Sin City Baby: A Reverse Harem Accidental Marriage Romance

by Rye Hart

  “I had no idea he did that,” I said. “He never mentioned it to any of us.”

  We always used to tell each other everything – even things I would have preferred not hearing, honestly. But, judging by this one conversation, I realized I actually knew very little. Gabe potentially cheating on Hadley. Chris visiting her in San Diego. I had no idea whatsoever, that any of that ever happened. It was like she had opened a door and all of these dark secrets just came tumbling out, and I was left standing there in the middle of the debris, trying to figure out what to do with it all.

  “Yeah, it was our little secret,” she said, a touch of nostalgia in her voice.

  She stared down at the bottle in her hand before giving her head a little shake, as if she'd been lost in memory and was suddenly coming back to herself. The look on her face though, pulled at my heartstrings. She looked so lost. So vulnerable. Yet, through all of that, I also saw her strength and her determination.

  “Do your parents still recycle?” she asked, holding the bottle up.

  “Of course,” I said, taking it from her. “Would you like another?”

  “Nah, I think I should probably get home and get to bed,” she said as she stood up and stretched her legs. “But it was nice talking to you, Evan. I'm glad we had a little time together. And I'm requesting a rain check on the hot tub.”

  I stood up too, trying to decide between hugging her or not. She made the choice for me though, wrapping her arms around my neck and pressing lips to my cheek that were every bit as soft and luscious as I'd thought.

  “And whenever you want to see Grayson, just come on over,” she said. “He'd be thrilled to spend time with you.”

  I was left speechless. She pulled away from the embrace and headed back toward the gate. Her ass swished almost flirtatiously, and she smiled at me over her shoulder before she exited the yard. I stood there, two beer bottles in my hands, staring like an idiot, a maelstrom of emotion in my heart.

  It was amazing that after all these years, Hadley could still make me feel like an awkward, blubbering idiot. I guess she was right – some things never changed.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  JARED

  Castle Club wasn't really a club, but the name had a nice ring to it. While there were a few bars in Castle Creek, we were by far the nicest. In my opinion, at least. Maybe I was just biased. We served a higher-end clientele – those who owned second and third homes in Castle Creek. A big portion of our clientele were the folks who came to town for skiing every winter and hiking every summer.

  We also catered to a good number of celebrities who were growing wary of the larger resort towns, and preferred to be somewhere off the beaten path and away from the paparazzi. Most of Castle Creek's residents were fairly well off anyway, so the mix of people meshed well together.

  I liked the job because it was literally just a job to me. There was no heavy mental or emotional investment in it, which suited me perfect. I'd literally clock out at the end of my shift and go home – then, my time would be my time. Gabe and Evan never had that luxury. Gabe was on the clock all day, every day. Sure, he had more money than anyone knew what to do with, but his time was never completely his own. He could vacation, escape to the most isolated island in the world, and still have conference calls and virtual meetings. He was always tethered to his work and couldn't go very long without checking his e-mail or voicemail.

  Evan wasn't much better off. Sure, he worked from home, but that only meant he hardly ever clocked off. It was a cushy job, one that you could do in the comfort of your pajamas no doubt, but not one I could do. Not one I wanted to do.

  But hey, it worked for them. It just wasn't for me. That wasn't the kind of life I wanted to lead. I wanted to enjoy life – to, suck the marrow out of it, like some dead, dusty poet once said. I wanted to do the things that made me happy. That was where I wanted to put my heaviest mental and emotional investment.

  I preferred working with people – especially beautiful women. I got all of that and more with my job at the club. The pay was so-so, but I didn't need the money. None of us did. Our parents were well off enough that none of us had to work if we didn't want to. But, while Gabe and Evan slaved away at their jobs, having it occupy most of their waking – and probably a good chunk of their sleeping – hours, I actually had the luxury of enjoying my life.

  We only go around once on this rock, and I intended to make the most of it.

