Page 4 of Solid Ground

Zoe nods. “Caitlin’s getting married in two weeks. Neither of us have ever been to Las Vegas. We thought we’d run away for the weekend to celebrate.”

“And now she’s out for the count and it’s still early.” I chuckle.

She blows out a long breath. “Yep. This wasn’t how I saw tonight going.”

For a moment, I study her. “I’ve got a proposition for you.”

Zoe’s eyebrows shoot up, and she runs her tongue along that scarlet top lip. “You do?”

“Your friend is out for the count, and this is your first time in Vegas. Let’s not waste your night.”

Her smile is warm, and I know I’ve hit the target.

“What do you suggest?”

“Leave her a note in case she wakes up. We’ll add my number to it so she’s got contact details for both of us. I’ll show you around, and then we can come back here and drink the complimentary champagne in my penthouse suite.”

Her face lights up in a grin, and her blue eyes sparkle. “That sounds like a great plan.” She hesitates, her gaze returning to the bed.

“We can come back here and check on her after our tour and before we go up to my suite. You said she hadn’t had a lot to drink.”

Zoe nods. “It doesn’t take much to get her drunk. A couple of glasses of wine do it sometimes. She’s crashed on my couch before.”

“If you’d rather not go, that’s okay too. I won’t hold it against you.” I wink at her, and her cheeks flush pink.

She watches Caitlin for a moment. “No. I still want to see Las Vegas before we leave. I don’t know if I’ll make it back here for another visit before the end of the year.”

“What’s happening at the end of the year?”

Zoe’s gaze swings back to me. “I finish my current contract and then depending on what happens, I might be going back to New Zealand.”

I smile. “We don’t have to be gone long. Even if it’s an hour or so.” I take her hands in mine. “But if you want to take a rain check, that’s all good too.”

“A rain check?”

“We do this another time when your friend isn’t drunk.”

Her blue eyes sparkle. “You would do that?”

“I really want to spend some time with you. Maybe we can swap numbers. Plan our own clandestine Las Vegas adventure.” I grin. I’m not sure what it is about this woman, but I want to spend time with her. “Let’s swap numbers and we’ll sort this out later.”

She nods and gives me her number. I type it in and send her a quick text.

“It was nice meeting you, Zoe. Shame about the circumstances, but that can’t be helped.”

Zoe laughs. “Thank you for all your help, Declan. I’d never have been able to get her back to the room without it.”

“You’re welcome.”

TWO

ZOE

I lieon my bed and look up at the ceiling. Declan left an hour ago, and I’m still debating whether I should have taken him up on his offer or not.

Caitlin still lets out the odd snore, but she’s clearly okay. I should have made her eat something before we went down to the bar, but she was in such a rush to start our weekend that I didn’t push it.

Though if she hadn’t been so drunk I might not have met Declan.

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