Spring Romance: NINE Happily Ever Afters

by Tessa Bailey

  Grabbing my plate, I sit down next to her, and I’m as nervous as a little boy around his first crush. For fuck’s sake, I’ve never had someone—a stranger—affect me in such a way.

  One of the girls speaks up and grabs Diesel’s attention. “I’m Chelsea, by the way. You might not remember me, but you brought me on stage with you last night.” She gives him a seductive smile, and I can tell she wants him, but I’m pretty sure half the girls at the table would fuck him at this point.

  “I’d never forget a pretty girl like you. Of course I remember,” he convincingly replies, but I know he was shit-faced and probably doesn’t.

  “So why do they call you Diesel?” she asks. “And I want the truth.”

  As if she set him up for a joke, he gives his canned response. “Because I’m big and loud like a diesel truck.”

  Zoey giggles, and it’s the cutest fucking sound in the world.

  “Is he always like this?” she asks, her eyes meeting mine, and I feel as if I’m falling into the abyss.

  “For as long as I’ve known him,” I stammer.

  “Are you always like this?” She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear and blushes.

  “Like what?” I look at her, confused.

  “Adorably Southern,” she states.

  “Absolutely,” I say without a doubt. A smile creeps across my lips, and I try to focus on my food, but I feel as if I’ve died and gone straight to heaven.

  Maybe this cowboy hat is my good luck charm after all.

  Chapter Four

  Zoey

  I can’t believe the two guys from the strip club last night are eating breakfast with us. Admittedly, I only saw Riley from a distance, but I couldn’t stop watching him. And here he is. Better looking than I could’ve ever imagined.

  As he sits next to me, my nerves are in overdrive. Our arms randomly touch, causing jolts of electricity to stream through me. I don’t know what it is about him, but I’m intrigued as hell. Maybe it’s a combination of the cowboy hat and Southern accent, but he’s also drop-dead gorgeous. Add in the deep voice, plump lips, and strong jaw…well damn, I’m a goner. Just by looking at his body, I can tell he works really hard. When he lifts his fork, I see calluses on his palms. I have so many questions, and I’ve never wanted to get to know someone as much as I do him right now.

  I don’t notice a ring on his left hand, not that it would matter. Lots of men come to Vegas and cheat, but Riley doesn’t seem like the type. He might be around my age, maybe a tad older, but he acts mature or at least more so than his friend. Most of the guys my age back home are nothing but fuckboys who don’t know their ass from their elbow—not relationship material at all.

  Last night, Riley seemed so mysterious drinking alone. In their Wranglers and boots, he and Diesel stuck out, so it was hard not to notice him. If Summer hadn’t been so determined to go to another club, I would’ve made my way over to him. Riley saw me too, and when our eyes met, it was as if time stood completely still. Everyone else focused on Diesel, but not me. There was something about the lonely cowboy, and I needed to know more.

  After we finished barhopping last night, all I could think about was the hot guy from the strip club. What are the odds that we’d find each other again in this big ass city? Out of the two of them, I know Diesel’s the troublemaker, and as he entertains my sister and her friends, I take the opportunity to chat with Riley. Being this close to him is making my heart race with nerves. Not to mention, he smells so damn good—a mix of man, leather, and a hint of cologne. I want to bottle him up and then eat him for dessert.

  “So how’d you end up at a strip club?” I ask. “The real story.” I meet his baby blues again, intrigued as hell about who this man is. He’s dangerous in all the right ways. My hormones are in overdrive, and I try to snap out of it but can’t. The attraction is too strong, and by how he’s looking at me, I think the feeling is mutual.

  “I dared him to sign up for the amateur contest,” he tells me with a smirk, then shrugs.

  “Why wouldn’t he just refuse to do it?”

  “Because he’s too proud.” Laughter escapes Riley, and it makes me smile. The man’s as genuine as they come, but I have a feeling there’s more to this story than he’s letting on.

  “And I thought you were a nice guy. Sounds like you’re evil and played with his pride.”

  “Hey! My mama didn’t raise no devil.” He shoots me a wink, and it causes me to blush, which he seems to enjoy.

