Page 30 of What Happens In Vegas
Chapter 12
The spa music was lovely. It soothed and calmed her. Bonni had hoped to spend an hour or so staring at Quinn while he did his thing, but instead she’d had the most sinful pastries while Quinn and his brother traded jabs at each other. Landon had never completely relaxed, though, and Bonni could tell he wasn’t entirely sold on her. He’d asked a lot of questions about what she did fora living and where she was from, but she had deflected them as best as she could. She had glanced quickly at Quinn to see if he was wondering as well, but he’d been busy inspecting his pastry.
Quinn had walked her to the entrance of the hotel, and the taxi stand, but before they exited he pulled her into a secluded alcove and kissed her senseless. If it hadn’t been for the girls texting her,she might still be in his arms. Bonni promised to text him later, once her plans with the girls were finalized. Thinking about his kisses made her muscles melt, and her anxiety about leaving Quinn subsided. It surprised her how much she longed to be with him; it was something she wasn’t used to.A man had never thrown her off her game so much before. This was new, and she was trying to figureit out. Bonni stared at the hot, bubbling water foaming around her feet. It felt glorious. Almost as good as Quinn massaging her feet last night. He certainly had the touch.
She almost moaned aloud, thinking about how sweetly they fitted together. Their bodies matched perfectly and . . .stop torturing yourself, Bonni.She shook her head and did her best to put him out of her mind.
‘Earth toBonni.’ A vague voice reached through her thoughts, and a poke in the arm nearly made her jump out of her skin. It seemed she wasn’t doing so good at focusing on the here and now.
She glanced up to find Fredi snapping her fingers. ‘Bonni! Please rejoin us on Planet Earth.’
‘Sorry, I was thinking about something and enjoying the soak.’ Bonni’s toes curled beneath the water as she looked up tofind her friend staring at her.
‘Obviously. I’ve been talking away about this consultation I had with this Bridal Bitch and you haven’t said a word.’ Fredi sounded frustrated and Bonni felt bad.
‘I’m sorry. Again. I’m being a bad friend. My mind has just been busy.’ She pushed herself up in the chair a little higher and began fretting about how torn she was between hanging out with her friendsand being with a man she barely knew. These were her girls, the sisters of her heart, who she barely got to see now that they were scattered across North America. Could she really sacrifice time with them for a vacation fling – for Quinn?
‘Your preoccupation wouldn’t have anything to do with the sexy man that swept you off your feet last night, would it? Did he give you a standing “O” when yousaw him this afternoon?’ Fredi winked.
Bonniturned bright red and tilted her head to the side. ‘Seriously?’
‘Yes, seriously. Having sex in public can add a little spice to the proceedings. Anyway, I can tell you are out in Never-Never Land.’ Fredi’s bluntness was always refreshing, even if it was annoying at times.
Bonni glanced at Ava and Celia. They were relaxing in their chairs, cucumbersresting over their eyes and ear buds in. Both of them were very snobbish when it came to music. Ava was probably listening to the latest Broadway-hit musical soundtrack or the most up-to-the-minute pop-country act and, judging by the tapping of Celia’s fingers, she was blissed out to classic rock.
She turned to Fredi and leaned over. ‘I know this is supposed to be a vacation fling, but I can’tget him out of my head,’ she admitted, something she hadn’t thought she’d be able to do.
Fredi raised her eyebrows. ‘That didn’t take long. Does he have magic hands or something?’ Her crystal-blue eyes narrowed.
‘You have no idea. I swear.’ Bonni let her head fall back and sighed.
‘Uh-oh. Are you hooked?’ The deeply concerned tone in Fredi’s voice clashed with the soothing spa music comingfrom the carefully concealed speakers.
Bonni tilted her face to look at Fredi, ‘I can’t believe it. Me. The epitome of independence. I spend my life surrounded by men – some really hot, really built men – and meh. But one look at Quinn across a crowded dance floor . . .’ She waved her hands in an agitated motion. ‘This is straight out of those sappy movies Ava likes so much. What am I supposedto do with this . . . this . . . whatever it is?’
Fredi leaned on the arm of the chair. ‘Look. Stop being hard on yourself. Roll with it. Enjoy the moment and don’t think about where it’s going. Because it’s likely going nowhere. It’s afling . . .in Vegas. Just don’t fall in love, get pregnant or catch an STD. Not everything in Vegas stays in Vegas. Most importantly, enjoy yourself and havesome fun. Take a break from saving society from itself. You only live once.’
Bonni laughed and reached out to take Fredi’s hand. ‘You do have a way of putting things in perspective. But I feel guilty spending time with him when I came here to be with you guys.’
‘Looook.’ Fredi emphasized the word and pointed at Ava and Celia. ‘Do you think those two would hesitate if they were in your shoes?We’d have to hog-tie Ava to keep her from rushing to the altar, and Dickhead’s done such a number on Celia, if any man could actually make her feel sexy and desirable again, I’d probably loan him my handcuffs.’
Bonni snickered. ‘When did you get handcuffs, you kinky thing, you?’
Fredi gave Bonni a mischievous look which made her laugh even harder.
Bonni waved her hand. ‘Okay. Let’s figure outwhat we’re going to do tonight and then I’ll text Quinn.’
Fredi picked up her phone and began tapping at the screen. ‘No worries, B, we’ll make sure you get your Quinn fix.’
Bonni lifted a shoulder. ‘Do you have to phrase it like that?’
Her friends knew how she felt about substance abuse and addiction. Her older brother had started drinking heavily in college and then started experimentingwith drugs. Their parents had managed to get him help before he destroyed his life. Bonni didn’t mind cutting loose and partying with her friends on occasion, but she preferred to be the designated driver.
Gambling was another activity that was fun once in a while, but it was a slippery slope and could easily take over. Her discomfort at Quinn’s profession rose to the surface. It seemed hypocriticalto be judging him for gambling when she had wonthat money playing the slots but, to her, it was different. Just a stroke of luck – being in the right place at the right time. But Quinn, his livelihood depended on the turn of a card. What happened when the cards were against him? But she remembered the thrill she’d gotten when she’d won, how much she’d been enjoying having the extra money to spoilher friends, so maybe she could understand. She sighed and decided she couldn’t think about it anymore.
Fredi chucked a magazine at Celia and it thunked against her knee, barely avoiding falling into her footbath. Celia hardly reacted and said, ‘Fuck off, Fredi. I’m currently on a beach with a strapping young man named Antonio, who is feeding me grapes, and I’m not worrying about how to replacethe cleats Jilly outgrew. She’s such a tomboy.’
Ava took out her ear buds and peeled off the cucumber slices. Lifting her glass of wine, she said, ‘This is just divine. Not a spreadsheet in sight, just pampering and my best friends.’
