by Addison Fox
“Why don’t we go together?” Sidling up close to him, she bumped him with her slender hip, sending a sharp jab of lust through him. “We’ll use this flashlight to show us the way.” And then she laughed, the husky honesty of the sound making him yearn to capture that laugh with his mouth. This close, he could identify her scent, which was not what he would have expected. She smelled like vanilla rather than some smoky perfume. Like a homey kitchen instead of a seductive corner booth in a bluesy downtown bar.
Interesting. And fascinating. Evidently Meghan Frost was a woman of contradictions.
Moving down slowly, stair by stair, with Meghan hanging on to his elbow, they finally reached the floor area. “We’ll have to go up on the stage,” Gabe told her. “The switch is in back.”
“Perfect. The stage is exactly where I want to be.” Anticipation hummed in her voice. He had another flash of heat, of desire, strong enough to make him catch his breath.
Once they climbed up the short staircase leading to the stage, she released him. While he went to flip the switch that would turn on the lights, she moved across the platform, making little sounds of pleasure low in her throat. He wondered if those were the same sort of noises she made when making love, then gave himself a mental shake.
When the lights came on, so bright they temporarily blinded him, he blinked, trying to focus on Meghan.
She stood in the center, gazing out over the empty auditorium, her arms upraised as if about to take a sweeping bow. Or worship the sun. As he watched, she pirouetted, an impossibly graceful and sensuous move. And then she sang a few notes, running up and down the scales. The raw beauty of her voice sent a shiver up his spine. The sound seemed to carry and echo off all the empty seats, hang vibrating in the air before being swept up into unseen currents.
What the... With a sense of shock, he realized he’d never really heard her sing live. He’d seen her a few times on TV. Performing on the Grammys or the People’s Choice Awards. But that was different. Not live, for sure.
He wanted to hear more. More than just a few notes. An entire song. But he didn’t ask, not entirely sure how he’d do so without sounding like a starstruck fan. Instead he moved closer, as if by doing so he could absorb some of her heat.
Catching sight of him, she waved. “Thank you.” She crossed the space between them, almost skipping. “This is absolutely perfect. I’m guessing you hired someone good to make sure the acoustics worked.”
Nodding, he named the man he’d used, someone he’d been told was the best in the industry. Hearing the name, Meghan clapped. “Oh, he is good. Thanks again.”
“Nothing but the best for the Archangel.” He gave her a slow smile. “And you.”
Then, as she gazed up at him, her entire being vibrating with so much life he felt dizzy, he pulled her to him and did what he’d been wanting to do since he first laid eyes on her. He kissed her. Not on the cheek this time, but right where he’d been longing to since the moment she’d seen her. Capturing her mouth with his, what he’d meant to be a slow and thorough exploration of her caught fire. Like lightning to dry kindling, like a wildfire racing across a prairie.
As they kissed, warm and wet, deeper and more passionate than any kiss that had ever come before, the dizzying current of his need for her nearly brought him to his knees.
Damn if he wasn’t in trouble.
They both were breathing hard when he finally lifted his head. So was she.
Their gazes locked. Another prickle of awareness, like a breeze stirring banked embers, and he swallowed hard.
“I...” he began.
Her green eyes dark as a stormy sky, she shook her head. “Don’t you dare apologize.”
That coaxed a laugh from him. “I won’t. Come on.” He held out his hand. “Let’s get out of here. We can walk up and down the Strip and check out the competition, maybe find a quiet bar where we can sit and listen to music.”
She went still. “You have the rest of the day off?”
“Most of it. With the casino, I work odd hours. I’ll have to check back in later tonight. There’s more than enough time to show you around Vegas. If you don’t want to walk, we can take my car.”
Though he couldn’t read her expression, she nodded. “I’d love to go for a drive. Away from the city, out into the desert. At heart, I’m a country girl.”
This surprised him, making him realize he knew too little about her life before she’d become a big star. “Where did you grow up?”
Again that mask. “Here and there. Everywhere, it seemed. We moved a lot.”
He knew he should leave it alone, but suddenly didn’t want to. “Where was your favorite place?”
“Favorite place?” She made a face, but at least her frozen expression was gone. “None of them. We didn’t ever stay in one place long enough for me to find out if I liked it.”
Stark contrast to his family, who’d lived in the desert for generations.
“I’m sorry.” He squeezed her shoulder. “I shouldn’t have brought it up. I don’t mean to dredge up unhappy memories.”
Clearly relieved, she flashed a quick smile. “Let’s talk about something else. This has been a phenomenal afternoon. I don’t want to ruin it by discussing my childhood.”
Or her family. From what little she’d said about them, they weren’t a nurturing or loving bunch.
“Come on.” He slung his arm around her shoulders, going for a casual embrace. “Let’s get going. We’ll take my car and do some driving. Later on, it’ll be time for me to buy you that steak dinner I owe you.”
Though she leaned into him readily enough, she appeared hesitant. “I’m not a big fan of steak.”
“That’s okay.” He didn’t really care what they ate, as long as they shared the meal together. “We can get something else. Like that Italian meal I mentioned.”
