“Yes?” one of the waitresses stopped by and said.
“Can you bring us another bottle of this?” Jason asked.
“Anything for you, sir.” The waitress winked and left.
Now he recognized what Amber saw.
“Before you say anything, I want to apologize. I really hadn’t noticed any of the women flirting with me. Since being around you, you really have had my full attention.”
“Okay. Apology accepted. I guess I shouldn’t complain, because it’s not like we’re a couple or anything.”
“We might not be, but it’s rude of those women. They don’t know we aren’t a couple.”
He placed his hand on top of hers.
“Cancel that other bottle of wine. I think I’m ready to call it a night,” Amber said.
Jason glanced at his watch. It was too early to go in. He needed to rescue this situation. He would pay the bill, but they were in Vegas, and there was no way he was going to allow her to go back to the room this early without showing her a good time.
“Amber, why don’t we leave here and experience some of the Vegas nightlife?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve had a little bit too much to drink already. And dinner was nice.”
“Come on. We’re in Vegas. You can’t leave me hanging out here all by my lonesome self. Who’s going to protect me from these vultures? I mean women.”
Amber laughed. “Jason, you’ve survived before me, so you don’t need my help. Besides, I think you relish the attention.”
Jason opened up his mouth to say something but nothing came out. She was right. Up until now, he had enjoyed the attention he got from women. But in this moment, he only had eyes for one and she was sitting directly across from him and he didn’t want the night to end.
The waitress returned with the bottle of wine.
“Deanna, I’m sorry. We’ve changed our minds. Bring the check and we’ll take the bottle of wine to go.”
Deanna frowned. She handed him a small black hand-held device.
Jason used the device to pay their bill. He included a nice tip for Deanna.
They were soon seated in the back of the limousine, enjoying the new bottle of wine they’d gotten from the restaurant.
Elliot stopped the car in front a popular Las Vegas night club. The lines were long.
Amber stayed seated in the car. “Maybe this was a bad idea.”
“You’re with me. Watch me work my Jason magic.”
Jason assisted Amber out of the car and they walked past the crowd.
When they reached the front, Jason got close to the bouncer so that no one else, including Amber, could hear. “This is Amber Simone and I’ll be paying for VIP service.”
The bouncer removed the red cord and allowed them entrance.
“See, there are advantages to being with a celebrity,” Jason noted.
“But I’m not a celebrity,” Amber responded.
“Once a celebrity, always a celebrity.”
“You used my dad to get us entry?”
“No, I used who you were to get us inside. Now come on. Let’s enjoy the VIP service I’m paying for.”
Jason grabbed Amber’s hand and led her through the club to the VIP area located upstairs.
The crowd was a mixture of celebrities and Vegas partygoers. Everyone appeared to be having a good time. Once upstairs, Jason and Amber got the VIP treatment. Their assigned waitress greeted them with a bottle of champagne.
“Hit this button if you need something, and I will be right to you.” She handed Jason a small device that looked like a pager. He slipped it in his pocket.
Before he was able to take a seat, someone approached him from behind.
“Jason, I thought that was you,” Bob England, last year’s Super Bowl champion quarterback, said.
Jason turned and greeted him with a handshake. Bob pulled him in with a brotherly hug. “How’s it going?” Jason asked.
Bob looked around. “It’s been crazy. That endorsement deal you set up for me has my bank account spinning. You are the man.”
“I’m glad you’re happy.”
“I brought my boys out here to celebrate. I tried to catch up with you, man, but you didn’t return my text.”
“I had to get a new phone yesterday before I left LA, and I still haven’t retrieved all of my messages.”
“Come on. We’re right over there.”
“I wish I could, but I’m here with someone right now.”
“Business or pleasure?” Bob asked.
Jason looked in Amber’s direction. She was now seated at the table. She’d poured herself a glass of the champagne.
“She’s a hottie. If it’s business, let me know so I can go put my mack down on her.”
“She’s off-limits,” Jason said.
“So it’s personal,” Bob stated.
“Not exactly. But she’s still off-limits.”
“Jason, as my manager, I respect that, but can you at least make the introduction? Let her decide if she’s off-limits or not.”
Bob didn’t wait on a response from Jason. He began walking toward Amber before Jason could respond.
Bob sat in a chair next to Amber. Jason sat on the opposite side of Amber.
Bob extended his hand to her. “I’m Bob England.”
Amber shook his hand. “I’m Amber.”
“Amber. That’s a pretty name for a pretty woman.”
“Thanks.” Amber removed her hand and placed it on the table.
“Are you a fan of football?” Bob asked.
“I happen to be. I love the New Orleans Saints.”
“Are you serious?” Bob seemed offended.
“Yes. And proud of it. Both of my parents are from Louisiana, so in my household we support the Saints.”
“What about us 49ers?” Bob asked, holding up his hand so that his Super Bowl ring could be seen.
Jason smiled, as Amber didn’t seem to be interested in Bob in any way.
“Bob, you being a Super Bowl champion doesn’t impress me.” Amber didn’t flinch.
