Chapter Two
One of the reasons Nelson loved the Peppermill Restaurant and Fireside Lounge was that tourists had no idea the unassuming building with tinted windows and garish neon sign was one of the city’s most iconic restaurants.
On the Uber ride from the nightclub, he shared its history with Odette. He tended to ramble when he was nervous or disconcerted, and the stunning woman next to him in the backseat of the Hyundai Sonata was doing both.
“It’s old-school Vegas. When you step through the doors, it’s like stepping back in time. Tiffany-style flamingo lamps, mirrored walls, plush blue booths, tons of neon lights, and in the lounge, there’s an open circular firepit.”
“My grandmother was a huge Elvis fan.” Odette clutched her small, beaded evening bag with both hands as if she shared some of his unsettledness. “I’ve seen Viva Las Vegas at least ten times.”
“I did a tour of iconic Vegas locations on my second visit, which resulted in a deep dive into Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and the Rat Pack. I’ve taken a lot of guff for my fixation on fifties and sixties movies and music.”
“That’s totally groovy in my book.” A streetlight illuminated her smile, white teeth contrasting with her flushed bronze skin. “I adore anything vintage. My favorite way to spend a weekend is visiting antique and secondhand stores.”
“You’d get along great with my sister, Mae. She has an Etsy shop where she sells vintage clothes and jewelry. She wants to expand into furniture and housewares, but shipping is a nightmare. You know those buyers who travel around the world, shopping for retailers? Well, Mae’s version of a buying trip was four days scouring some rummage sale across six states.”
“Ooo, that’s the 127 Yard Sale. That’s on my bucket list. ” She paused, as if conducting an internal debate. “I recently moved into my own house. Before that, I rented. Decorating someone else’s space isn’t the same as designing a home that reflects your own tastes. My friends tease me about being in nesting mode.”
That phrase rang familiar, and Nelson remembered his sister Lillian using it to describe the last few weeks of her pregnancy, preparing for the arrival of his nephew.
“Uh…nesting?” he choked out.
It took a second for the significance to register and then her eyes widened.
“No, not that kind of nesting.” She rushed to clarify. “Not married. No kids. Very single.” She looked a bit panicked. “I mean, not desperate-single. Happy-single.” Realizing how that sounded, she sputtered, “This hole keeps getting deeper and deeper.”
He chuckled softly, relieved he wasn’t the only one thrown by the unexpected attraction. “I’d describe my social status as happily single but open to possibility should the right woman come along.”
“I’m a little more complicated than that.” She shrugged, the motion causing the twin mounds revealed by her low-cut bodice to jiggle just enough to short-circuit his brain.
She was saying…?
“–zero plans to relocate from the small town in South Carolina where I live. There aren’t a lot of eligible bachelors in Love Beach as it is, but Granny was fond of reminding all the young ladies not to get their sugar and bread from the same store.”
“My uncle had a similar saying, but it’s not the kind of thing you share in mixed company.” He resisted the urge to slide his hand over her knee, the silky skin exposed by the thigh-high slit in her dress. “If you’re happy-single-with-conditions, what would you call this? Us?”
She peered up at him through thick lashes, considering.
Nelson held his breath, anxious and hopeful at the same time.
“I think,” she drawled, “some things are better left undefined. Until we have a better understanding of…you know.”
He did not know, but he had the rest of the night to find out.
“Look, folks.” The Uber driver stared at them through the rearview mirror. “I’d love to sit here listening to you two negotiate this booty call, but my wife ran up her TJ Maxx credit card and the debt collectors are blowing up my phone. I need to make some money. Take my advice–you’re going to end up in bed, if the sparks flying off you and leaving scorch marks on my upholstery are any indication.”
“There goes your tip,” Nelson muttered, climbing out of the car and extending a hand to Odette. She slid across the back seat, stood, and straightened her dress, avoiding his eyes.
Inhaling deeply to recenter himself, he laid his hand lightly at the base of her spine, guiding her into the restaurant. The nightclubs and bars hadn’t yet closed, disgorging the after-hours flood of hungry partiers, so they had no trouble getting a table.
“The ambiance in here is fantastic.” She squirmed her way into the booth from the right as he scooted in from the left. The hostess handed them menus and said a server would be by to take their order.
“This menu is crazy.” She started reading off the drink menu. “Alabama Slammer. Black Russian. Brandy Alexander. Cape Cod. What’s a…Golden Cadillac?”
“Try one,” Nelson urged. “Get a little crazy. Haven’t you heard? What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”
“I’m in Sin City, alone, on Valentine’s Day. I’m not sure there’s anything crazier than that."
"Breakfast with a stranger?”
