The UN Series Complete Box Set (104 page)

She looks down at me and gives me a big smile. “I just sent you a text.”

I give her a cocky grin. “I know.”

“What are you guys doing here? I thought you were going to the Bellagio?” Holly asks pulling a chair up next to Micah.

“We were going to but decided to just come here for the night,” he tells her.

“What are you girls doing here?” Tate asks as he eyes Missy.

She looks up at him with a smile on her face. “Getting drunk,” she answers, like it’s obvious.

“You don’t need an excuse, sweetheart,” Parker says leaning over into her space.

“An excuse for what?” She tilts her head looking at him.

He gives her a threatening smile. One that I have seen plenty of times before. The smile that says I’m going to chew you up and spit you out. “To ride my cock.”

Angel’s entire body shakes as she bursts out laughing along with Josh. I look over at Tate and see his entire body stiffen as his eyes are on Parker. He probably wants to throttle him.

Missy snorts. “No amount of alcohol could make me ride your cock, Parker,” she replies sweetly then leans over and grabs his shot. She tosses it back and then gives him a smile. Everyone at the table burst out laughing, even Tate.

Parker just continues to laugh because he was just fucking with her. That’s what he does. He knows Tate has a thing for her, and Parker still might fuck around but he doesn’t mess with the girls who are off-limits. And I already told him that she is off-limits.

“How about a dance then?” he offers gesturing toward the dance floor.

“Now that I can do.” She allows him to lead her away.

Angel lifts her hand to motion for a waitress. “What are you drinking?” I ask looking up at her.

“I don’t know. What sounds good?” she asks.

I run my hand up the inside of her leg. I smile when she automatically spreads her legs for me. “I think you sound good,” I murmur into her ear.

She playfully slaps my chest and stands up from my lap. “Come on girls, let’s go dance. Someone needs to keep an eye on Missy and Parker.”

She blows me a kiss before she turns around giving me a glorious view of her perfect ass.

“You okay?” Josh asks looking over at Tate.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” He arches an eyebrow as if to dare Josh to mention Missy’s name to him. We can all see how he feels about her and Parker dancing because he keeps looking out over the dance floor at them.

“Because the girl you want is out there dancing with Parker.” Micah has no problem with announcing the obvious.

Tate’s eyes narrow on him. “You have no clue what you’re talking about,” he states before he stands up and walks off looking down at his phone.

Josh takes out his wallet and slams a twenty dollar bill on the table. “I bet Tate swings a fist at Parker’s face before the night is over.”

I smile. “You’re on. But I say it happens within the next hour.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

SAMANTHA

I walk down the few stairs that separate the dance floor from the tables where the guys sit. I scan the dance floor to look for Missy and Parker. I’m not afraid of him being alone with her. He is Slade’s friend, although I don’t trust him one hundred percent, I still think he would cop a feel. What man wouldn’t?

“Where did they go?” Courtney asks coming up next to me.

I shake my head as my eyes continue to scan the crazy crowd. “I don’t know,” I yell over the music. “I’m going to run to the restroom, maybe she is in there.”

I walk to the back of the bar and into the restrooms. I call out her name and look under the doors to see if I can see her heels. After several hateful looks from the women in line and the ladies in the stalls, I come up with nothing.

I walk out of the restroom and come to a quick stop as I see Tate push Missy up against the wall. I can’t hear what they are saying over the pounding of the music, but she looks pissed. She points her finger into his chest and stands up a bit straighter.

I smile.
Good for her.
I know she likes him, hell, she may even love him. I know how hard it is to stand up to someone you love. It takes a lot of strength to tell someone to fuck off when all you want is for them to take you in their arms and hold you.

I watch as his tall and masculine body takes a step into her short and small frame. I can barely see her anymore. He has her in the corner where it’s dark and his body is hiding hers very well. I do see her body go slack as she shortens a bit more.

Shit!

He reaches up and cradles her face in one hand. Her lips slightly part and her eyes are half closed. She places her head back against the wall, and he lowers his mouth to hers and kisses her.

I stand here like a peeping tom watching as she brings her arms up around his neck and pushes her body further into his.

Just as I go to walk away he pulls back, and she opens her eyes with a small smile on her face. He runs one hand down the side of her cheek and then that smile drops before he removes her arms from around his neck, turns and walks away from her. I watch him walk away and grab the hand of the same brunette who was sitting on his lap last night before walking out the front door with her. He doesn’t even bother to look back.

What the fuck, Tate?

I’m going to kill him.

