Chapter Fifty-Six

“That was amazing.”  Stephanie finally drew her attention from the stage when the curtain came down and turned to look at Richie.   

She hadn’t said a word from the moment the lights went down and the first notes of the first song filled the theater.  She had been totally enamored with the spectacle in front of her.  Richie couldn’t help the rush he felt at the expression on her face.  He knew exactly how she felt.  He had felt that way the first time he had seen this particular show.  

She looked back at the stage as they left their seats and headed out of the theater.  She had never seen anything like this before.  She had been to theater productions, musicals, stage shows before, but this?  This was in a realm totally unto itself.  First, there was the music. Classic Beatles tunes that while she readily recognized them, they were tweaked just enough to be woven seamlessly into the fabric of the show.  Then, there was the artistry of the performers, acrobats, tumblers, dancers and extreme sports athletes.  Everything came together in a show that brought the songs to life in a way she never would have imagined and would not soon forget.  She tugged Richie to a stop just outside the theater doors.  She leaned up and her lips skimmed across his jaw and up to his ear, “thank you.”

Turning his head he smiled and kissed her cheek. “I’m glad you enjoyed it, sweetheart.  You’re welcome.”  He hadn't been sure she would like it.  Hadn't been sure she liked the Beatles.  He did, but not everyone was of the same mind as him.  Mores the pity.  But, he was glad he had taken the chance and bought the tickets.  It was good to see her enjoying herself.  “You ready to have a drink and get some dinner?”

She nodded, “yeah, just give me a second, okay?”

He nodded and walked with her to where they were selling show merchandise.  “Whatcha looking for?”  The words were barely out of his mouth when he heard her ask the girl for the soundtrack. Before she could dig into her purse he had his credit card out and in the hand of the cashier.  He handed her the small bag just as she looked up and frowned.  

“You didn’t have to do that.  I can pay for my own souvenirs, you know.”   Irritation prickled through her.  She didn’t need him to buy her things.  

He just shrugged and took her hand, “I know.  I wanted to.”  He knew she would never have asked him, so that made him want to pay for it even more.

She sighed her thanks, reminding herself that she was in a relationship and people in a relationship bought things for each other just because they wanted to.  She and Mark used to do it for each other.  It was only natural that it would be the same now.  Her irritation faded to a smile as she heard him humming the finale song, All You Need is Love, as they made their way across the hotel to the Japonais Lounge where the others were supposed to be waiting.  It was impossible to be upset with this man.

~

They found the others at a table by the windows overlooking the casino, a round of drinks in front of them.  They couldn’t have been waiting too long.  She slid into the booth side of the table and looked out the window and down at the casino floor.  She watched the people moving about down on the floor and the lights flashing and the dealers collecting cards and chips.  She wasn’t a gambler by nature, but she wasn’t beyond dropping a couple bucks in a slot machine, just to see what would happen.  She felt her purse vibrate against her hip at the same time she felt Richie slide into the seat next to her.  Turning her attention away from the window she looked down at the table in front of her and found a drink with a flower floating in it.

“What’s this?”  She turned the glass one way and then the other, not quite sure what to make of it.

Richie slid his arm across the back of the booth, around her shoulders.  “It’s called a floating orchid.  I thought you might like to try it.”

Her eyebrow raised in question.  “A floating orchid?”

He nodded, “it’s their most popular drink.”  He leaned in close, his lips a whisper from her ear.  “It doesn’t smell nearly as good you do though.”  He trailed his fingertips up her bare thigh to toy with the hem of her dress, leaving his hand to rest there.

The tip of her tongue appeared to wet her suddenly dry lips.  “It looks good.”  She picked it up and took a sip.  The flavors of pear and lemon mingled with a hint of cointreau slid smoothly down her throat, the slight burn of the Stoli’s told her this was definitely her one and only drink for the night.  Setting the glass back down on the table, she plucked the flower from the glass.  “What am I supposed to do with this?”

Richie took a sip from his own glass.  “Eat it.”

She picked it up, studying it from all angles.  “Eat it?”

He nodded, “it’s supposed to be edible.  That’s what the bartender said, anyway.”

