The strident jangling of the hotel telephone brought me startlingly awake. Jo sat up beside me, shaking the sleep from her eyes as she grasped up the phone to stop its incessant ringing and handed it to me.
"Hey, buddy," said Larry cheerfully once I had answered. Shit, Larry. I had almost forgotten. I quickly glanced at the bedside clock to see that it was only a little after eight o'clock in the morning. I sighed in relief, thinking for a moment we might have overslept.
"Hi, Larry," I responded. "What's up, my man? You aren't here already are you?"
"No, no... I'm just touching base to make sure all is well with you and that you're still expecting me around noon."
I smiled, knowing he knew me well enough to know that I needed constant reminding, especially when it came to waking up and getting things done in a timely manner.
"All is good here, Larry. We'll be packed up and downstairs a little before noon."
"Perfect," he said. "And, just so you know...I have a bit of a surprise for you and Mrs. A."
I smiled, my interest piqued, "What's it all about?" I asked.
Larry laughed. "Now, if I told you on the phone, it wouldn't be much of a surprise then, would it?"
"I guess you're right," I returned with a laugh. "And, just so YOU know, I have a bit of a surprise for you too." I grinned broadly, knowing he would flip out when I told him I had left the band, and the reason why.
Larry laughed once more, "All righty then. I'm looking forward to swapping surprises. Tell you what, why don't we get lunch there at the Bellagio before we leave town? We can trade surprises over lunch."
"I like the idea, Larry. Let's do it. I'll leave our stuff in the room until we're ready to go. Just call when you get here, and we'll meet you in the lobby."
We quickly said our goodbyes and I turned to see Audrey lying on her side and smiling up at me. God, she was a vision of loveliness that morning, the light from the window just caught her face and highlighted the side of her breast as the sheet was only barely covering her.
"Everything okay?" she asked, knowing it had been Larry on the phone.
I nodded, "It's all good," I said. "He suggested we get lunch here before the trip, and says he has a surprise for us."
At that moment, Jo stepped from the bathroom smiling broadly. She stepped up to me and embraced me warmly, her nude body molding to mine and sending shivers of pleasure coursing through me. She then turned ran to the bed and dove in beside Audrey with a giggle, hugging her and saying good morning with a kiss.
I picked up the phone and placed an order for a pot of coffee and three cups. As I hung up, Jo frowned sadly. "Listen you two," she said. "I'm not staying for coffee; I really need to get out of here and let you guys get packed and ready."
"We've still got plenty of time," I responded.
Jo shook her head, "No, baby, I'm going to go...before I wear out my welcome." She embraced me and kissed me once more.
Audrey got out of bed and padded nude over to her purse, taking out a pen and paper. She jotted down her address for Jo and handed it to her, giving her a quick explanation of the best way to get to that part of the city and find her street. Then we all took out our phones and swapped numbers. Jo located her trench coat and slipped into it completely nude, buckling the belt tightly around her waist as Audrey retrieved her dress on its hanger along with a complimentary clothes bag from the Bellagio.
"Are you sure you won't stay for breakfast?" Asked Audrey, looking rather forlorn.
Jo shook her head, "It's better this way, I think. You guys need to get yourselves ready to go and I'll just get in your way and slow you down. And... I'll see you both in a week."
We all embraced and kissed once more and then she was gone.
Moments later, the coffee arrived, and Audrey and I began our day.
We showered, dressed, and had our things packed up well before noon. I had to laugh in that Audrey had purchased a brand-new second suitcase for all of the things she had purchased here in Las Vegas.
She had dressed in an entirely new skirt and blouse ensemble A short-sleeved white blouse with a red rose motif around the collar and a pleated red skirt that came modestly to her knees. She also wore a rather racy pair of four-inch red, patent leather heels.
"Wow, you really look nice," I said, giving her a long appraising look. "I think this is also the very first time I've seen you wearing a bra this entire weekend."
Audrey smiled and nodded, "I figured you'd probably notice that little detail," she said, reaching over to touch my cheek affectionately with her fingertips. "I figured it wouldn't be at all politically correct for you and me to arrive home with my husband there to meet us and not be at least somewhat modestly attired when we step from Larry's limousine."
