CHAPTER 2
Now, while standing in the ornate lobby of the Platza del la Viva hotel and casino, I was hoping I could pinpoint where the smell was coming from. I glanced back to the two hot guys who appeared to be arguing again and looking as if they might come to blows, but the gorgeous blond spun on his heel and walked away. Luck was on my side. He was heading our way, though I doubted the scent could be coming from him, he looked so virile and full of life.
Janel gave me a little push to put me right in his path, and with all the finesse of a two-ton elephant I ran right into the man.
Reaching out he grabbed my arm to steady me, and the musky scent assailed my nose.
"Hey, Im sorry are you okay?"
"Yeah, Im okay. Im sorry Im such a klutz."
I looked at Janel, and I knew she was aware this was our man.
For the first time, I really got a good look at him and was staggered at how handsome he was. The only thought going through my head was "You are so beautiful to me." Damn lyrics.
I felt my face flame when I realized I was staring and singing out loud. He smiled at me. A very sexy lopsided grin was more like it.
He was tall, probably six foot or more with short blond hair and green eyes. I realized I was still holding his muscular arm and promptly let go, but he didnt. My pulse did double time. His eyes traveled from the top of my head slowly down the length of my body. I swear it felt like his hands instead of his eyes touching me.
"No problem you can bump into me anytime babe," he said with a wink.
"I hope you dont think I say this to every woman
13 who runs into me, but you have the most unusual eyes, they are mesmerizing."
"Thank y- you." I stammered, sure he must have hit his head.
Janel swiftly walked over and extended her hand. "Please excuse my friend; she isnt normally so tongue tied or so clumsy. My name is Janel Atwood and this is my friend Olivia Sherman."
"Its great to meet you, my name is Alexander Sandstrom, but please just call me Alex."
Alex stared at me intently, and I began to feel a blush start at my toes and work its way up my entire body. I swear I could read some very hot and dirty thoughts in his gorgeous green eyes.
Worse, I could feel my body reacting to his. In all my life I have never gotten sexually excited, just by looking at a man. It was weird, nice but still very weird.
I became uncomfortable under his intense scrutiny. Im definitely not used to attention from mind bogglingly handsome men. By the look on Janels face she was a bit uncomfortable herself, as she wasnt used to not getting attention from handsome men.
"Are you in town for business or pleasure?" Janel all but purred at him.
Alex finally looked in Janels direction and said, "Both actually, its my pleasure to own a hotel and casino here in town called The Scandinavian. Hey, would you ladies care to join me for a late dinner tonight? The hotel has a great restaurant called The West Harbor. It has a fantastic view of the Ocean, great food, and youll have a very charming dinner companion," he laughed.
I gave him a small smile, liking the way his eyes lit up when he laughed. He seemed to be easygoing and lighthearted.
"Im not sure of our plans."
Janel cut me off.
14 "Of course well be there; we cant wait to have dinner with you."
"Good." Alex said, turning to look at me again, staring at my mouth with an intensity that made my knees feel like buckling.
"Ill send a car to pick you up at ten."
When he walked away I turned to Janel and said, "Why did you do that?"
"He looks like the perfect guy for you to have hot monkey sex with," she quipped.
I looked over my shoulder to watch the gorgeous man walk away when he suddenly stopped and turned back to look at me with a shocked expression on his face. There is no way he could have heard us, but I felt my face flush anyway.
I tried to tell her she was crazy, but she stopped me dead in my tracks with, "And by the look on your face when you ran into him, he has an unusual scent Id say."
"Oh my God! How could I forget about that?"
I couldnt believe I let a man in a pair of tight jeans with a killer ass make me forget I had a responsibility to help him in whatever way I could.
Checking into the hotel I couldnt shake the feeling that someone was watching us. When we stepped into the elevator, a chill went down my spine and I turned, and saw the dark haired man Alex had been arguing with staring at us with blazing eyes. He was handsome, but in a different way than Alex. This mans aura screamed danger.
The dark haired man, though dressed in an expensive suit, reminded me of a predator. I have no idea why the thought came to my mind but it seemed right.
As the elevator doors closed, he ever so slightly nodded his head.
"How do I look? Alex didnt give us much time to get ready." Janel asked for the third time as we rode down the elevator at nine fifty five.
15 "You look beautiful, as always."
Which was the truth. She wore a little black dress that was cut low in both the front and back. I looked down at my pretty, but plain dress. It was steel blue without ornament or low neckline. The only thing it had going for it was that it was clingy in all the right places.
"Well, I think we are both stunning, but I dont think I have much of a chance with Alex, not with the way he was looking at you."
