn’t on me. She would have Monica take her home and it would all work out, but for some asinine reason, I wasn’t ready to drop it so easily.

  “Just let me take you home. It would make more sense and Monica won’t have to go out of her way.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “How do you know it’s out of her way?” she questioned.

  “I make a point of getting to know who I’m working with. There, you have it. Come on. Let’s just go.”

  I could tell she was contemplating it. I waited patiently for her answer, which she gave without saying a word. She walked around and grabbed her purse from the car and then popped her trunk to take out two boxes of files. Once she placed them in the back seat of the SUV, she stood on the passenger side, where I was holding the door open. She did not look pleased and I was not about to say anything to ignite another fire in her eyes.

  “Thank you,” she said as she stepped in.

  I glanced down at the clock when I got in. Not too shabby. I still had almost three hours to get there. There was no way I could mess it up this time.

  The drive was quiet, but the soft sounds of a country ballad played on the radio. I heard her laugh beside me, so I glanced at her from the corner of my eye. She was staring out the window.

  “Did you say something?” I asked.

  There was a hint of a smile on her lips. “Just surprised by your choice of music. I pictured you as more of a Led Zeppelin kind of guy. You know, loud and overbearing?”

  I had to laugh. “You know, I didn’t expect to be stereotyped by you. In any case, I love country music. And while you’re listening to me, you should know that my bark is bigger than my bite.”

  She blushed. I was sure of it. She started to turn back toward the window, but stopped and looked back at me.

  “I have a confession.”

  Uh oh, that couldn’t be good.

  “Okay?”

  “I was hoping I could tell you that you did a lousy job today.”

  Well at least it was honest.

  “And?”

  “You didn’t,” she replied, turning her attention back to the window.

  I knew better than to push it by asking her to explain.

  “My apartment building is in that complex at the next turn.” She pointed to it. “You can park anywhere.”

  I pulled into the driveway and she grabbed her things as I parked in the front of the building.

  Chapter Seven

  Drew

  “Let me help you with those boxes.”

  She lifted her head to look at me. “I’m good. Thanks for the ride.”

  “Look, I insist. Your hands are full and it’ll take you two trips to take them inside. Let me park and I’ll help.”

  “Sure. Whatever.”

  I took the boxes up to her apartment and waited for her to open the door so I could set them down somewhere.

  “Wait. You think you’re coming in?” She asked.

  “What’s the problem? I’m just helping you get these inside. Come on, I’m not going to try anything with you.” Unless you want me to.

  “I’ve seen you in action yesterday, and today with Sam, okay?” she announced. “I’m not going to fall prey to that sweet guy routine, when in fact, you’re a player.”

  “Hold on,” I said, placing the boxes on the hallway floor. This was going overboard. So much so I could barely control the shaking in my voice. “What makes you think you know so much about me? You see a woman hitting on me in my apartment, and Sam asking me out – and you should know I turned her down, by the way – and all of a sudden I’m a player?”

  “I...”

  She was probably shocked by my anger. Heck, I was too. I still couldn’t tell what it was about her that got me feeling so out of whack. Worst of all, I couldn’t tear myself away from her. She was looking up at me with inquiring eyes, like she was trying to make sense of me. And then, it registered. She was standing less than a foot from me, and I was sure she had tilted her chin up.

  Before I knew it, I had cupped her neck and let my thumb stray over her cheek. She didn’t move. As the look in her eyes intensified, I leaned in and kissed her sensuous lips. Her body leaned into mine and the soft moan in her throat was my complete undoing. A groan escaped my lips as I explored her mouth, and my arms wrapped tightly around her waist like I couldn’t get her close enough. And my dick was as hard as fuck.

  As we were kissing, a couple walking down the hall came into my peripheral vision. I was content with ignoring them, but they stopped and called my name.

  “Hey are you Drew Masterson?” the man shouted out the turned to the woman he was with. “Hey honey that’s Drew Masterson.”

  Out of respect for Leslie, I ended the kiss and straightened up to face them.

  “How are you folks doing?” I asked politely.

  Leslie just stood there. I guessed she liked the kiss.

  “Good!” they answered in unison.

  “Hey man,” the man spoke up again. “Can we like, have your autograph or something?”

  “Sure, why not,” I said.

  Famous I was not, but I indulged the odd few who viewed news personalities as full blown celebrities. I had not expected the viewership would include people as young – or as Gothic - as this couple, but who w
as I to judge their taste in news coverage.

