Seducing Seven (What Happens in Vegas) (11 page)

“And my sister?” Seven pointed over to Six, who danced in place, tipping her cup back to finish it off.

“She’s got a free pass. She flew out here to be with you. Let’s give her a fun night.”

He grabbed her arm. “Oh my God, I almost forgot. You will never believe what I saw.”

Around here, she’d believe anything. “What?”

“Let’s just say, he had quite the rack on him. And I swear, I don’t know if it was a boa or dyed chest hair.”

“What are you talking about?”

“My friend, I wish I knew. I stumbled upon it all and hightailed it out of there before I could get dragged in.” He shook his head as if he was confused, when she didn’t even know where to begin.

Seven scowled as she eyed the punch, wishing she could dunk her head in it. “Six has all the fun, and apparently, so do you.” She elbowed him gently in the side.

He scoffed. “Yeah, right. Having adoring fans write you fan mail and clamor for your autograph is no fun at all.”

She looked at the table she was hosting. Her fans had left a stack of books for her to sign. They introduced themselves to one another, bonding over their mutual love of Sevannah Michaels. Pulling her shoulders back, she nodded. “You’re right. I’m being such a baby.”

“Doesn’t mean getting through tonight will be easy, but you still have a lot to be happy about. Remember that as you try not to think about your tall, dark, and handsome.”

She needed to put Blake out of her mind and enjoy the evening. She hurt, but thanks to him, she was stronger than ever. She believed in love and romance more than she ever had. Now that she knew how it felt to really lose at love, she was less afraid.

Her happy ever after was simply waiting for her to write it.

She smiled. Nights like tonight were one of the reasons she was a writer. The connection with fans, the stories about how her words made a difference in their lives, and making new friends. So many opportunities to share her happy ever afters. What more could she want?

Her shoulders dropped. Blake. That’s what more she could want.

“Keep an eye on Six. Show her where we’re sitting, would you?”

She left Nathaniel and made her way over to her table, giving a little shimmy and shake for the sake of her fans. “Hey there ladies, who’s joining me on the dance floor?”

A few choruses of “hell yeah” joined her own “Whoo hoo!” as she led them to the middle of the floor. Music blared overhead, and Seven shook her ass to the beat. She might not be able to get Blake out of her mind, but she sure as hell could get lost in a song that celebrated her assets.

She whirled around with her arms over head, laughing with her new friends as they all followed suit. Readers were the best at raising her spirits. A warm flush nudged at the heaviness in her chest.

The music changed to the low, trilling piano keys of Lo-Fang’s version of “You’re the One That I Want,” and an image of Blake made her still.

What the hell was she going to do? She couldn’t keep bouncing back and forth all night long. It was exhausting, but everything made her think of him, hurt for him.

She pulled her shoulders back and continued to dance. She thought of the first time she’d met him and what a good sport he’d been. She could see his grin, feel his touch, and smell his warmth, and she smiled.

So much of the beauty of love was only truly recognized after losing it.

Chapter Eleven

B
lake stepped through the ballroom doors and adjusted his bow tie for the umpteenth time. There was a very good chance Seven would tell him to go fuck himself, but he had to try to fix the ridiculous mess he’d made out of an unbelievable situation.

If anyone had suggested he’d ever fall in love, much less in a matter of days, he’d have dialed 911 convinced they’d lost their minds, but here the fuck he was. The idea of checking out of the hotel tomorrow without Seven made him break into a sweat. This plan had to work.

He was nothing if not persuasive, the exact reason he was now the youngest VP in his company. Another thank-you owed to the woman he loved.

Scanning the crowd, his eyes settled on Seven out on the dance floor. His blood rushed in his head at the sight of her and the reality of what was at stake. He wasn’t sure if his plan would work, and he prayed for the first time in his life as he made his way toward the front of the opulent room.

Nathaniel joined him. “Figure it out?”

Blake gave one quick nod. “Fuck, I hope so. Don’t let her leave.”

Nathaniel grinned. “I won’t.”

Blake made his way to the stage, heart thundering in his chest. He studied her as he went. The usual light in her eyes was missing, and it was his fault.

