Page 2 of Vegas Baby!

Standing with Andrew at the Bellagio fountains was a dream come true. Everything was perfect even if he was a bit grumpy today. Our baby would arrive in a few short months, he’d bought an apartment in New York for me to move into with him since I quit my job in San Jose to be with him, and now we got to enjoy this little babymoon, however short-lived it was.

The lights of the hotels illuminated every glossy strand of hair on him, teasing out the golds and browns. I sighed and snuggled against his arm. He was just as beautiful as the day we ran into each other on my eighteenth birthday at a club in downtown San Jose. How quickly four and a half years had passed.

We had been long distance for our entire relationship, and as much as it had sucked, it made sense. My job kept me in California and his kept him in New York. I had never pushed to move to the East Coast, knowing how expensive rent could be in the city, but now that he was doing better in his career and the baby was coming, we were finally taking that step.

I would miss the California cliffs, but I was ready for this new adventure.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go back to the hotel?”

It was sweet, romantic that he could never seem to get enough of me each time we were reunited.

“I’m sure.”

Andrew grumbled a sigh, but acquiesced. “I’m hungry. I want to order room service.”

I bit my tongue, not telling him that we could be ordering our dinner right now across the street if he’d stop insisting on the hotel. We weren’t even at one of the fun ones where I could walk from one to another or check out the themed displays.

“Soon.”

“Fifteen more minutes. The fountains should be done by then. We can go back after that?”

“You bet.” I beamed up at him and he crowded me against the fountain banister for a kiss I felt down to my toes. We weren’t scent matches, but I had loved him all of my adult life. He was more than enough.

“Lawson!”

The name had Andrew jolting and I looked curiously at him.

“Shit. Don’t move.” Andrew spun around, putting himself between me and the source of the voice, greeting them. “Carlton,” Andrew said with a nod of his head.

“I didn’t know you brought Charlotte with you.”

Charlotte?

A handsome face dipped around Andrew with a smile. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Lawson. I’m Bryce Carlton, one of Andrew’s coworkers. He’s told us all about you. How are the kids doing? Missing you both this weekend?” He gestured to my belly. “He didn’t say you guys were expecting a third.”

Andrew was white as a sheet and I glanced between the two men, confused as hell. The fountains started to play music, the water leaping into the air, but I couldn’t bring myself to turn and look.

“What are you talking about? I feel like you have us confused with someone else. Andrew’s last name is Lane, and I’m not Charlotte. I’m Ava.”

Confusion flickered over Bryce’s face for a moment before it contorted with rage. “Lawson, are you fucking kidding me?”

“It’s not what it looks like.”

“Oh, it’s not? I didn’t see you kissing this woman who is apparently not your wife?”

“Wife?” I squeaked, a wave of dizziness washing over me. I stumbled back against the fountain banister and curled my fingers against the stone to steady myself.

Andrew spun toward me. “He’s lying.”

“You’remarried?” All at once, my confusion faded into fury. “You’ve been lying to me for overfouryears? What the hell is the matter with you? Why are we having a baby if you’re married?”

My anger had always been quick to flare, and disappeared just as fast. All the pieces of this reality slotted into place, and the world fell out from beneath my feet.

I felt so numb I could barely breathe. Ice flowed through me as my entire life collapsed in front of me.

Bryce looked at me curiously, his eyes wide, and his nostrils flaring. I was probably putting out so much distress scent, and he was an alpha, or at least I thought he was. I couldn’t catch his scent over the cloud of my own right now.

“Carlton, this is a personal matter. Can you please get the hell out of here?”

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