Irreplaceable
Chapter 13

Once the plane landed, Mia's mind was blown. She had never been to Las Vegas, and it was fascinating, busy as sin. She had never seen so many people in the same place at once, and they were just at the airport. Anderson took charge and led the group to the rental car area, and soon they were driving around the city with everyone else who had ever lived. Mentally, she checked Las Vegas off her preferred cities to live in. Too many people.

Anderson weaved in and out of traffic with ease, but after two little bottles of whiskey on the flight, Mia wasn't enjoying the swaying of the car. Not at all. Once they stopped, she was quick to get out of the car. Maybe too quick because she landed hard on the cement of the parking lot. Rafferty climbed out of the front seat and helped her up as he accused, "Are you tipsy already?"

"No, I'm just done with the car," she said, looking into his blue eyes as he continued to hold her hand after she was on her feet again.

Shaking it off, she turned to look at the actual building from Ruth's printout. Here it was in person, and it looked even cuter. Ruth and Anderson had picked the perfect spot to get married. If Mia had to get married in Vegas, this was exactly where she would pick,

too.

The happy couple went inside and said that Mia and Rafferty could stay outside, but not wanting to be alone with him in sin city. So, Mia followed them in. Rafferty followed her. Inside, the air was cool but not cold-the perfect temperature for Ruth and Anderson. While the happy couple talked to the receptionist, Mia looked around the chapel. She was excited for the next day and was happy Ruth had chosen her to be there. The only one there for her. Rafferty came up behind her and asked, "Do you like it?"

"Yes, it's perfect. I can't believe how perfect it is," she whispered, trying not to interrupt Anderson as he talked.

"That's what I thought. When Anderson first said they were going to Vegas, I didn't really think it would be like this." Rafferty looked around the building and the upscale decorations.

"More tacky?" she asked. It was what she had thought also.

"More Elvisy," he confirmed with a nod. "So, what are you doing the rest of the day?"

"I want to see a show and gamble. And you?" That was just the beginning. She was going to do Vegas in two days if it was the last thing she did.

"Maybe that. I hadn't thought of anything I really want to do," he confessed.

"If you promise to be good, you can see a show with me. But I gamble alone," she stated firmly. Then laughed at his reaction of sadness.

By the time Anderson and Ruth were ready to leave, Mia was still a bit wobbly on her feet. As Mia followed the rest outside, she wasn't excited to get back in the car, not yet. So, when they got to the car, Mia hesitated. "How far is the hotel?" Updated by FindNovel.net; visit us for more free novels.

"It's not far," Anderson replied, looking at her.

"Close enough to walk?"

"No, it's like a mile." Anderson leaned on the car, looking at her over the top of it.

"I'll walk the mile," Mia stated. "Which way?"

Anderson just pointed down the busy street.

Smiling at him, Mia turned in that direction and started walking. No way was she getting back in that car with the way he drove in a city. It was bad enough that she would have to get back in there in a few days. On top of that, the weather was perfect. It was October, but she already missed summer. Today, she could enjoy it for a mile or so.

Before she made it out of the parking lot, Rafferty had caught up to her and was following her. But she didn't acknowledge he was there. Just walked ahead, looking straight, her eyes trying to take everything in. But in her mind's eye she saw him walking behind her in his gray slacks and white polo shirt, no tie or jacket anymore.

"Really, Mia. You couldn't ride for another two minutes?" Rafferty demanded.

"None of your business." She wasn't going to explain it to him; he wouldn't understand.

"Are you drunk already? You can't take a car ride?" he asked from behind her. Spinning around, she glared at him. "I'm not drunk. I had one drink on the plane. One!" Cocking his head, he said, "Two."

"Two drinks on the plane, two!" Correcting herself, she hadn't thought he saw both.

Spinning back around, she started walking again. Hopefully, he left her alone until they got to the hotel. Looking in front of her, she wondered which hotel it was. She counted seven from where she was. Okay, she should have asked which hotel, that would have been smart.

"Do you know which hotel?" he asked from behind her, like he could read her mind.

"I know which hotel it is," she lied.

"Which one?" He sped up, so he could walk beside her.

"That one." She pointed down the road, not at any particular one.

"So, you're blindly walking down the Vegas Strip, looking for a hotel?" he asked.

