Political Love

...Stays In Vegas

Lucas POV:

Two hours before the event: We had already landed and settled into our hotel room at the Bellagio Las Vegas. It's a place I've been to many times before, but seeing Alison's reaction to it, the way her eyes lit up at the sight of the grand lobby and the towering fountain, added a fresh perspective. Our room had two separate beds, a detail I made sure of, knowing how much distance we both needed, but I couldn't help but notice the way she seemed genuinely amazed by everything around her.

Now, we're back outside, standing by the iconic Bellagio fountain. I watch as she takes it all in, her attention completely captivated by the way the water dances under the lights. She's fascinated, almost like a child seeing something magical for the first time.

"Look at this!" Alison calls out, turning back to me with excitement in her eyes. I keep my hands in my pockets, staying back with some distance. I've been here so many times that the sight of the fountain has lost its novelty for me, but seeing her reaction brings a small smile to my face. I roll up my sleeves as she walks closer to the water, watching her every move. Her eyes are practically glowing with wonder.

Maybe marriage is easy, I think to myself. Just send your wife to look at pretty things and you move on with your day. Simple.

"It's beautiful," she says, her voice full of awe. I nod slowly, not just agreeing with her about the fountain. There's something else here that's beautiful, something I didn't expect to see tonight.

"Come on, princess," I call out to her, trying to bring her back to reality. "I got us a fancy little Uber, so we can get on the road. You've got two more hours to enjoy your freedom."

She's still caught up in the moment, walking closer to the fountain and dipping her hand into the water. I watch her, almost hesitant to pull her away from this little slice of happiness she's found. "You can't touch that," I mumble, my voice lacking the usual firmness. For some reason, I didn't want to break this moment for her, to remind her of the rules.

"Okay, now I'm happy!" she says, turning to me with a bright smile, almost skipping over. There's a lightness in her step that I haven't seen before, and it catches me off guard. I reach out and place my hand on top of her head, gently guiding her to turn in the direction we need to go.

"You could simply say, 'Hey Alison, look that way,'" she quips, her wet hand coming up to try and remove mine. There's a playful resistance in her, something I wasn't expecting.

"Walk," I reply, a small chuckle escaping before I can stop it. "I'm trying to squeeze things in, and I don't like to be late."

As I release her, my fingers slide through her curls, feeling the soft texture just like on the plane. I can't help myself from giving the smallest tug, watching as her lips part slightly, the same way they did earlier. It's a subtle reaction, but it sends a strange satisfaction through me. The evening sun is setting slowly, casting a warm glow over everything, but the Vegas lights are still on, giving the whole scene a surreal, almost dreamlike quality.

I can't quite shake the feeling that tonight might be different. Maybe it's the city, or the way she's looking at everything like it's new, but something tells me this isn't going to be just another night.

She walks with a slight eye roll, and I can't help but let out a small breath of frustration. I've learned more than I ever wanted to by pulling her hair on a whim. "I'm going to abuse this!" she reminds me, her voice carrying a hint of mischief and defiance. I roll my eyes in response and place a light hand on her back to guide her towards our Uber.

We reach the street, and I open the door for her, watching as she slips into the back seat, her skinny jeans hugging her as she bends. I let out a sigh, irritated with myself for letting this strange attraction get to me. It's been a long time since I felt anything like this, not since Silvia and seen each other. But this is different. There's no need for soul-searching right now. I slide into the black BMW and shut the door, taking my seat next to her.