Hot Finish (Fast Track #3)(37)
Author: Erin McCarthy

Maybe she didn’t want to be real. Suzanne crossed her arms across her chest and tried to hang on to her bitterness. But as she looked around the crowded Mexican restaurant and bar that had become their favorite girl’s hangout, she was having a hard time mustering up bitchy. Her friends meant well. They wanted her happy. Well, hell, she wanted herself happy, too, and maybe they weren’t so crazy after all. If a weekend knocking boots with Ryder made her happy, why shouldn’t she do it?

Because down that path lay heartbreak and a high standard for orgasms that ordinary men couldn’t compete with.

“It’s already complicated. I don’t think tossing a romantic weekend away together into that is going to do anything but make it worse.” Not to mention the last time they’d been in Vegas together they’d been getting hitched shotgun style.

“Since when is awards weekend romantic?” Tammy made a face. “It’s a bunch of cameras in your face, speeches, and endless dinners. And you only have to show for the weekend. I’m stuck there for all of Champions Week.”

“This is your first time doing this event with Elec. I can guarantee come Monday you’ll have a different opinion on the whole thing.”

Tammy shrugged. “I never really got into it, it’s stressful.”

“Then why the hell are you telling me to go?” she asked incredulously.

“Because you always had fun. That’s your thing, socializing, and half the time you and Ryder were scrambling in at the last minute because you were having sex again.”

That was true. Suzanne propped her chin on her hands and sighed at the memory of those trips.

“Sadly, my first husband and I were never late to anything. I’m not sure we ever even had sex on one of those trips.”

“Pete was a good guy, but the two of you had about as much sexual chemistry as a couple of doorknobs.” Unlike Suzanne and her first husband. Who was still her husband. And who wanted her to go to Las Vegas with him for a sex fest.

“I’m glad the two of you will be there,” Imogen said. “I’m nervous myself, since this is my first big event since becoming engaged to Ty. Do you think we’ll have time to see a show? I’m also having hair and gown anxiety. You’re going to have to do my hair, Suzanne.”

“I didn’t say I was going,” she pointed out. “So you’d better be booking a salon appointment.”

“You’re going,” Imogen said. “You’ve already made up your mind, you just have to find an acceptable rationalization first before you can admit it to yourself.”

Damn her. That girl was always so right in her annoying logic. Not quite ready to admit it yet, Suzanne complained. “Why did they move it to Vegas anyway? It’s always been in New York. New York is tempting, but I can control myself in New York and get home quickly if I need to bail. I have serious doubts about my ability to be rational in Sin City. Ryder looks damn good in a tux, you know.”

“Vegas is glitzy and glamorous and quite frankly, I’m guessing it’s cheaper,” Tammy said. “Not exactly kid friendly though. Petey and Hunter are disappointed they have to stay here with their grandparents.”

“It will be like a second honeymoon for you,” Imogen told her.

An image of her own honeymoon in Vegas rolled through Suzanne’s head like a film. An adult film. They’d had a lot of sex and she’d worn a lot of sequins, both in bed and out.

What honest woman could resist the twin lure of bling and booty?

Not her.

RYDER was about to step on the plane for Vegas Monday morning, papers being shoved at him by his assistant, Carol, when his phone rang. A quick glance showed it was Suzanne, and he answered it, the tiny flicker of optimism he’d been trying to fan flaring up. Maybe she had changed her mind.

“Hello?”

Carol shot him a look of annoyance that he had answered the phone, but he ignored her, moving a few steps in front on the Jetway.

“Do you still want me to go to Vegas with you?” Suzanne asked without preamble.

His hope and other parts of him leapt up tall and proud. “Hell, yeah.”

“You’re going to have to lend me the money for the ticket and a dress.”

“Don’t insult me, Suz. I invited you. I’m paying.”

“I’ll accept the plane ticket, because at this late date, it’s going to be about a grand, but I’ll pay you back for the dress.”

“Whatever, sweetheart. We’ll figure it out.” Later, in bed, when he had her mindless and incoherent, he would convince her to accept the trip as a gift.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked, her voice skeptical.

Ryder paused at the door to the plane behind a little old lady with a walker who was being escorted on board. Suzanne had said questionable things before, but this was just dumb. “Yes. I want to do this. Hell, yes.”

“It’s going to be a media shit storm on the red carpet. Are you ready?”

“I don’t care about any of that. I just care about you.” The minute the words were out of his mouth, he realized they might scare Suzanne off, so he quickly amended, “Care about having fun with you. We’re going to tear up Vegas, baby.”

She sounded doubtful when she said, “Alright, I’ll fly in on Thursday. At least I know I won’t be on the same flight as Nikki.”

“We’re at the Wynn. Call me when you’re leaving Thursday and let me know what time you get in. I’ll have Carol call you and book your flight for you.”

“See you Thursday and you’d better have some f**king bells on, Jefferson.”

“Whatever you want, babe.”

Ryder hung up the phone as he boarded the plane and turned to Carol, unable to prevent a grin from splitting his face. “You need to book a flight for Suzanne on Thursday morning to Vegas then e-mail her the details.”

As he plopped his small carry-on down on his seat in first class, Carol frowned at him as she took the seat next to him. “Suzanne who?”

He looked at her in disbelief. “How many Suzannes do you think I know?”

Carol just shrugged, her navy blue blazer shifting on her shoulder. Carol had been his assistant for years, and while sometimes he found her demeanor a little pinched and off-putting, she kept him organized. Back when he was a rookie, she had been instrumental in preventing him from making embarrassing media errors. Over the years her hair had gotten grayer and her lipstick had gotten bolder, but she was still essentially the same. Quiet, faintly disapproving, and so efficient the devil would never have a crack at her fast-moving hands.