Hard Luck (The Vegas Obsession Series, #1)

by Chloe Grey

  I jumped out of Monica’s car and walked around to where he was standing. He supplied a sheepish grin.

  “Hi Les. I’m so glad I made it back here in time.”

  “What... how... when did you...” I couldn’t find the words to ask all the questions running through my head.

  “I can explain,” he replied, handing over a set of keys.

  I stared at his hand, grabbing the car keys from his grasp.

  “Start off by telling me how in the world you got my car keys?”

  He stepped back. “That one is easy. Seems you forgot them here yesterday night in all the rush. I came back here last night and found them... I figured I’d surprise you.”

  I couldn’t argue with the lost-my-keys part. I was constantly leaving them around and hunting them frantically. Still, I couldn’t wrap my mind around why Drew would do this for me. And how he had found them. I went into research mode.

  “Why did you even come back here?”

  He shrugged. “I had a long day and a meeting that didn’t go quite as well as I hoped. I needed to unwind. I came back here to relax and organize my dressing room. When I got back here, I noticed a light was on inside your car. I didn’t want the battery to drain out, so I checked to see if the door was unlocked to turn it off. The door was unlocked and your keys were in the ignition. I got your car towed in and the mechanic fixed it this morning. And now it’s as good as new.”

  “What?” It was all I could come up with. I was floored.

  He nodded, proudly. “It was the least that I could do. After all, it was my fault you were so hurried that you left your keys.”

  I glanced over at Monica. She was captivated by him. Her glassy-eyed expression was proof. I wasn’t quite as eager to accept what he was saying.

  “I didn’t ask you to do this for me. Now, I owe you and I hate borrowing from co-workers.”

  “You don’t have to pay me back. I did it because I wanted to. That’s all. I was glad to help out.”

  “I’ll pay you back,” I insisted.

  “Suit yourself, but you could also smile and say thank you. It makes things so much easier.”

  I could have laughed. There was no way I was going to accept a gift like this – practically charity - from someone I had only known briefly. Never mind the kiss of a lifetime.

  “I better be going, but...” I hesitated. I was torn. “Thank you, Drew. I appreciate the gesture.”

  He nodded, still looking smug and pleased with himself. “My pleasure, Leslie. I’ll see you on Monday.”

  I watched as he got into his vehicle, waved from the window and drove away. When I turned to Monica, I noticed she was smiling and still waving.

  “Thanks a lot, Monica,” I scolded her. “You know, you could have helped me out a little back there.”

  “Helped out with what?” she asked, surprised. “That was really nice of him.”

  “Nice?” I asked. What happened to my feminist friend?

  “I’ve never had a guy do anything like that for me. You must have really made some kind of impression on him, Les.”

  I didn’t want to make an impression on him. I wanted him to understand where we stood. We were co-workers and I was not falling for him and he stole my job and now he was walking a thin line.

  “Believe what you want. I am not impressed with Drew, and just because he fixed my car doesn’t change anything. Heck, I have an idea. You have him.”

  Maybe I was blowing things out of proportion, but I didn’t need my best friend thinking Drew was all over me. I sank into the driver’s seat and stuck the key in the ignition, sighing when it came to life. That was the sound I wanted to hear.

  “Thanks for bringing me to my car. Look, I’m gonna go home now okay? I just need to take it easy the rest of the weekend. I’ll see you Monday.”

  “Not a problem,” Monica said, getting into her car. “See you around. Have a great rest of the weekend.”

  I sat there for a moment after she drove off, reflecting on what had happened. I hadn’t even asked how much the repairs cost. Whatever it was, I was going to make sure I paid him for it. There was no way I was going to be indebted to him for anything.

  ***

  Drew

  The phone was ringing as I stepped out of the shower. I was expecting a call from Shannon so I couldn’t afford to miss it. With barely enough time to wrapped a towel around my waist, I got it on the last ring.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello, may I speak with Mr. Drew Masterson.”