He took solace in the fact that her sadness might mean she really did love him. Hopefully it would be enough for her to give him another chance. Because she’d been giving to him since she met him, and he wanted the chance to give back to her for a long, long time. There was no other way to show her she’d changed his life.

Rounding the edge of the stage, he took the stairs in two strides.

A few curious glances fell on him, but nothing more. Blood rushed in his ears with a deafening roar, but it was now or never. If he was as good a salesman as he believed he was, now was the time to prove it.

He cleared his throat into the microphone. “Excuse me. May I have your attention?”

The music stopped, leaving a ringing silence in its wake. He scanned the crowd until he found her. Her eyes widened and her hands flew to her chest.

“I made a bet with a woman you all know and adore. She said she could make a man fall for her using the rules in her novel
Rules of Seduction
. I pretty much told her she was out of her mind, but in a much more insulting way. Well, I lost that bet.”

Nathaniel steered Seven to the front of the crowd, flanking one side, and another woman flanked her other.

He stared down at her as tears filled her eyes, and it was everything he could do to keep from hopping off the stage and yanking her into his arms.

The crowd started to hum. Blake looked out over the colorful array of dresses and hopeful faces, and then back at Seven. He got it. The romance, the stories. Standing in front of the woman he loved, understanding the potential of what they had, he got it.

Sliding his gaze over her one more time, he spoke into the microphone. “And she won.”

Seven’s hand fluttered to her lips, and a questioning murmur rose from the crowd.

She shook her head.

“I love you, Sevannah Michaels.”

The crowd held its breath. Not a single sound was heard as Seven stared at him, worry and confusion all over her face.

The woman next to Seven nudged her shoulder and grinned.

He could have kissed whoever she was as she nodded her head at Seven.

“Seven, I’m in love with you, and I owe you an apology, so I made my own list of rules.” He cleared his throat. “Seven Ways to Win the One.”

Seven’s lips trembled.

He pulled a piece of paper from inside his jacket. “Rule number one, apologize. Rule number two, apologize often.” He held her gaze.

A small collective chuckle from the audience brought a smile to Seven’s lips.

“Rule number three, admit romance is an irresistible force.” His chest swelled when she gave the slightest hint of a smile.

“Rule number four, recognize that her success and her dreams are legitimate.”

He gave a small jerk of his head toward the roomful of people. “Everyone here is a testament to yours. Rule number five, learn from romance novels.”

Calls and whistles of agreement met his ears.

“Rule number six, view her as an equal partner. And my favorite rule, rule number seven borrowed from your
Rules of Seduction
—always kiss her like it’s the first time. Every time.”

He pocketed his list and walked to the edge of the stage. His heart slammed in his chest. This was it. He’d put it all on the line. It was the most sincere sales pitch he’d ever made. And the most important one he’d ever close, God willing.

Seven moved to the edge of the stage and, using Nathaniel for a boost, joined Blake. The expression on her face was unreadable. He couldn’t stand it.

As soon as she reached him, he braced himself.

With a smile, she wrapped her arms around his waist and slid her lips over his.

His shoulders sagged with relief, and he poured all of his regret and all of his hopes into the kiss.

The crowd broke into applause and shouts of encouragement.

He wanted to hold on forever and stretch the kiss out for an eternity; at least then he didn’t have to risk losing, because for the first time in his life he really knew fear.

He’d told her when they’d met that he’d never lost, but until her, he’d never had anything to lose.

S
even’s heart raced with her brain to figure out what was happening. Six practically ran to meet her as Blake led her off the stage.

With a slightly drunken scream, Six threw her arms around Seven’s neck. “I’m so happy for you.”

Seven squeezed her sister and then stepped back. “Don’t congratulate us quite yet. Six, this is Blake Turner. Blake, my sister, Six.”

He raised a brow.

“I nicknamed her when we were little. No way in hell she was getting a higher number than me.”

Six grinned and kissed Blake on the cheek, taking him by surprise. Seven pulled her back. “Okay, okay. Where’s Nathaniel? You need a babysitter.”

“I don’t.” Six couldn’t quite sell her indignation as she sidestepped to catch her balance. Nathaniel swooped in, answering Seven’s prayers, and guided her sister back onto the dance floor.

