Sweet Texas Fire by Nicole Flockton Page B

wasn’t a gambler, but the noise from the casino drifted out—bells ringing, signaling a jackpot win, people yelling in excitement as their number came up on the craps table—tempting her to experience the essence of Las Vegas.
    “Can we go to the casino later on?” she asked.
    “Sure, although I wouldn’t have pegged you as someone who likes to dabble on the tables.”
    “I don’t normally, but what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?”
    “Yep. Why don’t you wait here while I go check us in?”
    As he walked away, a sliver of panic fought for supremacy over the nervous butterflies currently occupying her stomach. She hadn’t thought to ask Gage if they would have separate rooms. He had better have booked separate rooms; otherwise they’d have a very short marriage. No way would he assume that just because he put a ring on it, she’d change her mind about sleeping with him. Would he?
    Moments later, Gage returned to her side.
    “You look like you are having a fight with yourself and neither side is winning.”
    “Nope. No fighting. And besides, I always win.”
    He looked at her quizzically, and she expected him to question her further. Instead he shrugged his shoulders in an
I’ll-never-understand-women
motion.
    “Right, well, how about we go to our rooms? It’s almost one and we have to be at the chapel by four thirty. Will that give you enough time to get ready?”
    “That should be plenty of time.”
    Gage cupped her elbow, then effortlessly weaved them through the crowd to the bank of elevators.
    Minutes later they were walking down the hallway toward their rooms.
    They stopped outside of a door and Gage paused before inserting the key. “I asked for a suite, so that, you know, you could have a separate room to change into, and well—” Charlotte bit her lip to stop herself from laughing as pink stained his cheeks. It actually endeared him to her a little as he worked out what he was about to say next. “I remembered what you said about sleeping arrangements when you agreed to my proposal idea.”
    “Good.” She inclined her head to the door. “How about you open the door and we can get ready for this business deal?”
    “Works for me.”
    He inserted the key into the reader and opened the door, allowing her to precede him into the room.
    It was like they’d entered a small apartment. There was a decent-sized foyer before it opened into a large living room. The back of the room was made up completely of windows, and with the blinds open the Strip was presented before her in all its glory. She couldn’t wait to see what it looked like at night.
    “Pretty spectacular, isn’t it?”
    She was so caught up in the view, she’d momentarily forgotten Gage was in the room with her. “Oh, it is. How many times have you been to Vegas?”
    “I’ve been here a couple of times. A long time ago.” A shadow passed over his face. What had happened?
    “Don’t tell me your trip was like the one in
The Hangover
. You look like you still have all your teeth,” she joked.
    It brought a wry smile to his face. “Not quite, although when I got home … well, let’s just say that Vegas and I haven’t had the best of relationships.”
    Emotions played across Gage’s face. The man seemed to have so many secrets. If they were in a real relationship, she’d ask him to expand further. But they weren’t, and learning about Gage’s past wasn’t part of the deal.
    “Let’s hope this trip will improve that relationship a little. I can assure you I don’t know anybody here with a pet tiger.”
    “Good to know. Why don’t you pick a room?”
    Charlotte went to walk away, stopping when Gage touched her arm.
    “I know this probably isn’t the wedding day you dreamed of, getting married without your family here,” he said quietly. “If you want, we can plan a big party later, either in Sweet Ridge or in Houston.”
    Perhaps Jack
had
taught his sons some manners along the way. Only an ice queen would