Against the Sky Read Free Page A

I ran out of money before I finished college. I took a job with a friend and it morphed into a career. What about you? You said you were a policeman—past tense. What are you doing now?”
    â€œAt the moment, nothing. I was a homicide detective. I got tired of dealing with criminals and murder. I’m figuring out what I want to do.” Which could be anything that didn’t involve violence, blood, and death.
    She glanced around the bar, at the modern architecture, high ceilings and glass chandeliers, at the red lights illuminating the endless bottles of liquor in the back bar. In the distance, Nick could hear the sounds of the casino, the ringing of slots, the spin of endless wheels.
    â€œThen maybe you came to the right place,” she said. “There’s plenty to do here to get your mind off the bad stuff you’ve been dealing with.”
    â€œThat’s exactly what my brother said.” He smiled. “And on top of that, now I’ve met you.” He lifted his glass. “Here’s to new friends and having a good time in Vegas.”
    Samantha lifted her wineglass, clinked it against his. “New friends and fun,” she said, repeating his toast.
    Nick looked at the attractive woman sitting across from him and thought maybe things were finally beginning to swing in his direction.

Chapter Three
    Samantha was having such a good time with Nick, she didn’t realize how late it was getting.
    She glanced down at her wristwatch. “Good heavens, it’s almost nine o’clock. I’ve got to work tomorrow. I’d better get going.” She started to rise, but Nick caught her arm.
    â€œNeither of us has had dinner,” he said reasonably. “There’s a great steak house in the hotel—if you like meat, that is. Why don’t we eat together?”
    Samantha studied the man sitting across from her. So far, Nick Brodie had been a perfect gentleman. They wouldn’t be leaving the hotel, so she wouldn’t be in any sort of danger, and she was having fun.
    As if to persuade her, her stomach rumbled right on cue. “All right. Mostly I eat fish and chicken, but I’m sure they’ll have something I like.”
    Nick stood up and held out his hand. Samantha placed hers in his and felt a little rush of awareness. How long had it been since a man had attracted her the way Nick Brodie did? Not since Justin. She’d been swept off her feet by Justin Chapman III, overwhelmed by his blond good looks, Stanford education, and charm. Justin had turned out to be a complete and utter rat.
    The memory reminded her to be wary.
    They made their way to Charlie Palmer’s, which turned out to be kind of old-style, with upholstered red chairs and white linen tablecloths, and extremely expensive.
    When she saw the menu prices, her stomach tightened. She told herself she was in Vegas—she deserved to treat herself. But still . . . Something in her face must have revealed her thoughts. Nick reached over and covered the hand she rested on the table.
    â€œThis was my idea. My treat, okay?”
    She firmly shook her head. “No way. I’m not about to let you pay my share. You don’t even have a job.”
    Nick laughed, a husky, sexy sound, and a little curl of heat slid into her stomach.
    â€œI can afford it,” he said. “And besides, I’m an ex-cop, I’m from Alaska, and way too much of a male chauvinist to let a woman pay.”
    Samantha smiled. She could see by the stubborn set of his jaw and the look in his eyes he was determined. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t offer.”
    His mouth edged up. “You can buy me an after-dinner drink in the bar, how’s that?”
    It was a trick to keep her from going back upstairs, but Samantha no longer cared. Nick was great company and she loved being with a man who intrigued her in ways no one had in nearly two years.
    The conversation never turned dull all the