Sin City Vows

Two

He was sexier and more handsome than Lauren remembered. The teen who’d stolen her twelve-year-old heart and remained her secret crush all through high school. Tall, lean, sporting curly black hair in a clean, cropped cut that was shorter on the sides and fuller on top. The eyes were the same—dark, intense—and his magnetic smile still had the power to render her breathless.

Even after she’d begun dating, and throughout a fairly serious relationship that began in college and lasted four years, Lauren had loosely followed Christian, the Breedloves and CANN International’s ever-expanding empire, which was often in the news. A few years ago the company made history by building the first seven-star hotel and casino in North America, a distinction given to them by Top-Tier Travel Digest, the bible for agents and others who catered to the wealthy, the world’s 1-percenters and the 1 percent of the 1 percent.

Socially, Christian was a paparazzi favorite, often making the gossip columns and the tabloids while attending Hollywood premieres and high-society events with a gorgeous girl on his arm. Last year, when he made the coveted Thirty Under Thirty list, she’d bookmarked the online article and shared it with her sister Renee. Every year, the names were compiled by business industry legends who pegged the next group of savvy, successful businessmen on the rise, the ones to watch.

Christian was not only jaw-droppingly good-looking, but he was a smart, progressive thinker as well. Were she in the market for a boyfriend, the man seated beside her had all kinds of potential. But she wasn’t looking, and especially not for someone like the almighty Christian Breedlove. Not wanting to be manipulated by a rich, powerful man was precisely why she’d fled the East Coast.

“How’d that happen?” Christian asked as the limo headed down the crowded Strip toward their final destination. “You deciding to move here to work for Mom?”

“Very quickly,” Lauren said, hitching in a breath as they inched toward the CANN Casino, Hotel and Spa, an award-winning steel-and-glass masterpiece whose tallest point brushed the sky at almost fourteen hundred feet. “Just a day or so ago.”

“Really, that fast?”

“Yes.” She shifted her gaze back to his remarkably handsome face. “Victoria was venting to Mom about a dilemma. Her assistant resigned abruptly and gave no notice, in the middle of planning a Valentine’s Day–themed fashion show and several springtime charity events that Victoria says are very important to the foundation’s funding. Mom mentioned that she thought I could help, and Victoria called and asked if I could come over ASAP. I understand the fashion show is just a week away and is a very big deal.”

Christian nodded, thoughtfully rubbing his chin. “Speaking of abrupt notices, what about your employer?”

“She was totally understanding.” To his raised brow, Lauren continued, “For almost a year now, I’ve worked for myself.”

“Ah, I see. What’s your specialty?”

“Marketing, promotions, branding and PR. I have a small roster of regular clients and just finished a major campaign for a Southern university. Your mom needed help and I needed...a break...so here I am.”

“When was the last time you were in Vegas?”

“Three years ago, for a friend’s wedding.”

“So you haven’t been to our new hotel.”

“No,” Lauren replied. She looked beyond Christian and out the window. The limo turned into an impressive entrance bordered by marble waterfalls, the word CANN bold, shiny and backlit to stand out in the night. “But I’ve seen pictures. It looks amazing in magazines and now, up close, is even more impressive.”

The limo passed the main entrance and continued to a side door. Christian exited and reached back his hand to help her. “It delights me to hear you say that,” he murmured as a uniformed employee opened the door and greeted them. “For CANN, our goal for this location is quite simple—to be the most spectacular hotel in the world. We believe it is.”

Once inside, Lauren totally agreed. Unlike other hotels boasting casinos on the Strip, the area they entered was elegant, modern and most of all, quiet.

“Where’s the casino?” she asked.

“The main casino is two floors down, accessible by a separate entrance,” he answered, pulling out his phone to respond to a text. “There’s a private one for high rollers on a higher floor. We’ll go later, after dinner, if you’d like. It’s a whole other world.”

Lauren noticed that the employee who’d opened the door still walked behind them, a respectable distance away. As Christian put away his phone, he saw her glance back and looked, too.

“I don’t need anything. You can return to your post.”

“Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do for you, Mr. Breedlove?”

“Absolutely sure.”

“I understand it’s your birthday, Mr. Breedlove.”

