Chapter 5. breathless
[Let it ride]
Jessica had changed her mind and her clothes about fifty times. If it wasn't for Prescott's phone call, she would be sitting in in her room, eating a room-service cheeseburger and reading the scarlet pimpernel, but instead she was in the lobby waiting for a man who made her heart beat double time and who had awakened her senses with his touch.
That didn't gibe with the sensible administrative assistant she was in her normal life. She had thought about having a reality check. If she had called her mum, she would have been listening to reasons why she shouldn't be in Vegas, but right now, she was tired of being sane and sensible.She had checked in with her girlfriends before leaving, and they were prowling the casinos tonight with some guys they had met earlier. They had all made plans to meet in the lobby bar just after midnight. She glanced at her watch and then round the lobby. Her breath caught in her throat. Prescott walked towards her with the self-assured stride of a successful man. His suit jacket was buttoned and his silk tie perfectly knotted. He stopped to exchange pleasantries with some people on his way to her. Their eyes met and held for a moment. He seemed as if only she and Prescott existed in the lobby. His gaze skimmed down her body, stirring all her senses to life and making her blood flow heavier. He moved very close to her, his scent surrounded her and she breathe it in deeply. She wished she more like Prescott who could reach out and touch anyone he was attracted to whenever he wanted. Her fingers tingled with the need to touch him.''you look lovely'' he said, sliding his arms around her shoulders and brushing her cheek with a kiss.His words threw her off balance because she was the ''nice'' sister and not the pretty one. Not the smart one, just the nice ordinary one. She knew she wasn't any man's definition of lovely. She stepped back, not knowing what to say again, no man had made her feel what he did. A million and one different things at once, and she wanted to believe that this was the only man who had seen her as a lovely being.''that was a compliment'' he said, slipping his hand under her elbow and leading her out of the hotel. ''you are supposed to say thank you''.
''sorry to disappoint you,'' she said.'
''you did not.'' Prescott replied. But there is something in your eyes that says you don't believe me.''what do you mean''''I am sure I'm not the first man to compliment you''.
She tugged her arm from his grip and pulled her purse strap higher on her shoulder. She didn't want to have this conversation.''can we talk about something else?'' she asked. She was tempted to believe him, the way she had believed Jeff's lies, but she wasn't an eighteen-year-old girl anymore, and the woman she was at twenty-eight was a lot smarter. She thought. He deliberately took her arm again and continued leading her down the lobby. They reached the bell stand and the valet led them to a jaguar convertible out front. ''your car'' Mr Prescott.''''thank you, Scott,'' Prescott said, slipping the man a folded bill.''Mr Prescott, a moment?'' said another man from the hotel entrance.''do you mind, Jessica?''''not at all'' she said.Jessica suspected that Prescott was more than a guest at the golden dream casino. He held the door for her, and she slipped into the leather passenger seat, then watched while Prescott went to talk with the man. He returned in less than five minutes, and they headed away from the lights of the Vegas strip and outside of the city.The radio was turned to a lovely station and they both enjoyed the music. ''the sun was setting in the west and her hair was blowing around her shoulders. She closed her eyes and tipped her head back, the warm wind caressed her skin, and for once she didn't think about being the nice ordinary sister.''are you just a guest at the casino, or something else, she asked? ''I own the golden dream,'' he said. She tilted her head and glanced at him. He wore a pair of aviator-style sunglasses and he held the wheel easily in his strong hands. His profile was chiselled and raw, there was something very masculine about him that called to everything feminine in her.
The tension and pressure she had felt while waiting for him in the lobby was slowly unwinding.At this moment, in the car with him, with the sun setting and the wind in her hair, she knew she belonged here. She had never had such a sense anywhere before, but in the small garden of her equally small house. ''how does one train to own a casino?'' is there a casino school?'' she asked.''there might be. I learned the ropes working at other places on the strip.''''you must have been employee of the month,'' she said.''not quite,'' he said with a wry grin.A few more miles passed and she realized they had left Vegas well behind and there didn't appear to be any restaurants on the highway, unless you counted the small barbecue joint on the side of the road, but he didn't slow as they approached it. ''where are we going to dinner?'' she asked''somewhere private.''''oh'' she said, excitement tingled in her veins and she laced her fingers together to keep from nervously tucking her hair behind her ear.He knew his nature, as a werewolf, but as much as he avoided it, he couldn't help, but fall in love with Jessica smith.Years back, his parents had always kept him behind closed doors, until he was mature to take hold of his life. This time around, love happens unknowingly.