What Happens In Vegas... Doesn't Always Stay There Read online

  What Happens In Vegas:

  Doesn’t Always Stay There

  By

  Terry Towers

  What Happens In Vegas... Doesn’t Always Stay There

  Copyright 2014 by Terry Towers

  All rights reserved. With the exception of brief quotes used for critical reviews and articles no part of this book may be used or reproduced without the written permission of the author Terry Towers. Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Terry Towers can be contacted via her website at www.elixaeverett.com Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via internet or other means, electronic or print without the authors permission. Criminal copyright infringement without monetary gain is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

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  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors imagination and used fictitiously To hear about Terry's new releases and upcoming special and promotions,

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  Chapter 1

  The Present – Genevieve

  “Oh, you have got to be kidding me!” Genevieve’s emerald green eyes flashed with anger

  before narrowing as she watched the sexy as sin NYPD officer Dane Porter stroll into her

  boutique. “What are you doing here?”

  A smirk spread across Dane’s lips at her question. “You called to report a break-in. I was the

  lucky one to be assigned to answer the call and take your information.”

  Genevieve didn’t return his smile.

  “Maybe I changed my mind.” Flashes of her brief tryst with Dane in Las Vegas a couple of

  weeks prior sprang into her mind. He was a gorgeous man, she’d give him that, with blonde hair

  that was just a smidge too long to be considered short and rich blue eyes. It upset her that just seeing him standing before her, dressed in his officer’s uniform made her remember – and long

  for – his touch.

  Crossing his arms over his thick, muscular chest, he cocked a brow up at her, still amused.

  “You changed your mind? So, there wasn’t a break-in and you’re wasting taxpayers’ money by

  making false calls to 911? That’s an offense, you realize; I could cuff you and take you in right now.”

  “Oh, I bet you’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

  I hate that you’ve seen me naked! And that I wanted you touching me then… Touching me

  now… She growled at herself and once again attempted to free herself of her unwelcomed

  thoughts.

  Ignoring her, he reached into the inner pocket of his jacket, produced a pen and pad of paper,

  then stepped further into the boutique until he was standing before her and began looking around.

  “What did they take?”

  “Fine!” She gave him a little shove as she rushed past him and motioned for him to follow

  her to the broken glass cases which, up until that morning, held dozens of pre-loved authentic

  designer handbags. “This way.”

  She knew she shouldn’t act like such a child with him. She was a twenty-five-year-old

  business owner. She should be acting mature, not behaving like a teenager with a broken heart.

  But, dammit, she was upset with him and even more upset with herself. She wanted to just

  forget.

  Oh please, he didn’t force you into anything. You enjoyed every second of it, a voice at the back of her mind chimed in. Instead of making her see reason, the voice only infuriated her

  further – because it was right.

  “Striking an officer in addition to false 911 calls. You could be in big trouble, Ginny.”

  “My name’s Genevieve.”

  “You didn’t mind me calling you Ginny in Vegas.”

  She spun around and shot another glare at him. “Very funny. There was a break-in.” She

  motioned to the shattered glass of the empty cases. “They took all the handbags. The Birkins,

  Gucci, Louis Vuitton… They took it all. And they broke the glass of the counter and took all the

  jewelry and small leather goods. I bet they took well over two hundred thousand in goods.”

  She felt hot tears threatening to emerge and forced them back. She started with nothing and

  now much of her most expensive merchandise – three years of gathering and dealing – gone.

  Sure she was insured, she could rebuild, even if all of her bestselling merchandise was gone, but it would take time. People looking to sell Birkin bags for below their value for resale didn’t come along every day, even in New York.

  The amusement faded from his expression as he began to write. “Do you have a list of what

  was stolen?”

  “Yeah, let me check the computer.” She made her way into the back office, assuming he’d

  follow her and not wanting to look him in the eye. If she looked him in the eye she might break

  down and then look to him for support. She might fall into his arms and the anger she was

  feeling would dissolve. If the anger was gone then she’d have to admit what they did was what

  she wanted, regardless of whether she’d admit it to herself or not.

  As she sat down at her desk she booted up the computer. She heard his footsteps entering the

  small office, but didn’t bother to look up.

  “So they took stuff in the store, but not the computer?”

  “My office was locked. They probably had enough without bothering to break down the

  office door.”

  “I see. That’s possible. You don’t have an alarm?”

  “Of course I do.” Her tone was sharper than intended, but she didn’t care. Shrugging, she

  refused to look up at him. “Guess it didn’t work.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  She lifted her gaze to lock with his, angered at his dismissive tone. “What? You think I’d just

  fake a break-in?”

