by Addison Fox
Therapy had helped her come to grips with her lack of closeness with her family. She’d learned to understand that she alone was responsible for her happiness. That didn’t mean she could make herself stop longing for something she couldn’t have, especially around the holidays.
The next morning, when Meghan went downstairs, the hotel and casino seemed back to normal. When she walked past the area where the fire had occurred, despite the missing poker table and small, roped-off area, she smelled no smoke and didn’t see any burn marks or even blood on the carpet. Whomever the Stavros brothers employed to do cleanup, they did a fabulous job.
The entire walk to the restaurant, she caught herself looking for Gabe. Foolish, maybe. She knew he’d have his hands full dealing with not only the police investigation, but the media and the hotel staff. He wouldn’t have time for her today, she knew. But she thought if she could just catch a glimpse of him, exchanging a small, secret smile, then that would be enough to carry her through until they could reconnect. Somehow, just being in his presence was enough to keep the loneliness away.
She was given her usual seat near the window, a spot she liked. She’d never minded eating alone as long as she had a good book to read. This time, she had trouble focusing on the words. Her continuous searching for a glimpse of Gabe was too distracting.
As usual, the breakfast tasted delicious. She’d pushed her empty plate away, still sipping coffee, and forced herself to focus on at least finishing the chapter.
Since the story was engaging, this shouldn’t be so difficult, but it was.
Finally, she abandoned the attempt. Her good mood had begun to fizzle and she knew she’d have to work hard to get it back. Loneliness sometimes affected her like that. This was one of the reasons she enjoyed being on tour, where people constantly surrounded her.
Her phone chimed, indicating she’d received a text message. Her brother Damon.
Thinking of you, he’d written.
Immensely cheered, she texted him back. She reminded him that she was already in Vegas, staying at the Archangel. He knew she was doing a resident show there for three months and had promised to attend opening night. Are you sure you haven’t changed your mind about having Christmas dinner with me? She’d invited her entire family. They’d all declined, using the hunt as their excuse. If any of them were to change their minds, it would be Damon.
Of all her brothers, Damon was the one she was closest to. He’d been the only one who’d stood by her when she’d announced she’d no longer be participating in the quarterly hunts.
No can do, he responded. I’m gearing up for the hunt. Wish you were by my side. Despite his support of her choice, he’d never stopped hoping she’d change her mind.
They exchanged a few more texts, and then he said he had to go. But at least he’d made contact, which was more than she could say about her parents or any of her other brothers. Which brought her a constant sense of hurt, since when they weren’t on an active hunt, except for constant practice, they lived ordinary lives. Though no one had said it out loud, it was like since she’d renounced her heritage, she no longer mattered.
On Christmas Day she’d call them, just like she always did. She knew none of them would be eagerly waiting by the phone to wish her a merry Christmas. She tried not to let it bother her, but she usually ended up in tears, vowing not to put herself through that again next year.
But she’d never been able to make herself lose hope. Hope that one day things would change, that her mother would tell her how much she missed her, that her father would beg her to come home.
Again, an impossible wish. They were what they were, and she loved them anyway.
After breakfast, she decided to wander the shopping mall by herself this time. In years past, she’d actually purchased Christmas gifts for her family, wrapped them up and mailed them. Finally, her mother had asked her to stop. Meghan had never forgotten the pain she’d felt upon hearing those words. She’d also never forgotten the lesson she’d learned.
That was why today, if she bought anything, it would be for herself.
The check came and she signed for it, adding a generous tip.
“There you are.”
Gabe. His husky voice sent a pleasurable shiver through her. Brightening, she looked up and smiled, her previous great mood now entirely restored.
In his usual custom suit, he looked elegantly handsome. His dark hair gleamed in the lights and his unconscious air of authority impressed her. What she worked hard to achieve on stage, he came by naturally.
“Any news on the gunshot victim?” she asked.
“His condition has been upgraded from critical to serious. He made it through one surgery and I think there’s another scheduled, though I’m not sure when.”
“That’s good.”
His gaze darkened. “What are your plans for today?”
She shrugged, wishing she had the courage to say what had flashed in her mind—that she’d like to spend the rest of the day locked up in her suite with him. “Shopping, probably. After that, I’ll play it by ear. What about you?”
“Work.” His instant answer didn’t surprise her. “I should finish up around noon or so, though I have to remain on call in case any sort of crisis erupts.”
Gathering up all of her courage, she took a deep breath. “Are you free for lunch?” Though she kept her smile in place, she braced herself to keep it from slipping if he turned her down.
When he smiled, a sensuous flame danced in his dark eyes. “I am. How about I meet you by the front desk? There’s a wonderful Italian place in the hotel next door I love.”
Thrilled, she grinned back. “Helping out the competition?”
“We’re all friends. We like to sample each other’s menus.”
She matched his casual tone. “Sounds great. I’ll see you around noon?”
“Make it one, just to be safe.”
