DOUBLE TROUBLE: TROUBLE IN VEGAS series

by Patrice Wilton

  “Roger that.” Jennifer slurped the rest of her coffee. “How about that breakfast? I think I need something in my tummy. This coffee is upsetting it.”

  Not needing any direction, Jennifer got busy in the kitchen. “French toast coming up!” She took the eggs out of the refrigerator and milk, mixed it in a bowl then dipped several slices of whole wheat bread into an egg mixture to add to a sizzling pan.

  Nikki set the table, her contribution to their hearty breakfast, knowing they both needed something to soak up last night’s tequila still resting in their stomach.

  “We should have stuck to wine,” she said, and grabbed a yogurt out of the fridge while the breakfast cooked. She lifted the top off, and dug a spoon into the creamy blueberry yogurt.

  “You should have stuck to your guns and postponed this wedding,” Jennifer mumbled under her breath. She flipped the frying bread in the oiled pan and cursed as it splattered.

  “You okay?” Nikki asked, seeing Jen jump back from the stove.

  “Just a little burn. No big deal.”

  Nikki laughed softly. “How come you’re always such a hard ass? You can admit to a little pain.”

  “Who’s talking?” She glanced at Nikki. “I’m still having a little trouble with this whole wedding thing. Come on, Nik! Don’t get railroaded into this. If you aren’t a hundred percent sure, then it is your right and your duty to stop the wedding before it happens.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I want to marry David.”

  Jennifer gave her an exasperated look. “You can’t fool me. I know you too well.”

  “You don’t know my mind.”

  “I’m pretty sure I do. Stop and think about this before it’s too late. Divorce is expensive, and comes with a high emotional cost. Lot’s of people back out at the last minute. Or you can do a Khardasian. Marry him and divorce him a few days later.”

  “Jennifer! I know you only want the best for me,” Nikki held her hand over her stomach. Each bit of encouragement from Jen to leave David just made it harder. And she didn’t need hard right now. “What I need is for you to wish me well, and not say another negative word.” She blinked, another round of tears gathering. “The wedding will go on as planned and you will support me every step of the way. It’s in the best-friend guide book or something.”

  “Of course I will.” Jennifer came around the counter and gave Nikki a big hug. “And you will be the most beautiful bride too.” She smiled through her own tears. “Now eat your big breakfast so we can toast your upcoming nuptials with champagne before we leave for the church.”

  * * *

  Melanie arrived at the house at noon, right before the hair stylist and manicurist came over to do their hair and nails. Nikki had made a point of not spending too much time with Mel the week prior to the wedding, as any conversation between them always reverted to Josh, and Josh was the last person she’d wanted to think about. Her mind had been made up, and she was not about to alter the course.

  “Hey, Melanie,” Jennifer gave her a hug. “Thought we’d see you last night, but we had to drink a pitcher of margaritas on our own. How’s life treating you?”

  “Not bad. I’ve been busy at work, putting in extra hours at night and on weekends. Nothing better to do. I’m in between boyfriends.” She walked over to the champagne bottle chilling on ice. “Is this here for a reason?” She picked it up and waved it. “Who wants a glass?”

  The bottle was opened and the three girls kept the conversation light hearted, keeping their anxiety to themselves. The bubbly helped some, but Melanie kept giving Nikki strange looks, and finally it got on her nerves.

  “What is it?” she asked, with a long sigh. “You look like you’ve got something on your chest. Out with it.” The woman doing their nails stopped, but Nikki waved her hand to continue.

  “Nothing. At least nothing that you need to know today.” Melanie shrugged. “Forget it, okay. Don’t make me tell you.”

  “Tell me what?” Nikki stood up and blew on her nails, waving them around to dry. “What are you keeping from me? Betty? Has David been with her again?”

  “No, it’s not about Betty. It’s about Josh.” Melanie covered her mouth. “Oh! I promised I wouldn’t say anything.”

  “What about Josh?” Nikki narrowed her eyes. “Tell me, Melanie.” Her heart began to thud, making it difficult to breathe. She put a hand on her chest, trying to steady it. “I need to know. Right now.”

