Lucky Save (The Las Vegas Kingsnakes Series Book 2) Read online

  She tipped her head back and groaned. "Son of a bitch." This guy didn’t miss a beat.

  "Relax, little pixie. I know you're nervous, but I'm not going to hurt you. That’s not my deal."

  It better not be, because she had pepper spray hidden in her purse and wouldn’t hesitate to use it and slam him in the jewels if he made one wrong, creeptastic move.

  "Let’s get your stuff, okay?"

  She shoved her phone back in the pocket of her skirt and walked back to the car. "Alright."

  "This is all you have?" He looked down at her tiny suitcase and duffel bag.

  "Besides my cooler and my purse, yes. I'm only going to be in Vegas for a week. Not much fits in this trunk, anyway."

  "Most women I know can't go on a trip without three of these, at least." He lifted the suitcase from the trunk.

  She grabbed the duffel bag. "Then I guess I'm not like most women."

  "You’re probably right about that."

  Penn glanced over at him, expecting to see a teasing expression on his face, but he didn't look like he was joking. Slamming the trunk lid closed, he nodded toward his truck. "Ready?"

  She hoisted the duffel bag over her shoulder and shrugged. "As I'll ever be, I guess. Let's go."

  Chapter 2

  West flicked the volume up a notch on the radio. Loud guitars and the gravelly vocals of one of his favorite heavy metal bands filled the cab of the truck.

  He glanced over at Penn. She clutched her cell phone in a death grip and stared straight ahead. She hadn’t said a word since they climbed into the truck ten minutes ago.

  Maybe if he told her who he was, she’d be able to relax and stop acting like she was two seconds away from diving out of the truck. She might not believe him anyway. It’s not like he had any way to prove it to her with their phones not working at the moment.

  He didn’t really want to tell her, anyway. He liked this—the anonymity of it all. It had been too damn long since he’d experienced it.

  The sad fact was, this situation made him realize how much he relied on his status to do the legwork in his life, even with something as simple as trying to make small talk with someone. He obviously sucked at small talk if it didn’t have something to do with hockey.

  West punched down the accelerator and glanced over at Penn again. She clutched at the seatbelt and squeezed her eyes closed. Smirking, he turned his gaze back toward the road. He loved driving, and loved speed.

  He appreciated her girl-next-door appeal. Soft, curly blonde hair hung to her shoulders, and golden lashes framed her huge blue eyes. A spattering of freckles over her nose and cheeks made her look fresh-faced and innocent.

  "Relax, Blondie. I’ve driven this road countless times. I know how to drive. We’ll get there in one piece, I promise."

  Penn didn’t reply. She just gave him a dubious look before turning her attention back toward the road.

  He hid his smile. She didn’t believe him. Not one little bit.

  She was cute as hell, but he wouldn't have given her a second glance on a typical day. She was nothing like the women he socialized with.

  Who was he kidding? He didn’t socialize, he fucked. End of story.

  As the Kingsnakes’ popularity grew, so had his. Women weren't shy about approaching him. He'd gotten into more panties than he could count over the past three years since being traded from Anaheim.

  It had been a blast at first, and he took full advantage of the easy sex and beautiful women who made themselves available to him.

  Now? It was just starting to get boring. He’d say a few words, flash a few smiles, and hit the sheets with the woman of his choice. There was zero challenge involved. Plus, they didn't care about getting to know him. They cared that he was a well-known athlete, rich and willing.

  He had no interest in getting to know them, either, other than to find out if they could give a decent blowjob.

  "Since you seem to be having trouble keeping your eyes on the road, Mr. Keller, I’d be more than happy to drive."

  West laughed. "I'd like to see that. You couldn't even reach the pedals. What are you, five feet tall?"

  "I'm 5'4". And for your information, I could drive this truck if I adjusted the seat. I can drive anything."

  "Anything?"

  "If it has four wheels and an engine, yes. I grew up around a lot of vehicles."

  "Even a standard?"

  She gave him a scornful look. "Obviously."

