The Encounter: An Ever After Novel

By Eva Lillie

Elle Sinclair was looking forward to spending a week in Vegas. Her friend's bachelorette celebration was just the escape she needed from her sheltered existence. She never imagined a momentary glance with a handsome stranger would lead to an encounter that would change her life. Now she's hoping that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Aug 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543909487

Book preview

Epilogue

Chapter One

I loved flying.  It was something freeing about it.  I spent a lot of time watching the sky as the birds made their way across it.  They were free to go wherever they pleased without the confines of living at ground level.  They lived outside the boxes that man created for themselves and others.  That’s the way I wanted to live.  Outside the box.  Free from the restrictions put on me by this so-called civilized society.  Or, at least, beyond the constraints of my family.  Coloring outside the lines appealed to me.

That is why I always requested a window seat.  Being able to look out into the vast blue sky always calmed me.  Not that I was high strung.  But everyone needed a calming force in life and flying was that for me.

It was beautiful outside.  The sun was shining brightly.  The sky was a clear soft blue and there were a few white clouds scattered throughout.  I had done a little research and it would be roughly eighty degrees in Vegas all week.  Unseasonably warm for this time of year.  Which would be nice and I had packed accordingly.  I had purchased a couple of new outfits for the trip and was looking forward to wearing them.

The flight had been uneventful.  Jess had slept the majority of the flight even though it had only been an hour and a half.  I suspect she had one of her late nights.  The girl loved to party.  I often wondered how she did so well in her classes.  However, if it worked for her.

Just as the flight attendant announced our final descent into Las Vegas, Jess stirred.  Are we there yet?

We are starting our final descent.  You should pull your seat up and buckle your seatbelt.  She yawned a couple of times and began to the right herself. 

Our friend, Meagan, was getting married in June.  She decided to take all her bridesmaids to Vegas for spring break for a weeklong bachelorette celebration.  Her family was extremely wealthy, so this was an all-expense paid trip for all of us.  She had almost every moment of this trip planned.  Jess and I were the only ones arriving today.  The bride and the other girls were coming in tomorrow.

This was the first time I had not gone home for a spring break in the three years I had been attending University in San Francisco.  I was looking forward to something different.  When I had told my mother I was going to Vegas for spring break, she nearly had a stroke.  She didn’t like the idea of her daughter being in Vegas unchaperoned.  Particularly for a bachelorette celebration.  She had imaged all sorts of tawdry things happening and did not want me to be a part of it. 

However, I was not concerned about her disapproval.  I was tired of living in the bubble she had created for me.  Only allowed to do the things she felt were appropriate.  One of the reasons I went away to school was to get out from under her thumb.  I was planning to have fun in Vegas.  She could imagine all the tawdry things she desired.  And you know what they say, ‘What happens in Vegas’ and all that.

The ride from the airport to the hotel had been all that I had expected.  Huge towering hotels with lights and signs advertising all the sins of the city.  We were staying at a super posh hotel with all the amenities.  As I said, Meagan’s parents were loaded and had spared no expense for their only daughter.

As the driver pulled up to the hotel, just the portico alone was massive.  Limos, buses and fancy cars.  The life of the rich and famous.  However, who was I to talk?  We were getting out of a Limo ourselves.  We grabbed our bags and headed to the lobby.  And yes, it was as huge and over the top as I had imagined.  With marble floors, ornate columns and decor that would rival any luxury resort.  But that’s Vegas.

The lobby was full of people mulling about.  Some checking in.  Others taking in the scene.  We were giving the concierges all our pertinent information when, for some odd reason, I felt weird.  Like someone had poured a can of kerosene on a fire inside me. My skin became moist and the hairs on the back of my neck felt like they were standing up.  It was a burning sensation that I couldn’t quit put my finger on. What was going on with me? Such a strange feeling to hit me all of a sudden.

While the concierges looked for our reservation, I turned around and looked slightly to my left and right, casually surveying the lobby again.  I wanted to see if something in the lobby had cause such a peculiar feeling.  Was a fireplace burning somewhere?  That would be completely odd with the temperature outside.  But I had to see what triggered my sudden fever.