Still she eyed him, almost as if there was something else she wanted to say, but was afraid to. “No,” she finally said. “We just had this wonderful lunch. If you want steak, I’m sure I can find something else on the menu. After all, since you’re a carnivore, I don’t want to come between you and your sirloin.” Again, a ghost of a smile hovered around her lips, letting him know she was attempting to lighten the mood. Maybe so, but her choice of words confounded him.
“Don’t tell me you’re a vegetarian.”
“I’m not.” She made a face. “That would be a sin in my family. They’re all avid hunters.”
Again with her family. Her use of the hated word startled him, although he knew she hadn’t meant it the same way as the evil beings that were constantly after him and his kind. After the initial jolt of adrenaline, he pulled her toward him and kissed her again, aware he was courting ruin but unable to help himself.
Once again, the heat that blazed between them had fire arcing through his blood. This close to Rejuvenation made each time he touched her even more dangerous, though he couldn’t help but thrill to the heady danger of simmering on the edge of losing control.
She reached up and cupped his face, her fingers searing his skin as she opened her mouth to him. Another second and he knew he’d go up in flames.
Pulling back, he rested his forehead on hers while they both struggled to find their breath.
Her wide eyes and dilated pupils told him the kiss had affected her as much as him. His body stirred, the embers constantly smoldering inside him needing just one more push to stroke them to life.
Aching to kiss her again, he tugged her toward the exit instead.
* * *
Both kisses had been... Meghan couldn’t think, could barely walk as Gabe pulled her along with him. Another second longer and she’d have begged him to take her, right there, right then.
The first kiss had whetted her appetite. The second had sent all her inhibitions up in a blaze of fire an
d smoke.
Despite her carefully concocted reputation as a bad girl, no man had ever made her lose control the way Gabe just had. She swore she could still feel the heat of his lips on hers, and her entire body sizzled, craving more.
Evidently, she didn’t affect him as intensely, even though his breathing had been as ragged as hers.
Desperately trying to regain her shattered control, she focused on the conversation they’d had just before he’d kissed her.
She didn’t know why she’d told him what her family truly was. Hunters. Of course, he would only think she meant they hunted animals—deer and hog and such. Not mythical beings named Helios, which he wouldn’t have even heard of.
As to calling him a carnivore, truthfully she’d fall into this category, too. She’d given vegetarianism a shot a few years back, thinking it might be an easy way to stay thin. But three weeks into it and she’d found herself at an In-N-Out Burger, scarfing down two delicious hamburgers at once. That had ended her short-lived attempt.
The idea of watching Gabe devour a steak appealed to her. She found something sensual in watching a virile man consume red meat. She’d have to be careful not to reveal her carnal fascination with him, but other than that, dinner with Gabe sounded like fun.
Even better would be if he wanted to go up to his room for a nightcap later. His kiss had given her a taste of what making love with him might be like. She wanted more.
Patience had never been one of her strong suits.
Once they were back in the main lobby, he stopped. “I’ve sent for my car, but is steak later really okay?” he asked, brow furrowed. “I guess I should have asked if you like it. If not, we have lots of other choices. Seafood, Italian, even sushi.”
“Steak is fine.” She smiled, leaning in a little closer so she could inhale his virile scent.
One of the nearby slot machines caught her eyes. There were flying pigs, farmers with pitchforks and what appeared to be mini-tornados dancing on the horizon.
Still holding Gabe’s hand, she moved over to check it out. “This looks fun,” she said, smiling up at him. “Even better, it’s a quarter machine. I’ll have to remember where this is so I can play it later.”
His gaze darkened. “Play it now.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a twenty and inserted it into the machine. “Go ahead. Make sure you play three quarters at once. The winnings are better that way.”
Still, she hesitated. “Twenty dollars might take a while to go through.”
At that, he laughed, the rich sound rolling through her like a sip of hot rum in the winter. “Trust me, it won’t. And if it does, I don’t mind waiting.”
She took a seat on the chair and pushed the button. The reels spun and stopped. Nothing. She read the game description, seeing she needed to get a certain combination to get to activate the flying pig game in addition to the slot reels. She tried again. “Come on,” she told the machine. “I really want to play that pig game.”
Another spin, and this time three gold crests aligned. Bells went off, a siren sounded, and the little red light on top of the machine began flashing like a lighthouse beacon.
Chapter 8
“Wow.” Gabe appeared stunned. “You won the progressive jackpot. Three million dollars.”
“I did?” Her stomach lurched. “Did you do this?” she asked.
“What?”
“Did you somehow make it so I’d win? Since you own this casino and all?”
He chuckled. “That’s not the way it works.”
She gave him a suspicious look, half turning in her seat and noticing the small crowd rapidly gathering around them. Crud. If this kept up, someone would recognize her.
“We need to leave,” she told Gabe, her breath catching in her throat. No amount of money was worth losing her privacy.
He looked at her as if he thought she’d lost her mind. “Let the attendant verify your winnings and then we’ll go to the cashier’s office. Everyone dreams of winning the jackpot. You just did. You might as well enjoy it.”
