A Hot Mess
Christy Gissendaner
Published 2013
ISBN: 978-1-93176-138-3
Published by Liquid Silver Books, imprint of Atlantic Bridge Publishing, 10509 Sedgegrass Dr, Indianapolis, Indiana 46235. Copyright © Published 2013, Christy Gissendaner. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
Manufactured in the United States of America
Liquid Silver Books
http://LSbooks.com
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
Blurb
Caitlyn Myers elopes to Vegas on a spur of the moment decision, but once there she is abandoned by her heartless fiancé. With no money, and her luggage lost at the airport, she calls the one person she knows will help her.
Dylan Russell has known Caitlyn since she was a scruffy tomboy. He’s watched her mature into a ravishing woman and has kept his desire for her a secret … until now. Valentine’s Day in Vegas provides the dazzling backdrop for seduction as Dylan shows Caitlyn that not all loves are messy.
Dedication
For William, who loves the “hot mess” that I am. And for Thea, one of my latest betas. Thanks for all the help!
Acknowledgements
A big huge thank you to Vristen Pierce and Elle Rush, who went on a word count race with me for this work. I can’t thank Sharis Mayer, my editor, for this “mess” enough. Love that tag line of yours, even though tea ain’t tea without sugar! And a big ole thank you for Deirdre, who has gone on several editing journeys with me in the past few months. (Are you tired of me yet?)
Chapter 1
“Flight seven seven seven to Vegas is now boarding.”
Caitlyn Myers grabbed her faux Louis Vuitton bag and nudged her fiancé, who dozed in the uncomfortable plastic chair beside her. “Wake up, Simon. They’re calling us.”
Simon stirred, and two bleary eyes blinked up at her. “Caitlyn? What is it?”
Cait snapped her fingers together in front of his face. “The plane, Simon. It’s time. We can board now.”
Sunlight poured through the glass at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Cait reached for her shoes, but she paused to admire the sparkles given by the huge diamond solitaire on the ring finger of her left hand.
It had come as a complete surprise when Simon popped the question early that morning. She’d suspected he would ask, but not until Valentine’s Day which wasn’t until tomorrow. The biggest surprise had been Simon’s decision to elope. Cait had said yes, and they’d headed straight to the airport after a frenzied packing session.
Two non-refundable coach tickets were booked. Now, they prepared to board the plane that would take them to their happily ever after. Cait wanted to squeal in delight but didn’t.
Simon got to his feet and lazily stretched. The hem of his shirt lifted, and a small strip of tanned, muscular skin appeared.
Cait sighed with happiness. She couldn’t ask for a better fiancé. Simon was sexy and successful, and best of all, he wanted to marry her despite her many flaws.
Simon reached for his expensive leather satchel and slung it over his shoulder. Cait slipped her feet into pink high heels and then straightened. Simon waited with a strained smile as she tugged the hem of her tight miniskirt back into place.
“Are you ready, honey?”
Cait’s insides melted at the sound of Simon’s deep voice. She stopped fiddling with her clothes and gave him an adoring smile. “Yes, I’m so excited!”
Simon chuckled and slipped an arm around her waist to lead her to the gate. When she wore heels, which was pretty much every day, Simon was not much taller than her. Cait felt protected in his embrace nonetheless.
They boarded the plane with no trouble at all and claimed their seats on the wing. She’d once read the wing was the safest part of the plane, and since she was a nervous flier, she was not taking any chances. She’d picked out the best seats she could find. Simon had argued about having to fly coach, but Cait had finally convinced him.
Caitlyn fastened her seat restraint while Simon put away their bags. Once the strap was tightened, and she was safe as she could be, she turned to gaze out the window at a clear blue sky.
It was a beautiful February day, a perfect day to elope. She pushed the niggling thought that she was rushing into the wedding out of her mind. This is what she wanted. Wasn’t it?
Simon sat beside her and reached for his seat belt. Cait turned back to her fiancé and satisfaction bubbled within her as she perused his blond perfection.
She’d started dating Simon a year ago when they’d been introduced by a co-worker. They’d immediately hit it off. Sometimes she pinched herself just to be sure it wasn’t a dream. It was hard to believe such a perfect guy wanted her.
After take-off, which she always hated, Cait settled into her seat and prepared to watch the in-flight movie. She had already seen it, but the romantic comedy was one she wouldn’t mind watching a second time. The stewardess came by, and Cait ordered a pair of headphones.
“Would you like a drink?”
Cait shook her head at Simon. “It’s too early.”
Simon ruffled her hair. “We just got engaged, and our wedding is tomorrow. It’s never too early to celebrate.”
“Oh, all right.” Cait lifted her gaze to the attractive stewardess who waited for their order. “I’ll have a whiskey and coke.”
Simon made a face, as he always did when she ordered what he claimed was a masculine drink. “I’ll have a gin and tonic.”
The stewardess moved away to take more drink orders.
Simon sighed as he watched her. “I really wish you would’ve let us fly first class. Now we’re going to have to wait half the flight to get our drinks.”
“It’ll be okay.” Cait slipped her hand into Simon’s and squeezed his fingers. “I can’t believe we’re really doing this.”
