Page 3 of Fall For Me
“In the water?” He asks. “Hard pass.”
Amused, I laugh at him staring at me in disgust. “Oh, come on now. You’re not scared of a little, bitty fish, are you?”
“A little fish is the least of my worries, don’t you think?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m out here alone with Luke Jenkins’ daughter while trying my damnedest to get in his good graces.”
Releasing an exasperated sigh, I roll my eyes. “Good graces are overrated. Live a little. The last time I checked, your hand wasn’t up my dress. I think you’ll be alright.”
Dang it. Why do you have to be so freaking awkward when he’s around?
“What made you look at this fountain and say to yourself, ‘Hmm . . . think I’ll go for a swim’?”
“Okay, now that’s a stretch. I’m wading, not swimming. And I have no idea.” I quietly laugh at myself, shaking my head. “One minute I was following the trickling sound of water, and the next, I was in the middle of this fountain. Haven’t you ever heard the phrase, Carpe diem?”
“You’re different.”
“Different how?” I look back at him, confused.
He tips his head toward a sign posted on the dry-stone wall surrounding the garden. “Didn’t take you for the type to break rules so blatantly.”
Protect Our Koi Ecosystem:
No Swimming, Wading, Or Tossing Coins
“Ah. Yes. Well . . . rules are made to be broken, aren’t they, Mac?”
“Yeah,” he says, his brown eyes shining under the Edison lights hanging above the blooms. “I guess they are.”
“Try to behave when I’m gone,” I say, slipping out of the water and picking up my heels before Aspen ends up in trouble with the venue. “Actually, you know what? Don’t. It’s more fun that way.”
“Where are you going?” he asks when I walk toward the exit.
“I’m off to break more rules.”
Pausing, I glance over my shoulder, then turn around to face him. The hem of my dress falls to the ground and pools around my feet as I fold my arms against my chest. With the night still young, I don’t really care to go back to the hotel alone. I want to explore Las Vegas, and this broody bastard looks like he could use some fun.
“Sean Mac . . . are you looking to get into a little trouble tonight?”
“Trouble found me the minute I found you.”
“Oh, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. I have an entire night ahead of me. You in?” I tilt my head, nodding in the direction of the wooden gate that leads to the parking lot.
When he doesn’t respond or make a move to come with me, I turn and start down the path toward the exit alone. Lavender brushes against the back of my hand, and the faint trickle of water begins to fade out in the distance as I make my way through the garden.
“What’s the plan?” Sean asks, jogging up behind me.
Collecting myself, I close my eyes, then cast a glance over my shoulder with a smile.
“You’ll have to wait and see,” I say, my voice portraying more confidence than I actually feel. “But first, I need to stop by my hotel room so I can change out of this dress.”
After a quiet thirty-minute drive to the city, and a stop by the hotel to change, we stare up at the tallest tower in Las Vegas.
“The Strat . . . sky jumping . . . uh . . .”
“I tried to convince the girls to do it yesterday, but none of them wanted to. I don’t think they appreciate an adrenaline rush, and they’re all scared of heights,” I say, then glance over at Sean, seeing his face pale. “Don’t tell me you’re scared of heights too.”