  “That’s too bad because I’m no angel,” I quip, causing him to stiffen and nearly choke on his food. I grin, amused I can affect him just as easily. Flirting with Riley is fun, though I’m not immune to him or his Southern charm.

  “So where are you girls from?” Diesel asks.

  “We’re from Phoenix,” Summer tells him.

  “And where do you live?” I ask.

  “Texas. Before you even say it, I know Imma walking, talking cliché.”

  This causes me to snort. “Just a little. I think it’s mainly the hat.”

  Taking it off, he sets it on the table, revealing disheveled sandy brown hair, and I want to run my fingers through it. Dark facial hair grows along his jaw and chin, and I love how rugged it makes him look. His blue eyes sparkle, and I can’t help but notice how his long eyelashes naturally curl up. Damn, he’s the whole package. I’m at a loss for words as I look at him, admiring some of his best features. All this time, he’s been hiding them under a gigantic cowboy hat. Heat rushes through my body, and I somehow force my attention away because I’m gawking.

  My heart pounds rapidly in my chest, and I try to calm down so he doesn’t notice.

  “So what’re you ladies up to today? Maybe we’ll see you around?” Diesel randomly throws a wink to my sister’s friends.

  “Walking around and shopping, but later, we’re going on a club bus tour,” Chelsea tells him, leaning in close. She’s ready to crawl in his lap.

  “Is that right?” Diesel slaps his leg. “Riley and I are going on one too. Which one did y’all book?”

  Summer chuckles. “It’s the one from the Sin City tour agency. It leaves at nine in front of the hotel.”

  “Yeah, that’s the same one we booked too. What a coincidence!” It’s obvious Diesel’s full of shit, but no one calls him out on it, which I’m okay with because I want to spend more time with Riley.

  I lean forward and grin. “Wow, that’s very coincidental.”

  “It really is, isn’t it?” Riley smirks.

  Avery, Chelsea, Naomi, and Julia are completely smitten by Diesel, and I have to hold back my laughter at how they’re acting. Diesel doesn’t seem to mind, though. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he’s actually enjoying them undressing him with their eyes. Though we all got a good look at what he had to offer last night when he took off his clothes.

  “What do you like to do for fun?” Riley asks as I finish my food.

  “Anything, really. I go with the flow, and I like being spontaneous. If it’s not a planned adventure, even better. Love hiking and going on road trips too.” After wiping my mouth with my napkin, I push my plate away.

  “Spontaneous? I like that.” The gruff in his voice has my entire body melting.

  “What about you?” I turn my body toward him, giving him my full attention.

  “I like horseback riding and camping, but I work a lot. We make the best with what we’ve got out in the middle of nowhere Texas, so we gotta create our own fun most of the time. Lots of pranks and dares and drinking,” he admits, glancing at Diesel. “And keeping this one out of trouble and away from my little sister has become a part-time job.”

  I find myself smiling as he talks. I could listen to him chat about whatever he wants with that sexy Southern bedroom voice. “It actually sounds like fun.”

  “It can be, but there are some things that suck about being far away from a big city. The closest Walmart is hours away. Amazon is your best friend if you don’t want to drive, and patien
ce is key. McDonald’s breakfast? Forget about it. Late-night craving for Taco Bell? Better learn how to cook. But I love it and wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world. Texas is home,” he tells me matter-of-factly.

  “So no fast food or retail therapy? Wow. That’s how I got through beauty school. It’s hard to imagine not being able to get things instantly. Especially Starbucks.” I try to picture it, but I’ve lived in Phoenix all my life with parents who’d buy me anything at any moment. I never really realize how privileged I was until now, but the simple life also sounds incredible.

  Everyone has finished eating when Summer stands, interrupting the conversation. The rest of the girls do too, so I take it as my cue to get up. Riley and I push our chairs away at the same time, and we’re mere inches apart. My breath hitches as I look up into his eyes and swallow hard.

  “See ya around, Zoey,” Riley says, taking a step back and putting space between us.

  I nod. “Yeah, tonight on the bus.”

