I started for the door, intent on finding Marco and getting things straightened out. On the way, a beautiful vase of roses in white and red caught my eye. Instead of baby’s breath, spiky holly leaves completed the arrangement, giving it a holiday feel. The envelope beside it drew my attention. My name was emblazoned across the cream-colored surface, igniting my curiosity but reassuring me that I was in the right place.
I’d catch Marco in a minute. First, the message. Carefully, I opened the flap and pulled out the card.
Emerson,
Welcome aboard. Here’s to the trip of a lifetime, the first of many.
No signature. Were these from the cruise line? My company?
My brow furrowed, hating a puzzle I couldn’t solve. Just then I heard the whir of the card reader opening the door’s lock and I swung toward it, hoping it wasn’t Marco telling me I was in the wrong room.
Chapter Two
~ Chase ~
“So, everything’s set for tonight?” I asked my brother, Luke, for the third time in an hour.
“Jesus, Chase!” Luke ran his hand through his hair and sighed. “Yes. Everything’s set. Your trap has been sprung on this poor, unsuspecting girl, okay?”
“It’s not a trap,” I argued. “It’s romantic.”
“It’s creepy.”
“Shut your face.” I rolled my eyes at him. “An all-expenses-paid, luxury cruise is not creepy.” I mean, I had to give the security company she works for a huge recommendation in order to bring them in on my plan, but they were highly regarded and on the list of candidates for the new casino project anyway, so it was good. I’d get the girl and enhance my family company’s networking. But not creepy.
“It is when it’s a front to get a girl to fall in love with you.” Luke leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I still don’t get what’s up with you and this chick.”
“I don’t know how else to explain it to you,” I said. “The minute I saw her, I knew we were meant to be together. My entire future played out in front of me, and she was there every step of the way. Love at first sight and all that. It was fate that took us to that club that night.”
“It was two-dollar Heinekens that took us to that club that night,” he reminded me. “And she was at an engagement party for a girl who didn’t seem all that enthused to be getting married.”
“Huh,” I said. “I didn’t notice anything but her.”
“I remember.”
Luke was right; it had been the beer special that got us to decide on Diamond that night. We’d just closed a massive deal to win the construction of a new casino, and my brothers and I were out to celebrate. Our contracting firm was the best in the state, but a lot of developers had been pulling in talent from outside Nevada, so we’d been a little nervous about this one.
But it had all been for nothing. The owner had loved that we’re a family-run business, and our portfolio was impeccable. So we’d closed with signatures and handshakes, then all five of us Malloy men had taken to the Strip to enjoy the fruits of our labor.
We hadn’t been inside Diamond more than five minutes when I’d seen her. My gaze was drawn to her like a magnet, and I was gone. Her dark, sable locks moved in time with the sway of her hips to the music. She was laughing at something someone had said to her, and the curve of her lips instantly made my pants uncomfortably tight across my crotch.
I stood and walked directly to her. I had no clue what I’d say, but I’d known without a doubt I had to talk to her. I had to know the name I’d someday yell out in ecstasy.
She’d seen me approaching, and I’d taken it as a good sign when she’d stood her ground, waiting for me, interest akin to mine lighting her eyes. Had she walked off the dance floor, I wasn’t sure if I would have followed her. I didn’t want to come across predatory.
But I knew she was mine, so maybe, I would have.
“Hi,” she said, turning that radiant smile up at me.
“Hi,” I responded, holding out my hand. “Chase Malloy.”
“Emerson Blake,” she responded as she slid her palm against mine.
“Can I get you a drink?” I asked.
“Have one.” She held up her glass.
“Right.” I carded my fingers through my hair and looked around. I spotted a hallway that obviously contained VIP rooms and an idea hatched. “My brothers and I have a lounge.” I pointed toward the hall. “Would you like to join us for some champagne?”
“Champagne?” she laughed. “Are you celebrating, or are you really that smooth?”
“Oh, we’re celebrating.” I pulled out my phone and shot an urgent text to my brother, Bennett, telling him to get us one of those rooms immediately. “Our firm closed a big deal today.”
“That’s nice,” she said. “Well, I’m here with my friends, so I really should get back to them. But thank you for the offer.”
My heart pounded. I couldn’t let her escape.
“Well, obviously, they’re invited,” I said quickly. “I wouldn’t dream of asking you to accompany me alone to a room full of strange men.”
“So you agree you’re strange?” she asked. Her voice held a note of teasing.
“Not me,” I explained. “My brothers, though? Yeah. They’re all weird. Best to bring your friends along.”
“One drink,” she warned. “We have tickets to a show in an hour, and we fly out in the morning.”
“Of course,” I agreed.
She corralled her four friends, and the ten of us made our way to the room Bennett had procured. Looking back, it had been crazy to drop five thousand dollars to get a few more minutes with Emerson, but she was worth that and more.
I’d been disappointed when she’d stuck to the one drink agreement. All I’d been able to learn about her was that she lived in Chicago and
