Vixen in Vegas (Sinful Novellas) by Emma Nichols

thinking about her, but everything was okay. The drive was broken up by a rest stop where we just stopped to pee and kiss a few times. There were calls that he made to make sure that I was awake. Then he would get off the phone before I had a chance to ask him anything. By the time we reached the estate, I knew he was doing it on purpose.
    Did he want me to be surprised? Was he ashamed of his family, where he came from? I played out the various scenarios in my head, but none of them seemed likely. Then we were there.
    I pulled up beside his car and paused for a moment before getting out. It was bigger than I expected which made it difficult for me to remain calm as I thought about how unworthy I felt. I didn’t have a rich family or connections that would have prepared me for this. I had a public school education, no college degree, and a history of running the moment life became scary, difficult, or disappointing. This…would definitely qualify as scary.
    The door opened and Ben held out his hand to help me out of the vehicle. It was a nice gesture, very chivalrous. It was the kind of gesture I would never get used to. Still, it was Ben, just being nice and considerate. There was nothing scary about that.
    When he grabbed my bag a man came to the side of my vehicle and took it from him. “I’ll take that, sir,” the man said. Then he went to Ben’s vehicle and took his bag, too.
    “Oh, those both go in the master bedroom,” he told the man.
    “Ummm…I don’t get an introduction?” I asked, suddenly feeling even more awkward.
    “Of course, you do. And you will just as soon as I show you around some of these outside areas. We’re giving the staff a chance to get ready for you. Okay?” He gave me a reassuring look and then bent his head to kiss me.
    “Okay,” I said nervously.
    We wandered around the exterior of the estate for a few moments. He pointed out to me where the stables were, but admitted he had never ridden a horse, which I started to question, but something about the way he said it caused me to pause. Then he showed me around to the back of the house, the inground pool, the amazing back lanai, and the hot tub. From the back deck, it was possible to see most of the vineyards and winery, since it was on the higher ground.
    The air felt cleaner here, than I expected. The sky was clear, completely free of any smog I had imagined. The estate, or what little of it I had already seen was spectacular.
    “Did you think if I knew how big this place was that I wouldn’t come?” I asked him as I wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my chin on the center of his chest.
    “The thought did occur to me,” he replied with a smirk.
    “Eh, you were probably right. This place is super intimidating.” Then I realized that we weren’t alone. The man who had taken my bag and a woman were standing beside a table that was set for lunch. “Wow.”
    “Yeah. I may have mentioned that we’d be hungry and that lunch on the patio would be greatly appreciated.” He motioned for me to head over to the table, so I did.
    The introductions soon followed. “Lucy, this is Alysin,” he said.
    I held out my hand to shake and it made Ben smile, but he didn’t look stricken by my actions, so Lucy and I shook. Then it was time to meet the man.
    “George and Lucy are married. They have taken care of my family for over twenty years now.” He grinned at George and I could tell they had a bond. It made me feel even better about loving Ben. He wasn’t some snotty, spoiled rich kid.
    “So nice to meet you both,” I said sincerely as I shook George’s hand.
    Then we were sitting, eating, and talking. It was so…nice. I know this is what people do. I had seen it on television and in movies, but I had never experienced it in my life. In all my years of dating it was…going to the movies, grabbing over priced dinners, and bar hopping. This was what adults did. This was real life and yet it was something out of a dream.
    After