“Okay” she drew the word out to at least three syllables.  She set the delicate flower on her napkin, not sure if she wanted to try it or not.  She picked up a menu and addressed the three men sitting on the other side of the table instead.  “So, what’s good here?”

The food was amazing, the liquor flowed and after nearly two hours of Richie continually stroking her thigh, Stephanie was about ready to come out of her skin.  His long fingers alternated between caressing the top of her knee and thigh and along the inside of her knee and thigh.  She could hardly sit still.  She looked out the window again trying to distract herself from his touch. The lights and gaming going on down in the casino reminded her of a call she needed to make. Digging into her purse, she found her phone.  If they were going to gamble, she needed to make a call, send a text, something to warn her financial guy that he could be seeing some unusual spending on her account.  Laying her other hand on Richie’s she stopped the constant slide of his long fingers against her over-sensitized skin.

She slid her finger across the screen of her phone and scrolled through her contacts, finding the one she was looking for.  Glancing at her watch, she decided a text was the way to go. A phone call at this hour would wake the man up.  

“Spilling on us to your friends, honey?”  Jon was watching her and curiosity had him voicing the question none of the rest of them would.

She hit send and looked across the table at Jon.  He was about four glasses into a bottle of wine and wearing his goofy grin.  “No.  I needed to send a message to my accountant. Warn him that I’m in Vegas so he doesn’t have a heart attack come Monday if he sees some large expenditures.”

Jon’s grin went from goofy to surprised.  “You have an accountant?”  Just who was this woman again and why did she need a financial man?

She nodded.  “Yeah, don’t you?”  She knew damn well he had to have one, but she decided to play with him a little.  “I can recommend mine if you don’t.  He’s really good.”

Jon and the others laughed.  “Don’t worry about me honey, I have all the ‘yes’ men I need.”

She shrugged and tucked her phone back in her purse.  “Suit yourself.”  She eyed each man, “we ready to go lose a little money?”

She found herself descending the stairs alongside David.  “So darlin’, just how is it you managed to handle us so well earlier?  Normally, if our fearless leader doesn’t get his way, he’s a pissy bitch to deal with.”

She chuckled and nearly tripped down the stairs at David’s description of Jon.  “I was married, had a son and I worked for five male attorneys.  If it’s one thing I’m good at, it’s wrangling the men in my life where they’re supposed to be, when they’re supposed to be there by any means necessary.”  They slowed as they approached the VIP area of the casino.  “You guys are really no different from them.”

Richie came up next to her and slid his arm around her shoulders.  “Is this guy bothering you sweetheart?  I can have him removed from the premises if he is.”

She looked up at him and his face was so serious she nearly believed he wasn’t kidding. The mischievous twinkle in his beautiful brown eyes gave him away.

David smacked Richie’s shoulder as they moved toward the game table.  “We’re just talking man, I’m not bothering her.”  He looked at Stephanie, a feigned look of worry on his face. “Am I?”

She laughed, “no, you’re fine.”

The guys all took a seat around the table.  “Sweetheart?”  Richie asked before he walked over to take his seat.  “Do you want to play cards with us?”

She looked around the table and then turned to survey the casino.  The lure of the lights and bells was stronger than her urge to show them she could indeed play cards.  “I don’t think so. Not right now anyway.  I think I’m going to try my luck on some of the slot machines.”  

He dropped his arm her shoulders to her waist, his hand coming to rest on her bottom before he dipped his head to kiss her gently.  “Have fun, baby.”

She opened her eyes, fighting against the arousal he had simmering in her to bring his face into focus.  “You too.  Don’t let them take all your money.”

He gave her ass a light pat as she moved by him.  “I won’t sweetheart.  And don’t you get distracted by all the bells and whistles out there and lose all yours.”

She just shook her head and smiled as she walked away from him.  After the way he had been touching while they had been in the lounge she had almost hoped he would want to go back to their hotel.  She turned back to where they were sitting.  They were already engrossed in their card game and he was talking animatedly with the guys.  He was having a good time and she wouldn’t deny him time spent with his friends.   There would be time for them later.

She continued to wander from machine to machine, trying to find one that wasn’t occupied. It reminded her of the time she and her sister had gone to Atlantic City.  Jess had dropped twenty bucks into the first machine they had come upon, pushed the button and boom.  She won a hundred bucks.

