About Last Night (Vegas After Dark Book 4), page 1
ABOUT LAST NIGHT
Vegas After Dark
Book 4
TORY BAKER
Contents
Playlist
1. Hendrix
2. Madden
3. Hendrix
4. Madden
5. Hendrix
6. Madden
7. Hendrix
8. Madden
9. Hendrix
10. Madden
11. Hendrix
12. Madden
13. Hendrix
14. Madden
15. Hendrix
16. Madden
17. Hendrix
18. Madden
19. Madden
20. Hendrix
21. Madden
22. Hendrix
23. Madden
24. Hendrix
25. Madden
26. Hendrix
27. Madden
28. Hendrix
29. Hendrix
30. Madden
31. Hendrix
32. Madden
33. Hendrix
Epilogue
Epilogue
One More Night
Late Night Caller
All Night Long
About the Author
Copyright © 2022 by Tory Baker
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Please respect the author and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials that would violate the author’s rights.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Cover Design by Yoly at Cormar Cover Creations
Cover Models Max and Brandi
Photographer by Lindee Robinson with Lindee Robinson Photography
Editor Julia Good with Diamond in the Rough Editing
Created with Vellum
Playlist
About Last Night Playlist
Million Dollar Baby- Ava Max
Fade Into You- Mazzy Star
Summertime Sadness- Lana Del Rey
Sweater Weather- The Neighbourhood
Everyday People- Sly & The Family Stone
Mony Mony- Tommy James & The Shondells
If You Don’t Know Me by Now- Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
Time in a Bottle- Jim Croce
Rocket Man- Elton John
Me and Bobby McGee- Janis Joplin
Piece of My Heart- Big Brother & The Holding Company, Janis Joplin
Animals- Nickelback
Space And Time- S.G. Goodman
Jolene- Dolly Parton
Go Your Own Way- Fleetwood Mac
To a reader who made me realize this a trope I never touched on, it was hard, it was fun, and to me it was totally worth it.
ONE
Hendrix
There are a few things in life I love more than my friends and family, and those are as follows.
My golden retriever, Jolene.
My job as a personal assistant to an amazing friend.
My love for all things nature, walking, hiking, and watching the sunset.
My record collection, which is currently taking over my living room.
My fierce independence, thanks to the men in my family who drilled it into my head at a young age that you should want a man or significant other, not need him. It’s not that the men cut and run either; they didn’t. They’re there for the long haul once they meet their match.
Every day for the past three days, my walk with Jolene has been interrupted by a man and his dog owner, who clearly has no idea what he’s doing with his chocolate lab. My girl, who is still a puppy at the age of fourteen months, needs her walk. The longer the better, especially on days when I’m out of town with Journey. Even a dog sitter who stays overnight and gives Jolene a walk is not a match for a three-mile hike. I don’t blame the dog; I blame the owner.
Earlier this week, Cooper tried to pee all over Jolene, and since I got between them to try and stop the chocolate lab before he saturated Jolene with the offending stench, we both didn’t come out unscathed. I love my girl, but bath times are not easy for the big girl with all her fur. Though, if I got off my ass and bought my own house with a pool, she’d be in the water non-stop. My parents even got Jolene a float she can’t pop with her nails at their house. She’ll swim and then get on the float and lounge around like she’s the queen.
I’m not saying Jolene is the perfect dog; she’s not. A puppy herself, that loves to chew on my shoes if I leave them out. Panties are fair game, too—clean, dirty, it doesn’t matter; she destroys them. What she doesn’t do is lift her leg to pee on another dog or human.
“Jolene, let’s turn around this time and go to the other stop,” I tell my dog as we’re rounding the bend where we usually sit and take a break, forgetting that my AirPods are in my ears and my sixties and seventies ballads playlist is blasting Piece of My Heart by Janis Joplin. How do I know this? Well, that would be because the owner of said chocolate lab, whose name is Cooper.
