Vegas, Baby: The Complete Series by Fiona Davenport

6

Addilyn

Good grief. If I hadn’t known better, I would have thought I’d run off and joined a Mariachi band for all the noise going on inside my head when I woke up.

However, despite the maracas bouncing around my skull, I couldn’t remember a time when I felt so relaxed and content. I was warm, in a comfy bed, and surrounded by the most delicious, manly smell—and that’s the moment when my eyes popped open and reality came rushing in. Yep, there was no mistaking the man sleeping on the other side of the bed from me.

So...this was new. The whole not waking up alone thing. Not that I had any objection to seeing the sex-god-like face of Knox Dawson as soon as I opened my eyes. Or being wrapped up in clothes that smelled like him—wait.

I got married last night. Shouldn’t I be naked?

My eyes scanned over Knox’s sleeping form and took in the outfit he was wearing—one very similar to mine. Then I started to remember even more. My recollections from the night before definitely had a blurry quality to them, but they were clear enough for me to remember how my “wedding night” had apparently gone terribly wrong.

I studied Knox’s sleeping form for a minute. He looked so sexy and peaceful in his sleep, and I took a second to imagine what it would be like to wake up to this every morning for the rest of my life. It’s what I’d thought I was signing up for by marrying him last night. But then...by the time we got back to our hotel room, he already seemed to be regretting the choice. He couldn’t seem to get away from me fast enough. Then when he saw me almost naked...apparently, he hadn’t been satisfied with what he saw. A tear leaked from the corner of one eye and slid down my cheek as I thought about how fast he’d covered up my body. Not to mention the fact that he’d slept as far away from me as possible while still being in the same bed.

I was short and extremely curvy, and I’d always loved that about myself. I hadn’t cared one way or the other how men looked at me. Until I met Knox. I’d loved the way he looked at me with such hunger in his eyes. Now, seeing how he’d changed his mind after I dropped my wedding dress...I didn’t know how to feel. Other than devastated.

Knox suddenly shifted, turning toward me, and I froze, praying he would stay asleep while I worked everything out in my mind. The only thing I knew for certain at the moment was that I had to get out of there before he woke up. Clearly, this whole thing had been one giant, universe-sized mistake. I sucked in my breath—as though that would somehow make me float out of bed or something—and scooted as lightly as possible to the edge of the mattress.

It took me a good ten minutes of slow inching and sliding before I slithered soundlessly to the floor. Quickly, I popped my head up to see if I’d woken Knox. Then I slapped a hand over my mouth when I almost let out an audible sigh at seeing him undisturbed. I dropped back down to the floor and crawled over to my wedding dress. After gathering it and my shoes, I crawled out of the bedroom into the suite’s living room. When I looked up, I saw a glimpse of myself in a decorative mirror and let the sigh escape. With my hair a tangled mess, my makeup smeared, and my skin paler than usual, this was definitely not my finest hour.

Climbing to my feet, I went in search of a powder room. After finding one by the front door, I switched out Knox’s T-shirt and boxers for my frilly white reminder that I was an idiot. Then I padded barefoot back to the living room to grab my purse and shoes. As I reached for my bag, the rings on my left hand sparkled, and I felt another wave of sadness for the dream I thought I’d found. Maybe my parents were right, and I was too sheltered, too unrealistic.

Shaking my head, I slipped the rings off and set them on the marble coffee table in front of the large blue sofa. Then I hopped toward the front door as I put a stiletto on each foot. Not without stubbing a toe, of course. “Ouch! Shit!” I exclaimed in a whisper-yell. Terrified that I’d woken him and would have to deal with morning-after bullshit, I ran out of the room, making sure to let the door shut quietly.

The elevator opened immediately when I pressed the button, and I sighed in relief as the doors whooshed shut with no sign of my “husband.” I was dreading the “walk of shame” I’d be doing shortly, but halfway to the lobby, I rolled my eyes at myself and hit the button for the tenth floor. Thank goodness. I’d almost forgotten that I was staying at the hotel since I sold my house. I certainly wasn’t going to take up my old room in my parents’ house. My mind suddenly flashed back to the night before when I’d suggested we get a room after the wedding ceremony. Well, perhaps my addled brain had done me a favor. It’s not like Knox would know where to find me. Not that he’d come looking.

By the time I reached my room, I’d given myself a long lecture and was determined to move on from my drunken blunder. I was made of stronger stuff, dammit. I quickly showered, removing all traces of Knox’s scent from me before dressing in tight black jeans, a shimmery purple tank top, and tall black suede boots. After shaking out my hair, I grabbed my leather jacket and purse, before marching out of my room with a determination that I was faking really, really well.

I wasn’t a hundred percent sure what I was going to do next, so I headed for the place where I felt the most comfortable. The lounge was empty, only lit by the glow of the tiny lamps on the tables.

