Ian (Las Vegas Sidewinders Book 15), page 6
“Don’t give it another thought.” He wasn’t sure why he was smiling, but having her around for one more day made him forget all about his grandfather and their upcoming sit-down. “Do you remember how to get back here?”
“Not even a little.” She laughed.
“Where are you? I can get you here.”
“I’m at the same pub from last night.”
“Oh, excellent.” He gave her directions and told her to call him if she got lost. Then he got up to find Merrie and tell her to get the guest room ready for another night.
9
Walking around Edinburgh at night was a blast. With Ian, Dax, Tore, Zaan, Isla and Finn, Everly found herself falling in love with the city. It was a fabulous mix of medieval-style architecture and modern buildings and shops. The Royal Mile was infamous and she couldn’t wait to take a full day to do nothing but shop, but tonight they’d eaten at a great restaurant and now they were heading to the ghost tour. She’d read about the mysterious winding alleys that lurked beneath the city streets and she was beyond excited about seeing it firsthand. She’d brought her camera because this was something she didn’t want to miss out on photographing, even though it had been a hassle carrying her backpack all night.
“You can hold my hand if you’re scared,” Ian whispered, grinning at her as the tour started.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” She grinned back at him.
He’d been so nice about letting her spend the night again and though she was still a little embarrassed about it, he and his family made her feel welcome. Merrie greeted her like an old friend and even Constance had stopped by her room to tell her she was happy to see her again. They made a date to talk tomorrow and Constance said she would make herself available to take Everly around the grounds of the castle on the first day that the weather was conducive to getting the photographs she needed for the project.
Despite the rough beginning to her trip, she was finally starting to relax and enjoy herself. She’d spoken to Margot a few hours ago and, as always, her bestie had a way of calming her down and pointing out the silver lining. Like the fact that she was spending a month in Scotland, essentially for free, to do something she loved. Since childhood, Margot had always been the voice of reason. Not to mention the matchmaker. She’d looked Ian up online and had been going on and on about how hot he was and what a great hockey player he was.
Looking over at him now, Everly agreed wholeheartedly. She’d thought he was good-looking all along, but she’d been somewhat distracted by the car accident and everything else, so she hadn’t been thinking about him like a guy she might be interested in beyond a fantasy. Now that she was spending time with him, though, it was all she was thinking about. That was probably Margot’s fault, for putting it in her head, but now that they were beneath the city, roaming what had been the streets of Edinburgh before structures were built on top, his closeness suddenly made her a little giddy. Since when did she get giddy? Not for a long time. Maybe not ever.
As their guide told scary and ghost-riddled stories, they all laughed and moved through the winding tunnels and vaults together, but Ian kept close to her. When they turned a corner and one of the lights flickered out, she instinctively clutched his arm and he slid it around her waist, drawing her closer. She glanced up as the light came back on and he gave her a quick wink, though he kept his arm where it was.
They continued through the tour and her mind wandered back and forth between the hot guy with his arm around her and the interesting stories of life here from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries. She noted that Isla stuck close to Dax, and though he didn’t touch her, they whispered a lot. Isla was smitten, Everly thought to herself, and probably with good reason; Dax was a whole package that included not just tall, dark and handsome but professional athlete as well.
Like Everly had noted from the beginning, all of Ian’s friends from the team were hunks, but Isla probably wasn’t too keen on hooking up with one of her brother’s friends. Especially one that lived thousands of miles away. Margot had told her Ian was twenty-seven, and Isla would be the same age since she was his twin, which made Everly wonder what she did for work. Did people as wealthy as the Campbell family had to be actually work? She was somewhat embarrassed to admit she had no idea.
“That was fucking awesome,” Tore said, as they climbed back up to street level. “Did you feel the chill when we got to that place they talked about where all the people died from the plague?”
“There are about six hundred documented cases of the bubonic plague every year,” Isla laughed, teasing him.
Tore made a horrified face and they all momentarily grimaced.
“Where to?” Zaan asked. “Are we going home or out somewhere?”
“Let’s get a drink,” Tore said. “One drink won’t kill our livers and it’s too early to go home yet.”
“There are a million nightclubs and pubs in the city,” Ian said agreeably. “What kind of place do you want to go to?”
“Let’s go somewhere we can dance,” Isla suggested.
“I like to dance.” Tore nodded.
Zaan shrugged. “Wherever you guys want is fine.”
Ian turned to Everly. “Do you dance? What do you think?”
“I’m up for anything.” She almost added “with you” to the end of that sentence, but opted not to. Flirting with him in front of his sister and brother felt weird, so she’d save it for another time.
“The VIP lounge at Lulu is good,” Ian said thoughtfully. “Want to go?”
“Sure.” She nodded. “Let’s do it.”
They walked through the city and she was pleasantly surprised when Ian took her hand. She threaded her fingers through his and listened as he pointed out a handful of sights that were beautiful even at night. Seeing Edinburgh Castle all lit up in the distance made her itch to get her camera out, but she wouldn’t do that tonight. She could spend hours getting perfect photos, but she wasn’t in that mindset when a hot Scottish hockey player was holding her hand for the first time. Nope, the majesty of the castle would have to wait for another time.
