by Cathryn Fox
“It’s not a date. It’s dinner and drinks. Did you forget you forced me on stage?”
“You’re a big boy, Ryan.” As soon as those words left her mouth it took every ounce of strength she possessed to keep her glance from drifting down. “No one can force you to do anything you don’t want to do.”
“I’m pretty sure I was forced to parade around in tight pants.”
“And literacy thanks you for that.”
He laughed. “Say yes. Dinner and drinks with me tonight.”
Say no. Say no.
“Yes.”
Dammit.
“As long as it’s not a date.”
“I’ll come by your room and pick you up at six.” He let go of her hair. “Oh, and wear something comfortable. We’ll be getting in a vehicle of some size.”
The second he left, Jan grabbed her arm, her eyes saucer wide. “I want to hear everything that happened last night.”
Andi shook her head and laughed. “Come on, I’ll tell you all about it at the luncheon.” They walked through the bustling lobby until they found the big ballroom where the keynote luncheon was being held. They sat and Jan leaned close.
“Don’t you dare leave out a single detail.”
“It all started with revenge,” she began as others filled in the seat around the large round table.
The waiter came with wine, and she told Jan the entire story as they sipped and waited for the food to be served. She finished relaying all the events, leaving out most of the bedroom naughtiness, and ended the story with her meeting Ryan in the hall a few minutes earlier. “And that’s that. Now you know everything.”
“Wow, talk about a plan backfiring.”
“I know.”
“Thank God!” Jan’s blue eyes glistened with excitement. “So what kind of vehicle do you think he’s talking about? I bet it’s a limo.”
Andi shrugged. “Maybe. People have preconceived notions about what romance writers are like. You know that. He likely thinks I expect Mr. Gentleman.” Then again there was something to be said for bad boys, and he was less than a gentleman in the bedroom. “He did say something about the pressures of dating a romance novelist.”
Jan put a finger out and started ticking things off. “Let me guess, a stretch limo, a romantic dinner, followed by the finest wine.” She fanned herself and let loose an exaggerated sigh.
The last date she’d gone on went down pretty much the same way. There was no limo involved but she did have dinner at a nice restaurant, followed by fine wine. It was…nice. “Probably.”
“The only thing that would make it perfect is if it’s capped off by some crazy monkey sex.”
“Jan,” Andi admonished, nudging her as the other women around the table turned their way. But Jan was Jan, who said whatever came to her mind, and that was why Andi loved her so much. And of course, she was right. The night capped off by crazy monkey sex would make it perfect. Just as long as Andi didn’t fall for him—again. Which she was determined not to do. No way. No how. Been there done that and had the emotional scars to prove it.
“Speaking of sex.” Jan reached into her bag, took out a handful of colorful condoms, and dropped them in to Andi’s tote.
Andi’s jaw dropped. “Where did you get all those?”
“They’re for a fun workshop on sex I’m doing later. It’s all about how to put a condom on a guy and make it sexy.”
“Oh God.”
“You should come.” Jan sat back in her chair and nodded her head, the short blonde strands slipping out from behind her ears. “You know, this is great fodder for your next book.”
Andi twirled her wine glass in her hands. “I know, right?”
“Seriously, Andi.” Jan took a sip of her wine. “You need to write this. Our publisher will love it.”
“Only one problem.”
“What?”
“I write romance, and this is not romance. It’s sex, and there is not going to be any happily ever after. He doesn’t believe in it and it’s not in the cards for me so when the week is up, we’re both going to go our separate ways.”
Jan shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not.”
Andi rolled her eyes at her friend. “You really are a romantic at heart, but he’s a player, Jan, and I’m going into this with my eyes wide open.”
“Eyes open. Shirt open. Pants open. It’s all good.”
Andi laughed. “You’re as bad as Ryan.”
“But didn’t I hear him say he wasn’t that guy anymore? I’m assuming he meant he was no longer a player.”
“A leopard can’t change its spots, and besides, it doesn’t matter, we’re both in it for a little fun, and I’m looking at this like research.”
Get in. Have sex. Take notes. Get out.
It was the perfect plan. As long as it didn’t backfire like her last one.
Chapter Eight
Ryan knocked on Andi’s door, then paced restlessly as he waited for her to open it. Tonight he planned to tell her who he really was. He would have done it earlier that day, but he wanted to get her to agree to go out with him first. He just hoped she wouldn’t be pissed off and run the other way when he revealed his true identity. It was important to him to get to know her and show her who he really was. He wasn’t entirely sure why, considering this was only sex, but he only knew that it was.
The door opened and when he caught her standing there, her hair loose, her big eyes staring up at him in anticipation, he was just about ready to toss their plans to the curb and take her right then and there. But tonight was about having some fun and getting to know each other so he reined in his lust.
“You look beautiful,” he said, glancing over her beaded tank top and black dress pants.”
Her gaze racked over his shirt and jeans, and she frowned. “Maybe I’m overdressed. I thought we were going… I wasn’t sure what to wear. You said to dress for a vehicle of size, but that’s all.”
He looked at her shoes, her painted toenails. “Do you have anything without a heel?”