He tsked. “Can’t keep a secret around here.”

“Not with us,” the employee responded with a small smile. “Happy birthday, sir.”

Christian walked over and shook the employee’s hand. “What’s your name?”

“Eric, sir.”

“How long have you been a part of our security detail?”

“Was just hired a month ago, sir.”

“I think our security manager made a very fine choice. Welcome to the team.”

“Thank you, sir.”

They continued down the hall and past an opening where Lauren glimpsed a vast lobby filled with well-dressed women and expensively suited men. For many reasons, she was glad they’d come through a private entrance. The paparazzi seemed to live for Christian. A splashy spread announcing her whereabouts was the last thing she needed.

A few moments later, they reached an elevator that blended seamlessly with the wall, its doors boasting the same design. She watched him place his thumb on a scanner discreetly located above a chair rail. When the doors opened, Lauren slipped her arm around the one Christian offered and held on, taking in the landscape of neon lights as the elevator ascended to Zest, the Michelin-starred restaurant she’d read about that was housed on the one-hundredth floor.

The doors parted, and the view from the room took Lauren’s breath away. Beyond the semiprivate booths and massive crystal chandelier were floor-to-ceiling windows that gave the illusion that there were no walls, that one could walk to the edge of the floor and touch the sky. The atmosphere in the main dining room was fairly quiet, dim and understated. All of that changed when Christian opened the door to the private dining room.

“Happy birthday, Christian!”

“You’re the man, Chris!”

Other shouts and cheers filtered through the applause as those who were sitting got to their feet. Lauren looked at Christian, who’d stopped just inside the door, clearly surprised to see the large crowd that filled the room. Two men broke away from the group and approached them. Had she not known about the twins, Lauren may have thought the champagne had kicked in and caused her to see double. They were identical—tall, dark, handsome, sporting the Breedlove dimple in their left cheek and swagger in their stride.

“The dynamic duo,” Christian said once they’d reached him.

“Gotcha, old man!”

“We did it, huh?”

“He didn’t see it coming.”

“Had no idea!”

Lauren stood mesmerized at the twins’ rapid-fire delivery, sometimes finishing each other’s sentences without a pause in between. Her eyes shifted back and forth between them, trying to find a way to differentiate between the two. They had the same soft black curls as Christian, but while his were close-cropped, theirs were longer, wilder. Studying them reminded her of a favorite puzzle at the back of one of her popular fashion magazines, where two pictures that looked identical actually weren’t. The test was to find the differences. There were usually several. Here, she was just trying to find even one. Then she spotted it. The one on the left wore a tiny diamond stud in his ear. The one on the right didn’t. Bingo!

“The dyno duo strikes again!” The two men high-fived before executing an intricate handshake. Their joy and excitement was contagious. Christian was clearly enjoying their friendly verbal sparring match. Just being around them made Lauren smile.

“Where are your manners, Chris?” Diamond Stud asked.

“Yeah, Chris. Introduce us to this beautiful lady.”

“To do that you two will have to quit talking.”

“Whatever.”

Said in stereo. Cute.

“Lauren, meet my annoying younger brothers Nicholas Jr.” He motioned toward the twin who’d last spoken, the one not wearing an earring. “Called Nick to differentiate between him and my father.”

“Hello, Nick,” Lauren said, with outstretched hand.

“And Noah.”

“Hi, Noah.” Again, she offered her hand.

“Ah, no, Lauren. Shaking is for business. Hugging is for friends.”

Noah pulled Lauren into a bear hug.

Christian placed his hand on Noah’s shoulder. “Back off.”

Nick laughed. Christian looked over as a few others headed toward them.

“Tyson!”

Tyson, a striking blond with clear brown eyes, bore a mock scowl as he approached. “You going to stand here by the door all night?”

“You’re a trip,” Christian said. The two men enjoyed a hearty embrace. “I can’t believe how well you helped pull this off. You remembered everything, bro.”

“I’m good like that.” He looked at Lauren, clearly impressed. “Hello, I’m Tyson Ford.”

“Lauren Hart—”

“Hey there, birthday boy!”

