Within Miles Read online

  I looked down at my hands. If my family hadn’t died and I wouldn’t have gotten into a car accident taking away seven months of my life from me, would I be wearing Alex’s ring right now and planning for our future? The answer was probably but I couldn’t change the past as much as I ached to.

  Alex’s engagement party was a month away and I still didn’t know if I was going to go or not. I hadn’t seen him in years and I didn’t know if I could stand seeing him with someone else.

  ‘All the single ladies’ sounded from my saddle bag, telling me that Anna was calling. I smiled as I walked to Midnight. Anna was my best friend, my constant in all the madness. She had lost Ares too but she never showed her sadness, which I appreciated. I was going through enough shit for all of us.

  “Do you know what time it is Anna?” I looked down at my watch; it was only eight thirty in the morning. Anna was a late sleeper. She never got up before ten.

  “Yeah Yeah Yeah listen, how would you feel about going to Vegas for your twenty first birthday?” Oh hell no. I wanted to enjoy a peaceful night at home on my birthday, just like every other year.

  “Let me think about it. Um….no” I could hear Anna huff from the other end of the phone.

  “Oh come on sour puss. You need to get out and live a little. Besides, they don’t call it Sin City for nothing. Please please please. You know you need to blow the cob webs out, if you know what I mean.” I rolled my eyes. I did know what she meant. God knows I did. The one and only person I had sex with is getting married. I refused to let another man get that close to me in fear of getting my heart broken again.

  Sure, I had gone on a few dates, per Anna’s request but they were all assholes and just wanted to get into my pants. No thank you.

  “Anna, I have battery operated toys that can do the same cob web blowing you are talking about and I don’t even have to call them the next day.” She grunted at me, actually grunted.

  Somehow, I knew she was never going to give up this fight. Anna was relentless.

  “How about this, I will pay for plane tickets, even hotel stay if you go.” Money wasn’t an issue here neither was the time away. My parents not only left me the land and the business but millions of dollars too, another reason why I didn’t date. Most of those assholes were after my money, well, my parent’s money. Not to mention that I will never, repeat, never, fly in an airplane.

  I could hear Anna’s silent pleas over the phone. I knew this was important to her and I didn’t want to let her down. “Ok, but no flying. We drive or train it. That’s my condition.” She squealed loudly in my ear with excitement.

  “You won’t be sorry, I promise but girl that’s like a fifteen hour car ride. Are you sure you can handle being in a car with me for that long?” I laughed. I didn’t have an answer to that question. Yes, I loved Anna like a sister but I was sure we wouldn’t make it to Vegas in one piece. One of us would end up killing the other.

  “Train it is.” I answered in a wary tone.

  “Oh thank you thank you! We leave in a week. I’ll make all the arrangements. This is going to be so much fun.”

  Sin City

  Day 1

  June 2010

  I dumped my suitcase onto the front porch and looked at my watch. Of course, Anna was fifteen minutes late picking me up for our trip to Vegas.

  The train was leaving in forty-five minutes and she had better hurry her ass up before I changed my mind. Officially, my birthday was yesterday. Anna wanted to spend my actual birthday in Vegas but I had refused. My birthdays were for me. A time where I could reflect on my life, not listen to Anna decide which casino she wanted to go to.

  Lancey had made me a feast of a dinner last night. It was quiet and peaceful, which was exactly what I needed.

  After we did the dinner dishes, he had asked me if I felt any older. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I felt ten years older than I was, so I just smiled and shook my head. He answered with his wide, white smile and gave me a big hug.

  Lancey had taken the place of my mother, father, and in part my confidant. I could tell him almost everything that was happening with my life and I knew he would never judge me, and for that, I loved him dearly.

  I looked up to see Anna’s blood red BMW SUV racing up my long driveway. She always drove like a maniac, which was the other reason why I was glad we wouldn’t be driving.

  Her tires squealed as she stopped in front of me. “Come on girl let's get you loaded up.” Anna said winded as she ran up the porch steps and grabbed my bags. She was up to something. I could sense it. “What?” she asked when I cocked my eyebrow at her.

