Freed (Steel Brothers Saga 18)

The thought makes me happy. Makes me think I actually can do this. Have a relationship for more than two months.

Have a lifetime…

A lifetime with such a remarkable woman. A woman who completes me in a way I never thought possible.

A woman who might just be able to chase the demons away for good.

I stand. “I’m going.”

“Good for you. I’ll drive you to the airport in Grand Junction, and you can get on the next flight out.”

I shake my head. “I’m leaving now. I’ll take the truck.”

“The truck? Don’t be ridiculous. Go home. Take one of the cars.”

“Nope. I’m leaving now, before I change my mind.”

“You need to pack.”

“All I need to do is call Mom to take care of Penny.”

“You might want something other than jeans for a wedding.” Ryan snickers.

I sigh. “For God’s sake. Fine.” I grab my key fob. “I’ll call you when I have details. I’ll be back in a few days.”

“Good enough. And Dale?”

I look over my shoulder. “Yeah?”

“Go get her, man.”

Uncle Ryan was right. I’m much more comfortable in my Mercedes. It’s nearing midnight, and I’m ten minutes outside the Las Vegas strip. Uncle Ry’s assistant got me Ashley’s hotel information. The Rio. Her mother, Willow White, is due to arrive tomorrow, and the wedding… The assistant couldn’t find a reservation at a chapel, but I’ll see Ashley before then.

It’s late, but I already have Ashley’s room number. I reserved a suite at the Cosmopolitan. We’ll move there tomorrow.

Will she be happy to see me? I have to assume so, since she invited me to come in the first place.

But…

I pull into the Rio and hand off my keys to the valet.

I enter the glitzy hotel and look around for the elevators. Looks like I’ll have to walk through part of the casino to get to where I need to go. Not a problem. I’m hardly a gam—

My heart jolts so hard I swear I can see it trying to escape my chest.

Ashley sits at a blackjack table, flanked by two handsome businessmen—one black-haired and bronze-skinned, the other blond and tanned—in suits. Expensive suits. Just because I only wear them when necessary doesn’t mean I can’t tell fine clothes from cheap ones.

Fuck. It. All.

She’s laughing, but I don’t hear her, of course. The din of the casino—bells, laughter, screams of joy—overshadows everything.

Everything is black and white. Only Ashley vibrates with color—her blond hair, red lips, pink shirt cut low to expose the tiny bit of cleavage she has. Is that a push-up bra? Why is she wearing a push-up bra?

Anger heaves into me. Or is it jealous rage?

I don’t know what the hell it is. I know only that my Ashley is flirting with two men who are probably younger than I am.

I had sex with two men at once.

Her confession from last night. Rather, two nights ago, as it’s after midnight now.

This is so not happening.

I stalk toward her despite the crowds. People cower and make way for me, as if I’m a giant plowing through their Lilliputian environment.

Apparently it’s obvious I mean business.

I come up behind her.

“Ashley,” I say gruffly.

She turns, and—

“Oh my God! Dale!” She jumps off her stool and throws her arms around my neck. “What are you doing here? You know what? I don’t care. It doesn’t matter. I’m just so glad you’re here.” She presses her lips to mine in a quick kiss.

“You’re up, darlin’,” the dark-haired suited man says.

I say nothing, though I feel a growl deep in my chest. Does Ashley hear it? Is it wine red? Or is it black, the way I feel?

She turns. “Oh! Right.” She scrambles back onto her stool and makes the gesture to stay. “Dale, this is Carlos and Mike. They’re from Texas.”

Like I care. “Cash out,” I say. “We’re leaving.”

“But I’m on a winning streak. Carlos says never to leave a table when—”

Do I look like I care what Carlos has to say?

Carlos—I assume—meets my gaze and holds out his hand. “Carlos Cruz.”

I take his hand under duress and grip it hard. Hands off. She’s mine.

The blond holds out his hand next. “Mike Hammond. And you are?”

“Dale Steel. Ashley’s boyfriend.”

Man, that sounds stupid. I’m thirty-five years old. Too old to be simply a boyfriend. This bites.

So your idea of a threesome is off the table.

“Carlos and Mike are here for an oil and gas convention,” Ashley says. “They just happened to find me at the slot machines and asked if I wanted to learn blackjack.”

Just happened to find her. Right.

“They’ve given me some great pointers.” Ashley holds up a little card. “This tells you what to do each time to maximize your odds of winning.”

Great pointers, huh? Those cards are available in every gift shop in Vegas. Nice touch, guys. You found a woman who’s never gambled before—never been to Vegas before—and you’ve made yourselves look like you know what the hell you’re doing.