Page 6 of Say it Ain’t So

I was also okay with getting shot into the air, my heart rising and falling in my chest as those views I missed shimmered like a mirage in the distance. We were dangled eight hundred and fifty plus feet over the side of a building on the second ride, then launched down the most terrifying roller coaster ever to exist, hanging off the side of the building.

And now, I was about to jump out of that building and into the waiting arms of the man who’d turned my life upside down.

“I’m gonna die!” I screamed as I stepped off the edge. But no matter how terrified I was as I plummeted toward the ground, the hot desert air raking my eyeballs and drying my tears the wind created, I couldn’t look away. Not from his handsome face. Not from his gorgeous smile.

A smile that grew and grew as I got closer and closer to the landing zone.

They’d barely gotten my harness off me before Rylan was there, scooping me up and swinging me around in his arms. Our shared laughter felt like a drug, and the look in his blue eyes had my skin turning hotter than the midday sun.

“I did it!” I gushed as he set me on my feet.

“You sure did, gorgeous.” He tugged at the sleeves of my jumpsuit, helping me out of it. “Good thing you had this on.”

I hadn’t gotten one foot out of the suit before a gust of wind swept by, brushing the skirt of my dress up my legs. I felt like Marilyn Monroe standing over a New York City vent, pressing my hands over my legs to keep from flashing Rylan or anyone else.

He had a glimmer in his eyes as he stood with the jumpsuit in his hands, and he didn’t bother turning toward the worker as he handed it over. Rylan offered me his elbow, leaving me feeling like I was drowning in him.

“Come on, let’s get out of here.”

As Rylan led me away, I had no trouble keeping up with his long strides. I had a kick in my step I hadn’t felt in… Well, since before Peter.

“Where are we going now?” I asked as we cleared the area and started back toward the main strip.

Rylan peered down at me, a crooked smile tilting his lips. “I was going to say zip lining”—my eyes widened and my mouth gaped—“but now I’m having second thoughts.”

“Oh.” I snapped my mouth shut as my stomach clenched, as if I could hold back the wave of nausea that hit.

Of course.

Of course, he was having second thoughts.

Hadn’t I expected that all along? I wasn’t needed here. I wasn’t wanted. Rylan had gotten what he needed from me, and now he was cutting me loose.

Something squeezed my hand and my attention zipped to where Rylan’s fingers were strung with mine. He hooked my chin with his finger and directed my gaze to him.

“I’m thinking we should take a little side trip first. Get something to cover up those gorgeous legs of yours so you don’t flash all of Fremont Street as you pass.”

The tightness in my stomach clawed its way upward until my chest started to hurt. “Wait, what?”

“Shorts.” His thumb grazed my bottom lip. “That is, unless you want everyone to see your lacy purple panties.”

I sucked in a gasp that only served to widen Rylan’s smile. He caught me by the back of the neck as I took a step back, and I braced myself on instinct.

Except, the hit I was expecting didn’t come.

Nothing did, except swirling confusion and a lungful of the most mouthwatering scent.

Rylan’s chest shook against my cheek before something pressed gently against my head.

“Your face!” It wasn’t more than a grumble, those words, laced with his rolling laughter as the movement of his mouth nudged my head. With his big hands gripping my shoulders, he edged back and graced me with a wide smile. “You’re lucky they had the landing zone so blocked off, otherwise all of Vegas would have gotten a glimpse.”

“My God.” I tried to cover my face with my palms, but Rylan snagged my fingers, walking backward as he held on tight.

“Come on, gorgeous. Let’s go get you something you won’t be embarrassed to wear zip lining. And maybe, if you’re good”—he yanked me toward him and wrapped an arm around my shoulders—“I’ll get you a special treat.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know I don’t. But I told you, I won the jackpot because of you and your gorgeous legs. The least you can let me do is treat you.”