Page 2 of Moon Shot

“How is it anyway?” Rowan flashed the same sparkling grin plastered on billboards throughout Portland, the same one that mocked me when I took the train across town. “You getting some, Meredith?”

Gaping at him, I had to will myself not to slap him.

“I’m teasing,” he tried to stop laughing, “so could you just loosen up?” Rowan slowly stepped toward me, resting his head on the doorframe, rolling it up to peer at me with his unblinking blue eyes. “Let me take you out.”

Eyeing him suspiciously, I had one question to ask. “Are you buying?”

I watched as Rowan lifted from the doorframe and turned from me, his low chuckle filling the hall. Huffing quietly, I turned back into my room for my purse and room key before joining him halfway down the hall.

Finally catching up with his long strides, I nudged his arm with my shoulder. “Can we sit far away from each other?”

“Whatever you want, Meredith.” Rowan pushed the elevator button with his shoe, his tanned ankle poking out from the cuff of his dark pants. He rubbed his jaw while we waited, looking over at me as I checked my reflection in the mirror. “I feel bad for the guys hitting on you tonight.”

“Bad?” I turned, catching the elevator door open. Rowan extended a hand to hold the door open for me, ushering me in.

“You’re tough. It’ll be broken jaws and broken hearts all over Vegas.” I didn’t know what he meant, and I didn’t even want to ask. The ride was potent enough, as I nearly suffocated on the delirious scent of his cologne. We didn’t make small talk, and I preferred that because talking meant breathing and I didn’t want to do that in that small space. There wasn’t an out until the doors opened and I could inhale the stagnant smell of cigarettes, perfume, alcohol, and heat.

TWO

When we stepped into the hotel lobby, there were people gaping at him like they always did, but nobody approached him. Thank goodness, too, because being with him was enough trouble already.

The evening heat warmed my bare legs as we stepped onto the strip.

“Where to?” I questioned, fixing the strap of my left heel while Rowan flipped through his phone again. “Is this going to be all night? Me competing with your phone?” He laughed at me, his smirk driving me mad while sending a text. “I knew better. I’m out.”

“Meredith,” he grabbed my wrist, a quick reflex that made him a star at first base, “it’s my coach. Just wait a minute and then I’m all yours.” His blue eyes pleaded with mine, but I wasn’t falling for his tricks. Waiting at his side, I declined three cards with busty babes and 1-800 numbers from men who passed us, and I watched two couples argue about whether dolphins lived in the Bellagio fountain.

“All night, hey?” Rowan acknowledged me, stuffing away his phone and playfully draping his left arm around me. “I never thought I’d see you, of all people, crumble.”

“Gross,” I snapped, brushing his arm off. “You never will see me, of all people, anywhere but with enough distance between us for a steadfast exit.” His grin was contagious, fighting the desert heat to see which would make someone faint first.

I said little on our walk along the Strip to the Bellagio, where Rowan led the way through the first floor to a restaurant with a line out the door. He flashed something on his phone screen to the bouncer who let us skip the entire line and enter through a different door.

“You’re not shy about flaunting yourself,” I muttered, following Rowan down the narrow hall to a small room that overlooked the fountain. He moved through the sparse crowd to the bar, nodding for me to join him.

“Two gin and tonics,” he ordered, slipping a fifty-dollar bill to the bartender. That meant top shelf, and I tried not to show my excitement. Rowan turned from the bar, his chest brushing against mine. “That was a cute trick with your drink before.”

“When can we eat?” I ignored Rowan, studying the wall of glass behind him. Spilling my drink on him at the pool earlier was entertaining so, yeah, I’d say it was a cute trick.

He leaned over the bar to whisper something to the bartender moments before a woman approached, her sleek black hair pulled into a high ponytail. Her dark makeup and bright red lips caught my attention first, but I was sure the washcloth of a dress would be the first thing Rowan noticed.

“Mr. Ellis?” she questioned as he turned from the bar, grinning widely at him. “I’m Desiree. I’ll be seating you and,” her eyes flicked to mine quickly, “your date.”

“Meredith?” Rowan placed his hand on my back, getting my attention as we followed Desiree. She turned around three times to say something to him, making sure he heard her giggle and her manicured hand was on him.

A man dressed in black greeted us at the doorway of a small room with floor to ceiling glass. It felt like we were in a fishbowl, especially when the windows facing inside became a looking glass for baseball fans.

“Champagne?” the man inquired, reaching for a chilled bottle on the table as Rowan pulled a chair out for me. “For you and your date, Mr. Ellis.”

Rowan’s chuckle rumbled across the table, smacking my shrinking ego while he looked at me. His eyes sparkled as he tried to contain his grin.

“Oh, God. No. I’m not—”

Rowan waved the man away. “Thank you, but I can handle it. Could you just close the curtains on your way out?”

Crossing my legs, I leaned back in my chair and watched as crowds formed while the fountains began their dance. Appreciating Rowan blocking the gawkers, I hated to admit I felt a little intimidated when I looked at him and accepted we were alone.

Rowan spread his legs and held the champagne bottle between his knees as the cork popped and flew over the railing and splashed into the water.

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