Seven Nights of Sin - Lacey Alexander [72]
Damon gave his head a doubtful tilt. “Don’t tell me no guys have put the moves on you in that dress, honey, or I’ll know you’re lying.”
She gave another light eye roll. “Oh, they have. But they were just…bleh. Too pushy. Or presumptuous. Or gross. That’s the problem when you go out looking to get laid. I can enjoy casual sex as much as the next girl, but it’s only fun if it happens naturally. Know what I mean?”
She looked to Brenna for that last part, so even though the only casual sex she’d ever had in her life was with Damon, and even though sex with Damon was starting to feel way more than casual, she said, “Absolutely.”
“So I think I’ll just go home and drown my sorrows in a bottle of wine, then sleep it off and start again tomorrow.” With that, she pushed to her feet. “It was nice meeting you,” she said to Brenna, “and great running into you, Damon. Call me the next time you’re in town and we’ll do lunch or something. I’m kind of hard up for friends right now because all of mine are hanging with Darla and Danny, the shit-heads.”
Despite wanting to be alone with Damon—well, as alone as one could be at Rendezvous—Brenna truly felt bad for Jenelle. It was one thing to lose your man, but another entirely to lose your friends at the same time. “If you’re just gonna go home and drink, we have wine here.” She motioned to the ice bucket, the bottle jutting from it. “Hang out a while.”
Jenelle tilted her head and flashed a knowing smile. “That’s sweet, but I don’t think you two came here to socialize—except maybe with each other.” She winked.
“We’ve got all night,” Brenna told her, not even embarrassed anymore that it was assumed she and Damon were going to have sex. And though it was already late, she’d learned that Las Vegas nights lasted longer—even for her—than nights most other places. She went so far as to pat the red velvet next to her. “Come on in and have a drink.”
Jenelle bit her lower lip, looking tempted, and Brenna was struck again by her beauty. “Are you sure you don’t mind? I won’t stay long.”
“Yes, I’m sure.” And even if it was a bit hard to believe she was inviting such a stunning girl into “their bed,” Brenna kept insisting because Jenelle was so much nicer than most women that attractive—and because hearing about her evening made Brenna realize that maybe life wasn’t always beautiful for the beautiful people. In fact, maybe it even sucked sometimes.
“Well then,” Jenelle said, “I’m headed to the bar for another glass—and I’ll grab another bottle of wine while I’m there. What kind?”
“Pinot,” Damon replied, then eased the bottle from the bucket to flash the label.
“Be right back,” Jenelle tossed over her shoulder with a smile just before the leopard-print dress disappeared.
After which Damon turned to Brenna, his eyes brimming with surprise.
“Are you bummed?” she asked. “That I asked her to stay?”
He smiled softly. “No—you’re right, we have all night. But it sure as hell caught me off guard.”
Brenna shrugged. “She seemed nice. And kind of adrift. Maybe I’m just thinking back to when my marriage broke up. It really sucks, especially when your friends in common have to choose sides.”
He nodded. “She is nice.”
“How do you know her?”
“She’s a showgirl—a dancer at the MGM now, but I originally met her when she danced at the Tropicana, at an after-show party. I’ve known her for years.”
“Have you had sex with her?”
“A long time ago. Just once.”
“Does she dance topless, like in the show we saw tonight?”
“Used to. But the last time I saw her, she’d just gotten promoted to a more prominent role where the costumes aren’t quite as revealing. In fact, I’m betting that has something to do with her troubles. Darla’s in the same show, and I don’t think she was happy when Jenelle rose to the feature spot.”
Brenna grimaced. “So you think Darla got together with Jenelle’s boyfriend for revenge?”
Damon shrugged. “Who knows, but it seems likely.”
Brenna couldn’t help thinking how ugly that was. And what a racy and competitive world