Chances (Mystic Nights #1)
Read Chances (Mystic Nights #1) Online
Authors: MJ Nightingale
Book 1 of the Mystic Nights series
By
MJ Nightingale
Chances Copyright © 2015 MJ Nightingale
Published by MJ Nightingale
Kindle Edition
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, 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. This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.
This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
Published: MJ Nightingale December, 2015
Editing: Keriann McKenna
Cover Design © Melissa Gill at MG BookCovers
Photography and Cover Image: CJC Photography
Cover Model: Tyler Sarry, Fitness Coach
Formatting by: Paul Salvette BB eBooks
This book is intended for a mature audience of eighteen and older.
The Bounty Hunters: The Marino Bros.
‡
T
he woman was
stunning. Absolutely gorgeous. There was no denying it. But ever since she started a month ago, she’d been avoiding him like the plague, giving him the cold shoulder.
Tonight, she was acting differently. She kept glancing Jonathan’s way across the large, festively decorated ballroom. He nodded her way and she gave him a bright smile, her onyx eyes crinkling in the corner as she tossed her long mane of dark waves over her shoulder yet again. God, how he wanted to run his fingers through it. Pull her hair to gain access to her mouth. Those lips beckoned him. He could barely keep his eyes off of her, let alone will his manhood not to react to the temptress with the most amazing legs he’d seen in years.
Encouraged by the alcohol, Aliya lifted her cocktail, something fruity and celebratory he guessed, in his direction. Not that he was counting, but it was at least her third drink that evening. He’d never seen her let her hair down before. Figuratively, and literally. He was most certainly enjoying it, too. Immensely.
Her rich mahogany hair cascaded just past her shoulders in a curtain of perfection. He had spoken to her just a few times in the past month, complimenting her, and letting her know he was interested if she was game, but she’d always shut him down. Quickly.
He had never gone beyond the light flirtation though. If a woman wanted to take him up on his offer, she had to let him know in no uncertain terms. As their boss, he didn’t want any misunderstandings, or sexual harassment issues to plague him.
Jonathan Sassacus never had to work hard to attract someone of the opposite sex. He had plenty of more than willing partners. Plus, he didn’t have the time for a relationship, didn’t want one at the moment, and unless the woman was willing to enjoy a quick fling or one night of passion, he was normally not interested.
But Aliya Chance was something else. She was all legs, and the rest of the package was pretty incredible. Her eyes were black coals, almond shaped, and intriguing.
His body was definitely telling him he was interested. He felt his cock begin to stir again when she looked his way once more, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Tonight she was on fire, and showing her hand. Well, quite a bit more than her hand. Her tight red cocktail dress was stunning. It reached mid thigh, and the slit on the left went higher. The bodice was low, revealing the tops of her perfectly sized high breasts. His palms itched to test their weight.
Eyes sparkling in their intensity, he tipped his glass in return. Aliya smiled coyly, and the two girls she sat with laughed while nodding his way. They were encouraging their friend’s bravery and he’d have to thank them later.
“Go mingle,” his mother’s interruption into his lascivious thoughts only slightly dampened his desires. He gave her a quick glance as she stood proudly on his left surveying the ballroom before her, and all of her employees. “Go. Have fun,” she encouraged with a nod of her head in the direction of where the dancers congregated. His mother never missed a thing. Even in this massive crowd. He glanced down at her once more. Tawny Sassacus was still stunning at forty-eight. She had a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
“I plan to,” he smiled affectionately before handing his empty glass of champagne to a passing waiter. He pressed a kiss to his mother’s cheek before beginning to make the rounds of the tables surrounding the dance floor. He weaved his way around making sure to stop at each table and say just a few words to each department before moving on. These parties helped to keep morale up at the Mystic, and the employees enjoyed having a night out with each other.
He nodded at the dozen people sitting at the table before him. “Happy New Year, Tom,” he greeted his head of security at Mystic Nights casino. “I hope you’re all enjoying yourselves.” Tom sat with a few other very large men on the security team. They were accompanied by their girlfriends and wives, and all seemed to be enjoying themselves, but Tom was focused. The man had a hard time putting the job behind him. He was always on alert, blue eyes scanning the crowds periodically. Those in security not working were almost all in attendance. It took four tables just to seat half of the casinos security detail.