"Nonsense, he only looked at me because I almost knocked him on his ass. I bet once he gets a good look at you tonight, Ill be riding back here by myself."
"No, tonight is about you experiencing life for a change. I know youre not really going to have hot monkey sex with a stranger sweetie. But if you really wanted to, that would be totally up to you. The point is for you to open yourself up to new possibilities and live life to the fullest for a change."
"No. You go for it. You know Im not good at hook ups like this. I need to get to know a man first, become friends before I can go out with them."
"What you need Olivia, is a wild night of hot sex without making a pro and con list first."
I sighed. Maybe she was right. I needed to stop being such a stick-in-the-mud and let my hair down a little.
Who was I kidding? Im just not made that way. I began to think my ex was right about me. How freaking pathetic is that?
In the lobby, I walked over to the concierge to ask him if our car had arrived from the Scandinavian Hotel.
"If you could please wait a few minutes Mr. Valente will be right down."
"Is he our driver?"
The man gave me a snarky little smirk. I gave Janel one of those this guy is a jerk looks. I was getting impatient when I smelled the ,,scent again. It wasnt as strong as
16 earlier but it was still there. I turned and to my great shock and consternation I was looking at the dark haired man from the lobby this afternoon. He was dressed a little more casually; if you could call dark dress trousers and a crisp white Calvin Klein shirt open exactly three buttons "casual." He looked as if he just stepped out of an issue of GQ.
"Excuse me Signorinas. Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Roberto Valente. I own this hotel, and Mr. Sandstrom has allowed me the great privilege of escorting you to The Scandinavian tonight."
"Please allow me to introduce myself; Im a man of wealth and taste"
Oops. I must have sung out loud by the frown Mr. Valente gave me.
I looked over at Janel who was standing there with her mouth hanging open. I had to admit this man was the finest male specimen I had ever seen, though there was something dangerous about him that made me nervous. He was tall, dark and utterly delicious. Broad shoulders I could see my head resting on. A narrow waist my legs could get a good lock on, hair as black as coal, which was a bit long around his collar. It was perfect for running my fingers through.
He had the most gorgeous ice blue eyes. His chin looked like it was chiseled from a Roman god. There was a slight cleft in his chin that I wanted to trace with my tongue.
Somehow, his mouth looked hard and soft, at the same time. I shook my head to clear it. Okay, its finally happened. I am for sure certifiable crazy now. I never act this way, and now twice in the same day I was drooling over men I would never have a shot with. Maybe I should get checked when I get back to the hospital. Have a complete metabolic work up done. Yeah, thats it. It must be a hormone imbalance.
17 Leaning over I gave Janel a little nudge. I noticed she was having the same reaction to this Roman god I was, which made me feel better. If there was some hormonal imbalance going on, it must be contagious.
For the first time ever, I was able to speak before Janel.
"Its nice to meet you, Mr. Valente, my name is Olivia Sherman, and this is my friend Janel Atwood."
"Please call me Roberto, and its nice to meet two such lovely women. I hope you are enjoying your stay in my hotel."
"Oh yes we are. We just arrived today so we havent seen too much of it before we ran into Mr. Sandstrom this evening."
"Yes, I am beginning to regret he ran into you first." Roberto smiled, though I noticed the smile didnt quite reach his eyes.
Janel finally snapped back into her usual self and grabbed a hold of Robertos arm.
"Are we ready to go? Im starving. I had hoped to eat in one of the restaurants in your hotel Roberto, but as Olivias friend I felt it best to accompany her on her outing with Alexander, as she just met him."
I almost burst out laughing when I realized what Janel was doing. She was staking her claim on Roberto and throwing me to the blond haired, green-eyed wolf, so to speak. Well, to be honest I think I would rather take my chances with the lighthearted wolf rather than the dangerous panther walking with Janel in front of me. Just as the thought crossed my mind, the man in question turned and looked at me with eyes that had turned dark. I thought my heart would stop beating.
We rode in a long black limo the few miles to The Scandinavian. I looked across to the seat where Roberto and Janel sat rather close talking and laughing together and wondered why earlier today Roberto and Alexander had
been arguing and now why we were all on our way to have dinner together. And what about that scent? Was it a coincidence? Did I really smell death creeping up on someone? I felt it was my obligation to find out and help in any way I could.
While Janel was looking out the window at the city lights, I looked over to where Roberto sat and found him staring at me.
It was becoming unsettling to have him stare at me that way. So what the heck? I decided to return him stare for stare. I could swear I saw the corner of his mouth move upward in a slight smile before he returned his attention back to Janel.