  “Wait right here!” he shouted. “I’ll run and grab a pen and paper. Oh and my camera too!”

  “Sure.”

  By now Leslie had come out of her trance. God, she was beautiful. Still flustered, she did her best to hurriedly unlock her door.

  “You’d better just come in once they’re finished with you,” she said. “I’ll leave the door open.”

  I did a double take. She must have really liked the kiss. I knew from the office gossip that she felt slighted by my getting the job. So for her to still invite me in when this couple spoke up my coverage earlier... well it said a lot. Maybe it was the country music. That shit could really take the edge off. Whatever it was, I still had a chance.

  “Okay. I’ll be right in,” I answered.

  The woman from the hallway did not shift her gaze away from me for a second. I didn’t notice if she had even blinked once. She had the intensity of a would-be stalker. I couldn’t tell if she wanted to get my autograph or tie me to a bed so she and the man she was with could take turns in a disturbing S & M role play. She must have noticed my discomfort, because she turned and ran down the hallway and through the door beside Leslie’s without saying another word.

  Her man came out just then, and presented me with a large sheet of paper to sign.

  “What would you like it to say?” I asked.

  “Put To Mindy and Paul, Thanks for watching. Keep it real. Oh and write the date if you don’t mind. I’m a collector so I like to be sure I document these kinds of things.”

  “Sure thing, Paul,” I answered, scribbling on the sheet. “Anything else?”

  “Yes,” he said, raising his hand with the cell phone and turning to stand beside me. “Gotta get a selfie with you and the autograph, man. It’ll be good proof. You know? If I sell it one day.”

  “Go right ahead,” I answered, but not before he snapped the picture. “Okay Paul. It was nice meeting you, but now I’ve got to get in there to help my friend. You and Mindy enjoy the rest of your day.”

  Paul kept repeating his thanks as I entered Leslie’s apartment and closed the door. I looked around but she was not in the living room. I still had over two hours to spare so I sat on her sofa.

  “Leslie?” I called out. “I’ll just wait here, okay?”

  “Okay!” she called out from somewhere behind a wall.

  A few minutes went by and no sign of her. I was so tired from the night before, I laid my head back and closed my eyes for a moment. Before I could even relive that smoking hot kiss, I was out like a light.

  “Drew?”

  I heard her call my name through the thick fog of a deep sleep. It took me a minute to get my bearings, but as I opened my eyes, Leslie was sitting beside me, tapping on my arm to wake me up.

  “What... where... Oh shit!” I blurted out, standing to my feet at lightning speed. “What time is it?

  “It’s quarter to three,” she answered. “You passed out and I had tried to wake you before. After trying for a while, I let you sleep. Thanks again for bringing those things in. And, um... about what happened...I.”

  “You’re welcome,” I said. “Look, I’m late for an appointment. I’ll see you soon okay? Definitely by Monday. Do you want me to stop by and pick you up?”

  She shook her head. “You have done plenty to help, but I appreciate it.”

  “I’ll call you.”

  I kissed her on the cheek and ran out the door before getting her number. That was the least of my worries. I had fifteen minutes to get across town to the court house, and there was no way I would make it.

  I called up Shannon from the car, seeing that I had just over ten minutes more.

  “You better have a good excuse,” she replied when she answered the phone.

  I could hear the anxiety in her voice.

  “I do, but I’ll be about five minutes late. I’ll try to hit every green light.”

  “You better, because the judge won’t be happy and I don’t know how to calm him down.”

  Before I could say anything else, she disconnected the call. I stepped on the gas a little harder and sped toward the courthouse. My heartbeat was racing.

  “No red lights! No red lights!” I chanted until I pulled into the parking garage.

  I found the first spot and parked, and jumped out of the car to rush through the garage. I had to get on the third floor, so I took the elevator and hustled through the hallway until I reached the assigned courtroom door. Taking a deep breath, I opened it and was ready to face the judge’s wrath.

  All eyes turned to me as the door opened. The judge sat at his perch, glaring at me. I took the seat beside Shannon and tried not to make eye contact, but it was difficult when the judge stared right at me. All Shannon did was shake her head. I didn’t need to hear a word.

  “Mr. Masterson, I am sure you have a valid reason for not being here. Rescuing another dog, perhaps?”

  Soft laughter spread through the courtroom.

  “No, your honor.”

  I wasn’t sure which excuse would work best. I kissed a girl and I liked it? I fell asleep on said girl’s couch? The truth was sometimes so damned inconvenient. It would only make things worse.