There is nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing better to start or finish your day than with a scenic hike with your dog. They may say a dog is a man’s best friend, but that couldn’t be further than the truth when it comes to my relationship with my girl. The two-mile hike helps both of us—Jolene with her energy and me with staying in shape enough to eat my weight in hot wings and French fries every Friday night at the parents’ house, along with a beer. And if just so happens to be fall, it’ll be the family favorite: pumpkin beer.
“There’s more than enough room here,” the man mouths. Ugh. I take one AirPod out to respond. He is a menace, hot in every way possible but a man I am not touching with a ten-foot pole. He couldn’t even tame his dog from peeing all over the place, marking its territory, and there is a cure to that disease besides allowing him to act like an alpha male. You know, getting him the snip snip, saying goodbye to his balls and testicles.
“That’s okay.” I turn around. Jolene whines for a moment until she hears the zipper in my belt bag. I know the way to my girl’s heart, that being the fresh carrots and blueberries she knows and loves, which I carry along with the water and protein bar I make myself choke down if we’re here in the morning. That’s not the case right now. It’s evening. The sun is slowly setting. The sky is casting orange, purple, and blue hues. It’s absolutely breathtaking. I’d love nothing more than to stop and watch as it dips further in the skyline, but that’s not in the cards, at least not today.
“Wait.” I pop my AirPods back in my ear, shaking my head no, trying to get the hell out of Dodge, one hand holding the carrot out to Jolene while the other grips her leash, which matches in color to her halter that’s wrapped around her furry body. They both look vintage with the floral and mushroom pattern fabric, beige background, mustard yellow, muted pinks, and lush dark green tying it all together.
My palm is open for Jolene to eat her snack. She’s still working on her manners herself, so I hold my palm flat as if I’m feeding a horse. Jolene and I are in our own world when a shot of brown comes darting at us. I brace for impact, already knowing Cooper is going to wipe my ass out; it’s inevitable.
“Cooper, Cooper, stop!” The voice is muffled, and I don’t bother doing anything except let go of Jolene’s leash because I already know this is a catastrophe waiting to happen and I’m going to be the one who comes out to be the loser.
“Jolene, stay with mommy,” I try to keep my voice down. Cooper’s owner is practically screaming the canyon down. Jolene listens, thankfully, attempting to tuck into my side, which is hard because she’s a massive fluffball. “Cooper, stop,” I command in a firm voice. I watch as Cooper attempts to mount my girl, my girl who just went through her second cycle of heat and is finally done so we can finally get her spayed. I swear to God, if Cooper knocks her up and I’m bound to deal with his owner until puppies come out, I’m going to kick him in the balls.
“No, you don’t.” Fortunately, he grabs ahold of Cooper before I bite the dust, big bulging muscles wrapping around his lab’s middle, picking him up and pulling him off Jolene. I bend down and pick up the leash.
“Jesus,” I mutter, pulling out both AirPods because I’m sure he’s going to want to talk when all I want to do is neuter the owner myself. How hard is it to tighten the collar or get a halter he won’t slip through.
“Sorry about that. I’m Madden, and this, well, you know, is Cooper.” His hand is out, ready for me to place mine in, and I am cussing every manner that was born and bred inside of me.
“Hendrix.” I don’t say another word. Instead, I drop his hand after he shakes like it’s a hot potato searing my hand. Hotness overload be damned. This man is a pain in my ass, and even if he does have manners, his dog could use them a hell of a lot more. “I’d say it was a pleasure to meet you, but twice this week, our hike has ended in a catastrophe, so yeah. Later, Madden, hope to not see you again.” I look at Jolene, who’s sitting ass to the ground so Sir Humps-and-Pees-a-Lot can’t touch her again. I don’t wait to hear what else he has to say. Instead, Jolene and I are darting off, running down the tra
il, my girl happy to get away from Cooper and his owner as much as I am. Fucking men, I swear.
TWO
Madden
“Yo, you in here?” I ask as I walk through my brother’s place. Forest called earlier today telling me my nieces were missing their uncle and Cooper. Truth be told, it was more Coop they wanted to see than me. Why I was saddled with a chocolate lab when Forest has a wife, two girls, a house that’s more of a home than mine.
