Page 41 of Menace in Vegas (Pucked Up Hearts #2)

41

ALLISON

M y eyes pop open, and the first thing I notice is that I’m hugging Connor’s pillow.

I sit up slowly, feeling raw. Emotionally wrecked.

Then I spot the note on the nightstand.

With a smile already tugging at my lips, I unfold the stationery.

Morning, wife-to-be,

I returned Wanda while you were passed out.

She served us well—mostly. I’ll tell the rental guy to handle her with respect.

I know you’ll be pissed you didn’t get to say goodbye. But there’s no time for sadness. Not today.

Try not to panic. You’re safe. You’re mine. And I promise to always take good care of you.

And I’m not letting you run.

– C.

Tears well in my eyes.

How does he infuriate me and melt my heart at the same time?

A knock on the door pulls me into motion.

I grab the robe and open it, only to be stormed by Harper, Tara, and Chloe.

They’re a flurry of chaos, dressing me and shoving me into a sporty red convertible that Ford apparently rented for the occasion.

Next thing I know, we’re flying along the Vegas strip.

“What’s going on?” I ask, eyes wide.

“Pre-wedding pampering!” Tara yells from the backseat, fist in the air like she’s in a girl-power montage.

“All expenses paid!” Chloe adds, her hair whipping in the wind.

I glance at Harper, who’s calmly steering like we’re not in the middle of a glitter-soaked meltdown.

“Are you seriously okay with this?”

She grins. “Honey, Ford did worse?—”

“That’s not an excuse!”

She stops at a red light, pushing her sunglasses to the top of her head. Her eyes lock with mine.

“Look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t love Connor. I’ll turn this car around. I’ll use Ford’s name to get every lawyer in Vegas on the phone to break that contract.”

I stare at her.

Open my mouth.

Close it.

I can’t do it.

She smirks. “That’s what I thought.”

I growl, and she laughs.

“I saw it the moment you met. Sparks. Real ones. It’s been building ever since. And the road trip? That probably powered the entire Vegas strip.”

I stay silent.

“When you’re with him, you forget everything—Mark, your dad, the pain. All you see is him.”

“That’s not true?—”

“Then why didn’t you answer my texts?” Her voice is quiet. “I’ve known you since college. You’ve never ghosted me.”

I open my mouth again.

Close it.

She’s right.

I have no defense.

Connor wormed his way into every corner of my life—because I let him.

“Ford and Connor are built differently,” she says, softer now. “They dig beneath your skin. And the next thing you know? You can’t imagine a world without them.”

God, she’s right.

“Are you going to marry him today?” she asks.

The car goes silent.

I should be panicking. Throwing myself out the door.

But I’m not.

Because I don’t want to run.

I want him.

Memories rush in—the storms, the snacks, the coffee, the way he always sees me.

And the truth slams into me like a punch to the chest. I love him. I’m hopelessly in love with Connor menace-to-my-existence Byrns.

I turn to her, my heart racing.

“Today, I become Mrs. Connor Byrns.”

The girls scream .

I hold up a hand. “But don’t tell him. I want him to sweat a little.”

Harper high-fives me. Tara and Chloe wave pom-poms like cheerleaders on crack.

I don’t ask where they got them.

This is insane.

And I’ve never been happier.

* * *

Harper has a smug smile on her face as the four of us sit inside a swanky Vegas spa.

I nearly ask her what the hell she’s smiling about, even though I know the answer.

There’s no use fighting it.

Not when Tara’s bouncing like she had three Red Bulls, and Chloe is ordering champagne like it’s the Oscars.

They’d only see the truth in my lies anyway.

But my nerves still get the best of me as the doubts roll through my head.

My foot won’t stop bouncing.

“Guys, I?—”

“Shut up, you’re getting married,” Harper says.

“But—”

“You can’t show up to your wedding looking stressed,” Chloe chimes in.

“I am stressed.”

Tara pats my arm. “Don’t worry, babe. Connor’s got it covered.”

“What does that mean?”

“He set this up,” Tara says with a smirk.

I stop breathing.

My heart melts .

No one’s ever done something like this for me.

* * *

I’m mid-facial when the receptionist pops her head in.

“Surprise delivery for Allison Payne!” She enters with the biggest bouquet I’ve ever seen.

“Aren’t they gorgeous?” she coos. “You’re a lucky woman.”

Harper grins like a feral raccoon.

The flowers are exactly what I always talk about on my IG stories.

Tara whispers, “Are those?—”

Chloe grabs the card before I can, reading it aloud. “ For my future wife. Vegas has never looked better because of you. Love, Connor. ”

My face burns. My heart clenches.

What is this man doing to me?

* * *

I’m in a pedicure chair when another knock sounds.

A spa employee walks in with a Starbucks cup and a small bag. “Iced caramel mocha and a chocolate croissant for Allie Payne.”

I stare in disbelief. Those are my favorites.

“You okay?” Harper asks, trying not to laugh.

Tara fans herself while Chloe giggles at my reaction.

I reach for the note attached to the cup. It’s Connor’s messy scrawl.

As I silently read it, my breath catches and my heart squeezes.

My Wife,

Fuel up, baby. You’ve got a long night ahead of you.

You’re all mine.

– Your Husband

My defenses crumble.

I sip the coffee and stare at the flowers.

Harper raises her mimosa. “To Mrs. Byrns!”

Tara cheers.

Chloe kicks her feet and gets scolded by the spa tech.

I groan, but don’t correct them.

Because Connor’s winning me over.

And the worst part?

I want him to.

I want every piece of that chaotic man.