Around the World in 80 Men Series: Boxed Set 21-30 (12 page)

The
curly haired woman at the front desk informed her that her taxi would
arrive in thirty minutes, in which Morgan immediately thanked her and
headed straight for the lounge. A quick lunch, and a pre-flight
drink, was exactly what she wanted to pass the time.

“Speak
to me,” Morgan answered her phone before sitting down at the
bar, and like a pro, she held it in place with her face as she waved
down the bartender.

“G-Puff
is gone! And guess what my sweet little kitty cat? He said I'm as
free as a muthafuckin' bird to go to Vegas. You know what else? I'm
having some drinks to celebrate!”

Morgan
squealed with excitement. She'd thought there was no way in hell that
Gio would allow him two vacations, but the news said otherwise. “I
could just kiss that man! Sounds like you've already had a few drinks
too. Wish I could celebrate with you.” She made a sad pouty-lip
face that only the bartender could see and it made her laugh again.
Morgan pulled the phone away from her face for a second and told the
man she wanted a vodka and seven, since she'd be flying and all.

“Mhmm.
I may or may not have already had some drinks but you don't worry
about that shit. You get your sexy ass to Vegas and tell me all about
it. I'll even let you get the room this time,” Angel teased.

“Well,
looks like I've got some catching up to...oh, shit!” Morgan saw
a clock on the wall that displayed a rolling pasture and she
remembered she still had something to do before she left and told
Angel she'd have to call him back. She grabbed her drink and purse
and walked back to the front counter of the hotel. “I need
something mailed,” Morgan told the woman at the desk, then dug
in her purse and pulled out a small stuffed lamb. Stuffed wasn't
really the preference of the older woman in the hospital, but
something about furry little lambs said 'get well soon'. It wore a
light pink bandana around its neck with rosy cheeks with a pink polka
dot diaper around its rear. Morgan had fallen in love with it and
hoped Sean's mom would as well.

The
kind woman at the desk was eager to help and found Morgan a box. She
even packaged it up as Morgan sipped on her pre-flight cocktail.
“Thank you so much!”

She gave her the money to cover the postage cost, plus a very
generous tip. By that point though, the blonde in the tall black
heels had to nearly run to get to her taxi. Thankful for the help
from a couple of men inside the hotel, Morgan was able to get her
bags loaded quickly and was on her way to the airport in minutes.

She
was cutting it close again, something she hated doing as well, but
getting the sheep out had been wor... “Shit! The ring!”
The taxi driver looked at her in the rear view mirror and Morgan
smiled nervously back at him. She'd completely forgotten to mail the
ring, but it wasn't exactly imperative, so she just decided she'd
mail it when she got to Vegas and took a long breath.
Heels and
earrings. No other worries.
The smile remained on the woman's
face all the way to the airport and even through the quickest check
in she'd ever been though.

Her
grandmother's advice seemed to work wonders, the less she worried,
the easier life was. Even as she boarded her first flight from Puerto
Rico to Georgia, her good day and wonderful mood continued. All she
could do was imagine scenarios in her head about Clayton and Vegas.
It's going to be amazing.

When
everyone was seated on the plane, Morgan pulled out her scrapbook and
a stack of pictures she'd printed that morning while her laundry had
been drying. She loved scrap booking on planes, as it always passed
some of the time more quickly. When she opened to the page that was
supposed to be empty for Ian, she saw that it wasn't empty at all.
“Aw, you sneaky bastard,” she whispered and ran her
finger over a picture she hadn't even known he'd snapped. It was a
picture of the two of them, except, Morgan was sound asleep and he
was beside her with a foolish grin and pretending to stick his finger
in her nose. The photo made her giggle loudly, but the words
underneath were sweet.

Morgan,

I
know I may have seemed distant to you, but the truth is, I did it on
purpose. When I picked you up from the airport, I saw the ring..

Yes,
I knew the whole time, even before I mentioned it. I also realized
it was bothering you, so I gave you time to work everything out. I
know you have your job, but I know you're a person too. I don't know
you too well, but I know that whoever you decide to let put a ring on
your finger is going to be a lucky man. Stay strong, Morgan. Thank
you for a wonderful week.

Ian

Morgan
closed her scrapbook and wiped her eyes. She'd managed a clean
goodbye with no tears and he had to go and pull a dirty trick like
that. She smiled down at her book of secrets, then slid it down into
her bag. Most of the time, she was trying to figure out ways to help
the people around her and there was the sweet Puerto Rican man who'd
been helping her all along. She realized how much he'd actually
helped her when she thought about the week.
Every time I was on
the phone, he disappeared. Every time I was in a bad mood, he would
disappear, then make it better. He forced me to talk about it, then
offered advice.
If he hadn't given her that time she needed, then
she would never have been able to work things out like she had.
Thank
you, Ian.

Despite
what she'd told herself about staying awake, Morgan closed her eyes
and slept the duration of her first flight. It was better than
staying awake and regretting the time she'd spent with Ian. Not Ian,
himself, but the fact he'd paid to have her there and he'd spent most
of his time away from her. She knew he wasn't upset about it though
and that was the only thing that kept her from contacting Julianne
and returning all of his money.

When
they landed in warm Atlanta, Georgia, she woke feeling in a good mood
again and pushed everything from her stay in Puerto Rico behind her.
Her grandmother's words floated through her mind and she had to stay
positive. There was no time to think about clients, good or bad.
I'm
in the here and now. Not yesterday, last week or last month.
Thinking
about anything but the present would fog her judgment and what she
wanted when she met Clay was a clear mind.

