“Let’s get some fresh air, then,” he said, nodding toward the door.
As she moved to the exit, he stood a little behind her, watching her gorgeous form as she strode through the banks of slot machines. How anybody could keep their attention on those things as she walked by was a mystery.
Although he definitely wasn’t in love as Cody assumed, he couldn’t give up an incredible weekend with this mind-blowing woman, even if it meant it would hurt to leave and never see her again. It would only hurt a little, he promised himself.
He just needed to soak up everything he could get until their time in Vegas was up.
6
AS THEY WALKED down Fremont Street, Jessica studied Aaron, wondering what was running through his mind. It was probably something about what that damn dealer said. He could be freaking out, thinking she wanted a relationship and just call the rest of the weekend off.
God, she hoped that didn’t happen. When she’d first seen him, her thoughts were so focused on the sexual charge running through her and the images of his body against hers that she didn’t take the time to think about his personality. But after they’d spent the morning together talking and exploring, she found that she was enjoying his company more and more. His mind was sharp, and she couldn’t always tell what he was thinking—she liked that. And now she might lose out on another two days of it?
No way she was going to let that happen. She needed to think of some way to get them past the awkward moment. But her mind blanked.
“You should learn how to play Texas Hold’em. You’d be good at it,” he said, breaking her reverie.
She smiled. Exactly the kind of diversion she’d been searching for. “Actually I know how to play that.”
He gave her a sidelong glance. “You know poker, but not blackjack? That’s a weird combination.”
“I do some editing for a writer friend of mine, and he wrote a book where the characters played poker. So I learned how to play to make sure it was all accurate. They never played blackjack.”
He laughed. “Have you actually played poker? Like, with real people?”
“Well, no, but I watched some videos of the pros. I understand the game. I’m probably better at it than you are.”
It was a bald-faced lie—she had no doubt she was terrible—but needling him would be fun, and maybe it would bring back that little half smile he did sometimes.
Sure enough, it appeared when he raised his eyebrows at her. “Seriously, Jessica? I’m from Texas. I’ve played Texas Hold’em my whole life. I’d destroy you.”
Even though she knew she’d lose, the challenge was too much to resist. “Sometime this weekend, we’ll grab a pack of cards and play.”
She wasn’t sure what she liked more: the dare in his eyes or the fact that she now knew where he was from. She had figured a lot of the cowboys in town for the rodeo weren’t actually cowboys. But Aaron was from Texas, cowboy central.
She pictured him standing in the middle of a barn, shirt off, leather-gloved hands pulling large bales of hay out for animals while the song from the truck commercials played in the background. The rugged mental image sent another thrill through her, in spite of how ridiculous it was.
She tried to shrug it off. She would never know if that image was at all accurate, because she refused to brook the subject of details from their outside life any more than they already had. Vegas only. Besides the offhanded comment, he seemed in no hurry to do so, either. He didn’t actually say he lived on a ranch, either, just that he was from Texas. He could be an accountant there, for all she knew.
It was definitely for the best for a weekend fling. It might’ve even been better, safer, if they didn’t know each other’s names, but she did love the way his eyes flashed when she said his, and the warm feeling that rushed through her when he said hers, especially when he said it in that deep whisper as they were pressed together.
“You’re on, Jessica,” he said, smirking.
He was talking about poker, she knew, but in her mind the topic had become very different, indeed.
She tried to stop the flow of thoughts, reminding herself that they were still outside, around people, and she couldn’t expect him to be ready to jump back into bed so soon. With Russ, twice in as many days had been a big deal, and despite how incredible their night—and morning—had been, she couldn’t expect Aaron to just hop to attention because she wanted more.
She didn’t know how she could still be so fired up, either. Sex had never before been such an experience that she couldn’t get enough of it, but here she was, just hours after a romp-filled night, and every touch of his hand sent sparks through her, her heart thumping wildly, and her body yearned for him as much as ever.
