by Raine Miller
That’s not what she wanted. She wanted Nic forever and she was sick of waiting.
She didn’t want to think about what had happened the last time she’d gotten sick of waiting for Nic. When she’d kissed him and he’d rejected her.
“Annie.”
She turned from the refrigerator, where she stood with the door open. Why was she in here? Damn, she was losing her mind.
Then she looked into those beautiful blue eyes and knew her heart was already gone so she might as well lose it all.
She sighed at him and smiled, causing his eyes to widen as he leaned against the wall. Then he grinned back at her and she swore her knees went weak.
She wanted to walk over, wind her arms around his waist and never let go. But she held her ground. She wanted him to make the first move.
So when he crooked his finger at her, she didn’t hesitate to close the distance between them. His arm snaked around her waist as soon as she was close enough and he drew her against him. Settling her head against his chest, she felt him trail a finger across her lips, making her shiver.
“How’re you holding up?”
“I’m fine.” She took a deep breath and decided to go for it. “Nic—”
“I love you.”
She stilled, unsure of what she’d heard. Hoping like hell that it was exactly what she’d thought. “Nic…”
Putting his hands on either side of her face, he tilted her head back so he could look into her eyes.
“I’ve loved you for years. But you were so much younger. And I was an idiot to waste so much time thinking it mattered as much as I thought it did.”
Biting her lip so she didn’t make any embarrassing whimpers, she let herself look at him. His expression totally blew her away. He looked unsure yet determined. As if he thought she’d reject him.
“I’ve only ever wanted you, Nic. You have to know that.”
His doubt wiped away, leaving only sharp relief. “Then I want you to marry me. Annie, will you please marry me?”
She opened her mouth but he placed finger over her lips before she could answer. “I know I’m not the easiest guy to get along with and I know I haven’t treated you as well as I should have. But I figure if I tell you I love you enough, that’ll make up for the rest of the conversations we won’t have. And after all this time, you should be able to read me pretty well. You…” Now he smiled, a full-out devastating grin that nearly knocked the air from her lungs. “I’m constantly amazed by you. I don’t think there will ever be a time that I’m not in awe of you.”
Then he did something that made her heart stop. He dropped to one knee and pulled something out of his pocket, something shiny and sparkly that she couldn’t see very well because her eyes flooded with tears.
“My grandmother left this ring to me but she made me promise to give it to the only girl I’ll ever love. That’s you, Annie. Please marry me and put me out of my misery.”
“Dominic.” His name was her answer as she extended her left hand, felt him slide the square-cut emerald solitaire on her finger. “Oh, Nic. I love you. I always have. I always will.”
She thought she felt his fingers shake as he grasped her hand to bring it to his lips and kiss it, and his eyelids closed briefly before he stood and pulled her into his arms and made everything fall into place in her world.
THE END
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Turn the page to read Wrong Room by Geri Foster or return to the TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Wrong Room by Geri Foster
Lexi Ryan wants her boyfriend to propose, so when his business sends him to Las Vegas, she follows. But the rat has chosen to marry his ex. Dressed in a sexy teddy and carrying a half empty bottle of bubbly, Lexi manages to get locked out of her room. In desperation she jumps into the first open door.
Jack Harrison is in Vegas with two friends celebrating his birthday. The guys promised him a great surprise. When a beautiful woman dressed for sex knocks on his door, he mentally thanks his buddies.
What a present! He’s more than willing to enjoy his birthday gift with this beautiful woman.
Lexi and Jack learn sex between them is amazing. But can their relationship survive the light of day?
Turn the page for Wrong Room or return to the TABLE OF CONTENTS to choose another book.
CHAPTER 1
Alexis Ryan opened the door to her Vegas hotel room and placed her luggage on the floor next to the dresser. The suite smelled of air freshener and clean linen. She walked over, slid open the door, and stepped onto the balcony. July heat threatened to melt any make-up left on her face after the trip.