Stephanie stopped at a Major Millions machine.  Could she be that lucky?  She studied the machine.  It was a progressive game and the jackpot was closing in on the fifty thousand dollar mark.  Stephanie sat down and pulled a twenty from her purse.  Here goes nothing. She put the money in the machine, played the maximum number of credits and pushed the button.   

Ten minutes later she was down sixty dollars and frowning at the machine.  She had allotted herself a hundred to play with tonight.  This machine wasn’t being cooperative so far, paying out a measly few coins here and there.  At this rate, she’d be back sitting next to Richie watching him play cards in five minutes flat.  Sighing, she pulled another twenty from her purse she slid it into the machine.  This time, just give me my money back and I’ll be happy.  She held her breath and pushed the button.  

She watched as the lines spun round and round.  Each row came to a clanging stop.  Oh. My. God!  There in front of her were a row of Major Million icons.  Three in a row.  The machine lit up, bells were ringing, whistles were blowing.   She stood up so fast the stool she had been sitting on fell over.  

She was staring at the machine, hardly able to breathe when she felt hands on her shoulders.  “Sweetheart, what did you do?”  Richie had been watching her from across the casino and he had seen her jump up at the same time he saw the machine light up and had come to see what had happened.

Smiling, she spun to face him and threw her arms around him.  “I won!”

He grinned down at her and held her fast against him.  “I see that.  How much did you win?”

Her eyes widened, “oh my God, I don’t even know!”  She craned her head around to look at the machine. She scanned the lines trying to figure out which amount she won.  “Holy shit!” She turned back to face him again.  “$15,000!”  She had matched all three on the second line. She pressed her hands to her cheeks.  “I’ve never won anywhere near that much on a slot machine before.”  She couldn’t stop smiling.

They were still watching the machine when one of the casino managers finally came over.  “Congratulations.  Who’s the lucky winner?”  His eyes flitted between Stephanie and Richie and the small crowd that had gathered around them.

Easing from his embrace, Stephanie stepped forward, “that would be me.”

He smiled and shook her hand.  “Again, congratulations.  Would you come with me please?  We’ll get you your winnings over here.”  He led her and Richie away from the machine and toward the cashiers.

Richie let her tuck the check into her purse before taking her hand in his.  “Sweetheart,” he brought her hand to his lips.  “What do you say we get the others and head back to our hotel?”

Chapter Fifty-Five

Pushing through the doors of the hotel, Stephanie stopped and looked for the young man who had taken her car that morning.   He turned from the lock box of keys and smiled broadly, remembering the pretty woman with the killer car.  Stephanie was fishing her ticket out of her purse when he stepped up.  

“Are you ready for your car ma’am?”  He practically rubbed his hands together in glee at the idea of getting behind the wheel of her car again.

Her fingers found the slip and she glanced at the young man.  “I am, Laurence.  You took good care of her for me, right?”

He took the ticket, “yes ma’am.  I’ll be right back with her.”  He hurried to the lock box and found her keys before heading away from the hotel.

Stephanie dug into her wallet for money to tip the young man, palming the twenty as Richie slipped his arm around her waist.  This was the first he had touched her or talked to her since they had stepped out of his hotel room.  She couldn’t figure out what she had done.  “Did I do something wrong?”

He leaned in and pressed his lips to her head.  In her boots she was nearly eye-to-eye with him. “Not at all sweetheart.  You look so damn good, I was ready to shove the guys out the door and keep you all to myself.  You’re trying to kill me with those boots tonight, right?”  With the amount of skin that was showing between the top of her boots and the hem of her dress, he had all he could do to keep his hands to himself.

She looked down at her feet and then back at him with an evil little smile.  “They’re doing their job then.”

He ducked his head and laughed.  “And here I thought you liked me.”

She smiled.  “I do.  I don’t dress like this for just anybody.”

He laughed again and took her hand, hauling her close.  “Glad to hear that sweetheart.”  He nuzzled her hair, kissing her head.  “Very glad.”

~

Jon, David and Tico looked at the pair from where they stood by the door.  “What do you make of her?”  David wondered aloud to no one in particular.  Jon studied the couple. Richie had his nose buried in her hair, she was smiling and holding his hand.  “Outside of the fact that she’s good to look at and hasn’t asked him for a damn thing?”  David and Tico nodded.

