Royce, p.1
Royce, page 1
Las Vegas Sidewinders: Royce
Kat Mizera
For my posse, my gang, my family—the people that make all this possible. I couldn’t do this without your support, your help, your friendship, and most of all, your love. Thanks for always having my back.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Epilogue
Excerpt from Las Vegas Sidewinders: Nate (subject to change)
Also by Kat Mizera
1
The hard rock beat pounded through his headphones and Royce Lenahan played air drums in time to Rise Against’s “Prayer of the Refugee.” Singing along under his breath, he wasn’t aware his best friend and roommate, Dmitri Papadakis, was trying to get his attention. He jumped when Dmitri pulled on one side of his headphones and let it snap back against his head.
“What the fuck, dude?” Royce turned, arching a brow at him as he paused the music.
“I need a favor.”
“Hit me.” Royce rubbed his ear.
“You know my kid sister’s been here for the holidays.”
“I thought they left?”
“My parents, older sister, and brother-in-law left, but Tina stayed because my Christmas present to her was tickets to see Pretty Harts. They’re her absolute favorite band and they’re playing tomorrow night—the seats I got her are second row.”
“Okay.” Royce wasn’t sure what Dmitri was getting at.
“I can’t go with her. Angel and I are supposed to go to that movie premiere in L.A. and she really wants to go.” Angel was Dmitri’s pregnant fiancée.
“So…you want me to take your sister to a rock concert?”
“You love Pretty Harts—you play them all the time.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Please? She’s not bitchy or anything, and it’s not like you’ll have to talk much—it’s a concert. You’ll both be hoarse by the end of the show anyway and then just drop her off at her hotel.”
Royce made a face. “I have a date tomorrow night.”
“The redhead from a couple weeks ago? You said she’s boring as fuck. Come on, do this for me, please? Angel and I just got engaged, don’t make me disappoint her.”
“Fine.” Royce pulled his headphones back on. “But you’ll owe me.”
“You’re the best.” Dmitri clapped him on the shoulder and left the room.
Royce turned the music up, wondering what he’d gotten himself into and what spending an evening with Dmitri’s younger sister was going to be like. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be too painful.
Tapping his fingers on the steering wheel of his Porsche, Royce waited for Dmitri’s sister to come out. Dmitri had given him Tina’s number, so he’d texted her, telling her what time he’d pick her up. He vaguely remembered seeing her one other time, after an Islanders game in New York, when Dmitri’s whole family had come. She had lots of dark wavy hair and wore glasses, but his memory didn’t conjure up much of anything else. There was a married older sister, but there hadn’t been much opportunity to talk to either of them.
Dmitri was hugely protective of his younger sister and had often talked about the guys he’d scared off back in New York. Royce almost felt sorry for her, but Dmitri had been in the NHL for six years already, so he probably had no idea who she went out with anymore. If she went out. Dmitri made it sound like she was pretty quiet, and if memory served him right, she was demure and fairly nondescript.
His gaze locked on a tall brunette coming out of the hotel. Now this was the kind of woman he would remember. Whoever she was wore skintight black leather pants, high-heeled black boots, and a crimson lace-up top that provided a nice view of her cleavage. She was exactly what he looked for in a hook-up. This gorgeous creature was probably going to the concert with some rocker dude while he was stuck with his best friend’s mousey little sister. Somehow, that didn’t seem fair.
Damn, the brunette was coming closer and she was smokin’ hot, her curvy hips swaying slightly from side to side as she walked. Wasn’t she cold without a jacket? He was willing to bet her nipples were hard under that little top. Shit, this was going to be a long night if he was having thoughts like this for a stranger.
Royce nearly choked on the sip he’d just taken from his bottle of water when the brunette knocked on his window and grinned. “Hey, Royce.”
His mouth fell open. What in the hell was going on? Was this…? No, it couldn’t be.
“It’s cold out here,” she said, cocking her head. “Are you going to unlock the door?”
He hurriedly hit the button and she slid in beside him. “Hi. Thanks so much for coming to get me. I can’t believe Dmitri suckered you into taking me tonight. I don’t need a chaperone, but I appreciate the ride nonetheless.”
Royce was still staring at her, taking in the long, silky hair, light-colored eyes, and bright red lips.
“You okay?” she asked with a slight frown.
“I, um… Your hair is different,” he finally managed to say.
She had a deep, throaty laugh that sounded like a sexy cross between a smoker’s cough and a young girl’s giggle—he’d never heard anything like it. “You mean, I’m not wearing my glasses, with my hair in a ponytail and a sweatshirt four sizes too big?”
“I didn’t even recognize you,” he admitted.