He didn’t get it. She fought to remain cool and calm as more and more people wandered over. Some cheered, others clapped. Several came up to her and offered hearty congratulations. This, she didn’t mind. But there were a few in the growing crowd peering at her in puzzlement, as if they knew they should recognize her. She guessed it would just be a matter of time until they did. All it would take was one person saying her name and her cover would be blown.
Inwardly groaning, she prayed the attendant would hurry. She wished she’d taken a bit more time with her disguise this time. She wished she hadn’t stopped to play this stupid slot machine. Of course, she’d had no way of knowing.
Finally, after what seemed an agonizingly long wait but was really only a few minutes, the casino cashier hurried over, key in hand. “Wow,” she exclaimed, unlocking the front of the slot machine and turning the siren and flashing light off. “You really did hit the big one. Once we validate everything, you’ll have to pose for us with a big check. We hang these on the winner’s wall on the way in for promo for the casino.”
This time, Meghan couldn’t quite contain the flare of panic leaping inside her. She looked at Gabe, silently begging him to help her out.
“No photo this time,” Gabe said, stepping forward.
The attendant jumped. “Oh, hi there, Mr. Stavros. I didn’t see you. This lucky guest won our biggest jackpot.”
“I see that,” he drawled. “And once you’ve completed your validation process, I’ll escort her to the main cashier office.” A not-so-subtle hint to hurry up.
Finally, whatever process was completed and Gabe led Meghan away from the crowd. They’d begun dispersing rapidly, to her relief. She considered herself lucky as no one had appeared to recognize her.
Once in the back room, away from the public’s eyes, Gabe sat with her across the desk from an elegant older woman wearing the casino uniform. She studied Meghan’s ID with one brow arched before handing it back. “Amazing,” she said, her slight smile cool. “A superstar winning the jackpot.”
Meghan nodded. She didn’t need the money. Her last album had gone triple platinum and the advance on the Vegas residency had been astronomical. “I’d like to donate it to charity,” she said.
The woman frowned.
Gabe’s brows rose. “Really?”
“Yes, really.” Meghan smiled. “The local SPCA, I think. I love helping animals.”
“I see.” The frown cleared off the head cashier’s face. “That’ll not only be a great tax write-off but extremely good publicity for you. And us, as well.”
“No publicity.” Meghan’s reply was instant and absolute. “I want the donation made anonymously.”
After several assurances that yes, she was serious, Meghan signed the necessary paperwork and they were finally done. Gabe took her elbow as they moved toward the exit. Before they left, he turned and looked at his employee. “This is to be kept quiet,” he ordered. “All of it. No one is to know Ms. Frost won or even that she’s here yet. Understand?”
Slowly, the woman nodded. “Understood.”
“Good.”
Once they reached the casino floor again, Meghan exhaled. “Remind me not to play slot machines again.”
“Oh, I will,” he assured her. “Considering how much that twenty I put in actually cost me.”
This made her laugh. “Come on,” she said. “I’m dying to get out of the city. Let’s go take that drive so I can see more of Las Vegas than the Strip.”
* * *
Meghan Frost was like no other woman Gabe had ever met. From everything he’d read about her, he thought he’d known what to expect. A wild and crazy party animal, talented but shallow, gorgeous but vain. But she was none of these things. In the short time he’d known her, she’d taken
every preconceived notion he’d had and turned it on its axis, which made him wonder if the people who wrote those articles actually even knew her.
A diva would have basked in the kind of adulation and attention that Meghan sought to avoid. He’d had a few stay as guests and there was nothing they appeared to like better than sweeping through the casino with their bodyguards and entourage, every gesture and movement calculated to draw attention.
And the money. He’d met plenty of wealthy stars, from both film and music. Most of them never seemed to have enough cash. Small wonder, since it seemed they blew it every chance they got.
While Meghan Frost seemed both low-key and humble. And she’d just given away three million to charity.
Of course, all of that would probably change once her show went live and she became the darling of Vegas. Right now, she was on hiatus and acting accordingly.
Outside, storm clouds hung low and ominous over the valley.
“Rain?” she asked, sounding surprised. “I read somewhere that Las Vegas only averaged around four inches of rain a year.”
“Yep. And sometimes we get snow.” He shrugged. “Though lately, it’s been unusually warm for December, so if we get anything, it won’t be frozen. When it actually rains here in the desert, it can be kind of dangerous. You can see it coming, as if someone ripped a hole in a storm cloud.”
“Dangerous? How?”
“Flash floods and high winds. And amazing lightning. The water runs down from the mountains really fast. We definitely need to keep an eye on those clouds.”
“Should I worry?” She glanced from him to the sky and back again.
“No. Most of the dangerous weather is from July to September. Since it’s December, I think this will probably move on. Like you read, rain is really rare here.”
Though she nodded, she cast one more glance at the dark sky. “If you say so.”
“I do.” Somehow, he restrained himself from kissing her.
They drove away from the Strip—not an easy feat with the ever-present traffic jam—and headed toward the suburbs.