Since she’d been in Dallas her entire life, Las Vegas heat didn’t bother her at all. Being born on July sixteenth, she’d suffered through those raging Texas summers from day one.
Howard .
The reason for her surprise visit to Sin City.
Not wanting to completely wilt, Lexi went back inside and opened her small suitcase. A smile tugged at her mouth, and her pulse thundered loud enough to silence an ocean.
Never before had she been this daring or this foolish. Depending on the outcome, she could succeed or make a complete idiot of herself in one slick move.
Lexi pulled out a tiny red and black teddy and held it up for inspection—exactly the thing needed to tilt Howard over the edge and right into a “will you marry me” frame of mind.
They’d been a couple for almost two years, and their relationship reminded her of a couple who’d been married years. The catalyst for her decision had been when he started wearing his retainer to bed. Then, pajamas. Talk about a turn off. Their sex life was as exciting as a snail race. However, life with Howard would be a no-brainer. Dull and boring, but also secure and predictable.
Even though they claimed to love each other, Howard had yet to pop the question, and she’d grown impatient. By all accounts, he should have asked for her hand when they’d celebrated her birthday.
The words never came.
Instead, they went for a quiet dinner and turned in early because Howard’s allergies were acting up. The letdown made her feel insignificant and raised serious questions in her mind about their stale relationship.
While they kept their own places, often Howard would spend the night because of the shorter commute to his office. It concerned her that Howard chose a home in the suburbs where the taxes were cheaper, but not as convenient to his job. Claiming he liked to be practical didn’t remove her doubts. At times she feared her proximity to his job might be the only reason he hung around.
A smile teased her lips, but she resisted the thought of how Howard would react to her surprise. Business brought him to Vegas for the week, but she’d decided to follow him for the weekend to add a little pizzazz to their lives. If a proposal didn’t happen, she’d take that as a sign to slowly back away and eventually end the relationship.
The naughty lingerie had her hands trembling. Their sex life could use a boost, and this little piece of red and black lace and satin just might do the trick.
Laying the teddy aside, she picked up the phone and asked room service to bring up a bottle of their best bubbly. If the liquor and the teddy didn’t do the trick, then she had a serious decision to make. At thirty, if she planned on a family, she didn’t have a lot of time to waste.
***
Jack Harrison and two of his buddies were having the time of their lives. You didn’t turn thirty-five every day, and that mile-marker called for a celebration. The three musketeers had sworn back in college if they made it out of their twenties and all the way to thirty-five, they’d have beaten the odds of dying young. With Spencer’s birthday in January and Roger’s in March, Jack was the last of the three to make the promised age.
Looking around the table, Jack realized Roger Banks and Spencer Adams had been with him most of his life. They’d grown up in the same neigh
borhood and had gone through school, including college, together.
Roger had married his high school girlfriend right after graduation, and Spencer had met his wife Jennifer in their junior year at Yale. Not that he’d planned it, but Jack had somehow managed to avoid the marriage trap. Wife and kids weren’t out of the question in his life. It all came down to not meeting the right woman yet.
Shitfaced, Roger raised his glass for the umpteenth time. “Happy Birthday, little brother.”
“Thanks,” Jack said. Ironically, he stood two inches taller than Roger at six two and outweighed his buddy by a good twenty pounds. Yet, Roger had continued referring to Jack as “little brother” for the last thirty years.
“Here, here,” Spencer added. “We’re all on the downslide now.”
A round of laughter echoed through the crowded room. They’d been partying for hours and decided to play it safe and continue their revelry in their hotel bar.
“We have yet begun to live,” Roger shouted. “Here’s to great friends, good booze, and more good times ahead.”
They raised their glasses and spilled more liquor than they drank. Roger put his hand on Jack’s arm. “And you just wait until you see our birthday surprise.” His friend tried to wink, but didn’t have the coordination to pull it off.
