I want a lot of things, so I nod slowly. Holy hell.
“I said fuck off—” Gerard never finishes his lame insult. My hero (because what else do I call him?) covers his mouth with one meaty palm. Then he rips his arms free of me, allowing me to jump away. Then Mountain-Hero-Sexy-Pants lifts my failed date with ease into the air.
He says, “Get the hell out of here. Understand? If I catch you manhandling another woman, I won't be as nice.” When he drops Gerard to the floor, the sad excuse for a man scrambles off into the casino, never looking back.
Turning, he looks down at me. He smiles and I realize I'm gawking stupidly. It's just...how often do real people get rescued by unreal sexy heroes? He adjusts his vest, like he noticed a wrinkle. “Are you all right?”
“Um,” I say, wondering how to answer. “Yeah. I'm okay now. Thank you, that was very brave.”
His chuckle feels like a shot of whiskey swimming in my belly. “You were the one who threw water in his face. That's pretty brave, if you ask me.” His hand comes my way. “I'm Nolan.”
I touch my palm to his, enduring a spark. “Dani. Nice to meet you.” His hand drifts away and I sense that if I do nothing, I'm never going to see this guy again. The idea of that makes my blood run cold. “Hey uh, listen...”
His chin goes up, the edges solid and sharp. He's attention is across the casino, like he's sensing danger somewhere else. I almost make a joke about him being Lassie when he smiles at me again. “Would you like to get a drink? It's not as late as I thought it was.”
My tongue moves a little slow and I say, “I'd really like that.”
And it's true.
Fuck, it's true enough to make me forget what I promised myself about never dating again. This doesn't count, I remind myself, following Nolan through the huge casino. We're just having a drink. Getting to know each other. Walking behind the big man, I eyeball his long legs and think about how much I'd like to get to know the bits of him I can't see.
Down girl, I scold myself. In my head I hear my sister reminding me that it's been five years since I dated anyone. If she saw me next to Nolan, she'd be cheering right now.
“Here,” he says, motioning for me to sit at an empty corner of one of the hundreds of Vegas bars. As I pass him, his fingers drift down my spine. The dress isn't super thin but I swear it's like his fingerprints are gliding right over my bare skin.
Swallowing, I sit next to him. I didn't want any alcohol earlier with creeper-man, but with Nolan? I'm ready for something strong. “Whiskey, no ice,” I say when the bartender sways my way.
Nolan casts a surprised smile my way. His eyes are the same color as the drink I'm about to down. “Whiskey? You've got good taste.” He lingers on the word “good” and I wriggle. Jeez, his voice is smooth. “I'll have the same.”
She sets the glasses in front of us; he clinks his on mine. “Are we toasting to something?” I ask.
He chuckles, considering me carefully. “To good times and fateful encounters with beautiful strangers.”
Beautiful? Me? Okay. This man knows how to woo a girl, and I'm already pretty wooed. Swallowing the whiskey, I tingle with the decadent warmth it brings through my skin and bones. It hits my stomach last and I breathe out. “That's perfect.”
He barely nods. He won't stop watching me, but I don't mind. It makes me feel incredibly sexy to have such a handsome man giving me his full attention. “What brings you to Vegas?” he asks.
“It was my sister's idea,” I say, laughing at myself. “She gifted me a vacation. She thinks I work too hard.”
“Do you?”
“Yeah,” I admit, finishing my whiskey. “I definitely do.”
He runs a finger around the rim of the glass. “Me too.”
“So you're here for work?”
“Sort of.” It's the first time I've seen him frown. He was furious at Gerard, but this is something deeper. Darker. When he looks at me again he seems to realize he's let something slip, because his teeth glint in a wide grin. “Sorry. Let's forget work. Do you gamble?”
I'm gambling right now, I think to myself. And I'm feeling pretty lucky.
We finish at the bar after a second glass each. The fire in my blood is also in my belly, and the longer I stand next to Nolan, it shifts in between my thighs. I'm literally rocking in place just from the scent of him.
He takes me to a Roulette table. The dealer glances at him and seems to sense something. I can't follow it anymore than I can follow the damn game, but Nolan is in his element. In minutes he's stacking chips and calling out numbers, colors. “Pick red or black,” he tells me.
I try to count his bet. Is that ten grand? Surely not. Laughing nervously, I say, “Red.”
The dealer spins, and around us, people roar with cheers. That's when I know he's won. Sweeping me into his arms, he plants a kiss on my cheek. “You're a lucky woman,” he teases.
Blushing, I count the chips. “Holy shit,” I whisper. I wasn't wrong; that had been a ton of money, and Nolan needs a bag to collect his winnings. Who is this guy?
Maybe he senses he's losing me, because he hoists the bag and holds my forearm. “Let's walk,” he says, his long legs taking one step for my every two. If he wants me to forget what I just saw, I can't. I don't know anyone who risks money like that. The concept blows my mind.
I don't see the elevator until we're inside of it. The doors slide shut and I say, “Where are we going?”
“My room, if that's all right? I want to drop off these chips. I can cash them out tomorrow.”
It makes sense. I'd seen the lines at the tellers around the casino. Who’d want to stand in them at this hour? Actually... what time was it? I look at my phone—there's text after text from my sister:
Kelly: How was the date?
Kelly: I know it's hard, but try to have fun.
Kelly. For me.
Kelly: You need this, Dani! Live a little!
Peeking up at Nolan, I hide a smile. Yeah. I might take her advice, just not the way she thinks.
The bell dings and we step out together. He's too big—our bodies bump, the result a burst of excited shock in my belly. “Oh!” I say on impulse.
“Sorry,” he laughs, taking my elbow gently. “I'm usually more agile than that. Can't recall the last time I knocked a woman down.”
I almost say, I don't mind being the first. Waving my hand, I follow him down the hall. “It's fine, no harm done.” Nolan seems pacified, but he keeps his hold on me. Like long time loves, we stroll together towards a door on the left side of the hall.
His key card makes it blink green, and then we're inside. “Oh my gosh,” I stammer.
It's my first time seeing such a grand hotel room. Kelly put me up in a basic Queen with a window view and I'd thought that was astounding. But this?
All of the Vegas strip is spread out before me. I could see the neon lights, the glowing fountains, the traffic—it was stunning. I didn't know I had my nose pressed to the glass until he came up beside me. “Like the view?”
“Oh yes,” I gush, smiling up at him. The glass reflects our images back, making double of Nolan. He's close enough that I can count the flecks of honey in his caramel colored irises. I can see stubble on his marble-carved jaw. I wonder if it would be rough under my finger tips. “Do you like it?” I whisper.
“I've never seen a view as good as this.” He's looking straight at me. My heart throttles all the other muscles in my body. I'm sure I've stopped breathing. His hand cups my cheek, caressing like he's never felt another human before. I know I can't be the first, but I love the idea.
His full lips part. “Dani,” he whispers, stirring my bangs. “I'm going to kiss you now. I'm not asking permission...I know you want me too.”
I lick my lower lip. “Why tell me that and not just do it?”
His chuckle is as deep as the lava swimming in the Earth's core. “Anticipation.” I know he'll taste like whiskey before his mouth closes on mine. And I get it—anticipation, I get it.
My body is buzzing as it waits for him to close the distance.
Nolan struck me as a gentleman, but he's more than that.
He's powerful.
He's a risk taker.
He's definitely used to getting his way.