Page 29 of What Happens In Vegas
Something caught his eye through the restaurant windows. He squinted and searched the throng shuffling by. Then he saw her, and his breath stuck in his lungs. Just like last night, the crowd seemed to part and a light showndown, illuminating her. His reverence for Lady Luck aside, Quinn wasn’t particularly superstitious, but this was the second time he’d seenBonni among a mass of people, and everyone around her faded to grey. He had to admit it felt like some kind of sign.
‘I’ll be right back.’ He grabbed his phone and bolted from the chair.
‘Where are you going? Are you sticking me with the check, jackass?’
Quinn heard Landon, but didn’t bother to answer his brother as he rushed out of the restaurant before he lost sight of Bonni.
But, by the time he’d got out to the crowd, she was gone.
‘Damnit!’ Quinn searched for her dark head. Weaving in and out, he picked up his pace until he saw her ahead. Quinn smiled at the rush of emotion that filled his chest. Just then, his phone – finally – buzzed.
Hi, it’s Bonni. I was going to surprise you at the tournament, but then I thought maybe that would distract you or something. I don’t know if you get breaks between rounds or whatever, but let me know if it’s still okay if I stop by.
Her head was bent over her phone and she stood partially blocked by a pillar. Approaching her, he used his phone to reply:Turn around.
When he was close enoughhe reached out and grabbed her arm.
She whirled to face him, her hand raised, and he was pretty sure that, if he hadn’t dodged, she would have punched him.
‘Hey. It’s me,’ he said, feeling a little foolish.
‘Holy shit, Quinn, what the hell! You don’t go around grabbing women from behind! Didn’t your mother ever teach you that?’
The frustration in her voice was a new element to her, and hedecided he much preferred her soft moans of passion.
‘I’msorry, I shouldn’t have done that,’ he said, giving her his most charming smile.
Bonni rolled her shoulders slowly, allowing the tension to seep from her body. She lightly swatted him on the arm. ‘Don’t do it again.’
He caught her hand and entwined their fingers. At last she smiled back, and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. ‘I thoughtyou were in the tournament?’
‘It’s finished. Done a while ago now.’ Quinn felt his phone buzzing in his pocket and knew it was his brother, wondering where he was. Landon could wait.
‘Really? I thought they took forever. Like an all-day affair – you know, as seen on TV.’
He shook his head. ‘Sometimes it can, but this one was quick. It didn’t take long. I won.’ Quinn wasn’t in the habit of braggingabout a win in a qualifier – it felt too much like he might jinx the tournament – but he wanted to impress Bonni.
‘Oh my God, Quinn, that’s awesome! Congratulations! What happens next?’ Bonni moved in to give him a congratulatory hug, and he wrapped an arm around her waist before she could step back.
‘Next qualifier is bright and early tomorrow. So, do you have plans for tonight?’
Bonni drapedher arms over his shoulders and leaned into him. ‘We’re doing spa treatments in about an hour, but I’m not a hundred per cent sure about tonight. We’ve talked about going to a show, but no one has decided yet.’
Over her shoulder, Quinn saw Landon walk toward them, glancing down at his phone. Bastard was probably tracking him through the Find Your Friends app. Turning it on hadbeen a conditionLandon had insisted on before he agreed to manage Quinn’s personal portfolio. He was such a worrywart.
‘Dine and ditching your own brother. Just for that, you’re paying me back for the whole thing now.’ Landon gave Quinn a pointed look. He turned his attention to Bonni. ‘And who do we have here?’
Quinn could feel Bonni stiffen up. She didn’t wait for Quinn to introduce them. Stepping back, sheforced him to release her and reached out a hand to Landon. ‘Bonni Connolly.’
He savored the fact that he now knew her last name, which momentarily distracted him from Landon grasping Bonni’s hand and attempting to smolder at her. ‘Landon Bryant, this shithead’s brother. Pleased to meet you.’ His eyebrows rose. ‘That’s a firm handshake you have there, Bonni.’
Okay, that was enough of that. Quinnshot his brother a murderous glare, and the bastard smirked before Bonni managed to tug her hand free. She looked between the two men. ‘Sorry, but I don’t see a resemblance.’
He’d been hearing that all his life. While they shared a similar build, Quinn took after his father while Landon resembled their mother. ‘No, Landon didn’t inherit the family’s rugged good looks, but we let him stick around.’
Bonni smiled at him while Landon flipped him off behind her back. His brother got his revenge, though. ‘So, Bonni, what are you doing now? I’d love to hear about how you and Quinn met.’
Before Quinn could cut off that line of questioning, Bonni was explaining about meeting up with her friends. ‘Oh, you have time, then? You must let Quinn and I treat you to this wonderful patisserie in the hotel.They have simply delicious macarons.’
Landon began to usher Bonni away, and she shot Quinn alook over her shoulder. His hopes of sequestering Bonni for some private time to explore the connection between them disappeared. Quinn stalked after his brother and his woman, wondering how mad his mother would be if he took steps to become an only child.
