“Family?”
“You’re Cami’s sister. I love her, which means you’re part of my family. You already were because of Emmy, but it’s more . . . personal now. I need to take care of her and you. If you let me.”
“You really want to do this for us?”
“Yes.”
“She loves with everything in her, Aiden. A little piece of her breaks when she gets let down. You’ll be good to her?”
“Always. I love her, Dee. I never thought I could love, but she’s proven me wrong. She’s everything I’ve needed and never allowed myself to hope for in my life. She’s my Sunshine.”
Her eyes shone with unshed tears. “Good.”
“She’ll never want for anything. Including love. I promise.” I grabbed her hand. “Let me do this. For both of you.”
“Okay.”
With a grin, I hugged her hard. “Let’s go tell her, then head to brunch. Emmy wants to see you, and Cami’s gonna make pancakes again.”
“All right, let’s go.”
It was a fun brunch around Bentley’s table. All six of us laughing and relaxed, the way things used to be when we were together. Dee exclaimed over Emmy’s ring, hugged Bentley, and I noticed, stayed close to Maddox. Emmy cooked a feast, and I ate at least five of Cami’s pancakes. She added blueberries this time, and I informed her I needed them just that way from now on.
Her phone rang, and she glanced at the number with a frown. Excusing herself from the table, she answered as she walked away. I watched her, constantly on alert now when it came to her. However, her stance was relaxed, and she began to smile widely and talk quickly.
Returning to the table, she was almost vibrating with excitement.
“What’s up, Sunshine?”
She grasped my knee. “I won!”
“Excuse me?”
“That trip to Las Vegas! I won!” She turned to Dee and Emmy. “I call girls’ weekend in Vegas!”
There were a lot of high fives and fist bumps as Cami explained how she had won the trip. I tried to look happy, but I didn’t really feel it. The thought of the three of them going to Vegas on their own wasn’t sitting well with me, yet I was pretty sure I had no say in the matter, given they were adults. Glancing at Bentley, I could tell from the rigid set of his jaw he was thinking along the same lines as me. Even Maddox looked slightly put out.
“Isn’t it a trip for four?” I asked, remembering the day at the winery.
Cami looked confused. “Yes. Did you want the fourth? I suppose since you took me to the winery, you should have first dibs on it.”
“No, I was just wondering.”
The girls rose and started carrying dishes to the kitchen, discussing the trip animatedly. We, on the other hand, sat and stared at one another.
“I don’t like this,” I muttered.
Bentley snorted. “Me either.”
Maddox filled his coffee cup with a smirk. “I don’t think you have much choice.”
I drummed my fingers on the table. Cami’s phone beeped, and I looked at the screen, which had a text with information. “Includes coach airfare for four, accommodations, transfers to and from the airport, and five hundred dollars spending money,” I read.
“Which hotel?”
“The Travelodge.”
Bentley got out his phone, checking the hotel. His frown deepened. “I don’t fucking think so.”
“Coach.” I snorted. “Packed in like sardines.”
“Probably a cheap van service to the hotel.”
“I bet the spending money is gambling chips,” Maddox piped up, a grin on his face.
“I don’t like this,” I repeated.
“What should we do?” Bentley asked.
I thought about it. “Up the ante.”
“Now you’re talking.” Maddox smirked, egging us on.
“I like it. How?” Bentley asked.
“I think, boys, we’re going to Vegas. BAM style.”
“What does that consist of?” Maddox chuckled. “Do tell.”
“Brace yourself. We are about to misuse company funds, Mad Dog. I’ve decided I want to expand our horizons and have a look at some property in Vegas.”
Bentley chuckled, and Maddox’s shoulders shook with suppressed laughter. “Is that a fact?”
“Yep. We’re renting a private plane and flying all of us there. We’ll do a few land inspections while the girls hit a spa or something.”
“Not sure this is gonna fly with Revenue Canada as a business trip.”
