50. Natalie

Chapter 50

Natalie

“Let’s sneak out of here,”Luke whispers against my ear.

I lean back into him.

His arms are wrapped around me, and he’s leaning against the half wall behind us for support.

“Okay,” I whisper in return, tipping my head back to look up at him.

The motion makes my vision tilt, so I tip my head back down.

Luke helped me finish off that first drink, and we’ve each had two since.

Or was it three?

Lips press against the top of my head. And my hummingbird sways in my chest, making me feel drunker than I am.

I shimmy my shoulders against him, like I can burrow into his chest. “I like this.”

He chuckles, the sound reverberating through me. “Me too, Princess.” He kisses my hair again. “Now come on.”

Luke drops his arms from around me, and I shift so I’m standing on my own without leaning against him.

A bearded cheek brushes against mine as Luke leans down. “I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

“Hmm?”

A large hand slides down my back until it’s gripping my ass. “You look fucking amazing tonight.”

My already warm cheeks heat even further.

Luke has only ever made me feel good about my body, so I wasn’t too worried about wearing such a formfitting outfit around him, but it’s still good to hear.

“Thanks.” I turn toward him. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

Luke gives me a satisfied look, then takes my hand. And without saying goodbye to anyone, he leads me in the opposite direction from where they all came in.

I think I hear someone shout his name, but neither of us turns around.

It was fun to meet Luke’s friends. They were all super nice, with Jackson probably being the most normal of the bunch, but I can see why Luke gets along with them.

I didn’t know what to expect, knowing he was coming over with his teammates, but I kinda figured he would do the introductions, then want to leave. Or, like some guys I’ve been out with, introduce me, then expect me to stand there silently.

Luke wasn’t like that.

We all talked. Mostly about how I felt about attending my first game, but then it morphed into normal stuff. Chatter among friends.

My heart squeezes at how easily Luke included me, and that happiness seems to kick my buzz up a notch.

I glance up at the sexy man next to me and squeeze his hand.

He slows his stride. “Sorry. I’m used to walking with those beasts.” He tips his head back, referring to his teammates.

“Beasts.” I snicker. But he has a point, since all the players are over six feet tall, Luke included. Then I squeeze his hand again. “I wasn’t trying to make you slow down.”

“No?” he asks, flexing his fingers around mine.

I shake my head and admit, “I just wanted to.”

He flexes his fingers again.

I’ve been to Vegas many times for work meetings, but I’ve only been out on the strip once. It was years ago for a friend’s bachelorette party. And it was not my thing.

But now, as we weave, slightly unsteadily, through the casino floor—the chimes of slot machines surrounding us—I’m thinking it was the company. Because I’m enjoying every second of being here.

Luke pauses, looking around, then he turns to the right.

I follow along in silence, watching the people as we go and trying not to breathe in the cigarette smoke that billows toward me from a stranger’s mouth.

Finally we reach an exit and step outside.

The noise level around us decreases, and I take a deep breath of the outdoor air.

It’s cold back home, so I let my intoxicated self revel in the warm temperature.

We keep walking, my hand still engulfed by Luke’s larger one, keeping me at his side.

The sidewalk isn’t super crowded, but there are people everywhere. All ages. Dressed for all sorts of experiences. But we don’t have to alter our path. Because people move over for Luke.

Maybe it’s the tattoos. Maybe it’s the broad, muscular shoulders. Maybe it’s the way he walks. But his presence is big.

I love it.

And with both of us dressed all in dark clothing, I have to admit we look good together.

Luke bumps into my side as he adjusts his angle.

“Where we going, Mr. Muscles?” I lean into his side as I turn with him.

He lifts his free hand and points ahead. “First stop, slushies.”

I smile. “I’ve always wanted to try one of those.”

Luke looks down at me, his expression matching mine. “Same.”

We make our way to the drink stall on the edge of the sidewalk. Behind the employees is an entire wall of slushie machines, each with a different alcoholic drink ready to go.

Luke asks for the strawberry daiquiri, which sounds good, but I have to go with the piña colada. It’s not even a choice.

The cups are obnoxious. Over a foot tall, skinny in the middle, but wide at the top and bottom, with a cheap lid and a thick plastic straw that begs to be chewed on.

