Page 38 of Reputation (Toronto Royals #1)

Chapter Twenty Three

Jax

She was incredible.

Just when he thought he’d figured her out, she revealed a new side to her. Tonight, he’d seen the vulnerable side, the one that seemed to hide beneath the confident, sexy woman who dominated his dreams.

When he’d seen the distress on her beautiful face earlier, protectiveness of her had flared to life. Arriving back at the hotel, Jax had found himself reluctant to go out. When the group had left, he’d decided to wander down to the casino, figuring he’d have a drink before returning to his room.

He was winding his way toward one of the tables, thinking about maybe playing a round of poker when he’d caught sight of her. She was easy to spot, even with the large crowd between them. She moved with grace but also with a natural sensuality that had him wholly fixated on her.

He thought she looked like a cold glass of champagne in that shiny dress and high heels that made her legs look a mile long.

Her hair was tied up, as always, leaving her elegant neck bare, the skin teasing his need to taste it, nip the sensitive flesh at its base, find out what spots would make her moan.

Then, he’d seen the group of drunk kids, eyes fixated on her.

The way they had looked at her, as if she was a thing, had made his blood boil.

He didn’t like it one bit, but he’d kept his distance, watching her for any sign she needed help.

Seeing her shoulders tighten, he’d taken a step toward her, but at that moment, she stepped around them and pushed into the women’s washroom.

He’d relaxed slightly when the door closed behind her, but it only lasted a second. When he looked back at the group, most were laughing, continuing in the direction they had been going—except for the blond who had spoken to her. The way he’d been looking after Eavie gave Jax a bad feeling.

So, like the obsessed stalker he was becoming, Jax had waited where he was until she reemerged. He watched her from a distance as she walked into the bar. Only when he spotted the guy follow Eavie did Jax move. No way in hell he was going to leave her alone with him.

Sitting beside her now, he was glad he had.

The way the guy had her trapped in her chair had made Jax want to smash the guy’s face in, and Jax had never been prone to violence.

Even after he’d stormed off, his instincts had yelled at him to follow.

Only the touch of Eavie’s hand had calmed him enough to sit. And then, he couldn’t let her leave.

Fuck , he loved talking to her. There were so many sides to her.

He wanted to peel each layer back one by one and find out every small thing that made her tick.

It was more than just lust. He’d figured that out earlier this week.

He was starting to want more, from her, from them, but the idea scared the shit out of him.

So instead, he settled for just enjoying her company, until she’d struck him with an arrow of truth so forcefully that it had nearly knocked him on his ass.

I think it’s a mask.

Yes, he’d wanted to answer, but the words caught in his throat.

So, instead of giving her more, he settled for enjoying a moment with her where she wasn’t looking at him with cold, aloof eyes.

She looked at him like she cared, and that was an addictive feeling.

It was all he was willing to allow himself right now.

Despite wanting this moment between them to never end and knowing he could very well be pushing his luck, he couldn’t resist the temptation to extend their time alone together, even for a few minutes.

Leaning forward, he spoke into her ear. “Feel like getting out of here?”

Eavie pulled back, one eyebrow raised, “I thought you promised to behave.”

He laughed, taking the opportunity to brush his lips against her cheek. God, he loved her sass.

“I stand by my promise,” he answered, even though he wanted to do anything but. He looked down at her feet, raising an eyebrow. “How comfortable are those shoes?”

She frowned, her lips pulling into an adorable pout. “They’re fine,” she answered, confused.

“Are you hungry? I know a really good pizza place close by.”

A slow smile spread across her lips, the expression utterly devastating. “Starving,” she said, excitement lacing her tone.

He tossed the remainder of his drink back. Placing it on the bar roughly, he took some money out of his wallet and handed it to the bartender passing by. Eager to get her away from any prying eyes, he stood, taking her hand and pulling her toward the door.

“Oh, wait,” she halted, dropping his hand before turning and walking quickly to a table where people were playing what looked like blackjack.

Leaning close to Molly, she said something to her.

Molly looked up at her and said something in return.

Eavie hugged her quickly before retracing her steps back to him.

He fell into step beside her, gently placing his hand on her lower back.

