I supposed a wedding in Vegas was hardly a monumental event. Id seen a bride in a limo as my Uber had turned into the hotel drive and another was visible right now posing for photos outside in the garden.
This bride looked gorgeous, and her groom looked happy, as he joked and jostled with his friends. I loved weddings. Who didnt love weddings?
When the bridal party moved on, and Brooklyn still wasnt anywhere in sight, I found an empty table in a lounge at the side of the lobby. I was going to wait it out. Odds were shed pass by this central point sometime.
Id tried calling her again, but she hadnt answered. I wasnt about to let her know I was in Vegas. I didnt think shed run from me again, but it was possible.
I decided it was better to confront her in person. I wanted to see her expression when I asked what I had to askwhich was what the heck did she think she was doing?
It was hot, and I was thirsty, so I ordered a five-dollar cola. I was hungry, too, since I hadnt had a chance to finish my divine eggs Benedict. But I couldnt bring myself to order a twenty-five-dollar snack.
This might be a weekend of indulgence, but I had limits. Id seen the waiter pass by with the order for another table. They served designer food here. Three shrimps and a swirl of greenery werent going to impact my hunger in any meaningful way. So why waste the money?
Id texted Nat before the plane took off, so they knew I was on Brooklyns trail. I kept the soul mate thingwhich struck me as a temporary thingto myself for now. Instead, I let them assume Brooklyn was blowing off steam in the run-up to the wedding.
She was, in a way. Just not in a good way.
Halfway through my glass of cola, my attention caught on a man on the other side of the lounge. He rose and was moving in my general direction. He stopped at one table and chatted, then he stopped at another, and then he waved to a third.
Im admittedly not the best at facial recognition. Every September I have to make a seating chart for each class and then work really hard to memorize the students faces. But even with my limited skill, and at this distance, I could swear this was shaggy-neat-hair guy from San Francisco.
I squinted in the dim lounge light, watching him walk and talk and smile.
Then he looked me straight in the eyes, and my chest jolted with that same electricity. Either this was him, or I was a huge sucker for a particular type.
He was coming straight toward me now. Then again, I was sitting near the exit. I told myself not to get too excited. But when it came to good-looking, possibly eligible men, myself didnt listen much.
My brain started to hum. I should keep eye contact. I should smile. I should say something.
Hello, he said, slowing to a halt next to my table.
Hi.
A beat went past in silence.
I started to break it. Were you by any chance
I stopped, distrusting my own memory and not wanting to look foolish. Then I told myself to speak up. That was what I told my students. If you have a question, speak up. There are no stupid questions.
Were you by any chance just in San Francisco? It did sound foolish when I said it out loud. Worse, it sounded like a line. I might as well have said: Do you come here often?
Sweat instantly gathered at my hairline.
The Archway? he asked.
Relief rushed through me. I wasnt imagining things. Yes.
I thought I recognized you.
My embarrassment disappeared, but my hormones zipped off like a rocket ship. Up close, he was a hunk, superbuff, great-looking, oozing sensuality.
Business or pleasure? he asked in a gravelly voice that seemed to come straight from his deep chest.
It was neither, but I wasnt about to go into detail.
Pleasure, I said.
He swung his gaze around the lounge. Are you here alone?
Yes. I hadnt found Brooklyn yet, so I was currently alone.
He smiled at that. Im Max Kendrick. He looked at my drink. Would you like something more interesting than cola?
I almost said no. I wasnt here to get picked up in a bar. Then again, this was far from a honky-tonk. It was a fancy hotel lobby. And hadnt I been fantasizing about this very thing just yesterdaymeeting a great guy on my gals weekend?
This one seemed pretty seriously great, and he was dropping right into my lap, and I was sitting here tongue-tied and questioning every breath I sucked into my lungs. I had to get a grip.
Have you seen the price list? I dont know why that silly question popped into my head. If he was staying here, and if he was offering, he must be able to afford the prices.
