The Vegas Billionaire: An International Billionaire Club Series

by Mills, Britney M.

  Dolores and Carl approached them, Dolores giving her a big hug. “It was so good to see you, Sadie-bug. We’ll see you soon, right? I’ll get everything put together for what you need for the wedding.”

  Sadie grinned. “Thank you. I think it will be the best focal piece in any of the weddings I’ve ever done.”

  Evan opened the door without saying anything, waiting for Sadie to get in. After shutting the door, he climbed into the driver’s seat and stuck the keys into the ignition. When he’d pulled out of the parking lot, Sadie turned to him.

  “Will you take me past my house again?”

  With trepidation on his face, he asked, “Are you sure?”

  “Let’s just do it. I want to see it in the daylight.”

  They didn’t say anything as he drove down several familiar streets and finally onto the one she’d known as home for sixteen years of her life. As she saw the concrete, something in her twisted, changing what she’d thought for so long. The same memories came flooding back as they had the night before, but it seemed like looking at everything in a different light was helping her to not have a breakdown.

  The home she’d had nightmares about for years was nothing but concrete and weeds. As she thought about it, there weren’t that many happy memories to go along with the property anyway.

  Feeling a hand on hers, she looked down and saw Evan’s covering hers. He gave her a close-lipped smile and gently squeezed her hand.

  “Thank you for this. I think it’s time to move on like the pastor said.”

  “If you could build any house here, what would it look like?”

  Sadie glanced over the property again. “A white two-story house with green shingles and a white picket fence all the way around.”

  Evan raised an eyebrow. “Like the house from Anne of Green Gables? Wasn’t that what you and Aubrey always fantasized about?”

  Letting out a laugh, Sadie said, “Maybe. It was one of our favorite movies, and it always stuck.”

  “If you were to live in that house, what would you see in ten years?”

  Sadie closed her eyes, trying to focus on his question. “A few kids chasing a dog around the yard. Daffodils in the garden out front.”

  “And an attractive man at your side?” He winked, sending Sadie into fits of laughter.

  When she didn’t say anything, Evan said, “What? You don’t want a guy with a strong jaw and hazel eyes helping with the outdoor chores?”

  As Sadie looked into Evan’s eyes, she could see that part of him was serious. “Time will tell, I guess.” Parts of the wall she’d constructed around her heart were falling and her opinion of marriage shifting, and in some ways, it was freeing.

  Shaking his head, Evan laughed. “Do you want to stay longer?”

  “No. Let’s head back to Vegas. I have a wedding to finish planning.”

  Chapter 18

  The drive back to Vegas was uneventful, but it was fun to chat with Sadie as they wound through the old roads and made it back to the interstate. Vegas seemed to be as busy as ever, maybe more so compared to the slower pace of Aspen Hollow.

  They had dinner Tuesday night, and Evan couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed so hard. She was fitting into his life more easily than he thought possible, and he just hoped it continued.

  Evan was at his desk Wednesday morning when his phone rang. Looking down, he saw it was Sadie.

  “Hey…uh, how’s it going?” he choked out. He’d almost said, Hey, beautiful, but he didn’t want to scare her too much.

  “Oh, you know, just planning Taryn’s wedding and then making sure everything is on track for the wedding in San Diego around Christmas. I’ve never done two so close together, but at least most of the other one is ready to go. Did you finalize any of the events for the week of Thanksgiving?” Sadie’s voice sounded winded, as though walking somewhere.

  Evan pulled out the book, a sudden rush of air leaving him as he remembered he hadn’t taken care of it. “I will do that today.”

  “Okay, let me know when you’ve got them confirmed so I can put it on the itinerary. Also, Taryn said she won’t be able to make it this week here to Vegas. Can you come with me to do some taste testing tomorrow? I figure you’ll be able to help, at least somewhat, with what she likes.”

  “If there’s food involved, I’m in. Where are you now? We can go get some lunch.” Evan twisted a pen sitting on the top of his desk, trying not to hold his breath for her answer.

