By that evening, they had said goodbye to Taylor’s mother (who had told Taylor that Flack had her approval and she was to do her best not to lose this one), returned their rental to the airport and hit the highway. Flack had somehow managed to get a further two weeks off, but if they weren’t back by then, he had also convinced (without much difficulty) Marty to fly out and join Taylor if needed.
“Why don’t you let me drive,” Flack suggested as they left the rental return and headed for the car.
Wearily, Taylor nodded. “Just drive until you’re tired. We’ll find a motel wherever we are. Just head north until you hit I-10, and then head east on that.”
Flack smiled at her and watched as she plugged her iPod into the stereo. “I see your brother upgraded the stereo.”
Taylor grinned. “It was the only thing he insisted on changing. He said that he had to be able to play his CD’s when driving. Thankfully, the stereo he chose had an auxiliary-out cable, so I get to use my iPod.” With a yawn, she selected some Matchbox Twenty, and settled back. Within minutes, she was asleep.
An hour later, the I-10 exit appeared. Flack watched as he drove past it, smiling to himself.
“Why don’t you let me drive,” Flack suggested as they left the rental return and headed for the car.
Wearily, Taylor nodded. “Just drive until you’re tired. We’ll find a motel wherever we are. Just head north until you hit I-10, and then head east on that.”
Flack smiled at her and watched as she plugged her iPod into the stereo. “I see your brother upgraded the stereo.”
Taylor grinned. “It was the only thing he insisted on changing. He said that he had to be able to play his CD’s when driving. Thankfully, the stereo he chose had an auxiliary-out cable, so I get to use my iPod.” With a yawn, she selected some Matchbox Twenty, and settled back. Within minutes, she was asleep.
An hour later, the I-10 exit appeared. Flack watched as he drove past it, smiling to himself.
* * *
Nearly four hours later and Flack was getting bored. He had been driving in the middle of nowhere of the Mojave Desert for a while now, with nothing but oncoming headlights, and the occasional tumbleweed for company. Finally, they crossed the brink of a hill and he could see down into the valley at the brightly lit city in front of him. With a smile, he prodded Taylor. She grunted and turned over. “Wake up, Taylor,” he said, prodding her again.
“I’m awake,” she yawned, stretching. “Where are we?”
“On I-15.”
“I-15! Flack, that’s miles off track,” she cried, sitting up and grabbing the map. “We need to be heading east, not north.”
“No, we’re going in the right direction.”
“We’ll be hitting Las Vegas soon!”
“Exactly,” Flack agreed, pointing out of the window in front of them.
Taylor dropped the map. “Why are we going to Vegas?”
“Taylor, shut up, and enjoy the moment.”
Taylor gaped at him before sitting back and watching the city increase in size as they neared it. “Have you ever been to Las Vegas before?” she asked Flack as she peered out of the window.
Taking his exit, Flack shook his head. “No. You?”
“No,” Taylor replied, as her fidgeting increased with her excitement. “Are we staying the night?”
“Three,” Flack informed her, before laughing at her excited squeal.
“Where are we staying?” Taylor gushed as they turned onto Las Vegas Boulevard, better known as The Strip.
“Just sit back and relax, Taylor. It’s a surprise.”
Still fidgeting like a small child, Taylor reached for her camera, rolled down the window and began taking photos: Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur.
“Oh, wow!” Taylor exclaimed as she stared at the bright green MGM Grand which had come up on her right. And then it moved away as they pulled into the hotel opposite, “New York, New York?” Taylor was a little surprised at his choice as he pulled in.
Flack let out a loud laugh and carried on driving through, turning back onto The Strip. “Taylor, after flying across the country, do you really think I’m going to have us stay in New York, New York?”
Taylor shrugged, “I don’t know.”
“I love the city too much.”
Taylor smiled as they carried on up The Strip. And then they pulled into Caesars Palace. Taylor’s mouth was still hanging open as the valet opened her door. “Welcome to Caesars Palace.”
