Nina laughed delightedly. “I just got a good grade on an exam. Sorry for being in such a good mood, but you’re the perfect target right now. Defenseless.”
Sabrina ignored that and changed the subject, lifting her head up to look across the tiny kitchen at her sister. She suddenly remembered why she was so tired and her nervousness instantly reappeared. “Are you sure you can’t come to dinner tonight?” Sabrina asked, the butterflies immediately starting up in her stomach again in anticipation of seeing Sid later in the day.
Nina shook her head and took the stool next to her sister. “Sorry. I have to study this afternoon and I have a show tonight.”
Sabrina sighed and propped her head onto her hands, elbows resting on the counter as she pushed her disappointment aside. “I know. How’s that going?” Sabrina asked.
Nina grimaced, imitating her sister’s propped up chin. “Rough. But that’s okay. I’ll get through it.”
Nina had moved to Las Vegas three years ago, right after graduating from Georgetown University with an undergraduate degree in history. Nina had gone off to Las Vegas, determined to be a glamorous show girl. After only a few months, she’d known that it wasn’t her dream job. The hours were long and hard and the pay was only decent at best. She liked dancing and loved the people she worked with, but was now determined to get a degree in law and was pursuing that with hard driving determination through the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in every spare minute. Her hard work was paying off as she was about to graduate with honors this coming summer.
Sabrina nodded, accepting her sister’s schedule. “That’s too bad,” she said. Sabrina looked down at her hands, becoming overly concerned with her perfectly manicured nails.
Nina looked at her older sister and knew that something had happened. “Okay, spill it,” she said, leaning over the counter to look into her sister’s eyes. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Sabrina replied quickly, avoiding her sister’s too-knowing eyes. “How’s that coffee coming?” she asked and jumped from her stool to pull down the coffee cups.
Nina wasn’t fooled. “Sabrina, I know that look and it’s telling me that you’re trying to hide something from me. You might as well tell me before I have to drag it out of you. What is it?” she demanded, hands on her hips as she looked intently at her sister.
Sabrina grimaced but her back was to her sister so it went unnoticed. “You’re imagining things. Don’t worry, everything is just hunky dorey,” she countered. She pretended to search for cream while she prayed the blush in her cheeks would fade before she had to turn around and face her sister.
Nina’s silence made Sabrina turn around more quickly than she’d wanted. Her younger sister was having none of it and her disbelieving expression showed that. “The last time you used the term ‘hunky dorey’ Lucy Munroe had just glued the ends of your braids together and you were pretending that nothing was wrong as you battled tears of anger, humiliation and frustration. I remember having to go to Lucy’s house and beat her up for being so mean. So something is definitely wrong and you’re not going to get out of telling me. I’ll just find out later and who knows what I’ll run into. Lucy was easy to defeat. I’m guessing by the look on your face that this enemy isn’t as short.”
Sabrina hesitated for only a moment. She knew her sister wouldn’t be happy about her announcement but she also knew that Nina wouldn’t give up her nagging until she had the full reason for Sabrina’s nervousness. “I invited Sid Matthews to dinner tonight,” saying the words quickly, both to get the telling over with and in the vain hope that her sister might misunderstand her announcement and move on to another subject.
Nina stared at Sabrina for a full minute while her words sunk in. The speed of delivery didn’t obfuscate the message. Her sister understood every word. Immediately, Sabrina could tell that her sister wasn’t happy about the idea by the gathering storm in the younger woman’s expression. “He said, no, right?” she said, and it was more of a statement than a question.
Sabrina shook her head, her eyes lighting up with her excitement. “Actually, he’s coming.” Sabrina was so excited, she was almost dancing in reaction. It was too good to be true and despite her fear that she was making a fool of herself, there was also the amazing anticipation that was chasing away all her drowsiness and bad mood over the weather.
Nina’s palm struck her forehead with a resounding slap. She then stood up and paced around the room, shaking her head as she considered her sister’s words. “Sabrina, what were you thinking?” she demanded. “Haven’t you heard the rumors about him? And they are all true,” she said. “I know some of the women he’s dated in the past and they all say the same thing! He is the ultimate womanizer, bar none.” Her hands sliced through the air and her eyes bored into Sabrina’s in an attempt to convey the seriousness of the issue. “Inviting Sid Matthews into your home is like inviting a hungry lion to sleep in the pasture of lambs. Its just plain dangerous!”
Sabrina’s shoulders sagged since she’d heard the rumors as well. Sid was never without a beautiful woman on his arm although it was never with any of his employees within the resort or casino. She pushed that painful reality aside, wishing it wasn’t true but also knowing that she could never compare to the other women. Sid Matthews would never be interested in her as a woman, merely as an employee who had invited him to a casual dinner. “That’s just rumors and probably jealousy or something,” Sabrina said, taking down the coffee cups from the upper shelf. “I thought you said he never dated any of the women in the show.” She couldn’t look her younger sister in the eye.
Nina knew about Sabrina’s fascination with their handsome employer and didn’t like it one little bit. She could understand it a little. The man was absolutely gorgeous and tall and sinfully wealthy. But he was also completely out of her league and Sabrina was going to get hurt if she allowed Sid to see her interest in him.
Nina shook her head, admitting her sister’s point. “He doesn’t. But he dates the show girls from the other hotels. And just last week, he escorted Belinda Michaels through the hotel,” Nina said, referring to the Hollywood actress who flew out to Las Vegas on a regular basis to gamble. “And if you think they disappeared to a private casino, think again, Sabrina.”