Page 47 of Mine

“That are better left for tomorrow,” he told her. “Not for a fun night of celebration.”

“Exactly,” she agreed and smiled at him. “I planned the party early so everyone could walk the strip later, and I figured after your plane ride that breakfast and a nap and then dinner was the best bet.”

“Excellent plan,” Chris assured her.

She patted Landry’s hand happily.

The strip was clogged with people, and the limousine had a slow slog down the street to the front of Caesar’s Palace. A staff member met us out front and led us to the penthouse elevator. We then went up to the roof nightclub’s lounge, which, along with the terrace, had been rented out for the party. There were already people there, drinking, milling around, when we walked in.

It was gorgeous up there, the entire strip laid out. The nightclub was done in white, the warmth and luxury on display. For the second time that day, I was overwhelmed, and as I was passed a glass of Cristal champagne, Neil called for the first of many toasts of the night.

“To my beautiful wife, we are blessed with your presence, and to my dear son, welcome home.”

There was clapping and the clinking of glasses, and then Landry was basically rushed. I had to move out of the way; there were just too many people who wanted to get to him, talk to him. And he was smiling his dazzler, eyes glittering, face animated, hands going wild, as he was an expressive talker. It was fun to watch him hold court, and I moved to the edge of the terrace so I could see the world below me.

“Would you care to dance?”

I turned and Jocelyn was there, grinning at me.

“Are you sure?” I teased her. “I didn’t wear a tie.”

She rolled her eyes and grabbed my hand.

We had a good time, and after a while, some of her friends joined us, and it was me and all the beautiful women. I had to take my jacket off because I got hot, and because Jocelyn’s best friend, Daria, got cold, I gave it to her to wear. I led four women to the bar, and Jocelyn was surprised when she ordered a Midori sour and two cosmopolitans for her friends and I had bottled water.

“Not drinking?”

“Gotta be clearheaded,” I told her, inhaling.

“Hungry?”

“God yes, the food smells amazing.”

She was laughing as she took my hand and tugged me after her toward the buffet. I was watching for Landry, and every now and then when he looked up to scan the room, I waved so he’d see me. And I got the nod; he could see Jocelyn as well, and everything was fine.

“Boy, he keeps a close eye on you,” she remarked and smiled at me.

“It goes both ways,” I said, grabbing a napkin, turning to go.

“I thought you were going to sit with the girls,” she said, actually sounding sad.

“I am,” I smiled at her. “I just need to make sure he eats. If his blood sugar dips, he gets frantic, and he’ll start bouncing off the walls.”

She nodded, touched by that.

I carried the plate across the room and leaned into the circle, which included Landry’s brothers, Will, and others.

“Eat,” I ordered him, passing Chris a bottle of water. “Hold this for him.”

Chris nodded. “Yessir.”

Landry’s smile was huge. “Yes, dear.”

I grunted and left them and returned to the girls.

“Daria will be back,” Jocelyn said as I took a seat beside her. “I made her promise not to disappear with your suit jacket.”

“Thank you.”