People obviously knew Ian because he was greeted like an old friend and immediately shown up to the VIP area at the club. They ordered drinks and Finn went down to the bar after recognizing some friends.
“Want to dance?” Ian asked, turning to Everly.
“Sure.” She let him lead her to the dance floor and laughed as he swung her into his arms.
“You’re light on your feet,” she said.
“I try.” He moved easily, hips swaying with hers.
She hadn’t danced like this with a man in years. Maybe never. She’d kept to herself in college, for more reasons than she wanted to think about, but she hadn’t been a recluse either. Ian was exciting, though, between his good looks and charming accent. Not to mention his rock-solid body. She had a momentary fantasy about what he might look like naked and had to mentally clear her head or things might get interesting right here on the dance floor.
He circled her waist with his hands, pulling her against him as the music slowed down. She slid her arms up around his neck, looking into his eyes as they continued to move. There didn’t seem to be anything to say, the swaying of their bodies speaking volumes about their attraction to each other. She’d never connected with someone so easily before and she closed her eyes, allowing herself to get lost in the kind of moment she rarely indulged in.
The song ended and Ian gently pulled away. “You want to get a drink?” he whispered against her ear.
She licked her lips, trying to come back from her fantasy-fueled haze. “Um, yes. Sure.”
“What were you thinking just now?” he asked.
“That I wish we were alone so you could kiss me.”
“We don’t have to be alone.”
“I know. But I’d prefer it.”
“Then later.” He took her hand and they went back to the VIP lounge where Isla was alone, doing something on her phone.
“Where’s everyone?” Ian asked.
“Finn is still off with his mates, Tore and Zaan found ladies to dance with and I don’t know where Dax is. Maybe he’s called up the brunette from the other night.”
There was a slightly bitter catch to Isla’s voice but Ian either didn’t notice it or didn’t care, because he merely nodded. “Why don’t you go dance then?”
She shrugged. “Not in the mood, I guess.”
“Then why come?”
“It’s fun to see the boys from the team, hang out with you all a bit…”
“You all right?” Ian seemed to finally catch on that something was bothering her.
“I’m fine.” She stuffed her phone in her purse. “I’m going to the ladies’ room.” She got up and hurried away, not looking back.
“Wonder what that’s about,” he murmured, sliding his arm across the back of Everly’s chair.
She arched a brow at him. “She’s in love with Dax and he doesn’t return her feelings.”
Ian’s eyes narrowed slightly as his brow furrowed. “How could you possibly know that?”
“All you have to do is see the way she looks at him, the hurt on her face when she said he was probably calling the woman from the other night… It’s pretty obvious to anyone who apparently isn’t her brother.”
He grimaced. “Shit. I had no idea. I always thought they were great friends. Whenever she comes to Vegas, they hang out. I don’t know what’s changed or when this happened.”
“Well, since she hasn’t spoken to you about it, you might want to let it go. At least until after they’re gone.”
“You’re probably right.” He looked at her with a quirky smile. “So. You were thinking about kissing me?”
“You thought about it, too,” she challenged, though her eyes twinkled.
“That I did.” He trailed his thumb along the side of her face. “Now I have a question. This only kissing when we’re alone thing… Is that a firm rule or is there room for flexibility?”
10
Everly chuckled and her cheeks turned a little pink, which was adorable.
“It’s not a rule, per se,” she said, “but I don’t like the idea of your teammates, sister, and brother watching us kiss for the first time.”
“Well, the lads are gone and we probably have a few minutes before Isla gets back.” He leaned in, until he was close enough to see the glistening of the moisture on her pretty lips. “Say yes, Everly.”
“Mmm, yes.” Her eyes closed and she moved the last inch forward until their mouths hovered millimeters apart.
He touched his lips to hers slowly, softly, curious about who she was beyond the fun, slightly scattered woman he’d seen so far. A kiss told a lot about a person—their level of passion, how they made love, and what was in their heart. It was something he’d discovered a long time ago, that a woman’s kiss, especially the first one, was incredibly telling. He’d kissed his fair share but this one, well, this one was definitely different.
Her mouth opened without hesitation, her tongue curling against his tenderly but without taking the lead. She wanted him, but was old-fashioned enough or shy enough to let him control things. That was fine with him, because he was in no hurry, so he explored her lips gently. She tasted slightly of champagne, but mostly sweetness, and it was a poignant reminder of the loneliness in his life. He had friends and family, but no one he allowed himself to share intimacy with. It was always too much of a risk with everything going on in his life, especially now, and yet Everly was doing it without even trying.
Her lips were soft and malleable, but desire simmered just beneath the surface, giving him a glimpse at the passionate woman inside. She was holding back, though, and he wasn’t sure if it was because she didn’t trust him, didn’t trust herself, or something else. They’d only known each other a day, though, so it made sense.
“Look at you two!” Tore sat down with a thump, making Ian and Everly jump apart.
“Dude, use a little finesse.” Zaan lightly punched him in the shoulder.
“Sorry.” Tore’s grin told them he was not in the least bit sorry.