She angled her head, and he adjusted his backpack on his shoulder. “Where exactly are we going?”
“You’ll see when we get there.”
“Hang on.” She disappeared inside her room, and came back wearing a T-shirt, a pair of jeans, and flat sandals. “Better?”
“Perfect.”
She shut the door and gestured toward the stairwell. “Uh, let’s take the stairs.”
She made a move to go but he captured her arm and stopped her. “Andi, before we go there is something you need to know about me.”
She held her hand up and cut him off. “Nope. I know everything I need to know.”
“No seriously,” he said. “I need to explain something.”
She shook her head. “Look, I’ve been giving this thought. How about we’re just two strangers who meet and we have a good time. And when we’re done, we’re done?”
“You want to pretend we’re strangers?”
“Yeah, sometimes it’s all about the fantasy, Ryan.”
She stepped around him and made for the stairs. He struggled with his conscience as he watched her go, torn on what to do. He wanted to be honest, tell her who he was so they could get to know each other better. But he also wanted to give her the fantasy. How the hell could he do both?
“Coming?” she asked.
“Yeah.” He caught up to her, and pushed open the door. They descended the five flights and when they reached the lobby, he guided her outside. The warm, early evening air fell over them as he talked to the valet. A second later, his car was brought around.
She stared at the Jeep, and then gave him a quizzical look. “I thought you said it was a vehicle of size. I don’t think I need flats to ride in a Jeep.”
He opened her door for her, and he tossed the papers he had on the passenger seat into the glove compartment. She climbed in and he crossed the front and slid into the driver’s seat.
“This is your Jeep?”
“Rental,
and sorry about the mess.” He tossed his backpack onto the backseat.
“What are you doing in Vegas, anyway?”
He turned the engine over. “Taking you out on a date…I mean out for dinner and drinks.”
“No, seriously. What brought you to Vegas?”
He tried not to squirm. “I have a meeting,” was all he said as he left the parking lot and pulled onto the Strip. She stared out the window, taking it all in. “Have you ever been to Vegas before?” he asked.
“No, this is my first time.”
“I’ve been here once before. It’s a bit crazy, but fun and you wouldn’t believe the things you can do here. Things you can’t do anywhere else in the world.”
She kept a close eye on him as he drove down the Strip before pulling off at what looked like a dustbowl construction site. She looked around at all the heavy equipment and the signs saying dig this.
Her brow narrowed. “What—”
“Come on.” He jumped from the Jeep and she unbuckled and met him at the front of the vehicle.
She leaned against the engine bonnet. “What is this place?” Shading the late day sun from her eyes, she looked around the big, dusty arena and shook her head. “I thought you said we were going to dinner.”
“We are, but first I thought we’d have some fun.”
“On those?” She pointed to one of the excavators.
“Sure. Have you ever driven one?”
She gave him that look again, the one that suggested he was dense. “No, have you?”
“No,” he said laughing. He watched her gaze move over the big machine, and he couldn’t tell if the gleam in her eyes was from excitement or fear. “If you don’t want to…”
“I never said that.” A grin curled up her lips. “I just can’t believe this.”
“Only in Vegas, baby.” He grabbed her hand. “Let’s do this.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to ride an excavator.”
“But you always wanted to, right?”
She planted her free hand on her hip and tipped her nose. “I’m not a tomboy anymore. I’ve grown up a lot since those days.”
He arched a brow. “So…you haven’t always wanted to?”
“No, I have.” She laughed and relaxed into him. He smiled back, liking this relaxed Andi.
Her hand still in his, he walked her over to an elderly gentleman standing outside a long trailer that looked like the office. “Are you Wayne?”
“That’d be me,” the man dressed in a striped shirt and orange vest said. He lowered his clipboard and adjusted his yellow hard hat. “You must be Grayson.”
He put his arm around Andi and drew her closer. “Yeah, and this is Andi.”
The man gave her a once over. “You ready for this?” he asked, a big grin on his face.
She looked at the bulldozer and back at him. “As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”
“Don’t worry kiddo, you’re going to love it. Heavy machinery isn’t just for guys.” He looked her over, then sized Ryan up and said, “Let’s get you both suited up, then we’ll give you the rundown on how to use the equipment.”
He led them inside, fitted them both with a vest and hat, and then glanced pointedly at Andi. “You look like the kind of girl who’d enjoy a little competitive excavator basketball.”
She arched one brow. “What makes you say that?”
“You remind me of a girl I once knew. You have that feisty sparkle in your eye. Just like she did.” He shook his head and laughed. “Always wanting to prove she was as good as any guy. Beat me more times than not at damn near everything. I won once, though.”
“What was the prize?” Andi asked.
“Her hand in marriage.” He winked at Ryan. “I knew a good thing when I saw it.”
Ryan laughed. “Is she still competitive?”
“Damn straight. Makes me work hard for what I want. But it’s always worth it.” He waved his hand. “Come on, you two. Time for a little friendly competition. After your lessons, let’s see who gets the basketball in the boom first.”
Ryan looked off in the distance and saw a row of basketballs sitting on top of cones. “What’s the prize?”