  Jennifer’s eyes had gotten big. She waved the manicurist away. “Stop. We need more champagne for this.” She ran into the kitchen to get the iced champagne and refreshed their glasses. “Okay. Go Melanie. What’s going on with Josh?”

  She shot Nikki a guilty look. “He contacted me on Facebook. We’ve become friends. You know, Facebook friends.”

  “That’s the big news?” Nikki gave her a pained smile. “That’s okay. I don’t mind.” Her insides quivered. What in the hell was her sister thinking? How could Nikki put Josh out of her head knowing he was one click away on her sister’s social media page?

  “He asked about the wedding, and I told him it was today.”

  Nikki’s champagne glass slipped out of her hands and dropped to the floor. Her face went white. “Why did you do that?” Had he asked? Was he trying to hit on Melanie, now that Nikki was getting married?

  “I thought he should know. Just in case, you know?” Her sister sat on the edge of her chair, curlers in her blonde hair.

  “In case what?” Nikki stared down at the mess at her feet then looked back at Melanie. “That he cared? Clearly he doesn’t.” Her voice hitched. “Or at least not enough.”

  “I’m sorry, Nikki,” Melanie said.

  Nikki held up one hand, halting further conversation as she stepped over the broken glass and rushed into the bathroom, shaking inside and out. She closed her eyes and leaned on the bathroom sink, trying to hold it all in. She took deep breaths and released them slowly. It was her wedding day and she would not cry. Not one tear—over Josh.

  She could hear Jennifer hissing at Melanie. “You shouldn’t have said anything. Now you’ve got her all upset. And for what? It’s too late. She’s marrying David in a few hours. Josh could have done something before now, but he didn’t. It’s over.”

  Nikki listened to her friend and her sister as they quietly talked. It wasn’t their fault that her heart was split in two. It wasn’t Josh’s fault, or David’s either. She had done this to herself and it was her own personal tragedy—one that she would have to live with, and somehow reconcile in her heart and mind.

  She lifted her chin and took a good long look at herself in the mirror. Her eyes burned bright and there was color in her cheeks. She might be foolish, but she was not a coward, and she would go out there and make things right. Not only would she go through with the wedding but she’d have a wonderful marriage and prove to everyone that happiness was simply mind over matter. She chose to be happy, and that’s what she would be.

  Nikki left the bathroom and went back into the living room, which held the cheer of a funeral parlor. “Hey, why all the long faces?” She grabbed the champagne. “I hear there’s a wedding going on. Shouldn’t we be celebrating? Melanie, you pick the music, something we can dance to.”

  And for the next few hours that’s exactly what they did.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  The church’s maximum capacity was three hundred people, and Nikki looked out at the filled pews from her position at the altar, where she stood across from David. Numb, she knew she’d get through their I do’s.

  Everything looked beautiful. Baskets of multi-colored flowers and white orchids graced the altar where the minister stood. His sermon was short but to the point, offering sage advice that she took to heart. A successful marriage took patience and work. It meant trusting each other, confiding in one another, listening, and caring for all the years ahead of them.

  She held hands with David, and smiled into his eyes. He looked as handsome as any groom she’d ever
seen, and his eyes were full of warmth and love. This was not a mistake, she told herself. It was the best of all choices. She would be happy. She promised herself and David that.

  The minister was a man in his mid seventies, or so she guessed. He glanced at the congregation and asked the age-old question. “If anyone has a reason as to why these two people should not marry, say so now.” He didn’t bother to wait for a reply. It was a rhetorical question and didn’t require an answer.

  For some reason, Nikki felt her palms grow damp and her stomach swirled like she had trapped butterflies inside. She glanced at Melanie, who stood behind her, fingers clenched tightly over the bouquet of white roses. Melanie was gnawing on her bottom lip, her gaze on the floor.

  Jennifer was shifting her weight from one foot to the other, as if seriously ready to voice a complaint and only the best-friend pledge kept her from jumping out of her skin.

  David’s best man and usher stood silently, looking stoic and bored. They’d known about Big Boob Betty, she’d bet money on it.