“Of course not. I don’t dress like this in front of my family. My father would have a heart attack.”
He wasn’t sure what to say to that, so he put the Porsche in gear and pulled onto the street.
“It’s chilly tonight,” he said at last. “Don’t you have a jacket?”
“I didn’t want to carry it at the concert; it’ll be too hot. I’ll be fine.” She leaned back in the seat but reached over to check the stations of his satellite radio. Obviously familiar with how it worked, she searched until she found a rock station and then turned it up, nodding her head in time to Metallica. She didn’t seem interested in small talk, so he didn’t bother, watching her out of the corner of his eye.
She was stunning. Far prettier than he’d been expecting. The girl in his mind’s eye had been plain. He hadn’t recalled anything beyond lots of dark hair and glasses, but this girl was something else entirely. Some instinct told him Dmitri had no idea who his little sister had grown into, and he made a quick decision to stay as far away from her as possible. Women like her were trouble with a capital “T,” and he wouldn’t risk his friendship with Dmitri for any woman, much less his sister. Besides, he liked things nice and orderly in his life, and her body language told him she was the type of woman who’d turn things upside down.
After two more songs, she turned down the music and looked at him. “I’m sorry if this ruined your night. I’m sure you had better things to do than hang out with me.”
“Not at all. Dmitri said you needed someone to go with you and I love Pretty Harts.”
“Dmitri needed someone to go with me—I go to concerts by myself all the time in New York. He seems to think I’m still sixteen. I don’t get it, but since he lives three thousand miles away, I don’t have to deal with it very often. You’re welcome to go do your own thing once we get there.”
“You’re just going to hang by yourself?” he asked in surprise.
“Why not? It’s a concert, not a date. I love Casey Hart—she’s my idol. I’d do anything to play guitar like she does. I like to stand as close to the stage as possible and pretend I’m up there…” Her voice trailed off and she turned away, as if embarrassed.
“You play guitar?”
“A little.”
“That’s cool. I’m a closet drummer. We could start an imaginary band.”
She laughed again, the sexy sound warming him from head to toe. When she turned to meet his eyes, hers were full of mischief. “I don’t think my brother would allow it.”
“I guess we don’t have to tell him.” Where the hell had that come from?
“Now you’re talking!”
Catching the impish look on her face, Royce had a feeling he was already in trouble.
They walked into the arena and Tina headed for the first bar they came to. Royce seemed unsure of what to do but ultimately followed her. She wanted to smack her brother for putting his poor friend in an untenable situation like this. He’d been doing this to her for years, and she was tired of his overprotectiveness. Why didn’t he understand she was twenty-four years old, with a college degree, her own money, and her own life? Yes, she still lived at home, but that was because she couldn’t afford to move into her own place in Manhattan and still sa ve money for her future. She worked part-time at the family’s diner in Astoria, which was literally two blocks from home, so it was both more affordable and convenient.
“First round’s on me,” she told Royce, “since you were nice enough to pick me up.”
“Thank you. I’ll take whatever’s on draft.”
She ordered his beer and a margarita for herself, handing the bartender a tip after she paid for them.
“You’re a good tipper,” he noted as they walked away.
“I’ve waited tables since I was thirteen,” she said. “We don’t make much salary, so we count on tips. I mean, I don’t make any salary since I work at my family’s diner, but in general, waiters and bartenders need tips to survive.”
“Your family doesn’t pay you?” he asked in surprise.
“Not a regular salary, but I do well with tips, and my mom always slips me money from the register.”
“You work there full-time?”
“No. I work part-time at the diner, part-time at my friend’s travel agency, and my band plays a couple times a week.”
“Your band?” He stared at her.
She cocked her head. “What did my brother tell you? That I’m his virginal little sister who’s super naive, loves books, and still lives at home?”
“Not exactly, but—”
“Look, I’m an adult and don’t even report to my parents anymore, much less to my brother, so I don’t need a babysitter. Enjoy the show and tell Dmitri you dropped me off safe and sound after the concert. I’m only in Las Vegas a few more days so I’m going to have some fun. Thanks again for the ride.” She winked, turned, and disappeared into the crowd.
2
It took Royce a minute to realize she was gone. She’d pretty much blown over him like a steamroller and now she’d left him behind as well. The odd thing was, he didn’t want to follow her because Dmitri expected him to—he wanted to talk to her some more. She was nothing like he’d thought she would be and she intrigued him. She wasn’t just gorgeous, but she played guitar in a band and was more than a little feisty, which was a huge turn-on for him. There was nothing better than a little spitfire he could dominate in the bedroom but who would challenge him intellectually the rest of the time. Not that he was going to sleep with her, but he was always up for some harmless fun with someone intriguing.