  “What do you have up your sleeve Anna?” She didn’t even look at me.

  She shoved my bags in the back of the car and said, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” Oh, shit here we go again.

  We entered the train station fifteen minutes before departure, thanks to Anna’s crazy driving. I stood at the ticket booth while they checked my bags. “We are in cabin 3A. We can get settled and start the party.” Anna bounced on the balls of her feet and looked around.

  What the hell was she up to? She was acting the same way she did when she set me up with a blind date, and I mean blind. I had absolutely no idea that I was even going on a date. One night she just dropped me off at some restaurant and made an excuse she had left her cell phone at home. “I’ll see you in a few” was all she said as she raced away. So, normally I just went inside and soon discovered that John was waiting for me, John the douche bag, as I like to call him. He actually expected me to pay for dinner and drinks. That was so not happening. I stiffed him with the bill and went to hunt down my best friend. I eventually forgave her for the little mishap but this time I wasn’t so sure she was up to anything remotely good or forgivable.

  We entered cabin 3A and soon discovered her secret. Erin, Cassie and Angie were chatting away as we entered. I shot Anna a death glare.

  I was under the impression that it was only going to be Anna and I on this trip to sin, not half my high school cheer quad.

  “Happy Birthday Thea!” They all said in unison. Fucking great! I was being forced to stay on a high-speed train for hours with the Olsen twins, Kristen Stewart and my soon to be dead ex-best friend.

  I gave them all a tight smile and pulled Anna into the isle. “You have to be fucking kidding me Anna!” I spat out. I swear venom was running down my chin. Anna just shrugged her shoulders and said, “What? The more the merrier”

  I grabbed her by her neatly tailored polo shirt. “Really, Anna? Erin and Cassie are the giggle twins and Angie is the brooding, narcissistic bitch. I couldn’t stand them in high school and I can’t stand them now.” Anna gave me a pleading look and held her hands up her hands in a praying gesture mouthing ‘please’. I let go of her shirt and pointed at her beautifully made up face. “You better pray that I make it five days without killing every one of you.” I turned on my heels and joined the annoying trio.

  I buried myself in a book and turned up my iPod the whole eight-hour trip. For the first time since the mere mention of this trip, I was actually looking forward to arriving in Vegas. I couldn’t stay mad at Anna. She was my constant in my mess of a life and the bitch damn well knew it.

  By the time we arrived in Vegas, I was exhausted. I had ditched my book and was forced to listen to the twins talk about their love lives. Angie just sat back and painted her fingernails, and Anna kept me from strangling them all.

  Anna had booked our rooms at the Wynn Hotel, and I had to admit, she outdid herself. The hotel was amazing. She insisted we all share a suite but I declined and booked a single room for myself. I could tell Anna wanted to argue but decided against it, smart girl.

  It was after seven by the time I settled into my room. The girls wanted to walk around the strip but I wasn’t feeling it tonight. I said goodnight and got ready for bed. The ‘celebration’ could wait until tomorrow.

  After showering and putting my p.j's on. I reached in my bag for m
y ritual sleeping pills. “Shit!” I shouted aloud. My bottle of my much-needed sleeping pills was on my nightstand, exactly where they had been for the last three years. “Fuck me.” I mumbled. The only thing that came remotely close to them was half a bottle of Jack Daniels.

  I pulled my hair up, changed into a pair of jean shorts and tank and headed downstairs to the hotel bar. The sounds of slot machines and people laughing awakened my senses. I had never been out of Montana. My parents and Ares traveled around the country securing the family business but I always stayed behind, mainly because their means of transportation was mainly by air, which scared the shit out of me even before the accident.

  I stood at the bar, ID and credit card in hand. “Can I help you miss?” The bartender asked.

  “Yeah is there any way I could buy a bottle of single barrel Jack from you?” I practically begged.

  The bartender cocked his eyebrow and shook his head. “We don’t sell by the bottle honey but there is a drug store a couple of blocks up. They can help you out.”

