Linda Graves/layla hazine
romance, fantasy Author
romance, fantasy Author
| Excerpts of Unveiled Skye |
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She walked back into the theater just as the lights dimmed to begin the show. The atmosphere was
extremely different. Earlier that day the room was a large open space with only a raised stage where
Skye had taught her class. Now the room was wall-to-wall risers and chairs. The stage had a beautiful
backdrop depicting a desert scene with the sun setting behind a pyramid. The energy in the room was
fabulous. Skye took her seat at the back of the room, as instructor of the seminar; her visual presents
often made less experienced dancers a bit nervous. Here, sitting in the rear, she supported the
participants that had taken her class, yet did not make anyone uncomfortable.
The show was one of the best shows that Skye had attended. The talent was excellent. Skye’s turn
came and she rose to the occasion. The energy of the room electrified her. As self-judgmental as she
always was, even she had to admit that was one of her best performances.
“Skye, can we get a picture together?” Skye turned and nodded to Tanya, the sponsor of the seminar.
Several moments of insanity followed as Tanya tried to position her dancers around them on stage.
Flashes came from all over as the dancer’s family and friends took their pictures. Then all on the stage
turned their focus to the huge camera in front center. After several moments of pictures, Skye could
see little but spots. She gave Tanya a hug and offered her thanks for letting her participate in such a
grand production. Skye then started making her way to make her way to the edge of the stage. Skye’s
admirers swarmed her. Skye could not lie, as it would with anyone, the attention made her feel like
royalty. The show had drained her energies and her nice cozy bed seemed to be calling her name.
She was looking forward to enjoying Sunday and Monday relaxing on her own.
Skye turned to sign an autograph for a young girl as she started down the stairs. As she took her next
step she stumbled and felt a hand reach up to support her. ‘Thank you. I can dance, not wa…’ Skye’s
eyes opened wide in surprise. Holding onto her hand was a tall, handsome gentlemen. “Eli? Of my
goodness.” She was stunned. Still holding onto his hand, her feet had now totally stopped moving. She
stood there staring into his dark brown eyes.
Eli smiled at her. “You know the people behind you would be able to leave the stage if you would come
on down.” Skye then realized she was indeed blocking traffic. Even though none seemed anxious to
continue. All eyes were curiously turned on Skye and Eli. She quickly moved down the stairs and let Eli
lead her to the side of the stage.
“Oh my goodness.” Skye mind was muddled with a million thoughts, done of which were complete.
“You already said that.” Eli grinned. He still had not dropped her hand. “Your surprised to see me?”
“Oh my goodness.” Skye suddenly felt her face turn flush. Surely she could think of something else to
say. “What are you doing here? It is wonderful to see you.” Without thinking she reached up and
wrapped Eli in a great bear hug. For a moment, it felt as if Eli wanted to pull away. Then Eli’s arms
tightly gripped her waist. My, it felt wonderful.
Eli then did pull away. “I was doing a layout for Caesar’s and was covering your show.” Skye looked
down and noticed his camera still in hand. He continued, “And may I say I was quite impressed. You are
wonderful. I am really glad you kept it up.” Eli’s could not keep the glow from his eyes.
Skye had pictured this moment many times and always thought it would be a tense confrontation. “You
look great yourself. Are you living here now?”
“No, I am leaving tomorrow to head back to Florida. I still call that home. What about you? They said
you were from Texas. Still living in Fort Worth?
“That’s home.” Skye smiled up at him. A few students came up to give their thanks. Skye graciously
turned and spoke to them. Eli stepped back to give the others room. Skye quickly glanced over at him,
praying he would not disappear. She was glad to see him standing very near by wearing a soft smile.
His eyes never left her.
Soon the students left and she approached Eli. “I would love to talk for awhile. Do you have to take off
right away?”
“I would like to talk as well. Catch up, you know. Would you like to go for a drink? We are in Vegas.
They are opened all night.” Eli walked to his bag and started putting away his camera. Skye realized
she was still in costume. Not really appropriate attire for strolling the boulevard. Yet Skye feared to let
Eli out of her sight. She did not even know where he was staying.
Eli seemed to read her mind. “Would you like to go change? I can meet you in the lounge. I need to put
my equipment away anyway. Are you sure you are not too tired?” Eli did not even look up. Feeling a bit
unsure of what he was feeling.
Skye could not help but feel a bit cautious as well. “I would love to change. This outfit is made for looks
not comfort.” She smiled up at Eli. “I am staying here on the 12th floor. Where are you staying?”
“Here, on the 5th floor. How about I go and put away my camera and meet you down in the Shadow
Bar?” Skye nodded. They walked in silence to the elevators. Eyes peered from around the slot
machines and tables as they past through the casino. Skye did not notice. Her thoughts were only on
Eli.
They arrived in front of the elevator. Eli pushed the up button. They stood in silence looking up at the
numbers as they counted down to the lobby. The doors opened and they stepped inside. Eli reached
over and pushed the 12th floor button, but not the 5th floor. Skye pretended not to notice. The doors
opened again and both stepped off the elevator. They said nothing as they made their way down the
hall to her room. Skye retrieved her key from her bag and opened the door. ‘Would you like to come in,
while I change? We can drop your bag as we go down.” Skye felt sure Eli already planned something
along those lines anyway. Eli followed her into the suite without a word. Skye hurried off to the bedroom
and began changing as quickly as she could.
