She loved that people just seemed to move out of the way for them when she was with him.
Her friend Taylor, who was married to Logan’s twin Roman, jumped off a barstool and threw her arms around Grace. Grace was taller by a good four inches, so she leaned down and hugged Taylor back tight.
“What are you two laughing about?” Taylor asked.
“You wouldn’t believe it, but my ex-fiancé was in the lobby and Logan told him we were engaged. You should have seen the look on Kevin’s face as Logan dragged me away after thanking him for being a dumbass and letting me go.” She laughed again, amusement filling her as she thought of Kevin’s expression. She hadn’t felt even a twinge of…anything when she’d seen him. Well, anything other than disgust and annoyance that he’d somehow encroached on what she thought of as her turf. Which she knew was ridiculous. Vegas was a huge city. Still, he should be banned forever. How was that for a fantasy? One where she never had to see her ex’s stupid face again.
Taylor snickered. “That’s crazy. And a very Logan thing to do.”
“No kidding.” She glanced over to see Logan ordering drinks, the female bartender giving him a wide smile as she took the order. Grace couldn’t help but wish she was his for real. That there had been no acting tonight on his part.
Grace looked back at Taylor and realized she’d missed what her friend had just said. “What?”
“I’m glad you’re off this week. We’re going to take full advantage, starting with tonight!” She lifted her own glass of champagne even as Logan slid a glass into Grace’s hand.
Surprising her, he kissed the top of her head and didn’t move away, though he continued talking to his brother about something work related.
She couldn’t help but notice how close he was standing beside her as he basically caged her in to the bar area. He was standing in the same protective stance as Roman had taken behind Taylor, and Logan smelled absolutely delicious. All male spice and sexiness and she wanted to turn her face right into him and simply inhale. Which she knew was crazy pants but she didn’t care. He was this warm, wonderful presence.
Even if it meant nothing, Grace ate up his closeness right now. Heck, she could appreciate everything about the man—even if she could never have him.
* * *
“Thank you again for earlier,” Grace said, raising her voice above the music.
Logan leaned in a little more than he needed to, but he would use any excuse to get close to her. Even in the crowded club he could smell her subtle perfume. It had faint vanilla undertones, but there was something that was all Grace. Something addicting that went straight to his head—and his cock.
“No problem.” He wouldn’t mind being her fake fiancé for as long as she let him, though he wanted more than fake with her. He wanted everything.
“Are you going to tell me how you knew who he was?” she asked, looking up at him with pretty brown eyes he often lost himself in.
Yeah, he hadn’t thought she would let that go. Instead of answering, he simply grinned and tugged her away from the round high-top where the rest of their friends were hanging out for the moment. A whole crew of them had come out tonight. Many of them were off work, including himself. He’d just gotten off a job, and since Grace was a guidance counselor, she had the week off too. Normally she pulled her long dark hair back, but tonight she’d left it down in soft waves he wanted to run his fingers through.
“You’re really not going to answer?” Her grin was infectious, her dark eyes sparkling, and he wondered if she’d had one too many drinks. She didn’t drink much as a rule and he didn’t think she had been tonight. And he hoped that smile was all for him. All because of him.
Because he couldn’t help but smile around her too. She was smart, sweet, fiercely independent and, okay, gorgeous. And someone he found himself fantasizing about every damn day. He’d woken up with his fist around his cock because of her more times than he wanted to think about. Ever since she’d walked into his orbit, he’d had one focus. Grace. The first time he’d met her, her bright smile had nearly knocked him on his ass. When he looked at her, he wanted to smile too. Hell, it was impossible not to.
“I’ve gotta have some secrets.” He pulled her close as they reached the dance floor.
She was five foot seven and fit perfectly against his six foot two frame. Tonight she had on some sparkly, multicolored dress he’d never seen her in before but it hugged all her curves, dipping low in front and flaring out with every step she took. It definitely fit in with the Vegas club scene. Every time she moved, a rainbow of colors shimmered across her body. Normally she wore jeans and flowy tops, but this? Oh, he liked this so much.
“Fine, be that way.” She mock pouted as she started swaying her hips to the music.
He wasn’t a big dancer, mainly because he didn’t have much rhythm—but no way was he letting her out on the dance floor without him. He was claiming her for everyone to see even though she clearly had no idea how he felt about her. And she was pretty much the only one who didn’t realize how into her he was.
He understood though. She’d gotten burned so bad before she’d moved here, so he was simply biding his time until she was ready for him. And if she decided she never wanted to take a shot with him, well, at least they were friends. Though that was something he didn’t want to think about. Because he would always want more, and he couldn’t even pretend to himself that he was okay with that. So he shut the thought down hard.
When some guy started creeping up behind her and getting a little too close, he gave the man a look that immediately made him back off.
It made Grace laugh and dance even closer to him. Good God, the way she moved was pure erotic fantasy. And her laugh? He wanted to drown in that too. To just soak up everything that was her.
“Heads-up, your ex is here,” he murmured as he leaned down closer. He didn’t want to hurt her with the knowledge, but he wanted her aware that the loser had just stepped onto the dance floor. “Want to put on a show?”
Her eyes widened as she looked up at him. And he noticed that she didn’t look around to see if he was telling the truth. No searching looks for that loser who’d left her on their wedding day. Maybe she didn’t care about her ex anymore. She never talked about him. Maybe…she was ready to move on?
“What do you have in mind?” She raised her voice again, still moving in tune with the music.
He leaned down, making his intentions clear. Things were about to change between them, even if this was just for show. Because he knew once he got a real taste of her there was no going back.
Her eyes widened slightly but she didn’t pull back. Instead she leaned into him, and when he slanted his mouth over hers, he hoped that this was more than just a show for her.
Because it was real to him. The taste of champagne on her lips made him go lightheaded as she leaned into him, holding on to his shoulders as she teased her tongue against his. He clutched onto her hips, savoring the feel of her curves pressed against him.
He hadn’t had sex in forever, not since he’d met Grace. Hell, since before then. He’d been tired of the dating scene long before he met her. But he had a reputation and everybody assumed he was this giant player. He had been once upon a time, but that phase hadn’t lasted long. He’d gotten tired of one-night stands and meaningless hookups but the reputation had stuck. Probably because he was a huge flirt.