  A loud wind sounded through the phone and then softened when Sadie’s voice came through. “Can I take a rain check on that? I’m away from the hotel right now, trying to get some supplies, and it’s not going so well.”

  Evan grinned, picturing her face at that moment with her stubborn jaw stuck in the air and her foot tapping. “Sounds good.” Another thought hit him, and he opened his mouth, hesitating to ask. “Hey, Sadie?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Are you going with anyone to the wedding?”

  He heard a slight laugh, and then she said, “I’m the wedding planner. I don’t usually have to worry about that.”

  His heart sank a bit, realizing how disappointed he was at the sound of that. He paused, trying to think of something to say to that, feeling the small rejection more than he wanted to.

  “I’d love to dance a few songs with you, though. Would that work?” she asked.

  And just like that, his hopes skyrocketed. “Yeah. That would be great.”

  When she spoke, he heard a smile in her voice. “Awesome. Okay, I’ll get everything set up for a tasting tomorrow. Do you mind if they come to the hotel? I think it will be easier and faster for me to have everything there. We’re down to three weeks, and I have so much to get done before the big day.”

  “Yeah, no problem. That will help me get some work done as well. I’ve had a lot of calls come in for events the past couple of days, and I’m a little behind on my regular work.”

  They chatted for a few minutes and then hung up, Evan feeling better than he had in a long time. He wasn’t sure where this would lead, but he hoped he could enjoy his time with Sadie and see where his feelings took him.

  * * *

  Sadie felt all the tingles even the next day when she thought about Evan asking her to go to the wedding with him. She hoped he wouldn’t feel too awkward showing up to his sister’s wedding alone, but she couldn’t commit fully to the evening by his side because of everything she’d have to coordinate. It just wasn’t fair to him or her, but she was grateful he’d accepted the dances.

  The next afternoon, she sat at the conference table, taking inventory of everything that had just come in that morning, trying to figure out what she still needed. The biggest thing was to nail down the catering in order to give the company enough time to pull it off. Feeling the pressure, a tiny part of her wished she had stayed in Vegas instead of going to the festival a week ago. So much of that time could have been used to get that much closer to finalizing the wedding.

  But as she thought about it more, the trip had given her the chance to see another side of Evan. He definitely wasn’t all arrogance and perfection, and she liked that about him. She appreciated his willingness to open her door and to help her feel comfortable when things got harder. Could she see herself with him long-term? She nodded, even though she was in the room by herself.

  Did that scare her? Even more than anything she could have dreamed. She’d written off men for so long that she wasn’t sure she’d know what to do in a relationship. But then again, she had a lot of stories from her past clients, which made things seem a little easier.

  Looking at the time on her phone, she saw it was one in the afternoon. She picked up several papers and a folder, sticking her phone in her back pocket before leaving the room. She’d arranged for the catering company to meet them in the large area near the kitchen where cooking classes were sometimes held. It would give them enough space to quickly go through the options and decide which ones would work for the dinner a
nd reception.

  Just as she passed the elevator, the doors opened. Evan walked out, looking handsome in a bright blue polo shirt and navy slacks. He walked forward and gave her a hug, one that extended longer than normal, causing a current of electricity to whiz up her back.

  When he pulled back, he asked, “Are you sure you need me for the tasting?” She focused on his eyes and saw pleading there.

  Sadie stopped and studied his face, wondering why he looked like a caged animal. “It would help me go through the options a bit quicker. I need to nail it all down today so I can move on to the rest of the wedding.” All the excitement she’d felt at his embrace disappeared.

  He held her hand softly with one hand and glanced at the large watch on his other wrist. “I need to meet with one of the subcontractors at three. Do you think we would be done by then?”

  With a shrug, Sadie said, “I’m not sure, but I hope so. The caterers should be set up so we can go through it all quickly. If you don’t have time, just say the word. I know how busy you are being hotel owner and events coordinator.” She tried to make the comment light, hoping it would ease the tension in her chest.