His smile broadened. A time or two.
Sure, I said, before I could come up with anything more senseless to blurt out.
Great. He sat down at the table. Whats your pleasure?
I considered pulling a Brooklyn by asking him to choose something for me, maybe batting my eyelashes and pretending to be überfeminine.
But überfeminine wasnt me. Neither was batting my eyelashes, or pretending I didnt know my own mind.
A chardonnay.
Any preference on the label?
No preference. Whatever the house served was going to be fine with me. Given what Id seen so far of the house, I was betting their wine would be spectacular.
He gave the waitress a glance, and she came straight over.
Can you bring us a bottle of the Crepe Falls Reserve?
Right away, she said.
A bottle? I asked, wondering if he was less of a gentleman than Id guessed. Was he expecting me to knock back a few this early in the afternoon?
Better value that way.
So youre not trying to get me drunk?
Do you have a reason to get drunk? Is everything okay?
Everythings fine. The answer was automaticeven though fine was quite the stretch at this particular moment.
Okay, he said, looking suspiciously at my expression. His gaze seemed perceptive.
I had to tell myself he couldnt read my thoughts. Its all very fine.
If you say so.
I do. I took another sweep around the lobby looking for Brooklyn. I couldnt let her slip past me because I was distracted by Max Kendrick.
You sure youre not with someone? he asked.
I gave him a look of reproach. Im sure.
Youre jumpy, he said.
Youre suspicious.
He shrugged without denying it.
Fair enough, I supposed. Wed only just met.
Im watching for someone, I said.
Who?
A friend. A girlfriend. Im meeting her here and I dont want to miss her.
Thats not exactly alone.
It is until she gets here.
You lied.
I didnt lie.
You omitted. Youre hiding something.
I wasnt about to touch that one. You thought I was a cheater.
Maybe.
Is that a takes-one-to-know-one statement? Do you have a girlfriend? Are you a cheater?
Nope.
How do I know youre not lying? Cheaters probably lie.
His smile said he got that I was joking. I felt warm about that. Not everyone caught on to my sense of humor.
The waitress returned with our wine, and we both fell silent as she poured.
When she left, he held up his glass for a toast. To honesty and integrity.
Faith and loyalty. I thought about Brooklyn as I touched my glass to his.
I took a sip. The wine was outstandingcrisp, buttery and light on my tongue.
Now that we know were on the same wavelength, he said. Tell me something about you. Maybe start with your name.
I realized then that hed introduced himself, but I hadnt.
Its LaylaLayla Gillen.
Nice to meet you, Layla Gillen. Will you be in Vegas for long?
I certainly hope not.
He quirked an eyebrow. You have something against Vegas?
No, nothing. Its the first time Ive been here. I scanned for Brooklyn again. I spotted a blonde woman in the distance, but she turned and I saw her profilenot Brooklyn.
Where are you from? Max asked.
I turned my attention back to him. Seattle. You?
I have a place in New York, but I travel quite a bit. What do you do in Seattle?
I didnt want to sound nerdy. Then again, I sure wasnt about to lie.
Im a teacher.
What grade?
High school.
What subject.
Math.
His smile said hed discovered an embarrassing secret.
My pride kicked in. You have something against mathematics?
You dont look like any math teacher I ever had.
Im fully qualified.
Im not questioning that.
It sounded like you were.
No. He cocked his head and his gaze grew warm. I was thinking if my math teachers looked like you, Id have enjoyed the subject a whole lot more.
My heart fluttered. It seriously, embarrassingly, fluttered there for a second.
My cheeks grew warm, and I told myself to get a grip, covering the reaction with another sip of wine.
This was obviously a crush-at-first-sight, and Id never felt anything like it.
I didnt want to check into a 700-dollar-a-night hotel room when I had a perfectly wonderful prepaid room waiting for me back in San Francisco. But evening was falling, and there was still no sign of Brooklyn.
