I accept them with a deep courtesy."I hope you enjoyed mine as much as I enjoyed yours."
"We are even, Steven."He says, then slaps Aurei's shoulder and walks away."Keep that one."
"Yep."Aurei grins at me.
A few of the other kitchen staff come over, and he talks to them while Zita gives me another hug."That was incredibly funny!Thank you!I haven't laughed that hard in years!"
"It's so much fun to do!I'm glad you enjoyed it."
Quintus walks up, and Zita starts the introductions, but he tells her he has already met me."Did you catch the little show?"She asks him.
"Yes, I did."He looks at me and cocks his eyebrow."Very funny, but very different than what you normally dance."He tells Zita."I've seen her dance in Vegas."
"Ah!How about that!"She replies.She sees someone behind him and waves, then is off to greet them.
"You don't know what all I dance."I give him a little attitude.I'm still pissed at him."I'm the most versatile dancer under contract, and I dance in many different ways.It's part of my job."Suddenly I see the light of an 'ah ha' moment come on, and I realize he just connected the dots between me and Surreal.He is very perceptive.
"Ah!I see!So that's why you are untouchable.Makes sense now.You do a great job hiding that secret."
"Some of us are better than others at hiding our secrets."I give him a look that tells him, 'I can see a few of yours hiding behind the facade you present'.
"Really?"
"Really.Do you currently have a little girl?"
He grins and says, "Not currently."
Aurei turns back to join our conversation, and we drop the subject.Quintus tells him, "I've scheduled the press conference this afternoon.Some family are starting to arrive.I suggest you two return to the cabin and wait for the dinner tonight before you begin introducing everyone to Siri.I'd like at least a few hours of quiet on the social media sites so the Press can correct their assumption of her career and clear the way for family pictures to begin blasting again.This time with the right perception of who she is."
"What perception is that?"Aurei asks.
"Our very own American, Italian Stallion, Billionaire Bachelor, Philanthropist, and Military Hero, Maximus Aurelius Moore."He laughs at Aurei's cocked eyebrows and 'really?'smirk."Meets in his Alabama hometown his very own Miss Wright, who just so happens to be a Vegas Diva, and they have fallen in love.Of course, their true love romance is destined to be the top story that will run in news feeds."His face holds an entirely arrogant look as he tells us."Or, they will be shut out of my press releases."Then he grins at Aurei, whose face looks both shocked and impressed."I know it sounds over the top, but we will run with it."
"All right.As long as you deal with them."Aurei tells him, then looks at me."Let's go to bed."
"But I'm not sleepy after that performance."My eyes twinkle at him.
"Good.I'm not either."
11
* * *
Aurei
* * *
Outside by the Roadster, she asks, "May I drive?"
"Sure."I open the driver's door, help her in, and adjust the seat, then start to explain the controls."RPM's stands for ...."
She puts her hand up and gives me an 'I got this' look."May I drive it or not?"
"Affirmative, but…."
She cocks an eyebrow, nods at the passenger seat, and says, "Then, get in."
"Yep."I laugh as I trot around the front.