That’s when I spotted him.  He was standing next to a seating arrangement in the middle of the lobby.  There were a couple of other people standing with him all dressed as if they were attending a meeting. He had his head cocked somewhat to the side and a puzzled look on his face.  Was he looking at me?  It sure looked like it.

He was beautiful.  Yeah, I know, men shouldn’t be beautiful, but he was. Not in a feminine type of way.  But in a, I would love to climb that mountain, kind of way.  Wait, what was I thinking?  That thought was totally random.  And not one that I would express aloud.

He was tall.  If I had to guess, I would put his height at six foot three.  My father was six foot one and he appeared to be a little taller than him.  He was not skinny or fat.  He just looked solid.  Like it would take a Semi to move him.  His skin was the color of caramel, although it did not look like it was from tanning.  Just its natural hue.  His eyes were dark like his hair, which appeared to be almost shoulder length.  It would fall on his face had it not been pulled back.  And his facial features were strong and angular.  With full kissable lips.  Again, where did that thought come from.

He was wearing a navy suit.  Or maybe, the suit is wearing him.  Perfectly tailored to accentuate his broad shoulders, his narrow waist and hips and long legs.  His shirt was white and his tie was a mixture of white, navy and yellow.  He was expensive looking and well put together.  Totally not my type.  But, to be honest, I don’t even know what my type would be. 

I am lost in my thoughts when I hear Jess call my name.  She was handing me my room key and telling me to grab my bags.  I began gathering my belongings and we headed toward the elevators, which we were around the corner and to the left.  As we were turning down the hallway, I casually looked in his direction again.  I had hoped he hadn’t seen me ogling him earlier.  However, just as I spotted him, I noticed he was still looking at me.  And that is when he did it.  He gave me a playful smiled and then he winked.

He had the prettiest dimples.  The kind so deep you could sip champagne out of.  And, although his smile seemed playful, it had a hint of wickedness to it as well.  Suddenly, that strange feeling hit me again.  It was as if someone had woken up my insides and invited them out to play.

As we rode up the elevator, my thoughts drifted back to the guy in the lobby.  Why was he looking at me that way?  Did I look like someone he knew?  Surely, I had never met him before.  I mean, I think I would have remembered someone so…well, I do not even know the word for it.  Nevertheless, I was captivated.  I wondered if he was staying in the hotel.  He and his friends looked like they were attending some sort of meeting.

Are you getting off the elevator? Jess’ words pulled me out of my musing.  She was standing there as if I had lost my mind.  I had not even realized we had gotten to our floor.  I got off the elevator and we headed to our room. 

The room was nice.  It had two queen size beds and a huge TV on the wall.  It also had a desk area and a small table for eating.  The dresser had a concealed mini bar, fridge and microwave.  The whole feel of the room was modern.  Nothing like the opulence of the lobby.  And the floor to ceiling windows brought in the spectacular city lights.  Overall, it was a great room.

Jess and I chatted a bit while we unpacked.  Since it was Monday and we would be here until Sunday, we thought it best to hang up our clothes.  That would keep them from being too wrinkled.  Still, my thoughts lingered back to the guy in the lobby.

I hope we meet some cute guys to hang out with.  I would hate for us to come all the way to Vegas and not see any action, Jess whined.  Men tended to gravitate toward her fun-loving personality.  Although lately, it seemed like something was off with her.  We usually hung out a couple of times a week.  However, for a while now, she had been blowing me off.  I just assumed it had something to do with her graduating in May.

And you should try and loosen up and let your hair down.  Have a little fun.  Four single women in sin city. We could get into some trouble.  She laughed at that.  She always tried to get me to go bar hopping with her.  Saying I needed to loosen up.  But she knew very well that Meagan had every day of this trip planned.  I am sure she even had bathroom breaks scheduled.

We finished unpacking and decided to take a tour of the hotel and get some dinner.  No time like the present to get this party started.  So, let’s see what sin city has in store for us.

Chapter Two

After we had checked in last night, we decided to tour the hotel.  It was massive with restaurants, clubs, spas and a host of other activities and shops.  We stopped and got something to eat and called it a night.  We needed to be well rested to keep up with everything Meagan had on her itinerary.

