FELT LIKE SKIPPING through the Bellagio lobby, but ladies didn’t skip through hotel lobbies. She stamped down the urge.
She’d just had what was possibly the best night of her entire life, and even better, Nick wanted to do it again tonight. Ladylike or not, that thought put a bounce in her step anyway.
Even at this time of the night—or technically, morning—the lobby was active, the employees greeting her politely as if she didn’t look as if she’d just come in after a night of debauchery. She should feel exposed and embarrassed, since it was obvious what she’d been up to, but she realized that probably wasn’t an uncommon occurrence in Las Vegas.
And, as Nick had reminded her, it’s not as if she’d ever see these people again.
In the elevator, she slipped out of her shoes and stretched tiredly. The adrenaline and endorphin rush she’d been on all night dissipated quickly now that Nick wasn’t around to fuel it, and exhaustion settled heavily on her shoulders. An enormous yawn cracked her jaw, and she really, really needed to sleep.
She closed the door to the suite behind her quietly. Sabine’s shoes and evening bag were on the couch, and the door to her room was shut. Evie had no way of knowing if Bennie was alone in there or not.
And to be honest, she was too tired to care.
Evie collapsed on her bed and stared at the ceiling. She was keyed up mentally, sated physically and totally exhausted. She should shower, maybe eat something, but her legs felt too heavy to move. Getting out of her clothes almost sounded like far too much work, but she managed to shimmy out of them and wrap a robe around herself before she pushed the button to close the drapes and crawled under the covers.
When she closed her eyes, Nick’s face was there. She could feel the imprint of his hands on her hips, taste him on her lips, hear that low growl. She wanted to relive every moment and savor the anticipation of tonight, but sleep was dragging her under quickly…
“Jeez, Evie, wake up. How hungover are you?”
Evie felt Sabine land on her bed next to her. “I’m not hungover. Just tired,” she mumbled. “Go ’way.”
“The day is half-over, and I still haven’t heard about your night. What time did you get in, anyway?”
“Dunno. Four-ish. Maybe?” She pulled the pillow over her head as Bennie pushed the button controlling the drapes and light flooded the room. “Late.”
“Way to go, Evie! I want details. Graphic ones.” Sabine shook her shoulder. “Spare nothing.”
Evie pried open her eyes and looked at the clock. After ten. “You lie. The day is not half-over. Wake me in another couple of hours.” She could go back to the dream where she and Nick were swimming in that cove not far from where she grew up on St. Kitts…
“Evie Harrison, I am dying for details.” Another shake. “Get up or I’ll call Will and tell him you stayed out all night.”
She didn’t believe Bennie would do such a horrible thing, but…“Fine. I’m up.” She untangled herself from the covers and sat up slowly.
Sabine giggled as Evie pushed her hair out of her faced and yawned. “You look awful.”
Bennie, as always, looked like one of Botticelli’s angels: adorable round face, curly blond hair, big blue eyes. Petite, thin and perky, Bennie was the perfect debutante. On the outside, at least. On the inside, she was more trouble than a biker gang at a Sunday School picnic. Sabine—unbeknownst to her family—was what Uncle Marcus would call a Bad Influence. It was why they were such good friends. “Thanks, Bennie. Just what I needed to hear. I feel awful, too.”
Sabine handed her a bottle of water and eyed her critically. “Good thing I made reservations at the spa. It’ll take them all afternoon just to take care of those bags under your eyes.”
“Oh, that sounds excellent.” Evie unscrewed the lid and drank deeply. Some of the cobwebs left her mind, and she felt better almost immediately. Nick had warned her that the desert air would dehydrate her. “How was your night? You and Toby have a good time? His name was Toby, right?”
Bennie smiled angelically. “What Toby lacks in finesse, he more than makes up for in enthusiasm and stamina. He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, but who needs conversation, anyway?” Bennie nudged her. “If I want to talk, I’ll call you.”
Evie scrubbed a hand over her face as she laughed. “I’m glad you had a good time.”
“I am a little achy this morning.” Rolling onto her back, Bennie stretched, then grinned. “But enough about me. I want to know who you hooked up with. I nearly died when I saw your text, and then when I beat you back to the room, I couldn’t believe it. Spill.”
“His name’s Nick.” A little smile tugged at her mouth.
Bennie nearly crowed. “I know that smile. Was he that good-looking or just that good?”
“Both. Tall, dark, drop-dead-oh-my-God gorgeous. Broad shoulders. Great arms, too.” Evie sighed, feeling like a school-girl with a crush.
Bennie echoed her sigh. “Oh, I love good arms.”
“I had a fabulous time, though.” Evie scooted to the head of the bed and leaned against the headboard.
“I can tell.”
“Not just that.” She tried for a disapproving frown, but Bennie laughed it off. “Well, the sex was fabulous, too, but we danced and talked—”
“Why on earth would you waste time talking if he was that hot?”
“Because I like to get to know people a little bit before I get naked with them.”
Bennie shrugged.
“So much fun and absolutely no pressure at all to do anything except enjoy myself. Have I mentioned how much I love this town?”
“I would, too, if I’d hooked up with a hottie like your Nick. Are you going to see him again?”
She could feel the goofy smile tugging at her cheeks. “He wants to do something again tonight. If you have other plans, that is. Are you seeing Toby again?”
“Lord, honey, even if I wasn’t, I’d expect you to go with Nick. That’s why you came here, after all.”
Evie felt her jaw drop. “You think I came to Vegas just to hook up?”
Sabine was wide-eyed. “Didn’t you?”
“It wasn’t my primary agenda, no. I wanted to let off a little steam, drink a little, let my hair down and dance.” She raised an eyebrow at Bennie. “I came to Vegas to have a girls’ weekend.”
“Then I misunderstood. My bad.” Bennie was wonderfully unrepentant. “But now you’ve found someone yummy, so you should make the most of it. And take a few pictures tonight. I wanna see this god who’s got your libido doing the lambada.”
“I’ll try,” she promised and her stomach growled. She pounced on the distraction eagerly, not really sure she wanted to go into too much more detail with Bennie at this point. She wanted to hug it all to herself for a little while longer. “I’m starved. Is there anything in the minibar besides pretzels?”
“I took the liberty of ordering brunch. If you can hang on a little longer without falling away to a shadow, it should be here about another twenty minutes or so.” Bennie gave her a once-over. “I’d recommend you use that time to grab a shower and sort out your hair. You really do look a mess.”
“I do not!”
Sabine merely raised an eyebrow. “Our first appointment is at twelve-fifteen. I’ve booked the works—massage, manicure, pedicure, facial and a detoxifying hydrotherapy bath. What time are you meeting him?”
“Seven.”