The Durango Affair - Brenda Jackson [39]
He was silent while he toweled off, watching her watch him. He smiled knowingly. “Tomorrow is our wedding day and regardless of the reason that brought us to this point, Savannah, I intend to make it a special day for you. For the both of us.”
Moments later when the patio door closed behind him, Savannah sank deeper into the water, already feeling the loss of Durango’s heat. Whether she wanted to or not, a part of her couldn’t help but look forward to tomorrow, the day when—even though it would be temporary—she would become Mrs. Durango Westmoreland.
Nine
T he following day when they pulled up to the entrance of the Rolling Cascade Casino and Resort, Savannah was at a loss for words. As a photographer she had traveled to many picturesque sites, but she thought nothing could have prepared her for the car ride from Reno to Ian Westmoreland’s exclusive resort on Lake Tahoe.
She and Durango had flown into Reno and had rented a car for the drive to Lake Tahoe. They decided to take what he declared to be the scenic route; the panoramic view was spectacular and more than once she had asked Durango to stop the car so she could take pictures of the snowcapped mountains, the enormous boulders and the clusters of shrubs and pine trees that grew almost down to the lake.
Just minutes from Stateline, Nevada, the Rolling Cascade looked different from the other sprawling casinos they had passed. Ian’s resort was a beautifully designed building that overlooked Lake Tahoe and was surrounded by a number of specialty shops, clothing stores and a myriad of restaurants.
Durango had explained that the Cascade had been vacant for almost a year after it was discovered that the previous owner had been using the casino as a front for an illegal operation. When it had gone up for sale, Ian and his investors had been ready to bring their casino business on land. Hurricane Katrina had made it impossible to continue his riverboat’s route along the Mississippi from New Orleans to Memphis.
Ian had remodeled the establishment to be a small community within itself. Having been open for six months, the resort had already shown amazing profits and was giving plenty of stiff competition to the likes of the Las Vegas–style casinos situated close by.
“This place is simply beautiful,” Savannah said when Durango brought the car to a stop. Within seconds, members of the resort’s staff were there to greet them and to assist with their bags.
Durango smiled as he placed a muscled arm around her shoulders as they walked inside the building. The Cascade’s inside was just as impressive as its outside. Durango stopped and glanced around, letting out a low whistle. Moments later he said, “Ian really did it up this time. I think he’s found his calling.”
“I think so, too, brother.”
Both Durango and Savannah turned to find a smiling Ian standing directly behind them. He gave Durango an affectionate bear hug and leaned over and brushed a kiss on Savannah’s cheek. “I’m glad you like what you see,” Ian said and smiled.
“We do,” Savannah replied, returning his smile and thinking that all the Westmoreland brothers and cousins resembled each other. They were all tall, dark and handsome; however, Ian’s neatly trimmed short beard added a rakish look to his features. “And I appreciate you having us here,” she added.
Ian grinned. “No reason to thank me. It’s about time Durango came down from the mountains and went someplace other than Atlanta. Besides, it’s not every day that a Westmoreland gets married. Come on and let me get the both of you checked in. I have the wedding chapel reserved for five o’clock. That will give you time to rest and relax a bit before the ceremony.”
“Have Chase and Jessica arrived yet?” Durango asked as he and Savannah followed Ian over to the check-in counter.
“Yes, they got in a few hours ago and last time I checked they were getting ready to take a stroll around the shops.”
A huge smile then