“Yep, the girls are out back in the pool. You staying for dinner?” Forest asks as I walk towards the kitchen, where he’s making snow cones for what I’m assuming are Cammy and Piper.
“I wasn’t planning on it, but if you’re cooking, I’ll stay.” Forest’s wife is amazing at many things, like dealing with my shit-for-brains brother—not that he’s not bad; I just remember when he was an annoying little shit—and raising amazing girls. Thankfully, her gene pool dominated them. Cooking, though, that’s where it ends.
“I hope you aren’t expecting steak. The girls requested hot dogs.” Forest looks disgusted. He’ll make them and eat them for his girls. “I have brats, too. Love my girls, but hot dogs are a snack, not a meal.”
“What do you need help with? I’ll let Coop out with the girls and help you get stuff ready.” The only time my dog isn’t being a dick is when he’s around the girls and playing. Maybe the next time before we hit the trails, I’ll let him swim in my pool at home for an hour or two, so he won’t try to trample, piss on, or hump someone, human or dog.
“It’s all done. Cammy picked the sides: smashed potatoes and fruit.” This he’s not disgusted with. Can’t blame him either.
“I’m assuming Piper is choosing dessert?” Already knowing that girl will not ever allow snow cones to be that; this is more of a snack before dinner. The girl has the metabolism of a teenage boy. She eats breakfast then has a snack, eats lunch then another snack, dinner and then shortly after, it’s dessert.
“Shit for ice cream sundaes is at the ready.” He douses the snow cones with five different flavors.
“Alright, then, I’m going to say hello to my girls, drop Coop with them so he can swim and play. Then I’m making a fucking drink.” I’m still pissed as fuck about the situation with Hendrix. Not like I can apologize. My dog has made it impossible, and I’m sure I could have handled things a shit ton better.
“How is your day that bad? You didn’t even go into the office,” Forest asks, grabbing the two snow cones while we walk to the back porch.
“One word: Cooper,” I grunt, remembering how we happened to be at the same spot as Hendrix and Jolene earlier this week. I knew the moment shit was going down. Hendrix was grumbling about me not getting Cooper fixed, marking his territory like some Alpha caveman does. Then there was today. This time, I planned it, hoping we’d see her so I could apologize. Cooper is a fucking cockblock.
“I told you, dogs are chick magnets. If anything, you’re the issue, bro.”
“Sure, we’ll go with that. Earlier this week, he pissed all over Hendrix, and then today, he was trying to hump Jolene,” I tell him as we make our way out back. Cooper slithers in front of us, heading straight for the girls. Cammy is older, at the age of five, whereas Piper just turned three.
“Mad-Mad,” Piper runs towards me, arms up. Cammy rushes toward Forest, ready for her snow cone.
“Hey, Piper, baby. You got a kiss for your uncle?” I ask. Her speech is slightly delayed. They’ve been working with a speech therapist, but things aren’t moving as quickly as any of us would like.
“Uncle Madden, what’s hump mean?”
“Jesus Christ, Mad. I can’t get a fucking break,” Forest says loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Good job.” Krissy comes out of her chair. I’d like to say it’s to greet me, but it’s not. She’s spitting mad. I’m pretty sure it’s not from something Forest or I said. It’s for an entirely different reason, and I think I’ll be dipping out of dinner judging by the look on her face.
“Ah, it’s something Cooper likes to do when he’s excited.” I’m direct, trying to keep it vague, too. Piper chooses that time to lay a big smack on my cheek, wet hands and body saturating my once sweaty clothes.
“Okay, Daddy. I wouldn’t say those words again. Mommy will be upset.” I bend down, kissing Cammy’s cheek. “Come on, Cooper.” She snaps her fingers at my dog, and wouldn’t you know, he happily trots alongside of her. I’m pretty sure Coop would be better suited for their house, but Krissy wouldn’t have it.
