Page 129 of One Night in Vegas

“Baby, no,” I said and took her hand. “My brother saw the picture in the paper and called to rip into me. He knew all about you. I told him I was crazy about you and I was certain you were the one. He saw the picture and got pissed. He, like you and everyone else, thought it was me cheating on you. I was telling him that the whole thing started out with a stupid revenge plot. At least, I wanted it to be that way, but I never really got over you the first time. I loved you in Vegas. That was always true. I love you now. I didn’t want to let you have my heart, but it was yours the moment you walked into that club. I never stood a chance.”

“You love me?” she whispered.

“I do. I hate that I was stupid enough to play games. It was dumb. It solved nothing. I felt so small after you walked out. I let my ego get in the way. I thought I had to be some badass and act like nothing bothered me. That couldn’t be further from the truth. It has always been you.”

“And the girl in the picture?” she asked.

“I swear it is exactly what I said it was,” I said. “I never touched her. I thought maybe she’d been from my past, but I don’t think so. She was just some random stranger. If you’ll have me, I swear to you I will never cheat. You can trust me. I’m not going anywhere. I have never loved anyone, Macy. Never. I mean, my family, yeah, but never a woman. I know I said some pretty crazy shit that first night in Vegas. I don’t blame you for not believing me. It wasn’t a line. Yes, I was a little drunk and was running on some serious liquid courage, but it was real.”

She laughed and shook her head. “Isn’t that just the craziest?” she asked. “I have replayed those moments over and over in my head so many times, I began to wonder if I made it up. I was drunk but not that drunk. I kept thinking there is no way this hot guy is that crazy about me. I refused to believe it. I wanted to, but I’m a very logical person. Over the years, I went out with guys and I kept waiting for that feeling to hit.”

“Did it?” I asked.

“No,” she answered. “No one has ever ignited that spark like you did that night. I had begun to think I wouldn’t get the chance to ever feel that again. Then you were there, right in front of me.”

“And I screwed it up,” I said.

“Not really,” she said, shrugging. “We did have a beautiful couple of weeks.”

“Until I screwed it up. Again.”

“I don’t see it that way,” she said. “I think when you burn as hot and fast as we do, this stuff is going to happen.”

“No way.” I shook my head. “I have checked my ego. I’m over it. I know what I want. I’m not out for revenge. I’m not out to prove my manliness. I’m here for you. I’m going to be stuck to you like glue. You might try, but with a bum ankle and being on a ship, you’re not going to get far.”

She giggled softly and pulled me toward her. “I promise I won’t try. And I’m a little bit sorry for being such a cold-hearted bitch all week.”

I grinned. “I understand why, though.”

She kissed me and pulled me even closer. “I love you,” she said—the three best words I had ever heard.

49

MACY

“I’ll be back in a minute,” he said and pulled away.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m getting your bed wet,” he said. “My shorts are still damp. I can help you change out of your swimsuit if you’d like.”

I gave him a dry look. “I betyou’dlike.”

He winked. “Not even going to deny it, but not for that reason. I’ll be back.”

He left the room and I was left with a wet spot on the bed. My shakes had stopped, and I felt like I could breathe again. I climbed off the bed and gingerly moved to the chest of drawers to pull out a change of clothes. I was just pulling on my top when he came back into the room.

“You’re not supposed to be up,” he lectured.

“I’m fine. My ankle is already feeling better. I think it was just the initial twisting. It’s good.”

“Still,” he said and helped me back to bed. “You heard what the doctor said.”

“I did,” I said.

We got back into bed and held each other close. “Thank you for saving me,” I said. “I’m not sure I thanked you. It’s crazy to think I could have died today. That was definitely not on my bingo card for today.”

He laughed and kissed the top of my head. “You’re welcome. Thank you for not dying. That would have sucked.”

---