"Are you sure we're allowed to be up here?" I asked.
Jalaal looked down at me, a light smile on his face. "Of course," he said simply.
Grabbing my hand, he pulled me into the garden oasis, and I numbly walked along after him. There was probably more money on this rooftop than there was on my whole street back home. Maybe the whole darn neighborhood.
I'd never known this place existed. I doubted most people did. When Jalaal had told me that the tiny private elevator at the back of the casino was taking us to the roof, I'd pictured steaming vents and a stunning view. I got the stunning view, but otherwise the roof was far beyond my expectations.
"We can drink up here?" I asked as we passed by a spectacular glass-topped bar.
"Of course we can," Jalaal said, chuckling. "This is Las Vegas."
I had to remind myself that Jalaal clearly came from great wealth and this was probably just another day for him. We slipped through the palm trees and fountains to a small table hedged in by floral bushes. The perfumed air wrapped around me like a blanket, still warm from a long, sunny day.
A petite brunette appeared before I'd even arranged myself on the seat. She beamed and welcomed us to the VIP rooftop.
"It's nice to have you back, Sheikh Afsal," she said. "Just your usual?"
He smiled and gave her a curt nod. "And whatever Ms. Monroe would like."
I was still absorbing the grandeur of everything around me, and it took me a moment to realize that he was referring to me. I tuned in as soon as the server turned her smile on me.
"I'll just have a rum and Coke," I said.
Though her smile didn't drop, I could tell from her eyes that she knew I didn't belong. Or perhaps I just felt so out of place that I was attributing feelings to her that she didn't have. Whatever the case, I felt as if I stuck out like a sore thumb.
Jalaal, on the other hand, was the picture of calm. Being a wealthy sheikh must have desensitized him to this kind of luxury. I wondered what that would be like.
The richest I'd ever been had been back in high school. Before Sam was born. Before college debts. Back when I'd been living with my dad and almost all the money I earned at my crappy grocery store job had been mine to spend as I pleased. During that time, I always had the best hair, the best makeup, the best nails. I treated myself like a princess, or as much of one as I'd ever be able to. I'd thought that once I finished college and got a job I would eventually return to a state where I didn't owe a ton of money to the government and could afford to splurge a little on myself.
That time never came, though. I finished school and fell straight into motherhood.
But this guy had lived a completely different life. I didn't know anything about him, but I already suspected he'd never been denied a wish. He probably had a number in his phone he could text to have whatever he wanted delivered to him in thirty minutes or less.
And he wanted to have a drink with me? He was probably just being nice because I helped him at the craps table. Maybe one of his friends had pressured him to go find me and thank me. Maybe he was just incredibly polite. Either way, I wasn't going to get my hopes up. We were from different worlds. If it wasn't as glaringly obvious to him as it was to our waitress, I would be very surprised.
After the server walked away to get our drinks, Jalaal fixed me with a kind smile. "You seem nervous," he said.
The laugh I exhaled came out as more of an amused snort than anything else. "I'm not used to being taken up to rooftop bars by foreign royalty," I said. "It's a lot to take in."
"What are you used to, Skyler?" He studied me, his dark eyes pulling me in like a whirlpool. "I take it you're not from here."
"Ah, no." I chuckled. "I'm a nurse. What I'm used to is aching feet and bodily fluids." Wincing, I added, "Sorry. That's an overshare."
But Jalaal only laughed. "I don't mind. I think it's interesting."
"Maybe you can go back to San Diego for me on Monday then," I joked. "You'd look great in scrubs."
Jalaal's eyes flashed with amusement. Before he could say anything else, the server returned with our drinks. I should have guessed that the ultra-prestigious, secret rooftop lounge would have faster service than a world championship tennis match.
"Can I get you anything else, sir?" she asked Jalaal.
He gazed pointedly at me, but I shook my head. "I'm happy with my drink."
The server smiled and left us. Nervous, I directed my attention back to Jalaal. There was nothing between us now except two drinks and a few feet of empty air. What was I supposed to talk to him about? What could I have to offer a sheikh when it came to conversation?
"So … do you live in Las Vegas?" I asked.
Small talk. Boring but safe.
"I'd much rather talk about you," he said. "It's not every day I meet a real-life Lady Luck."
I blushed and glanced down at my drink. "I'm not that lucky," I said. "Honestly, I could just as easily have bowled you over and killed you as won you money."
When I looked back up, Jalaal was smiling at me, exposing two perfectly straight rows of teeth. His smile sent a wave of butterflies galloping through my stomach. Could butterflies gallop? These ones were, anyway.
"I think you underestimate yourself," he said. "I'm sure there have been plenty of times in your life where your luck has shown through."
I wanted to tell him how wrong he was. While I loved my son more than anything, the series of events that had led to where I was in life would hardly be considered fortunate by most people. A first, foolish love, a broken condom, a deadbeat boyfriend. Apart from that one serendipitous moment on the casino floor, I'd practically been living from catastrophe to catastrophe.
Not that I would tell Jalaal that.
Wait, should I be telling him about Sam?
In my head, the girls were telling me to let loose and not worry so much. And I did have a habit of worrying my head in. But not worrying would mean not thinking about everything I had to worry about-which meant not thinking about my life in San Diego at all.
"I once won a teddy bear at a county fair," I offered. "It wasn't a very big one, mind. And I'm not sure if that counts as lucky since those are technically supposed to be games of skill."
"I'll count that," Jalaal grinned. He took a sip of his drink and leaned back in his chair, slinging one leg casually over the other. I found it hard not to drag my gaze back and forth along his lean form appreciatively. Judging by the fit of his shirt, he had some nice muscles going on under it.
Not that such a thing mattered to San Diego Skyler, a single and decidedly not-looking mother of one. But Las Vegas Skyler was liking the way this guy looked. And she was feeling a little bit more confident now she'd decided to push San Diego Skyler away for a while.
"So what can you tell me about yourself?" I asked. "You might think I'm interesting, but it's not every day I meet a real-life sheikh." After a thoughtful pause, I added, "Or any day, for that matter."
He chuckled, the sound of it rolling over me like waves against a pebbled shore. It was the kind of laugh you couldn't help but listen to if you overheard it from close by. It made me lament not being funnier, because I knew I'd never be able to get enough of it.
"Sheikhs are hardly difficult to come by in places like this," he said. "And you could do to find one a little bit more important than me. I'm only fourth in line for the throne. I'll hardly be getting my own reality show anytime soon."
"Only fourth in line?" I frowned. "I'm … hmm, what am I?" I began to count on my fingers. After a moment of staring at my hands in fake consternation, I looked up at Jalaal. "I'm only one billionth in line for the throne."
This time when Jalaal laughed, I wanted to wrap myself in it like a cozy sweater.
"Point taken," he said, lifting his glass in front of him. "To distant heirs and lucky nurses."
"Rarely lucky nurses," I reminded him, raising my glass.
He grinned. "Okay, then. To beautiful nurses and the very lucky distant heirs that get to spend time with them."
He clinked his glass against mine, taking a sip. I slowly brought my drink to my lips, still in shock from his charming toast and the revelations it contained.
Jalaal wasn't just being polite. He thought I was beautiful.
The butterflies in my stomach were now doing full-on acrobatics. It was a struggle to keep myself from smiling like a freak and passing out in my chair.
If this was how my night was going to go, maybe I really was lucky.