Taryn grumbled quietly. “I hope so.” She glanced at Cassie. “Thank you for coming. It means a lot.”
She looked away before Cassie could get a read on her. Taryn seemed to be uncharacteristically nervous and on edge. “Thank you for inviting me.”
The hotel doors slid open automatically, and Cassie let out a breath as she took in the ambitious expanse of the lobby. She’d googled the new hotel when Taryn had invited her for dinner, but neither the website nor the press photos did it justice or prepared her for its magnificent magnitude. The hotel name gave away its theme, as did almost all Vegas’ strip hotels…but wow.
“What do you think? Over the top or absolute perfection?” Taryn squeezed her hand.
Cassie met Taryn’s gaze and smiled. “You or the hotel?”
“Perfection might be a push, but the way you devoured me with your eyes when you got here made it clear that I’m looking pretty good tonight.” Taryn wiggled her eyebrows. “I meant the hotel.”
Cassie looked up at the ceiling thatwasn’ta ceiling but some kind of projection of outer space and shook her head. “I think it’s one of the best concepts Vegas has come up with in a long time. I think it’s amazing, actually. And I’m not easily impressed.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Taryn motioned to the right.
“Why? Did you design it?” Cassie asked, trying to keep her teasing smile from growing bigger.
“Oh no, I’m not talking about the hotel. I’ve brought the conversation back to me, and the fact that you keep agreeing to spend time with me means that I must’ve impressed you.”
Cassie swatted Taryn’s chest. “You’re incorrigible. Isn’t tonight supposed to be about your brother and your friend?” She looked around. “And why are you leading me toward a wall of flowers? I mean, they’re pretty, but shouldn’t we be getting to the table?”
“You’ll see,” Taryn said with a dramatic sweep of her hand.
When they were within six feet of the wall, two previously invisible doors slid open to reveal an elevator. “Ooh, fancy,” Cassie said stepped inside. Once they were moving, Cassie turned to Taryn. “You seem a little nervous tonight. Anything you want to share?” It seemed a possibly invasive question to ask, but the time they were spending togetheroutof bed was beginning to cement an unexpected friendship between them, and Cassie found herself caring about what was going on in Taryn’s head as well as her body.
Taryn gave an almost imperceptible smile as if, perhaps, she was sharing the same thought. “If we keep sharing our feelings, I’m going to have to start thinking of you as more of a best friend.”
Cassie grasped the back of Taryn’s neck and let out a distracted sigh at the feel of her buzzed hair.Focus. “Would that be such a bad thing? If we’re being honest, I’ve got room in my life for a really good friend.”
There was a hint of sadness in Taryn’s expression briefly before she blinked it away and nodded. “As long as we can continue having fantastic sex. I’d hate for serious conversation to get in the way of,” she swept her hand between them, “this.”
“I promise it won’t.” Cassie got on her tiptoes and kissed Taryn’s nose. “Spill.”
The elevator made a pleasant sound to indicate their arrival, and they stepped out onto another equally impressive floor.
“We don’t have enough time for me to really go into it, but you’re right, Iamnervous.” Taryn held out her arm again, Cassie tucked in, and they headed toward the restaurant. “Andi seems to be falling hard for Bernice, and I’m praying that the feeling is mutual, even though I don’t know what that might mean for the team…and for me. And I always get a little antsy around my brother when I haven’t seen him for a while because he feels obliged to pass on everything my parents say about my career choice and their wishes that I’d come to my senses and take my ‘rightful place’ in the family business.” They reached the restaurant. “Maybe we can talk about it later,” Taryn said quietly.
“Okay.” Cassie wrapped her other hand around Taryn’s bicep. “But thank you for telling me. I’ll be right by your side.” If there was one thing Cassie could empathize with, it was family pressures, which reminded her again that she couldn’t avoid visiting her mom for much longer.
“I like you there.”
Taryn glanced at her with a smile so bright, it could’ve lit up the Universe, then she addressed the maître d’, and he guided them to arguably the best table in the restaurant, which was to be expected since the owner of the hotel was dining with them. Bernice looked exactly as Taryn had described her, and Cassie couldn’t stop a modicum of jealousy. From what Taryn had said, she and Andi shared similar tastes in women, and her description of Bernice had already stirred an unusual sense of rivalry even though Taryn made it clear she preferred her women a couple of decades younger. Still, Bernice didn’t exactly look her age, and in the right light, which this space was definitely providing, she could easily pass for someone in her early forties.
Taryn made introductions for everyone then held out Cassie’s chair. She took it, and Taryn inched her closer to the table with ease. Cassie watched Taryn remove her suit jacket before taking her seat. Her shirt sleeves stretched over the muscles of her arms, and Cassie smiled, thinking again just how much she adored a strong woman. And knowing how much stamina was in Taryn’s arms in particular made her smile even wider.
When she and Taryn were settled, two waitstaff poured champagne for everyone. Cassie knew nothing of wine or champagne, but even she recognized the distinctive Dom Perignon label. If this was how the evening was beginning, she was already thankful to Taryn for making it clear the meal and drinks were complimentary.
“You’ve created something truly spectacular with this hotel,” Cassie said.
Bernice smiled. “Thank you. I wanted it to be totally different from everything else on the Strip—themed but sophisticated.”
“You’ve definitely achieved that.” Cassie ran her finger along the condensation of her champagne glass. “And I really hated the eyesore they called the Excalibur.”
“Wasn’t it just awful?” Bernice said.
Cassie nodded. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who actually liked it. I’m not quite sure how it managed to stay open as long as it did.”
Bernice shook her head. “Me neither. But you really like this place?”
