Page 3 of Knight Life In Vegas

“I am. I promised Ava I would try to actually have fun instead of going straight home to clean while the boys weren’t there to follow after me making new messes.”

Micah laughed. “Good. It’s important to take real breaks.”

“I hope you have fun.” Ava hugged me tightly. “Go enjoy your peace and quiet. I promise we’ll call if we need to.”

I departed, only feeling a hint of guilt. The boys would have way more fun tonight with the pack than with me. After a quick trip home to get ready, I headed to the Strip and executed the parts of my plan I’d told Ava about.

I wandered through hotels alone, admiring the decor, in a dress and makeup for the first time since moving here. After the implosion of a twenty-two-year marriage, I was desperately trying to figure out who the hell I was without the iron thumb of my ex-husband holding me down. Reflecting on all the things I had given up over the years—how I’d curtailed my personality, given up my career, denied my omega nature, and made myself small to please him—pissed me the hell off.

Was looking for someone to dally with so I could ruin his claim of being the only man to touch me in the last two decades particularly smart? Maybe not. But I was lonely. Sofuckinglonely. Being strong for my kids was exhausting, and who could blame me for wanting to take a break in the arms of someone who had no idea what a mess my life had become?

The crowds at most of the clubs I passed were considerably younger than I was, and after giving up hope that I would find one with more age-appropriate choices, I slipped into line at onethat advertised a ’90s Night. Even if the attendees were younger, at least the music would suit me. If they turned me away, I’d take it as a sign from the universe that this was a stupid idea. If they let me in…

I fussed with my dress—pink satin with an overlay of black lace—and my blonde hair I had pulled into an updo. I second guessed the style the closer I got to the front of the line. No one else had their hair up. I pulled all the pins free, hastily tucking them into the tiny purse that hung from my wrist.

The bouncer eyed me up. “ID?”

I passed it over, holding my breath to see if he would judge me for being forty-two and slipping into a club full of twenty-somethings. He didn’t breathe a word about my age, simply charging me for the cover and sending me inside with a wristband.

The lights and noise were instantly overwhelming, but somehow liberating at the same time. I had been married before I was old enough to get into one of these places, so in a way it was a small reclamation of a future I could have had.

I made directly for one of the bars and ordered myself a vodka cranberry, pulling away to the edge of the room to sip it while I scoped out the attendees.

“Wanna dance?” A slimy-looking alpha slid up next to me, his hand landing on my ass.

“No. If you want to keep that hand, you’ll take it off me right now.”

He squeezed instead and I shoved him.

“Back off.”

“Come on, just a dance. I promise we’ll both have a good time.” He waggled his eyebrows.

“I saidno.”

“Buddy, I don’t think she wants you around.” A tall, dark, and delicious alpha swooped in, putting himself between me and thecreep. My heart fluttered that a stranger would step in to protect me.

“Fuck off, man.”

“Leave her alone and I will.”

I tilted my head to look up at my hero, catching snippets of his appearance between flashes of the strobes, the lights sweeping across his warm brown skin, and hair divided into twists that hung to the top of his ears. His shirt looked impossibly snug, and showed off the muscles of his arms.

The gross alpha rolled his eyes. “Fuck both of you, then.”

My savior alpha turned to me. “You all right?”

“Yeah, I’m okay. Thank you for intervening so quickly.”

His eyes were so deep a brown they bordered on black. “You’re more than welcome. Want me to stand guard so you can finish your drink in peace?”

Maybe this was the perfect opportunity to take the risk I’d been contemplating. “I’d rather have a dance withyou.”

He grinned, his smile setting off butterflies in my stomach. “I can never say no to a request like that from a beautiful lady.”

I tossed back what was left of my drink and his hand curled around mine, sending electricity up my arm. I had almost forgotten what that felt like: the first touch of a potential lover. He swung me out onto the dance floor, his hands hot on my hips.

I should’ve felt awkward dancing with a stranger, but his grip was steady, maneuvering me easily through the steps. I couldn’t quite put my finger on the style. Music from my teen years pumped over the speakers, nostalgia washing over me as strongly as lust. I hadn’t moved like this in so long. I had been so physical when I was young, with numerous dance classes, horseback riding, and track team, but it had all fallen to the wayside as I got older. This felt, in some small way, like I was reconnecting with who I used to be.

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