NICK Lachey went to huge lengths to avoid ex-wife Jessica Simpson in Vegas. Friday night, he patched up things with on-off girlfriend Vanessa Minnillo at Lavo/Tao’s first anniversary party. Spies said they were “whispering and kissing” as they sat at the table of owners Noah Tepperberg and Jason Strauss. But Lachey and Minnillo “refused to be photographed together and insisted on leaving through a side door to avoid a scene as Jessica was arriving in Vegas to celebrate her sister Ashley‘s birthday.”