Left My Heart in Sin City Read online

  Left My Heart in Sin Ciy© 2016 by Trinity Blacio

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

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  Digital ISBN 978-1-62601-276-9

  First Edition April 2016

  The airport was crowded, and Jess Garthing could hear crying babies and snippets from private conversations all around her. The smell of fresh coffee from the little coffee shop across from Jess’s gate in Vegas smelled divine. Jess couldn’t believe she was standing in the middle of McCarran Airport.

  One whole week away from the hell Jess had made of her life. Oh, she knew it wasn’t all her fault, but then again it didn’t matter, it was still a failure in her book. But she would hold out till her son graduated from high school next year. Her son would have both parents living together just as they had for their daughter, even if it meant she was hollow inside.

  Jess glanced at her watch, smiling. She had just enough time to grab her suitcases and head to the shuttle to the hotel. It had been a year since she’d seen her best friend and couldn’t wait to spend the week with her. Already she had purchased tickets to one show, but her week would be busy with the convention in full swing starting tomorrow, Tuesday.

  She shook her head and made her way to baggage claim to retrieve her two suitcases. But before Jess left for the shuttle she would make sure to pick up a sub to eat once she got to her room. Keeping to her budget was important since Jess didn’t have a lot of money to blow.

  But that wouldn’t stop her from taking in the sights and enjoying anything they could find that was free. Plus, Jess needed to scoop out the area. Was it a place to buy her condo next year? Or was Florida the place to go? This was her chance to see the city she had picked, near her dear friend and also a writer, Mara.

  Her phone went buzz in her backpack and Jess smiled, knowing it was either one of her kids, editor, or friend. She dug into her pack, as she moved through all the people, loving her freedom. Her stomach wasn’t in knots anymore, the tension in her shoulders was gone and Jess felt as if a pressure had lifted. Yes, she needed this time away. It would also give her children time to grow up. She would not be there doing everything for them for the rest of their lives and that they had to get off their asses and start doing for themselves.

  With her phone in hand, Jess looked down at the text and smiled. Lori was in the room editing and asked her to text her when she got in. Jess texted her friend, telling her she’d be there in a few and started to look for her suitcases. Her new adventure was just starting and she couldn’t wait.

  At the age of 43, Jess knew her chance of finding the man of her dreams like the one that had been entering her nights lately was only a fantasy. But she’d never give up on wishing for that one man who could make her heart race, palms sweat, and could command her body with just his voice.

  She looked down at her less than flat stomach and flinched. “Nope, not going to happen.” Tears almost filled her eyes, but Jess refused to allow them. She might be round in certain spots, but Jess did have a nice set of boobs. Unfortunately, the rest of the package wasn’t much and she had the age thing going against her too. With a sigh, Jess watched for her bags.

  * * *

  Maverick Wetsal watched from the stage as his crew worked on their latest number. At the age of 65, he still looked to be in his 30’s which was normal for his kind. He smiled. Maverick was the local alpha of their pack of cat shifters.

  Sure, Vegas wasn’t much of a place for his kind, especially if they wanted to run, but the desert was a different story, having just come back from there this morning. Plus, with his job, he couldn’t ask for more. After being married the human way for ten years, and having three kids, Maverick vowed he would never do it again. Oh, he loved his children and all three of them had already gone through their transition, their first shift, without his bitch of an ex, knowing about it.

  He had a penthouse here at the hotel and a place in the desert that he never took a woman to. Only his children knew about the house, not even their mother knew about it. He’d purchased it after their nasty divorce.

  This would be interesting from what he heard. There was a convention of Romance writers at the hotel and his men couldn’t wait to roam and see what it all entailed. He had already warned his men to be on their best behavior, but even Maverick couldn’t control a male cat when they had locked onto a female needing some loving.

  What he didn’t like was the contest they had between them and he had made it known that if he ever heard them say anything to hurt a lady, he’d personally beat the hell out of them, putting them out of commission for a week or two till they healed back at the common house or what some might call the pack house.

  “Hey, you going to work or stand there day dreaming?” Cadoc yelled from the stage.

  Slowly, he turned his head to glare at Cadoc, who threw up his hands. “Sorry,” he stepped back as Maverick stepped out onto the stage to start his one performance. One that he does with all 12 of his men, human and pack. Even if the human males didn’t know about their existence and the others made sure they didn’t.

  The music started and he moved with the music, but he didn’t miss the chance to smack Cadoc upside the head when he passed the cat, growling at him. At once Cadoc lowered his gaze, showing his submission, and Maverick smiled moving on.

  One thing was for sure, if there was a woman out there for him, he didn’t think she’d be able to take what he would demand of her, total submission. He would never hide his needs again from anyone, and if they couldn’t handle it, then they were not for him.

  * * *

  Jess laughed at her friend Viola, taking a sip of her whiskey and coke. Her first day had been perfect. She had picked up her boxes, unpacked her dresses, and did a tour of the hotel so she would know where everything was.

  Tonight, she was sitting in the hotel’s one bar named for the famous Chippendales that was just ending with their show tonight. Jess and her friends had forgone the show and decided to hang at the bar watching it on the TV with some of their fans.

