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“No, we’ll do it,” he says in a tender tone he only uses for me. “And, you’re right. I am afraid of heights. Well…Ferris wheels.”
I draw back enough for a look at his face. I can’t keep the small smile off mine. “Giovanni Anthony Sorrentino, King of Vegas and future ruler of your family, is afraid of…Ferris wheels?”
“They’re flimsy wastes of time. Pods that hover loosely in the air. What’s the point?”
“Um, the Linq offers a view of the city five hundred feet in the air.”
“I can get the same from the top floor of the Vittoria. And from the safety of a real building.”
“It’s not a Ferris wheel, by the way. It’s an observation wheel.”
“It’s a trendy buzzword the marketing team invented to sound more appealing. Let’s go.” He grabs my hand and tugs me along.
“You soundsoexcited!” I laugh and glance over my shoulder.
Louis and Dominico follow dutifully in our wake.
Gio motions to Louis, and the next thing I know, the line leading to the humungous observation wheel disperses. We march onto the platform, bypassing the employee at the entrance to the glass pods. He tips an imaginary hat to Gio and barely makes eye contact as if unable to muster the nerve.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Sorrentino. Hope you enjoy the ride.”
We step into our pod, and the door snaps shut behind us. Louis remains posted at the entrance to the wheel while Dominico boards a pod next to ours. Each pod is large enough to fit at least a dozen people. The walls are constructed entirely of tinted glass, offering a 360-degree view of the city the higher and higher you rise. Our cabin is one of the ones with the open bar and bartender posted ready to fix drinks.
I pause as the wheel’s operator speaks over the intercom, welcoming us to the Linq’s High Roller. Maybe I should’ve given this more thought; if Gio is afraid of heights—excuse me,Ferris wheels—then perhaps a forty-minute ride in a glass egg isn’t the best idea after all.
“Are you sure this is okay?” I ask.
Gio pierces me with an amused stare. “Are you worrying I’ll have a panic attack in the sky?”
“Something like that. You’ll be fine, right? ‘Cause I don’t want you to feel uneasy.”
He slips an arm around my waist, and we fall into sync sitting down on one of the wide benches. “So long as you’re right here to hold me, I’ll be good.”
“Gio,” I whisper, my heart melting. I lean closer and press a kiss to his jaw. “Always.”
“Then I’ll be all right.”
He holds me close as the wheel shifts into a slow spin. We leave the ground, rising above the promenade and dozens of tourists.
November in Vegas is almost as sunny as any other time of the year, but there’s a chill in the air. The soft soughing sound is barely audible inside the glass. It blends in with the cadence of our breathing seated together, admiring the moment.
The city’s landscape expands the higher we go. More buildings slip into view—everything from the resorts and casinos surrounding us to the greater metropolitan area. We rival the tallest buildings in the city, rising into the sky.
Sunset is only minutes away. Already the sun blazes along the mountainous horizon, sinking out of view. It’s a peaceful sight.
The bartender delivers us drinks from the open bar. Gio holds up his glass for a toast. His delicious warm lips have curved into a rare smile. Another thing he often reserves only for me.
“To our relaxing day together,” he says.
I clink my glass against his. “Thanks for giving us this.”
“We needed it. More days like this. Just us making memories.”
“After everything, that soundsamazing.”
There’s a gleam in his gaze. “In fact, I have a surprise for you. But more on that later.”
A beat of excitement pulses through me at the unknown. With Gio, it can be anything. Nothing is off the table as far as he’s concerned. Not to mention he loves spoiling me.