  It wasn’t Shannon, and by the sound of the voice, I could tell is wasn’t a personal call.

  “Yeah, this is Drew.”

  “Hello, Mr. Masterson. I am calling in regards to your outstanding account with us. I see here that you are thirty days late and I need to collect payment.”

  Things were rough financially, and this wasn’t the first call from a creditor.

  “Um... how much do I owe?”

  “You currently have a past due balance of one hundred dollars.”

  As small an amount as that was, things were tight, and I wouldn’t be able to pay that soon. I had written a check to cover the court case costs, and it had to clear.

  “I could pay it in two weeks. Things have just been really tough lately and I don’t have the extra income. I’ll definitely be getting caught up next month.”

  There was a long pause on the other end, before the man continued talking. “I see... but we’ll have to close the account.”

  “That’s alright. I understand.”

  “We can expect payment by the fifteenth of next month?”

  “Yeah... sure,” I replied. “Thanks.”

  I hung up, feeling the weight of the world had settled right back onto my shoulders. I pay my way. That’s how I’ve always been, and over the years we had a lot of savings. But she had become so vindictive... taking me for pretty much every penny I had. At the moment, that wasn’t much. Yet, she was going to make sure she got it all. I gladly handed over the house to her after she declared she wanted it as part of the divorce settlement.

  The thought of her staying there with her new boyfriend—also known as the slimy bastard she had the affair with that turned out to be the last straw for me after all the verbal and emotional abuse—was overwhelming at times. I was moving past the hurt; I just couldn’t ever figure out why she had the desire to hurt me to the core.

  I knew the new job would help me get back on my feet once I got my first paycheck in a few weeks. At least it was moving in the right direction. And I couldn’t afford to pay to fix Leslie’s car, but I think I did it for my sake, just as much as hers.

  I did everything for Tasha, and never had a problem with it. That was who I was. And when things went to hell in our marriage, I questioned over and over again whether I lost my way; whether it was my fault; what I could have done differently. In the end, before I left, I wasn’t sure who I was anymore. It took the two years after we split for me to see I did the right thing, and I had a choice about who I wanted to be and what baggage I would take. Helping Leslie get her car fixed was a gift to myself. It made me see that part of me – the guy that isn’t all about himself – never left.

  There was something about Leslie, and I hated seeing how much she resented me. I also had a feeling she was struggling with finances too. So maybe I did it to take a burden off her shoulders too. She still didn’t seem pleased when I helped, but at least she could tell I cared and meant well. I had enough on another credit card to cover the repair, so that’s what I did. No regrets. And now, I had to see her again. Somehow.

  Chapter Nine

  Leslie

  “What are you doing here?” I asked Drew after opening my door. He had shown up unannounced, and looked like a lost puppy.

  “Hi, I would have called, but I didn’t have your number,” he said. “Can I come in?”

  “You know, just because you fixed my car doesn’t give you the right to show up like this.”

  “I just
wanted to talk to you,” he explained. “Look, I’m sorry I bothered you. I’ll just...”

  “Well you’re already here. Sure, come in,” I said, pulling the door and standing aside for him to pass. “Have a seat.”

  “Thanks,” he answered.

  When he noticed the television was on, I turned it off with the remote that was still in my hand.

  “So what would you like to talk to me about?” I asked, sitting in the armchair so I could face him. He was in blue jeans and a plaid shirt, and still looked as hot as when he wore a suit. Thinking back to when he drove me home, with the country music playing, I realized he really was into the whole country music scene.

  “I...I’m...I think I... You know, I have no idea why I can never say what I intend to when I’m around you,” he confessed.

  “What are you wanting to say me, Drew?” I asked. “Start from the beginning.”

  “Okay,” he started, and let out a long breath before continuing. “First, I want to tell you that I’m sorry about the job.”

  “Are you serious?” I shifted in my chair. This was not happening. “I’m finally starting to get over it and you’re bringing it up again!”

