“I was wondering where you two were. Come on, we’re almost late. Though you know Christie won’t be ready on time. But we should be there. You look beautiful, Leigha, just wonderful.”
She kept up a steady stream of chatter as she led us to the Delecta’s wedding chapel. Taking in the elegant room, it was clear the casino did a big business in weddings. We slid into our aisle after Dylan scowled away the usher who tried to take my arm. Not too many minutes later, the music kicked in and the ceremony began.
Thankfully, it was a quick wedding. Neither the bride nor groom was particularly religious or spiritual, and they stuck with the basics. A few words, some back and forth on the vows, a kiss and they were done. I was ready to get to the reception, then escape to be alone with Dylan as soon as possible.
I was thinking about luring him into another dark hallway, though this time we’d keep it clean, when my mother linked her arm with mine and drew me away from Dylan. He caught my free hand in his and said, “Don’t leave my sight, not until Steven is in custody.”
“I won’t,” I said, letting my mother pull me toward the chapel exit.
“Dylan can do without you for a minute or two,” she said, tucking my arm in hers as we walked. “I’ve never seen you look so beautiful, honey. You’re glowing. Is it love? Or just really amazing sex?”
“Mom!” I was a fully grown woman, but my Mom could still make me blush.
“I think it’s both,” she said with a satisfied smile. I remained silent, admitting nothing as she went on, “I knew you’d hook him, honey.”
“Mom, he’s not a fish,” I said, my need to defend Dylan forcing me out of my mortified silence.
“No, he’s a whale.” She giggled. “Seriously, honey, I knew you’d get him. The way he looks at you. Whew!” She pretended to fan herself.
“I’m moving in with him,” I admitted. She patted my arm.
“Good girl.”
“It’s not about that,” I protested, worried that she thought I was after Dylan for his money.
“What?” she asked, “The money or the sex? I know you, Leigha, so I know it’s not about the money. Anyway, greedy bitches don’t get men like that. The only way to get a man like Dylan is just to be you.”
It was exactly what I needed to hear. Most of my uncertainty over my relationship with Dylan melted into a warm glow in my chest. I was lifting an arm to hug my Mom when I heard a shout off to the left. Curious, I turned to see Steven bearing down on us, wildly waving a gun in one hand.
I backed away in horror, shouting Dylan’s name and trying to shove my mother behind me. I was taller and bigger, but she had a mother’s need to protect her child, and we ended up scuffling when we should have been running. All the while, Steven came closer, shouting in unintelligible bursts.
I couldn’t see Dylan in the suddenly screaming, milling crowd on the casino floor. From the sides of the vast room men in identical black suits melted out of the sea of people, some of them speaking into clear plastic earpieces, a few brandishing guns. They would have been comforting if they hadn’t been so far away.
In slow motion I watched Steven raise the gun and aim it at me, shouting, “I’m going to kill you, you bitch.”
Out of nowhere, Dylan launched himself through the air, catching Steven in his gut, taking him to the floor in a tangle of limbs. A blast echoed as the gun went off, followed by a crash as the bullet hit a chandelier above. The impact of hitting the floor jarred the gun from Steven’s hand where it was picked up by one of the black suited security guards. Shards of crystal fell around us as I rushed toward them, heedless of the danger in my need to get to Dylan. A hard arm caught me in the midsection, dragging me back. I struggled until I heard a familiar voice in my ear.
“Stay back Leigha. Dylan’s fine,” Axel said.
“How did Steven get in here?” I demanded.
“We’re working on figuring that out. The police are already here. He’ll be gone in a minute.”
I didn’t want to wait. I wanted to talk to him before he was taken away. Wrenching back from Axel, I headed for Dylan and Steven. Axel was clearly unwilling to wrestle me down because he followed without further discussion.
Dylan held Steven on the floor with a knee to his neck. Steven wasn’t struggling, but Dylan scowled at me and said,
“Leigha, get back.” Looking at Axel, he growled, “What the fuck?”
“I want to talk to him,” I said.
“No,” Dylan answered. “There’s nothing this asshole has to say that you need to hear.”
“Dylan, I want to talk to him. Please.” Dylan scowled at me, but slid his knee back and pulled Steven to a sitting position. Axel moved behind Steven, producing a set of handcuffs. He secured Steven’s hands with the smooth skill born of practice.
“Why?” I asked Steven, finally meeting his enraged brown eyes. “You stole from me. You burned my house to the ground. Now you try to kill me.” Behind me, I heard my mother gasp. “Why?” I demanded. “Why me? What did I do to you?”
“This is all your fault, you stupid, fucking bitch. Everything was fine until your fucking ten grand. That was the money that put me in the hole with Tsepov. I haven’t won a hand of cards since I bet that money. You killed my luck and then you couldn’t make it right. Burning down your house should have broken the curse, but it didn’t. I need you dead.”
