Luke was just as glad to get Giselle out of there. The Cartwrights were paranoid about security, and paranoia was never a good thing to be around. She’d be better off at his place.
Then again, the restriction could be a marketing tool. Only those who paid the high price of a room were allowed to walk through the front door. Judging from the way Harrison Cartwright had decorated the Silver Crescent, this lobby would be similar in tone. Waterfalls and green plants, no doubt. The kind of atmosphere that Giselle preferred.
He thought about the penthouse, which had fresh flowers in vases, but not too many potted plants. None, actually. Now he wished that he had some, and maybe a water feature. But at least he didn’t have to worry about whether his bedroom was too white. She’d never set foot in it.
Chapter 10
Giselle literally didn’t have to do anything besides walk into her hotel room, quickly maneuver through video checkout, grab the handle of her rolling bag, and head for the elevator. After leaving Vaughn’s office that afternoon, she’d been too intent on getting over to Howlin’ at the Moon to take the time to unpack.
She was on the way down to the lobby when Vaughn called. The elevator was empty, so she answered.
“Giselle, are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
“Not exactly, but I talked briefly with my brother a little while ago, and he would like to see this situation resolved between Luke and Cynthia. Bryce thinks my presence helps.”
“Is Bryce serious about her?”
“Fortunately not. We can relax on that score.”
“Then it seems as if the rest isn’t your fight.”
“True.” Then she thought of something. “But while I’m there, maybe I’ll think of some strategy that will help you get back the Moon and the playground.”
“Good luck with that. I didn’t find any give to Luke on that subject.”
“But everyone has the ability to change.” She believed Luke was changing, and after hearing the story of Cynthia’s near drowning, Giselle sympathized more with his overprotectiveness.
“Just be careful. He’s a Dalton.”
Giselle couldn’t help smiling at Vaughn’s ominous tone when he said the name Dalton. “I know he is. I’ll be careful. And I’ll let you know what happens.” The elevator slid to a stop. “I have to go. Oh, by the way, I met Mr. Thatcher tonight.”
“Mr. Thatcher? Should I know who that is?”
“He’s the Daltons’ butler. Very English.” She started to say more and changed her mind. She wasn’t sure what was going on, and she certainly didn’t want to cause a problem for Mr. Thatcher.
“Oh, yeah. Now I remember him. I always thought it was strange that he wanted to work for a human family. Benedict was fascinated by the idea, though. He used to like getting Mr. Thatcher’s insights into human behavior, partly because of the accent, I think.”
“His accent is cool. I felt a little like I was in some period drama.”
“Just remember you’re in enemy territory.”
“I’ll remember. Talk to you later, Vaughn.” She disconnected the call and stepped into the lobby. Too bad Luke couldn’t come in and see this.
The forest effect really was spectacular. Earlier today the woodsy atmosphere had been enhanced with chattering birds and dappled sunlight, but now moonlight filtered through the branches. The hoot of an owl blended with the sound of wind through the tops of the trees.
After their discussion about the lobby of the Silver Crescent, Luke might not appreciate having her gush over this one, especially when he wasn’t allowed to see it. She’d always accepted the restrictions when it came to Weres and humans, but she couldn’t imagine what could be wrong with letting him step inside the lobby of Illusions for five minutes. It wasn’t as if guests would be shifting in the middle of the lobby or strolling through it in werewolf form.
But she supposed having a Were hotel and casino in the middle of Las Vegas was an unusual security challenge. The resorts in Washington State and Denver were far less accessible. This hotel had a front door that was steps away from a bustling street full of humans. Obviously the Cartwrights thought limiting access was the only way to maintain secrecy.
A valet took her suitcase and rolled it out the door.
“I’m in that town car.” She gestured to it as she pulled tip money out of her jeans pocket. Whenever she rode a motorcycle, which was often, she liked to use her pockets so she didn’t have to carry a purse.
The valet opened the back door of the car and accepted her tip before putting her suitcase in the trunk. As she scooted in, she noticed that Luke had opened the envelope the little girl had given him and was looking at the picture inside. The light in the Illusions portico was bright enough to read a book.
She scooted onto the seat. “Can I see?”
He turned the picture toward her as the car pulled into traffic. “This is one of my favorites. She was a water sprite, and the costume was made of this flowing blue-green stuff. She was six.”
“The costume’s beautiful.” But what Giselle noticed most was the brilliant, gap-toothed smile. “She looks really happy.”
“I’m sure she was. She loved getting dressed up and dancing for an audience. She was never scared.”
“A born performer.”
“She is. But this was a sideline, something she did after going to school. It wasn’t her whole life. I can’t believe she’d be happy if she had nothing else.”
She thought Cynthia needed to find that out for herself. The longer Luke stood in her way, the more she’d be convinced that dancing was exactly what she wanted.
“You don’t agree with me.”
“Actually, I don’t disagree. You could be right that she’s glamorized this life and has no realistic idea of how she’d feel if she lived it.”
Luke turned to her. “Then help me get her to see that!”
She gazed into his eyes as the lights from the Strip flowed past, painting their faces in every color of the rainbow. “I don’t think that’s possible right now. I think she can only find that out if she tries it.”
“Sure it is. She won’t listen to me because I’m her overbearing big brother and she thinks I don’t understand. But you don’t have a vested interest like I do.”
“Not specifically, but in a general sense, I’m invested in how this turns out for her. She’s an adult woman who deserves to make her own choices, wrong-headed though they might be.”
“So I’m supposed to stand by and let that happen?”
“Yes, you are.” She turned to him. “In reality, she shouldn’t have to coax you into agreeing with her, although that’s what she’s attempting to do with these riddles and tricks. She should just do it. But she loves you and doesn’t want to cause a rift.”
He groaned. “I don’t want a rift, either.”
Hearing the pain in his voice caused her to speak more gently. “Did you open the envelope you got at the Bellagio?”
“Not yet. Left it in the suite. There’s only so much of this I can take at one time. The pictures are bringing up all kinds of memories, times when the family was all together. Her recital nights were special times. I—” His cell phone chimed. “I’d better get that.”
“Yes, you’d better.” While he was checking his phone, she took hers out and sent a text to Bryce. Stop the pranks. We all need to sit down and talk this out. She sent it off with no expectations, but a little hope.
Luke put away his phone, too. “That was Mr. Thatcher. He says we have a little issue in the kitchen I need to handle, but while I do that, he’ll escort you up to the suite.”