We’re seated in a booth with a full view of the room. It’s Vegas. Half the guests look like they haven’t slept. One woman still wears a full evening gown.
I’m sipping coffee when Rio appears.
“Good morning, family,” he says. Snorty yips back a hello.
“Where were you all morning?” I ask, curiosity bubbling inside.
“Couldn’t sleep," he shrugs. "Got up, went to the studio to perfect a song I've written."
"Cool. What's it about?"
He shrugs, then smiles mysteriously.
Before I can ask another question, the waitress appears.
“Hi,” I say when she asks for my order. “French toast and heavy on the syrup.”
“Watching your girlish figure, are you?” Rio cracks. “I’ll have an egg-white omelet and avocado slices," he tells the waitress.
When she leaves, he looks at me with those teasing dark eyes “I’ve never known a girl to order French toast with gobs of syrup."
“You’ve never known a girl with a serious sugar fixation. Didn’t you notice that look of satisfaction when dessert was served last night?”
“I remember a satisfied look on your face,” he says, tracing my jaw with the tip of his finger. “But I don’t think it was from dessert.”
The sensation of Rio’s calloused finger on my face sends an erotic jolt straight to my pussy. It’s strong enough to make me suggest we skip breakfast and go back up to our suit.
Rio, I’m sure, would go along with it.
But then I remember we’re meeting Henry Lemon.
“I have to keep my wits about me this morning,” I say, taking a sip of coffee. “We’re meeting your sponsor. I need to make a good impression.”
“So you said last night. But you didn’t explain exactly why.”
I give him a brief overview of the situation at the school where I teach.
“I’m hoping Henry Lemon can use his power base to reverse the school board’s position. Or maybe direct his company’s profits to support the school.”
“We’ll convince this Lemon guy,” Rio says, assuming a faux cartoon superhero tone. “Especially with Snorty as our mascot.”
When Rio and I finish breakfast, we walk to one of the rooms within the Sonny Bono Theater where we’re to meet Antoine and the sponsor.
“Ah, the star of Las Vegas has arrived,” Antoine booms. To his right stands a man wearing a navy suit and wire-rim glasses. Henry Lemon. A conservative guy, just like I imagined.
“And this is Rio’s lovely fiancée, Madison Smith," Antoine says.
“So nice to meet you." I step forward with a burstof energy. This is the moment I’ve been preparing for. I inhale, ready to give the speech I practiced a dozen times.
“I’m pleased to meet you too, Maddie,” Lemon says.
Before I can speak, a woman in a white governess-type uniform enters with a ten-year-old boy. He looks just like Mr. Lemon. Right down to the blue suit.
“This is my son, Samuel,” Henry says with pride.
Samuel gives me a quick nod, but his eyes go straight to Snorty in my arms.
“Cool dog! Can I hold him?” Samuel asks, lighting up.
