Two To Wrangle (Hotel Rodeo #2)(42)

“Don’t let that stand in your way, sugar,” Ty said. “Dresses are real easy to work around.”

“But I thought you said we had some kind of schedule to keep?”

“We do, so I guess I’ll have to ask you to save that item for later. I think we can manage to work it into the agenda. I’ll prioritize it.”

“The agenda?” she repeated. “That sounds awfully businesslike.”

“It’s meant to be, Ms. Brandt. This is, in fact, a business meeting.”

“At the LINQ?” She’d passed by it a number of times but had never checked it out.

A few minutes later the limo pulled up in front of the High Roller observation wheel. “Is this it?” she asked in surprise. “You’re taking me on an amusement ride?”

“You’ll see soon enough,” he replied evasively.

Instead of waiting in the ticket line, they were escorted by a uniformed security guard through the back entrance and directly to the loading area, where they boarded one of the glass-enclosed observation pods.

“The wheel completes a full rotation every thirty minutes, but this pod is ours alone for the rest of the night,” Ty said.

“Really? We have it all to ourselves?”

“Yes,” he said. “They’ve flagged us as ‘Do not disturb.’ ”

Monica noticed the table set with crystal and fine china. “A catered dinner too? No expense spared, I see. I’m doubly impressed.” She walked slowly across the floor to stare out at The Strip as they began the slow ascent. It was a moonless night, but the bright city lights seemed to stretch their fingers clear up to the heavens. “It’s an incredible view,” she murmured.

“Just wait until we get to the top,” he said. “This thing rises five hundred fifty feet above the city.”

“It’s beautiful, but why was it so important to show me?” She turned to face him. “I don’t understand, Ty. I thought you were going to explain to me why you want to keep the hotel.”

“I didn’t bring you up here to talk about the hotel,” he said. “I brought you for something far more important than that.”

He came from behind to wrap both big arms around her, pulling her in against his body as he gazed over her shoulder out at the Las Vegas Strip. “I came out here eight years ago at rock bottom. I was a blank slate with no plans, no dreams, and very little hope for my future, other than getting through another drink-less day. I’d just come out of rehab and was in the middle of a nasty divorce. I don’t have a clue what Tom saw in me at that point, but he was somehow moved to help me start over.” He turned her around to face him, his green-and-gold-flecked eyes seeking hers.

“Vegas saved me, Monica. I fell in love with this place the very first time I saw it at night—the lights, the sounds, the excitement. It brought me back to life, filled me with possibilities of what could still be. Just look out there right now. Look at those explosions of light and bursts of color. Every night here is like the damn Fourth of July. And that’s us, Monica. That’s what it feels like whenever we’re together. We’re Las Vegas.”

“Fireworks,” she whispered. “But fireworks don’t last, Ty. They always fizzle and burn out.”

“But Vegas doesn’t,” he insisted. “Night after night it comes alive, dazzling the barren desert with all of its garish glory. For eight years I’ve had this vision of building my own legacy down there, of making my own lasting mark in this desert. Vegas symbolizes all my hopes and dreams. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

“I don’t know, Ty. I thought I did. Just yesterday I felt like I finally understood, but then . . .” His rejections of her ideas after looking at the sketches had hurt deeply.

“I wasn’t ready,” he said. “I wasn’t secure enough to share it.”

“And now suddenly you are?” she asked.

“Yes,” he replied. “I am. That’s why I brought you up here. I needed you to see this. I thought that if you understood my vision, maybe you could also share my dream.”

“But you don’t really need me, Ty.” Her throat tightened as she reached into her purse and pulled out the check. “You can do it all without me.”

“What’s this?” he asked.

“Fifty million. The money’s yours. Interest free. I want you to build your dream, Ty.”

Making no move to take the money, he let out an exasperated snort. “You still don’t get it, do you?”

“No,” she said, confused by his reaction. “I’m not so sure I do.”

She gasped as he took the check from her hand and tore it in half. “What the hell did you do that for?” she shrieked. “That was fifty million, Ty! Are you freaking crazy?”

“No, I’m not crazy,” he replied with a slow shake of his head. “I finally understand what’s been missing. Dreams are meant to be shared, Monica. I realized that yesterday.”

“Yesterday you totally shut me down when I wanted to be a part of this. What changed?”

“The thought of you leaving again,” he said. “The idea of going it alone just feels empty . . . meaningless.” He nodded to the view below. “It felt as if someone flipped off the power switch and threw that entire scene down there into total blackness. The hotel doesn’t matter anymore, if you aren’t part of it. If you leave here I’m selling it to Evan.”