After she agreed, he nodded and strode off. She couldn’t tear her gaze away until he disappeared out of sight. His masculine self-confidence and rugged good looks drew many eyes as he passed.
At least she wouldn’t be spending the afternoon alone. She felt quite pleased that she’d mustered up the courage to ask for what she wanted. Now if she could just manage to take that one step further. With a sigh, she got up and headed toward the shops.
The crowds in the mall appeared to have increased, which she knew would happen the closer it got to Christmas. She browsed the purses in the Hermès store, toying with the idea of buying one, but aware to do so she’d have to use her credit card and reveal her true identity. Of course, according to Gabe, the salesclerks were all trained in the use of discretion.
As she examined the purse for the third time, a woman bumped her. “Excuse me, but aren’t you Meghan Frost?”
Though Meghan’s first instinct was to back away in horror, she forced herself to smile. “I wish. I get that sometimes. If I had her money, I could afford to buy this purse.” She put the purse back on the shelf.
Usually, this comment was enough to defuse an overly zealous fan. Not this time. The woman, who had long pink hair, cocked her head and looked her up and down.
“You are her,” she insisted.
With a wry smile, Meghan shook her head. “I’m really not. But I’ve been hearing that often enough that I’m thinking maybe I should enter one of those celebrity look-a-like contests. I bet I would win.”
This statement finally appeared to work. The woman apologized, though she still cast several suspicious looks over her shoulder as she walked away.
“Are you still interested in that purse, Ms. Frost?” Speaking in a discreet murmur, the salesclerk appeared at her elbow. For a second, Meghan considered denying her identity again, then decided to let it go.
“I think I would,” she finally said, unable to ke
ep from glancing toward the door. “As long as that other woman doesn’t see me getting it.”
After buying the purse, she thought about retreating to her suite, but the new, brave Meghan refused to let the pink-haired woman unnerve her. Shopping bag in hand, she went from store to store, mostly looking, but occasionally making a small purchase here and there.
The prospect of meeting Gabe for lunch made her feel giddy, even if they did end up only discussing business. She couldn’t help but wonder if he felt the same way.
* * *
Though he had a busy morning schedule, Gabe rushed through everything, anticipation and arousal making his blood simmer. Meghan Frost was not only exquisite, but her inner flame attracted him like a match to dry kindling.
Always honest with himself, he wanted her. But surprisingly, he wanted to get to know her better, too. To learn how to coax that animated smile from her, to bring that spark to her lovely eyes interested him nearly as much.
She’d be here three months, so he planned to take it slow. Or, he amended, as slow as his body would let him. Anticipation would only sweeten the impact when they finally came together.
After Rejuvenation, he knew he’d have a lot more control over both his mind and his body. The rebirth each Helios experienced was exactly that. When he took his turn, he’d burn to ash and rise again whole while the embers still smoldered. A completely new man, his powers restored.
Then, and only then, would he allow himself to make love to the delectable Ms. Frost.
For now, he’d continue his courting. The old-fashioned word made him smile. While Helios didn’t live forever, they enjoyed extended life spans. As a result, he had an extensive and sometimes archaic vocabulary that he had to be careful not to use. Being alive for over a century could be confusing sometimes.
For lunch, he had the best plans. He’d changed his mind; they could always eat Italian food for dinner. He had something else planned. No restaurant, not today. He’d phoned down to the kitchen and had the chef prepare a picnic lunch. Ham sandwiches on French baguettes, hot potato salad and a nice cheese selection. He also had some fresh fruit: strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. To that he’d added a bottle of wine and several pieces of chocolate.
“Where to?” she asked, her quiet, calm confidence seductive in its own way. He liked that she hadn’t changed clothes, and her disguise only made him long to peel it off her.
“It’s a surprise.” He lifted up the picnic hamper.
Her brows rose. “A picnic? Here in the hotel?”
“You’ll see. Come with me.”
Though he probably should have questioned what he was doing, since he’d never brought an outsider here before, he didn’t. He took her to the elevator marked Staff Only, and using his key, they ascended to the top floor. There, he and Rafe had built their own version of paradise. Since Evangeline was skilled with flowers and plants, Rafe had asked her design the layout. At her direction, at least once a day, hotel gardeners tended a massive plot of plants, native and otherwise, some shielded from the scorching Nevada sun by screens of black netting. The brothers had their own swimming pool, surrounded by artfully placed waterfalls, trees of all sizes and shapes, interspersed with blooming flowers of every color. They’d made a refreshing oasis of green in the midst of the desert.
Most important of all, they’d made a Rejuvenation area. Concrete walls on three sides, and a cement roof twenty feet up. As long as they were able to control the urge to Rejuvenate, they could come here at the appointed time and no one would ever see.
Meghan gasped, slowly turning in a circle, trying to take it all in. “This is amazing,” she said.
Pleased, he grinned. “You should see it at night, under the stars.”
Her eyelashes fluttered. “Is that an invitation?”
