Living in Sin (The Escort Series) (23 page)

Jace:
You’re very welcome. Now go home and open the card labeled #1.

Me:
Yay! Finally!

I throw the phone on the passenger seat and race home. I’ve been dying to see what’s in these cards. Rushing through the door, I dart straight to the stack of cards sitting on my breakfast bar and find the first one. I rip the envelope open and pull out the purple cardstock paper inside.

You and Emilie once talked about going here and trying on dresses for no reason. You were “planning ahead” as Emilie said. Find this location and ask for Mary.

Jace

A smile spreads across my face as I realize he was actually listening when Emilie and I were talking about our hunt for bridesmaids dresses. We said that even though neither of us was engaged, we wanted to be able to pick out our own bridesmaids dresses so we wouldn’t be stuck with some atrocious mess. Emilie and I had a good time going to this one bridal shop and trying on every dress, even the ugly ones. We pointed out which ones were acceptable, and which ones weren’t.

I grab the other envelopes to take with me and then jump in the car and drive to the bridal shop. When I arrive, I’m as giddy as a kid on Christmas. I immediately go to the front and ask for Mary.

“She’s in the back. I’ll go grab her for you,” the other employee says.

While I’m waiting, I tap my fingers impatiently on the desk, and then switch to biting on my thumb nail. How far back is the back in this place? Down the street?

After what seems like an hour, they both come walking to the front and Mary is holding a large white box with a smile on her face.

“Here you go, hun. I hope you like it,” she says as she hands me the box.

“Can I open it now?” I ask excitedly.

“I don’t see why not,” she answers.

I place the box on the desk and slowly pull the top off. Inside is a gorgeous, dark purple, knee-length dress. It’s strapless and has beautiful white, silver, and purple beading under and between where my breasts will be. It’s stunning.

I thank Mary before leaving the shop and speed walk to my car to text Jace again.

Me:
Oh my gosh! I love it! You didn’t have to buy me a dress, but I’m so happy that you remembered my favorite color.

Jace:
I’m glad you like it. If you haven’t already, open #2.

Before replying to his text, I open the second envelope.

Okay, so maybe I enlisted some help with the dress. I knew you liked purple, but Emilie did help with picking out the right size. I am only a man after all.

Clue Two

There’s a couple of ways to get out of Vegas, but in order to see as much as you can, I’d suggest driving. However, as a driver you have to keep your eyes on the road. Having someone drive you is better. For a long trip, I’d suggest a long vehicle, and there’s only one company here that’s fit for a king, so I’d suggest going there.

Jace

I almost want to cry by how thoughtful and generous he’s being. I can’t believe he’s gone through all this trouble for our date. Out of Vegas? I wonder where and when? Certainly not now. I know he’s talking about a limo company because of the long vehicle clue, but I don’t know all the company names. I’ll have to do a quick internet search on my phone. Fit for a king. Hmm.

As soon as I type in limo companies in Las Vegas in the search engine, it isn’t hard to figure out which one he was talking about. Royalty. Of course. I can’t help but laugh out loud.

I pull up to the limo company and walk straight to the front desk. I don’t really know what to say, so I just give them my name.

“Oh, yes. Just one moment,” the man at the desk says.

He walks into a room behind the desk, but promptly returns with a backpack and a manila envelope. “These are your reservations, itinerary, and this bag was left for you as well.”

“Thank you,” I reply.

I grab the backpack and envelope and all but run back to the car so I can tear into both. I toss the backpack on the passenger seat and open the envelope first. Inside the reservation paper is more like a voucher. I can go in and state when I would like to use their services and they will arrange it. The location, however, has already been chosen. Southern California. I wonder briefly why he chose that location. I continue to look over the paperwork and notice that I can take as many people as I want when I do go, and we have scheduled stops in certain places. Putting the papers back in the envelope to go over more later, I grab the backpack and unzip it.

Inside is snorkeling gear. Mask, snorkel, fins, gloves and an underwater camera.

“Oh my gosh!” I screech out loud.

He is sending me to California to not only get me out of Vegas like I said I wanted to, but to go snorkeling as well. I can’t believe this. I don’t know if I can accept this. It has to be an expensive trip.

Me:
Jace, I’m speechless. I really don’t know what to say. This is too much, I mean, I don’t want you to feel you have to spend all this money on me for things I said I wanted to do. I can’t believe you thought of all this stuff.

Jace:
It’s not too much. It’s what you deserve, Adrienne. Please accept this. You’re always doing things for other people whether it be your father, friends, or clients. You need to have things done for you too. Read #3.

I open envelope number three on the verge of tears. I can feel the lump in the back of my throat forming. He’s definitely gone above and beyond.

You’re going to California!

Sounds good right? You can choose when it is that you want to go, because I know you have work to think about. You can also take whoever you want, except guys. No guys allowed. The spot you’re going to is supposed to be really good for snorkeling.

Clue Three

Go home, get ready, and put your new dress on. Meet me at the spot where you first laid with a king. Also the same spot you first ran away from a king.

6:00pm

I quickly snatch my phone up and send him a message.

Me:
First of all. I don’t think I like the no guys allowed rule for my trip. I have somebody in mind to go with me, so that might have to change. Second, I think you’re trying to get really lucky, and I’ll have you know…it’s working. See you soon.

Jace:
We’ll discuss the rule when I see you, and I’m definitely the lucky one. Now go get ready.