I shrugged. “Then bill me. You figure it out, whatever way works. But it’s happening. Suites at Bellagio. Whatever side trips the girls want. An entire weekend of whatever they desire. They want Vegas? They fucking get Vegas.”
“As long as you’re with them,” Maddox added.
“You’re coming with, Mad Dog. Your girl is on board for this weekend too.”
He didn’t argue, although he mumbled something more about the company funds. I ignored him. We could look at some land while we were there. He could figure it out. He was great at figuring things out.
Bentley grinned. “BAM style, indeed.”
The girls returned from the kitchen, still chatting and excited.
“Who’s going to tell them?” I mumbled.
“You are,” Bentley and Maddox stated in unison.
I flexed my shoulders.
“Right.”
The room fell silent, my words not met with the enthusiasm I had hoped. All three girls stared at me incredulously.
“You three are certifiable, do you know that?” Cami said, aghast.
Emmy turned to Bentley. “This smacks of you, Rigid.”
Dee smirked. “You came up with all this in five minutes?”
I thought fast. “We were discussing the fact that only one of us got to accompany you. It seemed fair to broaden the plans to include everyone.”
Cami arched her eyebrow. “Perhaps we weren’t going to take any of you. We thought of asking Sandy to come with us to say thanks for all the things she has done for us.”
I met Bentley’s frantic gaze. We hadn’t factored in that decision.
“She’s busy,” I objected.
“We haven’t picked a date.”
“She’s busy every weekend. Husband, grandkids, you know. She hates flying,” Bentley interjected.
Emmy crossed her arms. “Strange. She was telling me last week of all the traveling she wants to do once she dumps your demanding ass.”
He grimaced. “She called my ass demanding?”
“You’re missing the point here, Rigid.”
“Which is?”
“Girls’ weekend.”
“You can have a girls’ weekend. We won’t bother you.”
Cami shook her head. “You’re going to fly all that way and just sit in a hotel room?”
We were losing the argument, and I needed to figure out how to convince them. “Actually, we are going to do a little business while we’re there. We were talking about it just the other day.”
Cami snorted. “Of course you were. How convenient.”
“I know. Very fortuitous.”
Emmy coughed bullshit into her hand, but I noticed she was grinning. I locked eyes with Cami. “We’ve all been going through shit, Cami. A weekend away would be great. You want to go to Vegas, we’ll go. However, we’re taking you.”
“But I won a trip. It will go to waste.”
“No, you can call them back and say you can’t go and let them redraw. Someone else can go.”
“Why do I have a feeling even if I say no, every time I turn around in Vegas, I’ll see you skulking around a corner?”
I snorted. “I won’t be skulking, Sunshine. I’ll be right behind you. You can bet your sweet ass on that fact.”
“Why is this so important to you?”
I played dirty. I bent closer, my voice low. “I thought I lost you. I’m not ready for you to be out of my sight yet. Please.”
Her expre
ssion softened, her green eyes misty. She was faltering.
“Aiden . . .”
“You know, I’ve never been on a private plane,” Dee mused, meeting my eyes with a subtle wink.
“It’s awesome,” I assured her, returning her gesture.
“I hear the Bellagio is spectacular,” Bentley said. “Completely amazing.”
“Oh,” Emmy breathed out. “That’s where we’d stay?”
“Best suite in the house, Freddy.”
I interjected, “They have notoriously big limos to pick us up and drive us anywhere too.”
Cami pursed her lips. “I want to go to the Grand Canyon.”
“Yep. They can take us.”
“With champagne?”
“Bottles of it.”
The girls all looked at each other.
Then Maddox added the icing on the cake. “I have a friend who can get us awesome tickets for the Michael Jackson tribute show. Probably backstage passes.”
And just like that, the game was over.
Blackjack.
Aiden
SANDY STEPPED INTO the boardroom, one arm filled with files. In her other hand was a large carafe of coffee. She set down the coffee, pushing it toward Maddox. He grinned at her with a wink.