Max had said goodbye after lunch, and Id left the table pretending I had somewhere to go. I didnt, of course. But Id found a comfortable seat at the opposite end of the lobby with a good view of the main entrances and exits.
The vibe of the lobby was beginning to change from daytime to evening. I knew if I wanted to continue blending with the crowd, I had to get out of my jeans.
There were shops dotted around the periphery of the lobby. The clothes were very high-end, but I managed to find a little black dress on a sales rack.
I wasnt about to interrupt my surveillance by heading into the fitting room. Luckily, the dress had simple lines and enough stretch that I was confident it would fit. My black ankle boots werent exactly perfect for the occasion, but I was wearing a silver necklace and dangling earrings, and I could pull my hair up in a messy bun.
Id do for the evening crowd.
I hated to interrupt my surveillance, but eventually, the need for a restroom break became urgent. In the ladies room, I changed in a flash and was back out in the lobby again with my jeans and blouse folded into the boutique shopping bag.
I take it you dont have a room? It was Maxs voice beside me.
I was embarrassed, like Id been caught freeloading.
I worked to erase my guilty expression before facing him. I wasnt freeloading. I was genuinely waiting for a hotel guest. And, anyway, the lobby was a public space.
My girlfriend has a I turned and my words dried up.
This afternoon Max had looked good in a dusty blue shirt under a steel-gray suit. Now he looked fantastic. His shirt was crisp white. His suit was black, and his tie was dark burgundy scattered with black flecks.
A room? he prompted.
Are you going to a party?
I wouldnt exactly call it a party. He took in my dress. What about you? Big plans?
I didnt have any plans at all beyond staking out the lobby until Brooklyn arrived. I refused to let myself think she and her faux soul mate were holed up in a hotel room together for the night, ordering room service and lounging in a whirlpool tub.
The image was too much for me to wrap my head around, so I shook it out of my mind.
You havent found her, Max stated. He didnt give me time to answer. Whats really going on, Layla?
Nothing.
Are you a private investigator?
No.
As I denied it, I wondered if Max wanted me to be a private investigator. Private investigator sounded like an exciting job, better than math teacher. Maybe I should consider switching careers.
A stalker? he asked.
Im not a stalker. I wasntat least not usually. Today, well, I supposed it was debatable.
Have you tried calling her?
What a great idea. I wasnt annoyed with Max. I was just generally annoyed, and that put the sarcasm in my voice. I dont know why I didnt think of it myself.
He didnt seem to take offense. Ill take that as a yes.
Thats a yes.
He peered at my expression. Did you have a fight?
No.
Is she with a guy?
I was trying not to think about that. I wanted to deny it. But I didnt feel like lying outright to Max. I didnt even feel like omitting anymore.
Other patrons milled around us, dressed to the nines, talking and laughing, coming together in groups and lining up at the on-site restaurants.
I think she might be, I admitted.
So she ditched you for a man. Maxs words werent a question.
It wasnt what he was thinking. But I couldnt explain the situation without giving away private information, so I just stood there looking like a pathetic fifth wheel abandoned in the hotel lobby.
Join me for dinner, he said.
It was a mercy date if Id ever heard of one. No thank you. I have no intention of crashing your party.
Theres no party. Theres just me.
I didnt believe that for a second. Then why are you dressed like the top of a wedding cake?
Because this is a nice hotel, and its after six.
I dont believe you.
You dont have to believe me. Just join me for dinner.
So youre saying you have nothing to do tonight.
A man like that, in a suit like his, in a place like this? Not a chance.
Im saying theres nothing I have to do tonight.
But you have options?
We all have options. All the time. Right now, youre my first choice.
Why?
I swear, Layla, I have never had this much trouble getting a woman to have dinner with me.
I cant, I said, even though I wanted to say yes.
A guy like this didnt come along every dayat least not in my life. In my life, a guy like this didnt come along any day.