  “You never did say if you’d take one of them to your bed?” Viola asked and nudged her with her shoulder as a few of the strippers started to come into the room.

  She glanced at them and then at her friend. “One, not if they needed to go to my room, no. Two, if they were smart to go along with the gorgeous body. And three,” she took a sip of her drink. “Let’s just say they have to be…alpha enough that I’d want to go with them, if you know what I mean,” Jess said, looking over to see one of the guys with thick blond hair staring at their table.

  “Alpha enough?” her friend asked.

  Jess shrugged, reaching over to take a French fry. “Let’s just say I’ve had two men in my life for the past 33 years that I thought were more and they weren’t. I don’t need another baby in my life.” She popped the fry in her mouth. “But come on really, do you even believe one of them would even look at me? They’re just starting their lives and mine, well…I’m done having kids and compared to them...” Jess nodded to the beautiful women in front of them. “Someone like me does not have a chanc
e, and you know it.”

  “Hey, now don’t even go there,” Sara one of said called beauties said across from them. She reached over and grabbed her hand. “We all are beautiful in our own way and you are stunning.”

  Jess felt her face heat and she laughed. “You’re full of it,” she laughed. “But thank you. Now which book do you want?”

  Sara laughed. “I want you to finish the next in that cat series, but what I would really like is the next book in your first series.” Sara held up her hand. “I know, I know you’re waiting for the rights back, but it sucks.”

  “You’re not telling me anything I don’t know. I’d love to finish it and start the spin-off series I have for it, but I refuse to give my old publisher any more money. I’m hoping they’ll give them back.” Jess looked up to see three of the dancers standing at the side of their table and one of them was the man with the wild long blond hair.

  “Ladies, may we join you? The next round of drinks is on us.” The man raised his hand to the male waiter who came over and started taking orders. Jess switched to her night cap drink, Irish whisky liquor over ice, knowing it was getting close to time she headed upstairs to her room. Tomorrow would be a big day for her, but the man with the wild hair pulled up a chair next to her, his arm sliding around her chair.

  “My name is Cadoc. You didn’t go to the show did you?” he asked and she shook her head.

  “No, we thought we’d let all the young ones enjoy your show. My name is Jess, this is Viola. Thank you for the drink.” She raised her glass to the other man, who sat next to Viola.

  “So where are all you ladies from? Oh, by the way my name is Ilar and that is Hamilton. You guys are here for the convention?” Ilar asked.

  Sara nodded. “Viola and Jess are authors. There are over 300 authors here this week.” Sara kept looking at Hamilton, the man next to her. He had brown shoulder-length hair, a tattoo of a cat on his arm, and the most amazing green eyes.

  “So you are a writer? What kind of stories do you write?” Cadoc asked, leaning towards her.

  She smiled and tilted her head staring at the young man. “Paranormal, shifter, vampires, ménage. Hot stuff.” Jess watched as a slow smile formed on his lips.

  “Have you ever had a threesome?” he asked.

  Jess laughed. “Now that is for me to know, young one.” She smiled.

  “Young one? You can’t be that old?” he asked, his gaze running down her body but stopping at her breasts on the way up. “Thirty-eight?” he asked.

  Jess laughed, she couldn’t help it. “Either you’re really clueless or you’re just looking to get some.” She leaned over and whispered into his ear. “I’m 43, old enough to be your mamma.”

  Before she even pulled back, Jess felt his fingers brushing over the top of her breasts. She looked into his eyes. “Honey, age matters not to me. You are the one I would like to spend the rest of the night with.”

  Never having a man come on so strong, Jess sat back and really looked at him. “Really? So, I’m the flavor of the night?” She leaned over really close to him. “Now tell me the truth. Why are you really here? Did you lose a bet? Do you have a point system to see who gets to screw the oldest or fattest woman? There has to be…” his gaze flicked over to his friend Hamilton.

  “I should have known.” She sat back and took the drink from the waitress, sipping it as she studied the man next to her. “So how many points am I worth?” she asked, but before Jess could get an answer, another man stepped up behind her and literally growled.

  “What were you told? Get out of here, Cadoc. I’ll deal with you later. Hamilton, I expected more from you and Ilar.” The man turned his eyes on her and Jess thought her stomach had just been trampled by a stampede of elephants.

  His hair was a mix of brown, red and blond, and she swore his eyes were a golden color. She turned in her seat to stare up at him. He smiled down at her. “I apologize to you especially, pretty lady, and I’m sorry if his actions hurt you.”

  “Now hold it just a minute. I haven’t done a damn thing to her,” Cadoc said, when suddenly his chair fell backwards with a bang.

  She shook her head, looking at her friend. “I’m going up to my room. I’ll talk to you guys later. I sure don’t need this crap.”

  She grabbed her drink and bag, turning to the man in question. “He really didn’t hurt anything, but…” Jess turned her head to look at Cadoc. “If you want a piece of ass, may I make a suggestion? Take the game out of it. Ladies like to have fun too and if you heard some of their conversions, you boys would be a beet red. Good night, and thanks for the drink.” Jess moved away from the table quickly. Her hands were sweaty and shaky.

