Page 9 (1/2)

Chapter 1

Ellie shifted fro for Sierra to answer the door It was too cold to walk in slippers, even just to go next door Vegas weather liked to keep her on her toes like that October was a transitionaltransitional about the chill snaking through her right now It had to be in the forties or fifties

As Sierra opened the door, Ellie rushed inside, keeping her arms wrapped around herself She’d walked over from next door where she lived with Jay and hadn’t realized how chilly it was outside

“Jeez, what the hell are you wearing?” Sierra asked, taking in Ellie’s thin sleep T-shirt, shorts and pink slippers

“I didn’t knoas cold outside Jay is a freaking furnace and I grabbed this off the floor I thought I’d sneak over before he woke up so I could snag a couple eggs Please tell me you have some” Ellie was pretty certain she did Sierra was only twenty-two, but she was head chef at Cloud 9, the casino owned by billionaire Wyatt Christiansen they all worked for Ellie was Wyatt’s personal assistant and oversaw a lot of his businesses, and she spent a lot of ti from her office at the casino since it was so new

Sierra snorted as if the question was ridiculous “Come on” She motioned toward the kitchen “Hayden’s a furnace too Must run in the fa with Jay’s brother—they’d just ?”

“Just an omelet with a side of bacon I wanted to cook a quick breakfast for Jay since I know he’s got ht hand man and head of his personal security, and Wyatt wanted hiuys for his own team and for a couple of his other establishood at seeing through bullshit and assessing things you just couldn’t get froe whether these intervieould be a good personality fit All the experience in the world wouldn’t rade A asshole

“So fancy,” Sierra hter in her voice as she opened the fridge

“Ha, ha Whatever Miss Fancy Pants, I don’t want to hear it Theany breakfast at all” It was no secret she didn’t cook well But Ellie knew she couldn’t screw up eggs and bacon

Sierra snickered as she handed her the half e carton “I don’t know if lucky is the term he’d use”

Ellie’s eyes widened at the unexpected joke from Sierra “If I hadn’t started a tiny fire the last tiht be insulted”

Sierra stifled another laugh “Do you want a sweater?”

“Nah, I’ain” Once outside she hurried to the house she now shared with Jay Unlike Sierra, who had moved in with Hayden after a couple weeks, it had taken Elliethefrom an explosion meant to kill their boss she’d practically lived here, but once he was on his feet and back at work, she’d set up some boundaries for almost half a year

It wasn’t that she didn’t love hi in with so deal She and Jay already saw each other all the ti her little personal space Plus, she’d kept waiting for the other shoe to drop She’d been convinced that what she had with Jay was too good to be true That it was all going to end if she got too happy with him Because that’s how life worked in her experience

And the intuitive man had known, had called her out on it once and told her to accept that he loved her and wasn’t going anywhere She knew that in her heart, but it was so dae At least he hadn’t pushed her Ellie knew Jay wanted more from her—as in, ‘til death do us part—but he was never pushy about anything For that, she was grateful It just solidified how right he was for her Hell, how right they were together They definitely balanced each other out Lord knew he balanced out her neurotic tendencies

Once inside their two-story home, she shut and locked the door behind her Out of habit, she put the alar she and Jay were both vigilant about Of course he had his own version of security with his trusty SIG and his SEAL training The man definitely kne to take care of himself And her—in more ways than one

Her chill started to fade as she made her way to the kitchen The second she stepped inside she found Jay leaning against the countertop, steaether At six foot, five inches, with a skull tri his arms, he made her mouth water