CHAPTER TWENTY
The stars and moon light up the night sky, but as Ash and Jewel get closer to the big city of Las Vegas, the flashing lights, giant buildings and big signs take over the sky. Ash finally slows down at the massive suite of the Palazzo. As Jewel and Ash get off the motorcycle, she asks how he can afford it.
“Jewel, there are going to be a lot of surprises with the Grimms,” he responds before leading the way. “Let’s get our keys and then go grab something to eat.”
There’s a new kind of joy to Ash, one that wasn’t been there before she agreed to come to Vegas with him. It is almost as if he knows that she wants to stay, and it’s only a matter of time before she truly decides if she’s either going to be with him or run away and try to forget all about him. Something tells him that she’s going to choose him, and she knows it, too.
As they enter the hotel Jewel can see just how massive it really is. She looks around at everything. The lobby is shiny, the ceiling is tall with pillars, and everything is gorgeous in its detail. The hotel has spared no expense in decorating. If it weren’t for Ash, Jewel is sure she would’ve never been able to set foot in a place like this. She starts to smile as she thinks about all the other fancy places he will take her over the course of his tour.
As they get their keys Ash leads her off into one of the restaurants nearby. It’s a fancy place, but seeing as they are staying at the Palazzo, it doesn’t really surprise her. When they are finally seated she’s presented with a menu.
“Order whatever you like,” he insists as he opens his up.
Jewel imagines how her date with Max would’ve been going right now. She feels bad for him, but only for a second. She lets herself imagine how he would have inevitably struck up a conversation about something on the menu, but distractedly and bashfully told her that he wishes for her to order from some of the cheaper wines; not because he can’t afford the more expensive ones, but because he doesn’t like spending his money. She sighs to herself, thinking about how she had already agreed to go on another date with that guy. She he starts to compare the two sides of her life. How she was attempting to date normal, how her sister had chosen the worst candidate, and then Alyssa, who had seemingly changed Jewel’s entire life. Her choices were either boring with a slice of mundane, or this.
If it hadn’t been for Ash that’s exactly where she would be, sitting across from Max, wondering what in the world she did wrong and how she ended up with a guy like him. Had she been desperate enough for sex, he probably wouldn’t have even known how to handle her. She’d be lying in bed wondering how in the world he had sex with any woman and she’d have to excuse herself to go finish the job he couldn’t. It’d be a disaster, an embarrassment. With her luck she’d agree to do it again. She’d be telling herself that she needed to get used to the normal life and that she could accept that guy for who he is.
She shudders as she thinks about how far her complacency would get her.
“Jewel? Hello?” Ash asks, bringing her focus back to reality. She lets out a small laugh.
“Sorry. I was just... thinking about something. It’s nothing, it was silly,” she says as she opens her menu.
She decides to order something that she’s never had, or even heard of; duck confit.
“Nice choice!” Ash says. “And I’ll have the sea bass.”
Ash smiles as the waiter walks away. As Jewel looks at the man that is sitting across from her, she realizes that it is the one guy that she had told herself specifically not to let things get complicated with. She laughs that her original plan was to not get entangled with his life.
“I’m glad you wanted to come along with me,” he says. “I was a little worried you’d have already gotten with another guy.”
Jewel moves her glass slightly before making eye contact, “I hated the thought of you sleeping with another woman. I convinced myself I could just have sex with you and move on.”
Ash thinks about her words for a moment. “I’m glad you didn’t. As I said, I want you to come with me on tour. I don’t have a show until tomorrow night. We’ll do whatever you want until then. I might be a badass, but I can still take you on one hell of a date.”
Jewel smirks. For a biker gang rock star, Ash can be pretty sweet.
“Anything I want?”
“Yep.”
The two of them spend the next few minutes flirting and talking about the city. After their food arrives, Jewel takes her time eating as she thinks about how to spend the day in Vegas with her new man. With so many options, and all the money to do it with, she feels the possibilities are endless. She thinks she may just settle for a good old fashioned movie, and something completely cliché. It would definitely show her how much Ash truly wants her to stick around.
“Well, I hope you’re ready for whatever I have in mind,” she warns as they finish up their meal.
Ash just laughs. “I’m sure I can handle it.”
Jewel is certain it’s the first time she has heard him laugh… really laugh.
After their movie date, a walk through the park, and a few other extracurricular activities, that night, Jewel is sitting in another VIP section of a fancy club watching Ash perform on stage for a wild crowd. Girls are stripping, others are throwing things, there are a bunch of guys yelling and pushing each other, although the mosh pit hasn’t officially started yet. There are a few females screaming Ash’s name and trying to get close enough to touch him. It makes Jewel’s heart jump because she knows that she is the one he wants.
In her section, the people are kicking back, taking in the music while they enjoy their drinks. Despite the delicious looking cocktails, Jewel predictably sips on beer. A guy next to her tries to talk to her, but she hasn’t even noticed him. She’s been too focused on watching Ash on stage, pouring everything he has into his music, the words coming from a sincere part of his heart. She smiles.
If Ash is willing to let me into his life, I can accept whatever life that is.
*****
THE END
Don’t forget to join Penny Winestone’s Exclusive Readers List!
(Click the link or enter into your browser)