Was she flirting with him? His grin widened. “Definitely. But first, I wanted you to experience this during the day. It’s private. Besides the gardeners, only Rafe and I can access it. The elevator will only come here if the right room key card is inserted.”
“Wow. Definitely impressive.” She wandered toward a beautiful blooming cactus. “This is huge.”
“It’s one of our most prized plants. A really old one, handed down from our grandparents to our parents and then to us.”
“And someday you’ll hand it down to your children,” she said softly.
His children. Not something he’d really ever thought of, but hearing Meghan say the words in her wonderful voice sent a shiver up his spine.
Enchanted despite himself, he showed her the secluded courtyard where they often had family meals. A large stone table sat in the middle.
“You want to eat there?” she asked, glancing longingly at one of the many little grottos complete with waterfalls and koi ponds.
He got the hint. They sat on the slate pathway in one of the larger grottos, the waterfall separating them from the outside world. There, he spread out the meal.
Delight and wonder reflected in her ready laughter, the sparkle in her green eyes and her animated gestures. Though normally Gabe had a restless nature, he thought he could stay right here for hours with her. Even the food tasted better, each flavor heightened.
“My compliments to your chef,” she drawled, once they’d finished the meal. “This was absolutely amazing. One of the best lunches I’ve ever had.”
“Just one of the best?” he teased. “Where else have you had lunch that could rival this?”
At his question, her smile faded and some of the brilliance disappeared from her eyes. She looked away, her gaze shuttered.
About to apologize, to say it was none of his business, Gabe stood. Meghan rose, too, forestalling him.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I was thinking of my family. One time, when I was small, we took an actual vacation together. My parents rented a cabin near Lake Murray in Oklahoma. That week was one of the best times I’ve ever had. One day my mom packed a picnic lunch—sandwiches and chips, nothing like this—but I want to thank you for bringing back such a happy memory.”
“You didn’t look happy,” he said before he could stop himself. Even now, sadness darkened her eyes, entrancing him.
“That’s because times like those were few and far between. The older we children got, the less interest my parents had in spending quality time with us.”
Not sure how to respond to that, he simply nodded.
“And that,” she said, giving him a rueful smile, “is going to be the last time I bring up my family. Talk about ruining the mood.”
“The mood?” he teased, hoping they could get back to lighthearted banter. “I wasn’t aware there was one.”
For an answer, she stood on her tiptoes and pressed her mouth to his.
Chapter 7
As kisses went, this one fell more in the category of chaste and friendly rather than passionate. Then why, Gabe wondered, did the soft touch of her mouth send his insides into a wild spiral of desire?
Trying to collect his thoughts and regain control over his aroused body, he contemplated crushing her to him and showing her exactly how a kiss between them should be. Instead, he held still while she stepped away.
“If you have time, I’d like to see the amphitheater,” Meghan said, her hopeful and earnest expression letting him know the kiss hadn’t affected her the same way at all. “Though I’m sure you know my people have already been out and drawn up all the plans and my construction crew is arriving the day after Christmas to get the set and props up, I’d still prefer to see it myself. I’d like to get a feel for the venue. Especially the acoustics. I’m dying to test out the sound in there.”
Talk about a quick change in subject. And mood.
Inhaling deeply, he managed a nod. “I thought you were on vacation,” he said, following her lead.
�
�I am. So what?” She lifted one shoulder in a delicate shrug. “Even if I was a tourist, I’d still want to see the venue where Meghan Frost was holding her no-doubt fabulous concerts.” The flash of her perfect white teeth let him know she was teasing.
Though not about checking out the acoustics. He understood this instinctively.
Working while on vacation was something with which he was infinitely familiar. And her references to herself in the third person made him smile. “Sure. Come on. Let’s go take a look.”
Impulsively, he held out his hand. When she slipped her slender fingers into his, he felt like he’d won the lottery or a million dollars from a progressive slot machine.
“We built it to be in between the Colosseum at Caesars, which seats just under five thousand people, and the MGM Grand Arena, which holds a little over sixteen thousand.”
“My paperwork says the Archangel seats thirteen thousand.”
“Give or take a few, yes.” Pleased that she’d actually read her contract, he led her past a gated-off area and used his key card to open a door marked Employees Only. “This way,” he said, giving her hand a little tug. “I think you’re going to be pretty darn impressed.”
Laughing, she let him pull her down the hallway, going quiet as they stepped out onto the midlevel balcony. He clicked on his flashlight. “The light box is down below,” he told her. “You can use this flashlight to see.”
“Wow.” Accepting the flashlight, which freed up her hand, she walked over to the railing and stared down at the still-dark stage. With one click, a perfect circle of light parted the darkness,
“It’s amazing,” she breathed. “Though it’s brand-new, it sort of reminds me of the Ryman in Nashville. I need to go down there and stand where I’ll be performing so I can get a feel for the energy of the place.”
“Careful,” he cautioned, already missing the feel of her hand in his. “I don’t need my star falling and breaking something. Why don’t you wait here and let me go down and find the light box?”