Turning, he looks down at me. He smiles and I realize I’m gawking stupidly. It’s just…how often do real people get rescued by unreal sexy heroes? He adjusts his vest, like he noticed a wrinkle. “Are you alright?”
“Um,” I say, wondering how to answer. “Yeah, I’m okay now. Thank you, that was very brave.”
His chuckle feels like a shot of whiskey swimming in my belly. “You were the one who threw water in his face. That’s pretty brave, if you ask me.” His hand comes my way. “I’m Nolan.”
I touch my palm to his, startling at the spark that jumps between us. “Dani. Nice to meet you.” He turns away, eyes glancing around the casino, and I sense that if I do nothing, I’m never going to see this guy again. The idea of that makes my heart freeze. “Hey, listen…”
His eyes focus on me again, gaze narrow and focused. It’s so intense that I lose my breath and my words. He looks fierce and dangerous, and I have no doubt that he could have torn Gerard apart. Then he smiles at me, and his whole demeanor changes to something charming and sweet. It makes me lose my breath in an entirely different way, and he takes over where my own words left off. “Would you like to get a drink?”
I feel like his gaze has me moving in slow motion as I say, “I’d really like that.”
And it’s true.
Fuck. It’s true enough to make me forget what I promised myself about never dating again. Granted, I made that promise while being pawed at by Gerard. I shudder at what might have happened if Nolan hadn’t come along when he did. Besides, I think as I follow Nolan through the huge casino, this doesn’t count. He saved my ass. We’re just having a drink. Getting to know each other. Walking behind the big man, I eyeball his long legs and think about how much I’d like to get to know the bits of him I can’t see.
Down girl, I scold myself. In my head I hear my sister reminding me that it’s been five years since I dated anyone. If she saw me next to Nolan, she’d be cheering right now.
“Here,” he says, motioning for me to sit at an empty corner of one of the hundreds of Vegas bars. As I pass him, his fingers drift down my spine. The dress isn’t super thin but I swear it’s like his fingers are gliding right over my bare skin.
Swallowing, I sit next to him. I didn’t want any alcohol earlier with creeper-man, but with Nolan? I’m ready for something strong. “Whiskey, neat,” I say when the waitress sways my way.
Nolan casts a surprised smile my way. His eyes are the same color as the drink I’m about to down. “Whiskey? Not what I would have guessed for you. I like it.” He lingers on the word “you” and my insides tingle. Damn, his voice is smooth. “I’ll have the same,” he says. “Make it your best.”
When she sets the glasses in front of us, he clinks his on mine. “Are we toasting to something?” I ask.
He chuckles, considering me carefully. “To good times and fateful encounters with beautiful strangers.”
Beautiful? Okay. This man knows how to woo a girl, and I’m already pretty wooed. Swallowing the whiskey, I shudder with the decadent warmth it spreads through my skin and bones. It hits my stomach last and I breathe out. “That’s perfect.” It’s better than any whiskey I’ve ever had. Probably because it’s whatever he meant when he said ‘your best.’
He barely nods. He hasn’t stopped watching me, but I don’t mind. It makes me feel incredibly sexy to have someone this hot giving me his full attention. “What brings you to Vegas?” he asks.
“It was my sister’s idea,” I say, laughing at myself. “She gifted me a vacation. She thinks I work too hard.”
“Do you?”
“Yeah,” I admit, finishing my whiskey. “I definitely do.”
He runs a finger around the rim of his glass, smirking. “Me too.”
“So you’re here for work?”
“Sort of.” It’s the first time I’ve seen him frown. He was furious at Gerard, but this is something deeper. Darker. When he looks at me again he seems to realize he’s let something slip, because his face transforms with a wide grin. “Sorry. Let’s forget work. Do you gamble?”
I’m gambling right now, I think to myself. And I’m feeling pretty lucky.
2
Nolan
This is definitely not what I expected tonight. Not that you ever expect to practically trip over a sexy damsel in distress. Dani is sin walking. Between that blue dress and that red hair, I’ve had to adjust myself several times while we’ve been sitting here so she doesn’t notice just how much she’s influencing my body. It’s been a while since a woman has done that to me. It’s intriguing. And it’s more than just looks—she’s got spirit. I knew it when she threw water in that asshole’s face.