When I lift my little purse to pay, Luke shoots me a narrowed-eyed glare.

I shake my head and let the purse go back to dangling from my wrist.

If he wants to buy these overpriced drinks, I’ll let him.

With the plastic cups in hand, we step out of line and continue down the sidewalk.

We both lift our straws to our mouths at the same time and take our first sips. Luke’s hum of approval matches my own.

I lift my cup, silently offering him a taste.

Luke lowers his, and we watch each other take a swallow.

Fruity sweetness hits my tongue.

I shrug. “Guess I won’t mind you tasting like that later.”

His mouth pulls into a devilish smile. “Why wait?”

I lift my brows. “Because we’re in the middle of a sidewalk.”

The look on his face promises dirty things, and standing here on the crowded concrete, I squeeze my legs together.

Luke’s gaze moves above my head, and I watch him tilt his head.

“Let’s check that out.”

I turn to see what he’s talking about and notice a narrow path cutting between two buildings. It’s not exactly an alley; it’s just a sidewalk that leads to a dead end about twenty yards back. But it doesn’t end at a wall. It ends with a door, a glowing pink light, and a bouncer.

“Looks… interesting,” I reply, torn between curiosity and wanting to run the other way.

Luke squeezes my fingers. “You up for an adventure, Green Eyes?”

I close my lips around my plastic straw and swallow a mouthful of icy booze. “If this turns out to be some sort of black-market organ-swapping party, I’m telling everyone who you are.” Luke lifts a brow, looking amused. “I’m sure your professional athlete body parts are worth more than mine.”

“Nah, Nat. You’re definitely worth more.” He starts to pull me down the path. “But I’ll still sacrifice myself for your freedom.”

Sucking down more of my drink, I just shake my head.

As we get closer, the bouncer straightens from where he’s been leaning against the wall, widening his stance and crossing his arms over his chest.

“Private event,” the big guy grumbles out.

But since Luke doesn’t stop walking, neither do I.

“Hey, man,” Luke greets when we’re a few yards away.

“This is an invitation—” The bouncer stops talking, and his mouth drops open. “You’re Luke fucking Anders.”

I didn’t know it was possible for such a big man to look so starstruck.

We stop in front of the bouncer, and Luke lets go of my hand so he can hold it out. “That I fucking am.”

The bouncer smiles so wide it changes everything about his appearance as he roughly shakes Luke’s hand. “That goal tonight, that was smooth as hell.”

“Thanks, man.” Luke drops his hand, then gestures to me. “Want my girl to take a photo of us?”

The bouncer is nodding before Luke finishes the offer.

It takes a moment, but I get my and Luke’s cups tucked between my forearm and boobs, then I take the man’s phone and hold it up in my free hand to take a couple pictures.

The two are about the same height, but the bouncer is wider, and I have to fight the snicker that wants to come out at Luke looking so small in comparison.

When I hand the phone back, the bouncer checks the pictures, sliding through each one, to make sure they’re good.

He nods in approval before he slides his phone back into his pocket.

The man glances at the door he’s guarding, then back to us. “You two really here for this party?”

Luke moves back to my side, slinging his arm around my shoulders. Then he lies. “Yep.”

The bouncer looks at the drinks in our hands. “Okay, but those can’t come in. Sorry. The caterer will chew me out.”

Luke turns to me. “Race you?”

“What—”

He starts sucking on his straw like he’s trying to drink it as fast as possible.

“Seriously?” I laugh, then start to suck my own drink down.

I go until Luke jerks his cup away and scrunches up his face. “Brain freeze.”

I stop before I reach that point, knowing I don’t need the whole thing anyway.

“You got a garbage can anywhere?” Luke asks the bouncer while pinching the bridge of his nose.

“I can set ’em back here.” The bouncer nods to a little podium in the corner behind the door.

Luke holds his cup out. “Couldn’t’ve told me that before I slammed it?”

The bouncer laughs as he takes both of them. “I never said you had to drink it.”

“That is true.” Luke blinks a few times.

“You gonna survive?” I ask him as he puts his arm back around my shoulders.

“I think so.” He tugs me against his side.

The bouncer sets our cups out of sight, and I cross my fingers that we don’t forget them. I want something to remind me of tonight.

Then the bouncer opens the door, and we walk through.