Page 9 of Feast

She angled her head to give him better access. “Like it?”

“I’m not sure,” he said and sniffed again. It was a little spicy, a little citrusy. “I don’t hate it,” he finally said and straightened. “What is it?”

“I have no idea. My sister got it for me from one of those make-your-own perfume places, but they went out of business and she doesn’t remember the scents they used. I’ve got half a bottle left and I hoard it like a miser.”

“Should I be flattered that you used it for me?”

“No, because I didn’t. I used it for me.” The line moved forward. “What do you want?”

He went blank for a moment before he realized she was talking about food. He peered up at the menu board. “Prime rib panini works.”

“I want the serrano ham and cheese baguette, a chocolate eclair, and the biggest Coke they’ll sell you.” She slapped two twenties against his chest. “I’ll go stake out a table.”

He grabbed the twenties before they could fall, and watched with amused wonder as she stalked off, leaving him standing in line, watching her ass move.

Maddie found an empty table,sat down, and pulled out her phone to call Halley.

“Are you still awake?”

“Unfortunately,” Halley replied. “I thought this boring book would put me to sleep, but it’s not working. How’s your airport hookup going?”

“I’m definitely going to sleep with him.”

“Imagine my shocked face,” Halley said drily. “Do you know his name yet?”

“No, and I’m not going to. I kind of like it this way.”

“An anonymous one-night-stand in Las Vegas is a bit of a cliché, no?”

“I prefer the wordclassic,” Maddie corrected.

“You say potato, I say tomato,” Halley quipped.

Maddie stretched out her legs and watched 3A step up to the counter to order. “That’s not how that goes.”

“Close enough. Are you going to bang this guy soon?”

“We’re having dinner now, so probably in an hour or so.”

“You coming back to the room tonight, or staying with Mr. Mysterio?”

“Not sure yet. He doesn’t strike me as the type to want an overnight guest, but I could be wrong.”

“Don’t forget we’re having lunch with Dad tomorrow,” Halley said.

“I remember. Is it just him, or is he bringing Heather?”

“Dad said she’s having lunch with Spencer, and then she has some spa treatments lined up for the afternoon. Probably we won’t see her until the wedding. Oh, and we’re supposed to have dinner with them after the ceremony.”

Maddie frowned. “The one being held at midnight?”

“Yep.”

Maddie glanced up to check on 3A, saw he was headed her way with a loaded-down tray. “Why are they doing that, anyway? The midnight thing.”

“For luck?”

“Makes as much sense as anything,” Maddie decided.

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