Lauren found herself being pushed aside by a whirlwind of haughtiness wearing stilettos and cloaked in what smelled like an entire bottle of perfume. The woman threw her arms around Christian. Lauren looked on, more amused than annoyed. But if she read his expression correctly, for Christian the opposite was true. She watched as he deftly removed the brunette’s arms from around his neck, just as more and more of his friends came over to greet him. Soon he was swept into a circle of admirers, all clamoring for attention. From the corner of her eye, Lauren saw someone approach.

“Come, dear,” Victoria said, slipping her arm through Lauren’s and walking toward the head table. “That was Chloe, who grew up with Chris. I’ve seated you with the family, beside me, so that I can offer a play-by-play on this motley cast of characters. In order to do your job properly, you’ll need not only an in-depth grasp of the CANN conglomerate but also the ocean of high society here in Nevada and beyond...”

She paused and watched Chloe glide back to her table. “And the sharks who swim in those waters.”

The next hour was a blur of names and faces as during dinner Victoria pointed out the movers and shakers of metropolitan Las Vegas and the few who resided in Breedlove, the unincorporated Nevada town founded by Nicholas and a few others more than twenty years ago. Lauren was introduced to some of them, along with many of Christian’s friends from across the country who’d flown in for the occasion. Once the last dessert plate was removed, a few tables were rearranged to make room for a dance floor. A famous DJ from Miami fired up the crowd.

Nick walked over. “Come on, Lauren. Let’s dance.”

She waved him away. “It’s been a long day. I’d rather just relax and watch all of you.”

“Okay, but if you change your mind...”

“I’ll come find you.”

When Lauren got up a few minutes later, she didn’t head to the dance floor. She’d seen Victoria and Nicholas heading toward the exit and after getting their attention, made a beeline toward them to catch a ride to her new home. In the past forty-eight hours, her already-chaotic life had been thrown into further disarray, and she needed time to try to process everything and figure out what would come next.

She felt eyes following her as she crossed to the door, saw Chloe whispering to another girl as she neared the Breedloves and fell into step beside them. She could only imagine what Chloe and all the other socialites were wondering about the new girl, and whether or not she, too, was vying to become the missus of tonight’s birthday boy. They needn’t worry. While they may be in a footrace to catch a husband, Lauren had upended her life to avoid one.

Three

Am I still dreaming?

Last night, Lauren swore that was true. After the driver dropped off Nicholas and Victoria, he’d continued on for about a mile until reaching a cul-de-sac lined with exquisite single-story homes, all different architecturally and uniquely beautiful. Her immediate favorite was the very first one on the corner lot, a Spanish-inspired design of tan stucco and adobe brick with a black gabled roof. Even in her exhaustion she’d admired the wrought iron accents and arches on the windows and doors. When the driver had pulled into that home’s driveway and announced it as the guesthouse chosen for her, Lauren’s jaw had dropped.

“I’m staying here? Are you sure?”

“Positive,” the driver had responded with a knowing smile. “You’ll find your luggage in the bedroom. The residence has been stocked with everything one might need for an extended stay, but just in case you need anything else the guesthouse manager’s card is on the table in the foyer.” He handed her a small envelope. “Here’s the code for the lock. Can you make it in okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Just checking. You look pretty wiped out.”

She had been, but from exhaustion, not from too much drinking as she believed the driver assumed. It had taken her a couple tries to key in the correct code, but upon opening the door, it was like entering the abode of a fairy tale. The decor was straight out of Architectural Digest.

And now, awakening on the cloudlike memory foam bed after a blissful night’s sleep, the dream had yet to dissipate. She sighed contentedly. The sun was shining. She was well rested. And everything that had happened, all that she’d seen, was real.

Lauren sat up, stretched and reached for her phone. She tapped the face. “Oh my God!” It was after 10:00 a.m. An early riser since college, Lauren couldn’t recall the last time she’d slept this late, even after a night of partying. She’d even slept through the telephone ringing, with missed calls from Avery, her bestie, and her mom, Faye. Victoria had told her to come by after she’d risen for a casual visit. Lauren had said to expect her around nine o’clock. Now she’d be lucky to get there by eleven.

