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“Camila, I’m Miles. Nice to meet you.” I extend my free hand to herand she lets out a small laugh as she places her hand in mine.

“This might be the most formal encounter I’ve ever had in a nightclub.”

I don't know how to tell her that I don't typically introduce myself to women in nightclubs, that the extent of my words start with“Let's go”and end with“I’ll call you a car.”So instead I take another slow sip from my drink as she opens her mouth ready to say something before her friend pops up over her shoulder waving her drink around.

“Hey! Did I see you come over from the VIP area?” she shouts.

Without taking my eyes off Camila, I respond to her friend. “I did. I can't guarantee my friend is decent over there now, but would you like to come up?”

Her friend answers for her. “Duh. We love a good VIP couch! Lead the way, big guy.”

Camila winces and mouths a silent ‘sorry’. And fuck, is she cute.

And when have I ever thought a woman was cute?I mentally shake my head and give her a reassuring smile before placing my hand on the small of her back and pointing her forward toward our section. The walk isn't that far, and after I discreetly adjust the raging hard-on going on in my pants, all I can focus on is where my hand meets her back. The touch is feather light so I’m taken aback by the heat emanating off of her melting into my skin.

As we make our way up the four stairs that separate the VIP level and the general floor, Jonas is sitting on the couch alone nursing a drink. I don't have time to question where Red Dress went because his head perks up as soon as he sees me with Camila and her friend. “Hello ladies,” he drawls. “Welcome, can I make you a fresh drink?”

“You could make me two.” Her friend holds up two wiggling fingers.

“Lovely,” Jonas purrs. “I’m Jonas, and I see you’ve met my grumpy friend, Miles.”

“Nice to meet you, Jonas. I'm Taylor, do you dance?” she asks, taking the drinks from his hands. Jonas looks at her, smiling like a kid who just hit the winning numbers onThe Price Is Right, and I know he and Taylor are about to hit it off because Jonas doesn't come to the club to hang out in the corner and look cool. The bastard loves to dance.

“Is the pope a catholic?” he asks in a terrible British accent.

Her eyes go wide and her jaw drops. “Was that your Ginger Spice impression?”

“Yes! No one ever gets that!”

“You’re kind of funny.” She tilts her head, with a crease forming between her eyebrows.

“Don’t be so surprised, babe.”

“Well, usually good-looking guys are corny. You know? Like they never had to be funny.”

He grabs his chest as if he’s deeply offended and to Taylor’s credit, she pays him no mind. She rolls her eyes and turns on a heel, heading off to the dance floor, and to no one’s surprise Jonas quickly follows after her like a lost puppy.

I’m finally able to turn my full attention back on Camila. “So, what are you celebrating, tonight, Camila?”

She looks away with an expression I can’t quite place before turning back towards me, “A new adventure, I quit my job,” she says with a false vibrato.

I’ve been at the same firm since I graduated law school. My boss—and mentor—paid my way through law school knowing I would be a return investment for her when I came to work for her firm. People will put in decades of their lives at a firm inthe hopes of getting where I’ve been, and come Monday where I will be. Although I have no idea what it’s like to celebrate leaving any kind of company, I can play along for her tonight.

“Well then, cheers.” I lift my glass to her and a tight smile forms on her face before she clinks her glass against mine. Our eyes lock for a brief moment before we both throw our drinks back in unison. If I thought looking into Camila's eyes from across the room was doing something to me, I wasn't prepared for what sitting this close to her would do. It’s causing the most foreign sensation to pump through my body but I pour another drink and ignore it. When I sink back into the couch the lights above cast a purple glow over her. As if my hand has a mind of its own I reach up and tuck a stray piece of hair behind her shoulder. For a moment her lips part and I wonder if that was too much, I follow the way her chest rises higher before slowly lowering. Finally, she brings her glass to her mouth, covering up her smile.

“And you? What brings you to Sin City?”

Instead of saying ‘My boss just gave me the promotion everyone in my position works their entire lives for, but I continue to make shit choices and if I make any more, she's likely going to fire me rather than put my name on the door, so I’m here with my idiot friend to blow off some steam’I say, “The drinks.” And hold up another glass to her before downing it.

A few drinks—thatI didn't need—later, through blurred vision I make out Jonas and Camila’s friend falling all over each other trying to make their way back up the steps. Camila and I are still sitting in the dark corner but she seems lighter, more at ease. It’s likely the mass amount of alcohol we’ve consumed. Taylor comes running over waving her arms in front of us, the movement making me borderline cross-eyed. “Jonas wants to go see the fountain before the sun comes up. Are you two coming?” Her words slur but she shouts them with confidence.

I look to Jonas whos standing behind her giving me his bestdon’t you fucking dareeyes. When I don't say anything, Taylor turns her head around to look at him, and he quickly hits her with his megawatt smile.

Before I can respond, Camila grabs my bicep with both her hands. “Wait! We didn't even get to dance yet,” she cries. I don’t dance. But when she looks at me with a pouty lip and pleading eyes, for some reason I couldn’t deny her even if I wanted to.

I place my hand on her smooth thigh and give it a squeeze, “You two go ahead, we’re gonna dance a little.” I wave them off. “We’ll meet you there.”

Taylor raises a brow at Camila and she nods her head, silently telling her it's okay. They exchange a quick hug and Taylor points a firm finger at me, “Okay…wewillsee you soon, then.” I don’t miss her threatening tone but I like that she’s protective of her friend. I give a mock salute and as she turns around Jonas places his hands together at his chest and bows his head. I’m sure he thinks he’s on his way to hook up with this girl, but once they head out Camila turns to me and laughs.