  “Today was my first day at my new job,” I explained, defaulting to a convenient pseudo-truth. “I wasn’t able to leave as early as I expected.”

  “Well, that’s a bit better than the last excuse you gave this court. Lucky for you, I’m in a good mood today. I’ll let it slide. This court will now come to session as we hear the case of Drew Masterson vs. Tasha Masterson.”

  In my rush, I had forgotten to look over at her. She intently watched the judge and didn’t look my way. I didn’t know how it had happened so fast. One day we were happily married and the next day she was a raging, cheating vixen. I never saw it coming.

  Chapter Eight

  Leslie

  I hung up the phone after speaking to Monica. She had called me that evening after Drew left, asking why my car was still at the studio. I didn’t want to lie to her. You don’t become best friends by lying about everything. I told her Drew brought me home, but didn’t drag on with any details. Certainly not about the heart-stopping kiss. I wasn’t ready to share it with anyone.

  I appreciated his gesture and a part of me had softened toward him when he tried to figure out what was wrong with the car. I doubted that anyone else would do that for me. Definitely not Brad, and maybe not even Monica. But the way I let him own me in that kiss, that was on me. I was sure I looked like a deer in the headlights, mesmerized by his bright white teeth and kind offers to help.

  As much as I loved it, it had to stop. And as to why I invited him inside, I had no plausible reason. The man was a walking lady-charmer and I was certain I had fallen victim to him. Thankfully, he fell asleep on the couch and that gave me time to get my head screwed back on straight. And by the time he woke up, he high-tailed it out of here.

  So he got a kiss. Well, I got one too, and it was one for the record books. I felt his energy surge through me, from the tip of each strand of hair on my head, all the way to my toes. It was electrifying. Heck, my stomach would clench just thinking about it. But that didn’t mean I was going to drop my defenses when it came to Drew Masterson. The man had some kind of story. Starting with... was toga girl his wife or a girlfriend? Or was she just someone he picked up when he went to the pharmacy to pick up some bunion cream? He was so charming, I could bet money on that. And she was standing half naked at his door?

  I sat on the couch, waiting for Monica to pick me up and take me to the car. I hadn’t decided on what to do once we got there, but knew it needed to get fixed. I’d put the expense on a credit card if I had to, and hoped it wasn’t too expensive.

  I leaned back in the same spot where Drew had fallen asleep. I could still smell a faint whiff of his aftershave. Oh God please help me. I needed to get it together before Monica arrived. She would know something was up the second she saw me. />
  When I got Monica’s “I’m here” text, I grabbed my purse, put on a grimace to block out my high from the kiss, ran out of the apartment.

  “Something’s been bothering me since we talked last night,” Monica started as soon as I was buckled in.

  “What?”

  “Why didn’t you ask me to take you home? I would have, gladly. How did Drew end up driving you?”

  I pushed the hair back from my face. I had only thought about that several hundred times. I could hardly sleep last night, every time I relived my decision to go with Drew.

  “I’m not entirely sure, but I’ll say one thing... he can be very persuasive.”

  I left it at that; it was true. It seemed like he could convince anybody to do just about anything and I was just a victim of his charm.

  “Are you sure that’s the only reason?” Monica asked, pausing before starting the car.

  “It was just easier to accept than to argue, Monica.”

  I sat back in the seat and looked straight ahead as she pulled out of the parking lot. I knew if she looked me in the eye, I’d end up admitting everything.

  “Okay, I get that,” Monica finally said after a couple of minutes on the road. “Just one thing...”

  I peered at her, waiting for her to continue. Monica seemed focused on driving.

  “Are you going to tell me what really happened or do I have to drag it out of you?”

  I was speechless. And naïve. How could I have expected her not to see right through me.

  “You said it yourself... He’s handsome and charismatic and all the women will fall for him. It would make sense if you maybe you were a little smitten too.”

  “Smitten? What are you, ninety years old?” I rolled my eyes, trying to change the subject by turning to look out the window.

  “Les, don’t even try to hide it from me. Come on, give me something.”

  “I’ve told you already. Yes. I admit it. The man is good. I probably would cave if he flashed his white teeth at me. But Drew and I are just co-workers. Nothing more. So, let’s just...” my voice trailed off as we pulled into the parking lot at work.

  “What in the...” I began, staring in disbelief at the scene before me. It was Drew, getting out of the driver’s side of my car.