Taylor followed Flack into the reception area, staring up in awe at the room. It was enormous with elegant columns and Sistine Chapel-style paintings on the ceilings, and marble statues galore.
“How can we afford this place?” Taylor gasped as Flack returned with the key, bellboy in tow.
“It’s my treat, Taylor,” Flack told her firmly.
“But this place has got to be at least $500 a night,” Taylor gasped, feeling a little faint.
Flack shrugged. “Alright, so technically, I’m not paying either.”
“Huh?”
“The NYPD held a charity ball for the millennium, with a raffle. First prize was an all expenses paid world cruise. Second was a three night stay here.”
“And you won it?”
Flack nodded. “Believe it or not, it was a bet with Aiden and Danny.”
In front of them, the bellboy opened the door to their room. “Would you like reservations for Spago?”
Flack nodded and made the arrangements whilst Taylor explored the room, still feeling like a small child who’s Christmas had come early. She headed out onto the balcony and stared across at the Imperial Palace. A few minutes later, Flack came out and joined her. “Happy birthday,” he murmured into her hair as his arms wrapped around her.
Taylor turned around so that she was facing him. “My birthday?”
Flack shrugged. “Let’s be fair, you had a pretty lousy one. And as you don’t seem to celebrate it on the right day anyway, what does it matter if it’s a couple of days late?”
Taylor grinned up at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I feel pretty lousy considering how your birthday turned out.”
“I spent it with you – that was enough.” He frowned, “Although, next year, please don’t cook again.”
“Shuddup,” Taylor told him as she brought her lips to his.
“I’m awake,” she yawned, stretching. “Where are we?”
“On I-15.”
“I-15! Flack, that’s miles off track,” she cried, sitting up and grabbing the map. “We need to be heading east, not north.”
“No, we’re going in the right direction.”
“We’ll be hitting Las Vegas soon!”
“Exactly,” Flack agreed, pointing out of the window in front of them.
Taylor dropped the map. “Why are we going to Vegas?”
“Taylor, shut up, and enjoy the moment.”
Taylor gaped at him before sitting back and watching the city increase in size as they neared it. “Have you ever been to Las Vegas before?” she asked Flack as she peered out of the window.
Taking his exit, Flack shook his head. “No. You?”
“No,” Taylor replied, as her fidgeting increased with her excitement. “Are we staying the night?”
“Three,” Flack informed her, before laughing at her excited squeal.
“Where are we staying?” Taylor gushed as they turned onto Las Vegas Boulevard, better known as The Strip.
“Just sit back and relax, Taylor. It’s a surprise.”
Still fidgeting like a small child, Taylor reached for her camera, rolled down the window and began taking photos: Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur.
“Oh, wow!” Taylor exclaimed as she stared at the bright green MGM Grand which had come up on her right. And then it moved away as they pulled into the hotel opposite, “New York, New York?” Taylor was a little surprised at his choice as he pulled in.
Flack let out a loud laugh and carried on driving through, turning back onto The Strip. “Taylor, after flying across the country, do you really think I’m going to have us stay in New York, New York?”
Taylor shrugged, “I don’t know.”
“I love the city too much.”
Taylor smiled as they carried on up The Strip. And then they pulled into Caesars Palace. Taylor’s mouth was still hanging open as the valet opened her door. “Welcome to Caesars Palace.”
Taylor followed Flack into the reception area, staring up in awe at the room. It was enormous with elegant columns and Sistine Chapel-style paintings on the ceilings, and marble statues galore.
“How can we afford this place?” Taylor gasped as Flack returned with the key, bellboy in tow.
“It’s my treat, Taylor,” Flack told her firmly.
“But this place has got to be at least $500 a night,” Taylor gasped, feeling a little faint.
Flack shrugged. “Alright, so technically, I’m not paying either.”
“Huh?”
“The NYPD held a charity ball for the millennium, with a raffle. First prize was an all expenses paid world cruise. Second was a three night stay here.”
“And you won it?”
