by Henley, Jo
“When we split. He was lost.” Now Julie held back tears. “He couldn’t see his life path. Except in a bottle. He was hurting himself and I knew he wouldn’t want Stacie to know her father that way. So we left.” She wiped her eyes. “It was the hardest thing I ever did.”
She regrets leaving him. She still loves him.
“Look at me.” She fanned at her eyes. “I’m blubbering over my ex-husband.” She laughed. “Don’t let him go, Liz.”
“How do I keep him? I threw him out. Didn’t even give him a chance to explain.”
“If I know Oscar. And I do. He’s beside himself. Did he send you a gift? He was always so thoughtful. He even bought me my shop. And that was after we divorced.”
“I told him I enjoyed developing film in high school. He sent a camera to my office with flowers.”
“See. He could’ve just filled your office with roses. He didn’t. Go to him.”
“I can’t. I don’t know where to find him. I can’t go to the Buckeye.”
“Hand me your phone.” She held out her hand, palm up. Liz handed her phone over. Julie pulled up her maps app and inputted an address. “You’ll find him at home. Stay until Stacie gets home from school. I want you to meet her. She already adores you.”
Driving back to town. Liz thought about her entire conversation with Oscar’s ex, but Julie’s last words really sunk in. Stacie adores me? So Oscar told her and she told her mom and oh my gosh how many people are talking about me?
Chapter Forty Three
“How’d it go today dad?” Stacie asked, stepping in the door after school.
“Still haven’t heard from her. I don’t even know if she got the present I sent.” He shrugged. “How am I supposed to win her over if I can’t find her?”
“Don’t give up,” Stacie left to go upstairs to her room, but stopped a few steps up. She peered out the glass of the front doors. “Dad? What kind of car does Liz drive?”
Oscar opened the front door. Liz had come to him. How? Stunned speechless, he met her on the porch.
When she didn’t slap or punch her dad, Stacie stepped around him. “Liz. It’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Stacie. How did you get here?”
Liz fished a bag of free facial samples out of her purse. “Your mom gave me the address. Can I come in?”
“Yes. Yes. Please,” Oscar said, snapping out of his shock. He stepped to the side and allowed Stacie to lead the way into the house.
“Wow!” Liz said with a gasp. “That staircase is amazing.”
“It gets the job done.” She poked her dad. “You two probably want to be alone. I’ll just be upstairs if you need me.”
“You’re here. You spoke to Julie. Am I forgiven?” Oscar worked out his questions by saying them aloud. “Or are you here to kill me?”
Liz wrapped her arms around his waist and positioned her lips close to his. “Bartender. Or billionaire. I want to give you a second chance.” She smashed her lips to his and kissed him with all her heart.
He pulled her tighter and kissed her back until they both pulled away to take a deep breath. “I wanted to tell you. The first night. But I didn’t think you’d believe me. Then I listened to the others and they said you hated rich men.”
“I’ve accepted my attitude toward Chris played a part in your lie. I’ve moved past him. I can’t fault you for his mistakes. Can we move forward?” She stepped back and scanned the room. “So this is your house.”
“Yes, it’s a tad bigger than your place.”
“Hell this entryway is bigger than my place.” She twirled around, bumping into Stacie’s backpack. “Your daughter. She’s beautiful.”
“She’s a teenager. I get away with nothing around her.” He started the tour of his expansive home with the main hallway. “Let me show you around.” He walked the full grounds with her, showing Liz every bedroom, bathroom, and closet. He was done hiding things. His life and his home was out in the open to share with her.
They ended the tour in his Tuscan styled kitchen. Complete with dark wood cabinets, hand painted tiled backsplash, high end range, and wine fridge. “Are you hungry?”
“Do you cook too?” Liz snuggled her nose against his neck, getting lost in his cologne.
“I dabble.” He smoothed her hair and tucked it behind her ears. “Do you want to test out another room first?”
“Cool it,” Stacie said, joining them. She walked past and went straight to the fridge.
