Page 54 of Vegas Heat

“The one singular woman thing is cute, but back the truck up a sec,” I say, my brows knitting together. “What’s this now about asex club?”

He chuckles. “That’s what you picked up out of all that?”

“I said the other thing was cute,” I protest. “Sex club. Explain yourself.”

“I have nothing to explain,” he says, his hand moving to his chest in defense. “The dude invited me to this club he owns. The first floor is part nightclub, part…” He trails off as he searches for the words. “I don’t know. Part lounge with pool tables and these leather wingback chairs where big men can talk business.” As he says the last part, he lowers the pitch of his voice to mock the very men he’s talking about. “The second floor is basically a high-rent strip club, according to my buddy. I stuck to the first floor when I went. But the third floor…” He trails off again, and this time he shakes his head.

“The third floor?” I press.

“From what he said, it’s six private rooms that are basically suites with big beds and plenty of sex toys, and then there are four rooms that aren’t so private with either windows or two-way mirrors and little viewing areas where voyeurs can sit and watch.” He lifts a shoulder. “To each their own, and I won’t be a killjoy, but I feel like sex should be a private thing between two people.”

“Two things here. One, let me just say that I agree completely and I’m so glad we’re on the same page. I’m also glad to hear you didn’t actually go on the third floor. Or the second, for that matter. And second, just so you know,killjoyis an old man word. Now we say eitherbuzzkillordon’t yuck someone else’s yum,” I tease.

He laughs, and then he tackles me, peppering kisses on my naked body as I laugh right along with him. “Maybe I should takeyouto the sex club.”

“If it means I get to have sex with you…I’m in.”

CHAPTER 24: COOPER

“This one’s gorgeous, Cooper,” Gabby says as she twirls around in the kitchen.

It’s spacious, I’ll give it that, but the location isn’t exactly what I’m looking for…and neither are all the nail holes in the walls from the previous owners. Honestly, I think I’m after a new build at this point.

The realtor, a dude named Paul that Troy recommended, gave me the addresses and had his assistant unlock them for me ahead of time to give me privacy to look around. I appreciate not having someone hovering over us, and even more, I appreciate not having someone talking baseball stats with me the entire time we’re looking around.

Gabby drives while I navigate from the passenger seat to the next one and the next, and I text Kaylee to see if she knows of any new builds in the area.

Kaylee:Yes! My brother is in real estate development in the off-season, and I can check with my sister-in-law to see what spec homes are currently available.

I thank her profusely for the help, and she texts me a handful of addresses shortly after that, telling me her sister-in-law, Kate, happened to be on site and unlocked a back door for us to check them out as long as we promised to turn the handle lock on our way out.

Done and done, I texted back, and we drive toward the first address.

On the way there, she pops a question completely out of the blue. “Are you excited to start your new job?”

I press my lips together and nod. The more I’ve thought about it, the more excited I’ve become. I’m at a point where I’ve finally wrapped my head around the fact that this is real. It’s actually happening.

“Are you excited for your senior year to start?” I ask.

She sighs and stares out the windshield. “I am.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m just a little scared, I guess,” she says.

“Of what?”

“Of things changing between us. I’ll get busy with classes, and you’ll get busy with your new job. Then I’ll be working an internship that hopefully leads to something full time, and who knows if I’ll even find something here in town? What if we lose this dynamic between us?” she asks.

I glance over at her, and then I reach over and grab her hand. I squeeze it in mine. “We won’t lose the dynamic, Gabby. We can’t. When it’s this strong, it’s impossible for it to be any other way.”

She nods, but she’s quiet the rest of the trip.

The community Kaylee sent over is gated, so I read the gate code to Gabby once we arrive. A large iron gate swings open, and she drives slowly through the neighborhood as we look at the mansions in here. They’re spaced apart so every lot is enormous—perfect so I can put up some batting cages in the backyard—and they’re situated on a hilltop with a view of the Strip not so far away in the distance.

We pull into the driveway of the first address Kaylee sent, and Gabby squeals. “Oh my God, Cooper, this is freaking incredible!” Gone is the melancholy mood that fell over us for a beat, a reminder that we can talk about the fears, but ultimately that’s all they are. Fears. We just have to hold hands and conquer them together as they plow across our paths.

I have to admit…the curb appeal of the first house is pretty fucking sharp. The driveway and sidewalk leading to the front door are white travertine, and the entire house is a pristine white. Desert landscaping is already planted, and it looks like it’s close to being finished and nearly move-in ready. I click the link Kaylee sent me and read the features aloud.

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