Kiss Me at Midnight: Betting on Love

By Jennifer O'Malley

A computer error rings in the New Year by bringing together two broken hearts that must decide if the chance at love is worth the risk or if they should leave what they had as a perfect holiday weekend.

 

In a split second Chloe Michelson's life turned upside down. In an attempt to find some closure from the wedding that didn't happen, Chloe decides to head to Vegas for New Years, for what should have been her honeymoon. The last thing she expected was to find herself sharing a hotel suite with a newly divorced T.V. star.

 

Sam Cooper didn't know what possessed him to keep the room booked for his anniversary getaway in Vegas, despite his recent divorce. But when he arrived at the hotel and checked into his suite, where he has a standing reservation for every New Years, he was surprised to find a woman in his room, claiming it to be hers.

 

When they discover a mix of human and computer error has put them in the same room for their holiday getaways, they decide to make the best of it, considering there are almost no rooms available anywhere on The Strip due to the holiday. The more time they spend together, the more holiday spirit they find and discover they might find their own Hollywood happily ever after if they look hard enough.

If you're a fan of holiday romances, forced proximity, and impromptu weddings then pop the champagne and KISS ME AT MIDNIGHT to ring in the New Year with Chloe and Sam!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Love Bytes
• Release date: Dec 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223107941

Jennifer O'Malley

Jennifer O'Malley is the author of the contemporary romance series BETTING ON LOVE, which features a new couple each month as they fall prey to the magic of Vegas and falling in love. She grew up in a small town where she didn’t have much but her imagination to keep her occupied. As far back asshe can remember, she always needed a pen in her hand to jot down storyline notes. She now lives in the city with her family, including her human and fluffy kids, and enjoys all things romance, paranormal, and horror. She's excited to be introducing some of those YA loves that she enjoyed, to her kids.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

CHLOE

It only takes a moment for your life to change forever.

One decision can change everything and you have to live with the consequences and carry on, no matter how much it hurt.

No one thinks about how their lives could be irrevocably altered, how they could be left scarred and broken.

But I knew better than anyone how true that could be

As I stood in the middle of the intimidating Vegas Casino check-in lobby, with it’s bright flashing lights and the noise of the slots that lined the wall, I wondered if I made the right decision.

Everyone back home thought I was crazy. My best friend Stacy and I argued about it. While it had been her suggestion for me to take some time off work and go on an extended vacation during the holiday season, this hadn’t been what she’d had in mind.

Up until the moment I walked into the lobby to check into my suite, I thought I had been making the right decision. Maybe Stacy had a point after all.

I had thought going on this trip would bring me the closure I hadn’t been able to find anywhere else.

This trip was supposed to signify the beginning of my forever. It was supposed to be my happily ever after.

It should have been my honeymoon.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, and while it helped push back the edged of darkness that threatened to consume me, it did nothing to drown out the noise around me. It was too much.

Everything from the last six months since my fiancé’s death seemed to crash at me all at once as the reality of what I was doing hit me hard. The tears that threatened to spill caused the flashing lights to break like light through a prism.

A harried woman bumped into me and the spell was broken.

I was still there, in that lobby, but I was without Danny. The love of my life had been taken from me and I still had no answers. It wasn’t as though I expected to find them in the honeymoon suite of a posh Vegas casino.

Standing there, still as a statue as people swarmed around me, I had a decision to make. I could either flee and go back home with my grief always at my back or I could take a step forward and move on. This trip was supposed to represent the next chapter in my life. While the next chapter, and all the rest that would come after, looked very different than I intended, it could still represent moving forward—moving on—if I let it.

With another deep breath, my fingers tightened around the handle of my suitcase, squeezing as if it were the only lifeline to keep me tethered to the world. I straightened, squared my shoulders, plastered a fake smile on my face, and walked to the reception desk hoping I portrayed a confidence I didn’t feel.

Hello. Chloe Michelson, I’m checking in.

The woman gave me a bright smile and started typing away at the computer in front of her.

Welcome, Ms. Michelson. My name is Abby and I’ll be more than happy to get you checked in today.

While she was checking me in, I looked around the lobby again from a new angle and spotted a bar tucked between some of the machines. I briefly thought about getting some liquid courage before I went up to the room.

The lobby was massive and I was in awe. There was a literal courtyard with trees surrounded by marble benches and statues. I was pretty sure I didn’t want to know how much Danny had shelled out for a five night stay at a place like this.

Abby frowned as she continued to type away on the computer.

I immediately began to worry.

