Lizbeth looked out the window at her children playing in the yard. She smiled as she watched them playing without a care in the world. Secretly she wished she could feel that carefree. The past year had been tough with the divorce, but she was glad to see they had minimized the effect on the kids. It definitely took a toll on her though.
After 12 years of being married, it felt strange to no longer have John around. Granted things had been rocky for a while, but there was still an ease of familiarity with him that made things comfortable. That was probably why she had waited so long before finally filing the paperwork. The divorce was tough, and she was struggling to find her footing in this new world of single life. It was a lot of effort to go out with new people and try to figure out who could be trusted, especially since she had been married for so long. The whole dating scene was totally different now.
Thursday at lunch, Lizbeth had confided to her friend Marie that she needed a getaway to recalibrate. She was thinking of heading to Vegas for a weekend when John had the kids. Marie felt sorry for Lizbeth and the awkwardness she was feeling in her new situation.
“Let me know when you are planning to go to Vegas. I know someone out there who can show you around and make sure you have a great time.”
A few days later, Lizbeth did all the planning required to secure her weekend trip to Vegas in three weeks when John had the kids again. She told Marie about her plans. Marie was almost as excited as she was.
“Great! I will let my friend know and arrange for you two to meet.”
“I don’t need you trying to play matchmaker, Marie. I’m still smarting from my marriage ending.”
‘I wouldn’t do that. But this will ensure you aren’t alone the whole time and have someone to show you around.”
As the time for her trip got closer, Lizbeth had to admit she was getting excited about it. It will be nice to unplug from home life for a couple days. She would unwind and relax on Friday with a massage and some spa time after she arrived. And Marie had arranged for Lizbeth to meet her friend Vin on Saturday. She really hoped the trip turned out as well as she hoped it might.
Lizbeth arrived in Vegas around 4pm on Friday and went straight to the hotel. She stopped in the room to drop off her luggage and then headed to the spa. She had a wonderful massage and pedicure that totally relaxed her. When she returned to her room, she felt like a limp noodle and didn’t feel like going back out. So she ordered room service and then admired the Vegas strip from her window. The city bustled below. She needed this trip more than she cared to admit. As she sipped her wine and looked over the Vegas strip, her mind wandered to thinking about the next day. She was curious about Vin, this friend of Marie’s. His name was very interesting, and she wondered what he would be like. It has been so long since she has been in the company of a new male, so the thought made her a little nervous and excited all at the same time, especially since Marie had been so vague when discussing him. Well, she would find out for herself soon enough since they were set to meet tomorrow morning. As she snuggled into the crisp, white linens, the bed cradled her like a cloud, and she drifted off with Vin on her mind.
Lizbeth woke up refreshed the next morning. Today would certainly be an adventure. All she had been told about today was to prepare for some hiking activity during the day and then Vegas nightlife in the evening. It was a little unnerving leaving everything in the hands of someone else, yet at the same time, she had to admit it felt nice to not worry about making plans.
She grabbed a quick bite for breakfast and then got herself ready for the day. Vin knocked at her door right on time at 9:00am. The butterflies Lizbeth had in her stomach turned to the running of the bulls as she prepared to open the door.
Vin Armani the vision that greeted her made her catch her breath. Vin was smoking hot in cargo shorts and a t-shirt as he smiled and greeted her with a rose. “Nice to meet you Lizbeth,” he said. Are you ready to start your Vegas adventure?”
Lizbeth could barely answer, but managed to squeak out a “Yes.”
They headed out to the care and started the adventure. On the drive, Vin explained they were headed to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation to hike the Keystone Thrust trails. “I hope you’re up for it,” he gently chides. Before she could stop from saying it, Lizbeth responded, “I’m up for anything with you.”
The trails were gorgeous! The rock formations were tall and rugged, much like Vin. No matter the path, the rocks seems colorful and painted, almost as if the desert came alive. Vin helped Lizbeth steady herself on the more rugged parts of the trail. Vin holding her hand or placing his hand on the small of her back to steady her made Lizbeth feel things she hadn’t felt for a while. Her skin tingled and a warmth radiated through her that wasn’t from the surrounding heat. It was Vin reigniting a fire inside of her that she thought was dead. The morning passed quickly as they enjoyed the beauty around them.
