CalvinMinutes later, back in our bed, Schuyler reminds me, “Mom will be here at eight in the morning, Clint plans to stop by to help her when football practice is over at ten, and Dawn may drop in, so the kids are taken care of.” She rummages through the top drawer of her bedside table. “I’ll be able to help you get everything ready until three or so. Then, I’ll come home to change and get the kids ready to watch their daddy impress guests with his new venture.” She places her hair in a high messy bun, turns off her lamp, then rolls to me. “Now, you will sleep,” she commands. “We have a big day tomorrow.”Calvin I’m surprised; I sleep until my alarm rings at 6:30 the next morning. Sky’s joining me in the pool last night did the trick. She wore me out and distracted me enough that I slept soundly. I place my feet on the wooden floor. When Schuyler’s hand presses to my back, looking over my shoulder, I’m greeted by her beautiful, light-brown eyes and sweet smile.“Good morning,” she mu
Book 2: Unraveled, 7 Deadly Sins: Gluttony Montana I hate Las Vegas, and I hate girls’ trips. How stupid must I be?“Let’s fly to Vegas for two days. It’ll be fun! Just us girls shopping, eating, gambling, and dancing.” I spoke those words. How innocent I thought their meaning to be.Our other girls’ trips were fun. We let loose, we partied, and we returned to Iowa prepared to resume our daily lives.Not this time. Not this trip. There’s no returning to our normal, daily lives after last night. My life is forever changed.A chance meeting led to two nights of dinners and clubs with a famous rock band. Most would say we were very lucky to spend our time with them. I can say I enjoyed every minute until the sun rose this morning.Married. I had to ruin it by drinking too much, marrying a member of the band, spending the night with him in my bed, and not rememberin
Montana The sounds of video-slot machines fill the air as I follow Peyton onto the casino floor. Bright lights flicker as far as the eye can see. Butterflies flutter their wings in my belly as my excitement increases. Although I know the general idea of how to play the slot machines, I’m not sure of the strategy or if there is one. I’m eager to learn.“Walk slower,” I beg Peyton.I want to take my time and observe people playing the games. Every few steps, I pause and watch as a person approaches a chair, places cash into a machine, then plays. I guess it’s that simple.“Ready to play?” Peyton plops into a high-back black leather seat, patting the machine next to her.I take my seat, pull a twenty-dollar bill from my clutch handbag, then slide the money into the slot. The machine registers my money and bright lights flicker into action. I feel giddy. All the stories of people winning on these machines flash through my mind. It
Montana The next morning I find myself in a dressing room at a shop near Planet Hollywood as Peyton tosses dress after dress over the door to me. She’s on a mission to find me the perfect little black dress. She claims I need a new LBD—little black dress—for clubbing tonight. I assure her I packed appropriate attire, but she won’t have it.“I refuse to try this one on,” I tell her through the door, tossing the dress back at her. “You know I won’t wear a strapless dress.” Peyton is aware women constantly tugging up a strapless dress ranks high on my list of pet peeves.I tilt my head as I look in the full-length mirror, turning this way and that, admiring the simple black halter dress with a flowing skirt that ends mid-thigh. It hugs my body perfectly.“I kind of like this halter one,” I tell her as I slip it off over my head and then put on my own clothes. “I refuse to try on another dress,” I state, emerging from the fitting roo
Montana Excitement from my win is still pulsing in my veins. I press the elevator button, noting the numbers above each door are increasing instead of going down. Normally, I’d pull out my phone to check for emails and look at social media while I wait. I’m surprised I didn’t notice it missing earlier.Eventually, a ping signals the arrival of an elevator. I enter, pressing floor twelve, hoping the doors close before others join me. I want to avoid the awkwardness that occurs when trapped with someone else. I almost always feel like I should strike up conversation to end the silence. I breathe a sigh of relief when the doors close, and I’m alone.I round the corner from the elevators, heading down my hallway, hearing loud voices coming from an open office. One woman sits behind a large, metal desk as staff in housekeeping uniforms chatter with timecards in their hands. I smile as I continue walking by.Outside our room, I scan my
Montana He smiles at me. I try not to stare. Even under his baseball cap, I can tell he’s a handsome man.“We’re blowing off some steam before we get back to work. How about you?” he says casually.“I’m here with my best friend. We’re celebrating the end of our sophomore year of college,” I share.As we chat, I continue to try to check him out without letting him know I’m doing so. Why would such a cute guy sit on the hallway floor with me, considering all that Las Vegas offers? His dark blue jeans are worn white and thin at the middle of his muscular thighs and each knee. My eyes want to stare at his biceps as they bulge beneath his black t-shirt. They flex as he constantly adjusts his ball cap. There’s something about him… Maybe it’s his deep-set, brown eyes or the dark scruff on his jaw. Why does he look so familiar?“What type of work do you do?” I ask, attempting to keep our conversation flow
Montana Stepping out of the elevator, Carson motions for me to walk toward the casino floor. His palm rests on my lower back, just above my bottom. The heat emanating from his touch nearly brands me.He’s being such a gentleman. If I weren’t as careful as I am, I might start to swoon. I’m sure underneath his protective politeness he wants to drop me off with Peyton and get back to the privacy of his room.“I think we’ll find Peyton near the tables,” I say, looking around us.“What?” he inquires, turning to face me.The loud bells, whistles, and conversations of the casino surround us. That combined with how close he is standing to me makes my head spin. I lean in to repeat myself. I get a heady whiff of his cologne and what I assume to be his own masculine scent.My God. This man is sexy. I breathe him in and lean in closer. In my heels, I don’t have to stretch much to speak near his ear.“I need to find Peyt
Carson After introductions, Warner demands we hang out at the MGM Grand before we do anything else. He’s the stereotypical diva, an attitude that comes with the territory of being a lead singer in a popular band. As far as he’s concerned, he must always get his way. Apparently, he promised some drunk millionaire last night that he’d return to play poker tonight, so we head across the street.The Vegas heat has cooled off as the sun sets. The energy of the city is alive and vibrant as crowds of tourists hustle around us. Strolling models with huge, towering feather wings stop for photos and other entertainers amuse passersby.Montana and I hang to the back of the group while her friend seems at home, entertaining the rest of the guys with her quick wit and wide smile.“We’ll give him an hour or two tops,” I promise Montana. “And, we don’t have to stay with him at the poker table. There’s plenty to do and see in the MGM.”Sh