Their New Beginning (Oh Captain, My Captain 5)

“Vegas? Oh, the stories I could tell you,” he chuckles.

“I’m sure I’ve heard them all,” I giggle.

“I’m Rob.” He sticks his hand out.

“Avery.” I softly shake it.

“Married?” he points to my left hand.

I look down at my platinum band. I rarely wear my engagement ring because it’s so large. I think Jax bought the biggest one imaginable.

“Yes,” I confirm.

“Is he here?”

I shake my head. “I’m here with my best friend.”

There’s relief on his face. “Girl time.”

I nod again. The bartender comes over, and Rob orders two bottles of waters. I look at the dance floor and Jasmine is all over the hot guy. I shake my head.

Rob begins to tell me that he’s unattached and is here for the massive wedding. I guess it’s some hotshot power couple in England, but I’d never heard of them. Rob also tells me that he’s a businessman in London.

I hate to say it, but I could have listened to him read the phone book with that accent. What is it with American girls and that accent that makes us weak in the knees? I tell him I’m a nurse and how I grew up in Vegas, but there isn’t much to tell after that.

“What about your husband?”

“He plays professional hockey.” I don’t usually say his name. In fact, not a lot of people know what Jax does. I don’t want the attention.

“Ice hockey? Wow, that’s interesting.”

“I guess.”

Jasmine slides in between us. “You okay?”

“I’m fine. Are you?”

“I’m going to have some fun, but I’ll be back before we leave in the morning.” She kisses my cheek and is off with the hot guy.

I smile at her carefree spirit. “I think I’m going to turn in. I have an early flight,” I tell Rob.

“Let me walk you to your room.”

I shake my head. “No, thank you.”

“Please. It’s the gentleman thing to do.”

I give in and nod. I follow his lead out of the bar and into the lobby. We head over to the elevators.

“Eight,” I tell him as we walk in. We ride in silence to my floor, and I step off first. I stroll down the quiet hall until I reach my door. “Thanks again.” I smile at him.

“I hate to be so forward, but I can’t image a beautiful woman like you on vacation with your husband at home.”

Beautiful? There’s a word I haven’t heard used on me in a very long time.

“Thanks. My husband was busy. That’s why he didn’t come.” That isn’t a complete lie.

He steps closer to me and touches my cheek. I stop breathing. Rob’s skin is soft on mine. Not like Jax’s rough hockey hands.