After sending Victoria a quick text requesting they meet at eleven, she took a quick shower, pulled her hair into a high ponytail, and hurriedly donned a free-flowing, light yellow maxi dress, silver jewelry that included her ever-present charm bracelet and a pair of ivory-colored sandals with cute yet comfy wedge heels. She arrived at the front door of what could only be described as a mansion with two minutes to spare.

A middle-aged Hispanic woman with coal-black hair and kind eyes opened the door.

“Hello, are you Lauren?”

“Yes.”

“The missus is expecting you. Please, come this way.”

Lauren entered a wide foyer with art-lined textured walls and slate tile, with hues of orange, tan, blue and ivory, colors that were repeated throughout the home’s elegant yet comfortable decor. One hallway flowed into another. To the right was a formal dining room with huge single-paned windows that not only let in loads of natural sunlight but showcased the beautiful and meticulously landscaped garden in the expansive backyard. They turned left down a short hall that ended at ornately crafted French doors, standing ajar. Beyond that was a great room with two-story ceilings, chandeliers and one wall that seemed made entirely of glass.

Victoria was seated on an oversize tan sectional boasting soft Italian leather. She was wearing a short floral caftan and crystal-covered sandals. Seeing her in the bright, natural light of day made her even more beautiful than when Lauren first hugged her last night. Her pixie hairstyle framed a face devoid of wrinkles, one that looked more like thirtysomething than what Lauren knew was actually fifty-plus years. She turned and smiled when Lauren entered, put down the magazine she’d been reading and patted the space beside her.

“Well, good morning, sunshine!”

“Good morning, Victoria.”

Lauren sat, then leaned over to accept the older woman’s embrace.

“Look at you, all fresh-faced and fabulous. You woke up like that?”

Lauren laughed. “Not quite.”

“But you’re not wearing makeup.”

“No. I hope that’s okay. You said this would be a casual meeting, so...”

“Oh, no. It’s fine. I’m just impressed. Not many women in my circle would be caught dead without their war paint.”

“I do have on mascara,” Lauren admitted. “And lip gloss.”

“That’s all? Must be nice.”

“I could say the same about you. You look more like Christian’s sister than his mom.”

“Not without effort. Our hotel spa has some of the best aestheticians in the country, who are always researching the latest skin-tightening, wrinkle-eliminating, turn-back-the-time trends.” Victoria placed a hand on Lauren’s arm. “I was just about to have a light lunch. Care to join me?”

“Sure, thanks.”

Victoria turned toward the woman who’d opened the front door, standing so quietly Lauren hadn’t realized she was still there. “Sofia, tell Gabe we’ll have the quinoa and spinach salad with sparkling cranberry orange juice. Thank you.”

Victoria watched Sofia nod and leave the room. Her eyes shifted to Lauren. “Did you rest well?”

“The best sleep ever. I barely remember my head hitting the pillow.”

“You’d had a busy two days.”

“Yes.”

“And...somewhat of a tumultuous time before that.” Lauren nodded. “Faye didn’t go into detail and you need only share what you’d like, but when I mentioned my assistant’s abrupt departure and that I needed to replace her ASAP, she all but accepted the job for you. Said time away from the East Coast was exactly what you needed right now.”

“She was right.” Lauren took a deep breath, on one hand nervous to share the personal dilemma while on the other compelled to confide in someone with an unbiased point of view. “What exactly did Mom tell you?”

“That you were in a difficult relationship, one exacerbated by the fact that he’s the son of your dad’s employer?”

Lauren’s chuckle held no humor. “That’s one way to say it.” She looked Victoria in the eye. “My dad is trying to force me into a marriage that would be bad on the home front but apparently good for business.”

“Force as in...like an arranged marriage?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s just ridiculous. This is the twenty-first century, and while I’ve known more than one desperate soul who’s walked down the aisle for money, I’d counsel any woman who asked to marry for love.”

Lauren watched myriad expressions flit across Victoria’s face as she processed the situation.

“What does Faye say about it?”

“Basically, she agrees with you, and so do I. But Dad is really pushing the idea, almost desperately so. Being married to the man orchestrating the idea puts her in a difficult position. She wants what’s best for both of us, but he can be very persuasive.”

“You say this guy’s father is your dad’s boss?”