Flack nodded. “Believe it or not, it was a bet with Aiden and Danny.”
In front of them, the bellboy opened the door to their room. “Would you like reservations for Spago?”
Flack nodded and made the arrangements whilst Taylor explored the room, still feeling like a small child who’s Christmas had come early. She headed out onto the balcony and stared across at the Imperial Palace. A few minutes later, Flack came out and joined her. “Happy birthday,” he murmured into her hair as his arms wrapped around her.
Taylor turned around so that she was facing him. “My birthday?”
Flack shrugged. “Let’s be fair, you had a pretty lousy one. And as you don’t seem to celebrate it on the right day anyway, what does it matter if it’s a couple of days late?”
Taylor grinned up at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I feel pretty lousy considering how your birthday turned out.”
“I spent it with you – that was enough.” He frowned, “Although, next year, please don’t cook again.”
“Shuddup,” Taylor told him as she brought her lips to his.
* * *
Wrapped in a towel, Taylor was pulling her clothes out of her bag, trying to find something to wear. She had narrowed it down to black pants and a smart top, a red dress, or a black skirt and a smart top. “What do you think?” she asked Flack.
“The red dress,” he told her without hesitation.
“Gee, give it a moment to actually look at the other options,” she told him, pulling the red dress up.
“I don’t need to.”
Taylor arched an eyebrow. “Is there something I should know?”
“Wearing red drives me crazy,” Flack told her.
Taylor laughed. “Well, that’s something to remember.”
Flack got up and walked over to her, running his hands through her still damp hair. “And wear your hair curly.”
“You have a thing for curls as well?”
“Damn straight. I can’t understand why you want to hide them all the time with those straightening things.”
Taylor just shook her head in amusement as she headed to the vanity unit to put some make-up on and fix her hair.
“The red dress,” he told her without hesitation.
“Gee, give it a moment to actually look at the other options,” she told him, pulling the red dress up.
“I don’t need to.”
Taylor arched an eyebrow. “Is there something I should know?”
“Wearing red drives me crazy,” Flack told her.
Taylor laughed. “Well, that’s something to remember.”
Flack got up and walked over to her, running his hands through her still damp hair. “And wear your hair curly.”
“You have a thing for curls as well?”
“Damn straight. I can’t understand why you want to hide them all the time with those straightening things.”
Taylor just shook her head in amusement as she headed to the vanity unit to put some make-up on and fix her hair.
* * *
“I still can’t believe we’re in Vegas,” Taylor muttered as she sat back. They had just finished their meal and were listening to the music filter through the restaurant.
“You like it, then?”
Taylor nodded. “You have no idea.”
Flack smiled. “Good. Because I’m not done yet.”
Taylor’s eyes widened. “What else have you got in store?”
Flack’s grin grew. “Well, complementary tickets to Celine Dion were included, but,” he added seeing Taylor trying to hide a grimace. “I exchanged them for VIP tickets to the Pussycat Doll Lounge.”
Taylor’s mouth dropped open. “You don’t have to. We can see Celine if you want.”
“Taylor, the Pussycat Doll Lounge has women dancing around in fishnets to rock music. And besides, the group, the Pussycat Dolls, they’re performing live tonight.”
Taylor laughed. “Thank goodness for that. Not that I hate Celine – but,” she shivered.
“But what?”
Taylor sighed. “It reminds me of the day the paper blew… when I found you, all I could hear was Smith’s music…”
Flack reached over and squeezed her hand. “That’s in the past,” he smiled reassuringly at her. “And tomorrow,” he said, changing the subject. “We’re going to the Grand Canyon.”
Taylor’s mouth dropped open again. It seemed like it was going to be a regular occurrence whilst they were in Vegas.
“Now, I hope you have your dancing shoes on?” Flack asked a while later after he had paid the bill (ignoring Taylor who was trying to insist that she at least pay for that, considering he seemed to be covering everything else).
Taylor nodded and the two of them headed to the Lounge, where they bypassed the line and headed straight to the VIP lounge and the complimentary champagne.
