Page 72 of Landon (In Safe Hands)
“Vegasis the city of lights, sweetheart. And some of those lights are fluorescentwhich also emit UV rays. It’s not as dangerous as the sun, and with a littlesunblock, I won’t have to worry about it.”
Shetakes the container from my hand as I rub the fragrant lotion into my face.Soft hands run over the back of my neck, rubbing in the lotion. My jeans andlong sleeved shirt will protect the rest of me.
“Mmm,this smells good. I like it,” Zo says, running her nose across my cheek.
Ifshe doesn’t stop, we’ll never make it downstairs. “Let’s go, baby. I’m starving.”
Therestaurant is nice and not too crowded, so we get seated right away. After adelicious dinner of steak and baked potatoes, we make our way to the casino.Zoe is definitely out of her comfort zone around the blackjack tables, so weagree to split up, and she heads off to play the slots.
WhenI catch up to her an hour later, she’s waving like a madman. “I won!”
It’scute she’s so excited. I mean, how much could she have won on the slots? Ahundred or so? “That’s great! How much did you win?”
“Ten-thousand!”
Myjaw drops. “On a slot machine?”
“Yep.I hit the jackpot! How did you do?”
“Brokeeven,” I mumble, but I can’t keep the smile from my face.
“Really?”Her eyebrow raises.
Ithrow my arm around her, leading her to the front doors. “No, I lost a grand,you lucky brat.”
Giggling,she asks, “Where are we going?”
“It’sdark. I thought you’d like to take a walk, see the strip.”
“I’dlove to!” I love to see her this way, excited and happy. And she’s going tomarry me. I’m the luckiest son of a bitch that ever lived.
Zoeand I spend most of the night exploring Vegas. We watch the fountain at theBellagio, and ride the coasters and rides at the Adventure Dome. Zoe is fun andnot afraid to try anything. We get back to our hotel a few minutes before dawnand fall into bed. Exhausted or not, I still have to have her, and she suredoesn’t complain.
Afterbreakfast—at 5pm—Zoe gives me a wary look.
“Spitit out sweetheart. I see that brain working on something.”
“Canwe go to the pool party tonight? I know you didn’t enjoy the buffet, but thepeople were really nice, and I think you’d like them if you give them a chance.We can just swim for a bit and see how it goes.”
Mystubborn girl. There’s no way I can say no to that pleading look on her face.“I suppose. But you aren’t wearing that tiny bikini are you? I don’t want tohave to beat some old man’s ass for ogling you,” I tease.
“Nobikini,” she replies, kissing me.
Shewears a two piece with a halter top and boyshort bottoms, but the sight of herflat little stomach still makes me want to drag her back to bed. She’sdetermined to make it to this pool party, so like it or not, I end up escortingher to the huge pool after dark.
Thepool area is illuminated with criss crossing strands of tiny white lights,punctuated by an occasional tiki torch. In the center of the pool is a swim upbar, complete with a brawny bartender who looks like he’d rather be anywhereelse. Kids laugh and play, splashing each other and doing cannonballs.
Wespot our group on one end where a bunch of lounge chairs have been pulled closetogether. “Oh no you don’t,” Zoe scolds, grabbing my arm when Charles wavesfrom the other end of the pool. “Stay away from Mr. Sunshine. We came to havefun, not bemoan things we can’t change.”
Wechoose two chairs and spread out our towels. “Hi, Zoe, right?” One of the womenapproaches us with a little boy in tow.
“Right.”Zoe grins back at her. “This is my fiancée, Landon.”
“Jean,”the lady says, “we didn’t get a chance to talk last night. It’s nice to meetyou.”
“Youtoo. And who is this handsome young man?” Zoe asks, grinning down at the boy.His lips tilt up in a grin, making a tiny growth on his cheek move.
“Tommy,”he replies. He turns to me. “I can’t do a cannonball and mom won’t show me.Will you teach me?” Obviously, the boy isn’t shy.
