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Bryce: See you then.
I put down my phone. “Bryce is coming, and he’s bringing Austin.”
“Austin? I like that name. Who is this Austin?” Vicki calls from my room. She comes back into the living room and sits down on the couch. “Spill.”
“I, uh, don’t know much about Austin.” I think back to the couple of times I’ve met him, but he’s never said a word. “Austin is Bryce’s partner for work, and he’s very quiet. He’s also cute from what I’ve seen.” I shrug.
“So, what are you wearing tonight?” Vic sips her drink. “Oh, this is good!”
I laugh at her. “Probably some jeans and a sweater. Does it matter?”
“No, I guess not. It would be nice to see you in a dress.” She plays with her phone while she knocks back more of her drink.
“You know why I won’t wear a dress. It won’t happen. Ever.” She’s insane if she thought I would step foot outside in a dress. Nothing good ever happens when I’m in a dress. Nothing but pain and humiliation.
“What are you going to do when you get married?”
I frown at her. “Who says I’m getting married? First, I need a man for that. I don’t have one of those. So, I’m not really worried about my wedding day.”
She sighs, gets up, and walks into the bathroom to get ready. She usually gets started before me, as she takes longer to get ready. I try to be as low maintenance as possible. Besides, I’m not out to attract attention like she is.
* * *
There is a knock at the door. I walk over and answer it since Vicki is still in the bathroom getting ready. I open it to find Bryce and Austin. My eyes stop on Bryce as I take him in. He looks amazing. He has on his signature leather jacket with a button-down shirt underneath. It leaves me speechless. That fact obviously doesn’t go unnoticed when Bryce rouses me from my trance.
“Can we come in?” Bryce laughs.
“Uh, yeah. Sorry,” I step to the side and nod towards the living room.
He bends down to my ear after stepping through the threshold and whispers, “It’s okay. You were just checking us out. I can let it slide,” Bryce teases. His voice sends shivers down my spine, making my breath hitch.
“I was not!” My mouth forms a thin like as I stare at him. “Whatever,” I head back towards the couch and sit, feeling the heat in my cheeks.
Bryce and Austin follow me, but Bryce sits next to me. When he does, I can suddenly smell his cologne. He smells like the woods, like autumn rain. I try to lean closer to get a deeper sniff.
“Are you okay there, Kitty Kat?” Bryce leans into me, narrowing his eyes playfully.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Why?” Abort! Abort! Walk away, Kat. Get up and walk away.
“You’re smelling me.” He lifts his one eyebrow and gives me a smile as he leans in closer.
“Uh, no. I wasn’t. Promise. I was, uh, just stretching. My side was a little cramped.” I said abort, Kat! Ugh. I really should have walked away.
“I’m sure you were.” he says, laughing and patting me on the back.
“All right, boys and girls! I’m ready. Who the hell is this?” Vicki comes out of the bathroom and scowls. She stands in front of Austin.
“Vic, this is Austin and Bryce. Guys, this is Vicki.” I’m slurring my words a bit now, due to whatever concoction she gave me. Both of them greet Vicki, and Bryce gives me a look. I know that look. He lifts his eyebrows at me and smokes.
Leaning into him again, and I whisper, “I’ll be fine. I’ve had a bit of liquid courage. I feel pretty good for now.”
“Yeah, I can tell you’ve had a bit. You keep smelling me.” He grins. “But I’m just checking.” He leads me to the door with his hand on my back. I draw in a sharp breath. His touch creates a pulse of electricity between us.
Bryce drives us down to the strip, and we park in the Harrah’s parking garage. We all get out and immediately you can hear the commotion of the Las Vegas Strip. The cars, the music and the people walking from casino to casino.
Bryce looks towards the open partitions of the garage. His eyes light up with curiosity and a grin stretches across his face.
“What is that thing?” he asks, staring at a giant Ferris Wheel.