  The night after dinner at the Rose's, I was at work. It was a typical Friday night and the bar was already hopping when I got into work that evening. I clocked in and went straight to the counter. A crowd of gorgeous women were clustered in one corner, all of them with full glasses. Another group was waiting behind them as they flirted with Nico, who leaned against the bar and flirted right ack. Lucky bastard, got to them first. That was okay, I'd plant my flag in no time. It was something of a game with us when we worked – we often competed to see who got the most numbers in a given night.

  Over the loud buzz of the crowd, I heard my name being called.

  A familiar voice called out to me, “Jared? Is that you?”

  Two women walked toward us, and I almost couldn't believe my eyes. Hadley walked toward me, her hair swishing side to side, a wide smile on her face, as she rushed toward the bar. She was in a tiny little black dress that hugged her body in all the right places, accentuated her curves, and hugged her waist with a sheer band of lace.

  Her lips were cherry red, and she was wearing more makeup that I'd ever seen her wear before. Thick, black lashes surrounded by a carefully applied smoky eye. Damn, she was fine. She was normally gorgeous as it was, but that night, she was extra fine.

  “Hadley? What are you doing out here?” I asked.

  Her friend Naomi was with her. The two of them had been cheerleaders together at one time. Rivals turned friends turned people who barely knew each other, or so I thought.

  “Oh, you aren't even going to say hello to me,” Naomi said, rolling her eyes. “Typical.”

  “I see you around all the time,” I said.

  I went to work making her signature drink because I knew it by heart. That was how often Naomi came in. I poured some cranberry juice in a glass, added the ice and shook it up. Then came the vodka. Classic Cape Cod, or as most normal folks called it, vodka and cranberry. Naomi just liked to be extra fancy like that.

  “I didn't know Hadley was a club type of girl,” I said.

  “I wasn't,” Hadley said, “but there's a first time for everything. Besides, I wanted to catch up with some of my old cheer girls, and Naomi suggested this place. I had no idea you worked here Jared.”

  “Yep, been here for about four years now,” I said. “So what can I make you?”

  “Surprise me,” she said, her eyes wide.

  I handed Naomi her drink and went to work on something extra special for Hadley. The two of them made small talk, caught up on their lives as I mixed together some fruit juices and top shelf liquor, coming up with something truly unique. It was a risk, but decided it was one worth taking for a girl like Hadley. When it was finished, I passed it to her on a napkin.

  She took a sip and made a satisfied “Mmm” sound as she smiled at me, nodding her head enthusiastically.

  “This is yummy,” she beamed. “What's it called?”

  “How about we call it the Hadley Rose?” I said and tipped her a wink.

  “What do you mean? Doesn't it already have a name?” she chuckled.

  “Nope. Made it up on the spot, just for you,” I said. “You were my muse.”

  Naomi rolled her eyes again, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. “Seriously, Jared. Could you possibly be any more obvious?”

  “What do you mean?” I asked, feigning innocence.

  “You're practically slobbering all over yourself,” she said. “And we both know it's to make me jealous.”

  “I have no idea what you're talking about,” I said.

  Truthfully, I did, but it was fun
to poke Naomi with a stick sometimes. For such a tiny little thing, she knew how to throw a big tantrum. Her temper was legendary and was way bigger than she was. “Come on, Hadley,” Naomi said, grabbing her friend's arm. “Let's go find the rest of the gang and keep Jared's slobber off your pretty dress.”

  “It's nice seeing you, Jared,” Hadley said and smiled, nodding over at a group of blondes standing at the bar looking at me with dreamy eyes. “You probably should get back to work anyway. I don't want to keep you from your fans.”

  “Sure thing, sweet stuff. Come back to me if you'd like a refill, it's a Walker specialty,” I said with a rueful grin.

  We shared a look, her blue eyes locked on mine for a moment, until Naomi dragged her away and the moment passed.

  I knew Gabe was still into her, whether he cared to admit it or not. Damn though, she was more beautiful than she had been back in the day – and that was a time when there wasn't a guy in our high school who hadn't fantasized about dating or bedding Hadley Rose.

