He was handsome in a midnight-blue suit, his eyes dancing as he smiled, and oh, that dimple in his chin. She realised she had kept every detail locked away, she hadn’t forgotten any of it, because it wasn’t like remembering what was lost as much as reminding herself of what had been there all along.
It’s still you.
‘It’s our pleasure to be here,’ said Cole easily, shaking Robbie’s hand. ‘It’s a beautiful hotel, very unusual. Lana’s not been to Vegas before, have you, darling?’
Lana opened her mouth. ‘No, as a matter of fact, I—’
‘So we’re very excited,’ finished Cole. Lana saw he was still holding firm to the handshake, placing his other hand on Robert’s arm in an assertion of power. There was quite a difference in height between them and in a lifetime of looking up at people, Cole was loath to let the taller man think he had the advantage. This guy might be a billionaire hotel magnate, she could hear him thinking, but he wasn’t a movie star.
Lana smiled politely as she extended her own hand. ‘It’s good to see you,’ she said, wanting to hold him, hug him, love him, her friend.
To her dismay she couldn’t read his face. He glanced at her briefly and she detected a flicker of something, a splinter in his composure, but then just as quickly it was gone. Instead Robbie took her hand, smiled and gave it a single shake.
‘I’d like to give you a tour of the hotel before supper,’ he said, looking only at Cole. With a twist of desire Lana could tell he was good at what he did–you put your trust in Robert St Louis straight away, you let him take the lead.
Except maybe for Cole, who now placed a protective hand at the small of Lana’s back. ‘I’d prefer to eat first,’ he said, changing the order of things for the sake of it. Like a test he added, ‘If that’s OK.’
Robert held out his hands in an easy gesture. ‘Of course, whichever you prefer.’ He smiled again, but still he didn’t look at her. ‘If you’ll follow me.’
The Aromatique restaurant was vast and empty, closed for the night in their honour. They took a booth overlooking the glittering Strip. The window was curved and the glass ran right down Lana’s side and under her feet, so it was like sitting in the sky. The illusion was clever and it made her smile. She felt Robbie’s eyes pass over her. When could she get him alone? It was all she could think about.
Robbie requested a Lotus, the Orient’s signature aperitif, for four, and then suddenly, stupidly, Lana remembered that his fiancée was joining them. How could she have forgotten? In planning her great confession, she had neglected to think once of Elisabeth Sabell.
He was conducting a brief, rather formal phone conversation.
‘Darling, we’re in the restaurant now … Yes, that’s right … Of course, see you then.’ He snapped his cell shut and turned to Lana and Cole. ‘My apologies, Elisabeth’s on her way.’
That was never how you used to talk to me, Lana thought.
‘I’m looking forward to meeting her,’ Lana said, to make out like she didn’t mind, but it sounded bitchy and stupid.
When the drinks arrived, Robert focused almost exclusively on Cole as they discussed the ways in which Vegas had changed over the years. Every so often Cole would reach to stroke Lana’s hand or her arm, his small, soft fingers trailing over her skin. He was sending out a very clear message to Robert, communicating that his relationship was an intimate, physical one. Lana didn’t know if this was an antidote to his own insecurities or because he could pick up on something between Robert and his wife. To her it was glaring, the atmosphere too much to bear. She needed to get Robbie alone. She had to.
Just then the far door opened and a dramatically beautiful woman swept in. Her enviable figure was cloaked in a stunning grey gown. Jewels glinted like light on water as she drifted towards the table, a mane of blonde hair cascading down her back like liquid gold. She exuded a clean, musky scent. Lana didn’t know what she had expected, but never a creature as glamorous as this.
‘Good evening.’ Elisabeth smiled, the epitome of charm, as the three of them stood to greet her. ‘It’s wonderful to meet you both.’ She kissed Cole and Lana on both cheeks, then Robbie on the lips. The kiss lasted a fraction too long and Lana had to look away. She felt sick.
It’s not Robbie, stop thinking of him as that. It’s Robert.
‘Excuse me,’ Lana said, standing. ‘I must just go to the bathroom.’
‘What is it, darling?’ asked Cole. She could hear the tight strings of his anxiety.
‘I won’t be a minute,’ she said, desperate to get away. With all the dignity she could muster she headed out of the restaurant, without a clue where she was going.
She squeezed her eyes shut and leaned back against an elaborately papered wall, trying to slow her breathing.
It was all too much. Seeing Robbie again had knocked her hard and, worse, seeing him so happy with Elisabeth. He was ignoring her. But what had she expected–a chat about the good old days? Part of her wanted to stalk back in, shatter this polite bullshit between them and tell Cole and Elisabeth exactly what their history was. She couldn’t. All she could do was find an opportunity to tell him how she felt.
When she arrived back at the table, a huge platter of seafood–oysters, mussels, lobster, caviar–was the talking point. Cole was telling an anecdote, ever the raconteur, about fishing in his boyhood, which ended with him securing an almighty catch and being dragged into the water. Lana had heard the tale before at numerous dinner parties and small details changed every time, making her wonder if it was true.
Elisabeth laughed with spirit in all the right places. She had a nice laugh, thought Lana.
‘So, Lana,’ said Elisabeth, ‘tell us about Eastern Sky.’ She chucked back an oyster and then tried feeding one to Robert, who gently pushed her away with an uncomfortable expression.
‘Never liked them,’ he explained. Elisabeth looked confused.
‘It’s a magnificent piece of work,’ smiled Lana, relieved to be on safer ground. ‘Filming with Sam Lucas has been a dream of mine for some time.’
‘We can’t wait to see it,’ said Elisabeth, raising her glass for a toast. ‘We’re both so thrilled that the premiere is coming to the Orient.’
‘To Eastern Sky and the Orient,’ said Robert, as the glasses collided.
‘Lana’s set for great things,’ Cole chipped in faithfully. ‘She’s an exceptional actress and this film will showcase her brilliantly.’ Lana waved down his praise.
‘I’ll be the first in line to see it,’ said Robert. Finally he looked at her, his dark eyes grave. Lana couldn’t bear to hold it; the electricity between them was crackling. Next to him, Elisabeth threw back a glass of champagne in one.
‘I understand you have a residency here,’ said Lana, turning to Elisabeth. She couldn’t help but watch Elisabeth’s mouth and imagine Robert kissing it. Did he kiss Elisabeth as he had once kissed her? ‘The Desert Jewel must be a special place to perform.’
Elisabeth