“Oh my. Bob, you might want to quit while you still have your ego intact.” Jason laughed.
“Jason, you’re right. I’m going to take that as my cue to keep it moving. I’ll catch you later. If you get some free time while in Vegas, hit me up.”
Bob eased out of the chair next to Amber and left them alone.
Jason laughed. “You cut deep. I’m going to call you the Ice Princess.”
“He’s so arrogant. He actually thought he could impress me because he was an NFL player. Try again. Been there. Done that.”
“So you’ve dated a pro athlete before?”
“Yes, but this is neither the time nor the place to discuss it. You wanted to party, let’s do it.” Amber picked up the flute of champagne and drank it all.
Jason poured himself a glass and did the same.
Jason noticed Amber dancing in her seat. He leaned closer to her and said, “Do you want to dance?”
“Who me? No. I never dance,” she responded.
“You’re doing good dancing in your seat,” Jason noted.
“Dancing in my seat and dancing on the dance floor are two different things.”
“Come on. You can’t be that bad.” Jason stood and extended his hand.
Amber grabbed it. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
They eased through the crowd and got on the dance floor located at the opposite end from where they sat. A fast song by Beyoncé blasted through the club. Jason enjoyed watching Amber swing her body to the beat. He adjusted his pants, hoping she hadn’t noticed the slight bulge between his legs as she pushed her body close to his.
Amber felt a thick nudge against her rear. But instead of being offended, it aroused her. She wanted Jason to find
her desirable. The fact that she’d gotten him to respond in that way made her feel sexy. The deejay slowed the music down. Jason grabbed her hand to walk back to their seats. She boldly said, “You got me out here on this dance floor. So let’s dance.”
“I thought…”
Before he could complete his sentence, she eased up close to him and placed his hand around her waist. From there, she didn’t need to prompt him. He took full control.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and he pulled her in closer to him as they danced to a John Legend slow song.
Amber laid her head on Jason’s chest. The sound of his heartbeat matched her own. She could feel the heat of their bodies through their clothes in the air-conditioned club. They could have been in Antarctica and there would be no denying the heat coming from her body.
She wanted Jason in a way she’d never wanted a man before. This feeling she had was what she’d written about many times, but had never experienced herself. The only problem was the fact that Jason was only being nice to her because he was a client. She wasn’t naive to think otherwise.
Although she was enjoying her time with him, she wouldn’t allow herself to completely forget she was a client and nothing more. For now, she would indulge in the feel of his firm body as they danced, because she knew that after this weekend, reality would set in and she would go back to her normal, almost boring life.
Chapter Six
The sunlight beamed through an opening in the curtain, hitting Jason right in the face. He squinted as he slowly raised his head off the pillow. His head felt like a ton of bricks. He fell back down on the pillow. He reached to his right, but instead of hitting the flat surface of the mattress, he felt a soft body. He turned and came face-to-face with the back of a woman. He blinked a few times, and the realization of who was lying next to him jerked him awake.
Oh my goodness, what have I done? Jason asked himself. He’d had numerous one-night stands, but never with a potential client. How was he going to explain himself to Charlotte? She would never forgive him if he screwed up this deal because he wasn’t able to control his libido. But in his defense, he’d been drinking. The last thing he remembered was Amber and him getting in the limousine and finishing off the bottle of wine they’d gotten from the restaurant.
How he’d ended up in bed with her was a blur. Things were slowly coming back to him. He thought he’d dreamed all of it, but apparently not. He closed his eyes and remembered how the dress fell from her shoulders and hit the floor the moment they entered their hotel suite. He recalled swooping her up into his arms and carrying her to the bedroom. The passionate look of desire that filled her eyes had pushed him over the edge, and before long, he was tasting her sweet nectar. The more she cried out his name, the more he wanted to please her.
His body recalled the feel of her the moment he entered her for the first time. He was becoming aroused again at the thought. They had made passionate love until apparently they both passed out. Morning was upon them, and now he had to face the aftermath of his reckless decision to sleep with Amber.
Amber’s body stirred next to him. She yawned, turned over, and opened her eyes.
“Ahhh! What are you doing in my bed?” she screamed.
“Calm down, Amber,” Jason responded. “It appears we slept together.”
Amber jumped out of the bed and took the sheet with her, wrapping her body with it, leaving Jason naked and fully exposed.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen. I’m a good girl. I don’t go around sleeping with random guys.”
“Technically, I’m not a random guy. We do know each other, but I understand what you meant,” Jason said.
“You. It’s your fault. You shouldn’t have taken advantage of me in my drunken state.”
“My fault. I had just as much to drink as you. I didn’t even remember sleeping with you until this morning.”
“Oh, so I wasn’t a good lay, is that what you’re saying?” Amber yelled.
“Stop twisting my words. What happened between us happened. If you want to forget that it didn’t, I will obey your wishes. It will be hard to, but I will because I respect you, Amber.”
“Respect. Please. I am so embarrassed.” Amber dragged the sheet with her as she left Jason’s room.