  Dane’s jaw clenched as he thrust a hand through his hair, all humour lost from his eyes.

  “Look Ginn- Genevieve, I understand we left things on a very bad note in Vegas, but I’m a cop

  and I have a job to do. I’m sorry if you were upset with what happened, but I’m trying to be

  friendly and help you here. Can you please work with me on this?”

  Closing her eyes, Genevieve took a moment to steady her nerves, feeling slightly guilty at

  her reaction upon seeing him again. “I’m sorry. I’m frazzled and seeing you right now, just…”

  The tension drained from him. “It’s fine. I’ll go check out the security system and see if I can

  figure out why the break-in didn’t set it off, while you make me a list of stolen items.”

  She couldn’t help but admire his broad shoulders and back as he turned and exited her office.

  A mix of emotions raced through her seeing him again. Of the millions of people living in New

  York and the hundreds of cops what were the chances of her ever seeing Dane Porter again?

  The remainder of the afternoon went by quickly. After Dane left she spent the after
noon and

  into the early evening cleaning up, dealing with the insurance company and calling all of her

  clients, hoping that they would have items they were willing to sell. She still had a store full of gowns and clothing from all the top designers, but the bestselling items were handbags, wallets

  and smaller items; the items that were stolen. Apparently, the thieves knew what was easiest to

  peddle as well. It sickened her that her precious Birkin bags might be sold on a street corner

  alongside dozens of cheap knockoffs.

  Exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally she closed and locked her office door and

  made her way toward the front of the store. Halfway to the store entrance she heard the bell ring, signalling a customer. Apparently they hadn’t seen the closed sign and she’d forgotten to lock

  the door.

  Dammit!

  “I’m sorry we’re –” Her eyes focused on the person entering the shop and she could have

  sworn her heart stopped for a fraction of a second.

  You have got to be shitting me, as if this day couldn’t have gotten any worse!

  Squaring her shoulders she glared at the person whose body was framed in the store entrance.

  “What are you doing here?”

  Three Weeks Ago – Genevieve

  “I’m sorry Genevieve, but I just can’t go through with it,” Alex Cane stated,

  looking more uncomfortable than Genevieve had ever seen him – though she

  supposed breaking up with her on their wedding day, while she stood before him in

  her wedding dress would make anyone uncomfortable. Even her slick, rising-star

  defense attorney fiancé wasn’t immune to the shame of the heinous way he was

  breaking up with her.

  “Is there someone else?”

  He shook his head, but she saw it in his eyes. There was.

  “We’ve been together since high school, Ginny. Since we were seventeen.”

  “Exactly, eight years, Alex!” She wasn’t sure what she felt more upset by,

  humiliation or anger. The emotions switched up every few seconds, but currently,

  it was anger winning out, causing her body to vibrate with the emotions.

  He stepped forward and grasped her upper arms in his hands, but she stepped

  away from him, batting his hands away. She didn’t want him near her, or touching

  her. Never again.

  “It’s better this happen now than getting a divorce in a year’s time.”

  “So you chose our wedding day to decide this!”

  “I wanted to make sure.”

  She shook her head. “You selfish asshole. How dare you!”

  He sighed, taking a step back from her. “I’m sorry. I can… I’ll go down and tell

  the guests the wedding is off.”

  Genevieve’s emerald green eyes widened in alarm. Oh my God, the guests!

  Everyone is downstairs. Waiting.

  “Don’t do me any favours!” she spat, venom in her tone. “Allow me.” The

  anger within her increased as she pushed past him with so much force he stumbled

  backward a step, and out the door. She raced down the hallway and down the stairs

  heading toward the chapel, Alex in hot pursuit.

  “Ginny, hold on. Wait!”

  At the bottom of the staircase he caught up with her, grasping her arm and

  stopping her from proceeding into the chapel. “Let go of me Alex, or I swear to

  God!” Her hands fisted at her sides. She wanted to hit something… she wanted to

  hit him! But she didn’t. She didn’t want this day turning into more of a fiasco than

  it already was.

  Seeing the rage in her eyes, Alex released her, allowing her to continue to the

  chapel. “I can do this,” he protested from behind her. He was following, but at a

  safe distance.

  She ignored him. She’d tell everyone herself. Knowing Alex, the weasel that he

  was, he’d somehow make it sound like breaking off the wedding was her idea. She

  refused to take any blame for this.

  “Everybody,” she called out to the half-full church. Not everyone had arrived

  yet, but there were close to two hundred of the three hundred guests invited already

  seated and mingling.

  Every head turned toward her, their eyes questioning.

