Page 3 of Say it Ain’t So

“Stop.” She grabbed the finger I’d pointed her way and tugged it down like she could hide the truth. But her laughter couldn’t be hidden. In fact, it knocked the wind out of me as I watched in complete fascination. “You’re horrible.”

“I’m not the one biting my tongue.”

She leaned against me, her shoulders shaking with laughter. “It was so bad.” She righted herself, her smile tempered as she said, “She asked me to plan this weekend for her, and I did. I did everything she asked, booked the plane tickets and the hotel and the shows, and she thanked me by telling me I’m not welcome because her douchebag brother accidentally sent me a video of him fucking her friend and I had a problem with it.”

She fell silent, and I hated it. I hated the pain I could practically feel pulsing off her in waves. I hated the way her smile disappeared and all her beautiful laughter fell away.

I wanted to bring it back.

Leaning into her, my shoulder pressing against hers, I asked, “You know where they’re supposed to be now?”

Joss held up her hand in front of her, examining her perfect lavender nails. “They’re going to the spa for massages and mani pedis.”

“And after?” I pressed.

She rolled her eyes, a hint of that smile coming back. “I booked one of those hypnotists shows this afternoon, followed by dinner at some fancy restaurant and then one of those circus shows tonight.”

“So, they’ll be busy all day?”

“And all night.”

“And you’re not invited?”

“I’m uninvited.”

“Great!”

She looked at me through narrowed eyes. “Great?”

Grabbing her hand, I stood and gave her a tug. When she didn’t stand, I tugged a little harder, a smile creeping across my lips until she relented and stood in front of me. “Great. Because somewhere out there, there’s a douchebag that doesn’t deserve you, and his sister and her crappy-ass friends are going to be jealous as hell since they won’t be having nearly as much fun as you as we light this town on fire.”

Joss’s eyes sparkled, not with tears but with mischief. “What are we going to do?”

“You ever been to the Strat?”

“The big hotel north of the strip?”

Nodding, I rubbed my palms together and leaned in closer, lowering my voice. “I won a jackpot earlier. Got distracted by the most beautiful girl in the world and shoved a twenty in a machine. Now I’ve got money to burn.”

“Are you serious?”

“You didn’t hear all those bells and whistles as you were following Princess Nightie out of the casino earlier?”

Joss tilted her head to one side, studying me as I offered her my hand. Then her eyes widened, and her face lit up.

“That was you?” She shook her head and took a step backward, only to crash into the edge of the fountain and almost tumble into it.

She would have, if I hadn’t been there to save her. I grabbed her arm, spinning her around as I jerked her toward me. Her back slammed into my chest, and I wrapped an arm around her to steady her. After a long moment and a heavy breath, Joss peeked up at me over her shoulder.

“Come with me.” I didn’t want to beg, but I also didn’t want to let her go. Holding her felt good. Being with her felt right. “Let’s give them something to be jealous of.”

She licked her lips and my attention darted to the smooth slide of her tongue. “Okay.” She smiled and fuckin’ stole my breath away. “Let’s do it.”

2

JOSS

After all Peter had put me through, after planning JaCinda’s entire bachelorette party only to be uninvited, I was due something special. Why shouldn’t I allow myself to get caught up in a handsome man?