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Interest flared in her bright blue eyes. “Oh, that sounds like fun. I’ve heard of the Maxim. I’ll warn you, though, that I know nothing about art.”
“There’s no need for you to have knowledge of art.” Jethro assured her.
He was still wondering at himself for allowing her to join him at the opening. It was unlike him to make impulsive decisions. And he didn’t reward dishonesty. She may be from Excursions, but she was unlike any of his previous dates. And a former dancer. That alone should have been enough to drop her off along the strip as she’d urged him to do.
But there was a lightness about her that appealed to him, a genuineness that intrigued his jaded soul.
Outrageous was an understatement. No one talked to him like she did. Stuffed shirt? Pompous? He’d fire anyone who dared say such a thing. It didn’t matter that it was the truth. That he worked hard to maintain a hand’s distance from everyone around him. He wouldn’t be disrespected.
Coming from her it rang of the truth, plainly spoken.
“Good. Because my art appreciation is limited to knowing what I like, which could be anything from a good Elvis painting to a portrait of an old woman smiling. And I never know if there’s any importance attached to the piece.”
“Well, it’s highly doubtful there’s any significance to a velvet Elvis painting.”
Soft laughter trilled through the air. She nudged his shoulder with hers. “I know that much, silly. But he was a huge contributor to the music world and I like the colors. When I look at the painting, I like to think he found peace.”
So did Jethro. Elvis was a favorite artist of his. One more thing linking him to this woman when the softness of her was already too dangerous. She didn’t fit in either of the two categories he allowed in his life.
“So you don’t believe he’s living a secret life somewhere?”
“No.” Sadness briefly dimmed the animation of her delicate features. “Much as I’d like to believe he’s still with us, music was too much a part of his soul for him to stay undetected all these years. He’d have to perform, and if he performed he’d be found.”
Disconcerted because he held the same belief, he went on the offensive.
“How old are you?” he asked derisively. “Twenty-three? Twenty-four? You’re too young to be an Elvis fan.”
“Please, great music transcends age. And I’m twenty-seven. Old enough to know my own mind.”
Not as young as he’d feared—or should that be hoped? Against his better judgment, he’d decided to indulge himself tonight and enjoy a bit of light company, but having a few elements that put her beyond his strict restrictions would be helpful.
“We’re here.” The car rolled to a smooth stop. Jethro pushed the door open and stepped out.
“Good evening, Mr. Calder.” A valet immediately appeared to greet him. “Welcome back to Caesar’s Palace.”
“Thank you. We’re here for the Kittrell showing.”
“Very good, sir. We’ve had a steady stream of arrivals for the showing tonight.”
“That’s good to hear.” Jethro tipped the young African American before extending a hand to assist Lexi from the car.
“Sean!” she exclaimed and gave the valet a warm hug. “I’m glad to see you’re back in town. How is your mother?”
Sean shifted, uncomfortable under Jethro’s stern regard, but the smile he turned on Lexi was full of warmth. “On her feet again. The knee surgery was just what she needed to get her pep back.”
“I’m glad to hear it. She’s too young to be sitting on the couch. You tell her I said hi.”
“I will. And I want to hear what’s going on with you.” Sean discreetly nodded in Jethro’s direction. “We’ll talk soon.”
“Yes, I’m off to view art.” She glanced his way, and Jethro absorbed the impact of her laughing eyes. “See you soon.” She bid her friend goodbye and made her way to his side.
He claimed her hand. “Do you know every valet in Las Vegas?”
“I know a lot. For all the tourists, Las Vegas is a small town. At least when it comes to the world of entertainers. Valeting is a common way to pick up extra money or pay the bills between jobs.”
“I see.”
“Is there a problem?”
“No.”
“Something’s bothering you,” she insisted. “Does it upset you that I stopped to speak to them? Because it would be rude to ignore the fact I know them.”
“It’s their job to provide discrete service and fade into the background. I’m sure they respect the dynamics of the job.”
“You’re saying it’s okay to be rude.”
