As Sophie pulled into the valet line of the Willard Hotel, she breathed a sigh of relief. It had been a long six-hour drive to Washington, DC, but she made it safely and now could start to relax. She loved this city during the holidays. She could always count on the hum and buzz of the city to recharge her batteries. Most people like to spend their vacations in quiet places where they do nothing but lay on the beach. Not Sophie. She much preferred the excitement of the city. There was something electric about it.

Whether walking the quaint streets of Old Town Alexandria, or walking The Mall at night and seeing all of the monuments aglow, Washington, DC had a vibe all its own. That’s why Sophie made her pilgrimage here every year for vacation. She needed the buzz of the city to energize her after months of working 60-hour weeks. Only this year, her vacation would be a little different. For the first time in four years, she wouldn’t be alone for her annual weekend getaway. She had arranged with Cowboys 4 Angels for a male companion to accompany her on this trip. Instead of being alone for the weekend with her own thoughts, she would have Thomas on her arm as the perfect companion to explore the city. He would arrive in time for dinner, so she had some time to relax before getting ready.

Her room was pristine as always. She always loved the white, fluffy, down-filled linens on the beds at the Willard. It made her feel as if she was lying on a cloud, and a short nap would be the perfect way to recover from her long drive. As she drifted off to sleep, visions of Thomas danced in her head with his dark hair and green eyes.

As she slowly woke from her nap, Sophie stretched like a cat. The bed cradled her softly, making it tempting to stay snuggled in the warmth of the sheets. But she had a date with a Cowboy tonight, so no time for being lazy. She grabbed a quick shower and got ready for dinner.

Just as she finished slipping her shoes on, she heard the knock at the door. Sophie smiled to herself. My Cowboy has arrived! As she opened the door, she was struck by how handsome Thomas was. His pictures didn’t do him justice. She found herself getting lost in the twinkle of his green eyes as he greeted her with a smile and a rose. She definitely made the right choice for an companion agency.

She grabbed her coat, and Thomas took her hand as they headed out for dinner. They stepped out into the chilly air. Luckily it wasn’t far to walk to Old Ebbit Grill, the iconic DC restaurant close to the White House where tourists and politicians dined. As they waited to be shown to their table, Thomas rubbed Sophie’s arm to help her warm up.

Dinner passed quickly as they chatted quietly about the history of the restaurant. It was definitely a great venue for people watching. You never know whom you might see there. They toasted the evening with a glass of Merlot while Sophie dined on their signature jumbo lump crab cakes and Thomas had the braised beef short rib. To finish the meal, they shared a crème brulee.

Pushing through the heavy wood doors, they walked back out into the chilly night air. Sophie felt a chill go through her. Thomas wrapped his arm around her to protect her from the chill. Sophie no longer felt cold as they walked. Instead she felt a heat deep within her that she hadn’t felt in a very long time.

They decided to walk along The Mall to view the monuments and National Christmas Tree. Thomas kept his arm around her as they walked. Sophie leaned into her as they discussed the significance of each monument and admired the holiday decorations scattered throughout the city.

Sophie was glad when they finally made it back to the hotel, as the cold was beginning to make her shiver. Inside the room, Sophie hesitated to take off her jacket. Thomas helped her with her coat, draping it on the chair, and proceeding to rub the full length of her arms to warm her. Sophie leaned back into Thomas’ chest, his warm breath on her chilled neck as he caressed her. Her heart raced and her skin flushed as she warmed all over. His lips brushed her ear, and an electric spark shot through her. As Sophie turned toward Thomas, he slipped his hands behind her back, cradling her in his arms. The rest of the room faded to black and all Sophie saw was his mesmerizing, emerald green eyes glimmering as he leaned into her. Intense heat coursed through her body creating a fire in her core that radiated and blanketed them both as the night faded.

As Sophie blinked against the morning light, she saw Thomas arranging her breakfast on the small coffee table. She smiled at her chivalrous Cowboy.

“Breakfast awaits, my lady.”

Sophie wrapped the robe around her as she settled down to eggs, bacon and toast. The coffee cleared the fog from her head, and she was ready to tackle the day. The day was a blur filled with museums, art and the shops of Old Town Alexandria. Thomas was attentive, protective, and even helped to carry packages from their shopping adventure.

After a quick dinner, they were ready to hit the town, and Sophie knew just the place. They decided to visit her favorite underground club called Entre Nous. They entered what looked to be a restaurant but headed to the back where a staircase awaited. Thomas held her hand to steady her as they descended into the den of iniquity. The music pulsed through them as they stepped inside. Tonight’s theme was one of Sophie’s favorites—black light body paint night. Thomas smirked mischievously as Sophie looked first at him and then at the body paint artist. Topless women sported flowers painted on their torsos as the black lights brought the paint to life. Sophie felt bold. No one knew her here. She could be as free as she liked and no one would know. She opened her shirt and let the artist use her décolleté as his canvas. It was completely liberating.

Thomas held her hand protectively as they made their way through the crowd to the dance floor. Bodies swayed around them as Sophie and Thomas danced. Music thumped as bass filled the air and reverberated through the tangle of bodies on the dance floor. Thomas kept a protective arm around Sophie as they swayed to the music.

They bundled for the cold again, stepping out of the den into the night air. It was a crisp, clean night. Thomas wrapped his arm around Sophie’s shoulder to keep her warm as they walked back to the hotel. Sophie happily leaned into his chest. In the elevator they snuggled as they rode to the floor. Thomas traced the edges of the flowers visible in the cleavage of her shirt. His eyes smoldered as he looked into hers. As the door to the room closed behind them, he helped her with her coat. She was still buzzing from the evening of dancing, and he pulled her close to spin her around on her heels. making their own rhythm. He tilted her chin up, and the electricity flowed between them. The warmth of his touch against her skin ignited an inferno that consumed them as all else faded away.

Sophie had six hours to relive the past two days in her mind as she drove home. This drive would fly by! Cowboys truly are the best male companions in the business. Thomas had been the ultimate companion, more than she could have ever hoped for. She couldn’t wait until her next vacation!