I strolled over to join her. I was happier now than I’d been yesterday. After Jack had gotten home last night, he’d called me, and we’d spoken well into the night. I’d finally fallen asleep, my heart much lighter. More, he’d promised that my brief foray into being an escort would never reach my parents’ ears. But recalling his question last night, my heart tripped again, thinking about it.
Forever with him?
The shock still hadn’t left me. I had to have an answer for Jack when I saw him next—whenever that was.
But this weekend was about my sister. I put everything aside for now and glanced at her. As a gift to Ila, I’d booked us in at the Bellagio on the brightly lit, neon-soaked strip, right amidst the action. It had made a dent in my savings, but she deserved it.
To say that Ila was blown away when we arrived at the airstrip was an understatement.
She did the perfect guppy impersonation. Only when we were airborne, did I tell her where we were headed. With Charli, Denise, and Missy chortling in excitement, and Petra smiling she’d given me a wry grimace and conceded. Petra had been a little subdued. Her brother and his wife had offered to babysit Cara. Still, she worried about leaving her daughter alone. My friend needed a little joy in her life.
Ila peered warily out through the hotel room window to the street far below. I was sharing the room with her so she wouldn’t lock herself inside and wait for the weekend to pass, and I didn’t put it past her to have brought books or her sketchpad to while away the time.
“Stop that,” she grumbled. “Your ecstatic smile of victory is giving me a nervous tummy, and besides, crowing is not a very flattering look for you.”
I laughed. “You’ll love what I have planned.”
“What? Near-naked men shaking their er, booties at me?”
“Ila, I’m shocked. Would I do that to you?”
“Oh, yes, absolutely!” She faced me, her eyebrows pulling into a worried V. “Ray, you know how much I have to do with the wedding in a week, and besides, I’m uncomfortable in places like these.” She flapped her one arm around the room like a broken wing.
“Oh, come on, sis, live a little. Besides, Max would be the last one to deny you this trip.”
“I can’t believe you coerced him into using their company jet—wait, what am I saying? Max would do anything for you, he even threatened Jack if he hurt you.”
A twinge stung my heart. ButI’d hurt him. I still couldn’t forgive myself for that.
“Only because you two met through me,” I informed her. “And I didn’t coerce Max into anything. I said ‘Vegas,’ and he stared at me like I said I was taking you to the pits of debauchery…” I paused, thinking of Max’s shocked face, then nodded my head happily, which annoyed my sister more, judging from her narrowed eyes. “Though this place does come close, I think—”
“Ray!” She glared.
“What?” I arched a brow, then took pity on her. “Fine. All Max said was he’d clear the company jet for us. And here we are in the pits of sin. So, buckle up for a titillating ride—”
“Oh, Lord…” She rubbed her temples. “We are going to those strip clubs, aren’t we?”
“I promise I won’t ask anyone to give you a lap dance,” I said, grinning.
This weekend was all about fun. And I needed some laughter to distract me at the still very real threat that awaited if Margo got wind that I was back with Jack.
* * *
The day passed in a blissful haze with shopping and a spa retreat that took most of the afternoon.
Of course, we all had a little downtime before our night started. Then we got changed and ready for some serious fun, starting with a casino, trawling the maze between machines in Caesar’s Palace—who knew Ila would enjoy the slots, and the tinkling of coins falling—she’d even dragged cautious me to play, too. Then we moved on to club hopping. The last one sparked a tequila shots contest between Missy and Denise. Ila and Petra stopped at four, and me at two. Jeez. Someone had to stay sober.
It was close to eleven when we cruised into the Starburst strip club. Darkness surrounded us, broken only by dim lights from the sconces on the maroon walls. A sultry tune stroked my senses and bounced off the club walls.SexyBackby J.T—man,I love this song.
A bright spotlight clung to the stage, and on the oiled, muscle-stacked, dusky-skinned guy strutting about, wearing only a pair of black pants.
“Be right back,” Denise yelled in my ear. “Table’s in the front, number five, reserved under my name.”
I nodded, and she navigated her way between the crowded tables to a side door and disappeared beyond. She’d gotten her cousin, Patrick or Eric or something, who worked here as a stripper to speak to the manager for what I wanted. I hadn’t expected to be granted permission, but apparently being a relative of the lead stripper helped. She’d even gotten the front table reserved for us. We could practically touch the stage.
I glanced back to the girls and found Ila glued to the floor, gaping at the near-naked, bronze god now in a thong. Pants nowhere in sight.
“It’s something, right?” I bumped her shoulder with mine, pulling her out of her stupor.
