The Triple Threat Tour hit Las Vegas for 2 nights at the MGM Grand Arena. Chuck promised us a night off before we headed down to LA and San Diego for the final dates of the tour. The MGM seemed like a city unto itself. Even though it was our fourth time here, I still remembered that Chris had told me you could never see all of Vegas, it was always changing. He was right. We arrived early in the morning and checked into our rooms. I begged off hitting the sights with Chris in favor of getting some sleep for a few hours. Even this far into the tour, my body clock was still getting used to the pace of a national tour.
I must've been more tired than I thought I was, when my cellphone rang, it was nearly 4 in the afternoon.
"Hey wake up, pal! Chuck's called a production meeting, get down to the Arena." He said.
"OK, I'm on my way." I said yawning.
The tour ran perfectly. Production meetings were nothing to us by now. Any kinks in the tour had been fixed long ago. I think Chuck only called these meetings just so he could feel like a big shot.
Chris and I snapped our photos onstage and backstage. There were always guests coming by to meet Rhianna and Tigress. It was still tough not to get starstruck when someone we'd only seen on TV walked by. I'd already had my "encounters" with the beautiful ones.
And the next one just walked in.
I was on my knees trying to fix a tripod when I saw a pair of legs in black denim walk up to me and kneel down.
"How's my favorite paparazzi?" a voice asked.
It was Lindsay Lohan.
She was smiling and looking hot! The black denim jeans were accompanied by an electric red blouse and white blazer. And her hair was a thick shade of titian red. Much had changed for Lindsay since we'd last seen one another. We'd had a passionate night and morning together, followed by another, sadly, abrupt parting. She had a meeting with NBC about a series that day. It turned out to be the smartest move for her. It was a new drama series called "Blind Item" that was an unofficial spinoff from the "Law & Order" series and cast her as a New York tabloid columnist. Lindsay had really applied herself to the series and it paid off. The series was a surprise hit, the network was happy, and in return sent her on a promo trip to Las Vegas when the Triple Threat Tour arrived. Gone was the posse of hangers-on she was notorious for, the cigarettes and booze too. In their place was a driving work ethic. The former party girl now wanted to be seen as a serious actress with much to prove. She was accompanied only by a personal assistant and her manager. She schmoozed adeptly with network reps, VIP's, entertainment TV anchors and people from the tour.
I stood and gave her a big embrace, hoping not to attract too much attention. I remembered how I'd been once referred to as her "mystery man". It would be best to keep the mystery going.
"How've you been darlin'?" I asked. My smile was as big as hers.
"I feel great! This is the first weekend I've had off in a long time. I had to see this show before it got to LA." She said, beaming. "Now, I have a big question to ask you."
"What?"
"How's my favorite cat Smokie?" she asked smiling.
"He's at home in LA. I've got a friend watching him. He misses you." I said with an equally large smile.
"I miss him too." She replied, then hugged me again. "But I miss you more. Can we get together?" she whispered in my ear.
"Um, are you staying at the MGM?" I asked, obviously surprised at her directness.
Lindsay nodded. "I'm in one of the VIP Suites."
"How about we get some dinner?" I replied. "I'm starving."
"Perfect, I'm in Suite 24. We can get room service." She said with that "Lindsay smile".
"OK, uh, let me get everything done here and I'll meet you in like an hour." I said.
Just then, her manager poked her head in;
"Uh, Lindsay, there's some people from the network for you to meet."
"OK, I'll be right there." She said as she gave me a quick kiss goodbye and headed off.
I could see Chris standing in the doorway as she walked out.
"You 'ol dog you! You know you're turning into a male groupie right before my eyes." He said.
"I learned from the master." I said as I walked out.
I dropped off my stuff in my room and headed up to Lindsay's suite.
The VIP suites at the MGM were near the top floor and the hallway was deathly quiet as I walked down it. I've always felt nervous at times like this, what was in store for me this time?
I rang the doorbell for Suite 24. A minute later, the door opened a crack and then fully.
"Hi, Jim." Lindsay said with a sweet smile.
She looked gorgeous, wearing a jet black satin floor length robe with a silver belt and trimming, very old-time Hollywood. Her hair was casually styled, a simple gold chain around her neck, with a diamond "L" hanging from it.
"Whoa...hello gorgeous." I said, stunned at the beauty that stood before me.
Lindsay seemed a little embarrassed, then smiled saying;
"Like it?"
"Like is putting it mildly, my dear. You look beautiful." I said, still stunned.
"Oh, you're always such a sweetheart, come on in." she said, giving me a quick kiss, then taking my arm in hers and leading me into her suite. The room was softly lit, with the lights of Vegas spread out before us.
"I didn't know what you'd want for dinner, the menus on the table." She said.
I took a quick glance at it, it all looked delicious.
"What are you in the mood for?" I asked.
"Oh, let's see. Burger King?" she replied.
We both cracked up laughing, remembering how we'd first met.
"Very funny, Ms. Lindsay, very funny! Let's get a Vegas steak." I said
"Perfect." She replied, making the call down to room service.