  A cheesy grin fills his face. “Oh right. It’s a date.”

  “Not quite, but sure,” I say, smiling. Summer interrupts our moment by looping her arm in mine and pulling me away.

  “See you tonight, Arizona,” Riley calls out a cute nickname, causing me to laugh, then heads in the other direction.

  “Bye, ladies!” Diesel yells, and I watch Chelsea turn around and giggle.

  We walk out the main doors of the hotel, and Summer smirks at me.

  “What?” I finally ask, though I know I’m as transparent as glass.

  “What were you and Riley chatting about? I could barely hear a word because of Diesel.”

  I roll my eyes. “Nothing much.”

  “He’s cute,” she blurts out. “Really cute, and he seemed interested in you.”

  A grin touches my lips.

  She bumps her hip against mine. “You know he was.”

  “Okay, maybe he is, but he might as well be from another planet. He lives in the middle of small-town nowhere Texas.”

  As we wait to cross the street, I can hear Chelsea going on about Diesel, and her vulgar vocabulary makes me snort. She’s dirty as fuck.

  “Remember what you said, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, right? I saw the way you two looked at each other. You should totally go for it.” Summer gives me a suggestive look, and I laugh, almost shocked my sister is condoning this.

  “What did Mom and Dad tell us again? Don’t talk to strangers?” I remind her, chuckling at the ridiculousness of it all, considering we’re not kids.

  “Right, but they’re not strangers anymore. We know their names and where they’re from. Also, we had breakfast with them. So, they’re our new friends at this point.” She waggles her brows.

  I smirk as we head toward the crowded strip mall. The six of us go through several shops, and for once, I’m glad I brought a huge suitcase because I hit up the sale racks.

  Checking the time, I notice it’s just past four. If we’re going to make it to the tour on time, we need to eat before getting ready for tonight. We stop at the Hard Rock Cafe and have a nice dinner along with pregame drinks, then giggle our way back to the hotel. Summer’s friends are the horniest bunch of women I’ve ever been around, and I can’t believe they haven’t corrupted her. Or maybe they have.

  After Summer and I take our showers, we both stand in the bathroom fixing our hair while the other girls get ready in their room. She booked a nice room for just us and then got the other girls a suite to share. Summer’s outdone herself with contoured makeup and bright red lips, and she looks absolutely gorgeous. I go for a more natural look with gloss and mascara, but we’re both wearing dresses that hug our curves like a second skin.

  Summer smiles as I finish up. “Nervous about seeing him again?”

  “Do you think they’re really coming tonight?” I’m not convinced they could get tickets because we booked this excursion months ago. It’s a popular tour, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s full.

  “Diesel seems like the kind of guy who’d sweet-talk himself onto that bus. He seems pretty resilient, and I don’t think he’d take no for an answer from anyone,” she quips.

  “True.” I suck in a deep breath and look at my phone, seeing a text from Benjamin. I groan, and Summer notices as I flip my screen face down so I don’t have to look at it, but then it vibrates again. I remember my mother asking me to give him a chance, so I let out a huff and check it.

  “What’s he want?” Summer looks at me in the mirror as she applies another layer of mascara.

  I let her read it for herself.

  “Another date, huh? How many will this be now?”

  “Four, maybe five? Honestly, I’ve lost count.” Because I don’t care.

  “He seems like the perfect man. Has a great career, attractive, and comes from a nice family.” She’s basically repeating everything our parents say about him. “You should give him a chance. He could be really good for you, Zoey.”

  Wrinkling my nose, I disagree. “I have,” I say with an edge in my tone. How many times does a chance take?

  Summer looks at me in the mirror. “Sorry, sis. I’m not trying to tell you what to do. I just want you to have fun for the rest of the weekend and live in the moment during our girls’ trip. Worry about all of that when we get back to Phoenix.”

  “Honestly, Benjamin’s the last person I want on my mind at the moment,” I admit.

  “Because of the cowboys?” She waggles her brows.

  I try to hold back any reaction but fail miserably when a hint of blush hits my cheek. “Cowboy. Singular. Chelsea has already claimed Diesel for herself.”