I stared at him, dumbfounded. “You did all this because you think I’m responsible for your bad luck at cards?”
“It’s you. It’s your fault. All of it.” He started to mumble under his breath. Now that I was closer, I could smell the sour scent of stale liquor coming off him. I looked over at Dylan, who had come to his feet and moved beside me.
“He’s insane,” I said, hearing the amazement in my voice. “Completely nuts. He tried to kill me because he had bad luck at cards after betting the money he stole from me? Is that what he just said? Seriously?”
“It is,” Dylan agreed sliding his arms around me from behind. Abruptly the jolt of adrenaline from seeing the gun faded, and I leaned back into Dylan’s warmth. Together, we watched five policemen separate the crowd as they headed for Steven. His prone body disappeared under the swarm of blue. They yanked him to his feet, escorted him across the main floor of the Delecta, and out of my life.
I was sure I’d have to deal with him again when he went to trial, but for now I was free from the threat of further destruction.
“Don’t do that again,” I said to Dylan, turning to brush a stray piece of carpet fluff off his sleeve. “He could have shot you.”
“He was going to shoot you,” Dylan said. “Don’t try to stop me from protecting you again, Leigha. I won’t do it. You’re mine. I’d take a bullet if I had to.”
My heart swelled. Dylan was sweet and terrifying at the same time.
“Okay, how about I just stay away from crazy men with guns, and then you won’t have to go near any bullets?”
“That works for me,” he said, pressing a kiss to my lips. I wanted more, but we were surrounded by people, one of whom was my mother. As I leaned into his arms I heard my sister’s shrill voice say,
“Is the drama over yet? I’d like to get back to my wedding!”
Typical. I almost get shot and she’s worried about it interrupting her party. Any other day she might have bothered me, but not today. Not when I’d just decided to move in with an amazing man who’d saved my life.
“Come on,” Dylan said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders in a possessive hold. “Let’s go. I want to dance with you at the wedding.”
That I could do. Though the way he said ‘wedding’ made me a little nervous. Three days and I’d agreed to move in. He wasn’t going to get any ideas about weddings, was he?
Mentally, I shrugged. I was done worrying about the future, at least for now. Life was too good to stress. Instead, I was going to hang on tight to Dylan and enjoy the ride.
Thank You
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Book Five.
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Do you want to know about the next sexy story by Alexa Wilder? Read on for a sneak peek of The Unexpected Crush.
Sneak Peek: The Unexpected Crush
About The Unexpected Crush
She won’t sacrifice her dreams for a guy. He proves she doesn’t have to.
Kaia Davenport has left her old life behind. Now an intern at a prestigious hospital, she’s sacrificed so much to get where she is. She’s confident in her job, but when it comes to her curvy body, she’s learned she’s not in every man’s taste. And it’s not like she has time to date - all she cares about is her dream of being a doctor. Unfortunately, she manages to get into trouble during her very first week at the hospital.
Chase Donahue isn't used to people telling him no, especially women. He’s a billionaire and he’s handsome. That’s usually enough to get him everything he wants. Not that Kaia knows who he is when they first meet. She can’t stand his arrogance and his entitled smirks. When he requests her assistance with a project, she hates him even more. Little does Kaia know that all Chase can think of is her spunky attitude and gorgeous curves. She’s exactly the woman he’s been looking for.
Sparks fly and tempers escalate, but true passion cannot be tamed when Kaia storms into Chase’s office to tell him off. Instead, she finds herself in his arms, unable to resist him. Will this be the biggest mistake in her career? Or will it lead to something even more complicated… Love.
Excerpt
“I…” I lost my words. I licked my lips, trying to realign my train of thought, but all I could think about was running my hands through his mess of dark hair. I licked my lips again.
That must have been all of the answer that Donahue needed, as I was suddenly pushed back against the now-closed door, Donahue’s body pressing against me, his mouth on my own. With a moan, I opened to him, allowing him to dominate the kiss. After what could have been five seconds or a million years, he pulled away.
“God… I’ve wanted to do that for so long,” he panted, pushing even further against me, rocking his hardening erection next to my thigh. “Since the moment in the bar — if not before. And then yesterday, you sauntered up here in that short skirt and tight top. Your body is to die for.”
Click Here for More about The Unexpected Crush
Also by Alexa Wilder
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THE WEDDING RESCUE
Book One
Book Two
Book Three
Book Four
Book Five
THE UNEXPECTED CRUSH
Book One
Book Two
Book Three
The Wedding Rescue, Book Five
Copyright © 2015 by Alexa Wilder
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Find out more about the author and upcoming books online at www.alexawilder.com
The Wedding Rescue, Book Five (An Alpha Billionaire Club BBW Romance) Page 5