Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

VIOLET

I press the button on the slot machine again, wondering why I'm wasting my money. Thirty minutes in and I'm two hundred fifty dollars poorer. That’s approximately eight dollars a freaking minute swirling down the drain. I’m not sure I understand the appeal of Vegas because so far, it's been a bust for me. Maybe I’m just a sore loser. But gambling aside, there's so much noise here and a ridiculous amount of people swarming around that it takes me a moment to locate the women I've come here with.

I’m only here because Cassie, my best friend, dragged me. She’s a bridesmaid in a wedding and I kind of know the bride, so she convinced the bride to invite me. Cassie made me come to get out of the house since it’s been a while. I seem to go through spells where I allow Cassie to make me social and spells where I barely leave the house. She happened to catch me when I wanted to be a little more social.

Vegas, I’m learning, is asking too much of me. I’m not social enough for Sin City. There is nothing more I want right now than to be anywhere but here. With a sigh, I glance down as I contemplate what to do next.

“Come here often?” a male voice asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.

With a fixed annoyed look, I turn my gaze to the man who takes his seat next to mine. My demeanor softens automatically. Where did this fine specimen of a man come from? He’s absolutely beautiful. If love at first sight was such a thing, consider me a goner.

Unable to help myself, I take in his long legs with thick thighs that are oddly attractive. His fit but not too tight shirt shows off a lean body, and then there’s his panty-dropping grin.

The grin verges on smug and snaps me out of my perusal. I quickly put my annoyed look back into place. I mean, come on . He asked me if I come here often. What kind of pickup line is that?

“Come here often? That's the best you got?”

His grin somehow grows. My heart thumps in my chest impossibly faster and harder. Damn it all to hell, he’s hot. Easy, Violet.

“I seem to have gotten your full attention, so it can't be too bad. What brings you to Vegas? Business or,” he leans in and whispers in my ear, causing shivers to run down my spine, “pleasure?”

I swallow hard as he pulls back. My shiver was completely obvious if his knowing look is anything to go by. Normally, I’d be annoyed that someone came into my personal space, but his hotness distracts me and brings other emotions to the forefront. Emotions I haven’t encountered in a while.

Like lust. Heady, overwhelming lust.

Like loneliness. I’ve gone on a few dates and may have slept with them too soon because I craved the connection, but it’s been awhile since I’ve been with anyone.

A waitress walks by with daiquiris, thankfully distracting me, and I snag one. He surprises me when he does as well. “Pleasure,” I finally answer after taking a long draw from the straw. “You?”

“Business.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Business brings you to the slots?”

He flashes a smile at me again. “My business is done, so I get to indulge myself before I leave.”

Something about him puts me on edge, but not necessarily in a bad way. I turn back to my game, even though I'm done playing. I've lost enough money.

“My name's Zane,” he says, not moving to play either.

“Violet,” I reply as if I can't help myself. With a line like that, I shouldn’t share my name at all. Despite his drop-dead gorgeous looks, he’s probably a creep. Or maybe he’s just brave; I know I would never go up to a random guy and hit on him.

“Hungry, Violet? Because I'm starving.” The way he says it makes me think he’s not talking about food and I fight the shiver that wants to tickle down my spine. Again. I’ve never shivered from a man’s words so much in my life. Then again, my previous count was zero.

I peer around the machine and realize the girls are nowhere to be seen. What kind of friends do I have? We're here for a bachelorette party and they disappear on me? Leaving me with some hottie? My stomach chooses this moment to rumble and growl, as if pushing me to make the decision to go with this perfect stranger.

“Yeah, I am,” I reply, turning to look back at Zane. If I'm going to tragically be murdered, it might as well be because I made a stupid decision in Vegas. No one would miss me anyway, although dying would have some consequences.

That boyish grin appears again with my answer. He stands and holds out his hand. As if my brain has powered off from his sheer height and hotness, I take it and stand. This man is unbelievable. Tall, muscular, and so very handsome. I hadn’t mentioned that yet, right? It makes me wonder why he approached me. He could likely have his pick of women.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think I’m unattractive, but I’m not sure I’m in his league. I’m probably a seven and he’s easily an eleven.

We walk, winding around the machines until he leads me to the outskirts of the casino floor. I'm so very relieved when he simply takes me to one of the restaurants right here in the casino. Perhaps he won’t murder me after all.