  Summer lets out a loud cackle. “She better be glad I’m getting married, because…”

  She doesn’t finish her sentence but instead looks off into the distance as if she’s living out her fantasy with him right now.

  “Eww, stop.” I walk out of the bathroom and take a sip from one of the small bottles of vodka as I look out at the Las Vegas lights. I’m in awe as I stare at the busy streets and the sparkling buildings as the sun hangs low on the horizon. Riley comes to mind with his kind smile and witty banter, and I can’t help but wonder if they’re really joining us. I hope so. He’s the distraction I need and want tonight.

  Summer grabs two small bottles of rum from the minibar and hands me one. We unscrew the tops, tap them together, and drink.

  “Tonight, we’re gonna have so much fun.” She pulls me into a hug.

  “I just hope fun doesn’t mean trouble,” I say, only half-joking as she grabs more booze and leads me out of the room to meet the rest of the bridal party waiting downstairs.

  Chapter Five

  Riley

  Seeing Zoey this morning at brunch was a pleasant surprise, and I’m not complaining. Though we’d briefly seen each other last night, actually talking to her today was electric. Our banter was effortless, and she’s definitely not the shy type. Even though we’re only in Vegas for forty-eight hours, I want to see her again.

  The moment they mentioned their plans later, I knew the chances of running into her again were slim. Until Diesel blurted out that we’d booked the barhopping bus too. I wasn’t sure if I should smack him for making us sound like stalkers or hug him for his genius idea. While our connection is strictly mutual attraction right now, I actually think she’s quite interesting. Even though we’d spent less than an hour together, I’m already addicted to hearing her laughter.

  Once we separated ways, Diesel and I walked down the Strip, found a casino, and gambled for a few hours. After we lost a few hundred dollars of Diesel’s stripper winnings, we found other places to blow our money.

  “I should get something for Rowan’s birthday,” I tell him as we arrive at a touristy souvenir shop. “Her birthday’s next month.”

  “Yeah?” He pretends not to care, but he’s not fooling me.

  “Maybe I should taunt her with some shot glasses,” I say with a snicker. She’s turning twenty and won’t be able to p
roperly use them for another year.

  “She’ll throw them at you for getting her a shitty gift.” Diesel deadpans.

  “Good point. I’d rather not pick glass outta my face. T-shirt it is.” She’s always had a mild fascination with snow globes, so I look at those and grab one filled with glitter and displaying the famous Welcome to Las Vegas sign. Hopefully, she doesn’t chuck that at me.

  Once we’re done shopping, we get more information about the drinking tour from the front desk, and somehow, Diesel sweet-talks the woman to get us added to the list.

  “I don’t know how you did that,” I tell him, and all he does is grin.

  “I just used my Southern charm. Works every time,” he says, handing me the itinerary listing all the clubs we’re supposed to visit. Guess we’ll be getting shit-faced again tonight.

  We go back to the room, drop off our bags, and get ready for the evening before going to eat because we have to be out front by nine. As I change, the thought of seeing Zoey tonight has my nerves in overdrive. I picture what she wore last night at the strip club and how beautiful she looked this morning in her T-shirt and shorts. Her bronze blond hair was in a messy bun, and loose strands fell around her face. Without even trying, she looked incredible.

  The navy blue button-up shirt, dark wash jeans, and dress boots is one of the nicest outfits I have. I typically wear it to church, so hopefully no one will give me shit for being a cowboy cliché tonight.

  “Look at you, pretty boy,” Diesel taunts the moment I come out of the bathroom.

  “Look who’s talkin’, Romeo.” I grunt, scanning my eyes down his similar outfit.

  Diesel chuckles, grabbing his wallet and phone off his bed. “I’m the birthday boy. I gotta look fuckable.” He plasters on a wide, cheesy grin that causes me to snort.

  “Yeah, yeah. Let’s go,” I say, getting my shit, then walking behind him out the door.

  We find the meeting place for the tour bus, which is already booming with loud screaming and music. I’ve never seen anything like it and know tonight is definitely going to be one I’ll never forget.