Thank you, Hannah (grahamlecter) for Beta-reading my story and finding my mistakes so that I can fix them.
Ooops. For some reason, this didn't get posted. As with Chapter 33, please forgive and enjoy.
G-Girl
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Chapter Thirty-Four - First Class to Las Vegas...
Once they had gotten through the security check at the airport and had lunch, they went to their gate and sat in the only two seats together, next to a couple with a crying baby. The parents were frazzled and tense, no doubt from traveling with a cranky infant.
The guy was occupied with his phone while his wife asked him to hold their daughter so she could go use the bathroom. He absently mumbled, "Just a minute," clearly not paying attention. Susan offered to hold the baby, and the woman was surprised by the gesture, then expressed suspicion, asking her husband again to hold his daughter. He mumbled, "Just a minute."
She got up and handed Susan the crying child, saying she would be right back. Spencer smiled as Susan put the baby against her shoulder, gently massaging her back, softly singing to her. In no time, the infant settled down and was asleep by the time the mother came back several minutes later.
Susan, still holding the baby, chatted with the mother for a few minutes until it was announced that the flight would soon begin boarding. She told Susan that Dulles was their second stop on their way home to Las Vegas. As Susan handed the sleeping baby back, the husband finally looked up, chiding his wife for handing their daughter over to a stranger. The wife glared at him.
The pair stowed their carry-on and settled into their seats. The flight attendant offered them drinks. As she walked away, Spencer leaned over to Susan and said quietly, "This is nice… though I prefer the jet."
Pushing the center armrest between them out of the way, the two were able to recline the seats and snuggle together under the small blanket, taking a nap during the flight.
On the drive from the airport, Susan told Spencer about Benjamin Oliver, the hotel manager. "He grew up in Provence, so when I'm there I normally talk with him in French, because he enjoys it and his wife doesn't speak the language. If it makes you more comfortable, I'll keep the conversation in English."
"Thank you. You don't have to but I appreciate that."
As they checked in at the VIP desk, the manager came over to say hello and Susan introduced them. He shook Spencer's hand.
"So very nice to meet you, Dr. Reid. Will the two of you be going to the tables later?" He was in his late 40s, with short salt and pepper hair, impeccably dressed in a dark blue suit.
"Maybe later? After we get something for dinner."
Spencer shrugged. "I've been banned from all the casinos." The manager raised an eyebrow and Spencer chuckled, adding, "I'm especially good at card games."
He excused himself to speak privately with a casino employee, also in a suit, talking in a low voice, and then came back over. "Dr. Reid, please feel welcome to play at the tables here. The pit boss and security will be informed. If you would like a suggestion for dinner, please try Harvest. We recently acquired a new chef."
Susan smiled. "Thank you, Ben. We'll go after we get settled in our room."
"I'll let the staff know to expect you." He held Susan's hand in both of his briefly, then shook Spencer's hand again; said if there was anything they needed to call and ask for him personally.
"Oh, my suit. I need it pressed, for a wedding on Saturday."
Ben's head dipped slightly, a sign of courteous respect. "I'll send someone up to get it within the hour, and have it delivered to your room, no later than tomorrow afternoon."
They went up with the bellman to the 32nd floor and into one of the Penthouse Suites. It had an amazing view of the fountains.
"Wow. This is easily twice the size of my regular room." Susan checked the suite over as the bellman brought the suitcases in. She gave him a tip, then after he left, she called the front desk and asked to speak to the manager. "Ben, thank you again for the upgrade. The room is exquisite. And thank you for the basket of goodies." She listened for a moment, said goodbye, and hung up the phone. In the bedroom, she put away clothes in the dresser and in the closet, hung the dresses and outfits on hangers that she would be wearing over the long weekend. Anything that wouldn't wrinkle, she left in the suitcase. Spencer followed her back to the bedroom and put his things in another drawer. He took his suit out of the dress bag and hung it by the front door.
He was standing by the window next to the table in the dining area, watching the fountain show below as Susan came back out from the bedroom. He looked over at her. "If I had a room like this every time I came back to Las Vegas, I wouldn't stay anywhere else, either. How did you manage to get on the VIP list?"
"There was a glitch in their computer system when I was here with my mom and grandmother. That's all I can say about it." Susan drew her fingers across her closed lips, miming zipping it, locking it, and tossing the imaginary key over her shoulder as she crossed the room to him.
"I won't ask then, but I'm pretty sure I could get it out of you… if I wanted to..." He grinned, slid his arms around her, and kissed her neck, making her shudder.
Since they were both hungry, instead of changing, they went to the restaurant Ben recommended after Spencer's suit was picked up.
They enjoyed a lovely dinner, then went to the blackjack tables for nearly an hour. Both did very well, and gave the dealer a hefty tip before going back up to the room. Susan hung the do not disturb sign on the door handle and closed the door…