They went to the information desk to get directions to Valentino—the restaurant where they were holding the party. The receptionist directed them to the Venetian next door, which they could walk to through the shopping area that connected them.
“Sorry, everyone, I thought it was in this hotel. Guess I didn’t look at the web site close enough,” said Aunt Nora.
Together they strolled through the busy casino and then down the large hallway that bustled with all kinds of people.
It was excellent people-watching. Raine loved observing the various vacationers as they gambled, drank, and shopped. There was always an interesting vibe in the hotels on the Strip. The feeling that anything might happen hung in the air.
She liked the lights and sounds that beckoned, inviting you to come and have a good time. Adults of all ages sat at slot machines and stood at gaming tables, some serious and some giddy. And there was a constant parade of people walking through on their way to who knew where. They wore all types of clothes, from shorts to glamorous dresses. It was only here, in a Las Vegas hotel, that they all seemed to fit together under one roof.
From the corner of her eye, the back of a blond head, paired with broad, strong shoulders, caught her attention.
She knew who it was instantly.
Alexander was walking up ahead of them in the same direction. Her entire being zeroed in on him at once and she felt her pulse spike.
Jane was saying something to her, but all of her attention was tied up with trying to see his face. He’d moved off to the side now, and it looked as though he was watching someone intently. Actually, a couple of someones—a man and a woman. On the surface it looked like he was strolling along casually, but she could not mistake the intensity of his gaze on them. It seemed almost…predatory. Was he following them?
Both her mom and her aunt walked so slowly it was almost an agony for her. She didn’t want to lose sight of him. But there was nothing she could do. If she tried to make them hurry, it would spark questions from all three. And the most likely result of her telling them why would be her mother flagging Alexander down in a loud voice, which would be embarrassing.
Jane continued to chatter away, but Raine still couldn’t focus on her cousin.
Up ahead she saw that the man and woman had stopped next to a fountain. The man was saying something. From the look they shared, it seemed to be one of those special moments. Alexander stopped, too. He was leaning casually against a pillar watching the couple.
The man Alexander watched sank down on one knee while retrieving something from his pants pocket.
Alexander changed his stance at the same time. Out of nowhere a bow appeared in his hands. He quickly notched an arrow from the right side of the quiver on his back. He drew and took aim, gazing along the shaft of the arrow.
From what she could see there was only one target apparent in that direction: the woman.
As he released the arrow, a scream rose from within her, but the sound caught in her throat. The gleaming shaft streaked across the space and sunk deep into the woman’s chest, emitting a shower of golden sparks on impact. A second arrow struck the man as well and another cloud of gold erupted. She stopped walking and, since their arms were linked together, Jane did, too.
“Did you see that?” Raine asked.
Jane glanced at her. “See what?”
She pointed in the direction and her cousin peered up ahead.
“What is it, Raine?”
Her cousin wasn’t reacting at all and neither had either of their mothers. And none of the people that had passed right by the scene of the crime were disturbed. She looked again at the couple, afraid of what she might see…and blinked.
There was no blood. No body lay on the floor. No arrow shaft stuck out from either of them. Quite the opposite. The woman was unharmed and glowing with happiness. She had accepted the ring and the man was now swinging her around in joy.
“Did you mean the couple getting engaged?” Jane asked. “Oh yes, it happens all the time here.”
Raine was stunned. Her eyes found their way back to Alexander.
He was still standing there, leaning casually against the pillar now. No bow or arrows anywhere in sight. He was watching the couple with a sort of nostalgic, bittersweet look on his face.
Her family’s path had taken them in his direction, and they were passing right next to him.
His blue eyes homed in on her instantly.
Her mother noticed him before Raine could get a word out. “Aren’t you the nice young man who drove my daughter home?”
He nodded and smiled as he was introduced to her family, shaking hands with Aunt Nora and Jane.
“Raine. You’re looking better today.” He held out his hand to her as well.
She wasn’t sure what to think about him after witnessing what she thought she had, but ended up blushing when their palms connected. “Yes, I feel better. Thanks.”
“And what are you lovely ladies doing here in the hotel? Shopping?” His gaze swept over all of them and then settled back on her.
“We’re here to look at the room we reserved at Valentino for my parents’ wedding anniversary,” she said. “Do you know that restaurant?”
“Yes, very well. Great restaurant. Why don’t I escort you there?”
He tucked both her mother’s and aunt’s hands on his arms and they walked together to the restaurant. He asked them both nonstop questions about the anniversary and family. It only took seconds for them to be charmed by him.
Raine noticed that Jane was silent.
“Is that the man from the plane you mentioned?” she asked.
Raine nodded, she’d told her cousin a little about him last night at dinner.
“You like him don’t you?”
She squirmed inside.
“Well of course you do.” Jane patted her arm and her eyebrows rose with emphasis. “How could you not?”
She smiled and stifled a nervous laugh. Jane always had a way of understanding things.