“Thanks, Momma Bear.”
She rolled her eyes, then slapped down the files onto the wooden surface.
“All right, boys. Listen.” She handed us each a different colored folder. “Your itinerary for your stalking expedition.”
“It’s a weekend away,” Bentley objected.
“It’s the three of you going overboard.”
“Aiden’s idea.” Maddox smirked as he poured himself a mug of coffee. “I’m just along for the ride and to make sure no more company funds are abused.”
She ignored him. “Plane is booked. Four suites at Bellagio.”
“Four?” I asked.
“Emmy and Bentley. You and Cami. One for Maddox, one for Dee.”
I looked at Maddox with a frown. “Really?”
He met my gaze steadily. “Really.”
I shrugged. “Whatever floats your boat.”
He glanced down at the file, his voice quiet. “Not my decision.”
Sandy threw him a glance, then continued. “I’ve arranged a car at your disposal. The hotel will provide an extra one or two if needed. Dinner is arranged and booked the first night. Maddox has organized the tickets for the show. The rest of the itinerary is up to you.”
“Excellent.” I beamed at her. “Thanks, Sandy.”
“I’m booking myself an all-day spa package. You three are treating me. I added the champagne lunch because I knew you would insist.”
We all laughed. “Enjoy it,” Bentley told her, standing and kissing her cheek. “You deserve it.”
She looked at him as if he were an idiot.
“I know.”
She turned and patted the pile of manila files. “If you’re interested, here is some real work. All the paperwork for the Port Albany property is complete. It’s yours, so now you can plan what to do with it.”
“Great. We’ll meet with the team when we return.”
“All right.” She walked to the door, pausing before she left. “I’m glad to see you beginning to live, boys.” She stared at Maddox. “I never thought I’d hear myself say it, but you need to follow in their footsteps. Life is too short to have only money as company. It doesn’t keep you warm at night.”
With those words of wisdom, she left.
“Jesus,” Maddox muttered. “Look what the two of you have done. She wants me to be more like you? Give me strength.”
I slapped him on the back. “She’s right. We’re awesome.”
He picked up his file. “Yep. Awesome.”
I met Bentley’s eyes. I understood why he’d tried so hard to get me to open up to Cami. The reward was sweet and worth the risk. I wanted that for Maddox. We both did.
I’d have to figure out how to help him.
Cami peeked up at me, her eyes wide. “This is breathtaking.”
I glanced around the luxurious cabin of the plane. It was pretty wicked. Wide, rich leather seats and mahogany tables filled the cabin, surrounded by muted blue and gray tones. Even in first class, I had a problem with my shoulders, but here, I had plenty of room. The liquor was top-notch, and I liked being able to stretch out and get comfortable. I could get used to this sort of travel. I wondered how strongly Bentley would object to the idea of BAM purchasing a plane.
Looking over at how tightly pressed Emmy was to him, I decided he might not object too much. He couldn’t have her on his lap in a public plane.
I bent low to Cami’s ear. “There’s a bedroom in the back. We could check it out once everyone else is distracted.”
“Distracted?”
“Hmm,” I murmured. “Emmy is about to fall asleep on Bent. He won’t move and disturb her, and he’s looking sleepy himself. Dee and Maddox have an intense game of Scrabble going. Neither of them will give an inch and let the other win. The whiskey they’re pounding back is making them slow anyway. The crew is getting lunch ready up front. We could get up to stretch our legs, and no one will notice.” I bit down on her earlobe. “Then I could stretch something else. With my cock.”
Her breath caught.
“You wanna join the mile-high club, Sunshine? Ride my dick in the clouds? We’d have to be fast, but I guarantee you satisfaction.”
“You’re so crass.”
“Is that a yes?”
She squeezed my thigh, and I grinned.
I was definitely talking Bentley into buying one of these.