  “I didn’t come over here to upset you, Leslie. Will you just let me finish saying what I need to tell you?”

  “Fine,” I answered in a huff.

  He stood up and began to pace, like he was piecing together a pitch or something. As annoying as it was to watch him moving around like a wild animal, I couldn’t help but notice how good he looked. And that tight ass...

  “Okay let me start over,” he said. “Look, if I didn’t get the job, I would never have met you, alright? So I don’t regret getting it, but I wish it wasn’t something you were also after. I know you’re angry with me, but I want to tell you...no, to ask you to give me a chance to be your friend. Well, more than friends, but friends too. Oh hell, this is not coming out the way I wanted it to. But I guess that’s the point.”

  He looked so nervous. I had no idea why, and even less of an idea what he was trying to tell me.

  “So you want to be my friend now, Drew?” I asked, standing up to face him. “What, it’ll make you feel better stealing my one shot at something I dreamed of doing, if I were your friend after the chips fell?”

  “No...that’s not it...why can’t you just...”

  “Why can’t I what Drew?” I pressed. “Why can’t I be like toga girl?”

  “Toga girl...I mean...look, her name is Kimberley and she is not my girlfriend okay? She’s not even my friend.”

  “What is she, then? A call girl? She was draped all over you, wearing a toga and kissing you on your neck, remember?”

  “She’s in an acting class I’m taking,” he explained, like it was perfectly rational.

  “Okay then, and I’m Cinderella!”

  “I’m telling you the truth.”

  “Then like Sam?”

  “She was hitting on me!”

  “Well I have a question for you, Drew. If you’re having such a problem talking to me, why can’t you get the hell out of here and knock on their doors, and tell them what you want to say?”

  “Because they’re not you,” he answered, with that look in his eyes that took me right back to his kiss.

  A part of me wanted to kick him out so I didn’t have to deal with it. But every cell in my body wanted him and refused to move away. He hesitated at first, but within moments he was in my personal space. He cupped my chin in his palm and lifted my face, searching my eyes like he could find his soul there somewhere. All I could see in his eyes was pure passion. Or maybe I was projecting what I felt coursing through my veins. The touch of his hand on my face sent sparks flying through me. I was so overcome with need, I let him know with my eyes.

  At this proximity, his brown eyes were almost hazel, with gold and brown flecks that looked like they would sparkle in the sun. He let out a soft sigh and I wrinkled my nose at the feel of his breath against my skin. My heart pounded in my chest when his other hand wrapped around my waist and pulled me closer. He leaned down and kissed my forehead. I began to pull away, but even if my brain wasn’t ready, my body was.

  He pressed another soft kiss to my cheek and kept his face close. I think it melted all the lingering resistance I might have built up to defend myself.

  “Leslie, I...” He pulled away and trailed off. His thumb stroked along my chin and up to my lips. “I would really love to kiss these lips again, Leslie.”

  My breath caught and my stomach clenched, and oh God, I wanted to make the next move. But I was frozen in the fire of his eyes; and his touch. My gaze dropped to stare at his mouth, and my shoulders softened, and that’s when he seized the moment.

  I had been fighting my attraction to him, but realized he was feeling it just as strongly. I didn’t think I had ever felt that way before. He tipped my head back with his hand and took my mouth quickly, giving me no more time to think. All I could do was feel. My blood boiled when his lips met mine. If he wanted to, he could undress me, touch me all over, and take me; my desire was so strong he could have his way with me and I would love every moment.

  He groaned into our kiss and let out a few deep breaths through his nose. The sound vibrated through my body. It ignited a raging fire that needed to be fed before it could come back under control. He dropped his hands and tightened his grip around my waist, and now I’ve completely come apart, lifting one leg and wrapping it onto his for security.

  My other knee buckled, bumping into his, and all of a sudden he picked me up and lowered me on the couch.

  “Oh God,” I moaned.

