Unexpectedly Mated

13

Nic pulled out her new sexy gold dress. Cinched at the waist with a flared skirt, the dress made her already curvy body appear even more hourglass. She turned to and fro in front of the mirror and winked at the sexy pinup image of herself. She’d done herself up in a fifties style tonight. Big fluffy curls hung over her shoulders. Her bangs had been recently cut to fall perfectly above her brows. She’d done deep, dark makeup with a bold red lipstick. The dress, with its strapless bodice showed off the arm tattoo she normally kept hidden for her teaching job. Big blue and yellow flowers covered her arm up to her shoulder, along with swirls and stars. She glanced at her ass in the mirror.

Yeah, her ass looked amazing in that dress. She picked up her drink from the dresser and sucked down another martini. This was number three or four. Not that she was counting or cared. Jake the bastard mutt was back in his club having fun. She could have fun too, right? Hell, she would have fun. Even if it killed her!

She took a step and wobbled in her brand new heels. Crap. She should probably slow it down with the drinks. Nah, no she shouldn’t. Every time she thought of Jake her temperature rose and she wanted to hit something, so she went for another drink instead.

By the time she got in the elevator, she had lost count of the number of drinks she’d had in her room. She only knew she felt good. So good she might just slap some guy’s ass at the strip joint and not think of Jake.

The elevator stopped and a man walked in to the cab with her. He was tall. Almost as tall as Jake. With short blonde hair and green piercing eyes. Really pretty eyes. He wore black jeans like nobody’s business and an AC/DC T-shirt.

Nic blinked and smiled. Yikes. He was hot with a capital H. If only her stupid body and heart hadn’t decided they wanted Jake she’d definitely be up to talking to him.

He inhaled. A small predatory smile curved his lips. “Wolfe?”

“I’m sorry?” Boy those drinks had sure made it hard to keep track of a simple conversation.

“Do you,” he said, his voice rough and a faint glow taking over his eyes, “belong to the Wolfes?”

She shook her head. This guy had to be confused. Who the hell would own her? “I don’t belong to them, no. I’m here with them. We’re celebrating the upcoming wedding of one of my friends with Aric Wolfe.”

The elevator dinged at the lobby. About damn time. She needed another drink.

She strolled out and glanced around, hoping to see one of the others in her party. She was late as it was. They’d agreed to meet by the bar. If only she knew where the bar was.

“Can I help you find your way?” Pretty eyes said.

She turned at the sound of his voice. “Do you know where the bar is? I’m meeting my friends there and I’m already late.”

He gave a sharp nod. “I’d be happy to guide you to The Core Bar, Ms.?”

“Nicole, Nicole Acosta. Thank you…”

“Grady Harris.” He picked up her hand and brought it to his lips in a soft lingering kiss.

Wow. Talk about a gentleman. There went that fantasy. That kiss didn’t even bring a shiver into her body. Sad. So damn sad that all Jake had to do was message her and her hormones were all over the place. Yet here was this hot man kissing her hand with a look that could only be described as wanting to tear her panties off and it did nothing for her.

She pulled her hand out of his grasp and smiled brightly. “Nice to meet you, Grady. I really appreciate you showing me to the bar.”

Another ping from the elevator and Kel and Shaari popped out. Shaari glared daggers at Kel and smiled the moment she noticed Nicole.

“Hi, Nic.”

“Oh, hey you guys. I was just going to the bar.” She turned to Grady. “I guess I don’t need an escort after all. Thanks for the offer anyway.”

“Nic?” Something in Kel’s voice made her turn to him. Kel’s brows shot down and a frown replaced the smirk he’d had leaving the elevator. “I’ll take you to the bar. I was there earlier.”

“See you around, Grady.” Nic grinned.

Grady spoke softly as she stepped away. “Count on it, Nicole.”

Nic moved toward her friends and waved over her shoulder at Grady. His face was set in hard lines but the brightness in his eyes hadn’t diminished. Another wave of disappointment washed over her. That would normally make her giddy if said by Jake. She was so screwed. Not admitting she might have feelings for Jake didn’t stop them from existing. She could very well be in love with the mutt and dammit all to hell there was nothing she could do about it.

“Watch it with him,” Kel advised.

Shaari’s eyes took an instant glow. “Are you a shifter expert now?”

Kel’s lip curled in a smirk he directed at Shaari. “No, but I am a man and I know when a man wants a woman. It’s you women who refuse to acknowledge what’s in your faces.”

Well too bad for Grady, he was s**t outta luck when it came to Nic.

“Kel, man, you’re messing with my high,” Nic groaned. She needed another drink or her buzz was going to go down the drain. All because of Jake. Heat crowded her belly. Jake Wolfe had the ability to turn her on without even being around. She really was screwed. And not in the fun way. They entered a club filled with bodies swaying and music pumping.

“I thought we were going to a club next door?” Nic yelled. She glanced around the low-lit space in search for her friends.

“Jordan changed her mind when Ellie got a migraine.” Shaari pointed to the group of people sitting in a table off one corner. “Jordan said we can’t go to watch men shake their groove thing without Ellie. Those were her exact words.”

True. Ellie would have a cow. Come all the way to Vegas to try to relax over having Caleb rejecting her help only to miss out on the fun? Not if they had anything to do with it.