Together they followed along in silence, listening to Alexander’s conversation with their mothers and enjoying the sight of his perfect form. He was wearing the kind of jeans that displayed his butt and thighs to perfection.
He stopped with them in front of the restaurant. “Ladies, thank you for the pleasure of your company. My afternoon has been significantly improved.”
Her mom and aunt gushed and fawned over him. Both invited him to the anniversary party as well. He graciously agreed to stop by if he was able.
After saying good-bye to Jane, he took Raine’s hand in his. She felt her body heat up by several degrees instantly.
“So when will I see you again?”
“Um, well….”
“Why don’t you two meet for a drink later after we’re done here?” her mother butted in.
“What an excellent suggestion, Mary. You are free a little later aren’t you, Alexander?” asked Aunt Nora.
He grinned. “Yes, I have no plans.” He lifted an inquiring brow at her. “Raine?”
The embarrassment she should have felt by her family arranging a date for her was dissipated by the fact that it came from love. All eyes were upon her, but his made the most impact. They were almost tugging, pulling her into their blue depths. He was irresistible.
“Sure, that sounds good,” she finally managed. “But weren’t we going to discuss the final plans over dinner?” she said, turning to her family.
“We can do it tomorrow over breakfast,” volunteered Jane. “Everyone can come to the shop.”
With her cousin in on it there was no turning back now.
“How will I get home?”
“You’re in Las Vegas, Raine,” said Aunt Nora, “There are millions of taxis out there.”
“Actually, there’s no need for a taxi. I’ll make sure she gets home safely,” said Alexander. “Call me when you’re done here, and I’ll come meet you. You still have my number?”
She nodded.
“Good. It’s settled then,” Aunt Nora said with satisfaction.
Her family collectively sighed as he turned to walk off. He was barely out of earshot before they all started in on her.
Chapter Seven
She met him at one of the loungy bars in the hotel. When she arrived, he was already settled into a leather sofa with a drink in his hand. The waitress lingered near him and they were chatting in a familiar way.
Should she ask him about what happened earlier? Had he really shot the woman and man with arrows? He would probably think she was crazy. Heck, she might be. No one else had reacted to it at all. His gaze locked on her, and she could almost feel the heat of his fingers on her chin again. Feel the intensity as he’d looked her in the eye and told her that Brad was an idiot.
He rose from his seat. “Raine, I’m glad we could meet again. This is my friend Tania.”
She exchanged hellos with the petite, blonde waitress in a skimpy cocktail dress. “What would you like to drink?” Tania asked.
“A glass of white wine, please.”
Tania took down her order and winked at Alexander before heading to the bar.
Alexander took Raine’s hand and pulled her to sit beside him on the couch.
“Thank you for inviting me. I can’t stay long,” she said. “It’s been an exhausting day.” She wasn’t sure why she said it and felt like a coward immediately after the words came out of her mouth. Was it because he had such a powerful presence? Whatever it was, she felt awkward and clumsy. It definitely didn’t feel like the right moment to bring up what she’d seen. She barely knew him. “No problem. How did you like the restaurant?” he asked.
“It’s fabulous. I think it will go really well with this year’s theme.”
“Theme?”
“It’s their fortieth wedding anniversary, and the symbol for that is ruby, so everything is around love because of the color.”
“Isn’t it always love?”
“No. I mean, love is always a part of it, of course, but there have been different themes throughout the years.”
“Does everyone in your family celebrate their anniversaries this way?” he asked.
“No, just my parents. My father started it. The symbol for a one-year anniversary is paper. When they first married they were very young and struggled to pay the bills and keep the lights on. When their anniversary came up, my father had no money to buy my mother a present or anything. But he loved her so much that he couldn’t bear the thought of letting the occasion go uncelebrated. So he invited the whole family over for a barbecue in the backyard.
“Since he couldn’t buy her any presents, and the anniversary symbol was paper anyway, he wrote her a love letter and read it to her in front of everyone. I’m told it was very romantic. Anyway, everyone had so much fun that night they decided to continue doing it every few years.” She felt a prickle inside as she remembered the story and almost sighed. It was one her mother had told her many times.
“You’re really close to them, aren’t you?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Have you ever been married?” he asked.
“No, and you?”
“Yes, I have been,” he said.
Surprise washed over her.
He took a sip of his drink and watched her over the rim of his glass, obviously knowing the reaction she would have to that information. He lowered his glass, the corners of his mouth pulled up in amusement.
The waitress returned with her drink and set it on the table in front of her.
“Just put it on my tab,” Alexander said, before Raine could even reach for her purse.
The waitress nodded and walked away.
Raine couldn’t help herself. As soon as the waitress was out of earshot she asked the question that burned on the tip of her tongue. “You? The man who doesn’t believe in love? You were married?”
He grinned and nodded. “Even I have gone down that road.”
“That explains it! That’s why you’re so negative. Don’t you think that you’re a little hypocritical then?”
He shrugged. “At least I know what I’m talking about.”
“And? What happened?” She cringed at her own nosiness. “Sorry, it’s none of my business. You don’t have to tell me.”