I climbed the short steps up to the stage and sat down on the bench at the shiny black grand piano. My fingers tinkled with the keys, and I hummed a melody that had been floating around in my mind ever since I met Knox. I just couldn’t seem to get the stupid man out of my thoughts. Annoyed, I punched my fingers down onto the keys, the clash of the notes making me feel a tad better.

“I don’t know much about music, or the blues, but that seems a little harsh for music that should be soulful.”

Startled by the unfamiliar voice, my head whipped to the side to spot the visitor. A tall redheaded beauty was seated at a table a few rows back.

“It’s definitely not something I’d play for an audience,” I replied with a shrug. “But sometimes I need to get my frustration out, and this is a better option than kicking someone’s ass.”

The woman snickered, then her expression turned thoughtful.

“You’re even more beautiful than Amanda described,” she announced.

“Uh...thank you?” I was digging around in my brain trying to figure out if I knew this woman. Considering she’d mentioned Amanda, I figured she probably worked at the Lennox. But still, the situation was definitely weird.

“Amanda spilled the beans about your marriage.” My brow rose in surprise. The woman shrugged, and her lips curved in amusement. “I'm not crazy, I promise. Just really nosy.” I laughed, liking her more by the instant.

“I was pretty shocked to hear someone had tied down the biggest cynic I know, and I just had to meet her.”

“Yeah…” Things hadn’t exactly worked out so well for me in that situation, so I wasn’t sure how to respond. Instead, I trailed off as I bent over to pick up my purse. Then I stood and made my way down to approach the lone table with an occupant.

“I presume it’s his ass you’re considering kicking?” She cocked her head to the side with a knowing gaze. “I know him pretty well and often contemplate shoving my foot up his ass.”

I couldn’t help laughing and appreciated her humor when I was so angry and sad at the same time.

Opening up to a stranger wasn’t something I would normally do, but for some reason, I felt comfortable with her. “It was a giant mistake, and since I’ve never gotten drunk and married in Vegas before, I’m not sure what to do next.”

An odd smile curved her lips. It looked almost diabolical, but I figured I was just reading her wrong.

“Why don’t you visit my sister’s husband? He specializes in annulments, and his office is attached to the hotel.”

I perked up at her suggestion, but relief and dread both filled me at the same time.

“I’m Ariel, by the way,” the redhead said as she set her purse on the table and dug through it. “A-ha!” She pulled out a card and handed it to me.

“Addilyn,” I introduced myself, even though she clearly knew who I was. “And, thanks.” I glanced down to see that it was a business card for Will Scott, divorce attorney. My hand trembled as I stared at it. Then I swallowed hard and squared my shoulders. Why was I being such a baby about this? Obviously, this was the best solution.

“You’re welcome,” Ariel answered. I glanced up to see her giving me another mysterious smile. “And, good luck.” Then she stood, and her smile turned genuine and bright. “I’m happy to have met you Addilyn...Cole. I’m sure we’ll become great friends.”

Her smile was infectious, and I returned it with a nod. “I think so, too.”

I watched her walk away and disappear through the doors into the lobby before spinning around and jogging over to a side exit.

I spent the day hunting for an apartment to rent while I looked for a new house. By the time night fell, I was exhausted and ready to admit that I was being foolish. I’d avoided making an appointment with the attorney, using every excuse I could come up with.

I was also being a big chicken and didn’t want to run into Knox before I’d taken care of the mess I’d gotten myself into. So, at my show that night, I didn’t allow myself to search the audience for my “husband,” but I’d felt his eyes on me the whole time. When I finished, I ran out the backstage exit before anyone could stop me. Then I checked into another hotel for the night and called Will Scott’s office.

His assistant promised to slide me into the attorney’s full schedule at one o’clock. I thanked him and hung up, then fell into bed and hoped I’d sleep until noon.

The next morning, I woke up feeling just as shell-shocked at my predicament and even more determined to get it over with.

I showed up for my appointment at exactly one o’clock. The young man behind the desk, Chad, asked me to wait and headed down a hallway in the back. A few minutes later, he stomped back to the front, his face flushed and muttering.

He forced a smile and told me to go on back. As I walked down the hall, I passed a tall, gorgeous blonde who smiled brightly and said hello. She looked familiar, but I didn’t have time to ponder it as I entered the attorney’s office.

A man was sitting behind a large wood desk and straightening his tie. His hair was mussed, and his eyes seemed to linger behind me for a moment before focusing on me. I had a feeling I’d interrupted something between him and the blonde.

He smiled, and I felt some of the tension inside me ease away. “How can I help you, Miss…?” He left the question hanging and gestured toward one of the leather captain’s chairs in front of his desk.

I stiffly walked over and dropped down onto a seat before answering.

“Addilyn Cole—”

“Dawson. Addilyn Dawson.”

I almost jumped out of my chair at the sound of Knox’s deep, sexy...angry voice.