“You ready for this?” Oscar whispered in Liz’s ear. He was glad she was finally in his arms, in his house, and even more excited that Stacie was there with them. An afternoon with his two favorite girls was just what the bartender ordered.
“Does your dad really know his way around the kitchen?” Liz asked Stacie.
“Not really. Everything he knows he learned from Gordon Ramsay.”
“It’s the food!” the father, daughter pair yelled in unison.
“We watch Kitchen Nightmares together,” Oscar admitted. “Let’s start some poppers.”
Stacie stepped into the pantry. “We have bacon bits and bread crumbs. Is there cheese in the fridge?”
“How spicy do you like your jalapeño poppers?” Oscar asked Liz.
“Mild. How can I help?”
“Come get the oil,” Stacie called out to her from the open door.
“Are you serious?” Liz exclaimed. The kitchen was the last stop on the tour and she hadn’t stepped in to the pantry yet. “This is bigger than my bathroom.”
“It’s sick isn’t it.” Stacie handed her an apron and the oil. “Can we make drinks too? Frozen slushes. Dad doesn’t drink alcohol.”
“I know. He’s inspiring.” Liz turned her back to Oscar. He tied the apron around her waist and stole a kiss on the back of her neck.
“Now get to chopping,” he said, slapping her ass.
While Liz was marveling at the size of the fridge, Oscar lined up ingredients on a cutting board on the center island. “We need to chop the cheese, half the jalapeños, and mix the spices into the breadcrumbs.”
“I’m glad you’ve forgiven him. He’s been a wreck,” Stacie said while Oscar fried the poppers at the built in fryer next to the range.
“I can hear you,” Oscar said without turning around.
Stacie stuck her tongue out to his back. “Dad’s a great catch. I wouldn’t trade him. You shouldn’t either.”
“I’ll keep him around,” Liz agreed. Oscar turned with his irresistible smile. He’s a keeper.
The trio worked together making the snack and enjoying each other’s company. When the poppers were all ready, Stacie took her plate to the media room to eat. Oscar and Liz stole the opportunity to step out onto the back patio for more time alone.
It was chilly outside on the patio, but Oscar had a plan and keeping Liz cold was part of it. Holding her close on the oversized chaise lounge he set the rest of the evening into motion.
“Stacie approves of you. And I suppose Julie does too.”
“She still loves you in her own way. That went a long way in my coming here.”
“Liz I . . .”
“Wait.” She stopped him with a hand on his knee. “Just like I shouldn’t of loved you for your money. I shouldn’t push you away because of it. I trust that the man I fell in love with is the same today as he was before I found out your bank balance.”
“I’m going to prove to you that this.” He fanned out to the expansive gardens and pool in the distance. “All of it doesn’t change who I am.”
“I told you.” She held his chin and kissed his cheek. “I trust you.”
“But I need to prove it to you.” He pulled her up to her feet. “You’re not afraid of flying are you?”
Chapter Forty Four
A half hour later, with no bags packed Oscar and Liz were at the airport boarding a private jet to Las Vegas.
“When did you arrange for this?” Liz asked, climbing the stairs up into he aircraft.
“Phoenix Aviati
on pilots are always on call at the airport for any flights customers like myself need. We tend to book them with last minute notice.” Oscar followed her up. At the top, just inside the aircraft was his travel assistant, Faith.
“Welcome aboard, Mr. Wallace. Finally bringing a guest I see.” Faith stepped to the side. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll check in with the captain.”
Liz stepped into the main sitting room the plane. It was like nothing she’d seen before. Maybe in the movies, but the atmosphere was different in person. There were plush chairs and a table off to one side. The seats on the other side was a leather sofa with seat belts. “Is that champagne?”
“And Belgian chocolates.” Oscar lifted a panel to reveal the golden wrapped delights. “Perks.”
“We’ll be ready for take off soon,” Faith said, emerging from the cockpit.