“No,” she corrected in a teasing voice. “Breakfast with my knight in shining armor. What’s crazy about that?”
Nelson found himself hoping things would get crazy with Odette. Wild and crazy.
“I’ll order a Golden Cadillac if you try a drink you’ve never had before. Crazy is better together.” Her lips curved up, revealing a tiny dimple in one cheek.
He stared, entranced by how expressive her face was. The corner of her mouth turning up conveyed amusement. The widening of her eyes revealed surprise, followed by curiosity. The pink flush across her cheeks gave away her body’s reaction to their flirtatious conversation and the subtext of sexual tension.
“Select one for me.” Nelson rested his menu on the tabletop and leaned back against the banquette.
“Anything?” she asked, one arched brow lifting.
Their eyes met and held.
Nelson sucked in a breath when another wave of attraction washed over him.
“I trust you,” he said.
She dipped her head, eyes moving from the list of cocktails to his face and back again. Catching her bottom lip between her teeth, she looked around for the server.
A friendly young woman in a white shirt and blue uniform came up to the table. “Hi, folks. Would you like to start with drinks or an appetizer?”
Nelson inclined his head toward Odette, indicating she would be ordering for them.
“I’ll have a Golden Cadillac, and my…friend…will have a Bubble Bath.” The server’s brows went up as she looked to him for confirmation.
Holding back a laugh, he nodded.
“I’ll give you a few minutes to look over the menu.” The server wandered off, a bit bemused.
“What, exactly, is in a Bubble Bath?” he asked.
She read off the description. “Bacardi Dragon Berry Rum, Bols Watermelon liqueur, fresh berries and mint, mint syrup and Butterfly Kiss Moscato.”
“That sounds like it would pair better with the Ambrosia French toast than Eggs Benedict.”
“Yum. I had French toast for breakfast.” She eyed the menu, then groaned. “I should have worn something with a little more stretch. I’m going to play it safe and go with the Detox Salad.”
“I thought we were doing crazy.”
“Crazy within reason,” she clarified. “Plus, too many carbs put me in a stupor, and I want to be fully present for whatever happens tonight.”
Her candor triggered a visceral reaction. Heat flooded his veins, warming every cell in his body until Nelson felt like he was going to spontaneously combust.
“So, it’s mutual?” He shifted closer to Odette, his voice low.
She nodded, shoulders hunching forward and then rolling back as she reached out to lay her fingers across his forearm.
“This is completely crazy,” she admitted. “I didn’t come to Vegas looking for a casual hook-up. It’s been at least three years since I’ve dated anyone, and twice as long since…you know.”
This, he did know.
“ You know wasn’t my intention when I sent that slimeball bothering you at the Inferno on his way.” He pulled his arm out from under her hand and reached below the table to curve it over her knee, her skin soft and warm. “I hope this doesn’t make me sound like a perv, but I noticed you as soon as I walked into the nightclub. I didn’t want to come onto you with a cheesy pick-up line, so when that guy started bothering you, it gave me a legit excuse to introduce myself.”
“I’m glad you did.” She settled her hand on his thigh and squeezed. “I’m very attracted to you, Nelson, but I’ve never indulged in a one-night stand. I’d be more comfortable if we got a little better acquainted before–“
“–you know,” he finished for her. “I’m perfectly fine not rushing into anything. And if the evening ends here, that’s okay too. There’s always tomorrow.”
She caught his left hand with her right and pulled it from under the table, examining his bare fingers. “How are you not married? You’re good looking, easy to talk to, and you respect women’s boundaries.”
“I’ve had a few serious relationships, but I like to move around. That makes it hard to maintain a committed relationship. My dad was an officer in the Navy, and we transferred to a new duty station every few years. My family is scattered all over the country, and two of my sisters and their families live overseas. I usually relocate to be close to one of my sisters for a while before moving along to the next one.”
“I’m firmly planted in Love Beach.” She caressed his knuckles with her thumb. “Fortunately, it’s just a couple hours’ drive to visit my parents and extended family in Georgia.”
Nelson reminded himself he’d just met Odette and so, shouldn’t be bothered by any differences between them. Still, hearing she was so deeply rooted in her hometown was a letdown. It was an unfair and irrational expectation when they were likely to share little more than a single night together.
“Here you go.” The server reappeared and set their drinks in front of them. “Enjoy!”
Good advice, Nelson told himself. Stop picturing Odette and Mae sorting through antiques at a secondhand store. Stop imagining Odette squeezed next to him at a crowded Thanksgiving table. Stop fantasizing about a future with a woman he’d known less than an hour, and just…you know.
Enjoy.