The Little Black Dress (Love in Las Vegas)

“Thanks,” she says, her lips curving back up. “I might take you up on that.”

“So, what do you want to do today?” I ask, pushing my plate aside and rubbing my palms together. “We could ride the High Roller. Well, maybe later when the sun starts to set. The views are amazing from the top…”

My words trail off as her eyes glaze over like she’s about to fall asleep. I stretch out a leg and tap her calf with my foot, and she snaps out of her daze with a snort like I just woke her up, then laughs.

“So, I guess that’s a no?”

“Sorry,” she chuckles, “but have you actually ridden that over-priced Ferris wheel? It takes a half-hour for a single rotation, then you get off. Borrr-rrring.”

“Okay, fine,” I say with a grin. “What’s you’re bright idea?”

“Dig This.”

“Dig what?”

“Dirt.”

“What?”

I’m so fucking confused.

“Oh, my God, Jared. Do you live under a rock? Dig This is a playground where you can drive heavy machinery. Bulldozers, excavators, stuff like that. I’ve always wanted to try it.”

“That sounds…really cool, actually. I’m in. What else?”

“Hmm. We could ride some of the rides at the Stratosphere.”

“Hard pass. I don’t do heights.”

“But you just said you wanted to ride the High Roller,” she says, narrowing her gaze at me.

“Being safely enclosed in a slow-moving pod is not the same as dangling over the edge of a building over a thousand feet in the air.”

She nods slowly. “Fair enough. So, I guess the zipline on Fremont Street is out?”

“I might be convinced,” I say.

That attraction isn’t so high, and it actually looks kind of fun.

My body goes still. I need more fun in my life. I’ve spent years working my ass off, making sure my dad’s legacy isn’t squandered, and I’ve taken precious little time to just enjoy myself.

Playing hooky every once in a while, and going out to explore the city is good for me. Sophie is good for me.

“What about a dayclub? We could go to Wet Republic after the bulldozer thing, cool off in the pool with dancing and drinks––well, I could drink,” she adds with a wink, knowing I don’t really imbibe much. “Then hit the zipline after it gets dark.”

“That sounds…perfect,” I say, my lips curving into a wide smile. “I’ll book everything.”

I pull out my phone and start pulling up websites to book the tickets. I’m more excited than I’ve been about anything in a long time, and it’s all thanks to Sophie.

“Of course,” she says, pulling my gaze up from my phone to meet hers, “we’ll have to go home to shower and change after the pool.”

Her blue eyes darken, and it’s not hard to figure out she has things other than showering and getting dressed on her mind. I’m all in on that.

“I’ll just book us a room at the MGM Grand,” I say. “If we get too hot or tired at the pool, we can just go up and…rest. And shower.”

My tone deepens, making it clear I have no plans to shower solo when the time comes. Sophie grins and nods enthusiastically.

“I love that plan.”

So do I, Red. So. Do. I.