“I’m glad you could accompany us,” Oscar said, hugging her. “Faith this is Liz. Liz this is . . .” Oscar was stumped for a moment. “She’s a very special travel assistant that comes with the plane. She’ll make any arrangements we need, ride to the hotel, dinner reservations.”
“Oscar. Tell her the truth,” Faith urged. After a little giggle, she added, “I have connections to the best spas and shopping in Vegas. I can get you private rooms for any service. Anywhere.”
Liz sat and searched for the two halves of the lap belt. “How well do you know Oscar?” she asked. He was a few feet away at the cockpit door.
Faith sat next to her. “Relax. I’m married.” She flashed a large diamond ring. “Madly in love. Oscar’s the same for you. He talked all about you on the last trip. Girl to girl, he’s the full package.”
“His package is full.” Liz squirmed with a chuckle.
“What are you two giggling about?” Oscar asked, returning.
“Only about the biggest things to see in Vegas.” Faith gave Oscar her seat. “It’s time we buckled up.”
When the attractive travel assistant had settled in her seat at the front, Liz leaned against Oscar and asked, “How did you know I would forgive you and agree to come on this trip?”
“I didn’t. But being a billionaire, affords me the luxury of making arrangements even with the off chance they’d be ruined.”
“Perks?”
“I’m glad you came. You’re going to love Vegas.”
Along the flight. Liz’s restless nights and adventurous day caught up to her and she closed her eyes. She was awaken by Oscar’s voice. He was relaying instructions to Faith for their trip. “Call the hotel and make sure they’ve arranged for evening attire as well as day outfits. Have them cover all the bases.”
“Dinner reservations? To where? What will be open?” Faith said.
“No need. We’ll be fine tonight. Tomorrow we’ll be dining with Casey, the chef at Camille’s. She knows we’re coming.”
“And during the day?”
“How about a private tour at the Neon Boneyard?”
“Oscar don’t you think Liz might want to go shopping? Or see a casino or two.” Faith swiped her fingertip across the tablet in her hand. “Take her to play baccarat. I’ll book you a private room.”
“She’s not the gambling type.” He covered the screen. “But shopping might not be that bad of an idea.”
“Hold up,” Liz said, announcing to them that she was listening. “Don’t I get a say? Gambling. No. Shopping. Maybe. Neon Boneyard? Explain.”
“Yep. It’s the place where old signs go to die. And billionaires,” Faith said. “I won’t let him take you there. I can book spa appointments at the Bellagio, shopping at Caesars Palace and . . .”
“I’m going with Oscar on this one,” Liz said. “We’ll go to the boneyard. Then find us the cheesiest souvenir shop in town.”
“I won’t do it,” Faith protested, tossing the tablet down on the seat next to her.
Like always, Faith agreed to make any reservations Oscar requested. Upon landing, she escorted them to the limo and sat up front with the driver.
At the Hotel Liz was greeted with the same VIP treatment Oscar was on his previous visit. The private desk clerk assured them all their needs were taken care of upstairs in the penthouse suite. They were given their card keys and an escort to the private access elevator.
Much like his house, the room took Liz’s breath away. “This is your everyday?”
“A billionaire’s apology room. I typically don’t rent the largest suite when I came here alone.” He walked behind Liz with his arms around her waist. Leading her to the patio door overlooking the city lights he was taken back to the garage rooftop. This time, for this view he had Liz and wasn’t letting her go.
“Aren’t they beautiful,” she said about the lights. Her statement warmed his heart.
“It’s so amazing how many there are. If every one represented a person, think of how extraordinary it is that we found each other.” He turned her in his arms and kissed her. Their lips exchanged long lingering caresses. “Do you want to retreat to the bedroom?”
“Could we just sleep together? It’s been a long few days.”
“I’ll stay on the couch. I’m not going to pressure you.”
“No.” She pulled him tighter and wriggled her chest against his. “I want to be with you. I’m just exhausted. We could see what the morning brings.”
