Paige entered The Palazzo Shoppes area where the restaurant was located and wished she could buy a few items from Barneys New York. She also passed by MaxMara, Charriol, and a men’s store called Billionaire Italian Couture and decided right then that the next time she and Pierce came to Las Vegas, she would buy him multiple gifts from there.
As she walked farther along, she saw Pierce standing and waiting for her. Gosh, did this man look good, all dressed in a navy blue suit and a snow white French-cuffed shirt. He must have removed his tie for the evening, and Paige liked the semicasual yet still very classy appearance it gave him. But then she looked pretty good herself, so they were even. Paige wore a tailor-fitted red sheath dress with diamond earrings and a diamond bracelet, both of which she was still paying for, and her hair was twisted upward in an elegant knot. To complete her outfit, she wore the most beautiful four-inch black, pointed-toe pumps she’d seen in a while and was glad she’d purchased them a couple of hours ago. When she’d gone down to the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, she hadn’t planned on buying anything, but as soon as she’d spotted these particular shoes, she’d known they’d be ideal for tonight and that she had to have them.
“Hey, sister-in-law,” Pierce said, eyeing her from head to toe and hugging her.
“Hey.”
“Our table is ready, but I figured I’d wait for you out here,” he said, moving closer to the entrance.
“Are you all set, Mr. Montgomery?” a young woman asked.
“Yes, thank you.”
Pierce held out his hand, allowing Paige to walk in front of him, and when they sat down at their candlelit table, the hostess placed menus in front of them. Paige thanked her and glanced around the place. The main lighting source was dim, which suited Paige just fine, and the overall ambiance was simply romantic. It was the ultimate setting for two people who would be making love for the very first time.
“So, how was your first day at the conference?” she asked.
“Long, but very productive.”
“I’m glad, because sometimes these things can be pretty boring.”
“Don’t I know it. But this one is well worth everyone’s time. And what about you? Do you have a pretty busy media schedule tomorrow with your client?”
“I do,” she said. “He has a noon news TV interview and a couple of radio interviews in the afternoon.”
“Well, at least you don’t have to get up bright and early.”
“No, but I do want to meet him over at the station about an hour or so before.”
Just then, their waiter walked up and recited the night’s specials. They both ordered mojitos made of Cruzan rum, mint, lime, and fresh fruit, and Pierce also ordered a couple of pieces of yellowtail sushi, but Paige passed. When the man left, there was a noticeable and awkward silence between them and all that could be heard was the instrumental music playing in the background. So Paige said, “This really is a nice place.”
“Yeah, I love it. Come at least a couple of times whenever I’m in Vegas.”
“I can see why.”
“And how’s your room over at The Venetian?”
Paige had hoped the subject of where she was staying wouldn’t come up, but since it had, she said, “Well, actually, I’m staying here.”
“Oh, okay,” he said, clearly looking surprised.
“Yeah…after you mentioned The Palazzo to me the other day, I went and checked out their website. Then, after I saw how beautiful the suites were, I couldn’t help booking one of them.”
“I don’t blame you, because it really is a great hotel.”
“I’m definitely glad I made the switch.”
“So, did you speak to your sister today?” he asked, suddenly changing the subject, and Paige wished he’d forget about Camille.
“I did. Right before my plane took off. Did you?”
“No. I spoke to PJ and Crystal, though, before they went to school.”
“Camille told me PJ is really upset.”
“He is. He’s hurt, angry, and doesn’t understand why his mom and I have separated.”
“I’m sure, and I’ll be honest with you, Pierce. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to look at Camille the same after what she’s done,” she commented, knowing she’d told Camille the same thing about Pierce a few hours ago. “I mean, she’s my sister, and yes, I still love her, but she’s so wrong for this.”
There was more silence between them, so Pierce browsed through the menu. Paige did the same and was happy when the waiter brought their drinks.
“Are you ready to order?” he asked.
“Paige?” Pierce said.
“Um…I think I’ll have the causa de langosta,” she said, referring to their main lobster entrée, which was poached in a pisco rocoto butter sauce.
