jazz quartet had set up space and a few couples danced in front of the makeshift stage. Tables of food lined one wall, and a bar had been put together along another. Chandeliers glistened, the murmur of conversation and laughter filled the room.
Mary stood on the balcony, listening to the music and sipping a Mai Tai. Across Las Vegas Boulevard, the roller coaster at the New York, New York hotel-casino whisked screaming riders along the tracks in front of the building and then around out of sight. Traffic was at a standstill on the street below her, and everywhere, lights flashed, twinkled or, as in the case of the Luxor pyramid, blazed through the darkness.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?” The voice came from close behind her. She turned, expecting Dan. He’d been the perfect host, making sure she met everyone and that she had a bit of food and a drink, but then he’d had to leave to see to duties for Higgins Enterprises.
The speaker wasn’t Dan, it was his close friend, Peter Saunders. His eyes were soft gray below full brows. Blond hair fell onto his forehead in an endearing way that made her want to brush it back. She imagined he used that ploy with women. She also thought it would work quite well.
“Hello again…Peter? That’s right, isn’t it? Manager of the Kansas City office?”
“Good memory,” he said. “And I just figured out a little while ago that you’re Dan’s friend from high school.”
“He’s mentioned me?” Beyond the wonder that Dan even remembered her much less talked about her, was that Pete recalled the conversation.
“Oh, you’d be surprised what guys discuss late at night after way too much to drink. You’re in town alone, right?”
If the balcony had been lighter, her heated face would have shown red. As it was, Peter wouldn’t be able to see her blush. “It’s a long story about a wedding that didn’t take place. Boring stuff.”
“Hmm, doesn’t sound like it.” He waited for her to speak, and when she didn’t he said, “Let me freshen that drink for you.” He slipped a new Mai Tai into her hand and deftly set her half-finished drink on the tray of a passing waiter. “Cheers.” He tapped glasses. His didn’t have an umbrella in it, indicating he drank something stronger than the fruity cocktail Mary enjoyed.
“So,” he continued in a smooth voice, “have I mentioned how gorgeous you look?”
Dan had told her several times, both in words and with his eyes. “I believe you just did.” She had to laugh. “Does that line really work on women?”
He had a lopsided smile. “Sometimes. But in your case, I really mean it.”
“And does that line really work on women?”
Peter laughed. “You’re tough. Dan said you were smart as well as beautiful.”
At the mention of Dan, Mary rose on tiptoes and made a quick search of the room for him.
“Dan’s off helping his brother with a couple of clients. He asked me to find you and make sure you weren’t in need of anything.”
“I’m fine, thanks. I didn’t think Dan was in sales.”
“He isn’t, not exactly. He’s what they call a closer. Any deal that’s set up but in trouble, they call in Dan. The man could sell condoms in a convent, he’s that good. If he ever left, his dad would have a hard time replacing him.”
She stirred her drink with the umbrella handle. “What does the manager of a district office do?”
“Oh, a little of this, a little of that. Mostly I’m responsible for making sure our current clients remain happy.”
“And do you like it?”
“Yeah.” He turned her toward the balcony, his hand on her lower back. When they stood at the railing, their legs brushed. Mary felt a thrill of attention she’d experienced all night wearing the beautiful gown, but not the burning fire that had raced through her at Dan’s touch.
Pete continued, “I get to do a bit of everything, which keeps life interesting. How about you? What do you do?”
“I’m a
Mary stood on the balcony, listening to the music and sipping a Mai Tai. Across Las Vegas Boulevard, the roller coaster at the New York, New York hotel-casino whisked screaming riders along the tracks in front of the building and then around out of sight. Traffic was at a standstill on the street below her, and everywhere, lights flashed, twinkled or, as in the case of the Luxor pyramid, blazed through the darkness.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?” The voice came from close behind her. She turned, expecting Dan. He’d been the perfect host, making sure she met everyone and that she had a bit of food and a drink, but then he’d had to leave to see to duties for Higgins Enterprises.
The speaker wasn’t Dan, it was his close friend, Peter Saunders. His eyes were soft gray below full brows. Blond hair fell onto his forehead in an endearing way that made her want to brush it back. She imagined he used that ploy with women. She also thought it would work quite well.
“Hello again…Peter? That’s right, isn’t it? Manager of the Kansas City office?”
“Good memory,” he said. “And I just figured out a little while ago that you’re Dan’s friend from high school.”
“He’s mentioned me?” Beyond the wonder that Dan even remembered her much less talked about her, was that Pete recalled the conversation.
“Oh, you’d be surprised what guys discuss late at night after way too much to drink. You’re in town alone, right?”
If the balcony had been lighter, her heated face would have shown red. As it was, Peter wouldn’t be able to see her blush. “It’s a long story about a wedding that didn’t take place. Boring stuff.”
“Hmm, doesn’t sound like it.” He waited for her to speak, and when she didn’t he said, “Let me freshen that drink for you.” He slipped a new Mai Tai into her hand and deftly set her half-finished drink on the tray of a passing waiter. “Cheers.” He tapped glasses. His didn’t have an umbrella in it, indicating he drank something stronger than the fruity cocktail Mary enjoyed.
“So,” he continued in a smooth voice, “have I mentioned how gorgeous you look?”
Dan had told her several times, both in words and with his eyes. “I believe you just did.” She had to laugh. “Does that line really work on women?”
He had a lopsided smile. “Sometimes. But in your case, I really mean it.”
“And does that line really work on women?”
Peter laughed. “You’re tough. Dan said you were smart as well as beautiful.”
At the mention of Dan, Mary rose on tiptoes and made a quick search of the room for him.
“Dan’s off helping his brother with a couple of clients. He asked me to find you and make sure you weren’t in need of anything.”
“I’m fine, thanks. I didn’t think Dan was in sales.”
“He isn’t, not exactly. He’s what they call a closer. Any deal that’s set up but in trouble, they call in Dan. The man could sell condoms in a convent, he’s that good. If he ever left, his dad would have a hard time replacing him.”
She stirred her drink with the umbrella handle. “What does the manager of a district office do?”
“Oh, a little of this, a little of that. Mostly I’m responsible for making sure our current clients remain happy.”
“And do you like it?”
“Yeah.” He turned her toward the balcony, his hand on her lower back. When they stood at the railing, their legs brushed. Mary felt a thrill of attention she’d experienced all night wearing the beautiful gown, but not the burning fire that had raced through her at Dan’s touch.
Pete continued, “I get to do a bit of everything, which keeps life interesting. How about you? What do you do?”
“I’m a
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