“Maybe I won’t stay for dinner after all.” I look at Forest. He’s calm, cool, and collected. Krissy, on the other hand, looks like she’s about to breathe fire.
“Hang with the girls for a bit, yeah?” Forest states. I don’t respond. There’s no need. Forest may fuck up and say a word now and then that the girls probably shouldn’t hear. We all do that, so I’m guessing this is another one of their arguments that will end up with Forest sitting outside, feeding the girls and myself while Krissy sulks inside, refusing to eat with her family. It’s fucked up, whatever it is.
“Sure. Come on. Will you share your sno-cone with Uncle Mad?” I ask Piper while holding the sugary sweetness Forest passed off to me. I move to the radio, turning it up a notch in case shit gets too loud, then Pipe and I walk to where Cammy is sitting with Cooper, her feet dangling in the water. I kick my shoes off and do the same. It’s no wonder my dog loves my niece as much as he does. Piper takes a bite of hers then proceeds to give Coop one, and Cammy does the exact same thing. I’m definitely going to have to ask my own nieces for advice when it comes to my traitorous dogs.
“Want some?” Piper offers.
“No thanks. Cammy, how’s school going? Learning anything new?” I ask.
“School’s okay.” She shrugs her shoulders then goes back to her snow cone.
“You mean you aren’t smarter than your dad yet?” I crack a joke. Coop barks, wanting another taste. It gives me an idea on what I need to do to keep him on a tighter rope. I should have realized it before now. Anyone wants to be rewarded when they do a good job.
Cammy starts laughing up a storm, which makes Piper do the same thing. I keep them entertained with my antics until their sweet treat is finished and they’re both ready to swim, so I oblige. Once again coming over here for brotherly advice only to run interference with my brother and sister-in-law.
THREE
Hendrix
I’m still annoyed by the time I make it home to get Jolene settled for the night, get myself showered, hair washed, body exfoliated, legs shaved, face washed and moisturized to start my evening of relaxing on the couch. A new documentary I’ve somehow managed to miss about Woodstock is at the ready, and dinner is ordered. The Cali burger is right up my alley for dinner tonight— avocado, bacon, lettuce, roasted tomato, and so much more along with fried pickles. Yep, I deserve this, and so does Jolene, though hers is dog food and a frozen pup cup that is in the freezer.
I wish I could say Madden only infuriates, annoys me, pisses me off, all of the verbs that go with loathing. That’s him all wrapped up in one. The man can’t even apologize and then has the audacity to try to get me to stop after the second go-around. No thanks. The downside in all of this? He’s smoking hot with his piercing green eyes, dark hair that I could see beneath his baseball cap, shaved on the side, longer on top, and though he didn’t smile, I bet even his teeth are amazing. The same couldn’t be said for his mouth or mannerisms. He’s a nuisance. The perfect amount of muscles while not being overly done, at least what I could tell from his arms and chest. The white muscle shirt wasn’t leaving much to the imagination either. I could tell he’s got a toned chest, strong arms, and some of the sweat soaking through gave me a glimpse at a firm stomach, too. And don’t get me started on the athletic shorts. Jesus, the man must be a shower versus a grower. Clearly, Madden was packing in the manhood department. Sue me, I looked. It was literally right before my eyes when I bent down. A massive bulge, bigger than I’ve ever noticed or seen in real life before. Even porn has nothing on that man. I’m not going there, though. He’s not for me, and honestly, this single life I’ve been living for the past two years has been bliss. No man trying to make me feel inferior because of my job. My ex said my career was nothing but playing dress-up, and working behind the scenes at that. If only he knew the amount of money I made when we were together. What an idiot. He also belittled every single thing. I wanted a dog, and he’d tell me no, trying to tell me they’d just tie us down. We lived under one roof, so slowly, I gave up on anything that was a want in my life, changing into this quiet person I never was. It took me finding out that he was dipping his dick into another woman to finally get rid of the loser. It’s probably Josh, my ex-boyfriend’s, fault that I’m such a man-hater. That has nothing to do with the man I met a couple of times this week. He’s a whole other story.
