This needed to be real. At least real enough we could, at some point, convince Elias to get his son under control if he kept being a manic asshole.

“Right. Any suggestions?”

“I know just the place.”

And fortunately, since we’d dressed nice to go meet with my attorney, we’d fit the dress code.

I pulled my car out of the parking lot, turned left, and drove through Vegas until I turned on Las Vegas Boulevard and we headed south, dodging tourists and Ubers and drunken assholes not giving a shit about the crosswalks, stumbling across the streets even though it wasn’t even yet noon on a fucking Monday.

I pulled into the north side of the Bellagio, up to their valet service area.

“The Bellagio?” Emmersyn asked, an excited smile lighting up her face as she took in the fountains.

“Thought you’d enjoy lunch overlooking the fountains.”

“I would. Definitely.”

I climbed out of the car, taking the tag from the valet and handing over my keys and helped Emmersyn out of the SUV. She was wearing a casual but classy peach colored dress. The straps were wide, and the neckline was modest. Most of it was tightly fitted and showed off her curves, but the dress flared out at her hips and she’d paired it with nude heels that almost brought her up to my chin. She’d looked so damn gorgeous when she met me at the bottom of the stairs this morning, I’d almost dropped to my knees right there and begged her to take a chance on me.

The same thoughts slammed into my chest as she took my hand and climbed down from the SUV like she’d been born in high heels. Elegant and classy and sexy described Emmersyn to perfection.

I forced myself not to gawk at her. Remembering the earlier promise I made to myself, I slid her hand to my forearm and escorted her inside.

“I was thinking the LAGO. They not only have delicious small plates, but we might be able to sit outside on the patio and watch the fountains. It’s one of my favorite brunch or lunch restaurants, but if you’d prefer something else—”

“It sounds perfect,” she replied as the doors were opened for us and we stepped inside. The air conditioning cooled me almost immediately, but thankfully it wasn’t yet scorching hot. Sitting outside wouldn’t be unbearable and we’d be fortunate to get a light mist from the fountain show to keep us cool.

We strolled into the Bellagio, and Emmersyn’s eyes went wide with wonder. Harry Winston was straight ahead of us and as we turned to pass it and head toward LAGO, Emmersyn’s head swiveled backward.

“It amazes me sometimes, the obscene wealth people have, even if I grew up with it.”

“You don’t live like it.”

She shook her head. “No. My grandparents did a really good job of trying to keep me grounded, especially after both of my parents went off the rails. My dad had money he earned, and threw his cash around like pennies, and my mom was so used to living off her own trust fund they’d set up for her I’m not sure she ever lived with two feet on the ground. I wanted to be different than them, different than the people I went to school with.”