Spencer laughed. “You’re going to love our surprise. It’s just want you need.”
Shaking his head, Jack leaned back. “I appreciate it. I’m sure you put a lot of thought into this whole weekend. I’m really happy your wives let you out of the house, so we could celebrate.”
Spencer and Roger were enjoying the hell out of their brief freedom. They’d been more excited about the trip to Las Vegas than Jack had been. While he liked to party as much as the next guy, his security company was down two men. When that happened, Jack usually picked up the slack, so his customers wouldn’t be left hanging.
To skip the weekend was out of the question. He simply didn’t have the heart to back out at the last minute, so here he sat, hoping his staff had a quiet weekend in Dallas.
The bartender brought them two more rounds. Always the logical one, Jack knew he’d be smart to refuse, but how could he? After all, it was his thirty-fifth birthday.
***
Lexi woke with a start. Glancing out of the sliding glass doors at the black sky tinged with the halo of a million lights from the strip, she gasped. Afraid she’d overslept, she grabbed her phone and checked the time.
Surely, Howard would be in his room by now, but she wasn’t ready. Most of the ice in the container holding the champagne had melted. At this hour, she’d hoped they’d be having dinner, and then she’d planned to bring him back to her room and change into the sexy outfit.
Now, she had to hurry or Howard would be asleep before she had the chance to seduce him. Nervous, but eager, she quickly went into the bathroom and threw on some make-up. No time to straighten her hair, but she could get by with just piling it on top of her head.
Careful not to rip anything, Lexi slipped into the sexy little piece and adjusted the straps. Her eyes widened when she turned and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Never one to obsess about her looks, Lexi took a second glance and muttered, “Holy moly.”
The skimpy teddy with rhinestone clasps and shaped underwire bra enhanced her breasts and narrowed her waist. As she laced up the front of the garment with the thin satin ribbons, she felt sexier by the second. The Brazilian style cut panties had a snap crotch.
She’d never worn anything this racy or small before. Yes, she had a bikini, but what she wore now sent a whole different message and made her legs look long and lean as a Vegas showgirl’s. Swallowing, she picked up the full arm, black satin gloves and slipped them on.
If this didn’t garner a wedding proposal, nothing would.
After blotting her lipstick, she grabbed her cell phone and speed-dialed Howard. Tension left her body when he answered on the second ring. “Hello, Howard.”
“Hi, Alexis.”
Seductively, she licked her lips and ran her palm down the side of her silky outfit. Falling back on the bed, she lowered her voice. “How’s Las Vegas?”
“Hum, okay, I guess. Hot.”
“Are you in your room?”
“Yes, we—I mean. I got in a couple of hours ago.” He paused and cleared his throat. “I’ve been meaning…”
In her most sultry voice, she rolled on her stomach and purred, “I’m here, Howard. Right down the hall from you in room 733.”
“What?”
“I flew in to surprise you. Now get dressed and meet me in my room. I’ve ordered champagne.”
“Why?”
“Why am I here or why the bubbly?”
“Both.” He didn’t sound happy to hear from her.
She wondered briefly if he was alone, but Howard wasn’t that kind of guy. “I just wanted to see you.”
“But, I can’t. I don’t want to.”
Lexi sat up and cut the sexy voice. “What the hell, Howard? Don’t you want to come to my room and be with me?”
“No, I can’t.”
That didn’t sound right. “Why can’t you?”
“I…well.” He swallowed. “Sandy met me here and we…”
Sandy? His ex-Sandy? The one Lexi helped him get over? “What’s she doing here?”
“Well, she called last week, and she’s really sorry for all she put me through and suggested I meet her here.”
“You’re in Las Vegas for a meet-up with your old girlfriend?” Anger sped through her veins quicker than poison. “You lied to me? You friggin’ jerk.”
“Listen, Alexis. Don’t get so upset. You know I don’t like scenes. Try to be sensible.”
