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Eighteen
Sydney
The first three days in Las Vegas had been an absolute dream. Ford spared no expense, and that didn’t surprise me one bit. He wanted memories, adventures, and he gave us both. We took Everly on the High Roller Ferris wheel, so she could see the lights of the Strip. He even rented a helicopter to fly us to the Grand Canyon for the day with a huge picnic set up the moment we landed. We had gone to the best restaurants and had the most delicious wine, and every evening, we went to a show that he’d chosen just for Everly.
And then we boarded Ford’s private plane and went to our second stop.
The one I was most excited about.
Colorado.
It was as though the sky had opened and sliced out a piece of heaven.
That was Vail.
The mountain ranges, the little rivers nestled in between—it was all perfection.
And I loved watching Everly take it all in.
Especially when Ford announced that she was going horseback riding. It was scheduled through a kids’ club—a camp that was run by the hotel—and it included an entire day of activities. Ford had brought up the idea on the plane, and Everly couldn’t wait to go.
She gripped my hand so tightly, dragging us to the entrance of the club—a small room on the first floor of the hotel. The counselor met us in the doorway and introduced herself.
Ford knelt down, so he could speak to his daughter. “You’re going to do everything the counselor says, right?” He fixed her shirt and made sure her hiking boots were tied tightly.
“Yes, like a big girl.”
“I don’t want there to be any accidents, Eve.”
She shook her head. “No accidents.”
It didn’t matter how often I saw the two of them together or what they were actually talking about; my ovaries still threatened to explode each time.
He was so good with her.
Patient.
Understanding.
So fatherly in a productive, not overwhelming way.
“And you’re going to listen to the counselor?” he asked her.
Everly gave him a big nod.
He hugged her and kissed her forehead. “All right, go have fun. I love you.”
“I’ll be good, Syd,” she said as she came over to me, hugging my waist. “Don’t let Daddy get in trouble today.”
I slid my fingers through her hair, tightening her ponytail, holding back a giggle. “I’ll make sure he stays far away from trouble.”
She waved. “Bye, Syd. Bye, Daddy.” She linked hands with the counselor and disappeared inside the room.
There had only been a few moments during this trip when we were able to sneak away and have some time alone together. Each of those occasions was after Everly went to bed, and he’d come into my room of the two-bedroom suite he had rented. We didn’t want to take any chances—we were worried that she’d wake up and come in—so we hadn’t done more than just kiss. Now, with an entire day to ourselves, I suspected I was going to get more than just his lips.
But before we went anywhere, I needed to make sure of something.
I turned toward him, waiting for his eyes to leave the door of the kids’ club, and said, “Are you all right? I know it’s not easy to hand her over to a stranger who’s going to take her hiking and horseback riding and …” I paused, deciding not to add any more fuel. “It’s just a lot.”
“Jo and her father own this hotel, and the kids’ club was her idea. I trust them implicitly.”
“Good.”
His hands went to my lower back, and he pulled me against him. “Fuck, I’ve been thinking about this nonstop.” He kissed me gently.
It was nothing more than a tease since I knew there was so much more power waiting for me.
In his mouth.
In his hands.
Power that I now craved.
“What should we do all day?” I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled. “Do you have any ideas?”
“Lots. In fact, I have every hour of the next eight planned.”
“No?”
He pulled my lower lip into his mouth, gnawing across it. “Yes.”
Before I could say another word, he led me across the hotel to the other side of the lobby and up a massive staircase. We crossed a catwalk, and once we were on the other side, I saw the sign for the spa.
“How does a massage sound?” His lips were close to my ear. The feel of his voice, the deepness of his tone, caused a tingle to shudder through me.
“Magical.” I turned to face him. “But you know you didn’t have to do that.”
His arm went around my shoulders, and he kissed the side of my neck. “That’s one of the things I really like about you, Sydney. You expect nothing and appreciate everything.” His mouth stayed but moved higher toward my jaw. “I booked us for ninety minutes. Together.”
I moaned, “You’re too much.”
He opened the door to the spa, and we were instantly greeted by name, the attendant telling us our room was ready and asking us to follow her.
I held Ford’s hand as I walked with him down a hallway and through a doorway. The candlelight was the first thing I noticed when we stepped inside. The long, thick white pillars were everywhere, covering all the surfaces of the room. They were flickering, brightening the dark space, and on the floor were red rose petals.
I’d gotten plenty of massages before.
None of this was standard.
He’d arranged every bit of it.