The New Year’s Eve party was for all of the employees of the casino. Tomorrow night, they would have another party for the remaining staff who worked this evening but still wanted to attend. It was a tradition his mother, Tawny Sassacus, started four years ago when the casino first opened. She gave the employees their bonus, and threw a party for the entire staff. It worked wonders to keep morale up and there was also less employee turnover that way. In the summer, she hosted a series of barbecues and family events.
From the corner of his eyes, Jonathan saw Aliya and two of the other dancers employed by the casino hit the dance floor. The woman knew how to move. He’d seen one of her performances, and it had impressed him. But this kind of dancing had a very different effect on him, one much more enjoyable. He couldn’t help but imagine her dancing for him, just him. Again his cock stirred.
He greeted ten people sitting at the next table. Many of them were from the kitchens. All the while Aliya stayed in his peripheral vision. Damn it all. He wanted that woman, dancing in the sheets beneath him.
After four more tables, he finally saw the girls return to their table. He waved casually and smiled at the next few groups, card dealers, slot techs, money counters, bartenders, waitresses. There were over 500 employees in attendance tonight. Another 400 hundred responded for tomorrow night’s gathering.
He glanced up at the massive festive clock hung for just this occasion. It was nearly midnight. He smiled wryly to himself. It was time to make his move. When he looked back down to scan the crowd, he was shocked to find the gorgeous beauty standing directly in front of him. Her friends were giggling behind her as they gave her a nudge in his direction. Her pink tongue darted out to lick her glossy bottom lip, and on a breath she pulled a corner of it into her mouth. He quickly stifled the groan that threatened to slip out.
“Are you enjoying yourselves, ladies?” he asked smoothly, looking directly at Aliya and paying no attention to the two beauties behind her. One was in emerald and the other a sleek silver dress. Aliya nodded and rapidly blinked her large brown eyes, clearly startled. Jonathan heard the other girls agreeing and expressing their gratitude, but he didn’t break eye contact with the beauty before him. Right now, he had eyes only for her. And he very much liked what he saw.
*
Aliya picked up
a glass from a passing waiter and took a soothing cold sip of fizzy champagne. She needed it. This man, in his black suit, exuded confidence and pure animal magnetism. It took all of her will power not to flee. It had been her friends who encouraged her to come and thank their boss for the party. Because of her alcohol consumption and desire to be close to him, she had agreed. Foolish. That was what she was. Her confidence was quickly fading. Up in smoke under his predatory chocolate gaze.
All month long she had been avoiding his advances. His flirtations. But tonight, whether it was the alcohol or the long dry spell she was in, she hadn’t been able to resist glancing his way time and time again. She didn’t know what possessed her to enter his orbit. The man was scorching hot. And just his nearness sent her senses reeling.
For weeks, her friends, Tara and Michelle, kept encouraging her to go after the bossman. Every single woman at Mystic Nights Casino & Spa lusted after him, or his brother Joseph. Both were quite the catch. Tall, muscular, dark, and powerful. It was a heady combination. But, they had reputations. Love them well and leave them. Those were the rumors.
That didn’t bother Aliya though. She wasn’t looking for love and avoided dating co-workers, especially the co-chair of the entire casino. Her boss. But the man was just too damn tempting. She felt the pull of attraction, and imagined what he looked like under that finely cut suit.
Aliya’s eyes travelled the length of him. Those brown eyes, flecked with gold, told her all she needed to know. He was just as attracted to her as she was to him. Her gaze quickly swept over the rest of him. His shoulders, damn, who had shoulders like that? The man may have been a business man, but he definitely knew the inside of a gym. Power. He exuded it from every pore. Her eyes traveled down and she took in his chest and his torso. It was trim, and his legs looked impressively powerful as well. She imagined herself rapping her legs around him. She took another sip of her drink to cool down. It wasn’t working.