Chapter Forty Five
Nestled comfortably in the high thread count sheets and perfectly stuffed mattress, Liz slept in the next morning. When she awoke Oscar was out of bed and in the suite living area with Faith.
Liz wrapped a robe around her silk pajamas the hotel had provided for her and joined them for breakfast. “Good morning. You’re up early.”
Oscar leaned up from his seat for a kiss and Liz leaned down to make the connection. “Have a bite to eat.”
“We had the kitchen send up a little of everything,” Faith said. “And I’ll go to the concierge to arrange today’s schedule.” She let herself out.
Liz scanned the buffet table of food. She chose a bagel with a side of cream cheese to spread over it. “What do you like on your bagel?” She sat next to Oscar and waited for his answer. She was ready to memorize it, so she could order it for him.
“Never eat them. I’m a muffin man.”
“What kind?” she asked, because the product wasn’t important. The details were.
“Apple cinnamon, My Nana made them when I was little. They were the best, and I still haven’t found a comparison anywhere.”
“Speaking of your Nana. I read online that her birthday is tomorrow.”
“You little snooper. Yes it is. That’s partially why we’re in Vegas. I want to get her a special gift before we leave. Something that can only be bought here.”
“Will you take me to the party?”
“If I don’t I’ll never be able to return home again.”
“Good,” Liz twisted her feet up and lowered her head in his lap. “I love you. I love this. Not Vegas or the fancy suite. But sitting with you. Talking about your Nana.”
“I love you too,” Oscar said, caressing the side of her face with the back of his hand. She bucked her chin and he leaned down to kiss her.
She sat up and they were still kissing when Faith let herself back in the room. “Excuse me.” She cleared her throat. “Your ride to the Neon Boneyard museum will be downstairs in a half hour.”
“Thank you, Faith.”
“Liz, did you like the clothes that were selected?” she asked, walking toward the bedroom. “Did they get your foundation color correct?” She nodded her head for Liz to follow.
“Be right back.”
At the vanity, Liz sat and Faith showed her the makeup choices. “I wanted to give you a head’s up about today. Oscar’s planning on taking you to his new restaurant and his head chef is a beautiful woman.”
“I’m not the jealous type.”
“Just doing my job. Taking care of my clients needs.”
“Thank you. Faith what will you be doing to
day while we’re out?” she asked finishing her makeup and moving on to peruse through the outfits in the closet.
“People watching in the casino. Maybe flirt a little at the bar.”
“Come with us.”
The decision was made. Oscar went along with Liz and the three headed out for a private tour of the Neon Boneyard museum. After learning all they could about the history of Las Vegas signs, the three retreated to the limo with plans to stop at the unopened Camille’s for lunch.
“This is it,” Oscar said as the car pulled up to the parking lot. The outside had improved since his last visit, but the dramatic fountain showpiece was not running. “What the hell is going on with this place?” Oscar marched ahead into the restaurant, leaving Faith to escort Liz inside.
“When is opening day?” Liz asked, pulling open the doors and halting within a foot in the door. All the furniture in the place was pushed into the corner and several men were laying down the flooring.
“We’re trying to stay on schedule,” Dan the foreman said.
“It doesn’t look like it. It looks like we have to reschedule the opening,” Oscar said. “Is Casey in the kitchen? Did she tell you I was coming in?”
“She’s not on the premises. We had to turn off the water while we install the plumbing for the bar.”
“Where are we going to eat?” Liz asked.
“Dan this is Liz and you know Faith.” Oscar took out his phone. “Keep them safe. I’m going to call Casey.”
“Step over here ladies.” Dan distracted the women with the final plans and finished mock ups of the restaurant.
Faith snatched up the drawings of the dining area. “This sculpture. Will it be glass blown?”
Liz looked over her shoulder at the drawing. “I recognize that art. It’s similar to the piece in the Preston Hotel back home.”
“Yes, a wild billionaire. Unpredictable artist. He’s one of the reasons were off schedule. Can’t be bothered to hurry up his art process.”