I walk over to her grabbing her hand and pull her into the bathroom. I grab some toilet paper out of a stall and start to dab her eyes as she silently cries. “Take a deep breath, it’s okay. Don’t let him get to you.”

She nods her head but the tears that are forming in her eyes say otherwise.

“Men are dicks,” I say trying to make her smile.

She gives a little broken laugh, and I smile. It’s progress.

“I’ve never…” She takes another deep breath. “Had someone talk to me like that before.”

“Like what?” What could Tate have possibly said?

“He was saying how he was jealous watching me dance with Parker, and that he wanted to be the one I was with. That he wanted his hands and lips on my body. Then he just kissed me.” She shakes her head as if still dazed by that. “Then said I deserve better.” She fists her hands down by her side. “He walked off before I could say anything,” she continues, frowning. “And now he’s taking that brunette back to his hotel room,” she sniffs.

“It’s okay Missy,” I say rubbing her back. I know what it feels like to be very confused over a man. I was once that way with Slade.

She looks up at me, and her blue eyes make me smile. “I’ve never had sex before, Sam. No one has ever wanted me. No one has even ever looked at me the way Tate just did. I’ve liked him for a long time.” She looks down at the floor and then up to me. “I love him,” she whispers. “And over the last two years I’ve had to watch him go through all these women. He has always just looked at me like a friend until tonight. I thought I had finally got him to see me differently, and all he did was kiss me and walk away.” She hangs her head and takes in a deep breath.

I’m going to kill Tate. How can he not see how she feels about him?

“No one wants me,” she says brokenly.

“That’s not true.”

She looks up at me. “Yes it is. You have to understand. I’m the geek who had paper thrown at her in class. I’m the geek who had braces and still wears glasses. I’m the kid who played in the band and sat by herself at lunch. I’m only pretty tonight because of what you did for me. And I thank you for that. It’s the only reason Tate showed any interest.” She hangs her head again.

I place my hands on her shoulders and push her over to face the mirror. “Look at yourself, Missy,” I say curtly getting her attention. “You
are
beautiful. You have these beautiful blue eyes. You have the most gorgeous complexion that I would kill for. You have beautiful long blond hair.” I run my hands through it with a smile. “And you are just as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside. Trust me, you’re beautiful, and Tate knows that or he wouldn’t have been so jealous.”

She gives me a small smile. “Thanks for being so nice to me.”

“I’m being truthful. Don’t let Tate make you feel any less beautiful than you are.” I smile at her. “No man is worth that.”

She nods her head, but I don’t think she quite understands what that means.

“Come on, let’s go have some fun.” I turn and walk her out of the bathroom. I lead her over to Parker who she was dancing with earlier. Now he’s standing on the dance floor talking to a girl with strawberry blond hair. His hands resting on her hips. “Excuse me,” I say reaching up and spinning him around to face us.

“Hey?” the girl snaps.

He looks down at me with a smirk on his face while placing his hand up to quiet the girl he was dancing with. She stomps her foot and then storms off. “Yes, sweetheart?”

I refrain from rolling my eyes. “She wants to have fun and dance. Dance with her. Do not get her drunk and try to take advantage of her. I will rip off your dick and fucking eat it so you can never use it again. She just wants to have some fun without getting fucked. Think you can handle that?”

He nods quickly, wide-eyed at my threat, then I turn to Missy. “If he does something you don’t like, tell me. I’ll have his balls. “

She gives me a little giggle, and I throw one last threatening look to Parker before I walk off to find Slade, leaving them alone to dance.

I sigh as I plop down in his lap once again. “Everything okay?” he asks running his hand up and down my leg.

I look over at Missy as Parker spins her around. It’s not the typical swing dance kind of song. I smile at how he’s trying to keep his distance while making her laugh. She looks so beautiful tonight. She feels beautiful tonight, and I hate Tate for ruining that for her. It’s hard enough for girls to feel pretty in the first place.

“Angel?” Slade taps my leg getting my attention.

“Huh?” I ask pulling my eyes away from them.

He frowns. “I asked if everything was okay?”

“Yeah. Everything is fine,” I reply not wanting Slade to know how Missy really feels about Tate. It’s bad enough that the man she loves just kissed her and then left with another woman. I know her heart is still broken. Nothing I said could have changed that.

I relax into Slade’s body and try to hide my yawn.

“You tired?” he asks leaning his head down to speak into my ear.

“Yes.” I feel like we have done nothing but run around today. With us staying up late last night having intense sex, shopping today, him almost getting arrested, and witnessing one of my best friend’s heart get crushed, I’m suddenly tired and not in the mood to party.

