Chapter 5
Miles
She was beautiful—all five feet eight inches of her. When I ran into her in the hallway, I smiled, and when I saw her at the pool, I smiled. I also smiled as I walked by and saw her banging on the machine. Smiling was something I hadn’t done in a while.
“A bachelorette party? It’s not yours, is it?”
“God, no. I’m just along for the fun. I didn’t even want to come, but my best friend, Jordyn, forced me, even though she knows I’m jobless and can’t afford it right now.”
“I see. Have dinner with me tonight.”
“Seriously?” She cocked her head.
“Yes, seriously.” A smile crossed my lips.
“As much as I’d love to, I can’t. We’re going club hopping.”
“And how are you affording that? You’re jobless.” My brow arched.
“I’ll just have to keep drinks to a minimum.”
“You have to pay to get into the clubs, and the Vegas clubs aren’t cheap. Let me save you some money. Tell your friends you’re not feeling well and you’re staying in. Let me treat you to dinner and all the drinks you want.”
“What about your friends?” she asked. “I saw you sitting with them by the pool.”
“They won’t care. Trust me. Come on. You know you want to have dinner with me.” I smirked.
“Okay. I’ll have dinner with you. What time?”
“What time are your friends going clubbing?”
“We’re supposed to meet down in the lobby at six-thirty.”
“Then I’ll pick you up in your room at seven-thirty. Will that be enough time for you to get ready?”
“Yes.” A beautiful smile crossed her lips.
“Good. We’ll dine in one of the restaurants here in the hotel. That way, we won’t risk seeing your friends.”
“Okay.”
“What’s your room number?” I asked.
“2410.”
“I’ll see you at seven-thirty, Stella.” I smiled as I stood from my seat and walked away.
I met up with Levi and Laurel, sitting at one of the blackjack tables.
“You two go to dinner without me tonight.” I placed my hand on Levi’s shoulder.
“What? Why?”
“I’m taking a beautiful woman to dinner.”
The corners of his mouth curved upward. “You’re wife hunting in Vegas?”
“No, and shut the fuck up. We ran into each other in the hallway when she was trying to find the pool area. She’s sexy as sin, and I need to de-stress.” I winked. “Wasn’t that the reason we came here?”
“Describe her.” He smirked.
“Five foot eight, long brown hair, beautiful green eyes, perfect body—anything else you’d like to know?”
“Age?”
“I don’t know. I’d say late twenties.”
“Good for you. Have fun tonight.” He grinned.
“I intend to.” I walked away and headed to my suite.
* * *
Stella
“I can’t believe you’re not feeling good,” Jordyn shouted as she stood in the bathroom, getting ready to leave.
“It was the drinks and the hot sun.” I pulled the covers over my head. “I probably have sun poisoning.”
“You do not. We weren’t even out there that long.” She walked over to the bed and stared down at me. “Are you sure you can’t come?”
“I feel really sick. Apologize to Morgan for me.”
“Fine. I will. I hope you feel better.” She leaned over and kissed my forehead. “Get some sleep. I’ll see you later.”
The second the door shut, I threw back the covers, took a quick shower, and got ready for dinner with Miles. I felt bad for lying to my best friend, but if I would have told her I was ditching her for some guy I’d just met, she’d be pissed. This trip had been planned for months, and that’s all she and the other girls talked about.
After curling the ends of my long brown hair and dabbing on pink lipstick, I slipped into my short, black, fitted dress with thin straps and the black heels I’d brought.
The knock at the door caused an intense fluttering in my belly, for I was nervous as hell. Walking over to the door, I opened it and gulped as Miles stood there in a pair of dark gray designer suit pants and a white buttoned dress shirt with a tie while holding his suit coat over his shoulder.
“Wow.” He grinned. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. Come on in.”
“Did your friends buy your story about not feeling well?”
“Yeah, I think so.” I grabbed my small purse.
We took the elevator down to Ocean Prime, a well-known, very expensive steakhouse.
“How did you get a reservation for this place on such short notice?” I asked as the hostess seated us.
“The hotel knows me. I can get in anywhere.” A smirk crossed his lips.
“Oh.” I opened my menu.
The waiter walked over and took our drink order.
“I’ll have a dirty martini with vodka, wet and shaken, extra vermouth, and olive brine.” I smiled.
“And I’ll have a bourbon, neat,” Miles said. “A girl who knows how to order a martini exactly the way she wants it.”
“Sometimes, they can get it wrong.”
“Where are you from, Stella?” he asked.
“New York. Well, I’m really from Florida. I moved to New York a couple of years ago.”
* * *
Miles
She lived in New York. Shit.
“Where about in New York?” I asked.
“I share an apartment with my friend, Jordyn, in Hell’s Kitchen. Ever heard of it?”
“Yes, of course.” I smiled.
The waiter set our drinks down and took our dinner order. I picked up my glass and tipped it to my lips. I wasn’t sure if I should tell her I also lived in New York. I didn’t want to run the risk of her stalking me once we left Vegas, so I quickly changed the subject.
“How’s your martini?” I asked.
“It’s perfect.” A beautiful smile graced her face.
“I assume since you’re having dinner with me, there isn’t a boyfriend back home? Or maybe there is, and you’re being naughty.” A smirk crossed my lips.
“Funny you should mention that.” She sipped her drink.
“Why is that?” I grabbed a piece of bread from the basket.
“My ex-boyfriend is here in Vegas for the bachelor party. We broke up a month ago.”
“You or him?”
“Him.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. It’s obvious he’s a fool.”
“That he is.” She smiled, setting down her drink. “He met someone else. Whatever. I’m over it.”
“As I said, he’s a fool. I’m not sure how any man could or would want to break up with someone as beautiful as you.”
“Thank you, Miles. You’re very sweet.” A bashful smile crossed her lips as she looked down in embarrassment.
“I can see a man breaking up with you if you’re a little crazy.” I winked. “Are you crazy, Stella?”
“Define crazy.” She cocked her head.
I chuckled as I held up my glass, signaling our waiter that I needed a refill.
“How about you, Miles? Girlfriend? I don’t see a ring on your finger, so I’m assuming you don’t have a wife unless you’re one of those men who takes it off during trips, pretending to be single.”
“I can assure you there’s no ring, no wife, and no girlfriend. I’m as single as they come.”
“Hmm,” she said, narrowing her eyes at me as our waiter set down our food.
“What?” I took a bite of my filet.
“You’re an incredibly handsome man. I sense women fall all over you. There’s a reason you’re single. Maybe you’re crazy.” She smirked.
“Some days, I think I am.” I sighed.
“Dinner was excellent. Thank you for asking me.” A smile brightened her beautiful face.
“You’re welcome. Thank you for joining me.” I reached across the table and took hold of her hand. I had one thing on my mind and one thing only. “I hope you don’t mind.” I softly stroked her skin.
“Not at all.” Her green eyes stared into mine.
“How about we top the night off with a drink back in my suite? There’s a bottle of Dom Perignon waiting to be opened.”
“Sure. I’d like that.”