Page 28 of Vegas Duology

“Don't say it.Don't say you regret it,” I said, “because I don't.”I looked into her eyes and could see the confusion battling there.“I need you to know that I don't do things like this either.”Her eyes flashed with what may have been doubt.“It's true, Lexi.I don't.”

I took a deep breath.I might as well lay it out on the line.“When I'm with you, there's no other place in the world that I'd rather be.And before you start thinking how corny that sounds, I need you to believe me.”

“I do believe you.”

“You do?”I didn’t mean to sound surprised, but I expected a bit more resistance from her.A little bit of...well...something.But when I looked at her sitting up against the headboard, with only a sheet wrapped around her and her hair lying over those gorgeous shoulders, she had a smile on her face as she bit into a strawberry.

When she was done chewing, she said, “You probably thought I would regret what happened, didn’t you?”

I nodded.

“I don’t,” she said.“I’ve never done anything like that before and maybe that’s the point, but I don’t regret it.I loved it.”

“You did?”

“You’re surprised?”

“Well, no, not that you enjoyed it.”I knew for a fact that she enjoyed herself last night.A lot.“It’s just—” I took a strawberry for myself and took a bite before changing tracks.“What are you doing today?”

“I don’t really have any plans.We fly out at ten tonight but I figured Nicole would be hung-over and want to sleep and—”

“Spend it with me.”

She looked surprised.Maybe she did think that all she was to me was a one-night stand.I needed to change that.I had one day to change that.And I would.

If she would spend the day with me.

When she didn’t answer, I said, “Please.I’ll show you the sights of Vegas that tourists never get to see.I want to be with you, Lexi.I want to learn everything there is about you.”I took her hand in mine and looked into her eyes.I needed her to see that I was genuine, that I wasn’t just a playboy.

It took her a minute but finally her radiant smile crept across her face and she said, “Okay.I’m sure Nicole will want to sleep today anyway.”

I fought the urge to jump up on the bed and pulled her towards me instead.“Thank you,” I said into her hair.

“For what?”She pushed me away.

“Just for giving me the chance,” I said and then realized how lame it sounded.“Have some breakfast.”

She gave me a strange look but took another strawberry from the plate.“You’re not eating.Aren’t you hungry?”

“Oh, I’m hungry all right.”Just looking at her, let alone when she was wearing only a sheet, aroused me to a point that was almost painful.I’d been fighting the desire she sparked in me all morning.

She must have seen it in my eyes because she said, “Well, what are you waiting for then?”And when she crooked her finger and beckoned me, I needed no further invitation.

I looked at my watch.Only fifteen minutes had passed since I left Lexi in her room to shower and get ready, and already I was counting the minutes until I would meet her in the lobby.

Our "breakfast" had left me with the sweet taste of her on my lips and I felt like I was gliding across the floor on the way to the staff locker room.It was ridiculous to feel that way about a woman I’d just met, but maybe that meant I was ridiculous and at that precise moment, I didn’t care.There was no point examining it or analyzing it.I was just going to go with it.

But first, I needed to shower and change.And sweet-talk Keith into covering for me today.It wouldn’t be hard; I knew he was trying to get the long weekend off next month.If I worked double time, I’d be able to cover for him.It would be worth it for one more day with Lexi.

I looked at my watch.There was still twenty minutes until I was supposed to meet her.

When I pushed open the door to the locker room, it wasn’t just the humidity from the showers that hit me, but Keith, who ran right into me.

“There you are,” he said and pulled me inside.“I was just about to start scouring the halls for you.Why didn’t you answer your cell phone?”

I reached into my pocket and pulled my hand out empty.I must have left it in Lexi’s room.I had other things on my mind this morning.

“I must have left it—”