  "Yet, with all this supposed car knowledge, you don't seem to like speed."

  "Unlike you." She flicked a meaningful gaze toward the speedometer.

  “Yeah, that’s right. I like speed."

  "Do you live in Las Vegas?" she asked. "I saw your Nevada license plate."

  "As I remember it, you took a photo of my plate and threatened me with physical violence." He dragged a hand through his hair and met her eyes.

  Her cheeks turned pink. "Yeah, well."

  "Well, what?"

  "You show up in this monstrous truck, and climb out of it looking like—" she stopped, pressing her lips together.

  "Like?" he prodded.

  "Oh, come on. You're very tall, and the beard, and…"

  "And?" He swerved quickly to the left to avoid an unidentifiable road kill carcass in the middle of the road, and she let out a tiny squeak, straightening her back and throwing her hands over her face.

  "You’re going to kill me, I know it! If not by murder, it will be by rolling this monstrosity over."

  West started laughing as he pulled the truck back into the right lane. "I told you, Pixie, I know how to drive. Chill the fuck out."

  "That’s up for debate right now." She crossed her arms and leaned as far against the passenger door as she could.

  "No, it’s not, but what were you saying before? Very tall, and my beard. And?"

  "You know exactly what I was going to say. You're very well-built. Then there’s all of your tattoos." She made a sweeping gesture. "You look intimidating. Dangerous."

  He ignored her last comment. "You don't like tattoos?"

  Penn drummed her fingers on the arm rest. "You're missing the point. Look at me, and look at you. What line of defense do I have against someone like you, Mr. Keller?"

  "No, I get the point. You’re judging a book by its cover, don’t you think?"

  She shrugged. "Sorry, but most of the famous serial killers looked like perfectly nice guys. I'd judge you if you showed up in a suit dressed for a wedding. It's just the situation."

  "I'm scruffy because I spent the past month in California visiting a friend. Then I went to Vancouver for some fishing. No need to shave and get all fancy when you're relaxing in a hot tub or out on a boat."

  "A friend or a girlfriend?"

  He snorted. "Not a girlfriend."

  A tiny smile crossed her face.

  "What's with the look?" he asked, irritated.

  She glanced out of the passenger window. "I figured it was just a friend. You don't seem like the kind of guy to have a girlfriend."

  "What the hell does that mean? I could have a wife and three kids for all you know."

  "No way." Penn waved her hand dismissively. "No wife and kids. When was the last time you had a girlfriend?"

  West narrowed his gaze and punched his foot down on the accelerator, causing her to grab for the door handle.

  "Jesus Christ," he muttered. "Will you relax?" He tossed his cell phone down onto the seat. "It probably has a signal by now. Call my mother. Her number is in there. She'll assure you I'm not a fucking serial killer."

  Penn picked up the phone and studied it. "Nope. You don’t have a signal yet."

  The gesture worked. She visibly relaxed, but she didn't put his phone down, either.

  "To answer your question, I haven't had a girlfriend since I was nineteen and in college. There's nothing wrong with playing the field." He turned the volume down on the radio. "What about you?"

  "What about me?"

  He studied her for a moment. "Do you have a boyfriend?"

  Penn shook her head. "No. No boyfriend."

  "See, I would have guessed the exact opposite."

  "Why?"

  "You seem like the type to have a boyfriend." He looked over at her and grinned. "A steady, long-term boyfriend."

  "Nope."

  "Then maybe we should stop judging each other, huh?"

  She shrugged.

  After suffering through a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, she turned in her seat to face him, those big blue eyes fixated on his face. "Listen, Mr. Keller, I know you didn't have to stop. I don't want to even think about what could have happened if you hadn’t. With no traffic around, and my low supply of water and food…" She shivered. "I do appreciate it, even if I appear ungrateful. I'm not. I'm just completely stressed out. So, thank you."

  He dropped his gaze to her lush, pink mouth. She had a sexy mouth. Full lips, but not too full. "You're welcome."

  Rolling up on the little desert town an hour later, West pulled into a gas station.

