Against the Sky (2 page)

“That's exactly what my brother said.” He smiled. “And on top of that, now I've met you.” He lifted his glass. “Here's to new friends and having a good time in Vegas.”

Samantha lifted her wineglass, clinked it against his. “New friends and fun,” she said, repeating his toast.

Nick looked at the attractive woman sitting across from him and thought maybe things were finally beginning to swing in his direction.

Samantha was having such a good time with Nick, she didn't realize how late it was getting.

She glanced down at her wristwatch. “Good heavens, it's almost nine o'clock. I've got to work tomorrow. I'd better get going.” She started to rise, but Nick caught her arm.

“Neither of us has had dinner,” he said reasonably. “There's a great steak house in the hotel—if you like meat, that is. Why don't we eat together?”

Samantha studied the man sitting across from her. So far, Nick Brodie had been a perfect gentleman. They wouldn't be leaving the hotel, so she wouldn't be in any sort of danger, and she
was
having fun.

As if to persuade her, her stomach rumbled right on cue. “All right. Mostly I eat fish and chicken, but I'm sure they'll have something I like.”

Nick stood up and held out his hand. Samantha placed hers in his and felt a little rush of awareness. How long had it been since a man had attracted her the way Nick Brodie did? Not since Justin. She'd been swept off her feet by Justin Chapman III, overwhelmed by his blond good looks, Stanford education, and charm. Justin had turned out to be a complete and utter rat.

The memory reminded her to be wary.

They made their way to Charlie Palmer's, which turned out to be kind of old-style, with upholstered red chairs and white linen tablecloths, and extremely expensive.

When she saw the menu prices, her stomach tightened. She told herself she was in Vegas—she deserved to treat herself. But still . . . Something in her face must have revealed her thoughts. Nick reached over and covered the hand she rested on the table.

“This was my idea. My treat, okay?”

She firmly shook her head. “No way. I'm not about to let you pay my share. You don't even have a job.”

Nick laughed, a husky, sexy sound, and a little curl of heat slid into her stomach.

“I can afford it,” he said. “And besides, I'm an ex-cop, I'm from Alaska, and way too much of a male chauvinist to let a woman pay.”

Samantha smiled. She could see by the stubborn set of his jaw and the look in his eyes he was determined. “Fine. But don't say I didn't offer.”

His mouth edged up. “You can buy me an after-dinner drink in the bar, how's that?”

It was a trick to keep her from going back upstairs, but Samantha no longer cared. Nick was great company and she loved being with a man who intrigued her in ways no one had in nearly two years.

The conversation never turned dull all the way through dinner. She enjoyed Nick's anecdotes about Alaska and hearing him talk about his two brothers, who also lived in the North. They laughed together at Samantha's pet parlor stories—a definite change from Justin, who seemed to be embarrassed by her employment.

And under it all was that sweep of attraction, the pull she felt whenever she looked into those amazing blue eyes.

As they walked out of the restaurant, Nick asked if she wanted to go listen to some jazz in one of the lounges. Samantha threw caution to the wind and said yes.

It was three in the morning when Nick walked her to the door of her suite; his was on the same floor farther down the hall.

“I know it's late and you have to work tomorrow,” he said. “But I've really had a great time and I hate to say good night.”

She didn't want the evening to end, either. But she wasn't into hooking up for a one-night stand with a guy she would never see again. “It's been really fun. I'm glad I met you, Nick.”

“I'm glad I met you, too, Samantha.”

She leaned toward him, went up on her toes and brushed a soft kiss over his lips. Before she could pull away, Nick drew her into his arms and kissed her the way she'd been fantasizing about all night, soft and sexy at first, then hot, wet, and deep. A little whimper escaped when he started kissing the side of her neck.

“You could invite me in,” he said softly, tempting her more than she would have expected.

Samantha eased away. “I could, but I'm not going to. You gave me a wonderful evening, one I won't forget. Maybe if we had time to get to know each other, things would be different.” She turned, swiped her key card and opened the door. “Good night, Nick.” He caught her before she could disappear inside.

