“Lizzie?” Brian says, his jaw dropping. He pulls a pretty woman with dark hair into a hug. “What the hell are you doing here?”
We’re standing at a bar in the Aria near the entrance to the hall where tonight’s black tie networking event is being held. We’re at some media event celebrating the newest businesses in Vegas, a black tie affair with dinner and dancing, and Brian wanted to come to check things out. They’re on the short list for next year’s honorees. This year’s award recipients were selected before FDB Tech Corp officially opened its doors to the Vegas market. Brian just ordered our drinks when this woman tapped him on the shoulder.
The woman’s eyes slide over to me as Brian laces his arm around me, back to the sweet and protective boyfriend rather than the guy who made me worried he was sleeping with his secretary. I think back to that whole dumb fight. We’ve been dating for well over a month. We’ve spent pretty much every night together. I’m starting to fall for him and I’ve even relegated my one night with Mark Ashton to just one night. I still think of him often, and the emotions clouding that night are still fresh, but I’ve committed to giving myself wholly to Brian.
Something is in this woman’s eyes, something familiar and some emotion I can’t quite place. It’s not jealousy. Curiosity, maybe.
“Your secretary let me know you’d be here tonight and I thought it would be fun to surprise you. I’m here to see you and Beavis.”
Brian rolls his eyes. “Aren’t you a treat?” he asks.
She laughs and sticks out her hand to shake mine. “Since he’s not exactly taking the hint on introductions, hi, I’m Lizzie. Brian’s sister.”
A sense of relief washes over me, and I see the family resemblance that I somehow missed before. She’s tall and gorgeous with hair the same near-black as Brian’s and eyes the exact green shade as his. She even has that same imposing presence he does, like she owns the room but she’s glad you’re in it, too.
“I’m Reese. And I’ve heard so much about you,” I say as I knock her hand out of the way and pull her into a hug instead.
“You have?”
“He once told me his older sister is his secret weapon.”
“Oh?” She narrows her eyes at her brother. “In what way?”
“In training him how to treat a woman.”
Brian is mysteriously quiet during our exchange.
Lizzie raises a brow and looks at me again. “And have I succeeded?”
I nod. “He’s pretty wonderful.”
“He’s okay. Still my baby Butt-head brother.”
“Beavis and Butt-head?” I ask.
“From the nineties MTV cartoon. I’ve called them that since we were little.”
“Nice,” I say, giggling.
“Brian always hated being called little Butt-head.” She elbows him affectionately and he rolls his eyes.
I shrug. “If the shoe fits.”
“Hey,” he says sharply. “I don’t need you two ganging up on me.”
“Touchy, touchy,” Lizzie says. “Where’s Beavis?”
Brian shrugs. “Last time I checked, it wasn’t my day to watch him.”
“You can shove the sarcasm,” she says. “Aren’t you staying with him?”
“Yeah, until I find a place.”
“I didn’t know that,” I say.
Both of their heads turn to me.
“I didn’t know you were staying with your brother,” I say.
He nods. “Plus Jason and Becker.”
“You’re all living together?”
Lizzie smiles. “Beavis has a big place.”
“Will you be staying there, too?” I ask her.
She shakes her head. “I’ve got a room at the Mandarin. I don’t want to stay at the boy’s club. It’s like a damn frat house over there.” She looks over at Brian. “Haven’t you taken her there yet?”
A room at the Mandarin. My heart beats a little harder in my chest as I remember the last time I was at the Mandarin.
He shakes his head, and if I’m not mistaken, I see a bit of pleading pass from his eyes to hers. He masks it well, but there’s the tiniest hint of desperation there—something I’ve never once seen on his face before. He’s always been so disciplined, so in control.
I watch as some sort of understanding dawns on her face, and then she changes the subject.
“So, Reese, what do you do?” she asks.
“I’m a teacher.”
“Out for the summer?” she asks.
I nod.
“Nice.”
“Is Dave here?” he asks her.
She shakes her head. “He’s back home.” She looks at me. “Dave is my fiancé. He had work to do this weekend and I needed a getaway.”
Brian glances at his watch, and I can’t help but feel like he’s trying to get me away from his sister. “We need to get inside, Liz,” he says, nodding with his head to the doorway where the event is set to take place.
“Of course. Let’s meet up after. I’ll be hanging around the casino for a bit.”
“Why don’t you stay with me?” I blurt. “We have a spare room, and that way you don’t have to stay at a hotel.”
She looks at Brian, and he shoots her that same look of pleading desperation. It’s so fast that I nearly miss it. I feel like an outsider around these two, like there’s a giant secret they’re not letting me in on.
“That’s so sweet of you, Reese, but my room is already paid for. Next time.”
“Do you come to town often?” I ask.
“More now that both my brothers are here.” She looks at Brian. “You’ve even got Mom and Dad looking at houses online.”
Both my brothers are here.
Not only did I have no idea that Brian’s staying with his brother, I also had no idea that his brother lives here in Vegas.
This entire conversation has just reminded me how very little I know about the man I’m falling in love with.
“I’ll text you when we’re getting ready to leave,” he says, and then he grabs my hand and pulls me toward the reception hall.
Becker and Jill are already inside, and I can’t wait to dissect what just happened with my best friend. The only problem is that Brian hasn’t left my side—hasn’t given me even a minute to myself to chat in private with Jill. He keeps introducing me to people, tugging my arm, keeping me close. How the hell he already knows all these people when he’s only been in town for a month is beyond me.
I want to ask him about that encounter with his sister, but I don’t even know where to start.
We eat, we drink, we dance, and the only time I get a moment alone is when I’m in the restroom, but Becker has Jill tied up the same way Brian’s had me tied up. They’re in the middle of a conversation with a couple of middle-aged businessmen in the spare moment I find myself alone, so I don’t bother to interrupt. We can talk at home tomorrow.
Brian texts his sister when we’re getting ready to leave. “Shoot,” he says once he gets her reply. “Looks like she already turned in for the night.”
“Too bad,” I say. “I’d love to chat more with her. She seems sweet.”
He just gives me a tight smile, and then we head back to my place...of course.