Page 4 of Tempted By the Broken Cowboy
“Look around you, Miss Atwood. We’re not exactly lacking said money,” he gestures to all the affluence around us.
I’m not blind. I know where I am and who I’m talking to—it’s why I need him in the first place.
“I can see that, but—“
Once again, he interrupts me. “Tell you what—tonight I’m supposed to be celebrating my brother’s bachelor party. I have no room in my mind to talk shop, but if you stick around, I promise to lend you an ear over breakfast tomorrow.”
“You want me to come with you to Vegas?”
“Yes, that is if you want me to listen to your pitch. Your call, Miss Atwood. It’s an all-expenses-paid trip. You can add the word ‘business’ there if it makes you feel better.”
I look around nervously to find Landon and Beckett glaring at me. I know I’m an intruder—they don’t need to make it so obvious—but I don’t have any other choice. This is the only opportunity I have to discuss my proposal with Jace. If I pass it up and they lock themselves into the ranch once more, who knows if I will ever get the chance again.
When Jace sees the resolve on my face, he points to the seat next to Ella, who waves at me with a warm smile.
“Okay, sir, thank you,” I say with a polite bow.
“Have fun,” he nods just as the seatbelt sign comes on.
I quickly find my seat and buckle in. This is all happening so fast, but if it gets Jace to listen to my plan, then so be it.
Vegas, here I come.
2
BECKETT
“To Zane and Ava. For fighting against all odds and making their way to each other.” Jace toasts, yelling over the club’s music as he pops open a bottle of champagne, letting it pour everywhere.
Zane is all smiles, his arm wound protectively around Ava’s waist. Both her hands rest atop her round belly, her aura radiating happiness, love, and contentment.
We landed in Vegas a couple of hours ago and went directly to Ava’s concert. It was an absolute blast since we got VIP tickets. Now we’re at the after-party, in a very exclusive club, for their joint bachelor and bachelorette party.
Everyone is having alcohol except for Ava, for obvious reasons, and me—the recovering addict, recently out of rehab. A Morgan as a recovering addict? How shameful?! Well, I never claimed to be one of the good ones, now did I?
My eyes wander around the table, taking in everyone’s jovial state before my eyes finally land on the intruder—Quinn Atwood. She’s engaged in deep conversation with my sister, Ella, who says something funny, causing her to throw her head back in laughter.
I nudge Landon, my best friend and her brother. “Dude, I can’t believe you brought your sister.”
His smile drops, and he turns to gaze at her with an annoyed look. “I didn’t bring her. She followed me, and if you really have to blame someone, blame your brother.”
When Quinn snuck onto the plane, I expected Jace to kick her off, but I was shocked when instead, he invited her to join us. I don’t even know what she wants from him, and to be honest, I don’t care—it’s none of my business. All I know is that Quinn and I have never gotten along.
Landon and I have been friends for almost two decades, so I’ve known Quinn for just as long, but for some reason, she has never liked me. In her defense, she’s not the only one—all of Wrangler Creek hates me. I messed up big time and did something that turned the whole town against me. But Quinn seemed to dislike me way before the incident, and since I’m someone who matches energy, I’ve learned to dish back what she dishes out.
She must feel me staring at her because she turns and meets my eyes, her smile dropping as she glares at me.
“And why are you here again?” I yell from across the table.
“Not for you, that’s for sure.” She scoffs with an eye roll before resuming her conversation with Ella.
They start doing tequila shots, which I’m tempted to advise them against, but they are both adults, and the purpose of Vegas is to have fun, so I let them be.
I’m not new to Vegas—I’ve been here loads of times—but it’s my first time being here sober and in the company of my family. Before this, I used to come here for competitions, and my kind of after-parties were full of debauchery.
Zane and Ava were absolutely clear about no strippers, so the club we’re at is one of the tame ones—just music, booze, gambling, and the perfect ambience.
Ella drags Quinn to the dance floor before they proceed to the bar for more shots. The group breaks up bit by bit as everyone wanders off to do their own thing, but I stay in the booth where I can keep an eye on my sister and her newfound friend.