The restaurant he chose is some busy, casual burger restaurant. He nudges me by the hips to place me in front of him, so I can order first. I'm surprised when he insists on paying as well. A lot of guys like to go dutch these days, supposedly so they don't offend me. I will never be offended by a man offering to pay for my meal. Or anyone, for that matter. I can hold my own, but it doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate when someone else offers.

While I am grateful to be in a nearby place, I wonder at his intentions slightly when he orders us a round of daiquiris. If he thinks he’ll get me drunk and then have me in bed, he’s lost his mind. I may be crazy enough to have dinner with him, but I’m not that crazy.

He surprises me by sitting down next to me.

Not across from me.

Next to me.

It's unsettling in this way that turns me on.

Maybe I am that crazy.

“What have you done for fun so far on your trip?” he asks once our drinks arrive.

I shrug. “Drink. See men dance half naked. Drink. Gamble. See some shows. Drink.”

He laughs. “Bachelorette party?”

“Yes.”

“How'd you end up by yourself then?”

“I was taking a little break and lost them when you showed up.”

He grins at me as the waitress drops our food off. “Was I distracting?”

“A little. What is your business?”

He shrugs. “Nothing all that entertaining. Where are you from?”

“North Carolina.”

Zane grins and pops a fry into his mouth. “Me too. Well, that's where I live now.”

Some kind of feeling swirls in my gut at hearing this. We both live in the same state? Hm. Interesting. I don’t believe in fate, but if I did, what a neon sign this would be.

“Tell me, Violet. Tell me a secret.”

I squint my eyes at him. Why would I tell him a secret? His knee bumps against mine. That fluttering feeling may be a good reason.

No.

No, it's not.

He's crazy to think I would tell him a serious secret; I don’t even know him. I grab my drink and take a few large swallows. Once I feel slightly more settled, I tilt my head toward him. Might as well give him an opportunity to persuade me. “Why should I tell you a secret?”

“Why not? I'll be gone in the morning. What could it hurt?”

He may have a point, but still... “I don't think you've earned a secret.”

He nods once. “Tell me about your family then.”

My stomach knots tightly for only a moment, just like it does when anyone asks me. Even after all this time, it really hasn’t gotten any easier. “I don't have one.” He raises an eyebrow as if this simply can't be true. “They're all dead, and who’s left hates me.”

Okay, so that’s not exactly true, but it might as well be. It’s better than telling him the truth.

Zane leans back with surprise. “Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't mean?—”

“It's fine,” I reply casually with a shrug.

“What's the craziest thing you've done?” he asks me. The man is packing away some food. He's already nearly finished.

“This?”

He laughs. “You need to spice up your life a little, Violet. Is there anything you haven't done yet in Vegas you still want to do?”

I mull over what he said as I take a bite of my food. I cut my eyes over at him. It seems as if he's been watching me the entire time. Having him sitting next to me, his body heat latching onto mine, and his knee touching mine every so often is driving me crazy more than it should. “You make it sound like I'm boring.”

A wicked smile seems to leap from his face. How does he keep getting hotter? He leans over, getting into my personal space again , and whispers in my ear, “Oh, Violet. Not for one second do I think you are boring. Have no doubt that you excite me.” He presses a soft, entirely too quick kiss just below my ear. My entire fucking body shivers in response.

Oh.

I'm in trouble.

Big, huge trouble .

What am I supposed to say to that? My body urges me to grab his hand and lead him back to my room. My head is stunned stupid. My heart sputters and struggles to maintain a steady rhythm. Think, Violet . He’s waiting on a response!

Zane chuckles when all I can do is stare ahead and take another long draw from my drink.

“What's the craziest thing you've done?” I throw his question back at him once I regain some composure.

He sobers a bit. “Honestly?” I nod. “I'm typically a steady relationship kinda guy. I found myself in an open relationship with a woman, except I guess I didn't really take the open part seriously. Didn't think she meant it. Found out she did in fact mean it and she was also seeing one of my buddies.” When I wince, he nods. “Yeah. So anyway, I,” he shakes his head, “went on a rash of one-night stands and booty calls. Not really my kind of thing, but it was for a while.”

“Sometimes we have to release steam in an atypical way before we find our way back to ourselves,” I say. “Are you still friends with your buddy?”