“No, you should have been honest and told me you were sneaking off to be with Sandy.”
“I didn’t want to do that until I found out if there was anything left between us.”
Furious, she tapped her toe against the carpeted floor; her other hand fisted tight enough to squish an ant. How had she been played a fool by a stupid, lying bastard she now hated? “So, what did you find out?”
A long pause told her the news wasn’t going to be in her favor. “I’m sorry, Alexis. Sandy and I were married this afternoon.”
The air swished from her lungs, and she gasped. “You what?”
“We’re married.”
Unable to hear anymore, she disconnected then threw the phone on the bed. Boiling anger made her want to hurt someone for the first time in her life. Heat pumped her blood at an incredible rate. Lexi shook as rage rolled off of her body.
The bottle of champagne set on the table, mocking her. Popping the cork, she took a big gulp. Icy water dripped down her cleavage and brightened the red of her outfit. After a deep breath, she took another drink, then another before she finally sat back down on the bed, realizing what a fool she’d been. Another drink of the liquor seemed to ease her self-disgust, so she tipped the bottle and guzzled more booze.
When she thought of their pathetic relationship, she was stunned by how much she’d overlooked and excused. Tears threatened to blur her vision. She was amazed at how sneaky Howard had been and how she’d missed every sign. A scream erupted from her throat loud enough to shake the walls.
Perhaps she simply hadn’t bothered to look at the obvious. No, she simply hadn’t wanted to see the truth staring her in the face. Better to live in a safe little world where everyone obeyed the rules.
What a fool.
The bottle of booze swinging from her hand felt much lighter now. To her surprise, she was feeling better by the minute. She didn’t think a few more mouthfuls would hurt, until she stood and nearly face planted on the floor.
Holding up the bubbly, Lexi saw she’d drank more than she’d intended.
Setting the bottle down, she realized drinking herself into obliviousness wasn’t the answer. Certainly not because of that coward Howard. Yeah, she liked that, Howard the Coward. The creep who’d lied through his teeth.
She plopped on the bed and tried not to visualize Sandy and Howard in a loving embrace. No matter what, she couldn’t keep the images from flickering through her mind. Standing slowly, she decided Howard deserved to hear what she had to say, and she was determined to do it before her common sense kicked in.
Yes, she had a few things to tell Mr. Rat Bastard and his bride. Stiffening her resolve, she made a decision.
Taking the keycard from her purse, she snatched up the bottle and headed for the door. She’d paid for the booze; she’d damn sure drink it if she wanted.
Vengeful heat rolled off her body. Wound tight as her outfit, she stormed out the door and headed for Howard and Sandy’s room. The carpeted hall muffled the sound of her red stiletto heels, and that annoyed her. She wanted a hard surface that would announce her determination for the whole floor to hear.
Lexi stopped in the middle of the corridor. Shocked, she glanced down and saw she still wore her fuck me get-up. Oh my, Howard the Coward would be horrified at that language. Her beautiful sexy outfit put her at a disadvantage. Death would be easier to deal with than Howard and his new bride seeing her like this. And how serious would they take a jilted woman dressed like a hooker?
Snarling, she’d turned back toward her room when the elevator dinged and the doors slowly slid open. Horrified anyone would see her like this, she sprinted for her room. For what felt like hours, she fumbled with the plastic card only to find her library card in her hand, instead of the room keycard.
With her left hand holding the bottle of bubbly across her chest and the other covering her crotch, she stared at the opening elevator. Male laughter filled the air.
Oh my God, where to go now?
Desperately, she knocked on the door next to hers. Nothing. Then she slipped across the hall and tapped on the door opposite hers. As people spilled out of the elevator, the room door opened, and Lexi dashed inside.
Once in the room, she turned and looked at the most handsome man she’d ever seen. “Ah, excuse me, I’m…”
The man reached over and pulled her against his chest. “Well, happy birthday to me.”