Page 6 of Just My Luck

“Come on,” I said, grabbing Jax’s forearm and pulling him toward the towering glass exit doors of the Apex. “We need to walk this off before I try to buy a slot machine.”

“You’re asking for danger carting all that cash around, Nova. Why don’t you buy us a round of ice cream to help the cause?” he teased.

I laughed and agreed. We stepped out into the hot, desert night. The Vegas Strip after dark was a living, breathing creature that drew me in. The heat hit us immediately—a heavy, dry warmth that lingered on the concrete long after the sun had dipped below the mountains. It was a massive contrast to the crisp, cool Colorado nights we were currently having back home. But with the neon lights buzzing overhead and the sea of tourists drifting past, it all felt magical.

We walked side by side down the Strip, our shoulders brushing with every few steps. Jax had shed his leather jacket, slinging it casually over one shoulder. His dark T-shirt clung just enough to show the broad line of his back. Every glance, every laugh, every casual touch felt… different.

We stopped at the edge of a massive, man-made lake just as the music began to swell from hidden speakers. The Bellagio fountains erupted, massive plumes of water dancing and shooting hundreds of feet into the starless sky, perfectly synchronized to a classic jazz track. The mist from the spray drifted across the street, a cool, brief relief from the heavy evening air.

I leaned against the railing, looking up at the water, then glanced sideways at Jax. He wasn’t looking at the fountains. He was looking at me, the flashing white lights reflecting in the crystal blue of his eyes.

“What?” I asked, my voice dropping over the roar of the water.

The lopsided dimple made a brief appearance. “Nothing. Just checking to see if you’re enjoying your first trip to Vegas or calculating how much pressure it takes to shoot the water that high.”

“Ha ha. I am fully capable of enjoying a spectacle without analyzing the logistics, thank you very much,” I said, bumping my shoulder against his arm. “Though, logistically speaking, I am currently melting. I need that ice cream,” I added when the water had stopped spraying.

“Your wish is my command.” He laughed and took my hand to pull me through the crowd.

We ducked into an upscale, brightly lit creamery just down the sidewalk. The air conditioning inside was a shock to the system, instantly raising the goose bumps on my bare arms. I eagerly ordered a double scoop of dark chocolate gelato in a waffle cone, while Jax opted for a simple vanilla bean cup.

Sitting out on the patio, we watched people passing by and talked about them as if we knew what their lives were like. We guessed why each group of people was there, laughing at the ones dressed in matching outfits for big parties. Brides-to-be, birthday celebrations, and several couples that appeared to be on their honeymoon.

By the time we walked back into the lobby of the Apex, we were on a mission to eat dinner. We headed to the high-roller burger restaurant at the edge of the lobby area and found a quiet, recessed booth near the back, away from the main dining area.

“So,” Jax said, leaning his elbows on the table and looking at me as I took a bite of my burger. “First night in Vegas. Did it live up to the strict standards of your itinerary?”

“The itinerary didn’t account for black eleven,” I said softly, holding his gaze over the rim of my drink. “So I’d say reality completely outperformed my hopes. What about you?”

Jax’s eyes darkened slightly, his focus dropping to my mouth for a fraction of a second before he looked back up. The playful, easygoing vibe from the casino floor shifted, replaced by a quiet, heavy tension that had nothing to do with marketing pitches or family businesses.

“It’s been better than I thought it would be,” he murmured, his voice a low, raspy velvet. “Thanks for tagging along. I would have just spent the night up in the room watching television.”

“And miss all this?” I motioned around us. “How am I going to be able to sleep knowing this is going on down below us?”

He chuckled. “You’d better sleep if we plan on making our meeting tomorrow.”

“That’s so far away.” I glanced around. “For now, I’m going to shop and maybe buy something with my winnings.”

“That’s a great idea.”

The indoor promenade of the Apex was a maze of high-end boutiques and indoor gardens. After finishing our burgers, we strolled from shop to shop. We wandered through the air-conditioned luxury stores, checking out the glass-blown sculptures hanging from the ceiling and laughing at the ridiculous scale of the resort’s indoor waterfall.

Everywhere we went, I was hyper-aware of Jax. He stayed close, his hand occasionally resting on the small of my back to guide me through the drifting crowds of high-rollers and tourists. Every touch felt like a tiny electric current under my skin.

“Look at that,” I said, stopping near a corridor lined with dark glass and glowing violet LED strip lights. There were bright lights, screens filled with dancing people, and a deep, heavy bass line thumping through the speakers, vibrating right up through the soles of my heels.

Jax looked up at the sleek sign above the entrance: Mirage, the Apex’s exclusive rooftop nightclub. A slow, knowing smile crossed his face. “Don’t tell me the rule follower wants to go clubbing.”

“I am a multi-faceted individual, Jax,” I said, pulling him by the hand toward the VIP line. “Plus, it’s my lucky night. I think the universe is telling us to celebrate.” We moved forward in the line. “Since this is on the roof top, do you think this means we won’t be getting much sleep because of the noise?” I asked.

“We’re in a different building now than our suite,” he answered.

The bouncer took one look at our room key card from the penthouse suite and slid the velvet rope aside without a word. An express elevator shot us up to the roof, and when the doors opened, the energy of the club hit me like a physical wave.

The club was spectacular. Half of it was indoor luxury with plush VIP booths, and the other half was a massive rooftop deck with an infinity pool that seemed to spill right into the neon skyline of the Strip. The air was a mix of expensive perfume, cool desert breeze, and pure adrenaline.

“Drink?” Jax asked, leaning down so his mouth was right next to my ear so I could hear him over the pounding remix of a popular song. His warm breath sent a shiver straight down my spine.