“Promise me you won't open your door that way when you're with a stranger. It's really dangerous.”

Samantha looked up at him, pleased to think he was worried about her. “You aren't a stranger anymore, and besides you were a cop.”

“Just be careful, okay?”

When she nodded, he bent his head and pressed another soft kiss on her lips. “What time are you finished tomorrow?”

Surprise trickled through her. Even knowing she wasn't going to sleep with him, he wanted to see her again. “About five, five thirty.”

“This is my first trip to Vegas. Why don't I get tickets to one of the shows? I was thinking the Michael Jackson Cirque du Soleil might be good. Or something else if you'd rather. I'd really like to see you again.”

“Are you . . . are you sure?” The real question was,
Are you sure you don't want to take someone who'll sleep with you when the evening's over?

Nick tipped up her chin, forcing her eyes to his face. “I had a great time tonight. I don't expect anything more. Let me take you to a show.”

Samantha grinned. She really wanted to go. “Michael Jackson sounds fabulous.”

They exchanged business cards and entered each other's cell numbers on their phones. Nick didn't leave until she was safely inside her room, the door closed and locked behind her.

Samantha leaned against it. She hadn't come to Las Vegas to have a fling. And it looked as though Nick didn't expect her to fall into bed with him. But recalling those hot, sexy kisses and amazing blue eyes, maybe it was time to rethink her plans.

 

 

Nick spent the next two nights with Samantha. She was, he thought, the closest to the proverbial
girl next door
he had ever met. Most of the women he knew were the outdoor type. They enjoyed hiking and camping, snowmobiling, skiing, even ice fishing.

Not to say they couldn't be beautiful. Hell, Lisa Graham, the last girl he'd dated, could have entered any beauty pageant in the country. But like most Alaska women, she was athletic and adventurous, had to be to handle the long winters and harsh living conditions.

Samantha was different. At twenty-eight, she was softly feminine, not a callous in sight. She played tennis on occasion, she'd told him, but mostly enjoyed going to movies or plays, shopping, or going out to dinner. Hell, she didn't even know how to snow ski, though she'd said some day she might want to give it a try.

According to her, her favorite treat was a stay in a fancy hotel, or a day at the spa. She loved to cook and garden, enjoyed her family, which included her parents and a brother, all of whom lived in Northern California. Her favorite adventures were found in the pages of a book, she had said.

Samantha was the wholesome type, even had the smattering of freckles across her nose. She was also smart and sexy and fun to be with. Aside from a burning desire to take the lady to bed, Nick enjoyed her company. He was beginning to dread the day he would be leaving to go back home.

But both of them were realists. This was just a whirlwind weekend that wasn't going anywhere. Just an interlude that would soon come to an end.

Their last night in Vegas, Nick took Samantha to see David Copperfield at the MGM Grand, one of the most popular shows in town. Nick found himself enjoying Samantha's excitement as much as he did the show.

“How in the world did he do that?” she whispered when the magician made a tiger disappear on stage.

Nick grinned. “You'd have to ask him. But if you did, I don't think he'd tell you.”

Nick stopped to play the slot machines on the way out of the casino. He handed a twenty to Samantha but she just shook her head.

“I can't take that. If I won, the money would be yours. Besides, I don't much like to gamble. The last time I was here, I lost fifty dollars. Maybe your luck will be better.”

Nick played the twenty, which was gone in a heartbeat. Next to him, Samantha pulled a single dollar bill out of her wallet, stuck it into the machine next to his and pulled the handle. The barrel rolled, a 7 came up, then another, and another. An instant later, bells started ringing and Samantha started screaming, her petite frame vibrating with excitement.

“Oh, my God, I won! I won!” She turned those big brown eyes in his direction, laughed and threw her arms around his neck. When she planted a quick kiss on his lips, a shot of lust hit him like a fist. His groin tightened to the point of pain, and it was all he could do not to toss her over his shoulder, carry her upstairs, and haul her into bed.

