It was Friday evening and our trip to Las Vegas from southern California would be about a 5 hour drive. Getting through Los Angeles can be a nightmare on the freeway. My girlfriend Linda and I decided to take the weekend off and just go! We had been planning to do something fun for ourselves and what would be more fun than 2 women in Las Vegas for a weekend? Once past L.A. it was clear sailing on I-15 north.
We decided to stop off in Barstow for a bite to eat. Barstow was at one time a smaller town in the Mojave Desert but had grown quite a bit and is considered a "pit stop" and about half way through our trip and for travelers on their way to Vegas from southern California. We had never been there but wanted to see it just to say we "were in Barstow!" We stopped at the Mac Donald's at "Barstow Station" that was built entirely from passenger train cars. We had our burgers and then continued on our way to Vegas.
We were tired when we arrived and checked into the Sahara Hotel. This is a landmark hotel that holds many stories and memories from the past with various Hollywood entertainers and one of very few hot spot hotels that survived the many changes in Vegas over the years.
We got to our room and freshened up. We decided to go down to the casino to see what was happening and perhaps hit a million on the 25 cent slots. We passed by one of the roulette wheels where it seemed someone was having some luck. We tried our luck with a few slots, but was only able to break even from the few dollars that we put into them.
I am a people watcher and love to "size them up" and try to figure out what they did for a living and peg them with a certain type of personality that suits their faces. Linda and I decided to have a few drinks at the bar. After a while, and still playing our "people game", we decided to guess which men were wearing "boxers" or "briefs". We would look at a man's butt going by then decide what he was wearing for undies and chuckle about it. One man walked past and we decided that yes he was indeed wearing "boxers". I guess he overheard us and stopped in his tracks. Linda spotted him walking back towards us and said "Oh my God Barbara! He's coming back!" We both gulped thinking this is so embarrassing, and what will he say when he gets to us? Better yet, what are we going to say to him?
This man came up to us and introduced himself as "Rich". I smiled as did Linda. Then he said "if you would really like to know, I'm wearing boxers." Linda and I both turned red. He chuckled and said "I would like to buy you ladies a drink." It had to be obvious that I was still blushing over the "boxers" remark, but I responded by saying, "my name is Barbara and perhaps maybe we should buy YOU a drink. This is my friend Linda. I'm sorry if we embarrassed you." He laughed and said that he was "flattered that 2 lovely ladies noticed his butt." We all laughed and it seemed like the ice had been broken.
We sat with Rich for quite a while. He was fascinating to speak with. All he would tell us was that he was in business for himself and he comes to Vegas frequently to "get away from business and just relax." He told us that his business was based in N.Y. He told us that he traveled a lot with his job. What we did not know was that he was a self made millionaire.
He told us only a few tidbits about his personal life. He was divorced, had grown children that were both married, and traveled a lot on business trips to various parts of the country and world. His personality was absolute dynamite. He certainly knew how to treat a lady and he was a perfect gentleman.
After a few drinks, Linda excused herself and told us she was going to the room to sleep. Rich smiled at me and asked if "I would stay for a bit and talk more with him." He seemed sincere and to me he was fascinating, so I told him I would stay a while longer. Linda left and Rich and I decided to sit at a table where we could talk and get to "know one another." He asked me about myself and what "did I do for a living?" I told him that I was a flight attendant and had been for 7 years with "Conus Airlines." He raised his eyebrows and said "Really? I like flight attendants and I have flown Conus." I thought after that remark that he probably had a some notches in his belt with a few stews.
He asked me questions about my personal life and wanted to know if I was "married, divorced or attached?" I told him that I had been divorced for 2 years with no children and that I was "not planning to remarry ever again!" He chuckled and told me that "someday I would meet someone and fall in love again" because he thought I was "very pretty with a great personality." Funny thing, because I thought the same of him, meaning a great personality and quite handsome.
We sat and talked until nearly dawn. I did not want to retire from the conversation or this man but I could not keep my eyes opened. I told him that I was very tired and thanked him for the wonderful conversation and company. He asked me how long I would be in Vegas and I told him for 2 more nights. He told me that he liked me very much and would I consider "having dinner with him the following night?" I smiled and said "yes I would like that very much." He also invited Linda but she and I had an agreement. If we happen to meet someone that we seemed to like, that we should not feel obligated to spend time with the other if one of us could have fun on a date. I told Rich that "I was certain that Linda had plans" but that I would "love to have dinner with him the following night." He told me that he was staying at Caesar's Palace but would "pick me up at 7 tomorrow night." He asked me for my room number so he could call me when he arrived so I would "not have to stand in the lobby waiting for him." At first I was a bit reluctant but he seemed so sincere, so I just told him the room number. He told me to "dress to the hilt because we were going out on the town." I smiled and said, "I will see you tomorrow night." He smiled back and I left to go to my room.
Later in the morning, Linda ordered breakfast to be delivered to our room. She woke me when the cart came and we sat to eat. She asked me all about Rich. I told her what I had learned about him and that I had a date with him that night. She was pleased that I seemed interested in Rich. I told her I had to buy something to wear for the occasion and right after we ate, we dressed and went looking for the perfect outfit.
I found a dress in a shop along the strip. It was a black dress, not too dressy but would be appropriate for any dinner date that was labeled as "out on the town.". The dress was ankle length and slim fitting with one strap across the left shoulder that was a glittery silver. It had a front slit to above the knee and yes I looked great wearing it! I bought black high heeled shoes with a small rhinestone clip on each shoe and matching purse. The dress was made to be worn braless. I was ready for my date.
It was mid afternoon when we got back from shopping and I was becoming more and more excited about seeing Rich again. He was a gentleman, and very good looking. He always smiled and seem to have genuine interest in anything I had to say. He was polite to everyone around him and a very good listener. He had blue eyes and blonde hair, and when he spoke, I hung on to every word he had to say. He told me about himself but it seemed there was much more to him than just chit chat and conversation, and I wanted to find out who "Rich" really was inside.
I was ready early, in anticipation of my date. At 7 on the button the phone rang. It was Rich. He asked if he could come up to the room to escort me downstairs. I said "yes that would be fine." Linda gave me a last minute thumbs up as she checked to make sure every hair of mine was in place and everything I was wearing looked alright. There was a knock on the door and Linda answered it. When she opened it, there was Rich in a tux. He looked so handsome I wanted to kiss him right then and there. He took my hand and leaned over to kiss me on the cheek. As he did so he told me that I looked "fantastic". I thanked him and we left to go downstairs. During the ride down in the elevator, he kept staring at me and smiling. I asked him if there was "something wrong?" He said, "no not at all, I just like looking at you." I smiled again, said "thank you" and blushed.