Jon looked over at Stephanie and Richie again.  They were still huddled together and her cheeks were red.  He was sure his friend was whispering all kinds of dirty ideas in her ear.   He smiled and continued, “I think she’s good for him.  He seems more settled, more relaxed than he has in a while.  Happier too.”

The trio moved toward the couple when they heard the growl of her car coming around the corner.  Jon nearly drooled.  God he loved that sound.

“Shotgun!”

Stephanie looked up and laughed at David who had his hand up as he called out his spot in the car just as Laurence rolled to a stop at the curb.  He got out and handed her the keys, just as you left her ma’am.”  

She took the keys and handed him the bill in her hand even as Richie was digging in his pocket to do the same.   “Thank you Laurence.  We’ll see you later.”  She frowned at Richie and turned to address his friends.  “I have a few ground rules before I let you get in my car.”

The three stood, expectant looks on their faces.  “You have that look.  You’re a mom aren’t you?”  David joked, forgetting for a minute that she actually had been.  He grimaced at the pained look that crossed her face.  And then he remembered.  “Sorry, forgot.”

She shook her head, “it’s okay.”   She took a deep breath and blew it out. Tonight was going to be interesting.  “All right, there is no eating, drinking or smoking allowed” she glanced at Tico, knowing that he liked his cigars.  “Sorry.”

“It’s okay baby.  I only chew ‘em mostly anyway.”

She opened the passenger door, lifted the lever on the seat and pulled it forward, “everybody in.”

Tico got in and slid all the way over.  Jon looked at David.  David looked at Jon, both waiting for the other to make the first move.  “I am not sitting in the middle.”

Jon pointed at the car, “get your ass in there man.”  He didn’t want to sit in the middle either.

David shook his head, “no way.  I’m not riding the hump.”  They went back and forth, neither giving in.

Stephanie looked over at Richie, “are they always like this?”

He nodded, “yep.  You do realize we’re just overgrown boys, right?”

She rolled her eyes.  Overgrown boys?  Okay, they asked for it.  “Jon” she turned her best mom glare on him.  “Get your ass in the car.  You’re the smallest, you get the middle.”  She turned her glare to David, “if you make one smart aleck remark, you’re walking.”

With more than a few grumbled oaths, they all piled into the car.  Stephanie buckled her seatbelt and glanced up t the rearview mirror, fixing her glare on two of the three in the back seat.  “You don’t get to comment on my choice of music, either.”

Jon grimaced.  She was going to make him listen to himself, he just knew it.  He nearly spoke up but found a meaty hand clamped over his mouth.  “Don’t make her kick your ass out.  You’re paying for dinner.”

He bit Tico’s palm.  “I am not.  And if she makes me listen to myself, I’ll gladly walk.”

Stephanie turned on the sirius/xm radio and Sebastian Bach’s gritty vocals on “18 and Life” filled the car as she pulled away from the hotel.  She glanced over at Richie as they moved down the strip, “how do you put up with this all the time?”

He just shrugged.  “He pays us well.”

She couldn’t help but laugh.  “It’s as good a reason as any, I guess.”   She did her best to ignore the bickering coming from the backseat.  “Where are we going anyway.”

He reached across the wide bench seat and covered her hand with his.  “The Mirage, sweetheart.  I got us tickets to the Cirque show and then Jon got us a late reservation at Japonais.  We can gamble some too if you’re up for it.”

They crawled down the strip, the traffic heavy on a Friday night.  The lights were just starting to wink on as they pulled up to the hotel.  As yet another valet drove off in her car, she stood and looked up and down the road in awe of the gaudy beauty of it all.

Richie watched her for a moment before taking her hand, “something interesting to see, sweetheart?”

She squeezed his hand, “all of it.  I’ve never been here before.”  It was yet one more place she and Mark had never gotten to see together.  Most of their travels had been limited to places they could drive to in a few hours.

He let her look for a minute longer, “We’ll take a walk later, sweetheart and I’ll show you whatever you want to see.”  He nudged her toward the doors to the hotel, “right now, though, we have to get inside.”

Taking one last look, she sighed quietly and followed him into the lush, tropical paradise that was the Mirage Hotel.