  She watched as he took a deep breath and nodded. “No, I should be fine. I’ll stay as long as I can.” He still looked like he was ready to bolt at the first sign of something, but what that was, she wasn’t sure.

  Sadie led him toward the kitchen, biting her bottom lip as she tried to figure out the sudden mood change. She didn’t say a word, too frustrated by the whole event and berating herself for even thinking that a kiss and a couple of dinners would merit something more in their relationship.

  “How are the wedding plans coming along?” Evan asked, looking somewhat distracted.

  “Making progress. This is the major piece still needing to be figured out, and the rest is putting together decorations and making sure everything is lined up for the big day.” She opened the door to the kitchen and held it for him, letting go once he stretched his arm out.

  Winding through the kitchen, she saw the caterer had laid everything out over several of the workstations, and for once, she was grateful, hoping they could get this done quickly.

  What was her deal? She’d always been professional, hadn’t worried about getting her feelings all tangled up during a wedding. But here she was, getting hot and cold signals from the man she was falling in love with, and that didn’t sit well with her.

  She did her best to calm down, reminding herself that Evan had a lot of responsibility when it came to the hotel. If he was meeting with a subcontractor, that meant there was progress being made in the event room. And right now, the happiness of her bride was worth the pressure.

  Walking into the large room used for cooking classes, she smiled as she saw a familiar man dressed in his white chef coat placing the last few plates onto the countertops.

  “Ah, Tom. It’s so nice to see you again.” Sadie dropped Evan’s hand to reach out to the man in the white chef coat. He took it, shaking her hand warmly. She’d done three other weddings in Las Vegas in the past few years, and she always used Tom as he knew what she wanted, was reliable, and gave the best quality she could ask for. If she could afford to hire him full-time and bring him to each and every wedding, she would.

  “Miss Sadie, it’s so good to see you again,” he said, the trace of an Italian accent coming through. “I’ve brought everything from our menu for the bride to taste. But all I see is the groom. Do you still want to do this today?”

  Sadie turned to look at Evan, who pasted on a half-hearted smile. “Actually, Evan is the brother of the bride. We are the stand-ins today to get this all taken care of.”

  Tom smiled. “Perfect. I know you are on a tight schedule, so let’s get started.” He waved them over to the first workstation, loaded with what looked like starters. A regular house salad, an antipasti, and several types of rolls sat atop it. Sadie reached forward and pulled a garlic knot from the basket, savoring the flavors. She’d missed these.

  Evan stood next to her, looking at the food as though it were foreign or it would hurt him in some way. Leaning over, he asked, “You’ve worked with Tom before?”

  Sadie nodded. “I’ve had a few weddings here in Vegas. He’s one of the best caterers I’ve found. The quality is always spectacular.”

  “Good to know. I could use someone reliable we can call to cater events.” Evan grinned at her, pulling a roll from the bowl and taking a large bite. Sadie watched as his grin widened and he nodded. “This is really good.”

  They moved over to the next workstation where a number of entrees sat: pastas, breaded meats, and several bowls of vegetables. Over the next hour, they tried pieces of each dish, and although Evan did a good job in giving his thoughts about whether or not Taryn and Travis would like it for their wedding, he was distracted and fidgety.

  The final round was dessert. Seven cakes sat on the table, some of them covered in flowers and others were simpler with delicate embossing. In front of them were several slices of cake, and Sadie was excited to try them out. She’d never done a cake testing before, as most of the brides and grooms were able to do that part themselves. This would be quite the experience.

  Glancing at Evan, she saw his stiff posture and the glazed look in his eyes. She reached over, squeezing his hand with her own until he looked in her direction.

  “Are you okay?” she whispered as Tom was turned, getting something from a shelf in back.

  His gaze turned to her, and it took a moment for him to blink, bringing him back to the present. “Yes, sorry. I’ve just got a lot going on. What did I miss?”

