Vixen in Vegas (Sinful Novellas) (13 page)

He glanced at his watch then. “What if we talk in the car? My car is in the garage. I’ll drive.”

I shook my head. “Nope. We’ll both drive. I can’t leave my vehicle here.”

He thought for a moment then agreed that I was correct. “So, I’ll give you the address and my phone number. Then we’ll check out after your shower and head out.”

Ben walked me to my car and then I drove him to his. I called Jolie several times during the brief three hour drive, but her phone was off, so I left charming messages to let her know I was thinking about her, but everything was okay. The drive was broken up by a rest stop where we just stopped to pee and kiss a few times. There were calls that he made to make sure that I was awake. Then he would get off the phone before I had a chance to ask him anything. By the time we reached the estate, I knew he was doing it on purpose.

Did he want me to be surprised? Was he ashamed of his family, where he came from? I played out the various scenarios in my head, but none of them seemed likely. Then we were there.

I pulled up beside his car and paused for a moment before getting out. It was bigger than I expected which made it difficult for me to remain calm as I thought about how unworthy I felt. I didn’t have a rich family or connections that would have prepared me for this. I had a public school education, no college degree, and a history of running the moment life became scary, difficult, or disappointing. This…would definitely qualify as scary.

The door opened and Ben held out his hand to help me out of the vehicle. It was a nice gesture, very chivalrous. It was the kind of gesture I would never get used to. Still, it was Ben, just being nice and considerate. There was nothing scary about that.

When he grabbed my bag a man came to the side of my vehicle and took it from him. “I’ll take that, sir,” the man said. Then he went to Ben’s vehicle and took his bag, too.

“Oh, those both go in the master bedroom,” he told the man.

“Ummm…I don’t get an introduction?” I asked, suddenly feeling even more awkward.

“Of course, you do. And you will just as soon as I show you around some of these outside areas. We’re giving the staff a chance to get ready for you. Okay?” He gave me a reassuring look and then bent his head to kiss me.

“Okay,” I said nervously.

We wandered around the exterior of the estate for a few moments. He pointed out to me where the stables were, but admitted he had never ridden a horse, which I started to question, but something about the way he said it caused me to pause. Then he showed me around to the back of the house, the inground pool, the amazing back lanai, and the hot tub. From the back deck, it was possible to see most of the vineyards and winery, since it was on the higher ground.

The air felt cleaner here, than I expected. The sky was clear, completely free of any smog I had imagined. The estate, or what little of it I had already seen was spectacular.

“Did you think if I knew how big this place was that I wouldn’t come?” I asked him as I wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my chin on the center of his chest.

“The thought did occur to me,” he replied with a smirk.

“Eh, you were probably right. This place is super intimidating.” Then I realized that we weren’t alone. The man who had taken my bag and a woman were standing beside a table that was set for lunch. “Wow.”

“Yeah. I may have mentioned that we’d be hungry and that lunch on the patio would be greatly appreciated.” He motioned for me to head over to the table, so I did.

The introductions soon followed. “Lucy, this is Alysin,” he said.

I held out my hand to shake and it made Ben smile, but he didn’t look stricken by my actions, so Lucy and I shook. Then it was time to meet the man.

“George and Lucy are married. They have taken care of my family for over twenty years now.” He grinned at George and I could tell they had a bond. It made me feel even better about loving Ben. He wasn’t some snotty, spoiled rich kid.

“So nice to meet you both,” I said sincerely as I shook George’s hand.

Then we were sitting, eating, and talking. It was so…nice. I know this is what people do. I had seen it on television and in movies, but I had never experienced it in my life. In all my years of dating it was…going to the movies, grabbing over priced dinners, and bar hopping. This was what adults did. This was real life and yet it was something out of a dream.

After lunch, Ben looked at me sadly. “Listen,” he began. “I would love to spend all afternoon showing you around, but I can’t right now. There are some pressing issues that need to be addressed. I’ll give you the quick tour, then I’ll be working in my home office for the remainder of the day. We’ll do dinner at 7pm, if you don’t mind, right here.”

For some reason, this actually made me feel better. I could acclimate at my leisure. “I think this sounds great. Don’t worry about working. I get it. If you don’t mind, I’ll work, too?” I gave him my most hopeful look.

“Of course, Sin. Take all the pictures you want. I can’t wait to see them.” He reached out and held my hand over the table. For a moment, he studied our hands intertwined.

“Come on. Time is precious.” I stood and urged him to get up.

Looking up at me seriously, he said, “Yes. Yes it is.”

The mini tour began with the kitchen. Apparently I was allowed free reign of the house and could grab anything I wanted out of the fridge. “How about the counter?” I asked playfully.

“What about the counter?” He sounded confused.

“Well, those look like fresh baked brownies on the counter. Do I have free reign there, too?” I gave him my most playful look, to which he responded with a chuckle.