  Most of those guys – a lot of them married – if they saw her now, would indulge in that fantasy all over again. She'd filled out and had blossomed from a beautiful girl to an absolutely stunning woman.

  What I wouldn't do for a shot at her. I licked my lips and got back to work, trying not to look for her in the crowd of people. I continued tossing drinks, enjoying the night. Other beautiful women approached, some of them hitting on me. Ordinarily, I'd be collecting numbers and lining somebody up to take home after my shift. But, I didn't find anyone that captured my interest quite like my former friend and girl next door.

  ***

  “I'm going to take a break,” I shouted over the crowd to Nico.

  He nodded but didn't look up from the drinks he was making. I hopped over the bar and scanned the crowd until I saw her familiar strawberry blonde hair through the throng of people. Sitting in the corner, Hadley was surrounded by a group of women, all of them familiar faces. Most of them regulars at the club, but some I also knew from high school too. Hadley saw me walking toward her table and her face lit up.

  She slipped out of the booth and rushed over to me, “You off? You should join us!”

  She grabbed my arm and dragged me over to the table, and all eyes were on me – not all of them friendly, either.

  “Not off yet, just taking a break,” I said.

  “What's that? I can't hear you over the music,” she said.

  The music was louder than usual. A live band was playing tonight, and they were going crazy up on stage. I leaned in to Hadley, close enough that my lips grazed her ear lobe when I spoke.

  “Not off work yet,” I said. “Just taking a break and thought I'd come find you and say hi.”

  While my face was so close to her, I breathed deep, reveling in the scent of vanilla and lavender – obviously either from her perfume or her shampoo. It was subtle and so very sexy, I didn't want to step away from her. I just wanted to stand there and bask in her scent – in the glow that seemed to surround her.

  She leaned close to my ear, her own lips grazing my lobe, which sent a shiver through me.

  “What a shame,” she said. “Could you at least join us for a drink?”

  “Maybe I'll take you up on that when I get off,” I said.

  I became suddenly aware of how close our bodies were to one another. Her hands were on my chest and she was leaning into me, her body pressed to mine. While there had never been anything sexual between us in the past – and even though it felt more like we were close out of necessity than actual desire on her part – I couldn't keep the blood from rushing to my groin just by being near her.

  “What time do you get off?” she asked.

  I cringed. “I close tonight.”

  “Another time then, okay?” she said.

  She stood on her tiptoes and pressed a chaste kiss to my cheek. There was nothing in that kiss that could be misinterpreted – she was simply being friendly. Still, the way her velvety lips touched my skin, the warmth from her touch, was almost too much for me to bear.

  My body ached with a sudden and powerful need for her. A need I hadn't even realized existed within me until she came back into my life. I'd always thought Hadley was super hot. Truth be told, she was my dream girl. But for years now, I'd pushed all thoughts of her to the back of my mind. She was back though, more gorgeous than ever, and those thoughts have all started rushing back to me.

  Hadley pulled away, and Naomi was suddenly right there. I never saw her, but she must have come up behind Hadley while we were talking, and she had her arms crossed over her chest, a disapproving little frown on her face.

  “Naomi? Is everything okay?” Hadley asked.

  Her friend didn't answer her. Instead, she glared at Hadley, the frown deepening. A moment later, she reached back and swung her arm with blinding speed, slapping her hard across the cheek. The table of girls all gasped in unison – as did almost everyone nearby. All eyes turned to us as the music played on, most of the club oblivious to what was happening.

  “Not even here a full day and already taking other people's men,” Naomi said. “Go figure. And you, Jared? Really? Your friend’s widow? How fucking low can you go?”

  Her face etched with rage Naomi pushed her way past us. Hadley reached out and tried to grab her arm, but Naomi shook her off roughly, giving her a withering glare. I put my hand on Hadley's arm and shook my head.

  “It's alright,” I said. “She's always a bit of a drama queen. Let her go. Just let her cool off first.”

