Page 13 of Danger

“Whoa, whoa. I wouldn’t call Cole my hero.” I shift in my seat. “I just want to meet him.” Monterey’s blowing this whole thing out of proportion.

She leans forward. “No, I think it’s admirable, Danger. You shouldn’t feel embarrassed. I’m excited for you to meet him. He’s a really good guy. And I love his wife.”

I twist my fingers together, relaxing a bit. “Ok, good.”

“So, Vegas?” Monterey’s eyes light up.

“Don’t get any ideas.”

“What? I’m not going to try to marry you.” She laughs like the idea is so ludicrous. And I guess it is. “Contrary to popular belief, I’m not trying to hop on the Danger train and ride it all night long.”

My ears perk up, my blood pumping a beat faster at the thought of Monterey riding me all night long. “You’re not?” I try to make it sound like I’m joking, but the tone comes out all wrong and husky.

Monterey blinks and we’re both interrupted by Doreen, dropping off our sandwiches.

Thank god too, because things were starting to feel a bit too real.

Chapter6

Monterey

Just staring at Danger from across this table makes me want to squeeze my legs together to ease the constant want and longing for him.

He hasn’t even done anything, but there’s this hint of something in the way he stares at me. Like he knows what I’m thinking.

Like he knows every single dirty thought that’s racing through my mind right now.

And racing is the operative word. Because I want to race him to the moon and back.

It’s exhausting trying to hide my innermost fantasies from him. How can I survive this whole trip with him? How can I survive this whole pretend engagement with him?

When the cameras flashed it became way too real for my heart’s safety. And it frightened me just a bit. The last time I was in the spotlight it didn’t end too well. I’ve never done anything this crazy in my whole life before. It’s insane.

The fact it was my father’s idea makes the whole thing that much more insane.

The waitress, who has been making googly eyes at Danger since we entered, sets our food down in front of us, and I thank her.

Danger hasn’t even looked in her direction, nope, he’s kept his eyes right on me the whole time.

It’s a bit unnerving how he keeps his attention on me. It’s the intensity behind his eyes that ruffles my feathers most. And now I’ve suggested Las Vegas. A charity gala. With champagne and a dance floor. Sure, we’ll have many more events we’ll have to pretend to be a couple at, but for some reason tonight in Vegas has my nerves bouncing off the walls of my insides.

I grab my phone, texting my father to let him know of the change of plans. He immediately types back that he planned on stopping by as well.

Great. More reason to play the part as best I can to win the company.

* * *

We makeit to Caesar’s Palace on the Vegas strip with a few minutes to spare. We get our rooms, separate of course, and I have enough time to get ready and make it down to the ballroom by the time the event starts. If I hurry.

All I really want to do is soak in a giant-sized whirlpool tub and read instead, but there’s something magical in the air tonight. Maybe it’s just Vegas.

I glance at myself in the mirror and try to work my fingers through my hair, smoothing down the stray ends. I spin my long brown hair into an updo, and put a little gloss on my lips.

This will have to do.

When I exit my room my breath is taken away by the sight of Danger in his tuxedo. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in a tux, and I have to say it looks good on him. There’s just something about a man in a tux, and Danger amplifies that ten fold.

“Wow,” he breathes out. “I’m the luckiest guy in Vegas tonight.”

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