Page 9 of Vegas with my Brother’s Best Friends

Tyler tilts his head back with a laugh. “Smart ass.”

The side of my mouth turns up as I shake my head at him. I can’t think of a better group to explore Las Vegas with.

Soft, golden light glows up ahead, and gentle chatter along with glasses clinking sounds nearby. We’re close.

Cassidy wraps her fingers around my bicep as she moves closer to me. “I’ve never been to a speakeasy before.”

“Neither have I.”

The four of us step through a doorway to the left, entering the main area where there’s a long bar with multiple shelves full of liquor bottles, round tables in the center for groups and couples to eat overly expensive small plates, and secluded booths toward the back for more peace and privacy.

Vintage bulbs hang overhead, reflecting off the polished wood of the specifically selected furniture. It really does feel like we’re in a different era here, and I have to say the vibe is pretty…seductive.

“Why don’t you go find us a booth? Tyler and I will get drinks,” I tell Marcus.

Marcus nods and holds his arm out to Cassidy.

I already miss the feeling of Cassidy’s touch, but I’m fine letting her go off with Marcus. He’ll keep a close eye on her.

Once they walk off, I head to the bar with Tyler and order a few drinks that none of us had ever had before. We might as well lean into the experience and get some of their fancy cocktails.

“Think she’s having a good time?” I ask Tyler.

“Hell yeah,” he says. “She looked miserable when we found her. Now, she can’t stop smiling.”

“I just don’t want her to get caught up on Derek. I can’t believe Ryan chose that asshole to be his best man. Did he not think it would hurt his own sister to have her ex-fiancé at the wedding?”

Tyler shrugs. “Maybe Ryan doesn’t know how badly Derek hurt her. You know how Cassidy can be. She bottles her feelings up.”

“She shouldn’t feel like she has to, especially around her brother.”

“Look who is talking,” he replies with a pointed look.

My eyes dart away from him. “If I’m too busy talking about my feelings, I can’t save people. Action saves lives. Not talking. Dad—”

“Yeah, your dad was some high ranking Army major and didn’t raise his son to talk about much of anything. Now, we have to deal with your emotionless ass,” Tyler finishes before giving me a light nudge. “I know.”

I give him a small nod, grateful that he knows me well enough to understand.

“I’m just saying that if we can help her feel a little better, we should,” I say. “It’s going to be hell for her having to be around Derek during the wedding.”

“We’ll make sure she has a good time. Derek will be the last thing on her mind,” Tyler assures me, giving me a certain nod.

I’m willing to do just about anything to make that happen.

Once the bartender hands off our drinks, we carry them to where Cassidy and Marcus are talking in one of the curved, cushioned booths tucked away in the back corner.

“Oh, wow. Those look amazing,” Cassidy gasps as I place a pink drink in a fancy glass in front of her.

“They’ve got some pretty frilly drinks here, but we might as well try something new,” I reply as I slide into the booth next to her.

Our arms and legs brush as we get situated, heating my skin. My eyes lower to where her dress stops above her knees, revealing a hint of her thighs.

It’s dangerous getting close to someone who I find so ridiculously sexy. She has no clue what seeing her in this little dress does to me, and I’m doing everything that I can to keep her from finding out.

“We should toast to that,” Cassidy says, lifting her drink once everyone has theirs in their hands. “To trying new things with old friends.”

“Cheers.”