  “What was that about?” she asked, staring at me with big, innocent eyes. “What the hell?”

  I sighed. “Naomi and I had a fling,” I said. “It was nothing serious, at least not on my end, but – ”

  “She obviously thought otherwise.”

  I shrugged. “Not my finest moment, to be sure,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “But I didn't mean to lead her on.”

  Two of the women jumped out of the booth and ran after Naomi, leaving just two who stayed with Hadley. Just like they all had back in high school. The old cheer squad might have grown up, but old loyalties and petty cliques still existed.

  “What happened?” Ashley asked. “What was that about?”

  “Nothing,” Hadley answered.

  “It's my fault,” I countered, holding my hands up. “She's mad at me but took it out on Hadley.”

  Tara eyed me, giving me the once over. I tried not to make eye contact with her, because we'd already had enough drama for the night. She muttered, “You seem to cause trouble everywhere you go, don't you, Jared?”

  Hadley turned toward her friend, then looked at me. She must have interpreted the look between us because her eyes widened, and her mouth fell open, dismay etched upon her features.

  “You too?” she asked Tara. “Jesus Christ, Jared, is there anyone from high school that you haven't fucked?”

  Ashley wouldn't meet her eyes, nor would she meet mine. She bit her bottom lip and stared down at the ground like a little girl ready to get scolded. I guess the guilty look was obvious to more than just me, because Hadley scoffed, shaking her head.

  “Unbelievable,” she said.

  She snorted derisively and pushed her way past me, but I grabbed hold of her arm. Hadley turned and gave me a look of disappointment.

  “Where are you going?” I asked.

  “To get some air,” she asked. Her cheeks were bright red, and not from blushing. She looked upset, but I had no idea why. “Let me come with you,” I said.

  “Nah, you need to get back to work,” she said.

  She pulled her arm free and marched off toward the exit, Tara close on her heels. Ashley smiled at me as she walked by, running her fingernails along my arm. She gave me a wicked little smile.

  “Call me,” she mouthed before she too disappeared into the crowd.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  HADLEY

  The next morning I woke up with the headache from hell. I didn't drink much these days, bu
t when my mom offered to let me have a night out to reconnect with some old friends, I'd jumped at the chance. Now, as I stared at the ceiling, groaning and covering my eyes, trying to shut out the sunlight that came streaming in through the window, I regretted that decision very much.

  I hadn't even had all that much to drink, thinking back on the night. But then, I also wasn't used to being up that late. The music had been loud, people were yelling, and it had been hot in the club.

  I rolled over and looked at the clock. A jolt of adrenaline shot through me and my eyes bugged out of my head when I realized it was well after nine – Grayson was usually up at the crack of dawn which meant, I was already running way behind.

  I hopped out of bed. It was comforting to be back in my old bedroom and brought back a host of memories of waking up late for school because I'd been out all night with the Walker boys, and rushing to get dressed without my mom noticing that I was still half asleep. A wave of nostalgia washed over me as I thought back to those days. I didn't have the time to revel in them, so I pushed them away.

  I was wearing a pair of gray sleep shorts with a pink tank top. It was getting warmer in the house and sleeping with a heavy down comforter meant I didn't need to wear much. My hair was all over the place, and I definitely had heavy, dark bags under my eyes. Ugh. No more going out for a while, I told myself. Not now that I was an old lady and had a kid to care for. As much as my mother loved taking care of him, I couldn't rely on her completely. That wouldn't be fair. Especially since she was already going to watch him during the week as I worked remotely from her home office. I didn't need her watching my son on the weekends too. Smoothing my hair down as best I could, I stepped out into the hallway and glanced down toward Grayson's room. The door was open and there was no sound coming from inside. Voices floated up to me from downstairs though. Feeling guilty for sleeping so late, I walked down the stairs, expecting to catch a little grief. As I reached the bottom though, I suddenly realized that it was more than just mom and Grayson hanging out in the living room.