“Would you like a brownie, babe?” He asked, further proving he would indulge my every whim.

“Yes, please!” I said as I bounced slightly in place.

I took that brownie with me and munched it on the rest of the tour. “I figured I’d need fuel for this,” I joked. “This place is huge!”

Looking as me sideways as we walked down the hall, he commented, “And yet you have no designs on it at all.”

“Nope. None.” I walked a bit ahead of him. “Bathroom?” I asked.

“Use the one in our room,” he said and he pointed to the last room on the right.

Chills had run up and down my spine when he had said, “Our room.” I don’t know if he meant anything by it. He could have called it the master bedroom. He could called it his room. Instead, he used the word ‘our.’ Maybe I just stressed too easily.

When I walked out of the bathroom, I really studied the room for the first time. It was nice…very neutral, very male, and very sterile. “Hmmm,” I commented.

With arms crossed over his chest, he questioned me. I could tell he was studying my response, like this was some test. “What do you think?”

“It doesn’t look like you or feel like you. This room is almost completely devoid of personality and you definitely are not.” I walked around a bit. “Yeah. We should fix this.” Then I realized that I was being stupid, insinuating myself into his life. So I walked back to the door. “Now where to?” Then I stood and waited for him in the hall without ever looking back.

The tour continued through the main living areas. He had a fireplace in the great room that I swear I could have stood up in. I loved the stone accents everywhere. The travertine tile was lovely and worked well with the hand scraped hardwood floors. The house somehow pulled off a rustic homey look despite the fact that the house I grew up in could have easily fit in in it about ten times.

Finally, we reached his office, the end of the tour. “So, this is where I will be if you need me. You have my phone number. And…one little present.” He leaned over his desk and picked up a big box from his seat. “These are for you,” he said. “Believe it or not. This is a practical present.”

“Again?” I joked. “Last time it was sneakers. Now what?”

When I pushed back the lid, I found cowboy boots. I stared at them. My poor toes. Yet, I didn’t want to seem ungrateful. “Thank you,” I began. “I will treasure them always.”

Chuckling, he said, “That may be true, but more importantly, when you are walking around near the horses or the vineyards, you will wear them.”

Without thinking, I had stomped my flip-flopped foot. “Fine, but I won’t like it.” I wore a scowl.

“Well, saving you from potential snake bites will make me feel better,” he said with the same amount of stubborn I was exuding.

That changed my mood entirely. “Snakes?”

“Yes,” he nodded. “The same old story. Developments have ruined their habitats and they are showing up places that they never did before…mean poisonous ones like rattlesnakes.” He walked over to me, his face the epitome of concern. Placing his hands on my upper arms, he reminded me of why he did what he did. “I love you, Sin. I would be devastated if anything happened to you. Just let me take care of you. Just do as I ask for your safety. Please.”

“Well, if it means that much to you,” I teased.

“It does.” He leaned in and kissed me.

A girl could get used to this. All of it: the thoughtful and practical presents, the kisses, and going toe to toe with someone who fought back. This was love. I was in heaven.

So I found myself walking back up to the bedroom to change into…cowboy boots. I felt like they wouldn’t look terrible with the sundress I was already wearing. I also decided that I would look better dressed practically and remain cute and alive than cutely dressed and practically dead. It wasn’t much of a toss up.

The full-length mirror confirmed my suspicion that I had pulled it off, so I walked back out to my vehicle to grab my camera case and start on this little photo journey. Once I was geared up, I knew that I wanted to see the horses. In my lifetime, I had fallen in love with horses again and again. They were such magnificent creatures. And man, could they run.

As I began to head to the stable, I heard my name being called. It was George, rushing to catch up to me. He had a basket in his hand and a set of keys.

“Miss Alysin,” he began when he reached me. “My wife thought you might want a snack and a few drinks while you were out taking pictures. I thought you might like to drive.” He smiled at me then and motioned for me to follow him. We wanted into the garage. There was a sports car, a motorcycle, and ATV, and…a golf cart.

“Please tell me those keys go to the golf cart!’ I said excitedly.

“Yes, miss,” he responded with a shy smile.

“Excellent thinking, George. I love driving a golf cart.” I bounded over to the cart. That…bounding…way different from running. With a girly squee, I sat behind the wheel and waited.

George passed me the basket, showed me to the built in cooler, and then handed me the keys. “There’s plenty of gas in it. Honk the horn when you return, I’ll open the garage for you.”

“Thank you so much. I love taking pictures, but taking pictures while driving the golf cart…even better!” Then I turned the key and backed out of the garage as soon as the door lifted. With a wave over my shoulder I was on my way.

I made it to the stables so much sooner than I imagined. When I walked inside, I saw four of the most beautiful horses I had ever seen. There was a big black stallion, a chestnut colored one with a white star, a pure white one, and a deep brown with no star. Yeah, that’s how much I know about horses.