Chapter 3. The meeting
[Let it ride]
Her outfit should have been daunting enough to deter even the most determined male. But this person didn't go away, maybe it was tina. One glance over the edge of her book and she realized it wasn't. unless, Tina had taken to wearing Italian men's loafers, which seemed highly doubtful. She turned away from the man and tried to concentrate on the scarlet pimpernel.
Jessica, a lady who had been betrayed several times, especially when she was 18-years-old, as a young teenager in life, she was out for revenge, even it's a risk to her falling in love. She glanced up quickly, from her book, with the intent of averting her gaze quickly but he stopped her.His features weren't classically handsome but there was something arresting in those grey eyes, something that hinted at hidden passion and inner fire, two things she had never had. Nervously Jessica pushed her glasses farther up her nose and tried to put a calm face.Attractive men simply didn't talk to her.''hello'' he said, his voice was deep, not a soft sophisticated sound but a gravelly one that awakened senses she had thought had gone into a coma.''hi'' she said, yes, she was the queen of scintillating conversation.''Mind if I join you?'' he asked. He sat down next to her on the brocade love seat without waiting for an answer.''I guess not'', she said wryly.''I knew you wouldn't''.''really? Why is that?''''because of fate''''fate?'' This guy didn't look as if he left much to destiny. She sensed a will of pure steel under that thousand-dollar suit.''angel, I am all about chance and luck''''those are decidedly different from fate.'' In response to his raised eyebrows, she stumbled on.''fate implies that something is destined. Luck, not so much.''''Depends on whether or not you're to fated to have Good luck.'' She couldn't help with a smile, he was charming, though his smile had an air of ritual to it. She had the feeling she wasn't the first woman to hear those lines.''how about dinner'' he asked.''I don't know you,'' she said.He stood. ''Prescott Adams''She took the hand he held out and tried to shake it, but he grasped only her fingers, with his thumb, he caressed her knuckles, then brought her hand to his lips and pressed a warm kiss to the back of it.She shivered, ''and you would be?''''Jessica smith ''''may I join you, Jessica?''
She wanted to pretend not to be interested, but she was, before she could answer, he sat down again this time, leaving only six inches of space between them. Jessica felt crowded. He was long, lean, but there was a breadth to his shoulders that made her feel small and delicate.''what are you doing here''? he asked''I am waiting for someone''.''A man?''''that's none of your business''.''fair enough. What brings you here?'' he asked, sliding his arm along the back of the love seat. His heat and scent surrounded her. Tempted to lean into his touch, she scooted farther away instead.''girls' weekend out''.He gave her a half smile and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. She shivered with awareness she simply wasn't a touchy person by nature. And it had been a long time since anyone had touched her, unless you counted her mum, who always hugged her when they met weekly for brunch.''you have beautiful hair'' he said.Was he hitting on her? Jessica could never be sure, if a man was just being friendly or really interested in her. She wished for a minute she was more like Tina, who flirted from one man to another enjoying what each had to offer.
Though she was not like that. She had been raised to believe that settling down and having a family was the right thing to do, and it was something she had always wanted.Even after her failed marriage, she still wanted to find the right guy and have kids. But that didn't mean she wanted to meet him here in Vegas. She scooted farther away and tottered for a moment on the edge of her seat. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back.''why are you in Vegas?'' Prescott''I live here'', he said as if nothing had happened.''do you really? Sorry, don't answer that. All the bells have rattled my brain.''
He laughed and it was a sound, seeming almost strange coming from a man who looked as dark and forbidden as he did. Jet black hair and tanned olive complexion. He had large hands. On his pinkie was a rough-looking gold ring with some sort of insignia she didn't recognize.Realizing she had been staring at him too long, she glanced up to see if he had noticed.But she couldn't, an indefinable emotion in his eyes, the intensity of his gaze on her made her feel special, it made her feel as if she was a fairy-tale princess and he was a knight willing to slay dragons for her. It made her feel like the kind of woman a man would choose for a vacation fling.
She was any of those things, her stomach growled and Jessica blushed.''my offer for dinner still stands,'' he said.''I'm reading a really good book,'' Jessica replied''Lamest excuse ever, she said to herself.''the day a book holds more excitement for a woman than I do is a sad one''. She wanted to say yes, in fact, she thought closing the book and putting it in her purse, she was going to. But she didn't want it to be that easy for him.''come on, it will be fun,'' he cajoled.''fun? I'm not sure I am ready.''come on, it will be fun'', he cajoled''What should I be prepared for''?''to be swept off your feet'' he said with a wink and walked away.