“What’d I miss?” Dax appeared out of nowhere, sinking down into a chair next to Zaan.
“They were sucking face,” Tore told him.
Dax laughed. “You realize Ian is going to take you out into a field somewhere and let the furry cows have their way with you.”
Tore cracked up. “Death by highland cows! Cool!”
“First blokes, now cows…” Ian shook his head. “I worry about you, buddy.”
“Yeah, that’s what my mom says.” Tore smirked at him.
Ian just smiled at his friend’s antics. Underneath the loud, obnoxious exterior was a good guy who cared about his friends and played hockey like a beast. He was strong, smart and professional most of the time, despite his quirky sense of humor, but this breakup had him working overtime to pretend he was okay, and Ian couldn’t think of a single reason to tell him to stop. It wasn’t like he was hurting anyone. Ian just hoped it didn’t scare off Everly since she seemed a little shy around the guys.
“Have you heard from Jen?” Ian asked him.
Tore shook his head. “I blocked her on my phone, so no.”
“You blocked…” Zaan reached out and cuffed his ear. “Are you purposely trying to make yourself miserable? What if she’s changed her mind or…something?”
“Her best friend is engaged to Nate,” he responded, referring to Nate Calloway, another one of their teammates. “If she really wanted to reach me, she knows she can get to me through him.”
“But then why block her?” Everly asked, confusion marring her pretty face. “If you’d be open to talking to her if she reached out through your friend, why not just let her contact you directly?”
He shrugged. “I guess to be an asshole and make her work for it since she hurt me? I don’t know. It was a knee-jerk reaction when we broke up and I haven’t thought about changing it.”
“You’re a dumbass. Unblock her.” Dax motioned to his phone.
Tore frowned.
“You know you want to,” Ian prodded him.
“Fuck.” Tore picked up his phone and scowled, but starting typing something in.
“The young ones need guidance,” Dax told Ian.
“Very true, my friend.” Ian winked at Everly.
“How old are you, Everly?” Zaan asked her.
“Twenty-four.” She paused. “You?”
“Twenty-two,” Zaan said. “Your new boyfriend is the old man of the group at twenty-seven.”
“Hey!” Isla lightly smacked his shoulder as she brushed past him on the way back from the bathroom. “Watch who you call old.”
“Sorry… Ow.” He pretended to rub his shoulder as if she’d hurt him.
“Twenty-seven is not old,” she said, sitting down.
“Definitely not,” Everly agreed. She glanced at Tore. “How old are you?”
He smiled. “Twenty-two.”
“How old is Jen?”
“Twenty-four.”
“Older women.” Dax shook his head. “You have to be ready for those. You know, she probably doesn’t know what to do with you because you go from super cool and mature to a hormonal twelve-year-old in the blink of an eye. Maybe you made her mad.”
“Or maybe,” Everly said gently, “it just didn’t work out. Sometimes that happens and it’s no one’s fault. No one is a bad person, no one cheated, no one did anything but maybe fall out of love. If that’s the case, be glad it’s over now instead of later.”
Tore nodded thoughtfully. “I know you’re right, but it still hurts.”
“It does.”
“Well, on that note, I need to dance.” He got up.
“Me too.” Zaan followed him.
“You should be a gentleman and ask your buddy’s sister to dance,” Everly told Dax. “I mean, friends can dance, can’t they?”
“Oh, he doesn’t—” Isla began, her eyes wide.
“Sure, let’s go.” Dax stood up without hesitation and held out his hand to her.
Isla shot Everly a weird look but then took his hand and followed him.
“Smooth,” Ian whispered to her. “I’m kind of impressed.”
“Whatever.” Everly laughed. “I just wanted to see how he would react and obviously, he likes her too. Maybe not the way she likes him, but he would’ve hesitated more if he didn’t like her.”
“Like I told you, they get along great.” He cut his eyes toward the dance floor. “But yeah, now that you say it, she’s definitely into him. How did I miss that?”
“She’s your sister. It’s understandable.”
“Well, either you and Isla are going to be besties now, or she’s going to find you in the middle of the night and stab you with her eyelash curler.”
Everly wrinkled her nose. “Do you even know what an eyelash curler looks like?”
He flushed. “Maybe?”
They both laughed.
“So…more kissing or more dancing?”
“Dancing,” she whispered. “We can kiss when we’re alone.”
11
They left the club a little after midnight and headed home. They ordered a large cab so they could ride together and Everly rested against his shoulder on the trip. This was only her second night here, but it already felt comfortable, and she allowed herself to relax against his side, her head resting on his shoulder. She was worn out, still getting used to the time change and all the running around they’d done.
“Tired?” he asked her, speaking softly since no one else was talking.
“A little. I think one more good night’s sleep and I’ll be ready for anything.”
“Takes me a couple of days whenever I come home,” he said, “but this will be the first time I’m spending more than a few weeks here since I was fifteen.”
“Were you playing hockey then?”
He nodded. “And I graduated high school at sixteen, so I was at Harvard year-round because I needed to finish in three years if I was going to play in the NHL and finish law school.”