“I’m saying, they’re working.”
“So you’re a snob.”
He sighed. “I’m not a snob. I just like getting where I’m going without a lot of meaningless chitchat.”
“It wasn’t meaningless.” She protested. “I was genuinely interested in how his mother was doing.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Then what is the point?” She easily kept stride with him as he led her toward the famous Caesar shopping mall.
“The point is it’s rude to be making a fuss over other men when you’re out with a man.”
“But we’re not on a date.” She reminded him with a tad more satisfaction than he cared for.
“We’re together. That’s what counts.”
“So it’s okay for me to be rude to them, but not to you?”
“Correct. No. Stop messing with me. You’re giving me a headache.”
She grinned, obviously pleased to be called on her teasing. “If you loosened up a bit, you wouldn’t get headaches.”
“Woman, you are a headache.”
“Ah, you say the nicest things. Oh, it’s the thunderstorm. I love this. Do we have time to watch?”
Without waiting for a response she skipped—yes, skipped—forward to perch on the stone bench of a fountain. He found himself following her, taking satisfaction in indulging her delight. She patted the space next to her inviting him to sit.
Suddenly an uncertain expression crossed her face and she popped to her feet. “Sorry—my oops. I know you want to get where you’re going.”
“Sit. Enjoy your show.” He sat. “And when we get to the showing, you can do something for me.”
“Ah.” She resumed her perch, her knee touching his, her gaze focused above on the changing skyscape of the indoor mall. The sunny day had darkened to gray clouds with flashes of lightning. “The job your dates perform for you.”
The comment annoyed him. So what if he wanted his companions to provide a service while they were with him. He paid good money for their company. And tipped well.
“You really are a pest. If you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to.”
“Don’t be so touchy.” She bumped his shoulder. “Ah.” A gasp escaped her pretty lips when thunder boomed in the background adding audio to the overhead show. “I do love a good thunderstorm. I don’t get how all these people can walk by as if nothing is happening right over their heads.”
“Maybe they’ve seen it before. Or they’re caught up in the moment or the conversation. Or simply need to be somewhere.” Personally he couldn’t remember the last time he’d paused to notice the movement of the mock sky in the shopping mall. He had to admit it was pretty cool. It certainly added to the overall effect of a Roman city.
“What have you got?”
“I’m thinking this might be something to consider for Pinnacle for our next revamp. We could have simulated battle scenes.”
“Oh, and flames like the city is burning. With the postapocalyptic theme you could do all kinds of things with the skyscape, extreme sunsets and meteor storms, flash floods. You could even bring it down on the walls though that might compete with the casino action.”
“The tourists would love it. It would give them the sense of being in the game even more than the decor does now.”
He liked the creative way she thought. All tossed out so artlessly. Right. In his experience, nothing, not even ideas, were given away free. She wanted something.
He’d bet his life on it.
Above them, blue skies began to ease out the clouds and lightning. Lexi stood and smoothed her dress over her hips.
“It’s a great idea, but what I was actually asking is what would you like me to do for you at the party?”
CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_e1a67009-f418-5d8b-8f2e-8c8a8c308a32)
PARTY? BLAST IT. In order to get his mind functioning again, Jethro dragged his gaze up to her face, not daring to linger on the intriguing hint of cleavage or her luscious lower lip.
She meant the showing. He’d almost lost his desire to attend the event tonight. But as owner of the gallery and the artist’s patron it would look bad if he didn’t at least put in an appearance. Plus, he believed in the man’s talent.
He and his friends made a great team evidenced by their huge success with Pinnacle. Yet the last few years, he’d felt compelled to prove he could succeed on his own. The gallery, like the restaurant, was his attempt at diversification.
“It’s nothing too difficult.” He stood, his hand going to the small of her back as he directed her along. “As a high-ranking officer at one of the premier entertainment conglomerates in the world, I get approached by a lot of people with ideas for the next best whatever. I’d like you to run interference for me.”