  He rested on top of me, his body pressed to mine. His hands came up to tangle in the hair at my temples, holding me in place as his tongue invaded its way into my mouth. That was it. He claimed me and I was owned. His fingers stroked the inner whorls of my ears, and my body let him know exactly how much I enjoyed it. I was bucking beneath him and my tongue suddenly dueled with his own.

  He wrapped his tongue around mine, licking and tasting; savoring me in a way that drove me wild. I moaned and whimpered. He pulled away and kissed my face; everywhere but my mouth. I moved under him, as hungry as he was.

  I grabbed his head and forced his down to mine. I pressed a kiss on his lips to all but tell him I wanted more. He looked genuinely surprised by it, and it took him a moment before he began reacting and responding. He opened his lips and took my mouth again, and for the second time of my life, I found myself wishing the world would end and this moment would stretch on eternally. If it never happened again, I would have the memory.

  By then I was panting and gasping for air that wouldn’t come to quench my need. I was filing away the feelings intertwined with sensations, and I felt him shift his body down to deliver a trail of kisses down my neck and to my throat. I raised my hands to run my palms and fingers through his hair. It was wavy and smooth. I instantly loved feeling it against my skin and craved to feel it against my thighs.

  His free hand wandered, slipping under my shirt and cupping my breasts through my bra. My nipples peaked in reaction and my hips rocked into him for more. He swooped lower and slipped a fingertip under my bra, just barely caressing it before he lifted my top, pushed my bra to the side, and his lips moved in to continue. My body shivered and my back arched, allowing him greater, easier, please-dear-God-don’t-let-it-stop access.

  I moaned, head falling back, still begging the universe to let him continue, when he stopped.

  “Leslie?”

  “Um... yes.” I blinked at him, still awash in passion.

  “Do you want this?”

  “What?” I asked softly.

  “Do you want me?” he asked, looking into my eyes like he would really stop if I said no.

  I didn’t answer with words. I didn’t need to. My body said yes, and I nodded. He stood up, reached his hand out to help me up, and let me lead him to my bedroom.

  ***

  Drew

  Leslie rested on th
e bed in her bra and panties, staring up at the ceiling. She had let me take off the rest of her clothes, and took mine off with an urgency that told me she wanted me. She wanted me! That was the best feeling in the world.

  I wanted to take my time with her, and here I was, in her bedroom, standing over her and admiring every inch of her body. My gaze moved from her sweet face, down her neck, across her breasts and stomach, and along her long legs, right down to her feet. She was so beautiful.

  When she noticed my eyes lingered at her hips, she instinctively opened her thighs. My eyes jumped back to hers and I could see a slight pink tint marked her cheeks before she brushed a hand across her face. She smiled softly and I took her signal to move in.

  I got in bed beside her and leaned forward to kiss the place where her neck and shoulder met. She shivered as my lips moved. I had figured that spot was extra sensitive for her and it was good to focus on giving her the most pleasure I could give, starting there.

  Turning into my embrace, she stared into my eyes. Her tongue absently licked her bottom lip and my hand reached under her to caress her back, and slide lower. In seconds, I slipped off her panties and turned to position myself between her thighs. She moaned when I lowered my head. I let out a breath and tickled her wet flesh, making her squirm as I whispered against her pussy.

  “I want to please you until you come, Leslie.”

  I pressed kisses up and down her slit, licking and nibbled the sensitive skin of her inner thighs, and as she moaned and begged for more, I latched onto her clit. Her hands stroked up and down through my hair and to my shoulders, pulling my head into her as she rocked her hips.

  I slid two fingers along her folds and slipped inside. She was so wet and tight, and as I caressed her inner walls, she was bucking and thrashing on top of the sheets.

  “Oh, God, Drew! This is...”

  She trailed off as I clamped a heavy arm across her pelvis, stilling her wild undulating and she rocked on my digits, finding her own pleasure, and right then, I wanted to join her. I was so hard, and desperate to be inside her warm, wet pussy.