She shook her head, trying to focus on the beautiful clear sky, the fresh air, the strange sights of old Las Vegas. The conversation quieted and they walked side by side, content to be near each other, their fingers lightly twined.
When her phone beeped, she looked down at it, confused. Why would anyone want to interrupt her peace?
It was a text from Cindy asking if she felt okay and if she wanted to come over to hang out.
Jessica grimaced. God, she was such a jerk, spending her time with Aaron without explaining to her friend what was going on. And it wasn’t something she could explain in a text message.
She turned to Aaron. “I need to make a quick call. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Oh. Okay,” he answered, shifting a little awkwardly.
It took her a moment before she figured out what was wrong. When she realized he was probably thinking she was calling a boyfriend or something, she added, “Cindy, the bachelorette, texted me and I need to call her.”
His relief was obvious when he nodded, and she broke away, her hand lingering in his an extra second before she finally untangled her fingers and walked over to an area away from the main thoroughfare. So Aaron didn’t like the idea of being “the other guy.” That was a good sign.
Except it didn’t matter much because in a few days she would never see him again. Why did she need to keep reminding herself of that?
She tapped on her friend’s name and pressed the phone to her ear. As it connected, she covered her eyes with her free hand, completely unsure of what she was going to say when Cindy picked up.
“Hey, Jessica! How’s it going? You feeling better?”
Jessica was glad Cindy couldn’t see her blushing. “Cindy, look, I have to tell you something. I wasn’t sick, and I know we’re here for your bachelorette party—”
Cindy cut her off with loud laughter before she could go any further. “Did you really think I wouldn’t figure out exactly what was going on? Like I don’t know you’re with that guy, Jeremiah’s friend? Come on, give me some credit. You thought I didn’t notice how you blushed when you looked at him? Or the way you both disappeared, and then I get a sudden text from you that was nearly incomprehensible? Or the fact that he never came back? How about when I saw you booking it across the restaurant leading him by the hand as he followed like an excited puppy? You don’t need to be Sherlock to figure it out.”
Jessica groaned, more embarrassed than ever. “I was that obvious? God, Cindy, I’m sorry. I feel like an idiot.”
“It was so obvious, but it’s okay. He’s gorgeous. Seriously, if I wasn’t getting married... Anyway, just as long as you’re sure you aren’t setting yourself up to get hurt.”
Jessica could hear the caution in her friend’s voice, and she smiled at the concern. “Don’t worry, I’m very aware of what’s going on. We’re only here for two days, anyway. It’s just...it’s just fun.”
“Good. Well, are you still with him? What are you up to? You don’t need to tell me if it’s not an appropriate conversation topic.”
Jessica could hear the laughter in her friend’s voice. “We’re at Fremont Street, downtown. Just wandering around.”
“Okay. Well, I won’t bother you. I’m glad you’re finally being irresponsible. The girls and I are going shopping later this afternoon, and you know what we’ve got planned tonight, so if you want to catch up with us, just text.”
More bars and clubs were on the menu again. Jessica looked over at Aaron and guessed she wouldn’t be making it to any of that. She said goodbye to Cindy and hung up, making her way back to where Aaron was standing, waiting and looking at ridiculously glitzy Vegas paraphernalia.
As she approached, he held up a touristy shirt with Las Vegas written across it in sparkles and glitter. “What do you think?” he asked her. “Is it me?”
She laughed and said, “No, but if you get it, I’ll wear it for you in the hotel room. It’ll probably be long enough to cover me.”
She blushed slightly at her uncharacteristically brazen statement, and closed the gap between them, leaning her body against his. It was so much fun to be this version of herself around him that she couldn’t help it.
He raised his eyebrows at her questioningly, but his eyes darkened as his imagination took hold. When he spoke, his voice was low. “It’s a little short, and you’re really tall. I’m not sure it would, but I would love to see you try, Jessica. And I have the thirty dollars you won. We need to spend it on something.”