Page 16 of Vegas Baby

“Is it a suite?” Raina blurted out the question, her voice louder than she intended. Please, please, please, be a suite with a separate room. Being around him for a few hours proved physically stimulating but mentally exhausting. What would two nights alone with him do to her nerves?

“No, it’s a single with a queen-size bed.”

Of course it is. She stifled the audible sigh and resigned herself to sleeping in the same bed with him. Unless… “Is there a couch?” she asked, ever hopeful. Or desperate.

“No, but it does face the pool. The internet password is on the card. Since you’re part of the Bansal/Patel wedding, here is an itinerary for the event and a map. Please let us know if you need anything during your stay.”

A one-way ticket home? She swallowed a hysterical laugh and took the offered itinerary. “Did you hear that Howl…oney? Honey. We have a deck.”

“Great.” Howler turned his back to the desk. He halted in mid-stride and groaned. “Shit, Veer and Patel are at six o’clock. Put on your apron, it’s time to play house.”

Slipping his arm around her back, he lifted Raina’s face and gazed deep into her eyes. The full bore of his stare sent electric shockwaves throughout her body and sensation exploded at the first touch of his questing lips. He caressed her mouth, gentle, persuasive, and she forced herself to remain in place instead of giving in to the instinct to tilt her chin and take the kiss to a higher level. Five minutes into their ruse and she was falling apart.

“Howler, Raina,” Veer’s voice cut through the haze of unexpected desire, snapping her back to cold reality.

Lifting his head, Howler flashed a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Their forced PDA had a disturbing effect on her. Did he feel the same way? She couldn’t tell from his closed expression and she didn’t trust her judgement. She prayed it was the case. They’d had sex, although she didn’t recall it. He’d said he didn’t remember much either. Was he lying?

Mortification threatened to derail what little confidence she possessed and she resisted the mad urge to shift from foot to foot. If he had a recollection, it gave him the upper hand, one he could use to his advantage. No matter how hard she tried to recall, she’d come up blank. It was like putting together a jigsaw puzzle without seeing the bigger picture.

“Veer, Mr. Patel, a pleasure to see you again.” Howler shook the shorter man’s hand, his grip on her waist tightening at the action, drawing her flush against his side “Allow me to introduce you to my wife, Raina.”

You’re his wife. Oh God. Keep smiling. “Thank you so much for letting us attend this auspicious event. You must be thrilled to see your daughter married to Veer. He is such a gentleman, and Anaya…such a sweet girl. Not really a girl. A young woman. She’s a sweet young woman.” Rambling. Really Raina?

“I hear congratulations are in order for you as well.” Patel said.

His grin belied the disapproval in his tone. Boy, the man didn’t like Howler. Time to play the peace keeper. Forcing a giggle, which came out more like a yapping Pomeranian, she clasped Howler’s hand to her chest. “Yes, we couldn’t be happier. Being married. Like we were. Are. We are married and we couldn’t be happier.” Shut up Raina. Stop talking.

Chapter Seven

Howler buttoned his pants and slipped on a dress shirt before he exited the bathroom in the generic hotel room. Raina stood at the French doors, her back to him. The air conditioner had kicked on but the room was still warm. He left his shirt unbuttoned, allowing the cooling air to slip under the thick cotton. “Man, that shower felt good.”

“I’m sure it did.” The white floral sundress dipped low in the back, the material hugging her ass. If circumstances were different, he’d slip behind her, wrap his arms about her waist and explore the curve of her neck. She shifted on her feet, the slender hand resting on the door knob moving the slightest bit. The diamond sparkled, a stark reminder of their current predicament.

He grabbed the hem of his shirt and fluttered the fabric, creating some much-needed coolness to combat the rise of his body temperature. Whether it was Raina or the heat, he was uncomfortable. He moved to her side and rested his hands on his hips. “Great view, and look, the pool is right there. We should reserve a cabana for tomorrow, have a few cocktails and relax by the pool.”

She stared straight ahead, rubbing her lips together. “That sounds nice but I hardly think we’ll have the time. I was studying the itinerary and there’s barely a minute to spare.”

“That sucks, it’s the one perk about hot weather, you get to lie by the pool.” He hooked his thumbs into the front pocket of his chinos. Socializing was the last thing he wanted to do, but he’d come to the resort for a reason and running away wasn’t an option.

“Yes, well, we’re not here for vacation, we’re here to get Veer into a good place. By a good place, I mean with the Pioneers.” She turned her head, eyes sweeping his naked chest beneath the unbuttoned shirt. Color dotted her cheeks and she raised her chin.

Meeting her direct gaze, the urge to kiss her hit like a ton of bricks. No. Absolutely not. He couldn’t give in to the desire. Kissing her had gotten him into this mess to begin with. He turned on his heel, buttoning his shirt as he walked. Distance. He needed distance. “Give me an offer I can’t refuse, and he’ll sign on the dotted line.”

“I’ve given him my offer and he’s accepted it,” she said, dogging his steps.

She wasn’t making this easy by following him. Contrary to the very end. “Hmm,” he said, snatching up a pair of socks and his shoes from the closet. He plopped down on the nearby bench and raised his ankle to his knee. The action triggered pain from his earlier injury and he willed the muscles to relax. Damn automatic seats.

“Hmm? What do you mean by hmm? If you’re trying to change the subject, it won’t work,” she said, determination edging her voice.

“Not to sound like a dick, but we’re here for one purpose, to convince Patel we’re a happily married couple.” He put on a sock, careful not to confirm her question one way or another. “If he doesn’t buy our ruse, we’re both fucked and this argument is moot.”

She sat next to him, the wedding itinerary in her hand, and exhaled. “I’ll concede it’s moot for now. Don’t you dare think that means I’m going to let you railroad me. Once you sign Veer, you owe me a commitment.”

Wrong. He owed her the first option, as long as she met or exceeded the best offer. It all came down to the details. He wasn’t in the mood to argue. There were too many yards to run the ball before they reached the goal posts. “I have to sign Veer before I can even think about committing to any team.”

“Why do I have the feeling you’re evading my question?”

Because I’m evading your question. Time to steer the conversation away from him and back to her. “For an attorney, you’re not a very good liar.”

---