“I can see where that would get old.” Sympathy shone from eyes the color of the pastoral sky above. “Sure, I can handle that. Tell me about the artist.”
“He takes parts of photographs, layers them together and breathes life into them with an editing software he created. The end result is stunning, the colors vivid.”
“I can’t wait to see his work. It sounds unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
Jethro must be impressed with the artist. Talking about him was the most animated she’d seen him all night. Though, to be fair, he had loosened up from his stuffed-shirt status by allowing her to watch the sky show and by sharing his thoughts about revamping the Pinnacle.
At the gallery the crowd overflowed into the mall.
“Well, I’d say the showing is a success.” Lexi wrapped her arm around Jethro’s to keep from being separated from him. “And it’s such a crush nobody’s going to hear anyone in here. I don’t think you need to worry about being approached by any wannabe gamesters.”
He grunted. “You underestimate the zealousness of programmers, songwriters and other assorted artists the world over. A crowd like this just allows them the opportunity to get up close and personal.”
Actually she knew full well the zealousness of artists. No one knew better than her how one-dimensional they could be when it came to their art.
“Maybe it’s your warm personality,” she suggested.
She grinned when she received an arch stare over his shoulder. “You like to live dangerously don’t you?”
“Sorry. I can’t seem to resist.” And she should. Her every action counted toward the future and his willingness to help her. But she’d been restrained for too many years not to be herself at all times. Plus, who knew he’d be so fun to tease? Or turn out to be such a good sport? “Take heart, you’re bearing up under the challenge.”
Right inside the door hung a huge picture that was gorgeous. A tropical location brought to life in vibrant colors. The nose of a small plane bobbed in the cove and on the beach a gazebo with fluttering curtains housed a table, chairs and a meal awaiting missing lovers. To the side of the print were a picture of a lagoon, the plane and a gazebo. The title was Escape.
“I love it,” Lexi breathed. “Don’t you just want to be there?”
“It’s inviting.”
“Inviting? If that’s all you’ve got, I’m going to have to find someone else to go with.”
“Someone with a sense of adventure,” a man said behind her.
“Yes.” She agreed, moving to include the tall, stylishly dressed man. He had long dark hair, green eyes and a confidence he wore as comfortably as his fitted jacket. “And a sense of romance. Someone with a thirst for life.”
“Exactly the mood I was going for.” The man grinned and held out his hand. “I’m Ethan Kittrell.”
“Ethan is the artist.” Jethro shook hands as he introduced Lexi.
“Calder, I’m glad you made it. And for bringing such a lovely companion.”
“Are you flirting with my companion, Ethan?” There was no emotion in the question, which only served to make it more menacing.
As if she belonged to him. Not likely. She’d fought hard for her freedom. And wasn’t he the one to insist this wasn’t a date?
But truthfully she wasn’t even tempted by the handsome artist. For all his eccentric cleverness, he paled next to the sheer presence of Jethro Calder.
Good thing this wasn’t a date. Because, her independence aside, she’d be way out of her element.
No, tonight was make-believe, just an opportunity to observe him in his world. Which meant she could be herself. As long as she didn’t alienate him, she could relax and have fun.
“Not tonight, I’m not.” Ethan held up his hands in surrender and shifted ever so subtly away from her. “Just a little harmless admiration for a beautiful woman. I wouldn’t want to do anything to upset my patron.”
“Wise move.” Jethro directed her farther into the gallery, pausing to study each new piece they came to.
Patron? No wonder he’d been hot to get here. A patron to the arts, hmm, seemed there were unexpected depths to Mr. Jethro Calder. Still, being a patron was no excuse to be rude.
“Pay no attention to him.” She rolled her eyes at Ethan. “He’s still learning his people skills.”
“Sweet thing, people use skills on him not the other way around.”
“So he tells me.” She surveyed Jethro’s profile, and observed the pinch at the corner of his eye, a sure sign he hated them talking about him. This was a big night for him as well as Ethan. “He practically gushed while describing your work.”