  I blew the bangs away from my face. I remember our cab driver said that a couple of blocks weren’t really a couple of blocks here in Vegas. It was more like a couple of miles. I knew if I walked ‘a couple’ of blocks there was no way I was getting any sleep tonight.

  “Sir?” I asked the bartender. He glided over to me again, this time looking irritated. “I’m not an alcoholic, I promise. I just need about half that bottle to sleep. I’ve had a really really rough day of traveling with a bunch of snooty bitches. I would really appreciate some help.” The bartender closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Miss I already told you…” I heard a light chuckle from beside me.

  “Dante, please help this woman out. We all know how snooty bitches can tear you down.” I looked over to my savior. I almost stumbled on my own feet as I got a good look at him. He was magnificent. His tan, muscular arms were propped up on the bar. His hair was dark almost black. His jaw line was the most chiseled thing I have ever seen. He was hot. He looked at me and gave me a shy smile. His eyes were the color of a light blue sky.

  “Yes sir” Dante, the bartender answered. I gave a sigh of relief.

  “Can’t sleep?” The gorgeous guy asked. I felt as though I should pick my chin off the floor every time he spoke. His voice was deep and seducing.

  “Um….yeah left my pills at home.” I answered, trying to tear my gaze away from the god of a man sitting next to me.

  “Bummer, I was hoping you were having a party. Let’s say you were…..would I be invited?” I felt as if I were already drunk. His stare was intoxicating. I had to shake my mental head before answering and even then, all I could get out was, “Umm” He laughed and said, “That’s too bad” I looked away from the godlike man to see Dante slide the most beautiful bottle of Jack in front of me.

  “Two hundred and fifty dollars and your ID Miss” Dante said holding out his hand.

  I immediately handed him my ID and credit card. “Hey now, put that card away. I got this round.” God man said as he handed Dante his card instead.

  “I can’t let you do that. You don’t even know me.” I said to him. Did I want him to know me? Did I want to know him? My answers were hell yes and absofuckinglutly! I have never felt a connection with a guy like this before. Not even Alex. I was drawn to this man for some reason and I wanted to find out why. That was one of the things my mother had taught me. If your gut is telling you something, always go with that feeling or you might live to regret it.

  The god of a man held out his hand. “I’m Miles Taylor. I live here in this beautiful city of Las Vegas. I own two dogs. Twenty-six years old. No wife, No kids.” I reluctantly shook his hand. What was the harm in telling a sexy stranger a little about myself? I would probably never see him again anyway. I bit the bullet.

  “Nice to meet you Miles Taylor, twenty six year old dog owner, Las Vegas Native, wifeless and childless. I am Thea Farris, Twenty one years old, from Montana, owner of twenty three horses and hundreds of heads of cattle; I am also wifeless and childless.” I smiled to Miles and myself. Who knew I could still be a charmer. Miles laughed at my joke about being ‘wifeless’ I grabbed my lovely bottle of jack and cracked the bottle open. I offered him a drink.

  “To new friendships and my man Jack” Miles said as he took a long drink from the bottle. I watched as his throat worked the magical liquid down his perfect throat. God, he was yummy. Miles handed the bottle back to me and wiped his mouth of with his hand.

  “Dido. Bottoms up.” I said. I didn’t take my gaze from his as I took my drink. His eyes penetrated me and I had to concentrate on swallowing, in fear I might choke. “Wow that’s good shit,” I said as I put the cap back on the bottle. “It was nice to meet you Miles Taylor and thanks for the sleep aide. I’ll see you around.”

  I had to get away from him. I could feel my guard crumbling every second I was around him. Miles was charming, good looking and the worst of them all; he had the most adorable set of dimples. Dimples were my kryptonite.

  I smiled as I turned my back to him and began walking towards the elevators. “But it’s still early!” Miles yelled to me.

  I turned around and bowed to him. “Oh yes it is kind sir but like I said before, I spent the entire day with snooty bitches. I bid you a good night.”