A perfect smile crossed Simon’s face. “Well believe it, honey. By this time tomorrow, you’ll be Mrs. Simon Maxwell.”
Cait corrected his assumption. “Caitlyn Myers-Maxwell. I want to keep my last name.”
“Whatever.” Simon’s smile faded. He did not seem pleased by her revelation, but he dropped the subject. “Did you remember to make the hotel reservation?”
Cait slapped her forehead. They’d been in such a rush to leave she knew she’d forget something. “Oh!”
Simon groaned and rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache. “Cait…”
“I know, I know. But I got busy packing, and then my mother called, and I just forgot.”
Simon leaned over to kiss her cheek. “It’s okay. We’ll book a room when we get there.” He sounded as if he was upset but determined not to show it.
“I’m sorry.” Cait hated disappointing Simon, something she seemed to do all the time.
“Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out.”
Cait smiled at him. He was such a sweetheart. Whatever had she done to deserve him?
For most of the remainder of the flight, Cait watched the movie while Simon read the sports magazine he’d bought at the airport’s gift shop. Cait was absorbed in the comedy of errors and romance until the Fasten Seat Belt light came on somewhere over Arizona. She ripped off her headphones as the pilot’s voice sounded through the plane’s speaker.
“Attention, fliers. We will be experiencing turbulence as we enter a thunderstorm up ahead. Please remain seated, and fasten yo
ur seat belt.”
Damn, this is why she hated flying. Caitlyn turned to Simon with anxious eyes. “Do you think we’ll be okay?”
Simon licked his finger and turned the page of his magazine. He gave a distracted nod. “Yes, honey. It’s nothing to worry about.”
Cait settled in her seat and refused to look at the darkening sky outside her window. She gripped the armrest and wondered how such a beautiful day had turned gray and stormy in less than three hours. She pulled down the shade to block it out, but it didn’t help since she could see out the other windows.
The plane shuddered and dropped several feet.
Cait screeched. “Oh, my God!”
She let go of the armrests she’d had a death grip on and clung to Simon’s muscular forearm instead.
Simon tried to pry her fingers away. “Caitlyn, relax. It’s just turbulence. It’s completely normal.”
Cait lessened her grip, so that her nails wouldn’t bite into his skin, but she continued to hold on to him. “It’s easy for you to say. You fly all the time. This is only my third time on a plane.”
Lightning streaked through the sky, and Cait would’ve sworn it hit the plane’s wing. The hair on the back of her arms stood up in fear. “I’m going to die before we get married.”
Simon tossed aside his magazine and finally gave her his full attention. “You’re not going to die. Just breathe.”
Cait took a deep breath and let it out. She did it again since Simon asked her to, but it did not calm her nerves.
She couldn’t shake the sense of an impending disaster.
* * * *
Several hours later, Cait leaned against a slot machine and tried to ignore her aching feet. The bells and flashing lights of the slots intensified the headache she’d battled since they’d arrived in Vegas.
The casino floor was crowded with patrons. There was not an empty chair to be found. Damn heels were going to be the death of her, but they were too cute not to wear.
“Simon, please can we go?”
Her fiancé shot her an annoyed glance. “I’m winning, baby. Two more minutes, okay?”
Cait smothered a groan and shifted her weight to the other foot. “That’s what you said the last one hundred and twenty minutes.”
Simon ignored her and continued to press the button on the slot he’d been sitting at for over two hours. Ever since their arrival at the hotel, they’d been inside the casino. They hadn’t even seen their suite yet, as Simon had ordered his bags to be taken up to the room instead of doing it himself.
Just his bags, of course, as hers had somehow managed to get lost. The airline had promised her bags would be found and should arrive the next day.
Thank goodness she’d had the foresight to put a change of clothes and underwear in her carry-on. It seemed like her sort of luck that her luggage would be lost.
After he’d handed over his bags to the bellboy at check-in, Simon headed to the casino and plopped down at the nearest machine. At this rate, Cait doubted they would make it to their wedding tomorrow, much less their dinner reservations tonight.
She tried again to get his attention. “I’m tired, Simon. I’m going to go upstairs and take a bath, okay?”
“Fine, fine,” Simon muttered and continued to play the slot.
Cait stomped away, or attempted to at least. Heels were not the easiest shoes to stomp in. She dodged a group of little old ladies, who appeared to have just arrived on a tour bus and hoped they were not spending their entire month’s retirement money.
Cait didn’t understand the thrill of gambling. Simon had tried to get her to play, but she’d refused. She’d much rather spend her paycheck on shoes than throw it away on a stupid machine.
Cait walked back in the direction of the lobby. When the brightly colored carpet she walked on ended, she turned to the left. Her heels clicked on the tiles with every step she took.
The gold elevators beckoned her, and she slipped inside with a trio of guys who appeared to be college aged. They whispered amongst each other, nudging each other and nodding in her direction. Cait ignored their stares and kept her gaze focused on the panel of numbers that were lit with a five and an eight. She held on to the railing as the elevator jerked upward. It lurched to a stop seconds later.