Lauren nodded. “Years ago, when Dad sought investors for his accounting firm, Gerald was first in line with an open checkbook. The future looked promising, but in the end, Dad’s small company couldn’t compete with the intellectual diversity and electronic wizardry of the larger firms.”

She released a breath, then continued.

“While Dad had struggled, Gerald’s consulting firm had grown by leaps and bounds. When his CFO took an early retirement, he called my dad, who felt he owed it to Gerald, given the investment he’d made and never gotten back.”

“Gerald sounds like a good friend. But if your dad is already in an executive position, how would you marrying the son make business better?”

“I don’t know.” Lauren paused, wondering just how much she should tell Victoria. “Can I trust what we discuss to remain just between us?”

“Absolutely, Lauren.”

“Shared with no one, not even my mom?”

Victoria placed a hand on Lauren’s arm and squeezed. “Not even Faye, darling.”

“Years ago, Ed and I briefly dated.”

“The son.”

“Yes. I was a freshman in college. He’s eight years older than me. I was young, dumb, impressionable and thrilled to get the attention of an older, successful man. Mere weeks into dating, he gave me a ring. A promise ring that we both assumed would lead to an engagement. But it didn’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because in time I realized that Ed’s well-put-together image was a facade hiding a controlling narcissist who was verbally abusive. I gave back the ring and ended the relationship. I don’t think he ever got over it. Ed’s an only child used to getting what he wants.”

“Your parents didn’t know?”

“They knew we’d dated but not why we broke up. I never told them about anything—the verbal and emotional abuse, his anger issues, definitely not about the ring. Our parents are friends and I didn’t want to cause trouble between them. Anyway, a while back, I heard that he’d been boasting about an upcoming engagement to a young, naive but really pretty girl. Something happened and the relationship abruptly ended. And then...”

Victoria raised a brow but remained silent.

“He tried to get me back, tried to force me into a relationship by reminding me of the promise I’d made and admitting his fault in our not working out. When I rebuffed his overtures, things got ugly.”

“How so?”

“He demanded that I marry him, and if I didn’t comply, he threatened to make things difficult for my family. Of course I told him hell would freeze over before I got involved with him again.” She released a quavering breath. “I don’t know what he told my dad, but now two men are trying to force my hand.”

“Did you ask Paul why?”

“Yes, and Dad’s answers don’t make sense, nor does the chummy friendship that seems to exist between them. In the past few months they’ve really ramped up the pressure. This break is a godsend, so thanks again.”

The women paused as Sofia returned bearing a tray of warm homemade rolls, a pitcher of juice and a crystal bowl filled with the spinach and quinoa salad that Victoria had requested. When conversation resumed, the topic shifted from Lauren’s personal life to the freelance marketing work she’d handled over the past twelve months and the professional duties she’d take on as Victoria’s personal assistant, work that would largely center on the CANN Foundation.

“I’m sorry to overwhelm you,” Victoria finished. “But next week’s tea and fashion show has become a hugely popular event. That this one takes place around Valentine’s Day, focuses on love and features some hunky eye candy along with the fashion has made it even bigger. But between the two of us, I think we’ll be fine.”

“I do, too,” Lauren said, zipping up her tablet cover and placing the computer inside her tote. “It’s a lot of work, for sure, but I love being busy and I’m a huge fan of Ace Montgomery, his wife London and the HER Fashion line. I’ll do everything in my power to ensure the event goes off without a hitch.”

“There’s one last thing, Lauren.” Victoria reached for a folder on the table before her. “I’ve drawn up a six-month contract covering from now until July 15. Had I had one before I wouldn’t have been left high and dry without help. I hope you don’t mind signing it.”

“On the contrary, I’d be delighted. That means it’s literally illegal for me to return home.”

Small talk continued as Victoria walked Lauren to the door, with Lauren commenting on the original art pieces that lined the hallway. They stepped outside to a clear, cloudless sky and a subtle warm breeze. “Where’s the car?” she asked.

Along with the guesthouse, a car had been placed at Lauren’s disposal. She had yet to drive it.

“I walked here,” Lauren replied. “The dry air is a wonderful change from Maryland’s humidity, and weather this warm in February rarely happens back east. Plus I haven’t worked out lately, and can use the exercise.”