By the small hours of the morning, Taylor’s feet were aching from dancing too much, her voice was hoarse from singing along to the Pussycat Dolls, (they had managed to have their photographs taken with them) and she was feeling exceptionally light headed from all the champagne. But she was also feeling more relaxed and a lot happier than she had done in months. “I feel like I’m a princess or something,” Taylor sighed as she sat on the edge of their bed and pulled her shoes off, rubbing at her aching feet. “Thank you.”
Flack sat down next to her, before lying backwards, “I met the Pussycat Dolls,” he grinned.
“Are you kidding me?” Taylor laughed. “You were about three minutes away from getting one of their numbers.”
Flack sighed. “In hindsight, I probably should have taken her up on her offer.”
Taylor shrugged. “It’s not too late if you want to head back down there,” she told him nonchalantly.
“Don’t pretend you weren’t insanely jealous.”
“I wasn’t jealous!” Taylor protested.
“Yeah you were,” Flack grinned.
“No I wasn’t… alright, maybe just a little bit.”
“Just a little bit?”
“Fine,” Taylor admitted, “I was insanely jealous.”
Flack grinned, “I knew it.” He reached over and grabbed her hand, pulling her down beside him.
“You like it, then?”
Taylor nodded. “You have no idea.”
Flack smiled. “Good. Because I’m not done yet.”
Taylor’s eyes widened. “What else have you got in store?”
Flack’s grin grew. “Well, complementary tickets to Celine Dion were included, but,” he added seeing Taylor trying to hide a grimace. “I exchanged them for VIP tickets to the Pussycat Doll Lounge.”
Taylor’s mouth dropped open. “You don’t have to. We can see Celine if you want.”
“Taylor, the Pussycat Doll Lounge has women dancing around in fishnets to rock music. And besides, the group, the Pussycat Dolls, they’re performing live tonight.”
Taylor laughed. “Thank goodness for that. Not that I hate Celine – but,” she shivered.
“But what?”
Taylor sighed. “It reminds me of the day the paper blew… when I found you, all I could hear was Smith’s music…”
Flack reached over and squeezed her hand. “That’s in the past,” he smiled reassuringly at her. “And tomorrow,” he said, changing the subject. “We’re going to the Grand Canyon.”
Taylor’s mouth dropped open again. It seemed like it was going to be a regular occurrence whilst they were in Vegas.
“Now, I hope you have your dancing shoes on?” Flack asked a while later after he had paid the bill (ignoring Taylor who was trying to insist that she at least pay for that, considering he seemed to be covering everything else).
Taylor nodded and the two of them headed to the Lounge, where they bypassed the line and headed straight to the VIP lounge and the complimentary champagne.
By the small hours of the morning, Taylor’s feet were aching from dancing too much, her voice was hoarse from singing along to the Pussycat Dolls, (they had managed to have their photographs taken with them) and she was feeling exceptionally light headed from all the champagne. But she was also feeling more relaxed and a lot happier than she had done in months. “I feel like I’m a princess or something,” Taylor sighed as she sat on the edge of their bed and pulled her shoes off, rubbing at her aching feet. “Thank you.”
Flack sat down next to her, before lying backwards, “I met the Pussycat Dolls,” he grinned.
“Are you kidding me?” Taylor laughed. “You were about three minutes away from getting one of their numbers.”
Flack sighed. “In hindsight, I probably should have taken her up on her offer.”
Taylor shrugged. “It’s not too late if you want to head back down there,” she told him nonchalantly.
“Don’t pretend you weren’t insanely jealous.”
“I wasn’t jealous!” Taylor protested.
“Yeah you were,” Flack grinned.
“No I wasn’t… alright, maybe just a little bit.”
“Just a little bit?”
“Fine,” Taylor admitted, “I was insanely jealous.”
Flack grinned, “I knew it.” He reached over and grabbed her hand, pulling her down beside him.
Originally Posted: 22/09/2006