  Never had she reacted to a man like this man. Too bad he was so out of her league and too young. Jess knew that even a one-night stand with that man would destroy her heart, but that didn’t really matter because it wouldn’t happen.

  Jess rushed to the elevator and reached to push the button when someone took her hand. She looked up into the man’s face as he held her hand and lifted it up to his mouth, placing a kiss on the inside of her wrist.

  “Please don’t run off, because of what happened. My name is Maverick Wetsal and I am manager for the dance team. Not all of my men play these games, especially me.” He never broke eye contact from her and kept her hand in his. “I haven’t eaten tonight. I was wondering if you would join me? I would love the company away from all the noise.”

  “Is there really a quiet place in Vegas?” she asked. “Oh, sorry. My name is Jess Garthing and you really should find someone who is right for you. I’m married, Maverick, and I’m old.” She shook her head and tried to step back, but he didn’t allow it, reaching out and wrapping his arm around her waist, trapping her.

  “I’m just asking for you to join me while I eat super, some friendly conversation. I’m not asking you to my bed, yet.” He leaned over to whisper in her ear. “Plus, I don’t ask, I take. Haven’t you heard that what happens in Vegas stays here?” he nipped her ear.

  She sucked in her breath and glanced down at the floor. “You really want me to go with you?” Jess asked, not really sure what to do. No man had ever paid her attention the way Maverick was.

  “I wouldn’t have asked you, if I didn’t. There is a small diner I know that has the best steaks. You don’t have to be up early do you?” he asked, and reached over, pushing the button for the elevator.

  “No, my first appointment is at 11:00, but…” She looked to her right to see Lori and Viola coming towards her.

  “Are you okay?” Lori asked. She looked pissed, giving Maverick her full attention. “Is he one of the dancers who insulted you?”

  She moaned. “No Lori, he’s their manager and had nothing to do with it. Maverick Wetsal meet my editor and friend, Lori. Next to her is another friend, Viola Gramm.”

  “Ladies,” Maverick nodded his head. “I can promise you I will personally deal with those three later. I had no idea what they were up to and I would never do anything like that. I just asked your friend to join me as I go and grab something to eat. I would love to get to know her better.” He turned his gaze on her, his hand was wrapped around her waist now and he still didn’t let go.

  Lori gave her “the look” and she sighed. “Yes, he knows about the ass and I haven’t really decided to go, but…” Jess nodded her head, knowing she was going go chance it. “Lori, I’ll text you later. Don’t wait up.” She handed Lori her drink. “Guess I don’t need my night cap yet,” Jess said and turned to Maverick. “Don’t make me regret this. Let’s go.”

  “Never,” he said, as the elevator opened and he stepped inside with her at his side. She turned and looked back at Viola and Lori who were grinning like fools.

  Viola pumped her fist into the air. “You go, girl,” she said as the doors closed.

  “I’m so going to kill her,” she moaned.

  * * *

  Maverick was furious. He was on the verge of sending Cadoc back to his home in Tex
as if he kept this up. He glanced down at the woman standing next to him. He still didn’t know why he had invited her out to eat with him. She was nothing like the women he’d usually spend the night with, but for some reason he wanted to get to know the blushing lady in his arms.

  “So who is the ass?” he asked as the elevator door opened and they moved out to the lobby of the hotel. He nodded to the man behind the desk, knowing they would bring his car around to the front of the hotel.

  “Do you really want me to go into that here?” she asked.

  “Honey, as I told you before, I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t want to know.” He glanced down at her and she shrugged.

  “Okay, long story short, he’s my husband.” Jess turned her head to the right looking down the road as they stepped outside. “I’ve been married to him now for over 20 years, with him for about 22, but our marriage changed about ten years ago.” She snorted and peeked up at him. “I’m more a mom than a wife. I take care of the bills, fix anything that goes wrong at the house, take care of our kids, shovel the snow, everything.”

  “Boy the sex must be great,” he muttered as they pulled his car up. Maverick stepped forward, but Jess stayed where she was, shaking her head.

  “No,” Jess whispered. “Nothing, and I mean nothing, for nine years.” She looked down at the ground. “Maybe I should just go back to my room. I don’t think this is a good idea.” Jess glanced back over her shoulder and he could see the shine in her eyes.

  “You promised me a dinner partner,” he squeezed her arm and waited.

  Slowly, Jess turned and stared up at him nodding. “Dinner.”

  She followed him to the car, not saying anything. Depression seemed to settle over her as the door was closed and he started up the car.

  “Why do you stay with him?” he asked, needing to know everything.

  Jess looked up at him and smiled. “I promised myself I’d stay until my youngest graduates from high school. Then I’m out of there,” she said and looked out the window. “He graduates next year and I can’t wait. I’m hoping to buy a condo, but haven’t decided where yet. I have a friend who lives here in Henderson who would like me to live here. Then I have a few friends that want me in Tampa. The thought of a condo on the water sounds nice, but I haven’t seen the area in Henderson yet. My friend is supposed to come pick me up on Thursday and show me around, so we’ll see.”