Page 1 of Might as Well

CHAPTER 1

VIOLET

Ipress the button on the slot machine again, wondering why I'm wasting my money. Thirty minutes in and I'm two hundred fifty dollars poorer. That’s approximately eight dollars a freaking minute swirling down the drain. I’m not sure I understand the appeal of Vegas because so far, it's been a bust for me. Maybe I’m just a sore loser. But gambling aside, there's so much noise here and a ridiculous amount of people swarming around that it takes me a moment to locate the women I've come here with.

I’m only here because Cassie, my best friend, dragged me. She’s a bridesmaid in a wedding and I kind of know the bride, so she convinced the bride to invite me. Cassie made me come to get out of the house since it’s been a while. I seem to go through spells where I allow Cassie to make me social and spells where I barely leave the house. She happened to catch me when I wanted to be a little more social.

Vegas, I’m learning, is asking too much of me. I’m not social enough for Sin City. There is nothing more I want right now than to be anywhere but here. With a sigh, I glance down as I contemplate what to do next.

“Come here often?” a male voice asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.

With a fixed annoyed look, I turn my gaze to the man who takes his seat next to mine. My demeanor softens automatically. Where did this fine specimen of a man come from? He’s absolutely beautiful. If love at first sight was such a thing, consider me a goner.

Unable to help myself, I take in his long legs with thick thighs that are oddly attractive. His fit but not too tight shirt shows off a lean body, and then there’s his panty-dropping grin.

The grin verges on smug and snaps me out of my perusal. I quickly put my annoyed look back into place. I mean,come on. He asked me if I come here often. What kind of pickup line is that?

“Come here often? That's the best you got?”

His grin somehow grows. My heart thumps in my chest impossibly faster and harder. Damn it all to hell, he’s hot.Easy, Violet.

“I seem to have gotten your full attention, so it can't be too bad. What brings you to Vegas? Business or,” he leans in and whispers in my ear, causing shivers to run down my spine, “pleasure?”

I swallow hard as he pulls back. My shiver was completely obvious if his knowing look is anything to go by. Normally, I’d be annoyed that someone came into my personal space, but his hotness distracts me and brings other emotions to the forefront. Emotions I haven’t encountered in a while.

Like lust. Heady, overwhelming lust.

Like loneliness. I’ve gone on a few dates and may have slept with them too soon because I craved the connection, but it’s been awhile since I’ve been with anyone.

A waitress walks by with daiquiris, thankfully distracting me, and I snag one. He surprises me when he does as well.“Pleasure,” I finally answer after taking a long draw from the straw. “You?”

“Business.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Business brings you to the slots?”

He flashes a smile at me again. “My business is done, so I get to indulge myself before I leave.”

Something about him puts me on edge, but not necessarily in a bad way. I turn back to my game, even though I'm done playing. I've lost enough money.

“My name's Zane,” he says, not moving to play either.

“Violet,” I reply as if I can't help myself. With a line like that, I shouldn’t share my name at all. Despite his drop-dead gorgeous looks, he’s probably a creep. Or maybe he’s just brave; I know I would never go up to a random guy and hit on him.

“Hungry, Violet? Because I'm starving.” The way he says it makes me think he’s not talking about food and I fight the shiver that wants to tickle down my spine. Again. I’ve never shivered from a man’s words so much in my life. Then again, my previous count was zero.

I peer around the machine and realize the girls are nowhere to be seen. What kind of friends do I have? We're here for a bachelorette party and they disappear on me? Leaving me with some hottie? My stomach chooses this moment to rumble and growl, as if pushing me to make the decision to go with this perfect stranger.

“Yeah, I am,” I reply, turning to look back at Zane. If I'm going to tragically be murdered, it might as well be because I made a stupid decision in Vegas. No one would miss me anyway, although dying would have some consequences.

That boyish grin appears again with my answer. He stands and holds out his hand. As if my brain has powered off from his sheer height and hotness, I take it and stand. This man is unbelievable. Tall, muscular, and so very handsome. Ihadn’t mentioned that yet, right? It makes me wonder why he approached me. He could likely have his pick of women.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think I’m unattractive, but I’m not sure I’m in his league. I’m probably a seven and he’s easily an eleven.

We walk, winding around the machines until he leads me to the outskirts of the casino floor. I'm so very relieved when he simply takes me to one of the restaurants right here in the casino. Perhaps he won’t murder me after all.

The restaurant he chose is some busy, casual burger restaurant. He nudges me by the hips to place me in front of him, so I can order first. I'm surprised when he insists on paying as well. A lot of guys like to go dutch these days, supposedly so they don't offend me. I will never be offended by a man offering to pay for my meal. Or anyone, for that matter. I can hold my own, but it doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate when someone else offers.

While I am grateful to be in a nearby place, I wonder at his intentions slightly when he orders us a round of daiquiris. If he thinks he’ll get me drunk and then have me in bed, he’s lost his mind. I may be crazy enough to have dinner with him, but I’m notthatcrazy.

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