Looking around the suite, Eli smiled. ‘Well, they treat the star of a show, much better than they do the
lowly photographer.” Eli sat down on the sofa. He knew he had something to say. Something, that
needed to be said in private. He just was not sure how to begin. Moments later, Skye emerged from the
bedroom, dressed in jeans and a green burnt out velvet blouse. Eli found himself staring. Amazed as
he had always been in the past at the beauty of her emerald green eyes. After a moment he had to pull
his eyes away.
extremely different. Earlier that day the room was a large open space with only a raised stage where
Skye had taught her class. Now the room was wall-to-wall risers and chairs. The stage had a beautiful
backdrop depicting a desert scene with the sun setting behind a pyramid. The energy in the room was
fabulous. Skye took her seat at the back of the room, as instructor of the seminar; her visual presents
often made less experienced dancers a bit nervous. Here, sitting in the rear, she supported the
participants that had taken her class, yet did not make anyone uncomfortable.
The show was one of the best shows that Skye had attended. The talent was excellent. Skye’s turn
came and she rose to the occasion. The energy of the room electrified her. As self-judgmental as she
always was, even she had to admit that was one of her best performances.
“Skye, can we get a picture together?” Skye turned and nodded to Tanya, the sponsor of the seminar.
Several moments of insanity followed as Tanya tried to position her dancers around them on stage.
Flashes came from all over as the dancer’s family and friends took their pictures. Then all on the stage
turned their focus to the huge camera in front center. After several moments of pictures, Skye could
see little but spots. She gave Tanya a hug and offered her thanks for letting her participate in such a
grand production. Skye then started making her way to make her way to the edge of the stage. Skye’s
admirers swarmed her. Skye could not lie, as it would with anyone, the attention made her feel like
royalty. The show had drained her energies and her nice cozy bed seemed to be calling her name.
She was looking forward to enjoying Sunday and Monday relaxing on her own.
Skye turned to sign an autograph for a young girl as she started down the stairs. As she took her next
step she stumbled and felt a hand reach up to support her. ‘Thank you. I can dance, not wa…’ Skye’s
eyes opened wide in surprise. Holding onto her hand was a tall, handsome gentlemen. “Eli? Of my
goodness.” She was stunned. Still holding onto his hand, her feet had now totally stopped moving. She
stood there staring into his dark brown eyes.
Eli smiled at her. “You know the people behind you would be able to leave the stage if you would come
on down.” Skye then realized she was indeed blocking traffic. Even though none seemed anxious to
continue. All eyes were curiously turned on Skye and Eli. She quickly moved down the stairs and let Eli
lead her to the side of the stage.
“Oh my goodness.” Skye mind was muddled with a million thoughts, done of which were complete.
“You already said that.” Eli grinned. He still had not dropped her hand. “Your surprised to see me?”
“Oh my goodness.” Skye suddenly felt her face turn flush. Surely she could think of something else to
say. “What are you doing here? It is wonderful to see you.” Without thinking she reached up and
wrapped Eli in a great bear hug. For a moment, it felt as if Eli wanted to pull away. Then Eli’s arms
tightly gripped her waist. My, it felt wonderful.
Eli then did pull away. “I was doing a layout for Caesar’s and was covering your show.” Skye looked
down and noticed his camera still in hand. He continued, “And may I say I was quite impressed. You are
wonderful. I am really glad you kept it up.” Eli’s could not keep the glow from his eyes.
Skye had pictured this moment many times and always thought it would be a tense confrontation. “You
look great yourself. Are you living here now?”
“No, I am leaving tomorrow to head back to Florida. I still call that home. What about you? They said
you were from Texas. Still living in Fort Worth?
“That’s home.” Skye smiled up at him. A few students came up to give their thanks. Skye graciously
turned and spoke to them. Eli stepped back to give the others room. Skye quickly glanced over at him,
praying he would not disappear. She was glad to see him standing very near by wearing a soft smile.
His eyes never left her.
Soon the students left and she approached Eli. “I would love to talk for awhile. Do you have to take off
right away?”
“I would like to talk as well. Catch up, you know. Would you like to go for a drink? We are in Vegas.
They are opened all night.” Eli walked to his bag and started putting away his camera. Skye realized
she was still in costume. Not really appropriate attire for strolling the boulevard. Yet Skye feared to let
Eli out of her sight. She did not even know where he was staying.
Eli seemed to read her mind. “Would you like to go change? I can meet you in the lounge. I need to put
my equipment away anyway. Are you sure you are not too tired?” Eli did not even look up. Feeling a bit
unsure of what he was feeling.
Skye could not help but feel a bit cautious as well. “I would love to change. This outfit is made for looks
not comfort.” She smiled up at Eli. “I am staying here on the 12th floor. Where are you staying?”
“Here, on the 5th floor. How about I go and put away my camera and meet you down in the Shadow
Bar?” Skye nodded. They walked in silence to the elevators. Eyes peered from around the slot
machines and tables as they past through the casino. Skye did not notice. Her thoughts were only on
Eli.
They arrived in front of the elevator. Eli pushed the up button. They stood in silence looking up at the
numbers as they counted down to the lobby. The doors opened and they stepped inside. Eli reached
over and pushed the 12th floor button, but not the 5th floor. Skye pretended not to notice. The doors
opened again and both stepped off the elevator. They said nothing as they made their way down the
hall to her room. Skye retrieved her key from her bag and opened the door. ‘Would you like to come in,
while I change? We can drop your bag as we go down.” Skye felt sure Eli already planned something
along those lines anyway. Eli followed her into the suite without a word. Skye hurried off to the bedroom
and began changing as quickly as she could.
Looking around the suite, Eli smiled. ‘Well, they treat the star of a show, much better than they do the
lowly photographer.” Eli sat down on the sofa. He knew he had something to say. Something, that
needed to be said in private. He just was not sure how to begin. Moments later, Skye emerged from the
bedroom, dressed in jeans and a green burnt out velvet blouse. Eli found himself staring. Amazed as
he had always been in the past at the beauty of her emerald green eyes. After a moment he had to pull
his eyes away.