Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 51530 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51530 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
I don’t resist, falling into step beside him. “Where are we going?”
“Uh, to freshen up. Then you can pick what you want to do tonight. You’ve never been to Vegas. You want to sightsee, gamble, take in a show, dinner… you pick.”
Without even thinking, I groan. “I’d like to order in and go swimming.”
He punches the button on the elevator, and we wait. I’m sure he probably wants to go out. I shouldn’t be such a stick in the mud. I’m about to tell him we can do whatever he wants, when the doors open. Three women are getting off on this floor, and they’re all dressed up. They are giggling and having a good time until they all get quiet when they see Ford. He releases me as we walk onto the elevator, his hand going to my waist. If he notices the women staring at him, he doesn’t act like it. Instead, he’s watching me. “You pushed yourself too hard today. You shouldn’t have skipped lunch.”
I put my hand to my still full belly. On top of the big bowl of mac and cheese, I ate all three of the peppermint patties. “Uh, if I’d done that, I wouldn’t have gotten the best macaroni and cheese in Nevada, so I’d say I’m winning.” I put my hand on his forearm. “But really, we can go out. Give me a few minutes to get ready, and we can go paint the town.”
He leans down, leveling me with a look. “I thought you wanted to stay in.”
I shrug, avoiding his gaze. “It’s fine. You’re right. I haven’t seen Vegas, and I’m sure you don’t want to be holed up in a hotel room all night.”
The elevator stops on our floor, and we walk off down the hallway. Ford has my tote with my key card, so I wait for him to unlock the door with the card from his wallet. As soon as we’re inside, he sets my tote down on the chair and turns to me, his hands to my upper arms. “Don’t do that.”
I shake my head not understanding. “Don’t do what?”
He brushes my hair away from my face and searches my eyes. “You’re always doing what other people want. For the first time, you need to do what you want. There’s no expectations. I’ve been to Vegas plenty of times. You get to pick what we do.”
I shake my head. “Ford—”
He cuts me off. “Nope. Seriously. Look me in the eyes.”
I tilt my head back to look at him.
“Good.” He nods approvingly. “Now if you could do anything right now, what would you do?”
I blow out a breath. “Are you sure about this?”
He nods, giving me a look as if he’s daring me not to obey. “Fine. If I could do anything right now, I’d take off these shoes….”
He doesn’t hesitate. He drops down to one knee and reaches for my foot, lifting it to slide my foot out of my shoe. “Ford, you don’t have to—” I start, but he doesn’t listen. He lifts my other foot and removes that shoe as well.
He rises to his feet with a satisfied smile on his face. “Now what?”
Oh God. I wish I could tell him what I really want right now. I’d love for him to pick me up and carry me to the bedroom. My heart flutters in my chest when I name the next best thing. It’s no match, but still good. “Swimming… and then room service.”
He squeezes my upper arms. “Done. Go get your suit on.”
He steps away from me and is walking toward his bedroom. “Are you joining me?”
He stops and turns to me. “I was going to, but I don’t have to.”
I croak, “Yes!” Heat floods my face, but I clear my throat and try it again. “I was hoping you’d swim too.”
He nods. “See you out there.”
I wait until he disappears into his room before making my way to my bedroom. The bathing suits are still in the bag, and I dump them out on the bed. One is a black one piece. It’s very conservative. The other suit is a white two piece. I hold the two in my hands and feel as if these two suits are a metaphor for my life. I could take the safe route and wear the black suit that covers my body. Or I can wear the white two piece that shows more skin and is a little bit more adventurous.
I drop the black suit and start pulling tags off the white one. It’s about time I try on the new me.
Ford
“How’s it going, buddy?”
I was so excited to meet Lilian at the pool that I completely forgot about my nightly call to Ollie. Now as I lean against the edge of the hot tub, I’m talking to my child, hoping that he doesn’t hear the splash of the water or the roar of the hot tub jets.