Taming Vegas Read Free Page B

my mother.
    Are you already trying to think up a way to break it to
everyone that you’re not going to marry him? I shove that thought
aside and try for a reassuring tone.
    “I’m fine, Daddy. He’s not rushing me into anything. In
fact, I guess it’s about time that he actually put a ring on this finger.” I
look down at the ring and regret that I’m not feeling elated right now, I’m
feeling deflated.
    “Yeah, but are you ready?” He always wants a direct answer,
and I squirm a little as if I’ve been caught with my hand in the cookie jar
again when I was five.
    “I guess so.” He puts his hand over the speaker. I know
because I can hear the slide of his skin against the speaker and I have to
remove the phone from my ear. He must be saying something to my mother. I bet he’s
telling her not to get her hopes up yet.
    “That doesn’t sound like an affirmative, honey. Listen, why don’t
you just tell Oliver you need a few days to think about it? Your mother told me
no twice before I finally got her to agree to marry me. She wasn’t ready, and I
could respect that. If Oliver can’t respect that you’re not read yet, then he’s
not the man for you.” I want to tell him all the classic excuses. I’m twenty
three, and I’m not getting any younger. Everyone in my family marries young,
and I feel strange for breaking that rule. Well, I guess I technically broke it
two years ago, but no one knows about that.
    I also want to tell him what if Oliver is the one and I ruin
this by telling him I’m not ready. Besides, it’s just an engagement. We’re not married yet. I still have a few months to get my life in order and decide what I’m
going to do, right? But instead, I open my mouth and I lie to my father. It’s
not the first time. It probably won’t be the last, but each time I do, I think
a little piece of me dies inside.
    “I’m ready, Daddy. So when can you two fly out here to meet
his parents? They’re dying to take you guys out to dinner and get to know you.”
I hear the rough sigh on the other end, but he realizes my intent on changing
the subject.
    “I guess we could leave the vineyard in Christina and
Jeffrey’s hands for a week while we visit in New York. How about in three
weeks?” I get out my cellphone and tick through the calendar and see that it’ll
be the end of July when they get here. It’ll be sweltering hot in the city, and
they’ll feel right at home.
    “Sure, three weeks sound good. And Dad?” He makes a hmm
noise. “Try not to let Mom call me past ten next time, okay?” I hear him
chuckle, we say goodnight, and he lets me off the phone so I can get some rest.
    If only I could get my mind to let me off the line, too.

Chapter Two
    Facing reality can be a bitch, especially when she walks
through your door and slaps you with legal paperwork. ~ Alexander

Alexander
    I roll over, and instead of the scent of lavender reaching
my nose it’s the smell of tequila and limes. I wrinkle my face up into a
disgusted expression and quickly roll over to get out of bed. It’s the third
time this week I’ve woken up with a woman that smells pretty gross in the
morning. She’s not hard on the eyes, but she seriously needs to stop drinking
the tequila throughout the entire night.
    “Why don’t you come back to bed, Alexie?” I cringe at the
strange pet name this one has come up with for me, and shrug one shoulder as I
head for the bathroom. I grab my underwear, jeans, and a white t-shirt on the
way so that she gets the hint that I’m going to shower. Yet she tries to follow
me. While I agree that she needs one, she is not getting into one with
me. Only one woman has wandered into my shower, and I want to keep it that way.
    “Look, Candy-”
    “It’s Sandy.” I roll my eyes. Why the hell should I care?
    “Candy, Sandy, whatever. Just be glad you made it until
morning, and get your things, alright? I had fun last night. I hope you did
too, now go back to your husband, boyfriend,