“Just so you’re sure, because I’d be more than happy to have someone drive you home.”

“No, thanks, I’ll be fine.”

The women hugged. Lauren waved and headed down the circular drive to the sidewalk that cut through an expansive lawn, toward the paved road. The two-mile-long walk was barely remembered, so consumed was she with the amount of work she’d need to handle to help Victoria pull off next week’s fashion show. She’d wanted to escape Ed, the pressure from her father and a predictable life, but as she reached the front door of her lovely Spanish-styled home, Lauren couldn’t help but ask herself, had she jumped from the frying pan into the fryer?

Lauren entered the home and headed toward the dining room table, pulling the tablet from her tote while crossing the room. She wanted to go over the notes while the conversation with Victoria was still fresh in her mind. Tossing her tote on the couch, she pulled a bottle of water from the fridge, then sat and fired up the tablet. That’s when she noticed something missing—her charm bracelet.

A pang of fear seized Lauren’s chest as she jumped up from the chair, retrieved the tote and began searching inside it. The bracelet had been her talisman since receiving it as a birthday gift at the age of sixteen. She’d moved cross-country to dodge domineering men and take control of her future. Now would be the worst possible time for her luck to run out.

With no success from a search inside, Lauren reached for the sandals she’d kicked off upon entering the house. She slipped them on and opened the front door. Just before stepping outside, her cell phone rang. Victoria, maybe? Had she found the bracelet on the manse’s exquisite marble floors? Lauren hoped so, and hurried to catch the call before it went to voice mail.

“Lauren Hart.” Her greeting came out in a rush of panicked air.

“I know who I called,” a familiar voice answered.

“Oh, Avery. Hi.” Lauren headed back toward the still-open front door.

“Obviously not who you were expecting,” Avery said. “Which answers my second question after ‘How are you?’ which is ‘Have you seen your teen crush?’ Is that who you thought was calling?”

“Actually, I was hoping it was Victoria, his mom.”

“Oh.”

“I lost my bracelet and was hoping she’d found it.”

“Your good luck charms? Oh, no!”

“Exactly. I’m trying not to freak out.”

“Don’t do that. Just think of all the places you’ve been and retrace your steps.”

“That’s what I’m getting ready to do.” Lauren stepped back inside the home and headed toward her closet for a more comfortable pair of shoes.

“Can I call you back?”

“Not before an update, a short version at least, since my phone calls have not been returned.”

Lauren retrieved her tennis shoes, sat on the bed and put the call on speaker. “From the second I touched down, it’s been a whirlwind. I was going to call you tonight.”

“So you had to start work as soon as you landed?”

“No, but in some ways that’s how it felt, and that’s after being in transit for almost eight hours.”

“Why did you book a flight with that many changes, or such a long layover?”

“To be a part of Christian’s birthday surprise. Yesterday was his thirtieth birthday. His parents surprised him with a slew of gifts and I was a part of that package.”

“What?” The single syllable held out for several seconds suggested there were many more questions behind it.

Lauren laughed. “Not like that! His parents bought him a private plane and wanted me to fly in on it. So I took a flight to Atlanta, where the Gulfstream was built and customized, and then flew on it from Atlanta to here.”

“Ooh la la! Envy has me greener than the wicked witch right now. Your charm search is going to have to wait. I’m going to need a play-by-play from the time you boarded until right before I called.”

After changing shoes, Lauren went from the bedroom to the living room as she gave a recap of the past twenty-four hours, including the instant attraction she’d felt for her preteen heartthrob and why with all of the social maneuvering around Christian that she’d seen last night, the party had felt like work.

“Everyone wanted a piece of him,” she finished.

“Including you?”

“Avery! I can’t believe you just asked me that!”

“Why wouldn’t I? You forget I’ve been your friend for a very long time. It’s just a matter of time before you have to act on that attraction. And don’t give me the ‘no love in the work zone’ argument. You’ve had a crush on that guy since forever. Don’t blow your chance to make your fantasy a reality.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Do more than think. Act. You’ll only be there for six months. What do you have to lose?”

It was a good question, one that Lauren promised Avery she’d ponder while resuming the search for something she’d already lost—her lucky charms.