I hadn’t been able to get the guy I saw in the lobby out of my mind.  I hardly slept and, at one point, even dreamt about him.  I had never had this reaction to a man before and I was feeling a little overwhelmed.  Why him?  We had made eye contact for a moment, but even before then, I could almost feel him.  Or, at least, I attributed the hot sensation I had felt right before I turned around to his pensive stare.  But I resigned to the fact that I would never see him again.  It was just momentary glance across a crowed hotel.

So today, here we were, at one of the luxury pools getting ready to relax until the rest of our party arrived.  There were not a lot of people out right now.  I guess they were still recovering from their escapades from the night before.  We found an empty cabana and peeled out of our cover-ups.  I’m wearing a yellow bikini that I bought specially for this trip.  It looked amazing against my skin tone, which was tan from being outdoors.  I am a petit five foot six and one hundred ten pounds. I loved to run and that was how I stayed in shape and destressed.  My hair is a light brown and naturally wavy.  However, I kept it straighten and cut into a shoulder length bob.  I have a somewhat exotic look, which I attributed to my mixed heritage.  I have never considered myself pretty.  I have always felt ordinary.  Especially, since as I said, I am petit with small breasts and hips.  Men today tend to like more than a handful and I didn’t meet the current criteria.

I’m about to lay down on the chaise lounge chair when I heard Jess say, Dayum girl!!! I turned to see what she was going on about.  She was looking at me as if I have grown a third head.  Where the hell did you get that?

What?  I looked at her as if I didn’t know what she was talking about.  This swimsuit was a little more daring than my normal attire.

Really?  That’s your response.  She looked at me with raised eyebrow. I’ve never seen you in anything that…Wow! Not that it doesn’t look amazing.  You look damn hot Chica!  Jess always called me Chica.  Never understood why.

Well, you told me I needed to loosen up on this trip.  This is me loosening up.

Well, jump right off that cliff, why don’t you?  I would definitely do you, if I rolled that way.  She gave me a mischievous wink and lay back on her chair.

I smiled, lay on the chaise and put on my sunglasses.  She had to be exaggerating.  Jess was seriously hot and never spent time with a guy for more than a couple of weeks.  But that’s because she was more focused on her education.  She liked to party, but she did not get serious with anyone.

Jess was lathering on sunscreen as I pulled out my magazine.  Just when I found the story I was reading on the plane the previous day, I heard a deep husky accented voice say ‘Hello Ladies’.  I looked up and it was him.  The guy from the lobby.  Looking just as delicious as he had the day before.  He had on a light gray suit today with a white shirt and light purple tie.  He was also wearing that playful wicked smile.  And he smelled amazing.

Jess’ mouth dropped open and she stared as if she was a deer caught in the headlights.  Which confirmed I had not wrong about him.  He was mouthwatering.  But I played it cool even though I felt lit up inside.  I pretended to keep reading my magazine while Jess recovered enough to say hello as well. 

I was walking by and saw you ladies settling in.  I saw you in the lobby last night checking in. I wanted to come and introduce myself before you got away again. My name is Landon Blake.  I felt his eyes on me the entire time he was talking.  Then he held his hand out to me in greeting.  But I continued to pretend not to notice him.

Jess gave me the side eye when she saw me ignore him.  She reached for his hand and introduced herself.  Hi!  My name is Jess.

He turned to her and said, Nice to meet you, Jess.  He shook her hand and then turned back to me.

And your name?  He looked at me again.

I could feel Jess glaring at me, so I looked up and said, I’m Elle. I shook his hand.  His handshake was strong.  His hands were strong.  I didn’t want to let him go, but I had to.  Touching him was worse than just looking at him.  Sparks went through my hand, up my arm and straight to my heart, that was beating a mile a minute.

He smiled his wicked smile and said it is nice to meet me as well.  When I didn’t say anything else, Jess covered and asked, So, Landon Blake, you’re a little overdressed for the pool.  Where are you from?  I had assumed most cultures wore swimsuits for swimming.

"I’m from London.  I’m here for a weeklong conference.  We just happened to be taking a break when I saw you two.  I wanted to take the time to