“I’m sorry you had to see all that,” He watched my face for a reaction.

“Oh, no worries,” I stammered. “Here, I think your cell phone fell out of your pocket,” I said and thrust my hand out, holding the phone towards him.

“Thanks,” he replied quietly, taking the phone from my hand. When his hand brushed mine electricity melted its way straight up my arm again.

“It was nothing.” I blushed a bit under his stare.

“Yeah right you totally climbed under the car to get it and ruined your skirt in the process!" Audrey exclaimed. Thanks Audrey.

“You did that for me?” His eyes went dark and the intensity that lay behind them was intriguing.

“I knew you would probably want it.” I had no idea what I should have said to him. My mind had suddenly gone blank. We just stared at each other sharing some sort of weird silent connection.

“Hey you ladies want to meet us at Hals in a bit?” Julian broke in from across the sidewalk; putting an end to the connection between Jamieson and me.

Hals was a famous local dinner. It was the original greasy spoon, but it hit the spot perfectly after a night of drinking.

“Sure.” Liv agreed a bit too eagerly.

“Cool, meet us there in a half hour?” Julian told us as the guys started to walk away towards their vehicle.

Jamieson however, didn’t move. He was still staring at me.

“You’re going to come right?” he asked me.

“Yeah, it sounds like it.” I tried to play it cool.

“Good, I’ll see you soon,” his voice was quiet. He hesitated as he turned to leave but finally found his momentum and jogged to catch up with his friends.

“Uh…earth to Jenna. Come in, Jenna.” Liv waved her hand in front of my face waking me from my daze.

“Oh, hey,” I said groggily from my trance.

“What the heck was all that about?” Livy asked with her hands on her hips. Audrey stood behind her with the same question on her face.

“I really have no idea,” I told them truthfully.

“Well whatever it is, it looked like trouble.” Liv smiled. “And you know trouble can be a very good thing, right?” Her grin said it all; she thinks Jamieson and I were going to hook up or something. Liv and Audrey always gave me a tough time about loosening up and living a little. It wasn’t that I was stuck-up or anything, it was just that I was focused.

I just shook my head at them and began walking toward our car.

It had been almost an hour and a half since we left the bar. Audrey, Olivia and I sat in a corner booth at Hals all looking a bit forlorn. We finally gave up and had ordered food. We were now finished eating and the guys were still a no show.

“Maybe they had to take their friend to get checked out at the hospital? He did take a nasty hit to the face.” Audrey offered.

“Or maybe we just were stood up.” Liv bit back.

“Well whatever, I’m tired. Let’s just head home.” I said faking my tiredness. I knew Audrey and Livy were upset because they were enjoying our time with the hot guys, but I also knew they would get over it by tomorrow night. I however, felt a strange sense of loss. I couldn’t really describe why I felt that way but I did. It bothered me that I had these feelings; I had no right to such thoughts. After all we had just met and it wasn’t like I even really knew the guy. I just needed to go home and try to forget about ever meeting Jamieson Wellington.

CHAPTER ONE

“Let’s go, Jenna! I’m ready to get my drink on so hurry up.” Liv hollered at me through the bathroom door of our luxury suite at the Venetian. I was finished getting ready, but all I could do was stand in front of the mirror looking at myself in shock. I knew Audrey and Olivia understood why seeing Jamieson was blowing my mind but I don’t think they totally got it, and how could they? Not even they knew the entire history between us. How on earth did I get myself in this situation and how in the hell am I going to get out of it unscathed?

“Let’s do this.” I whispered to myself. After taking a deep, steadying breath, I opened the door to join my friends.

“You look hot, girl!” Audrey’s bright smile helped my nerves slightly. It had taken me over an hour to even pick out an outfit. I finally settled on my black lace dress. It was short, tight and backless. It showed off every one of my curves to the best of their abilities.

“Yes you do. Now let’s go show Jamieson Wellington what he will be missing for the rest of his life.”

I flashed a smile back at them and we proceeded to find the elevator. Livy had chosen a black and gold bandage dress that was one shouldered. It showcased her long Hawaiian legs perfectly. Audrey had chosen to wear an equally jaw-dropping dress. It was bright red, tight and strapless. It hugged her slim frame expertly.

As we piled into the elevator to head to the club, I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelmingly sense of nervousness. I tried my best to choke down my anxiety but a tiny voice kept telling me nothing will be the same after tonight.

As the girls and I approached the line for the club, we saw it was stretched down the hallway and all the way to the bank of elevators we had just emerged from. I instantly felt a bit relieved hoping we couldn’t get in and that finally destiny would work in my favor.

“Ladies! Long time no see.” I knew that voice instantly. It was Derrick Bedlington, pretty boy extraordinaire. When I met Derrick I instantly disliked him. He had such obnoxious good looks and he knew it. He was cocky and perhaps rightfully so. Derrick was rich; his parents were real estate tycoons in Alabama owning everything from high-rises to farm land. Thus why his inner circle consisted of Jamieson Wellington, heir to America’s largest whiskey distillery and Julian Vega sole heir to the Dominican Republic’s largest cocoa farm.

“Hey Derrick,” I heard Audrey coo from beside me. Those two had been playing a ridiculous cat-and-mouse game for the past five years and I for one couldn’t wait until they hooked up and got it over with.

“Ladies, we have a table inside.” Derrick motioned for us to step aside of the line and past the bouncers and front door staff. “The table is courtesy of James…in honor of Jenna’s upcoming nuptials of course.”

The mere mention of his name made me vigorously search Derrick’s face for any private knowledge he may be hiding. Derrick however revealed absolutely nothing.

As we entered the long dark tunneled hallway, I heard Habits by Tove Lo thumping through the speakers and I choked back the bile I felt rising in my throat. I knew he would be there waiting for me, I knew he would be looking gorgeous like always, and I knew there was no way I would be able to resist him, not this time.

We turned a corner and followed Derrick past the private VIP tables. I should have known that Jamieson would have picked the most private table in the club. He wanted to talk and he wanted me secluded enough to accomplish that goal. He was sitting in the far corner of our private table. He stood as soon as he saw us approach. I met his gaze and it happened. I had hoped after all this time that the potency of our connection had lessened, but unfortunately I was wrong. If anything it was more, so much more.

The music around us faded away, all the people surrounding us disappeared and it was just us. His eyes scanned my body and I knew he was taking in my very tight lace dress. I could tell he appreciated it by the way the corners of his mouth tilted up slightly and I saw a flash of heat in his eyes. I continued to walk toward him slowly but deliberately as if he was pulling me closer to him. It had been a long time since I saw him last. I could see a touch of age around his eyes but he still looked as handsome as ever. Jamieson Wellington had always been the most handsome man in my eyes and tonight was no different. He had dressed in dark jeans and a dark blue and purple pinstriped button up shirt. I could tell the shirt was a luxury brand from the way the material shimmered ever so slightly in the dim club lights. His dirty blonde hair was perfectly styled showcasing his blue eyes that continued to bore holes into mine from across the table.