It was the smallest of touches, and to anyone watching, looked like nothing more than a friendly gesture, but the contact sent a shot of adrenaline up his arm at the feel of her bare skin beneath his palm.

Guiding her out of the casino and into the lobby, Jax resisted the urge to pull her closer and devour her perfect mouth in a hard kiss.

They emerged from the hotel into the fresh evening air, the temperature marginally cooler than inside the packed building.

He steered them toward the strip. Now that they were clear of the hotel—and possible prying eyes—Jax dropped his touch from her back only to capture her hand in his. When she didn’t pull away, satisfaction swept through him.

They walked in comfortable silence for a few moments. The light breeze blew loose strands of hair around her face, and he watched as she lifted her free hand to brush them away.

“So, how did you find this pizza place we’re going to?” she asked as they continued their walk.

“I found it a few years ago one night. I’m not a big partier so I don’t usually go out. One time, I felt like getting out of the room, so I wandered a little and came across it. It’s not something you would notice among all the lights, but it’s some of the best pizza I’ve ever had.”

She laughed in disbelief. “The best pizza you’ve ever had…in Vegas? Didn’t you live in Chicago?”

He chuckled deep in his chest, flashing her a smile. “Which should tell you how good it is.”

“Or make me seriously question your tastes,” she teased, laughing.

God, he loved her laugh.

“I know it sounds weird, but trust me. I don’t drink much, and I’m not a big gambler, so when we’re in Vegas, I normally wander the streets and find interesting places to grab food. I do it in most cities we visit when I have free time.”

“Really?” she asked. He detected a hint of surprise in her tone.

“What?” he said. “Not what you expected?”

She shrugged carelessly. “I’m learning that when it comes to you, there’s more than meets the eye.”

He gave her his crooked smile. “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” he quipped, staring into her eyes as the undercurrent of his meaning sank in.

She gave him an unamused look. “Everyone judges books by their cover,” she shot back. “It’s the reason books have cover designs. Besides, I’ve read the back of yours, and you’re not my type.”

He rolled his tongue across his teeth and enjoyed watching her track the movement. “Maybe you should give it a try. You might be surprised,” he murmured.

Her eyes snapped to his face for a heartbeat before she turned forward. He did the same and silently wondered where the hell that thought had come from. He might not just be looking to fuck her anymore, but he couldn’t offer her more than that.

Clearing her throat, she turned back to his original comment. “I love finding interesting places to eat. Some of the best food I’ve ever had comes from the most unassuming places,” she said.

“I would be happy to share my knowledge with you. I know a lot of good spots, especially here on the west coast. We have the most free time on these stretches, so I’ve had the opportunity to explore a lot of the cities.”

She gave him a small smile. “I would like that,” and damn, he suddenly felt like he had when he’d asked out a girl for the first time.

They continued up Las Vegas Boulevard until they came to a corner. Turning, Jax pointed to a tiny, hole-in-the-wall pizza place between a strip club and a Starbucks—classic Vegas style.

“I know it doesn’t look like much, but I promise the pizza is amazing,” he said nervously.

She turned to him with a huge smile. “It’s perfect.”

Still holding her hand, he led her into the pizzeria, emerging a few minutes later, each with a massive slice on flimsy paper plates. They continued walking while they ate, grease collecting at the corner of their mouths. They talked between bites, the conversation light and easy.

When they approached the Bellagio on their return to the hotel, huge streams of water shot out of the famous fountains, choreographed to the blasting music. Pausing, they stopped at the railing to watch the show while they finished eating.

Eavie leaned her hip against it, half facing him and half looking at the fountains. “I’ve never seen the fountain show before,” she said, watching the water and lights as they danced to the music. Mist floated off the pool to glisten on her bare skin.

“Have you been to Vegas before?” he asked.

She nodded. “Once, for my twenty-fifth birthday. My friend insisted we celebrate big,” she said, smiling at the memory.

He watched her intently as she spoke, absorbing every emotion that flickered across her face. He couldn’t understand why he was so… obsessed with her when no other woman had ever captivated his attention as she did. It was a stark contrast to how he’d lived his life the last two years.