  “Everyone. I have an announcement to make.” She made her way to the altar

  and turned to face the crowd. The priest for the ceremony looked up from his

  notes, his brow furrowed, but said nothing. Their friends and family, all waiting,

  all shocked to see her in her wedding dress standing in front of them before the

  ceremony.

  Alex lingered at the back, keeping his eyes averted. Coward.

  “Everyone. Alex has informed me that after eight years together, he no longer

  wants to be with me.” Gasps and murmurs erupted within the church. “Apparently

  he wants to explore other possibilities and has just recently made this decision.

  And I guess our wedding day felt like the right time to inform me.” The crowd’s

  stares shifted from her to Alex, and back to her.

  She was humiliated, but at the same time, she wanted him to feel part of this

  humiliation and by the redness in his face as he sulked at the back of the church,

  she was certain he got a small part of what he deserved.

  Alex’s mother leapt from her seat and she hurried over to her son; his father

  followed behind. A look of shame and disappointment was evident in both their

  expressions.

  She looked to her own parents and her older brother. She could see her parents

  were still trying to digest the information, but her brother Brian had already

  processed it and by the look of fury in his dark eyes as he stood and began to make

  his way down the aisle toward Alex, she knew what he intended to do. He and

  Alex had been friends up until that moment, but Genevieve was his baby sister and

  he was nothing if not protective.

  A part of her wanted to see Alex hurting, like she hurt, but not like this. Her

  wedding had already become a circus; she didn’t want it to turn into a brawl in

  addition. Kicking off her shoes she raced barefoot down the aisle in pursuit of

  Brian, but she wasn’t quick enough. Brian grabbed her former fiancé by the front

  of the shirt, pushed him against the wall and slammed his fist into the other man’s

  jaw.

  Brian’s hand pulled back a second time and his fist again made contact. Alex

  slumped against the wall, his knees buckling under him. Brian was about to hit him

  a third time when Genevieve grabbed his arm, stopping him.

  “Don’t Brian. Please.”

  Brian looked over his shoulder and caught her gaze, indecision filling his eyes.

  “He’s not worth it. Just take me home. Please.” Genevieve held her breath,

  waiting.

  Brian looked back at Alex, hesitated, and after what felt like an endless second

  released him. “Fine.”

  They both looked down at Alex, his nose and lip bleeding, cowering on the

  floor. His mother had begun fussing over him, but when she looked up and her

  eyes locked with Genevieve’s there was only sympathy. Alex had such a

  wonderful family, they’d welcomed her into the fold and treated her as if she were

  their own. She was going to miss them and she was sure they would feel the same.

  She and Alex had been and should be perfect together; this made no sense. But it

  was.

  “He’s not worth it anyhow,” Brian growled, placi
ng an arm around her waist

  and ushering her away

  “No, Brian, he’s not.”

  Once they were out of ear and eyeshot of the onlookers, Brian stopped and

  pulled a handkerchief from his suit jacket pocket and passed it to her. “For what

  it’s worth, you make a stunning bride, little sis.”

  Accepting the handkerchief, she took a deep breath in, and slowly released it,

  fighting back tears. No he’s not worth it, she told herself . He doesn’t deserve my

  tears. However, despite her efforts to keep back the tears, they had a mind of their

  own as they began to flow down her cheeks, smearing her perfectly applied make-

  up along their trails. All she wanted to do was go home, get out of the blasted

  dress and try to forget Alex Cane ever existed.

  Chapter 2

  Two Weeks Ago – Genevieve

  Genevieve looked around as she entered the honeymoon suite. She was in Las

  Vegas a week after she was stood up on her wedding day. As it turned out, the

  hotel was prepaid and the price was non-refundable. They’d gotten an awesome

  deal with the non-refundable pre-purchase of the suite; it hadn’t even crossed her

  mind there would be a reason to cancel when she booked it. The honeymoon had

  been scheduled a week after the wedding to take advantage of the awesome deal

  Alex had snagged them. So the choice was either go to Vegas and make use of the

  room or waste the fifteen thousand it cost to spend the week there. So she hopped

  the plane – alone – and now here she was.

  “Thank you,” she gave the bellhop a ten dollar bill as he placed her two

  suitcases inside the door of the room.

  “Thank you ma’am.” He gave her a friendly, sexy smile and pocketed the bill.

  “Would there be anything else I can assist you with?”

  Genevieve look a moment to look the handsome Latino man over. He was very

  good-looking and oozed charisma. He was one of those men who you spent a wild

  night of passion with and went home completely satisfied never to see or talk to

  again.

  A part of her wished she was the kind of girl that did things like that. In truth,

  she didn’t know what kind of girl she was without Alex in her life. Alex had been

  her first love and partner. Her only love and partner when it came right down to it.