A Very Vegas Christmas (Gambling On Love Book 3)

By Cara Marsi

An event planner in need of luck
A man with a secret
What happens in Vegas...

A Las Vegas event planner in need of luck meets a mysterious guy who might be her winning ticket. Will his secret split them apart?

Can things get any worse for Las Vegas event planner Amanda Moreau? Her boyfriend dumped her for a stripper; she’s arranging a Christmas wedding for a Bridezilla; and her mother is playing matchmaker from 2000 miles away. When she meets hunky and ever-so-sweet Erik, who’s in town for a conference, she begins to hope her luck is changing. But Erik has a secret that threatens to split them apart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cara Marsi
• Release date: Jul 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463019733

Cara Marsi

An award-winning and eclectic author, Cara Marsi is published in romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance. She loves a good love story, and believes that everyone deserves a second chance at love. Sexy, sweet, thrilling, or magical, Cara’s stories are first and foremost about the love. Treat yourself today, with a taste of romance. When not traveling or dreaming of traveling, Cara and her husband live on the East Coast in a house ruled by two spoiled cats who compete for attention. Read excerpts of all Cara's books and sign up for her newsletter at www.caramarsi.com

Book preview

A VERY VEGAS CHRISTMAS

BY

CARA MARSI

A Very Vegas Christmas

Copyright © 2016 Carolyn Matkowsky

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from Carolyn Matkowsky.

United States of America

First Electronic Edition: December 2016

Second Electronic Edition: October 2017

This book is a work of fiction and all characters exist solely in the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any references to places, events or locales are used in a fictitious manner.

Cover by Harris Channing

Formatting by Aileen Fish

A Very Vegas Christmas

A Las Vegas event planner in need of luck meets a mysterious guy who might be her winning ticket. Will his secret split them apart?

Can things get any worse for Las Vegas event planner Amanda Moreau? Her boyfriend dumped her for a stripper; she’s arranging a Christmas wedding for a Bridezilla; and her mother is playing matchmaker from 2000 miles away. When she meets hunky and ever-so-sweet Erik, who’s in town for a conference, she begins to hope her luck is changing. But Erik has a secret that threatens to split them apart.

CHAPTER ONE

It’s Malcolm E. Hamilton. From Greenview High School. Your mom gave me your number. I’ll be in Vegas December 15 for a convention. Want to meet for a drink?

Amanda Moreau read the text and groaned before setting the offending phone back on the table.

Bad news? Amanda’s best friend, Laney Sikora Carlisle, asked. The two women sat in the employees’ cafeteria of the Augustus Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas where they worked.

My mother is playing matchmaker from 2,000 miles away. Trying to tamp down her annoyance, Amanda stabbed a piece of grilled chicken with her fork and put it in her mouth. Chewing slowly, she glanced around the crowded room. Her co-workers laughed and talked together as they ate. She’d been working at the Augustus for five years, since moving from Indiana. She usually loved the nonstop exuberance of Las Vegas. Lately, not so much.

Inhaling the delicious, calming aromas of chicken, burritos, and sizzling veggies, she turned back to Laney. That was a text from a guy I haven’t seen in twenty years. My mom gave him my number.

Laney wagged a finger at her. You shouldn’t have told your mom you broke up with Ben. Now she’s on a quest to get you married off.

I refuse to pretend we’re still together, Amanda said. The rat bastard left me for a stripper, and to make it worse, she’s in the music revue at the Augustus.

You were too good for him. You deserve better. What does the text say?

Malcolm’s going to be in Vegas for a convention and wants to get together.

Laney laughed. His name is Malcolm?

It fit him. In high school, he was a total gamer and Trekkie, a real geek. Straggly hair, freckles, thick glasses, chubby.

Maybe he’s changed.

I hope so, but I doubt it. He put his middle initial in his text.

What’s the problem with meeting him while he’s here?

I don’t have time to entertain anyone, especially a guy I haven’t seen in twenty years. I’m up to my neck in work. It’s only four weeks until Christmas and Bridezilla’s wedding. She and her mom are plucking my last nerve. Sometimes I wish I hadn’t taken the job as event planner and still worked in reception.

You’re a great event planner, the best the Augustus has ever had, Laney said. "Spill it. There’s another reason you don’t want to