Zane nods. “Yeah. He didn't know either. They actually live together now. Wouldn't be surprised if they get married. No hard feelings. It was my fault for not taking what she said seriously.”

Wow. He's taking this better than I think I would. “Back to serious relationships only then?”

He gives me another crooked smile. “If I can help it. My job can make things difficult. I travel a lot and...” He seems to catch himself and stops. “It doesn't really matter. Back to what I asked you: Is there anything you want to do here that you haven't done yet?”

“Yeah. I want to go see that fountain, but the bride isn't all that interested if alcohol, dicks, or glitter isn't involved.” I take my last bite and guzzle the last of my drink.

Zane laughs. “Let's go then.” He stands and takes my hand before I can think about protesting.

Finally, my phone vibrates with a text and Cassie asks where I am. Again, if I'm going to die tragically in Vegas, let it be by the hands of this handsome man. I have nothing to lose, though my heart screams that I do. The time I spend with him is bound to be more exciting than what my trip has been so far. I text back that I'm going to see the fountain. If I mention I'm with a guy, they'll be upset considering this is a girls-only trip.

“Telling someone you've been kidnapped?” he asks, humor coloring his tone.

“Yes,” I lie.

“I'll return you safe and sound, I promise.”

“I'm sure that's what all murderers promise.”

Zane laughs and I swear on my life, my heart skips a beat. If this keeps up, I’ll have a heart attack before morning. “I have too many things to accomplish to murder someone and risk going to prison. Sorry to burst your bubble.”

We walk next to one another down the street.

“You have thought about murder and its consequences then?” I ask as I put my phone away in my back pocket.

He chuckles and shrugs, which should be worrisome. But it seems to be one of the days where I don’t give a damn about anything. Including my safety.

At one point, the sidewalks get super crowded and Zane takes my hand to ensure we stay together and somehow manages to shield me from everyone else. I feel so out of place here. So overwhelmed. Vegas is nothing like back home. Zane, though, he seems to be in a class all his own. He walks confidently down the street, tall and at ease. I almost think some people do a double take when they see him, but I would too if I saw a man that gorgeous.

We manage to get a good spot before the next show at the fountain starts. Zane places me in front of him and almost uses his body to create a shield behind me again. Like Zane, I'm not one to normally sleep with someone unless I'm in a relationship, but in moments of weakness, I have found myself searching for someone to lend comfort. Sometimes, those weaknesses come about frequently, especially since it’s hard to find someone for a relationship when I can barely take care of myself.

Zane, though…

For the first time ever, I want to sleep with someone truly for the hell of it. If I never see him again, then I at least got the experience. Because man, I bet the experience is heart-stopping. My entire body feels on edge and thrums with anticipation simply standing a few inches from him. The place where his hands rest on my hips tingles with warmth.

The water begins to move in sync with music. Yet I’m continuously distracted by the man behind me. It doesn't help that his fingers do a dance along my hips. Someone nearby shouts something about the Lord, but they might as well be a thousand miles away. How can a simple thrum of fingers send my heart racing? Since the view in front of me isn’t distracting me enough, I turn around and face Zane.

“What's your secret?”

He grins, as if thrilled I'm turning the tables and asking him. Tortuously slow, he bends his head until he's a breath away. “I want to do extremely dirty things to you, but I'd settle for a kiss.” He pretends to think for a moment. “Or your number.”

“You can have the kiss,” I reply without hesitation. Why wouldn’t I? My body craves Zane and his statement dangles in front of me like a tempting treat.

Zane doesn't hesitate. He cups the back of my neck and kisses me. My knees weaken. A new word needs to be invented. Kiss is such an inadequacy. He presses his lips to mine as if this moment is what makes or breaks us, as if our very fate depends on this kiss, and we aren't willing to break apart to see how we fare. The whole world stops. I swear it.

His mouth consumes me. Devours me. My heart disintegrates, completely overwhelmed with emotions. It feels like safety, love, comfort, and pure bliss all wrapped in one crazily hot package. This moment, I want to live within it forever.

Zane breaks free. Barely. His chest heaves against mine, his lips huff air against mine. “Want to go somewhere?”

“Yep.”

What?

Did I just agree to what I think I agreed to? There's not a lot of time to think about it. Zane works fast in hauling me down the street. He stops after a few steps to maul me again. His hands run up and down my back, underneath my shirt, and then his hands freeze mid-back.