Six’s pout disappeared as he spun her into a dip.

Turning back to Blake, Seven studied his face. “I can’t believe you did that for me.”

“I’d do it all over again, and more.” He slid his fingers through hers, the warmth of his skin sending shivers up the length of her arms. “I made a terrible mistake, said terrible things, am all around pretty terrible.”

She nodded, not trusting her voice to answer.

He pulled her with him to the edge of the room. “I came looking for you today, to tell you how I felt. It was terrifying. I think I almost turned around no less than five times.”

She bit her lip against the hope bubbling low in her chest.

“I heard you tell your editor about the sucker you had to make fall in love with you, and then you found me in my room.”

Shaking her head, she gripped his hand tighter. “But I told him I was the sucker. I—”

“I know that, now. I ran into him down at the bar after I ran out of booze in my room.” He pulled her to him, and she could feel his heart beating in his chest.

“I was a complete ass. I was hurting and wanted to hurt you back. I didn’t mean anything I said.” He paused, pulling in a breath. “And I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I’m asking you to.”

He placed his hands on each cheek. “I love you, against all odds—and there were plenty. I’ve never been one to believe in love, but you’ve changed me. You’ve shown me.”

Blowing out a breath, he cracked his neck. “I have another confession. I bought your book and read it cover to cover.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You cheated.”

He dipped his chin. “I did. But you know romance; all’s fair in love and war. At the time, we were at war.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but he rushed on before she could.

“I couldn’t put it down. You have incredible talent. You made me feel. Me. And you were right.”

Warmth rushed through her. He liked her book. This big, arrogant, kind man liked her romance novel. She almost couldn’t breathe. “Right about what?”

“About love, about romance. You proved to me it was real, that it can change people, and it is worth fighting for. I was too afraid to consider it, because when love is real, it can hurt…worse than anything I’ve ever known. But by the time I tried to stop myself from falling, I’d already landed flat on my back. All I could see was you. I love you, Seven.”

She grabbed his hand, and he held on to her like an anchor. The man she loved stood before her, his heart opened and his eyes steady. She was scared shitless of their relationship not working out, but Six was right. There was something about him, and Seven felt it from the very beginning. It was time she embraced what she wrote about in every book. He’d made mistakes, but so had she—and that wouldn’t stop.

What was his philosophy?

Mistakes would happen, and you simply had to keep moving forward.

It was time for her to move forward. “I love you, too.”

His hands flexed, and he leaned in to kiss her.

“I love you, but if we’re going to do this, I have one condition.”

He dropped his hands to her waist. “Anything.”

She smiled. “You need to change the title of your list.”

“Any ideas?”

Grabbing his head in her hands, she pulled him down for a kiss. Her heart all but bursting from her chest, she wrapped her arms around him and held on tight as she tasted him from every angle. Speaking against his mouth, she said, “I think it’s obvious.”

He lifted his head and looked down at her.

“Seducing Seven.”

“Seducing Seven?” He raised a brow.

She pulled his head close and whispered in his ear. “Please play along.”

Blake released a bark of laughter, lifted her up against his chest, and kissed her hard. Without pulling back, he spoke against her lips. “Just remember, I play to win.”

She smoothed his dark hair from his brow, drowning in the whiskey of his eyes, drunker than if she’d downed a bottle all by herself. Her heart soared. She’d been dreaming about love and writing about how it changed people for such a long time, wondering if it would ever find her. The answer stood right before her now as clear as if she’d always known.

Love found her when she’d finally quit looking.

The rules in her book gave them the chance to really get to know each other, but it wasn’t the rules that made him fall in love with her.

She did.

He wanted her, desired her, loved
her
.

“So do I,” she said.

“Good, because when I put my heart into seducing Seven, I’m not planning on what will work now, or what will work tomorrow, but what will work fifty years from now.” With a wolfish grin, he molded her to his frame. “Seducing you means all sales are final.”

Blake’s Rules for Seducing Seven

1. Apologize.

2. Apologize often.

3. Admit romance is an irresistible force.

4. Recognize that her success and her dreams are legitimate.

5. Learn from romance novels.

6. View her as an equal partner.

7. Always kiss her like it’s the first time. Every time.

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