Is something wrong? I asked, trying not to seem nervous.

No, sorry, Ms. Michelson, she said as she flashed me a reassuring smile. I just see that you are booked for one of our villas and they have a private entrance. Did no one call you to discuss picking you up from the airport?

Confused, I shook my head.

No. But why would anyone call?

Abby looks confused but didn’t say anything else as she continued to type furiously.

I’m so sorry for the mix-up. Transportation to and from the airport is included with a stay in our villas. It’s one of our perks. Someone should have reached out to you. Just let your concierge know the details of your return flight by noon the day before, and we’ll be sure to get you set up to get back to airport.

She offered me a bright smile but instead of putting me at ease, I felt more confused. Not to mention, embarrassed. The longer I stood there, the more out of place I felt. It had to be painstakingly obvious I had no idea what I was doing.

Why did I ever think coming here would be a good idea?

Of course, was the only thing I could think of to say. Should I go to the other desk to check-in then, or can I still do that here?

Abby gave me another reassuring smile.

Oh, no, ma’am, I’ll take care of everything here. I just need your ID to get you all set.

With a nod, I pulled out my wallet and handed her my driver’s license. As she took care of whatever it was she needed to do in her system, I turned around to take a better look at the lobby. It’s bright and open with a few shops and dining areas that I can see.

Man did I wish I could have escaped to the hotel bar just off to my left.

With a few deep breaths, I tried to center myself, but my nerves were so frazzled I didn’t think I’d be able to calm down and relax until after I got up to my room.

Or my villa, as Abby called it, I thought with a groan.

Maybe not even then.

I turned back to Abby as she started to go over information but to be honest, I was just trying to not throw up from the regret of my decision, that I barely registered what she was telling me or what I was agreeing to.

Have you downloaded our app yet? Abby asked expectantly.

I shook my head. No, I’m not really worried about it. I’ll check it out once I get settled in. I tried to brush it off, not really caring about what the app had to offer and eager to escape. Though there was a part of me that was torn between living it up while I was here or staying in my room the entire time getting drunk and indulging on room service.

Abby frowned. Oh, actually, the app syncs up with our system and acts as your room key. It will also let you order room service or anything from our array of shops, which could be scheduled to be delivered to your room. It will also show you any charges you incur to your room during your stay, as you have the option of charging everything to your room rather than paying at the time of purchase.

It took a couple seconds for that to sink in.

Seriously?

With a sigh, I pulled my phone from my back pocket.

Just go to your App Store and search the hotel. It should come up and you can sign in with the same login you use on our website.

I nodded as I searched for the hotel and downloaded their app.

"If you need to change the card we have on file, you can do that under Settings, but it won’t let you delete the card until you add a new one. That way there is always a card on file. Anything you purchased and didn’t pay for at the time, will go right to the app and when you check out you will be billed. The app will keep track of everything for you."

Great, I replied, unenthused.

It seemed a little weird, but then again, I knew there were cars nowadays that had the same sort of technology. I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised to learn hotels were doing things the same way.

Seemed a little unsafe to me. That anyone would be able to hack into the app and get into people’s rooms when they didn’t belong there. Or charge to accounts that weren’t theirs.

Abby assured me I would have no trouble at all, and I could always call the butler if I had any problems or questions.

The butler! My room came with a freaking butler.

How many more perks and features had I zoned out on while Abby was talking?

I did catch something about a credit for breakfast each morning of my stay. That was good. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about spending money on that. Especially as I was beginning to worry about how fancy and pricy a place like this would charge for food.

Not that I was destitute by any means. I had a well-paying job and Danny, who had been a CFO at a law firm, had left everything to me in his will.

Plus, I didn’t have to eat there just because it was where I was staying. There were lots of places in Vegas to go for fun and food—if I decided to venture out of the room, that was.

Thankfully, it only took a few more minutes to get checked in and I was sure a place like this would have something in the room to go over the information. If not, I assumed it would all be on the app.

Not to mention, if I wanted or needed something, I apparently had Alfred on speed dial.

I rolled my eyes at the thought.

It was ridiculous. I couldn’t figure out why Danny had booked such an outrageous hotel or room—no, sorry, villa. Sure, we were supposed to be our honeymoon, but it still seemed excessive, and I was sure it was out of our price range. There was no way we should have been able to afford this for almost a week.

How did I not notice this amount of money gone from our account?

As I made my way to the elevators at the back of the hotel, I made a mental note to check and see how much it cost for the stay.

Then again, I wasn’t sure