Page 73 of Paradise & Vodka
"Thank you."
We put each other's numbers in our new phones before heading back to his SUV. The entire drive to the hotel was quiet and unlike us. It was really starting to sink in that this was the end. I would get out of his car, say goodbye, and then we would both go back to our normal lives.
Nick pulled up to the main entrance for the hotel and stopped behind a taxi. "Thank you for everything," I said, not knowing what else to say.
"You know you can call me if you ever need anything, right?"
I smiled. "Thank you. I'll remember that."
He leaned over slightly and cupped my cheek. "Even though we almost died, I really wouldn't change anything about that trip—well, okay. I would change the ending." We both chuckled. "I had a good time, and I'm grateful that you took me with you. I'm going to miss you."
I felt my throat start to close, and tears prick my eyes. "I'm going to miss you too."
He leaned in farther and brushed his lips to mine. "Any man would be lucky to call you his, and I know that one day you'll find that guy who will come home to you every night."
I nodded, not able to say anything. The tears were threatening to spill over, and I didn't want to cry in front of him. I couldn't let him know that my stupid heart wanted him to come home to me every night.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a hotel worker approaching. Nick saw too. "I gotta go before they make me pay to park or something. Take care of yourself, okay?"
"You too," I whispered.
He leaned in again and pressed his lips to mine one final time.
Two days later,my bed still smelled like Ashleigh, and I struggled to start my day. Maybe that was because I couldn't get her out of my head. I'd only texted her once to tell her that Paul and Joss were trying to get in touch with the authorities in Fiji but hadn't been successful. For all I knew—because Ashleigh hadn't told me either way—Dougie had made contact with Everleigh, and she was going back to New York to deal with her fake marriage.
It felt like the author of that story had stopped writing the book halfway through, and there was nothing except blank pages now. Oh, who was I kidding? I didn't fucking read books, but I still wanted to know what would happen with Ashleigh and her family. Ineededto know if Dougie was behind the kidnapping because it was odd to me that he went to the airport without Everleigh, even if the marriage was a sham. I thought he would need his new bride by his side to collect his inheritance.
My phone chimed with a text, and I reached over and grabbed it off the nightstand.
Mark:Are you ready to work again?
After I'd dropped Ashleigh off at Excalibur, I called my boss to tell him I was back in town but needed a few days because shit had gone down. He was used to the drama happening with his guys, except—unlike my friends—mine wasn't causing me to get out of the game.
I started to text him back but hesitated. My mind went to Ashleigh again, and I closed my eyes. This was why I didn't date outside of Saddles & Racks. This was why I had never gotten attached to a woman before.
This was why I didn't do love.
But I was in love with her. I could lie to her, my friends, and even myself, but my heart knew the truth. I thought about that saying, to get over someone you had to get under another—or whatever it was—and then I texted Mark back.
Me:Yes, of course.
He texted back a few seconds later:Great. You have a date tonight. Check your back office.
My date was with a new client. She wanted to go for drinks followed by dancing and then—you know. It, of course, didn't say that she wanted to end the night in her hotel room, but I knew. A woman wasn't going to pay to have drinks and a few hours out on the dance floor when she could go to any bar or club in Vegas and get that for free with a random guy. She wanted what Saddles & Racks offered: a fun, no strings attached, safe date that ended with an orgasm—or two or three or more.
No strings attached unless you fucking fell in love with your client.
After I got ready for my date, I drove to The Cromwell on The Strip. I left my car with the valet and then headed inside to meet my client at the cocktail lounge behind the check-in desk. I didn't know what she looked like other than she had blonde hair, blue eyes, and would be dressed in a black mini skirt and a red top.
It didn't take me long to spot Angie sitting at the gold and black circular bar. When she saw me approaching, she almost choked on her drink.
"You okay?" I asked as she stood to greet me.
"Yes. Sorry. You're …"
"Yes?" I prompted with a smile.
She turned as red as her blouse. "You're hotter in person."