“Wanna go back to the hotel room?” he asks.

“No. We can stay.” I look over to his beer sitting in front of him, and it’s more than half full. I don’t want to cut our night out in Vegas short because I’m tired.

He pats my leg. “Stand up,” he orders.

I oblige pulling down my simple black dress to make sure it covers up my ass. “What are you doing?” I ask when he stands up as well.

“I’m gonna take you back to our room.” He reaches over and grabs my hand.

“You don’t have to go, Slade. We can stay out if you want.” I look around the crowded club. “We are in Vegas.”

He leans down and gives me a soft kiss. “It’s just Vegas, baby. You are my Angel, and you’re tired. I would much rather spend my night in bed with you.”

And with that I allow him to pull me out of the club after I make sure Missy is okay and say goodnight to the girls. Courtney and Josh decide to leave with us as well. She looks more tired than I feel.

“How are you doing?” I ask her once we are in the cab to head back to our hotel. She’s already kicked off her heels and her feet now rest in Josh’s lap, while she pulls a little pair of flats out of her clutch purse.

“I’m exhausted. It takes everything I have to get out of bed in the morning. Afternoons I’m great. It’s like as soon as it turns five, I just want to sleep,” she says between a yawn.

“Is that normal?” I ask. I haven’t had any friends who have had babies so when it comes to pregnancy I’m pretty clueless.

She shrugs. “The doctor said it was but I have times when I feel like I can’t hold my eyes open.” I remember back to our flight here, she slept the entire time, but I thought that was because of Missy’s birthday party from the night before.

I feel my phone vibrate, and I look down to it.

Missy:
Thanks again for all you did for me tonight.

I lay my head back against the headrest. What am I supposed to say to her?

No problem?

Sorry it didn’t work?

You didn’t need me to help you look beautiful?

Nothing I say will make her feel any differently about herself, but I have to respond. I type out a short response as the cab pulls up to our hotel.

Me:
You’re welcome and be careful tonight. Call me if you need me.

We make our way up to our room, and I immediately kick off my heels and lie face down on the bed.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Angel? Why are you so tired?” Slade asks sitting down next to me and begins to rub my back.

“I don’t know. Things have just been crazy I guess, and it’s only going to get crazier once we get back.” Holly’s wedding is coming up quickly and still nothing is done. I just want to pull my hair out while I yell at Holly to pick what
she
likes, not her mother. They’ve been bickering back and forth about everything.

“Why don’t you take some time off of work?” he suggests.

I place my face into the comforter and moan. “Please don’t mention that place while we are on vacation.”

His hand pauses on my back. “Why? What’s going on up at the bank?”

I turn over onto my back and look up at him. “I hate that job,” I whisper.

He pulls his head back. “Since when?” he asks surprised with my statement.

“Since day one. It’s stuffy, and I feel out of place there.” I loved working at Larry’s. It was laidback and fun. I guess I just wasn’t ready to get a day job and join the world. I wanted to stay a bat and enjoy the nightlife.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asks placing his hand on my stomach.

I shrug, would he have cared that I hated my job? I’m pretty sure most of the working people hate their jobs. Why would it matter that I hate mine?

“Then why didn’t you quit the bank and go back to Larry’s? Holly would have given you your job back.”

I let out a little laugh. “Yeah right, that would have started a shit storm between us.” He frowns but I ignore it.

Holly still tells me to come back every day. I sigh when he continues to look at me like a wounded puppy. “Because you wanted me to quit, so I quit.” Simple as that. As much as I loved that job, it was causing problems between us, and I love Slade more than any job I could possibly have.

He lets out a long sigh as if he hates to think I quit the job I loved for a job I hate all because he wanted me to.

“Don’t worry about it,” I say as I pull his face down to mine. I’m ready for him to put me to bed.

He runs his hand over the top of my head. “Let’s finish what we started earlier,” I suggest.

“I love you,” he whispers, placing his lips close to mine.

“I love you too, baby.”

*****

SLADE

“Damn, Slade. Sam scares me,” Parker says as he pours a cup of coffee. Of course the bastard started pounding on our door early this morning. The man never fucking sleeps.

“What are you talking about?” I say only half caring about his answer.

“Last night she threatened to rip off my dick and eat it if I did anything to Missy.”

I laugh at him as I walk over to answer the knock at our door. Tate comes barging through as soon as I open it.

Doesn’t anyone sleep in anymore?
Am I the only one who can’t go all night without sleep these days?