Page 19 of Billionaire In Vegas

Chapter Five

My head was killing me. That was my first thought as my body reluctantly stirred into consciousness. I’d been having the weirdest dream, actually, the sexiest dream. I’d been arguing with Jude. About what, I wasn’t too sure, but our argument had ended with us having sex up against a wall. And it had been delicious. I couldn’t remember any other details, but I knew it’d been good. Real good.

But my reality was far from good. I groaned as I attempted to sit up and told myself that I’d never drink again. The room began to spin because my head hurt so badly, and I collapsed back down onto the pillows letting out a long sigh. I closed my eyes, willing the sunlight that peeked through the blinds to go away. I was far too weak to deal with life today and my head felt like it would fall off. Perhaps I’ll just stay here... forever.

I opened my eyes and looked around. I blinked once and then again. Where the heck was I? I closed my eyes, counted to ten and then opened them again, assuming that I was dreaming. I was definitely not in my hotel room. I had no clue where I was and I forced myself not to panic.

“Ugggghhhhhhh.”

My body went still and all thoughts about controlling my panic disappeared as fear took over. I was fairly confident that I wasn’t the one who had groaned unless the hangover I was experiencing was making me hallucinate.

“Ughhhhhhhh…” came the noise again. And this time I was sure it wasn’t me. Oh God, I’d been kidnapped and my kidnapper was coming for me!

With all the strength I could muster, I tossed myself off the bed and hit the floor with a thud. I tried to hide myself by rolling under the bed, but realized I wouldn’t ever fit with my gigantic butt.

I heard the groan again. In panic, I reached for the first thing my hand landed on. A shoe. Armed with it, I crawled around the bed, trying to be quiet, ignoring the pounding headache. I could see the door from where I was positioned and I made a quick decision to leave the crouching position I was currently in.

I jumped up with the shoe and ran to the door, only realizing as I was about to open it that I was completely naked except for the sheet that was wrapped around me.

I heardthe groaning again and realized someone was in the bed I’d just left. I wasn’t stopping to find out who it was, so with shaky hands, I pried open the lock and deadbolt and made a dash for the hallway.

I ran as fast as I could and I heard someone yell from behind me, “Hey!”

I didn’t turn around. I wasn’t interested. Luckily the elevators were at the end of the hall, and I hit both buttons, not caring if it took me up or down.

“Lacey! Wait!” A voice called out for me and I looked back, not expecting the sight that greeted me—Jude completely naked standing in the hall with his hands on his hips looking confused and annoyed.

My mouth opened and then closed. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what to do. And before I could figure out my next course of action, the elevator opened and I stepped on, wrapping my sheet as close to my body as possible.

“Where are you—”

He didn’t get another word out as the elevator doors closed and I breathed a sigh of relief. Apparently, I hadn’t been kidnapped. I hadn’t been in danger, but I had indeed made a very, very bad decision.

It took me a few minutes before I remembered I was in my hotel. Or should I say, Oliver Foster’s hotel.

I stepped into the lobby, more concerned that a naked Jude would follow me there than the fact that I was walking around like a crazy woman with one shoe in her hand and wearing a sheet as a dress. I’d done my best to make it look like a toga while I was in the elevator, but given the amount of space everyone who got into the elevator gave me, I was guessing my makeshift toga wasn’t very convincing.

I took a look around trying to get my bearings and not freak out when a warm voice said, “Good morning, Lacey.”

It was the concierge, Renee. I felt my cheeks turn red. I was probably bruised from my fight with Tanya. I was wearing a sheet. I was dirty. I was carrying one shoe. I looked at it, like really looked at it for the first time. At least it was my own, I thought with a sigh.

“Are you okay?” Renee asked me as she looked at my sheet wrapped body.

“Fine. Dandy. I’m just going to make my way back upstairs....” I tried to make small talk as I stood there and waited for the elevator to come back down.

“So I guess Hank has the day off?”

She shook her head. “He’ll be in later. He had car trouble. Are you sure there’s nothing I can do for you?” I felt so bad. She looked so concerned, but what was I supposed to say? Keep naked Jude away from me?

“Uhhh... no, everything’s fine. I just lost my shoe. Thought I might have left it downstairs,” I lied unconvincingly.

Renee gave me one last look, a small confused smile and then walked away. Finally, the elevator binged and I climbed on, thankful that I would finally escape to my room when a hand reached out and caught the elevator stopping it.

I sighed in frustration. Great, another person to witness my humiliation. In vain, I tried to adjust the sheet that was pooling around my ankles and prepared myself emotionally for the uncomfortable stares I was sure I would get.

To my surprise, it was Hank. He was kind enough to pretend he didn’t notice my strange attire. We chatted about nothing and I was so grateful when we reached my floor.

As I walked out, I dropped my shoe and he graciously recovered it for me saying with a wink, “Don’t worry, miss. What happens in Vegas—”