The guys got off the elevator at the fifth floor, and Cait breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment there, she had been afraid they would flirt with her. She could think of nothing worse than being hit on the day before her wedding.
The elevator doors closed, and it took off again. A bell dinged, and the doors opened to the eighth floor.
Cait stepped onto the brightly patterned carpet and headed for room eight nineteen. She withdrew the keycard from her purse and slid it into the door. The green light appeared, and she pushed on the handle, but the door didn’t open.
“Stupid key,” she muttered and tried again.
After the fifth try, she succeeded in unlocking the door and entered the room. She flipped on the light switch and surveyed her surroundings.
The bed seemed large and welcoming with several fluffy pillows, and a soft-looking blanket. The room was decorated with pale pink walls and cream-colored furniture. Cait smiled in expectation of Simon’s reaction. He hated pink walls. It would serve him right for keeping her waiting so long downstairs.
Simon’s luggage was stacked in a neat pile next to the door.
Cait picked up her lone bag and walked forward to place it on the bed. She unzipped it, turned it upside down to pour out the items, and riffled through her few belongings. Her makeup case, wallet, a change of clothes, toothbrush, and a few spare coins were all she had until her luggage arrived.
Cait groaned as she picked up the clothing she’d packed. A short denim skirt and a pink tube top was not the outfit she’d envisioned getting married in. Hopefully her luggage would arrive well before their scheduled ceremony at the chapel. If not, she would have to hope that her credit card company would allow for one more purchase. Buying a dress would put her over the limit, which was something she didn’t want to do if she didn’t have to.
She glanced down as she kicked off her shoes. At least the pink heels would match. There was always a silver or, in her case, pink lining.
Cait stripped, leaving her discarded clothes where they fell, and headed to the bathroom. A heart-shaped Jacuzzi tub, large enough for two, beckoned. It was a scene designed for seduction, but one she would not be partaking of apparently.
Cait turned on the taps and adjusted the temperature. Curls of steam rose from the water. The mirror quickly fogged up, but she brushed her hand across it to leave a strip large enough for her to view her face. While the tub filled, she plaited her shoulder-length red hair and pinned it on top of her head.
She grabbed a towel and set it on the counter before stepping into the tub and sinking beneath the warm water. The cool porcelain tiles of the bathroom’s floor had chilled her toes, so she lifted her foot and held it beneath the stream from the faucet.
Ah, heavenly.
Once the tub had filled, she turned off the taps with her big toe and settled back to enjoy her bath.
Cait closed her eyes with a sigh and allowed the water to soothe her tired muscles. Her fingers swirled in the water as she hummed a melody beneath her breath.
This time tomorrow, she would be married.
Cait held up her hand and opened her eyes to gaze at her ring. It was beautiful. The square-cut diamond and platinum band were exactly what she would’ve picked out for herself if she’d been given a choice. Simon’s taste was impeccable.
She squealed with happiness. Tomorrow was going to be perfect.
Cait decided to go back downstairs and insist that Simon take her to dinner. She reached for the soap and washed in a hurry. The tiles were slippery as she stepped out of the tub, so she tiptoed her way back to the mirror as she toweled dry.
She unpinned her hair, although Simon claimed he preferred it up, and applied a light swipe of lipstick and
mascara. She wanted to look natural tonight—plus, with the clothes she had to wear, she didn’t want to be mistaken for a prostitute.
What in the world had possessed her to choose a tube top as her emergency clothing?
After she was dressed in her regrettable hooker clothes, Cait left the room and rode the elevator back to the lobby. She entered the casino and looked for Simon, but he was not where she had left him.
With a frown, she searched the surrounding bank of machines for his familiar blond head, but she didn’t see him. Where could he have gone?
Cait cursed herself for putting her cell phone in her luggage instead of stashing it in her carry-on. Now she couldn’t even call Simon to see where he was. She supposed she would have to have him paged. There was no help for it. Simon would be upset to be paged like an errant child, but the casino was large, and Cait could wander around all night and never run into him.
“Excuse me.” Cait flagged down an attendant wearing the distinctive purple jacket of the hotel. “Where would I go to have a person paged?”
“As opposed to an animal?” the kindly old man joked. “I’m just teasing. It’s right up ahead.”
The man pointed out the player’s club area. Cait thanked him and tottered away on her too-tall heels to perform the embarrassing task. She cut her eyes to the right and left to make sure no one was looking at her and thinking she really was a prostitute.
She passed a large circular bar that took up the center of the casino floor. Cait paused to admire the lighting behind the frosted glass design and then continued past it, when she heard Simon’s distinctive laughter. When her fiancé was truly amused, which wasn’t often, his laugh reminded her of the bark of a seal.
Cait stopped and spun around on her heel to examine the crowd at the bar. Several older gentlemen sat at the counter, playing video poker as they sipped on their drinks. A few middle-aged couples stood in the center chatting.
Then Cait saw him. He was standing near a table with his arm around a tiny blonde. As she watched, Simon leaned in close to the woman and whispered in her ear. Whatever he said must’ve been funny, because the lady tossed back her head and laughed, which was odd since Simon never cracked jokes.
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