Page 104 of Sin City Lights

A moment later, a photo appeared. It looked like a clothesline arranged in a checkerboard pattern. On it hung various men’s boxers, printed with large Japanese lettering, all featuring different versions of Godzilla.

One was a ferocious-looking head, eyes bulging, open mouth full of sharklike teeth, dark pink tongue lolling. The beast prepared to devour a capsized boat, with terrified people scattering everywhere and falling into the water. The graphic took up the entire left side of the shorts.

Eve giggled.

Lauren leaned forward.“What? What is he saying?”

Eve turned the phone, holding out her arm to let her friend view the screen.

“Oh, boy.” Lauren shook her head.“All that, and a sense of humor too. That kicks up the level of danger to…”

Eve was no longer listening. Using her thumbs, she enlarged the giant-head monster one, screen-shotted it, and sent it back to Adam.

Adam: My choice as well.

Eve: Dare you to buy them.

Adam: Ha.

Adam

The marshaller raised his arms slowly above his head until the bright orange wands crossed, and Adam eased the G550 to a full stop. He waited for the signal, then set the parking brake.

At last, he shut off the engines, and the whine of the turbines gradually decreased until there was silence in the cockpit.

“Home, sweet Vegas.” Adam pulled off his headset.

Manuel rubbed the back of his neck.“Thank God, man. I couldn’t take another day of nasty food.”

Adam chuckled.“Raw fish not your thing?” He knew that Alma was an excellent cook, and Adam often teased Manny about the dangerof getting a fat gut from her excellent tamales.

“Hell no. I didn’t eat that bait; I ate the cooked stuff. Still bad. I think I lost two pounds this week.” He patted his stomach.“Can’t wait to get home and eat a decent meal.”

Adam thought of his empty apartment waiting for him and promptly decided to call Eve and ask when she could get there. He, too, was hungry, and not only for food.

First, though, he’d have to send off his passengers.

He said goodbye to Manny, exited the cockpit, grabbed his flight bag and jacket, and sprinted down the stairs. On the tarmac, he accepted his passengers’ politethank-yous and handshakes, then found his sunglasses and slipped them on.

Bright Vegas sun, crisp air. He was finally home.

Something caught his eye in the distance: a white-clad form approaching quickly from the direction of the FBO. He shielded his eyes and tried to make it out. Despite the sunglasses, he couldn’t see clearly for the glare. In long strides, he headed for his waiting limo, parked on the tarmac a few yards away.

The figure still came running. Something about it gave Adam pause. A moment later, his heart kicked into high gear. He took off his glasses, hoping what he thought he saw was real.

Yes, Eve was running toward him in a white halter dress, closing the distance between them, killer legs moving with surprising speed. He stopped in his tracks and ditched his Rollaboard, flight bag, and jacket, opening his arms just before she launched herself at him, full force. She slammed into him hard enough to knock him back a little.

His arms tightened around her, lifting, and he spun her around once, grinning big.

He set her down, gazing into her beautiful brown eyes.“Hello.”

“Hi.” Her cheeks were pink, and she was out of breath.

He lowered his head then and took those lips he’d been waiting all week to savor. He kissed her hotly, pressing her into him, feeling her soft breasts against his chest, her small hands clasped tightly around his neck. She smelled of Delina and sunshine, and it was so damned good to feel her in his arms again.

“Hey now, you two,” drawled Devon from behind him. “For Chrissake, get a room.”

Adam broke the kiss and gazed down into Eve’s pretty face, her eyes alight, lips reddened from his kiss.“Shut it, Thomason,” he said, not bothering to take his eyes off her.

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