“That will have to be between you and your girl. But if I were you, I’d make sure it was a good one.
“Okay then. Winner takes all,” he said.
Andi eyed him. “What do you mean by all?”
“Winner gets to kiss the loser, anytime, anyplace.”
“Or chooses not to kiss the loser,” she countered.
Wayne chuckled and looked at them like he knew something and they didn’t.
“Deal,” Ryan said.
“All right.” She turned to Wayne, a new fire in her eye. “Teach me how to use this thing.”
“Let’s do this,” Wayne said. He led them both to one of the huge excavators, and helped Andi in.
She gripped both joysticks, and Ryan laughed. Damned if she didn’t look right at home and ready to win. He loved when she let her guard down, and it was fun to get these little glimpses into the real Andi. According to his brother, little Andrea Palmer was a tomboy back in their youth, and today he wanted her to forget the bad girl act, forget about playing ‘Andi’ to her fans, forget about the fantasy, and just be herself and have some good old clean, or rather, dirty fun.
Wayne gave them both the rundown, explaining the joystick, how to move them to control the boom, and the track sticks that moved the equipment forward and backward.
“Now, try to put the teeth in the dirt, and pull the left joy stick back to close the boom,” he said to Andi.
She did it on the first try and Wayne looked at Ryan. “She’s a natural.” He gestured with a nod to one of his co-workers standing near the other excavator. “Carl will get you your own machine. You’d better get practicing, or this little lady is going to take you down.”
It was all he could hope for.
He ran over to where the other man was standing, and after an introduction, Carl gave him another quick rundown and let him practice. Hell, this was way more fun than he ever would have thought. He’d somehow have to work this into his next novel. Death by excavator. It could happen. For the next hour or so they played with the buckets, digging holes, and riding around the dusty bowl shaped arena.
Andi began driving her machine toward the row of balls. Oh, hell no. He gestured to Carl, then followed her. Her bucket hovered over the cone, but she kept knocking it off. He stopped his machine beside hers and when she looked his way, determination etched on her face, he grinned. Damn, she really was competitive.
He lowered his bucket, and tried to scoop up the ball but it was harder than it looked. Three tries later and he still couldn’t get it. From his peripheral vision, he watched Andi fist pump the air. Shit. He lowered his boom, and shut down the machine. Laughing at her enthusiasm, he climbed from the machine and jumped to the ground. He ran around it and held his hands out for her and she jumped into his arms.
“I won,” she said as he held her tight.
Her hair fell over his face as he spun her and said, “Winner, winner, chicken dinner.”
Her eyes were wide, her smile bright. “That was so much fun, Ryan.”
The gleam in her eyes filled him with a new kind of longing, and it was all he could do not to kiss her. He loosened his grip and she slid down his body, slowly, painfully…launch sequence initiated. Fuck. Her feet hit the ground and in need of a distraction, he brushed dust from her cheeks.
“Oh,” she said, her smile slipping. “I must look a mess.”
Honestly, she looked open and real, and he’d never seen her more beautiful. She reached for her hair but he stopped her. “Don’t. You’re perfect.”
“Well, well,” Wayne said, stepping up to them. “Looks like the little lady showed you who was boss.”
“That she did.” Ryan shook Wayne’s hand. “Thanks. We had a great time.”
“Be sure to tell your friends,” Wayne said. He gathered their ve
sts and hats and walked them out of the arena and back to the office. Ryan ran inside to pay the bill and when he came out he found Andi trying to fix herself up.
Her hand fell from her hair and she glanced his way, a smile still on her face. “I can’t say as I’ve ever been on a date quite like this,” she said.
He arched a brow. “Oh, so it’s a date now, is it? Don’t you think you’re moving rather fast? I only asked for dinner and drinks. Next thing I know you’ll be trying to get me alone so you can do…things to me.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “I meant to say, I never hung out with a guy and played on an excavator before.”
He shrugged. “What can I say? You write about the perfect man. I can’t compete so I decided I wouldn’t bother trying and instead we’d just have some fun. You did have fun, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, I did.”
He glanced at his watch. “Now, how about dinner? I’m starved.”
“Me, too.” He slipped his arm around her shoulders, and they walked back to the Jeep. He opened the passenger door for her and she jumped in. Ryan walked in front of the vehicle and slipped into the driver’s seat.
He pulled into traffic as she flipped the visor down and started brushing dust from her face. “I don’t think I’m fit to go to a restaurant.”
He cast her a quick glance. “Who says we’re going to a restaurant?”
Her eyes went wide and she gave him a warning look. “Now what are you up to?”
Instead of telling her, he reached out, grabbed her hand and held it in his as he negotiated his vehicle past the Strip. He drove for a few minutes until they were near the airport.
She looked out the passenger window. “Where are we going?”
“Sunset Park,” he said. “Great place for a private picnic, and if we’re lucky we can get a site with a view of the Strip.”
He squeezed his Jeep between two big trucks, grabbed a blanket and his backpack from the back, and climbed out.
“I’ve never heard of this place.” She closed her door and shaded the late day sun from her eyes as she looked around at the vast park.