"No, I'm having a nice walk in the warm afternoon before I look for the hotel," she countered, because she was enjoying the heat, something that had been lacking in her regular life for a few months now.

"I love how stubborn you can be." He took her hand in his.

"Excuse me?" she asked, but she must have been a little drunk because she liked his hand in hers. It was warm and comforting. Or maybe it was the way he said the L word so casually about her. "You're stubborn, Mia Lawson."

"I am not."

She knew she was.

"How about calling Ruth to find out which hotel it is?" he suggested.

It was a great idea, but she had left her phone in the car. So, maybe the walk had been a bad idea. But she would never admit it. She just continued to walk in silence, holding his hand.

"How about I tell you which hotel it is if you promise to spend the night with me?" he asked, squeezing her hand lightly.

"In your dreams, Rafferty Brooks. I'm not that drunk," she hissed at him.

"I don't mean that. You with the dirty mind. Just in public, a show, gambling, or whatever. We do it together."

"What about Anderson and Ruth? Don't you want to be with them?"

"I believe they're starting their honeymoon early. Without me."

"Maybe if you ask, they'll let you in," she bit back a smile.

"I would rather see the town with my favorite waitress." He turned on the charm.

"Hey, I'm not a waitress; I'm a business owner," she corrected.

He turned up the charm. "Okay, my favorite business owner."

She knew she was drunk because she found herself agreeing, and he happily pointed at the hotel they had just passed. Entering the lobby, Rafferty checked in for them both since Mia didn't have her purse on her. To her luck, her and Rafferty's separate rooms were across the hallway from Ruth and Anderson's room. So, when they finally made it to the floor, they would grab their luggage from the other couple.

Mia laughed at Ruth from her door. "Just like at home. You guys are across from me."

"Yes, but there's less weather happening between us," Ruth agreed.

"So, what are you guys doing tonight?" Rafferty asked. It was already close to seven local time.

"Nothing," Ruth said with a shy smile, leaning into her fiancé.

"Good enough for me," Rafferty stated. He wasn't pushing the other couple to spend time with them, it seemed.

"When is tomorrow going to happen? Did you pick a time?" Mia asked the couple.

"Yep. We'll leave here at a little before four, unless someone walks. Then she has to be there by four." Anderson was looking at her.

"So says the crazy driver," Mia mumbled.

"Okay. See you tomorrow at four," Rafferty said, letting the couple get to doing nothing.

When their door closed, both Mia and Rafferty went into their respective rooms. Mia took her time unpacking, hanging the dress she was going to wear the next day. She had forgotten to ask if Ruth had a particular color in mind. Maybe she would text her and see if lavender was okay, it was all she had in her closet that she thought looked nice this morning..

Pulling out her phone to text her in case she needed to do a little shopping. Stopping when there was a knock on her door, she hoped it was Ruth, so she could just ask. Mia quickly opened the door and saw it was only Rafferty. But now he was in jeans and a soft gray T-shirt that stretched nicely across his broad shoulders. She so rarely saw him in anything but slacks and button-up shirts that it was a shock to see him in actual casual clothes.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"One second." She turned from him and his crazy-s*xy outfit. Taking a picture of her dress for tomorrow, she sent a text about it to Ruth, then grabbed her purse and phone. She was ready to go.

Rafferty had followed her into her room and was looking at the dress. "You're going to look gorgeous in that. Are you sure you're not getting married?"

"Nobody gets married in lavender, Rafferty." She rolled her eyes at the mere thought.

Turning from the dress to her as she looked through her purse to make sure she had everything, he said, "How about we stay here, and I can see what you look like in the dress. Then we'll see what you look like when I peel it off you tomorrow after a few toasts to the happy couple."

Her eyes snapped up to his, and she saw him looking her up and down with desire. Was she seriously still drunk? Because she wanted to say yes? Yes, please. But instead, she stammered out, "N-no, thank you."

Slowly, he walked over to her, not breaking eye contact. His blue eyes were boring into hers until he was inches from her. Unable to tear herself away, she watched as he lowered his head, but not to kiss her, to whisper in her ear. "Liar."

His breath on her ear made her shiver. How could he read her mind again?

The sensible part of her mind finally took over and pushed him away. Surprisingly, he went willingly. Because if he had pushed it, she would definitely have given in. No way could she say no to sober s*x with Rafferty Brooks in Vegas. Maybe she should see if she was missing out by always being drunk.