Chapter 3

Three

JAKE

“ H oly shit. I think I’m in love,” Zander gasped, staring hard over my shoulder.

Orion, Januz, and Christopher turned to follow his gaze, and at their stunned expressions, I set down my drink and swiveled my stool around.

Shock pulsed through my system, and I gaped at the vision standing a few feet away.

Two women stood talking at a high-top table. But I barely noticed one of them because the other had captured my complete attention.

She was gorgeous. White-blond curls fell to her shoulders, a sexy white dress clung to her subtle curves, and below the table, I glimpsed toned legs and fuck-me red heels.

My body reacted with a bolt of lust that went straight to my dick. But her heart-shaped face, high cheekbones, big brown eyes, cute nose, and plump, kissable lips made my heart thump wildly.

My mind went to pretty much the same place as Zander’s. Two seconds ago, I would have sworn up and down that love at first sight was bullshit. Now…I wasn’t so sure.

It was a stupid thought, considering the circumstances. Beyond the fact that I hadn’t spoken to the woman, I only had a few days in Vegas. Even if we spent every minute of them together, that was all we’d ever have. Then we’d never see each other again. Something about the thought of a fling with this woman turned my stomach a little sour, but I pushed it aside in favor of the pleasure that came from imagining all the wicked things I could do to that body.

When she smiled, it lit up her entire face, then she burst into laughter. Damn. I’d never seen anything more beautiful.

“No rings,” Christopher commented before lifting his bottle to his mouth and taking a swig.

“I’ll put a ring on either one’s finger,” Zander murmured.

A red haze fell over my eyes, and fire simmered in my gut. I didn’t want any of these assholes to even look at the blonde.

Before any of them could make a move, I slid off my stool and stalked toward the girls.

Light brown eyes met mine as I approached, and the fire inside me flared with an entirely different type of kindling. Interest sparked in her gaze as a lazy smile spread across my face.

“Hello, beautiful,” I said as I came to a stop next to her.

She twisted in her seat and dropped her head back to look up at me. I’d noticed she was small, but being so close now, she looked absolutely tiny. However, she didn’t give me the impression that she was fragile. An innate strength radiated from her, along with self-confidence, which made it clear she was comfortable in her own skin. Which was really fucking appealing.

“Can I help you?” she asked with a cute little smirk.

“I think I should be asking you that question.”

Even in the dim light of the bar, I spotted the slight tinge of pink that bloomed on her cheeks.

Interesting . Despite her obvious self-confidence, there was a sweet innocence that I hadn’t noticed at first. It made her all the more intriguing to me.

“How about we start by letting me buy you a drink?”

She cocked her head to this side and studied me for a moment. Then a dimple popped in each cheek when she smiled, and my knees went a little weak.

It was a good thing I’d leaned my elbow on the table before she hit me with those lethal things.

“Only if you tell me your name. I’m not in the habit of letting strangers buy me drinks.”

I chuckled and held out my hand. “Fair enough. I’m Jake.”

“Hannah,” she replied. Her eyes widened when her palm slid against mine.

Our skin sizzled with electricity, and my eyes dropped to her tempting red lips. I imagined what that spark would feel like when her lips pressed to mine and desire rippled through my body.

However, I didn’t want to move too fast and scare her away, so rather than pull her to me and find out if I was right, I reluctantly released her hand. “What are you drinking, baby?”

Her cheeks turned pink again, and I held back a groan. That sweet blush was so fucking sexy. And I wondered how far down it would go when she was consumed with passion.

Damn, I needed to get a fucking grip before I threw her over my shoulder and bolted for my hotel.

“I don’t usually?—”

“She’ll have a chocolate martini,” her friend cut in.

Hannah shot her friend an exasperated glare, and I chuckled. Her eyes came back to me, and she smiled, her gaze dropping to my lips.

I was seconds away from kissing her, so I tore my gaze away and looked at her friend. “Can I get you something as well?”

“Sure. I’ll have the same.”

I nodded as my eye slid back to Hannah. “Sit tight,” I murmured, then pivoted and stalked back to the bar.

Zander sidled up to me as I ordered three drinks. He was still staring toward the girls, his expression intrigued.

