Reckless Nights (Vegas Nights 1)

Chapter One

Declan Carter was holding her hand. Yes, one of her favorite actors, who had seemed to disappear off the face of the Earth a few years ago when he was on top of his game, was grasping hold of her hand like he never wanted to let it go. His long fingers were strong and warm, his palm pressed against hers. Staring at her with those intense, light blue eyes Reagan remembered being mesmerized by from his movies.

Eyes that seemed to pierce her soul and see right through her, like they never wanted to let her go. They’d had that affect when she watched him on the big screen long ago and they were having that exact effect right now, at this very moment. She parted her lips, eager to say something, anything, but no words wanted to come out. He’d struck her silent with just a look.

He still hadn’t said anything to her either, though she’d uttered a lame “hi” in greeting when James introduced him. Speaking of James…

“Talk, man,” James said under his breath as he sidled up to Declan, giving him a nudge on the shoulder. “Swallowed your tongue or what?” James turned his attention on her. “See? I told you that you look damn good in that dress. He can’t even speak, he’s so enraptured with you. And this man can charm the panties off just about any woman.”

“Shut the fuck up, James,” Declan said, his gaze never leaving Reagan.

Slowly she extracted her hand from his grip. This was getting kind of weird. She felt odd, what with this man staring at her and not saying a word. What was his problem?

And no way was Declan enraptured with her, as James so kindly put it. He could have any woman he wanted. She wasn’t that special.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Reagan said, feeling stupid. Woefully inadequate. Yeah, she was wearing the awesome dress James had convinced her to buy and she’d spent too much money on. It was red and gorgeous and wearing it made her feel sexy, but maybe…

Maybe this was a mistake. Her biggest dream was coming true, meeting Declan Carter, but it didn’t necessarily feel right. First off, he hadn’t really spoken to her. Second, she was a fraud, wearing the expensive red dress when really she was an emergency room nurse. She didn’t wear pricey dresses and attend glamorous parties in Las Vegas. Her normal life consisted of the graveyard shift five days a week, seeing unimaginable things and sleeping throughout the day when normal people went about their business.

Work and sleep. Sleep and work. That was half the reason she and her best friends Andrea and Natalie had planned this girls’ weekend in Vegas in the first place. So they could let loose and have a little fun. Drink fancy cocktails, dance in a crowded club, gamble and flirt with boys. Men.

Sexy, tempting men.

Things hadn’t started out right. Their flight had been delayed—a few times. Their luggage was lost. They met James when they were going shopping for new outfits as they waited for their still-missing luggage and he insisted they buy outrageous cocktail dresses so he could bring them to an exclusive party.

She was thrilled to be at this party, to be in Declan’s presence. But not if he wasn’t going to say anything to her.

“Come with me,” Declan said in a commanding voice, startling her. He wasn’t asking her to come with him—he was telling her.

And she was doing it. Letting him lead her, his hand curved around her elbow, guiding her through the crowd toward the makeshift bar in the corner. The bartender smiled at the both of them, his eyes locking on Declan as his expression turned serious. “Something to drink, sir?”

“Just water for me, thanks,” Declan answered, sliding a look at Reagan. “For you?”

“Um, white wine, please.” How boring. She should’ve asked for some sort of fancy cocktail but she didn’t know the names of any cocktails beyond a Sex on the Beach or a Blow Job shot.

Yeah. That would be moving kind of fast, rattling off dirty-named drinks.

The bartender set the wineglass on the bar and Declan grabbed it, offering it to her, their fingers grazing when she took it from him. A zing shot through her at the simple touch, and his eyes widened the slightest bit before he turned away to accept his glass of water. She took a gulp of her wine, hoping the alcohol would soothe her nerves. This was no big deal, right? Hanging out with an actor, having a drink with him. She could handle it.