The next two days were a whirlwind. We explored the Strip, ate too much, even gambled, although none of us were big players. The show we went to the first night was entertaining, though I thought the girls enjoyed it more than we did, but that was why we were there.
Our suites were large and lavish, and I loved watching Cami’s reaction to the world of luxury. It wasn’t how I lived daily, but I found I enjoyed spoiling her. She squealed with delight as she investigated the room, tackling me on the massive bed and having her wicked way with me. I succumbed easily.
The heat, though, was brutal—the kind that sucked the air from your lungs and made your clothes stick to your skin two minutes after you walked outside. Even Emmy was warm enough not to be bundled up in her usual layers. She still carried her wrap with her, slipping it on as soon as we entered the air-conditioned buildings. Cami, however, wore little sundresses that showed off her creamy skin and toned legs. I decided she had the most lickable collarbones in the history of collarbones and proved it often.
We left the girls shopping the second day and did look at a few properties. Once we had returned to the hotel, sitting by the pool under the shade of a huge umbrella, I lifted my drink to my lips.
“I think, gentlemen, we can safely say this is not the place for us. This was a great idea in making sure our initial thoughts were correct, though.”
Maddox snorted. “Jesus, you are full of it. As if there was any chance we’d get into the property game here.”
“You never know. We’ve done our due diligence. Business part of the trip concluded.”
Bentley chuckled and glanced at his watch.
“The girls will be back soon,” I assured him.
“I’m aware.”
“They have a car and driver at their disposal. The driver is also a black belt. I made sure of it. They’re perfectly safe.” I leaned back. “I sent Cami out with a credit card and told her to rack it up for her and Dee. I want her to be gone all day and return with so much stuff I have to buy her another damn suitcase to take it home.”
“Listen to you,” Maddox mused.
“I want her to have some nice things. She doesn’t have to worry anymore.” I signaled for another round of drinks. “For the first time, I want to spoil someone, shower her with gifts, and you know why?”
Bentley grinned at me. “Because she doesn�
�t give a shit about them.”
“Exactly. She’d love me even if we’d flown coach and stayed at the Travelodge.” I shuddered. “Thank God I didn’t have to prove I love her enough to do that, though.”
We all laughed, and Bentley dragged a hand through his hair. “Emmy wants to go to one of those campy Vegas shows tonight. She says it’s something we have to do as part of the experience. You two want to do that with us?”
Maddox shook his head. “There’s a whiskey bar Dee and I want to check out. I hear it has some rare bottles we want to sample.” He smirked. “You, Aiden? What are your plans tonight?”
“Cami wants to see all the sights. I booked a gondola ride and got a spot for the fountain show. We’re just gonna be tourists.”
Bentley groaned. “Maybe Cami could talk Emmy into that rather than the show. I’m not sure I’m gonna survive the shit she wants to see.”
I clapped him on the back. “Man up, Bent. It’s just one night. We’ll have dinner, do all the things the girls want to do, and tomorrow we’ll meet for breakfast and do the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam. We’ll be gone all day, but the limo will be cool.”
He stood. “Okay. I need to go inside. This fucking heat is killing me.”
We separated at the elevators. I needed to grab some Tylenol at the gift shop, so I headed across the lobby. Leaving the shop, I caught sight of a small window with an eye-catching display, and I stopped to look. Glittering diamonds and multicolored gemstones sparkled under the lights. One piece in particular caught my eye, and without a thought, I went inside the store. A short while later, I left—with a smile on my face, my bank account lighter, and a small, flat box burning a hole in my pocket.
Cami was going to kill me.
I had almost finished buttoning my shirt when Cami came out of the huge en suite. “Is this okay?”
I gaped at her. “Okay? Sunshine, you’re stunning.”
She was wearing another sundress. This one was her favorite color, a rich purple that looked amazing against her skin. “You’ve caught the sun.” I traced a finger along her sun-kissed skin, teasing the flirty bow that held up the dress. “I love this.”
Aiden ~ Melanie Moreland Page 23