Page 11 of Hot Lap
"To prove a point.”
“To who?”
"Dunno anymore." He lowers his hand. "It's bloody ridiculous. I should probably return it. Bad luck charm at this point."
I shake my head. "No it's not.” I put one hand on my heart and the other on his arm. “You loved her."
"Maybe." He looks up at the blinking lights of the nearest game, some third-person alien shooter shit, then glances toward the front windows where Hector’s SUV is parked. "You know what? I’ve just figured it out."
"What?" I'm so drunk, I don't even remember what we're talking about.
He looks back at me and there’s more intensity in his green eyes now. "The ring. I kept it so when I met you I'd have it." He captures my hand and slides the ring onto my finger. He stares at it, and this amazing smile lights his face.
Honestly? I don’t think I’ve seen a more handsome man in my life.
Reece’s gaze comes up to meet mine. "See? It fits.” There's wonder in his voice. “You're supposed to be my wife, Maiken."
I stare at him, then the ring on my hand. "Yeah. Sparkly. I love sparkles." I wiggle my fingers, watching the diamond catch the light. “Okay, Reece.” I give him a huge, lazy smile. “I'll marry you.”
“Yeah?” He looks so happy.
“Sure.” For some insane reason, this all makes sense. I look at him and smile again. "That would be the most wonderful thing, Reece Pritchard. What woman wouldn't love to be your wife?"
“Right, but is this mental?”
I giggle. “Yeah.”
We both dissolve into laughter.
"We should finish our game." I stand, but the room tilts like it wants to throw me off.
"Whoa." Reece steadies me. "Or we could call it a night. It’s after three. One of us will be a pumpkin soon."
Outside, Hector is dozing in his car. He wakes when Reece taps on the window, and looks amused at our disheveled state. "Where to, lovebirds?"
Reece answers him while I slump into the seat. He sits back and I snuggle against him, the exhaustion of a full day of dancing followed by a night of drinking and madcap adventure finally catching up with me. His arm goes around me, and I sigh, comfortable and warm.
"You smell nice," I mumble, already half asleep.
"So do you. Like gingerbread."
“Gingersnap.”
The ride passes in a haze. I vaguely register a stop and getting out, talking with some people. Hector is there, too, laughinghis ass off while someone sings off-key. Then we’re arriving at the Wynn. Reece helps me from the car and there’s a bellhop’s surprised face. The elevator ride is a blur, then we're in his suite. It’s spacious and elegant, with floor-to-ceiling windows that show the sky turning from black to blue as night creeps toward day.
"You should sleep." He guides me toward the bed. "I'll take the couch."
"Don't be silly." I kick off my boots and almost bust my ass. Laughing, I add, "You’re my husband, remember?"
“Whoops.” He saves me from meeting the floor with my face. "Bed for you, wife. Then I’ll bring you some water. We'll regret all that booze in the morning."
I hardly notice him returning with water bottles, setting one on the nightstand beside me. I'm already drifting off, still fully clothed on top of the covers. The last thing I remember is the gentle press of his lips against my forehead and his whispered, "Sweet dreams, Maiken."
The ring, I realize with my last conscious thought, is still on my finger.
CHAPTER THREE
Reece had never seenburlesque before last night.