  Nikki turned her head, her eyes connecting with her mother who nodded in encouragement.

  It was at that exact moment that she heard the rear door rip open, hitting the stone church wall with a clang. Heads whirled around, and an excited hum built in the crowd.

  Nikki knew in her bones who was running toward the altar from the rear of the church, but she didn’t turn around. “Stop the wedding,” the man shouted in a frenzied voice. “Stop. It can’t be too late.”

  The bright light from outside made it difficult to see the man clearly, but Nikki’s heart beat furiously and her stomach jumped into her throat.

  Could it be him?

  The minister cleared his throat. “Sir. Please be seated. I’m conducting a wedding, joining these two in holy matrimony.”

  “You can’t, sir!” Josh’s voice was firm as he caught his breath. “I have reason they can’t marry. A very good reason.” He stepped forward and Nikki saw him for the first time. Tears filled her eyes and she swooned.

  Josh. Her heart leapt with recognition.

  “The bride is not in love with the groom. She loves me.” He walked up the steps, in front of David, as if he had to make sure Nikki saw only him. Josh, so handsome, so vulnerable as he let her see his love for her in his eyes. He stepped closer, looking down at her hand to make sure there was no wedding band. “And I love her. I love you, Nikki.”

  “What the hell?” David thundered. “Who are you? Get out of here!”

  The best man and the groomsman moved toward Josh. David’s face turned red with anger and embarrassment as he completely ignored Nikki. Josh refused to let go of her hand.

  “I’m Josh Brogan. The man she loves.”

  Nikki sighed, curling her fingers around Josh’s. She’d made a mistake in Vegas, and she’d been about to make a bigger one for the sake of her family. Of doing what everyone expected for her to do.

  The minister shooed the groomsman back in place with a quelling expression and sighed. “Do you love this man, or the one you are here to marry? Tell the truth, my dear. In front of God and this entire congregation.”

  Nikki scooted closer to Josh, lifting her gaze toward David. He seemed embarrassed more than anything, but not surprised. Her heart skipped against her chest and she felt crazy, madly happy, delirious with joy. “I’m so sorry, David, but I can’t marry you. Not when I’m in love with another man.”

  “This is bullshit,” David said. “We had a deal. What happens in Vegas is supposed to stay there. It isn’t real, Nikki.”

  She lifted her hand, still entwined with Josh’s and knew David was wrong. “Not this time.” Josh kissed their enjoined fingers.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a young woman rise and push her way out of the third row where she’d been sitting. Dressed in canary yellow with bare shoulders and ample cleavage, she called out, “David. Honey. It’s okay. I’m here. And I love you.”

  Big Boob Betty. Nikki snapped her mouth closed as Betty made her way toward David and the altar. “Marry me, David. Marry me!”

  A few people in the congregation began to laugh, though at the sharp looks from the wedding party, they stopped and looked down at their laps. Nikki didn’t blame them. She didn’t know what to think, either.

  “Never in my life have I seen anything like this,” the minister said sadly. “The world keeps changing. Are we going to have a wedding or not?”

  David put a comforting arm around Betty. “I’m sorry, Betty, but I can’t marry you like this.”

  “Well, I’m here now.” Josh grinned at Nikki and leaned over to kiss her cheek. “I’m in the mood to get married.”

  The congregation roared their approval, and Josh swept Nikki into his arms and gave her a long, passionate kiss. He broke away from her and dropped to one knee. “Nikki Collins, will you marry me, right here, right now, and make me the happiest man on earth?”

  Her entire body lit up with the same magic she’d felt in Sin City. Just maybe it was how she’d always feel around Josh. She was willing to bet on it.

  “Yes.” She pulled him up, then faced David, who was arm in arm with a thrilled Betty.

  “Will you forgive me, David?” Nikki asked. They’d been friends for so long, she didn’t want him hurt.

  He glanced at Nikki and the way she clung to Josh. The way Josh held her and gave her loving glances. He shrugged, and didn’t say anything for a long moment. Finally he surrendered. “Yes. He makes you happy. I see that now. Never seen you look at me like that.”