“Fuck. Your room okay?” He hesitates and then adds, “I am having to room with a, uh, co-worker.”

“Sure.”

We turn around and hightail it the way we originally came, every so often stopping for Zane to kiss me. In the back of my mind, I wonder if it's odd that he decided to gamble in a different casino than the one he's staying in. Zane doesn't give me a lot of time to think, though.

I text Cassie and let her know that I have a horrible migraine and I'm turning in for the night. Thank goodness I got a room to myself; that should ensure I'm left alone. She also knows that my migraines can be pretty debilitating. If I say I need to step away for that, no one will question me.

Just before we step onto the elevator, a couple steps out.

“Hey! Aren't you Zane Landry?” the guy asks.

“Sorry, no. I get that all the time, though,” Zane replies.

“You get mistaken for someone else who has the same first name?” I ask when the guy continues on his way.

He shrugs. “Sometimes.”

He corners me the moment the elevator doors close, kisses me, and I forget all about his case of mistaken identity. I never thought I’d be one to make out in public, or have sex in a public place, but when his hands are on me, his mouth attacks mine, and his body presses fully against me, I lose all common sense. I would follow his lead, wherever he wants to go. Even if he wanted to strip me naked in this elevator right now.

Zane pulls away a moment before the elevator doors open. Amazingly, without any hesitation, I lead him to my room. And what ensues blows my mind. The passion. The heat. The unbelievable ecstasy. It’s as if we already know each other well enough that pleasing one another is seamless. It’s never been so easy to be with someone as it is with Zane. It’s never been as wonderful as with Zane. What kind of black magic spell has been cast on us? I mean, I knew by the looks of Zane, things in the bedroom may be good, and this was definitely a risk that turned out to be well worth it.

It’s almost as if there was a ravenous sex drive hidden within me and with every orgasm he gives me, it slowly comes out of hiding until I’m addicted and needy. Yes, I can certainly stay in this bed with Zane and never leave again.

We start to drink as well. This is partly my fault because it’s even more crystal clear why I’m here in Vegas and what is missing from my life. The thought depresses me enough that I don’t want to think of it anymore. I don’t want to think how bleak my life will look once I return to North Carolina. I don’t want to think about the cards life dealt me and how they weigh me down until I’m drowning.

I don’t want to think about how this one-night stand will likely be the best night I’ve had in the last few years.

I want to forget all of that and enjoy the person in front of me, even though I won’t ever see him again.

“Tell me yours,” he whispers at some point.

Ah, right. A secret. He did share one with me. He also most certainly earned it. He could ask anything of me at this point and I’d give it to him. It’s no surprise to me that once again any ounce of hesitation flies out the window.

With my gaze on the ceiling, I easily reply, “I wish I was the one getting married.” Tears swell and I work to blink them away. “All I want is a family. A family that actually loves me. It's been so long since I've felt loved, I don't even know what it feels like anymore. I just want a family again so damn bad.”

If Zane takes pity on me, he doesn't say. Instead, he kisses me softly and then one kiss turns to two. Then three. And a kiss turns into more. How sad that it's a one-night stand with Zane that makes me happier than anything else has in the past few years.

When I awake in the morning, a migraine actually pulses throughout my head. I pull the blanket over my head with a groan. Hidden beneath the comfort of the sheets, I rub my face when an unfamiliar texture grazes my skin. I toss the covers off my head and look at my hand, the source of oddness.

My eyes bulge at the sight. A gorgeous engagement ring and wedding band rest on my ring finger. I roll over and see I'm alone in bed; a white dress lays in a heap in the chair. There's a note on the pillow where Zane was when I fell asleep. I'm so confused. What happened? Did we leave the hotel room and…

No .

We couldn't have.

A sinking feeling in my gut overwhelms me as I read the note Zane left.

Violet,

Had to catch an early flight out. Sorry to leave without saying goodbye, but I didn’t want to wake you. I'm leaving my number. Please get in touch when you're back in NC, or sooner if you'd like.

Your husband,

Zane

Holy shit.

I married my one-night stand and I don’t remember it. Just when I thought my life couldn't get worse. Here I thought my migraine is what would make this a bad day. What the hell am I supposed to do now? With a groan, I pull the covers back over my head. This is so a problem for another day.