Page 22 of Bad Luck, Hard Love
“Charlotte?” Minny smiles with raised eyebrows. I hated being called Charlotte. My full name sounds too formal, but the way he says it sets me on edge. His voice’s sultry, deep tone overrides the disdain I have for it.
“Are you ready to go?” he asks, extending his hand to me.
Blushing, I take his hand and let him lead me out of the room. Minny peeks out the door with a smile on her face. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” she yells after us before stepping back inside.
As we walk down the hotel corridor toward the elevator, I can’t help but feel a flutter of excitement building within me.
“Do you have an idea of where you’d like to go?” I ask him as we wait for the elevator.
“I have it all taken care of,” he smiles.
“You do?” I ask as the elevator dings, and he pulls me inside. He never releases my hand as he presses the button for the penthouse floor.
“The penthouse? I thought we were going to dinner.” The apprehension must be clear in my tone because he shifts to look at me.
“Do you trust me, Charlotte?”
My breath hitches in my chest. “Yes, I do.”
The elevator doors close, enveloping us in the small space. “I’ve arranged for a private dinner on the rooftop terrace.”
My heart skips a beat at his words, and I can feel the anticipation building within me. “You didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”
Thor chuckles softly, his thumb gently brushing against my hand, still entwined with his. “For you, it’s no trouble at all,” he says sincerely. “I wanted to make tonight special because you deserve it.”
A warm flush spreads across my cheeks as his words wash over me. It’s been so long since anyone has made me feel this way—deserving of something special. I lean in closer to him, my heart pounding with nerves and excitement.
CHARLOTTE
The elevator ascends swiftly,my stomach fluttering with each floor we pass. I'm not sure if it's the speed of our climb or the way Thor's thumb traces lazy circles on my hand. His presence fills the small space like he belongs.
“So, a rooftop dinner,” I say, trying to calm my nerves. “You certainly don't do things halfway.”
“Life's too short for half measures,” he replies, his voice a low rumble that sends shivers down my spine. “Besides, after whathappened last night, I figured you might appreciate somewhere more private.”
The elevator dings as we reach the top floor. Thor leads me through a corridor lined with elegant sconces, their warm light casting our shadows against the textured wallpaper. At the end stands a sleek black door markedTerrace Access.
“After you,” he says, holding the door open.
I step through and gasp. The Las Vegas skyline stretches before me, a glittering tapestry of lights against the darkening desert sky. The terrace has been transformed into an intimate dining space. A single table draped in crisp white linen sits in the center, surrounded by dozens of candles that flicker in the gentle evening breeze. Two covered silver platters wait on the table alongside a bottle of wine chilling in an ice bucket.
“Thor,” I breathe, taking it all in. “This is...incredible. I thought this was a casual dinner. This seems more like a date.”
“Why can’t it be?” he says with a smile.
I glance away—only to find Thor watching me.
“What?” I ask, unsure why he’s focused on me with so much beauty surrounding us.
His eyes linger, intense and unflinching. His jaw tightens slightly, and a mischievous smile curves at the corner of his lips.
“You…” he says, voice low and husky, “…you are the most amazing thing in this city.”
My heart skips a beat as his words hang in the air, electrifying the space between us. The seductive allure of Sin City merges with the undeniable chemistry crackling beneath the surface. What started as a chance encounter at one of the hotel’s bars has led us here—seated at the only table on the rooftop, a private oasis high above the neon chaos of the Strip.
The table is intimate, tucked beneath string lights that sway gently in the warm breeze. The skyline stretches around us inevery direction, glittering like the promise of something reckless and unforgettable.
“You know nothing about me other than you rescued me last night,” I say with a soft chuckle, still half in disbelief at how surreal this feels.