“So what’s the story with them?” he asked. “Clearly, you’ve staked a claim on the blonde—which is shocking because I’ve never seen you do that before—but is her friend single?”

I shrugged. “Didn’t ask.” It suddenly occurred to me I hadn’t asked Hannah if she was unattached. I assumed she wouldn’t let me buy her a drink if she was dating someone, but I could be wrong. The thought of Hannah with someone else made me want to put my fist through a wall…before finding the motherfucker and beating the shit out of him, so Hannah was free to be with me.

If Zander was shocked that I’d staked a claim on a woman, he’d be floored knowing the other shit floating around in my head. The instant possessiveness I’d felt for Hannah was new to me. I couldn’t remember ever feeling such potent desire for a woman or a need to keep her entirely to myself. I hated that other men in the room were imagining her naked. And I knew they were. I was a man; I knew what bastards we could be.

The drinks appeared on the shiny bar top, and I reached to take them, but Zander snagged one of the martinis first.

“I got this,” he informed me, then walked away without waiting for a reply.

Shaking my head, I picked up Hannah’s and my glasses and followed my friend back to the table.

“Here, baby,” I breathed as I set her drink in front of her.

“Thanks,” she said, her dimples popping out again.

“I’m Zander,” my friend announced, his focus solely on Hannah’s companion.

“Wendy,” she replied with a laugh.

He handed her the martini glass, and she raised an eyebrow.

“Pretty presumptuous for you to buy me a drink.”

Zander gave her a crooked smile. “I didn’t”—he pointed at me—“he did.”

Wendy tossed back her head and laughed. “I appreciate your honesty.”

Hannah giggled, drawing my full attention since I didn’t really care what was happening between Wendy and Zander. Although if he kept her company so I could steal Hannah away—even if he didn’t know that’s what he was doing—I’d owe him a bottle of his favorite tequila.

“Have you had dinner?” I asked.

I held in a groan when her lips curled up, and those sexy dimples appeared. “Yes.”

“Damn,” I muttered.

Hannah’s mouth curved into a full smile. “But I haven’t had dessert.”

I turned to Wendy, not caring that I was interrupting her conversation with Zander. “Mind if I steal your friend away for Christmas Eve?”

Wendy paused and looked at me, her dark brown eyes twinkling. “Only if you promise to make her do something spontaneous and wild,” she said with a devious twist to her lips. “Make sure she ends up on The Naughty List.”

I winked at her before turning my gaze back to Hannah. “I think I can agree to that.”

“Good. She needs to loosen up and have some fun for a change.”

Hannah gasped and scowled at her friend, her cheeks painted red. “I’m fun!” she insisted.

Wendy snorted. “Not the right kind of fun, Hannah Banana.”

“We won’t do anything you don’t want to do,” I assured Hannah as I held out my hand. “But I reserve the right to try to talk you into being ‘spontaneous and wild.’”

My beautiful girl blushed harder, but her expression was tinged with intrigue.

“I like him.” Wendy giggled.

A low growl emitted from Zander, and I glanced at him in surprise. He glared at Wendy as he closed the distance between them and grabbed her stool, swiveling her around to face him.

I didn’t wait around to see what happened next. Holding out my hand, I only had to wait a second before Hannah placed hers on my upturned palm. Her hand was practically engulfed by mine when I threaded our fingers together. But they blended easily…and it reinforced my belief that her body would fit perfectly against mine.

“Are you sure?” Hannah asked worriedly. “I don’t want to ditch you on Christmas Eve.”

“I’ll keep her entertained,” Zander offered, his eyes never leaving Wendy’s face.

It looked like he might be as taken with her as I was with Hannah. I wondered if he’d forgotten that he would be headed back to his home country of New Zealand in a few days. Like me and the other two guys we’d come with, he’d be headed into intense training for the Olympics.

“Go, go,” Wendy told her with a wave of her hand. “If this sexy accent and growly attitude turns out to be a bust, I have bubble bath and a romance novel to keep me warm tonight. Go let your hair down, Hannah Banana.”

“Okay, but consider this your Christmas present, Wendy Darling,” Hannah quipped at her friend as I helped her off the stool. Both girls laughed and wished each other a Merry Christmas before I guided Hannah to the bar's entrance.