Her Secret Lover (What Happens in Vegas) by Robin Covington

can be discreet. We can discuss logistics of the rest of the convention over the meal, and you can pretend it’s work.”
    She flinched a little bit. This entire scenario already involved more work than he realized.
    But he didn’t stop.
    “Tell me what this needs to be in order for you to say yes, and I’m okay with it.” He glanced down between them for a split second, his huff of laughter sharp with an edge of self-deprecation. “You’ve kind of got me by the balls here, Kelsey. I want you. So I’ll ask you again. What does this have to be to make me like any other guy who comes to Vegas?”
    He had her by the balls, too. She could either answer his question directly or hide behind the truth that any interaction with a guest was off-limits. Micah was impatient, and he took her silence for the indecision that it was. His groan of frustration accentuated the movement of his body between her legs, as he maneuvered closer, his position forcing her to look up at him.”
    “Tell me. Tell me I’m reading this thing wrong between us and I’ll leave you alone.”
    Kelsey opened her mouth to say it, to deny the desire rolling between them but it was like dust on her tongue. She swallowed hard, finding her voice and shocking herself with her response.
    “No strings, nothing beyond the end of the convention. It would be temporary.”
    She could live with it. No promises. No emotional entanglement on either side. He could be discreet; this she knew in her bones. She could do what she needed to do with no prick to her conscience that she was leading a guy on who was emotionally invested.
    Micah nodded, his lips twisting in a slight grin as he leaned forward and covered her mouth with his own. One moment it was the burble of the crowd waiting behind them and tension strung so tight it was almost a physical thing and then the next it was a long sigh and his tongue sliding inside.
    He didn’t touch her anywhere else, and she remained where she was, the only connection the one of lips and tongue and teeth. Kelsey tilted her head, and he took it as the invitation it was to delve deeper and to show her just how hot his passion ran.
    Possession. Lust. Taking.
    It was all there in his kiss and she drank him in, thirstier for his kiss than she was for the water.
    He pulled back, breaking it off too soon, and her body leaned forward involuntarily to extend the kiss. His breath was still warm on her lips as he panted heavily. She opened her eyes, blinking slightly in the sudden contrast of the glare from the lights. When she could focus, all she saw were his eyes searching her own for something …
    “I think we’ve got a deal, Kelsey Kyle.”

Chapter Nine
    Thursday night
    “This is my favorite bar in all of Las Vegas,” Kelsey said.
    She turned to look at Micah who was standing on the sidewalk gazing up at the two story building facade with the pseudo-Manhattan skyline and a gigantic mirror ball mounted at the tip on a large pole. NYE, in huge rhinestone-covered letters, was emblazoned across the roof and backlit just in case you were blind and missed it. Without a doubt it was an outrageous sight even by Las Vegas standards.
    “Is that a disco ball?” he asked, squinting against the harsh glare of the lights.
    “Nope, guess again,” she teased, wondering if he would figure it out. She kept watching as his gaze roamed over the entire facade until a slow smile softened the hard line of his mouth caused by his concentration.
    “Is that the big ball that drops in Times Square on New Year’s Eve?”
    “Ding! Ding! Ding! Get that man a prize.” Kelsey reached out and looped her hand around his arm to lead him into the club. There was a line, as usual, but she’d sent so many hotel guests here that she never had to wait, and they eased past the bouncer and into the bar. “Every night in this place is New Year’s Eve. Party hats and favors, live entertainment, a well-equipped bar, and the ten second countdown at midnight