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Chapter Nine
BeauaskedAlessandratomeet him at The Benson’s top-floor bar, Magic Lantern. After his conversation with Aden, he was determined to make the night special. He still didn’t know exactly what would happen after his Las Vegas trip ended. However, he knew he needed to make their evening something memorable.
It could be the last time they would spend together before Beau left. Tomorrow night was New Year’s Eve. Although it would be fun, Alessandra would have to mingle with all the other players in town for the weekend. It was unlikely she would have much time specifically for him, if that was even what she wanted.
And he wanted her to want it—hence the special preparations. He’d called and told her to bring an overnight bag. “Isn’t that a little presumptuous?” she had asked.
“You can certainly leave early, if you want. It’s best to be prepared, though. Especially since I’m going to be trying very hard to keep you overnight.”
“Very hard?” she asked, pretending to be innocent.
“Quite so.”
He arrived early at Magic Lantern, getting them a seat by the window. He ordered himself a scotch on the rocks and a Grey Goose martini for her. The view of the Strip looking south was one of the best he’d seen from any resort, spanning from the Wynn all the way down to the black outline of Allegiant stadium. She arrived with a Louis Vuitton overnight bag in one hand and her purse in another.
“I’m not sure why I had to bring my bag up,” she said. “I could have just left it downstairs with the valet.”
The corners of his mouth turned upward into a mischievous grin. “We’re not going to go to the valet because we’re not taking a car. We’re taking another mode of transportation. It’s not here yet, though.”
Alessandra sat and took a sip from her martini. “Oh really? We’re walking? Taking the bus? Hitchhiking?”
“More like hitching a ride with a friend.”
“Where are we actually going?”
“That’s also a surprise. Let’s just enjoy our drinks. You can tell me about your day.”
Alessandra shared that she’d gone to see her mom. Beau noticed that her face was more relaxed than normal. The facade of distance had faded somewhat. Her tone didn’t hint at any work distractions, like it normally did—when they weren’t naked together, that is.
“You wouldn’t believe the community she lives in. The clubhouse is nicer than any fitness club, and there are other activities nonstop. She’s so busy that I have to visit her on Thursdays now. Her social calendar fills up on the weekends.”
“She never remarried after your dad died?” Beau asked. He thought it was an innocent question, but he noticed a slight change in Alessandra’s face.
“It’s frustrating,” she said with a sigh. “I keep telling her she should give other men a chance—there’s one who would probably marry her in an instant if she let him. But she doesn’t see herself remarrying. She’s always comparing other men to how she felt about my dad, and that isn’t fair. He died a long time ago, and before then, as you know, he was in prison for three years.”
“So why does she still remember him so positively?”
“I guess it’s kind of simple. She loved him, and she doesn’t see herself loving anyone in the same way.”
“Is it about trusting someone?” Beau asked, thinking about his conversation with Aden.
“Not at all, actually. She has no problems with trust. In fact, she told me I need to trust more! It’s all about how she feels. She would one hundred percent jump in feet-first if she found someone she loved as much as she loved my dad. And I question that, given what he did to her. But I suppose I have to admire her, too. She’s fearless when it comes to love, it seems.”
Beau looked at Alessandra, trying to seem casual as he finished his scotch. “And is she right? Do you need to trust more?”
“I’m sure I do.” Beau was surprised at Alessandra’s openness. It was unlike her, but he was enjoying it. Whatever her mom said had clearly made an impact. “It’s not just about what my dad did to her and being afraid of something similar happening to me. It’s also about being single for so long and not wanting the life you’ve built disrupted by someone setting expectations on what you should be doing, where, and with whom. Look at you. You’ve never married either, so I’m sure you get it, don’t you?”
Beau wanted to return her honesty with his own. “I do get it. I think my conversation with Aden might have been similar to yours with your mom.”
“I thought guys like you two would just talk about sports and poker. What did he say?”
“He thinks I fixate too much on what I can’t give in a relationship. He thinks I just need to find someone to match with my lifestyle. It seems that he’s found that. His marriage with Brooke, even with the babies, meshes with his career, because he found a woman who was flexible enough to make their life work around it.”
“Is that what you’re looking for, then? Someone to work around your life?” Alessandra’s tone wasn’t challenging; she seemed genuinely curious.
“To be honest, I don’t think so. Brooke gave up her career for Aden, but I don’t think I’d want that. I’ve been wondering the past few days what exactly I’m looking for. And I think what I’d want is a relationship where both people are willing to be flexible with each other. Where both would enjoy doing so. A give and take where you’re happy to give.”
Alessandra nodded. “I know what you mean. It’s hard though. For those of us in the resort or gambling business, it’s such a time commitment. It’s difficult to be the one to give. But when I’ve dated outside the business, those men don’t quite understand why I spend so much time at work.”
