AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why did you do that?” Lisbeth jumped on Juliet the minute Samson was out of earshot. “Why did you tell him you were the bride?”
“I don’t know. Just a spur-of-the-moment idea.”
“Your last ‘spur-of-the-moment idea’ had me swimming in the Pacific at midnight with guys we hardly knew.”
“Probably your last good time before meeting Mr. Stick-In-The-Mud Edward. I’m shocked he let you come to Vegas. Usually, he has to know where and what you’re doing at all times.”
“He’s just concerned about me. Besides, we made a deal. I’m subletting until I get this office up and running; then, I’ll be back in LA.”
What had seemed like a perfect opportunity to garner business in Vegas now might’ve run into a few roadblocks. Namely, the six-foot-three block of muscle who simultaneously filled her heart to overflowing, then shattered it into a thousand little pieces. Lisbeth would never forget his cruelty and how he demeaned their relationship—romance, love affair—she’d never fit what they shared into a specific category.
She only knew Samson made her feel alive, dangerous, and desperate all at the same time. The thrill of being with the bad boy who went against conventional rules and lived life on his terms was exhilarating. Their attraction was immediate, which should’ve been a red flag, but their addiction was real. They craved each other like the most potent elixir. He’d grab her as she came off stage, pull her into the men’s room, and bend her over the counter, his cock hard and urgent like if he waited for another second, he’d combust.
“And back to boring Edward.” Juliet dramatically rolled her eyes.
“I’m marrying Edward whether you like it or not,” Lisbeth spat out the words fast and harshly; then, she drew a deep, cleansing breath. Stable, secure, reliable Edward.
Juliet jerked her head in Samson’s direction. “He’s the guy for you. I also noticed how you didn’t correct me about being the bride.”
Juliet was right. She hadn’t. “Because you took me by complete surprise.”
“At least, if you wear a two-inch heel, you won’t be taller than him.”
True, I always loved Samson’s height, especially when he’d grip my ass in the shadows of Oasis’s back hall, hoist me against the wall, and pound into me until I—
“And why would that matter?” Lisbeth forced herself to focus. “That’s sexist talk saying a man has to be taller than a woman.” Juliet always made jabs at Edward’s shorter stature. At five feet ten, Lisbeth was tall or taller than many men.
“Whatever.” Juliet blew her off, refilled their champagne glasses, then turned to the other girls. “Here’s to Lisbeth. Finally, finding true happiness.”
Willow, Lisbeth’s assistant at the agency, whooped her approval, and her other four friends chimed in with their version of the toast, but she saw through Juliet’s veiled words and the indiscreet way her eyes followed Samson out of the VIP section. Juliet was her best friend, but she’d never learned the art of subtlety, and if she ever knew the truth about her and Samson, she’d never let it go.
“Honestly, I think he wanted to ask you about your business.” Juliet accepted a tall glass of some crazy mixture from Willow.
Lisbeth shifted on the banquette as visions of Samson heated her thoughts: how his hands skated over her body and his lush lips melded to hers in their long-ago encounters.
“I thought the same thing until that guy came to get him” and saved her from Samson’s dark gaze. “He looked a little scary, like he belonged on the set ofTheSopranos.”
“Who’s being politically incorrect now?” Juliet teased. “Just because a guy is built like a cement block, has dark hair, and a nose that looks like it’s been broken a million times is no reason to call him a gangster.” Juliet gave her a smug look. “Anyway, back to Samson, he’s—”
“Gone. To take care of whatever problem is lurking in this club’s underbelly. I’m sure he has many more people to chat up beside me.” Lisbeth waved her hand over the rest of the room, hoping to quell any more conversation about Samson.
Later on, in the quiet of her apartment, she’d hash through her memories of Samson and put them to rest. There was a time he dominated her every thought, and they couldn’t go an hour without calling or texting. They were one another’s addiction—always urgent, compelling, and extreme—but like any light that burns too bright, they combusted then fizzled out until even the memories and severe withdrawal became too painful.
Lisbeth certainly never expected to see him again when she moved all those years ago and set up her business in California. Still, here he was in living color, owning a premiere nightclub in one of the biggest party cities in the world.
“This place is crawling with celebrities. I swear I saw Jay-Z and Queen B on the way in,” Willow gushed.
“I have a feeling this will be Vegas’s new hotspot.” Juliet smiled. “I’m certainly going to talk it up with the Beverly Hills crowd. It’s only an hour's flight time. And since Samson is one of the owners, you could have a nice private meeting with him during business hours and discuss planning their next event.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Jump on that before anyone else does.”
“You’re exhausting, but I do plan on connecting with him.” Lisbeth gulped the champagne, and the bubbles tickled her throat as she thought of being one-on-one with Samson.
“The only thing that sounded promising in that whole sentence is you connecting with that hunk of a gorgeous man.” Juliet motioned for the hostess to open up another bottle of champagne. “I say, the sooner, the better.” When the server filled each glass, Juliet held up her flute. “Let’s drink to Lisbeth’s bright future.”
Lisbeth drank deeply at Juliet’s cryptic toast, noticing how she conveniently left out Lisbeth’s upcoming marriage to Edward. Of course, Juliet was entitled to her opinion, even if she was wrong about Edward. He was reliable, stable, and the exact opposite of her dreamer of a father who flitted from one job to another before finally losing their house and then—
Also, Edward wasn’t a playboy club owner who led her to believe she meant something to him, then pushed her out of his life and ghosted her.
“I’ll be right back.” Lisbeth squeezed out of the banquette. “I need to use the restroom.”