Instead, he bent his head and captured those soft pink lips in a kiss that was deep and thorough, drawing a grinning audience who clapped their approval when the long kiss ended.

Samantha blushed. Avoiding eye contact, she glanced back at the machine. “How much did I win?”

Nick looked over at the flashing lights. “Looks like five thousand dollars.”

“Oh, my God! I've never won anything in my life!”

Nick reached up and plucked the printed receipt out of the machine, handed it to Samantha, who pressed it against her heart.

Grinning like a kid, she waved the slip of paper. “I better collect my winnings before I wake up and find out this was all just a dream.”

“Good idea.” Nick took her hand. “Otherwise you might be tempted to put some of it back in the machine.”

Samantha shook her head, tossing that heavy cascade of nutmeg curls that never failed to stir him. “No way. This goes into my savings account.”

Nick just smiled. He was beginning to know her well enough not to be surprised.

They collected her winnings and headed for the cabstand at the front of the casino, both of them smiling, enjoying another great evening. But the hour was getting late and this was their last night in Vegas. Samantha would be leaving at ten in the morning. Nick's flight left at a very early six.

As the cab rolled down Las Vegas Boulevard, carrying them back to the Mandalay Bay, both of them were quiet. Their time together was nearly over. Nick lived in Alaska, Samantha in San Francisco. Both of them were smart enough to know long-distance relationships didn't work.

Neither of them suggested a late-night drink, just continued through the casino, heading for their rooms upstairs. His great time in Vegas had come to an end.

The notion put a dull edge on the evening.

 

 

Samantha was quiet as the elevator swept toward her room on the thirtieth floor. All evening she'd been dreading these final moments with the amazingly handsome man who had given her such a wonderful time in Las Vegas.

At the door to her suite, she turned and smiled, but the curve of her lips held a tinge of sadness. For days, they had laughed together, shared personal stories and incredibly passionate kisses, made memories she wouldn't soon forget.

It was time to go home, but if she said good-bye to Nick now, the memories would feel incomplete. She looked up at him and took a breath for courage.

“I've had a great time, Nick. I won't forget this weekend for a very long time.”

He reached out and traced a finger down her cheek. “It's been great. I won't forget, either, Samantha.”

“We're going home tomorrow. We probably won't see each other again.” Her heart was beating, thumping away in her chest, her nerves strung taut. “I want one last memory to take home with me. That is . . . if it's what you want, too.”

His broad shoulders tightened. He knew what she was saying, knew she was telling him if he wanted her, she would invite him into her room. Nick didn't hesitate, just moved closer, backing her up against the wall, sinking his hands into her hair to hold her in place for a very thorough kiss. Soft at first, he took it deeper, bolder, hotter, arousing her the way he had every time he'd touched her.

“I want you,” he said gruffly, nibbling the side of her neck. “I've wanted you since the moment I saw you in the hall, going toe-to-toe with that big bastard twice your size. But I've got to leave before dawn to catch my plane. Are you sure this is what you want?”

She reached up and cupped his cheek, felt the roughness of his late-evening beard. “The time we've spent together has been perfect—at least for me. I want it to have a perfect ending.”

Nick kissed her softly. “I want that, too, Samantha.” Taking the key card from her hand, he unlocked the door and shoved it open, waited for her to walk past him into the living room, then followed her into her suite.

Nick put the lock on the door, turned and drew her into his arms. Kissing her deeply, he swept her up against his chest and carried her into the bedroom. As he set her on her feet next to the bed, some of her courage faded.

“I've . . . umm . . . never just hooked up with a guy before. I'm . . . umm . . . kind of nervous. I didn't think I would be, but—”

“We aren't just hooking up,” Nick said. “We're making a memory. I promise you, baby, I'll make it a good one.” Then he dipped his head and kissed her, and desire slid like honey through her veins.

Nick took his time, nibbling and tasting, then delving deep and plundering till Samantha could barely think. Her body was humming, her lips tingling, her skin sensitive to the slightest touch. She was hot and wet and on fire. The thought occurred that a woman had never been kissed until she'd been kissed by Nick Brodie.