“I’m glad I chased you down,” he said placing a kiss on the top of her head.
“So am I. Now I’m going to take a nap since someone woke me up very early.”
Clara was more than surprised that there was a car waiting for them at the airport when they arrived.
“When did you schedule this?” she asked as the driver opened their door and then put their luggage in the trunk.
“I did it all this morning. It’s amazing what you can do in this city.”
The driver shut the door and Clara snuggled in close to Warner. “Have you ever been here?”
“Yeah. A couple times. Back when I was just a kid in the way. I think this trip will be happier.”
Clara sat up and looked at him. “What do you mean kid in the way?”
“I told you my grandmother didn’t much care for me.”
“Right. She’d drag you out here?”
“Oh she dragged me out here and left me with some random aunt in a trailer park for a year.”
Clara covered her mouth with her hand and she felt the tears stinging. “That’s horrible. How can someone do that to a child?”
“Listen. It made me stronger. Don’t go thinking I’ll treat our children like that. A child should be the top priority if you choose to have them. Not just something you pass around.”
Clara smiled. “I agree.”
“In fact, the other day the thought of teaching crossed my mind again.”
“I think you’d be a fantastic teacher.”
He shrugged. “We’ll see. I guess it hinges on Jeremy Smith now.”
“And Savannah.”
“I’ve been around the business long enough to know that you don’t get too excited.”
Clara shook her head. “Get a little excited. You’re about to be hitched. Nothing is more exciting than that.”
“Oh, I’ve done a few things to make it more exciting.” Warner gave her a wink and she watched as the Las Vegas strip appeared before her.
The car drove them to the Bellagio and Clara couldn’t help but bounce on the seat. “God, look at this place.”
“Wait till you get inside.”
“This is going to be wonderful.”
“I hope you think so.”
The driver took their bags and left them with the bellhop while Warner checked them in. Clara stood under the ceiling of glass flowers and let herself soak in the atmosphere.
“Are you ready, my sweet?” Warner offered her his arm.
“I sure am.”
He led her to their room, which again was a surprise. It was a suite which faced the strip and a grand view of the fountains.
“Warner, this is beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as my view right now.” He smiled at her as he shut the door.
Clara moved to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “We’re really going to do this aren’t we?”
“I sure want to.”
“So do I.” She kissed him softly.
“Well, get settled in. You have an appointment to pick out a dress in an hour.”
“A dress? Isn’t that funny? I hadn’t even thought about a dress.”
He laughed. “I want you to have some elegance too. After all you’re going to be stuck with this the rest of your life.” He looked down at his worn jeans.
“I happen to like the view very much.”
“I promise you’ll have a better one for your wedding pictures.”
He set the key card on the desk. “You will find the dress of your dreams. We get married at seven o’clock and have some magnificent pictures taken out front with the fountains.”
“Thank you.”
He pulled her to him. “No, thank you. I know going home and explaining this to everyone isn’t going to be easy. I’m very much taking you out of your comfort zone here.”
“You can’t be comfortable always. Then you just get complacent.” She winked and walked to the bedroom.
Warner thought about what she’d said. That was where he’d been for years. Complacent in what he did. Meeting Clara had certainly changed that. He wanted to sing his own songs. He wanted to perform, get married, have a house full of kids, and damn—he wanted to teach again.
With Clara by his side there would be room for all of that. He let out a slow and steady breath.
“Time to grow up and be a man, Warner,” he said to himself as he heard Clara squeal at the size of the tub.
He smiled. This was going to be the best vacation he’d ever planned.
Clara had picked out a dress and Warner had surprised her again when he had a salon appointment for her as well. Her hair was done, makeup, fingers and toes. She found that he’d even arranged for a couples massage the next day.
No amount of planning for this special day could have made it any better.
Clara walked through the casino to the bank of elevators that would take her to her room when her phone rang.
She looked down at the screen. No surprise, Christian was hunting her down.
“Where are you?”
She pushed the button to the elevator. “I’m on vacation. I’ll be home in a few days.”
“Everyone is worried about you.”
Clara sighed. “I’m thirty years old. I know what I’m doing.”
“I do too.”
She felt her heart rate accelerate. “What does that mean?”
“You’re moving too fast. That’s what that means. C’mon, you’ve only known Warner for a few weeks.”
“What exactly is your point?”
“I told you my point. I think you’re moving much too fast into this relationship.”
Clara entered the elevator and quickly pushed the button for her floor hoping to ride alone.
“Christian, this is my life and my business. Ed and Darcy didn’t know each other very long. Look at Curtis and Simone. I don’t need you butting in here.”
“I know where you are.”
Clara bit down on her lip. “How do you know that?”
“I heard the sounds behind you.”
She didn’t know what to say.
“Clara, who just leaves in the middle of the night and heads to Vegas?”
One thing about a close knit family, they knew everything without having the information first hand.
“I left you a note. I’m vacationing.”