I nodded, seeing the wisdom in her words.
Larry arrived shortly before noon and telephoned from the lobby. Audrey and I took the elevator down to the lobby and saw Larry ensconced in one of the plush sofas in the lobby. He was sitting with a woman and they both stood as we approached, smiling expectantly.
"Jessie? Mrs. A?" He beamed; his face wreathed in smiles. "I'd like to introduce you both to my wife, Sylvie," he said, blushing like a schoolboy.
"Oh, my goodness," gushed Audrey in astonishment. "Congratulations." She immediately rushed to Sylvie and embraced her warmly as I grinned and shook Larry's hand. "Yes, indeed, my friend. Congratulations." I then turned to Sylvie and embraced her, kissing her cheek as I congratulated her as well.
Larry filled us in as we meandered toward the café. How, during their quick visit, they both realized that they truly loved one another. Almost before either of them knew it, they were standing before an Elvis impersonator in one of the ubiquitous Las Vegas wedding chapels and saying their vows.
Along with lunch, we ordered a bottle of champagne to celebrate their nuptials. As he was our designated driver, Larry very judiciously only had one small glass of champagne, just enough to toast with. Audrey waylaid our server and surreptitiously handed him her credit card to pay for everything.
As I had surmised, he would be, Larry was stunned by my news. "Holy shit, man. You quit the band! What are you going to do?"
Audrey and I explained about Jo and how she and I were going to work together as a two-piece from now on.
"A two-piece band? When did all this happen?" Stammered Larry, still frowning with concern.
"It all started on Saturday night," explained Audrey eagerly. "We went to the Stratosphere for dinner and Jessie recognized the two-piece band that was playing. They came to our table and we got together with Jo once they finished playing."
"Wait a minute...Wait a minute," gasped Sylvie, turning to look wide-eyed at Larry, who also equally wide-eyed. "Are you talking about the woman that was singing at the Stratosphere? The one with the long black hair and gorgeous voice?"
"And the legs that went on forever?" Added Larry with a wink.
"You know her?" Gaped Audrey, returning their wide-eyed surprised looks.
Sylvie shook her head. "We don't actually KNOW her," she explained. "But Larry and I also went to dinner at the Stratosphere that first night he got here, and we listened to that band playing. We even danced to them. My goodness, if that gorgeous woman with the wonderful voice is the woman you're going to be working with, then I see nothing but success in your future."
"They played a whole set together at the Stratosphere last night and the place went crazy," gushed Audrey. "They sound wonderful together."
We raised our glasses and toasted once more just as our meals arrived. After lunch, Larry and Sylvie went to bring up the limo and, while I made my way up to the room to wheel down our luggage, Audrey went to the front desk to check us out of the hotel.
When I entered the lobby with our luggage, I found Audrey grinning like a Cheshire cat. She showed me the vacation voucher she had just purchased for Larry and Sylvie as a wedding present. "It's an all-expenses-paid, three-day, and three-night stay in one of the honeymoon suites here, facing the water fountains. Two meals each day and free access to the cocktail bar in the suite.
"Wow," I smiled, "that's incredible."
Audrey laughed aloud, "But WAIT! There's MORE!" She continued with one of those loud infomercial voices. "There is also a free massage and spa treatment for each of them available each day and, if they feel so inclined, a free 18 holes of golf each day at their golf club."
She slipped the voucher into a congratulatory wedding card she had picked up at the gift shop, closing it just as Larry and Sylvie arrived. As Larry and I grabbed the luggage and began to load the trunk of the limo, Audrey took Sylvie aside and handed her the envelope.
Sylvie gasped aloud when she saw the contents, her shriek had both Larry and I hurrying over. Larry was equally as blown away by Audrey's more than generous gift and there were hugs all around.
A short time later, we were on our way, with Sylvie sitting up front with Larry and Audrey and I in the back. I slid beside her and put my arm around her shoulder, holding her close, both of us silent, lost in our thoughts.
As we passed the border town of Primm and the "Welcome to California" sign, I heard Audrey sniffle and felt her body trembling.
"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked, handing her a tissue from the handy dispenser.