  "I'm going to wash my windows off. They’re grimy as fuck."

  "Do you always swear so much?" she asked, frowning.

  West grinned. "Fuck yeah, I do."

  Penn opened the passenger door and hopped out. She turned toward him, a smirk on her face. "Okay, then. I'm going to find the fucking restroom."

  West laughed. "That wasn’t so hard, was it?"

  Penn turned and walked off. "See you in a few."

  He plucked the squeegee from the holder and watched as she headed inside the station. She had a cute, perky ass. The denim skirt showed it off to perfection, along with toned, sexy legs.

  He'd never had to work to impress a woman, at least not since he'd started playing hockey professionally. T
oday was a different story. Penn Foster wasn’t impressed with him at all.

  He wasn't sure why he cared what she thought of him, anyway. Tomorrow, he'd drop her off in Vegas and that would be the end of it.

  He placed the squeegee back into the holder and went into the tiny station to pay. He grabbed two chocolate bars, a bag of chips, and two bottles of soda.

  Penn stood next to his truck, looking smaller than ever. It made him grin. She really was a tiny little thing.

  He handed her the soda, chips and chocolate bar. "Thought you could use an energy boost."

  "Mr. Keller, you didn't have to do that. Thank you."

  "What's with this Mr. Keller stuff? West, okay?"

  "Well, thank you, West." He watched as she unscrewed the cap and took a long swallow of cola from the frosty bottle. Her tongue swept along her bottom lip, and she let out a tiny sigh. "Oh, that's delicious. I was so thirsty."

  West forced his gaze away from her pink tongue and gestured to the front of the station. "The hotel is down this street. Let's go get settled in."

  He opened the passenger door for her. She placed her soda and chocolate bar on the seat and turned toward him, reaching for the handle on the door frame to pull herself inside.

  West slid his hands around her waist. "How about a boost? Might be easier."

  Startled, she lost her footing and fell forward into his chest. Letting out a tiny cry, she grabbed his biceps to steady herself.

  "Whoa, easy there." He stared down at her, and she stilled in his arms.

  "Sorry." Her voice wavered, and her face had gone bright red.

  "A blushing damsel in distress, now," he teased, trying to make her feel more at ease. Her lashes fluttered down as she stared at her feet.

  "I'm not usually this clumsy. You just startled me."

  "Ready for that boost?" His hands had slid beneath her thin shirt when she fell, but he hadn't bothered to move them. Anyone watching this scene from a distance would think they were lovers.

  Their gazes met and held for a bit too long before she stepped from his grasp. The faint scent of coconut tickled his nostrils, and he wondered if it was her perfume or shampoo.

  "I'm okay, West." She grabbed the handle and hoisted herself into the truck. "Thanks."

  "Then we're off." He closed the door and headed back around to the driver’s side, unable to deny the spark of awareness that had passed between them.

  Shoving the thought to the back of his mind, he climbed in and glanced over at Penn. She stared down at her phone, avoiding his gaze.

  Yeah. He had no doubt she’d felt it, too.

  * * *

  Penn leaned forward, taking in the sights of the town as they rolled down the main street. She breathed a sigh of relief as West swung the truck into the parking lot of a modest-looking L-shaped motel.

  "I stay here a few times a year. It's quiet, and the people are nice. Think it will meet your standards?"

  "If it has clean sheets and hot water, it works for me. I’m not fussy."

  "Office is through there." He pointed to a wooden door at the end of the building. "I'll wait."

  She entered the rustic office and approached an older, gray-haired woman standing behind a mahogany desk.

  Penn placed her purse down on the desk. "I'd like a room for the night, please."

  "No vacancies, hon. In fact, there’s probably no vacancies anywhere. Big event going on in town this week."

  Panic tried to rear its ugly head again, and she swallowed it down. "Then I’m screwed."

  The woman peered over her glasses at Penn and slid a paper across the desk. "That's a list of three other hotels in the area. You’re welcome to use the guest phone and check if they have any rooms available." The woman pointed to the corner of the room at a phone on the wall.