  He laughed and said. “It was nice to meet you Thea Farris, cattle rancher.” I waved the bottle of jack in the air and smiled. Maybe this trip would be fun after all.

  Birthday Surprise

  Day 2

  “Wake up lush!” Anna tugged on my blankets. The bitch was destroying a perfectly good dream involving a very sexy Miles Taylor. I was seriously regretting giving her the extra key card to my room.

  I moaned. “Get out” Anna just giggled and I could feel her fingers at my ankles. Oh hell no. I knew the drill. Every morning when I refused to get up, she would torture me by tickling my poor feet.

  I dug my feet into the mattress, preventing her from assaulting me. “Come on Thea! We have a fun day planned. First, we go to the pool, then we go shopping and then I have a surprise for you.” My head throbbed from the amount of Jack I drank last night. The thing I hated most about mornings was not only being tickled but also damn hangovers.

  First agenda for the day, getting my prescription filled for more sleeping pills. “Your morning ritual awaits princess Thea, one hot coffee and three little pills. No one wants you cranky today.”

  I opened my eyes to see Anna place the pills on the nightstand. “Oh I think I will add another one to that pile.” She rummaged through my bag and pulled out a bottle of Advil. Thank god for small miracles.

  I propped myself up on the fluffy pillows and downed my meds. I wanted to tell Anna about Miles but I didn’t want to encourage her. I most certainly didn’t want her to know that I was seriously crushing over a complete stranger, so I thought against it.

  It took her a couple of years to get over my brother’s death but being the strong woman that she is, it didn’t take her long to find happiness in a couple of guys. She was moving on with her life, me, not so much.

  After I showered and dressed for the day in a white sundress, I made my way ‘a couple of blocks’ to the nearest drug store. I was lucky I had my doctor’s number programed in my phone because they needed to verify my prescription.

  Pills in hand, I walked back to the hotel where the girls were waiting for me at the pool. I changed into my suit and joined them.

  “Oh did you hear that the Men on Fire are dancing at our hotel tonight, we should totally go.” Erin said from over the magazine she was reading. We were all lounging by the pool on this hot and sunny day.

  They wanted to lie out to get tan; I on the other hand was already tan from my mother’s Greek heritage, which got me snide remarks from the ‘snooty bitches’.

  “Oh my god Erin, that’s a fabulous idea!” Anna squealed. No. It wasn’t a fabulous idea. It was an idiotic one. There was no way I was going to pay to see men dancing arou
nd in their underwear when I was more than capable of having a man do that for me for free. Call me a poor sport but it was the truth in my eyes.

  “Nope, I’m good. You guys go without me. I’m perfectly content watching porn on the TV. Thank you very much.” My comment earned me a slap on the shoulder from Anna.

  “Fine, let’s go shopping then and we can go clubbing tonight. Does that sound better princess Thea?” Anna joked. I never minded her calling me princess as long as she never called me goddess. That was Alex’s nickname for me and I wanted it to stay that way.

  I felt bad for my attitude. I wanted to have fun but I was out of my element here. I didn’t feel sad per say more like strange and inadequate. I was anti-social and being in Vegas was not a very good place for someone like me.

  “Ok, let’s go shopping and clubbing later.” I agreed. Anna couldn’t help herself. I peeked over my sunglasses to see her bouncing in her lounge chair. I loved that she was excited for the both of us, or tried to be anyway.

  I didn’t know what was worse, the leather mini skirt Anna had picked out for me or the tiny red dress Cassie had picked. They both held them up to me and waited for me to make a decision. God, it looked like they were waiting for the judges to pick the next American Idol. I looked around the high priced designer store. Angie was biting her fingernails, while Erin looked at the shoes.

  Maybe I was wrong about the ‘snooty bitches’, they weren’t half as bad as I thought. Granted, Angie never talked to me and the twins mostly followed Anna’s lead.

  Maybe I was looking at this trip the wrong way. I needed to lighten up, maybe just for a little while.

  I pointed my finger at Anna. I liked the black leather mini skirt. It would show off my long tan legs. Anna jumped up and down from my decision.