By mid-afternoon they were back at the hotel. They cleaned up from their hiking workout and then hit the strip to see what Vegas was all about. They grabbed a quick lunch at Raku Grill, a Japanese charcoal grill restaurant Vin knows well, that’s virtually unknown to tourists. Then they set of to explore the posh hotels, looking at the beautiful fountains and artwork at the renowned Bellagio, and taking a gondola ride at the Venetian. The gondola ride was absolutely romantic and magical. As Lizbeth reclined against Vin in the back of a gondola, she felt like she was living a dream because she couldn’t believe she was in the arms of of this very sexy man as his muscled physique supported her effortlessly. She could feel his breath on her ear as the gondola was gliding across the water, and the heat she felt welling up inside of her made the rest of the world disappear. The afternoon flew by, and before they knew it, it was time to get ready for a Vegas evening on the strip.
Lizbeth picked her outfit carefully, wanting to impress her sexy date. Taking a final glance at herself in the mirror, she felt pretty for the first time in a long time. When Vin saw her step out of the room, he let out a whistle. “Wow Lizbeth, you look amazing,” he said as he spun her around. She blushed, unaccustomed to receiving compliments.
If she knew how to whistle, she would have done the same looking at Vin, the Adonis before her. He looked as if he had stepped right off the pages of GQ Magazine in his khaki pants and crisp shirt, unbuttoned just enough to cause Lizbeth’s imagination to roam.
Their first stop was dinner at the Alize restaurant. Enjoying a glass of wine to start, Lizbeth admired the breathtaking view. She ordered the pan-seared Maine lobster, while Vin picked the tea-soaked duck breast. While waiting for their food, they chatted about the fun they had over the course of the day.
Vin looked intently at Lizbeth and asked her why she came to Vegas. She hesitated before replying quietly that she had needed a getaway. Curious about the fragile beauty before him, Vin prodded further. “What are you trying to escape?” The question made Lizbeth look down and get teary-eyed. She wasn’t sure how to answer the question, but in looking at Vin, he seemed sincere in truly wanting to know. His genuine concern for her made Lizbeth relax and she opened up about her painful divorce and feeling lost in navigating her future. Vin gently held her hand and said he was sorry she had to go through that. “That’s in the past, and with your inner and outer beauty, I know you have a bright future ahead of you.” Lizbeth blushed again.
Dinner was delicious, and after they finished, Vin told Lizbeth he had a surprise for her. “Oh, what’s the surprise?” He replied, “You’ll have to just wait and see.” They headed out to the strip, and before she knew it, they were at the New York, New York Hotel.
Lizbeth practically squealed when she saw they were going to a Cirque de Soleil show. She had always wanted to see one of their shows with the daring acrobatics. She had never heard of the show Zumanity. They settled into their seats which were actually on a red velvet couch. The lights went down, and Lizbeth felt Vin take her hand. As the show unfolded before them, Lizbeth could feel the red creep up her neck. This show was not your normal Cirque de Soleil show. It was Cirque acrobatics with a sexual bent. It was daring, revealing, hilarious, raunchy and fascinating all at the same time. Lizbeth felt the stirrings that Vin had reignited in the morning become a raging inferno inside of her as she watched the bodies of the performers bend, twist and slide all around each other to a hypnotizing beat. Her fiery, wanton core made her squirm just a bit in her seat. She became intensely aware of Vin’s arm around her shoulder and the heat radiating from his body. “This is exactly the re-awakening you need to get you back in the groove,” he whispered in her ear.
After the show, Lizbeth was acutely aware of the fire burning within her now. Back at the hotel, they grabbed a glass of wine and admired the view of the strip below. Vin’s strong arms were around her as she leaned back against his chiseled chest. As the heat of his breath brushed her neck, the heat inside her erupted into a fireball that consumed them both, while the rest of the world faded away.
Back home, Lizbeth was getting the kids back into their routine to get ready for the coming week. Marie stopped by, anxious to find out how her Vegas trip went.
“So, how was it? Tell me everything.”
Lizbeth told her she had an amazing time. But it was time to ask the burning question she had.
“Tell me how you know your friend Vin. Spill the beans.”
“Well, I have a confession to make,” Marie said coyly. “Vin is a male companion from the agency Cowboys 4 Angels that I hired to show you around Vegas because I knew you wouldn’t go out and do anything on your own. I wanted your trip to be amazing, and I have used their companions before. Please don’t be mad at me!”
Lizbeth laughed as she hugged Marie. “I’m not mad at you. Thank you for being an amazing friend!”