“And you, sir?”
“I’ll have the twenty-ounce bone-in ribeye.”
“Excellent choice. Very tasty.”
“Also, what do you have with vodka in it?” Pierce continued, and Paige was a little surprised, because in the past whenever she’d gone out to nice restaurants with him and Camille, she’d never seen either of them order more than one drink, and usually that was only a glass of wine.
“Hmmm,” the waiter said, thinking for a second. “I’d recommend our niña fresa.”
Pierce closed his menu. “Sounds good to me,” he said, but when the waiter left he looked at Paige. “Sure you don’t want anything else to drink?”
“Positive. And if you don’t mind my saying so, I’m a bit shocked to see you ordering another one.”
Pierce drank the last few drops of his first cocktail and said, “You’d be amazed at what pain and disappointment will cause a person to start doing.”
Paige wasn’t sure how to respond and thought it was best to say nothing. They did eventually chat about politics and the economy, and when the waiter brought out their meals, they dug in. Although, after eating a few bites of his steak and a couple of forkfuls of potatoes, Pierce ordered a third drink and then a fourth. At the moment, he seemed extremely relaxed and ready for just about anything.
“You know,” he said, sipping more of his latest drink, the one he’d requested double vodka in. “You really look beautiful tonight.”
“So do you.”
“Actually, I’ve always thought that about you.”
“Really? Well, you’ve never said it.”
“Yeah, well, it’s not like a married man can just go around saying something like that to another woman. Especially in front of his wife.”
“No, I guess not.”
“You’re a good sister-in-law, Paige, and I’m glad you’re here.”
Paige noticed the same glaze in Pierce’s eyes that she’d seen last week in Owen’s, and she knew he was pretty tipsy and borderline drunk.
“This was great,” she said, glancing at her watch. “But I think I’m gonna head up to my suite to do a little work. What about you? Do you have to be up pretty early?”
“The conference starts at nine.”
“Then you’d better get to bed.”
“I know.”
Pierce charged the bill to his room, but only after pulling out his key card envelope to see what suite he was staying in. He’d had so much to drink, he couldn’t fully remember.
When they left the restaurant and turned the corner, Pierce stopped and said, “Whoa, I think I had a little too much.”
Paige chuckled. “I know you did, which is why I’d better make sure you get to your room without problems.”
Pierce smiled, placed his arm around her shoulders, trying to steady himself, and they went on their way. When they walked in front of his double-door suite, however, Pierce fumbled with the key, so Paige took it and inserted it properly. Once inside, she turned on the entryway light and then helped him into the bedroom. It was just as she’d thought: Pierce had reserved a Sienna suite, which was larger than some apartments she’d been in.
Paige slid off his suit jacket, and without warning, Pierce burst into tears. He cried like a baby and hugged her for dear life.
“This hurts so, so much,” he said. “I wish it didn’t, and I wish I could just get past it, but I can’t. I can’t stop thinking about the way Camille betrayed me, and all I want is for this pain to end. Do you understand that, Paige?” he said, gazing into her eyes. “Do you have any idea how hard this is?”
Paige knew her opportunity had finally come, and she took it. “I think I do,” she said, hugging him close again. They stood cheek to cheek, but Paige slowly moved her face just enough so their lips met. She kissed him softly and said, “I’m so sorry, Pierce, but I’m here for you from now on. You hear me?”
Pierce stroked her hair back with both his hands and kissed her zealously and forcefully. He acted as though he’d been waiting for a chance to be with her for years and like he hadn’t been with any woman in months.
They kissed and moaned, and Pierce unzipped Paige’s dress. Paige unbuttoned his shirt, removed his cuff links, and slid his shirt down his arms. They were drenched with raging passion, and Paige’s body flamed with desire.
She pushed him onto the bed, slid off his pants and underwear, and then slipped out of her own. She could immediately see how ready he was for her, so she gave him what he wanted. She would do other things too—anything that would satisfy him and make him forget about her sister.