“Oh my God!” Amber screamed.
Not sure why Amber was so hysterical over the fact that they had slept together, Jason jumped out of bed and ran out the room.
Amber stood in the middle of the living room, holding a piece of paper, waving it in the air.
Amber held out her hand with the paper and screamed, “This can’t be what I think it is. Tell me it’s not.”
She threw it at him and it fell to the floor.
“What?” Jason asked as he picked up the sheet of paper.
Jason’s mouth dropped wide open. “Oh my God.” He repeated the same words he’d heard Amber say just a few moments before.
Amber plopped down on the sofa. She looked at her hand. Jason sat down next to her.
“Let me see your hand,” Amber said.
She grabbed Jason’s hand.
They stared at each other’s hands. They were wearing matching gold wedding bands. A wedding that neither one of them remembered attending.
Jason picked up the marriage license he’d let slip back to the floor. He read it again. At the bottom of the license were his and Amber’s signatures.
Amber pinched him.
“Ouch,” he shouted.
“I just wanted to make sure this wasn’t a dream.”
“This is as real as it can get. Amber, you and I are husband and wife. And I have the license to prove it.” Jason waved the license in the air.
Amber stared at Jason in disbelief. How could she have been so irresponsible? In her twenty-nine years of living, she’d never gotten drunk. With her luck, the first time she did get drunk, she’d ended up married. Married to a man who was obviously not ready to be a husband or else he would already be married to someone else.
This was all her dad’s fault. If he hadn’t set up this trip or insisted on Jason coming along, she wouldn’t be in this predicament. Now she had to figure out a way to get their marriage annulled without anyone finding out about it—especially her dad.
“Amber, are you listening to me? We need to get this resolved. I think I know of a way,” she heard Jason say, breaking her out of her thoughts.
“I need to make a phone call. I need to talk to someone.”
“Talk to me. Hello. This isn’t just your problem. It’s our problem.” Jason held his arms out.
“I know. But it’s hard to talk to you when you’re looking like that.”
“Like what?” he asked.
“Like that.” Amber pointed at him.
He looked down. “I forgot I was naked,” he blurted out. “Let me go put some clothes on and then we can figure out what to do next.”
“Fine. You do that and I’ll do the same. We can reconvene here in, say, about thirty minutes.”
Amber rushed to her bedroom. She jumped in the shower. The hot water cascaded down her body as she tried to recall the previous night’s events. She remembered the restaurant, the first club, and then the second club, but after that, things became blurred.
Slowly memories began returning to her mind. They seemed like part of a dream, but in fact, this wasn’t a dream. It really had occurred. She recalled Jason and her walking into a chapel. She remembered them exchanging vows before they shared a kiss. The kiss had made her head spin—or was that the last glass of wine she’d drunk? Nevertheless, the kiss had made her feel like she was floating on air. She touched her lips as she remembered. Afterward, she’d blanked out. Blanked out until she woke up this morning, completely naked, next to a man she’d fantasized about for the last six months.
Chapter Seven
Jason took a quic
k shower. He went through his bag and became frustrated. Why hadn’t he packed something more casual, like a pair of jeans or sweatpants? Maybe because he barely wore casual clothes. Casual to him was forgetting the jacket and not putting on a tie. He made a mental note to update his wardrobe.
For now, he had more important things to deal with. What he thought was a one-nighter had ended up being more serious. Marriage had never been on his to-do list. “Date and be happy and live life carefree” was his way of life. He knew what he needed to do to get things resolved, but it would require him to talk to the one person who he didn’t want to talk to right now.
He found his phone. The battery was dead. He plugged it in, and as soon as he got enough juice, he turned it on. His phone vibrated continuously, alerting him to many messages. He didn’t bother to listen to his voicemail or read any text messages. He dialed Charlotte’s number.
“It’s about time you called me back. I’ve been trying to reach you since early this morning.”
“It’s only ten,” Jason noted.
“Well, I started getting phone calls around seven. Dude, you’ve got some explaining to do.”
“What are you talking about? Has one of our clients gotten into some trouble that I don’t know anything about? It isn’t Bob, is it? Because I just saw him last night at this club.”
“Are you serious? Jason, I’m talking about you. I’m talking about America’s favorite celebrity daughter now all grown up and married.” Charlotte went on to tell him that news of his nuptials with Amber was posted online and had made some of the newspapers, including the LA Times.
“Charlotte, I promise you, this was nothing I set out to do. We were having a good time.”
“Obviously.”
“And the next thing you know, I’m waking up next to her and we’re married,” Jason responded.
“Hmm,” was all Charlotte said.
“Is that all you have to say? I was expecting more than hmm,” Jason blurted.
“I can’t say that I didn’t see this coming. I’m surprised it took this long.”
“You know my rule. Never sleep with a client. And—”
“Well, I’m the last person to talk about rules. You know Sean started off as one of our clients, and you see what happened there. We’re married and about to have our first child.”
Rules of Love Page 3