  "Thanks."

  Five minutes later, Penn hung up the phone. Not one damn vacancy.

  The woman pulled her glasses off and perched them on top of her head. "By the look on your face, I'm guessing everyone is booked. Just passing through, I take it?"

  "My car stalled on the highway. The guy who stopped to help me is staying here. He suggested this place."

  The woman peered out of the window. "I assume you’re talking about Mr. Keller?"

  "Yes. Do you know him?"

  "I’m guessing you don't." The woman gave her a kind smile. "Not many people like him left in this world."

  "What do you mean?" asked Penn.

  "We had a family of six here in town that lost their home in a fire last summer. Mr. Keller found out about it during his stay, and paid for their lodging at the nicest hotel in town until they were able to get back on their feet. He also paid for all of their meals, and leased them a car so they could get around. It took a few months for them to find a new place to live and deal with the insurance." The woman leaned closer and lowered her voice. "He wanted to remain anonymous, but my friend helped organize their stay. She let it slip that he was the one paying their bill."

  Penn blinked. "That had to cost a pretty penny." He must make a decent living for that kind of philanthropy. She wondered what he did for work.

  "He’s a good egg, that one. Isn’t hard on the old eyes either, is he?"

  Penn gave her an amused glance before turning to look out of the window. West stood in front of the truck, drinking his soda.

  "Well, thanks for the information."

  "No problem. I hope you figure something out."

  A buzzer sounded as West stepped into the tiny office. "Hey, Alice."

  "Mr. Keller," the woman said, smoothing her hair. "How are you doing, honey?" She handed him a key. "Your regular room was available."

  "I’m great. Any luck for my friend here?"

  "No vacancies anywhere, I'm afraid."

  "Hmm. Well, we will figure something out."

  "I put a few of those chocolate candies you like in the room." She patted his hand.

  He flashed her a grin. "That’s my girl. It’s why I always stay here, Alice. Your attention to detail."

  Alice blushed. "Anything you need for your stay, you just let me know, sugar."

  Penn smothered a laugh as she followed West back outside. The old woman had a crush on him, no doubt.

  She glanced down the main road and back up at him. "Well, now what? I’m pretty much screwed."

  * * *

  West rubbed his chin. "It really isn’t your day, is it, Pixie?"

  "You think? I shouldn't have gotten out of bed this morning."

  "It's not the end of the world. You can stay with me. Problem solved."

  Penn sighed. "Right. Problem solved. How did I get myself into this mess?"

  "What are your plans when you get to Vegas?" He needed to change the subject. Everything about her body language-crossed arms, pursed lips, brows drawn together-silently broadcasted her stress.

  "Relaxing. I wanted to have a vacation before I have to job hunt and join the real world." She dropped her gaze and kicked at a patch of dirt next to the sidewalk. "The past nine months have been...rough."

  That didn't sound good. He was curious, but decided against asking. She was already aggravated.

  "You’ve graduated from school then?"

  Penn pulled a hair tie from the front pocket of her skirt and gathered her wild, wavy hair back into a ponytail. "Yeah. I'm a veterinary technician. Well, I will be, once I find a job. I graduated a month ago. I plan on being a vet, but I'm taking a year off to get some experience in a practice before I take the next step with school."

  The woman was obviously smart. Becoming a vet required years of education. She also didn’t seem like the type who was afraid to get dirty, which made him like her even more.

  West pulled his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans and flipped it open. "That's Bo. My golden retriever. I got him when I moved to Vegas."

  Her face lit up at the photo. "Wow, he's big. Cute, too. Golden’s are a fantastic breed."

  "Yeah, he's super friendly. Loves everyone he meets."

  "Where is he now?"

  "I keep him at a big doggie hotel called The Puptastic Ranch. It’s right outside of the city, and he loves it there. I wanted a big place where he could play and hang out with other dogs. I know the owner. She's dedicated to the business and is fantastic with all of the dogs."

  Penn looked impressed, and he continued.

  "I figure if he's busy, he has less time to miss me when I'm away."