CHAPTER 17
REESE
Reese took her time walking back to the hotel alone.
The strip bustled with people roaming in and out of casinos.
People circled in every form of dress from hoodies and sweatpants to formal cocktail gowns and suits.
Reese loved any excuse to people-watch even though the hazy smell of cheap perfume and cigarette smoke wafted through the automatic doors and made Reese’s stomach feel queasy.
Any other time, Reese wouldn’t have had a problem spending time alone.
But tonight it felt like she was impatiently counting down the minutes until Jette was free.
Each one ticked by with a gentle tremor in her chest. She debated going back to the convention center and watching one of the late night games for a much needed distraction.
It would be entertaining for sure, but the thought of being in another loud and crowded venue seemed unappealing to Reese.
She considered herself a social person, however, between the morning derby game and tonight’s show, her energy levels had significantly dwindled.
Not to mention the fact that she was running on almost no sleep.
The afternoon nap had definitely helped, but Reese was quickly fading.
She strolled along the walkway and craved the solace of her now empty hotel room.
The rich smell of freshly brewed coffee drew Reese’s attention to the tiny restaurant and bar inside the hotel.
Dark burgundy velvet curtains framed the tall windows looking out over the crowded street.
The quiet candlelit setting felt intimate and idyllic after a long day.
After a moment’s hesitation, she sidled up to the bar and gently perched on a stool in the corner.
The bartender, a slim man with a mustache and ponytail, quickly tossed a dark cloth over his shoulder and met Reese with a dazzling smile.
“What can I get you?” he asked gently.
Reese quickly surveyed the bar, searching for the source of the aroma. “Coffee?”
“Sure thing. Espresso? Cappuccino?”
“Cappuccino would be amazing, thank you,” Reese smiled in relief.
“Coming right up.” He adjusted the chic black frames resting on the bridge of his nose before pulling a leather-bound menu from the apron around his waist. “I’ll leave this here for you just in case,” he offered. His eyes crinkled at the corners as he gave her a knowing smile.
Reese crossed her legs and leaned back as she looked around the dark bistro. The room was filled with couples talking in dulcet tones. It was the perfect private spot for a late night cocktail. A welcome reprieve from the blinding lights and sounds of the Las Vegas strip.
Once the cappuccino had cooled to a reasonable temperature, Reese felt the first sip glide all the way down to her stomach.
As far as she was concerned, absolutely nothing compared to the first sip of a hot coffee.
The secluded room gave her a much needed energy boost as she mindlessly scrolled through social media.
Though, it was hard to tell if the charming atmosphere, caffeine, or Jette’s impending arrival was more responsible for the buzz slowly coursing through her veins.
She idly chatted with the bartender as she finished dinner.
In between waiting on other patrons sitting at the bar, he seemed to make a show of rolling his sleeves before sipping from a beer bottle carefully hidden under the mahogany bar.
In another life, Reese might’ve found him attractive.
But in the dim light, his features felt too sharp and angular.
Far from the soft and delicate curves that her fingers had traced just this morning.
The same ones her fingers itched to trace again.
On the bar top, Reese’s phone vibrated loudly, causing several pairs of eyes to turn and glare in her direction. In a hurry to set down her wine glass, Reese didn’t even have time to register the butterflies that came to life at the sight of Jette’s name flashing across the screen.
“Hello?” She answered quietly, placing a hand in front of her mouth in an attempt to muffle the sound.
“Hi.” Jette’s voice made Reese’s pulse quicken. “Are you free?”
“Uhm,” Reese looked at her half-empty wine glass, “Sort of?”
“Oh, okay. No worries,” Jette sounded quiet through the ear piece. “I can let you go—”
“I’m just finishing dinner. Do you want to join me?” Reese interrupted. She crossed her legs tighter as she waited for Jette’s answer, her heart thrumming in her chest.
“Sure! Where are you?”
Reese swore she could hear a smile in Jette’s voice. “The french restaurant in the hotel lobby.” Reese nervously swirled the remaining wine in her glass. “Are you done packing up?” she asked quickly.
“Mhm. I’m walking back to the hotel now,” Jette replied. “I’ll be there in a few minutes, okay?”
“Perfect!” Reese’s enthusiasm left her voice too loud in the quiet restaurant. She brought her voice down just barely above a whisper, “I’ll see you soon.”
The butterflies in her stomach fluttered to life with a flourish as soon as the call disconnected.
She finished the last cold sip of her cappuccino and flagged down the bartender to find the restroom.
Leaving her dishes on the bar, Reese slid off the stool and made her way to the art-deco inspired bathroom in the back hallway.
She leaned on the edge of the white sink basin and swiped under her eyes, wiping away any errant eye makeup that had smudged throughout the night.
She appraised herself in the mirror, and impatiently tousled her hair before reaching for the chapstick in her pocket.
How was it that she’d spent the last hour preparing to see Jette and yet she still felt flustered and caught off-guard?
Reese took a few deep breaths and muttered to herself to calm down.
By the time she came around the corner, Jette was already gracefully perched on the stool next to hers.
Reese’s heart felt like it resided in her throat.
Since Jette had yet to spot her, Reese took advantage of the opportunity to shamelessly study every detail of her profile.
Her long dark locks were tied back in a damp bun with loose tendrils tucked carefully behind her ears.
Turning to scan the room, Jette finally caught Reese’s gaze.
The combination of those deep brown irises and the way her full lips curled into a smile left Reese feeling dizzy.
Reese looked around in uncertainty. “How did you know I was sitting here?” She asked as she slid into her seat.
“I told the bartender I was meeting a gorgeous redhead.” Her voice was velvety smooth as she delicately swirled her own wine glass.
Heat flooded Reese’s cheeks and she was grateful for the dimly lit bar.
“I think he might have a thing for you because he seemed to know who I was talking about immediately.” She coyly nodded her head in the bartender’s direction.
“Oh please,” Reese scoffed as Jette sent her another heart-stopping grin. She dropped her voice and quietly continued, “He’s hardly my type.”
Jette’s eyes held hers intensely. The reflection of the candle between them made Jette’s dark eyes sparkle.
She brushed a thumb over her own lip before asking, “What is your type?” She angled in her seat slightly before crossing her long legs and brushing her ankle against Reese’s shin under the bar.
Reese’s reaction was visceral, leaving her face and neck flushed while her voice wavered. “Oh you know. Dark,” she took a sip of water before continuing, “Mysterious.”
“Mysterious?” Jette’s voice was delightfully curious.
“You’re very mysterious,” Reese stated plainly.
Jette flashed a smile and set her glass down. She gestured with her hands and leaned forward as she remarked, “I’m an open book. What do you want to know?”
Reese brought her hand to her mouth and pondered. She was mesmerized by the way Jette’s eyes carefully trailed over her hands and lips. “What’s your favorite color?”
“Black.”
Reese dragged her gaze over Jette’s signature monochromatic outfit and playfully rolled her eyes as if to say ‘Obviously’.
She didn’t miss the way Jette stilled under her stare.
Reese racked her brain as she struggled to fill the silence that hung between them.
She wanted to know everything, but every question that came to mind felt too simple, too stiff.
Jette’s leg remained dangerously close to her own, but they both held perfectly still, feeling the familiar tension that kept them drawn to each other.
Reese felt silly being this nervous around Jette.
It seemed ridiculous to feel nervous around someone once you knew how their tongue tasted.
She squeezed her thighs together at the memory.
“When did you first know you liked women?” The words came out in a hurry.