Me:
Yes sir!

It’s three o’clock now, so I have three hours until I get to see Jace. Trying not to speed, I make it to my house as swiftly as possible. After eating a quick meal, and brushing my teeth, I make sure to put extra effort into my hair and makeup. Although, I’m sure it will get messed up by the end of the night. Wishful thinking, anyway.

With everything done, the last thing that I do is slip on my dress. It fits absolutely perfectly and falls right above my knees. The fabric is like silk caressing my skin. I look into my closet and pick a pair of silver heels to match the beading of the dress. Putting on some silver jewelry, and grabbing my purse, I’m ready to leave. I decide to take a cab to Jace’s place because I’d have no idea where to park there anyway.

When I step from the cab, my heart begins beating rapidly and my stomach is doing flips. I’m not sure why I feel so nervous. This whole day has been a gigantic build up and I’m finally at the grand finale. I’m so anxious to see Jace after all he did for me today.

Walking into the lobby of his fancy sky rise building, the same man from the first time I was here is at the desk. He does a double take when he sees me and smiles.

“Ms. Miller?” he asks, and I nod in response. “You look beautiful, ma’am. Mr. Jamison has instructed me to take you up to his floor.”

“Okay. Thank you,” I reply.

Before we walk to the elevators, he makes a quick phone call. I imagine it’s to let Jace know I’m here.

“Right this way,” he says as he escorts me to the elevators.

I’ve always hated riding in elevators with other people. There’s always that awkward silence, but riding with him isn’t like that at all. He’s quite talkative.

Once we reach the floor that houses Jace’s personal elevator, he punches in the code for me, and then steps out.

“There you go, young lady. I hope you have a good night. That boy’s been talking about this day for a while now.”

I can’t help but smile when I hear that. “Thank you, Mr…”

“John. Just call me John.”

“Okay. Thank you, John. Have a good night.”

He smiles and walks off as the doors to the elevator close. After the short ride up, the doors open up to his suite. I thought he’d be standing right there, but he isn’t. In this big of a place, I don’t even know where to start looking for him. Not sure I remember which way is what.

I step inside and a note propped on the table in front of me catches my eye. It has my name on it, so I open it.

Take a left, go straight until you see the door that leads outside. I’ll see you there.

Following his directions, I find my way to the outside deck, the deck that wraps around most of this building. The lights are all turned off, but candles illuminate the way. I follow the candles further down the deck until I see a table and chairs surrounded by a canopy of twinkle lights. My steps slow the closer I get. I’m in heaven.

“I led you on a treasure hunt, but I think it’s me who’s found the treasure.”

The deep, familiar voice washes over me, and I turn to look at Jace. My breath catches as I take in the man before me. Now, more than ever, he’s God-like. Not only because of his looks, but because I now know of his kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness, and big heart.

I throw myself on him. My arms wrap around his neck and I hold him there for a couple of minutes. In one day he’s managed to cover everything I said I wanted to do that I haven’t been able to. What I thought were merely questions, turned out to be an elaborate plan for him to give me things I’ve only dreamed about. I feel terrible for judging him to be someone who only cares about sleeping with women. How ignorant and narrow-minded to judge somebody before you truly get to know them. He’s proven to me already that he’s so much more than I could have imagined. He gives to charities, he’s very generous, and he isn’t uppity because he has money. He wants others to do well; he’s always thinking of other people, he’s simply amazing.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asks as he rubs the length of my back.

I pull away and look up at him. “Yes. Jace, I can’t even express to you how much this whole day has meant to me. You really didn’t have to do all of this, but I appreciate it so much. Thank you.”

He pulls me in for another hug and kisses the top of my head. Stepping back with his hands around the tops of my arms, he smiles at me.

“I know I didn’t have to do it, but I wanted to. I hope the treasure hunt was as fun as you’ve always hoped it would be.”

His smile melts my heart.

“It was more than I could have hoped for,” I answer.

“Good. Are you ready for dinner? I don’t know how well you can see the stars out here because of all the lights down there,” he says, gesturing towards The Strip. “That’s why I have these lights. We can pretend they’re the stars. So we get to have dinner under the stars no matter what,” he finishes with an alluring smile.

My heart swells even more and I get on my tiptoes to give him a kiss. “Sounds perfect.”

He has a mini buffet set up along the side of the deck, so we go make our plates, then sit down in our canopy of stars to eat. Not only do I have beautiful twinkle lights surrounding me, but the view of the city below is breathtaking as well. I feel like I could take a picture and put it on a postcard.

“So about that rule,” I say in between bites of my salad.

“Oh yeah. Who do you want to take with you?” he asks.

“Well, you said no guys, but I don’t think that’s fair. I mean, there’s a guy that I think has a right to go. He did pay for it.”

His face breaks into a grin. “You want me to go with you?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“I just don’t want you thinking that you have to take me. You can take Emilie and whoever else and have a girl’s weekend or something.”

With a small pout I say, “But I want you to come.”

“Okay. When do you plan on going?”

“Well, I don’t know. Not for a while, because I do have a couple work events coming up in the next few months.”

When he doesn’t say anything right away, I look up from my food and see him with a far off look on his face. It takes a little bit before I realize that I basically said I anticipate us being together for the next few months. Is that too presumptuous?

“Okay, well just let me know,” he replies looking at his plate.