Morgan
held her head high as she walked toward the next terminal that would
take her to Las Vegas. She smiled as her phone alerted her of a text
message, knowing it was likely her Angel. When she read his name
across the screen, she giggled because she was right.

Gio
Vanna White says it's a go on Vegas baby. Did you get the clear from
J-Door? MUTHAFUCKIN VEGAS BOO!

“Oh,
Angel, you
are
drunk!” She sent a quick text to her
friend, letting him know that she wasn't Cedric, but she was glad he
was excited for Vegas. She also hoped Jordy, obviously nicknamed
J-Door by Angel, would approve. Morgan had just enough time to grab a
cup of coffee and a croissant before her next flight, then she was
off on another four hour trip.

“Excuse
me, could you tell me the time?” Morgan asked one of the flight
attendants as the plane descended upon Vegas. The woman told her it
was a quarter until seven, which meant she'd gained three hours. She
quickly adjusted her watch, and took a deep breath. Morgan's heart
began to race with anticipation, it was a feeling she hadn't felt in
a while and it was nice to be back to herself...the girl who loved
life and looked forward to what lies ahead.

By
the time they landed, she felt like she was ready to take on the
world. Okay, she was ready to take on Mr. Casino Owner, but it was
the almost the same thing. Would he be like Finlay? Or Gio?
Do
Casino owners have business meetings?
The thought made her hope
not, she didn't want to deal with another client like Kai...but maybe
that was the reason the man had
outsourced
with Julianne's
service.
Oh well. I can act... proper. I've got this shit.

She
got off the plane quickly and easily found her way to baggage claim,
despite the herds of people everywhere. While she waited for her pink
bags to appear on the belt, she decided to check her phone. Two new
messages awaited, both from Angel.

First
one,
Sorry, Stick. My ass is drunk as fucking fuck. I love
you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She shook her head back and forth and laughed
out loud at Angel's message. “I love you too.” Before she
looked at the second message, she saw her bags coming and stuffed her
phone into her back pocket so she could grab her things. There was no
sign of Clayton, even five minutes later when she was finding herself
a place near the back wall. She didn't want to stand in the middle of
baggage claim with a sea of pink around her, so she'd just wait for
her client off to the side. Another quick glance around her, still no
Clay, so she pulled her phone out once again and propped herself
against the wall.

I
know your ass still hasn't landed in Brussel Sprouts, but I miss you
already baby. PoPolicious has been calling your name since you left.
Call me when you get in. I've got some good news.
“Angel,
Angel, Angel. I am so happy for you.” She knew he'd sent the
wrong message to her again, but she didn't bother telling him. Angel
was smart, he'd figure it out, even if he was drunk. Morgan spent a
few moments, looking at the picture of Angel on her phone.
What
would I do without you?
She loved her best friend so much. She
smiled back at the screen, to the photo of the man with the unruly
curls, cascading to his shoulders.
I swear, if you weren't gay...

Morgan
giggled again at her thoughts, then just as she was about to put her
phone away, another message came through.

I'm
glad you're safe, you sexy fuck. J sounds worse than G...get him some
Midol and a box of chocolate...I still need you to call a bitch when
he ain't up your ass. Oh, and I forgot to ask...when your ring gets
here,.do you want me to hold on to it until Vegas or you want me to
send the fucker back to you before then?

Morgan's
mouth fell open in horror. “YOUR... ring? HIS..... ring?”
Her heel that had been propped up on the wall came down with a loud
click as white-hot fury enveloped her body. It was all a game, it was
Cedric's ring. “You're fucking kidding me!”

“Excuse
me?” Morgan's eyes shot up quickly. The man in a pristine black
business suit wasn't her client and she had no interest in hearing
what he had to say.

“What?”
Her voice sounded nothing like her own, but she didn't care.

“You're
Morgan Holland?” the man asked.

“Yeah,”
she snapped back.

“You're
under arrest.”

Fuck!
Clay set me up!

Nevada

Book
Twenty-Two

Chapter
One

“
I...I
haven't...” Morgan's mouth hung open in shock as the man moved
to her side. He reached for her arm and she pulled away quickly,
recoiling against the wall. Her eyes darted around the room, so many
people, yet nobody was looking in her direction. Not that it would
help, if she were being arrested, who would stand against a police
officer?

“
Don't
make a scene,” the tall man told her, his tone stern and
intimidating. Again, he reached for her arm and Morgan didn't try to
pull away that time. What could she do? Run?
No, I won't run, but
I sure as hell won't be going to jail!
Morgan brought her
eyebrows together tightly and scoffed as the man's hand wrapped
tighter than necessary around her arm. He kept his grip, turned his
head and snapped his fingers, then another man who she hadn't noticed
behind the first, walked toward her side.

“
Look,
I haven't done anything wrong! Who are you?” The second man
took her purse right from her shoulder as she was questioning the
first man. “You can't take that! Give me my bag!” Her
eyes followed him, and the second man was gathering the rest of her
luggage. Morgan couldn't even think, her mind was numb as the
realization came to a head. In a mindless action, she'd put her phone
into her purse when the man had first asked her name.
Fuck!
She
was being arrested and there was nothing she could do about it, not
even call for help.