  Tom placed two forks in front of them, gesturing to the cake.

  Sadie picked up the silverware and handed one fork to Evan. He moved like a robot, that same glazed look returning. Something was off and she had a feeling it wasn’t really about work. He’d never been like this before, but maybe the pressure was getting to him all of a sudden. She knew she was falling for Evan Pearson, she just hoped that he’d go back to acting normal after this day was over.

  Chapter 19

  Evan had actually enjoyed taste testing the menu with Sadie, and he found Tom’s food to be some of the best he’d tasted in a while. He’d have to get the man’s information to sway him to come work at the hotel for him, even if it was only for events.

  The part he’d been dreading most was the last table filled with cakes of different sizes and colors. He’d thought about what taste testing food would mean after he got off the phone with Sadie the night before, and it had seemed easy enough—until it came to the cakes. He’d noticed the separate table for the frosted desserts from the moment he’d walked into the room. His stomach churned, memories of his time with Stacey as they planned their wedding surfaced.

  “I’ve brought several cakes for you to try today,” Tom began, waving his hands in front of the display. “We have some other options if this isn’t what you think the bride and groom would enjoy.”

  Sadie smiled at his eager-to-please personality. “I think we’ll be okay, Tom. They all look amazing.”

  Evan glanced over at her, but she wouldn’t look at him, her posture stiff. Trying to focus, he knew he’d have to talk to her after. He just wasn’t sure how to explain that all of this was hitting too close to home.

  “This first cake is a chocolate raspberry truffle, and it’s filled with a dark chocolate ganache. Next is a salted caramel cake, which is a popular favorite right now.” He waved for them to taste each piece.

  Evan watched as Sadie sliced off a small bite of both with the side of her fork. He reached in and tasted each. The flavors were delicious, but the chocolate was a little overpowering for his taste.

  “Next, we have a vanilla cake with an almond buttercream frosting. Beside it is a lemon berry cake, layered with strawberries, raspberries, and cream.” Sadie again moved to cut a piece, but Evan could only stare at the yellow cake, his heart pounding in his ears.

  That was the cake that was supposed to
signal his forever life. He and Stacey had a hard time deciding on what flavor to get, as they had very different tastes in desserts. But after several occasions of trying new kinds, that had been the one they’d settled on, even down to the layer of berries.

  He hadn’t moved forward, still frozen when Sadie turned to him. With a loud whisper, she asked, “Are you okay?” She’d said it several times throughout the tasting but the memory overload was hitting him harder than he’d imagined.

  “Corn dogs.” His words were so soft, he wondered if he’d actually said them out loud. Feeling like a robot, he set the fork down on the table and said, “I’ve got to take this call.” Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he swiped as if answering a real call and moved in the direction of the back stairs. He placed it to his ear and said, “Hello, Evan Pearson.”

  When he was out of earshot, he lowered the phone from his ear, his breathing so rapid that he became light-headed. It had been five years. Why was he still reacting like this?

  As he sat on the cement stairs, he rubbed at his temples, hoping a searing headache wouldn’t form from the dull one there now. As he sifted through his emotions, he realized that had he read the signs long before he’d gotten to the stage of planning his own wedding, he could have saved himself from heartbreak. But that was in the past. He needed to find a way to get through it, for his sister’s sake, as well as for his own future.

  Maybe it was better he’d had to help with the wedding as much as he had so he could work through all of this. What would he have been like for his second-chance wedding? If he ever got one, that is.

  I’m sorry. Can we talk later?

  He sent the text to Sadie, hoping she wouldn’t feel like he’d abandoned her.

  His breathing evening out, he trekked up the stairs to the second floor. He’d escape through the elevator there so he wouldn’t have to face Sadie again today. She deserved an explanation of his abrupt behavior, and he would give it to her, but he still needed time to sort out his feelings. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her, especially after all she’d been through, and he hoped a little time alone would help him get back to normal.