He took off at a fast clip, shouldering his way through the throngs of concert-goers, but she’d disappeared. With a sigh, he dug out his ticket and realized that they had second row seats on the floor. Dmitri had mentioned it, but he’d been too distracted to pay much attention until now.
Since Tina had disappeared anyway, he downed his beer and went to get another so he’d have a full one before the opening act started. He figured she’d be in her seat eventually, which was right next to his, and he’d make sure to offer to drive her home whether she wanted him to or not. Besides, Dmitri would kill him if anything happened to her and he found out Royce had left her on her own. Regardless of the fact that she was a grown woman, Dmitri had asked him to keep her company tonight, so that’s what he would do.
It had nothing to do with those long legs. And it definitely had nothing to do with the amazing cleavage spilling out of her top. It certainly didn’t have anything to do with those plump red lips either. Nope. He was just being a good guy, taking care of his friend’s little sister. That’s what friends did, right?
Yeah, right.
Tina didn’t show up until the opening act was into their second song. When he spotted her, her head thrown back in laughter as she waved goodbye to two long-haired musician types, he felt oddly possessive. It made no sense since he barely knew her, and she’d made it clear she wasn’t particularly interested in his company tonight, but something about her had triggered his interest. Especially if it led to him turning her over his knee and— Oh, hell, what was he doing? There wouldn’t be any turning Tina over his knee. Jesus, Dmitri would castrate him if he even thought about having sex with her. She had a great ass, though, round and plump, perfect for spanking… Shit!
He attempted to stop thinking about her but she was sashaying over to him, giving him a smile as she yelled into his ear. “Are these seats awesome or what?”
He scowled in frustration over his inner battle. “They’re okay.”
She arched her brows. “I told you I didn’t need you to babysit me.”
He wanted to be annoyed at her easy dismissal of his company but her eyes sparkled as if she got a kick out of teasing him and the thought of putting her over his knee and spanking her until she came brought his dick to life.
Stop it. He tried to be stern with himself, but the discomfort behind the zipper of his jeans told him it wasn’t working.
Tina wasn’t paying attention anymore, clapping and whistling loudly along with everyone else around them. They were center stage, just one row from the front, and several seats in front of them were empty. Just as the band started their third song, two young girls who looked to be about ten or eleven came down the aisle with an older girl of about eighteen. They sank into the three seats in the front row and Tina grabbed Royce’s arm excitedly.
“Those are Casey Hart’s twin daughters, Jessica and Jocelyn,” she yelled against his ear.
Royce thought they should have more supervision than a teenage babysitter but forgot about them as he was pulled into the music, moving along with Tina and everyone around them. He’d never been this close to the stage for a concert before and was enjoying himself, especially when Tina bumped him with her hip in time to the music. Shit, he was going to need a long, cold shower tonight if she kept this up.
They played a long set for an opening act and the crowd was riled up. Their music was harder and edgier than Pretty Harts’ and with each song, people would leave their seats and drive forward, sending chairs in every direction. It wasn’t long before everyone had pushed hard enough for the first row to be up against the metal barrier. Royce instinctively put a hand at the small of Tina’s back each time they advanced, while simultaneously keeping an eye on the twin girls who were supposedly Casey Hart’s daughters. The older girl with them seemed protective, and the security guard inside the metal barrier glanced their way repeatedly, but the crowd was getting unrulier by the minute.
When the band played one of their biggest hits, the crowd went wild and a couple of older teenagers started crowd-surfing. Tina was bobbing her head to the beat, eyes focused on the stage, but Royce had a weird feeling, some sixth sense warning him to be careful. The arena was sold out, which meant over fifteen thousand people, and it felt like half of them were pressed up against him and Tina. If things went sideways, there was nowhere to go; they were wedged together like human sardines.
It started with someone throwing a plastic cup full of beer. It landed a few people to Royce’s left and he swiped at the random droplets that dotted his arm. The next beer landed on the person next to Tina, and Royce managed to pull her out of the way in time to save her from the worst of it, though they would both smell like beer tonight. She looked up gratefully, shaking her head. He took the opportunity to use the back of his hand to wipe a few drops from her cheek and the look she gave him was startlingly sweet.
Powerful electricity shot through him and for a moment, everything else disappeared. The music, the crowd, everything but her and a huge pair of soulful eyes with long lashes. Neither of them blinked, something inexplicable making him want to keep his hand on her cheek for as long as she’d let him. So soft, so warm against his knuckles, he had to force himself to draw it away.
