Vegas With Dad's Best Friend

I just need to know what kind of timeframe I’ve got to make that happen.

“Just a week,” Savannah says, making my heart sink. “It’s just a quick stop. Then I’ve got to get back home, find a job, figure out what I’m doing for the rest of my life.”

“You don’t have to go home to do that,” I tell her, flashing her a flirtatious smile. “You can figure out the rest of your life anywhere. Here, for example.”

Savannah laughs. “I don’t know,” she says. “I don’t think Sin City is the place I want to spend the rest of my life.”

That’s like a knife to the heart. I let my gaze drop to my coffee cup. “It’s not so bad here,” I tell her.

“Oh, shoot, I’m sorry,” Savannah says, covering her mouth. Her eyes are round, and I forgive her immediately. She’s just too adorable for me to hold a grudge against. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I know you live here, obviously. It’s just… well, I guess I didn’t get the best introduction to the place.”

“No, you didn’t,” I concede. “Where were you going, anyway? You looked lost.”

“Yeah, I was looking for my hotel,” she says, laughing self-consciously and covering an eye this time. “I don’t know how I could lose a place that looks like a giant castle, but I somehow managed to.”

I laugh at that, finding my mood instantly raised again. What is this witchcraft she has? How can she make me smile and laugh like this? Like no one else can, when we’ve only been talking for what five minutes?

“I can help you find it again,” I say, taking a casual glance down at my watch.

Oh, god. It’s been a lot longer than five minutes. A lot longer – and I was on my way somewhere, too.

“Well, actually,” I amend before she can get excited and accept. “I can tell you the way. I have this important business dinner I’m supposed to be getting to. Luckily, I set off a little early, but I’ll be pushing it now to get there on time.”

“Oh,” she says. “Yes, of course. I’m sorry for taking up your time.”

I look at her then. Her eyes have dropped to the table, to the empty cup in front of her. She’s biting her lip, and there’s something pinched and pale about her face.

She’s scared.

“You’ll be alright,” I tell her, reaching for her hand on the table. “It’s not like everyone in Vegas is evil. You just had a bad experience.”

But even as I say it, I can feel that her hand is shaking. She’s like a forest animal crouching before a hunter, too scared even to move. A little doe. I just want to pull her into me and bury her in my embrace, keep her safe from the rest of the world.

I don’t want to leave her like this.

“You’re right,” Savannah says, looking up and giving me a brave smile. “I’m just being silly. I’ll be fine.”

I hesitate for just a moment. Her performance is actually almost convincing. But, no, there it is again – a little quiver in her jaw, a little hint to the fear she still feels.

There’s no way I’m sending her out into the city on her own again, not like this. And besides, the longer she stays with me, the better. I’m not ready to let her go just yet.

“You know what?” I say. “You should come with me. I bet there’ll be a free table at the restaurant. I have to meet with some boring old men that you wouldn’t enjoy sitting with, but you can get something to eat before going back to the hotel. How does that sound?”

She hesitates, and for a long, awful moment, I think she’s going to say no.

Chapter Six

Savannah

Oh, god, I think. Please don’t leave me here on my own.

I know that’s pathetic, but I just can’t bear the thought of going out there again. Into the crowds of people. I’m not used to all of this. I’m a simple country girl. I know ranches and plains and towns that have two roads. A city like Vegas – it’s too much for me. I don’t know what I was thinking, coming here.

All I can imagine is that the second I walk out of that door, I’m going to get trapped again. Accosted by someone and forced into giving up all of my money. And I’m supposed to last a week here? I might as well stay inside my hotel room for the rest of my trip.

But I can’t say all of that to Jonas. I don’t want to hold him back. If he has to go, he has to go – and I’m not going to interrupt his day. Personal visits are one thing, but he has business to do.