“Not at all. I don’t mind. We were divorced eventually, of course.”
Interesting. So he had been in love at one point in his life, which meant he had to have believed in it then. “Do you have any children?”
“A daughter,” he said. “She’s all grown up now. ‘Fools in love’? Isn’t that the expression? It seems accurate to me.”
All grown up? He didn’t look old enough to have an adult daughter. She was likely in her teens at the most from her guesstimation of his age. To Alexander, she probably just seemed grown up.
“It is, but I think that’s one of the funnest parts,” she said.
He seemed to consider it but made no comment, which said a lot.
“Any contact from your ex-boyfriend?” he asked, changing the subject.
Raine frowned into her glass. “None. And I think I’m glad.” In fact, he hadn’t crossed her mind most of the day.
“Well, you look much improved today. Not a tear in sight. But maybe I’d better check before I make hasty assumptions.” He leaned closer to examine her, his brows pulled down in mock-seriousness. His fingertips lightly stroked her cheeks, as if checking for moisture.
The subtle pressure of his hand drew her gaze to him. Her breath caught. The planes of his cheeks and jaw were strong and masculine. His face also had an aquiline nose and a broad, intelligent forehead. The manly features were balanced with eyes that boasted long lashes and lips that had the right amount of fullness. The brush of his fingers on her skin caused blood to rush to her face. What was it about him that aroused her so? She felt all tingly and warm inside, as if she had just downed a brandy. When he finally finished and leaned back into the sofa, she wasn’t sure if she was relieved or desolate.
“No tears,” he concluded. “Good. Someone like him doesn’t deserve them anyway.” He reached over and squeezed her hand, the gesture casual and easy.
Raine wished she could say she felt that way. But at the moment, her insides were knotted up by his very presence and lightest touch. Hopefully it wasn’t obvious how flustered he made her. One thing was certain, sitting here with him made it difficult to connect with the rejection and self-pity from earlier. His full attention was on her, and it felt as though they were in a private room, not surrounded by the noise of a casino. It was plain that he was a very caring man. And it was moving that he would be concerned for her. But it was also felt like a little more than concern. Could they possibly be on a date? A spurt of shyness rose up at the thought. No. No way. He was just being nice.
“What about you? What are your parents like?” she blurted.
“You would like them. My mother is a beautiful and loving woman and my father is the strong, warrior type.”
Of course. And he was the perfect blend of the two. “Do they live nearby?”
“No, but I have other family around.”
She glanced around the bar. “So, this must be a pretty normal night for you I’m guessing. This bar must be like your living room.”
He laughed. “Yes, in a way it is. But I also do have a living room.”
“You do?”
“Sure.”
“I guess when you told me you lived here I just envisioned a regular hotel room.” Now she felt silly. Judging from the limo ride, his clothes, and the watch on his wrist, he was well-off and probably had a whole wing of rooms or something.
“No, there’s more. I even have a kitchen, if you can believe it.”
She saw the humor in his eyes and couldn’t resist swatting him on the shoulder.
A smile spread on his lips and he reached out to take her hand. “Have dinner with me.”
Her breath whooshed out in a surprised huff, the request unexpected. “Tonight? I
t’s already late, I should be getting back.”
“Okay. How about tomorrow night then?” His eyes seemed to glow as he waited for her answer. He rubbed her hand between both of his. “I’m really glad we met on the plane, and I would really like a chance to get to know you better. I know it’s soon, but you’re only in town for a few days, right?”
She nodded, a feeling of elation rising in her chest. So he wasn’t just being nice. He was asking her on a date! Shocking really, that he would want to, after seeing her a blithering, snotty mess. Was it too soon to go on a date? She decided she didn’t care. “All right,” she said, suddenly feeling very warm at the thought of being with him again.
He pulled her from the couch and walked her toward the main lobby, his arm casually draped across her shoulders, pulling her close against his side. On the way, he made a call on his cell phone and instructed someone to have the limo pulled around for her.
She had no choice but to wrap an arm around his slim waist so they would be balanced. Her mind reeled at the contact. Beneath her fingers she could feel the muscles of his side play as they walked. He was taller than she was, making her feel small and protected. But most of all it felt so good to be walking as one with this gorgeous man. A feeling she thought would be gone for a long while as her history with Brad faded from her mind and she found a new love. She resisted the impulse to turn her face to the side and bury it into his chest just soak up his wonderful, clean, enticing scent. They went out the front doors just as the white limo pulled up to the curb.
“Tomorrow then,” he said, drawing back a bit and looking into her eyes.
He seemed to search. And what he was looking for, he must have found, because the light in his eyes changed. It was with certainty that he wrapped his other arm around her, pulled her against his body, and kissed her.
She was instantly helpless against the flood of sensation and pleasure. It blocked out everything and everyone else around them. His had to be the most perfect lips on earth. They captured hers with a skill that took her breath away. Gently and firmly he nibbled and explored without going too deep. Awakened, she began to respond.
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