  He glanced at Nikki’s father, who nodded his approval. “You’re a good lad, son.” David’s father stood up. “Now wait a darn minute. This is my son’s wedding. She can’t marry someone else. At least not today.”

  “It’s okay, Dad. I’m happy for her,” David said, leading Betty to the front row pew. His mother made room for them beside her, a plastic smile etched on her face.

  Jennifer and Melanie clapped and high-fived. Nikki dared to glance at her mother, who was crying softly on her dad’s shoulder.

  The minister continued the service, which took all of five minutes. “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” Nikki kissed Josh with all of her heart. “You are my soul mate,” she said. “My one true love.”

  * * *

  Cupid and Vinnie sat in the last row. “So all’s well that ends well. What do you say, Vinnie? Does true love conquer all?”

  Vinnie grinned. “I suppose it does. This calls for a drink. I completed my first mission of uniting two people. Let’s grab a toast to their happy-ever-after.”

  “I can certainly drink to that. Well done, kid. Well done.”

  A HOT NIGHT IN VEGAS

  by

  PATRICE WILTON

  Career-driven Jennifer Martin goes with her boss, Hunter Carson, to Vegas for a convention with no thought to romance, but once Cupid gets involved, all bets are off. A Hot Night in Vegas is a thrill ride of forbidden desire that hits the winning hand of love.

  PROLOGUE

  I’m Vinnie, the screw-up—at least that’s what my older cousin seems to think. You know him. Cupid. Yeah, that’s my gig, too and Vegas is my town, or was until Cupid left Serendipity Falls to check up on me. He may have won the International Cupid award for three years running, but he doesn’t know everything. He wants to change Vegas. Come on, already! People come to Sin City to get away from their loved ones, party and do all the things they can’t do at home. Not fall in love.

  Cupid doesn’t get it. He wants to show people that true love is the meaning of life, not quick and easy hook-ups.

  He’s always on my back about something. I like to have some fun now and then and go zap-crazy, messing with the tourists, ya know? But he wants me to be serious all the time, and choose wisely when I use my arrow. What’s the fun in that? He says I’m immature.

  Another thing you should know? He always goes by his title, not his real name. I’ll let you in on a secret. His name is Casey. Casey Cupid, which sounds a
little dorky, so I don’t blame him for not telling anyone. If I wasn’t so mad at him, maybe I would’ve kept his dumb secret.

  “Vinnie!” C.C. appeared out of the blue, sitting on a small iridescent bulb next to me—low-wattage so it didn’t burn. “I’ve been looking all over the place for you. Why are you hiding on a chandelier?”

  “Not hiding—I’m doing a little reconnaissance work—like 007.” I peered between two crystals at the people below, angry that he’d found me. “Checking out the recent arrivals, selecting my new victims. I mean conquests—whatever!” I glanced at him then sat back against a silver leaf. “This seemed like a good spot to take in the entire room at once. So many people, so little time,” I said with my usual sass. I hate how he always makes me feel foolish. I know he thinks he’s helping but I can handle this gig on my own. “What’s up? What do you need me for?”

  “Nothing in particular. Well, almost nothing. I was just doing a look-see myself and you’ll never guess who arrived here an hour ago.”

  “The Queen of England,” I quipped.

  “No. What would she be doing here?” Cupid shook his head, like he thought I was the idiot.

  Rolling my eyes, I said, “It was a joke. Never mind.”

  “Well, it wasn’t the Queen, let me assure you, but that sweet young woman who came with the bride-to-be you screwed up on last year. She’s here for the software convention.”

  “The sister—the pretty blonde?” My heart fluttered. I’d been quite enamored with that one. I ignored his true accusation—I’d been aiming for the blonde and hit the engaged sister instead, but hey, all is well that ends well in my book.

  “No, the stunning brunette. Beauty and brains. The bridesmaid.” Cupid gave a sigh of pleasure. “I liked her. My kind of woman. Smart, sassy.”

  “I never knew you had a “kind of woman” I stated, my mood souring. “I thought they were all the same to you.” Vessels for love just waiting to be filled.