My chest brushes against his, and he slips his hands to my lower back. His forehead lowers. For one earth-shattering second, I think he’s going to kiss me.
Iwanthim to kiss me.
The speakers crackle back to life, and the announcer comes over the microphone once more. “One last round of applause for our bride and groom!”
The audience cheers, bringing me back to reality.
Our eyes meet, and he lets out a hearty, contagious laugh. I can’t help but join in. Hand in hand, he helps me off the stage. Once we’re back on solid ground, I dart past everyone into the hallway that leads to the casino next door, tugging him along.
He stops me just outside the doors. “Where to next?”
I glance past the flashing lights of the slot machines to the blackjack tables. “Are you feeling lucky?”
“You have no idea, Angel.”
Griffin stares down at his seven of hearts and three of spades, shuffling his stack of chips. He taps the table, and the dealer sets down an ace of spades, giving him his fifth consecutive win. It turns out, Griffin is really good at blackjack. Like… really really good. Is there anything this man can’t do? It’s both sexy as hell and so fucking annoying. I keep searching for his faults, but I come up empty every time.
My thoughts travel back through a tapestry of images of the last five years. Griffin is a constant in each one.
The day of Jess’s funeral, when I was deep in my grief, he stayed by my side and held me when I cried.
When I arrived in Oak Ridge during a snowstorm, Griffin rescued me from the side of the road.
The night I met Tyler at the bar, Griffin was there—a silent presence in the background of the relationship that would steal three years of my life.
He would’ve been the same silent presence at my wedding, too. He would’ve watched me give the rest of my life away had Tyler not spared me the effort.
Griffin glances over his shoulder and smirks at me. “You best stop lookin’ at me like that, or I might do something reckless.”
I take his hand in mine and weave our fingers together. “What if I want you reckless?”
Chapter 2
What Happens In Vegas…
? Vegas - Erin Kinsey
Griffin
I’ve always beenthe impulsive brother, but this takes the cake.
Fuck, she’s radiant.
I can’t take my eyes off her.
How did we get here?
One minute, I’m winning a shit ton of money at blackjack, and the next, I’m standing across from Angelina Rossi in a little white wedding chapel.
“Do you, Angelina Thalia Rossi, take Griffin Ryder Hayes to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
How does he know my full name?
Oh.Right. The marriage license.
The marriage license we picked up at the courthouse an hour ago.
The marriage license I signed with my own hand. Of myown free will. Maybe not in my right mind, but I’m not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth.
