Page 6

I glance over at her, all curled up in the far corner of the limo like a stray cat, covered with paint and righteous fury. Even in her sleep her arms are crossed over her chest like she’s bracing for another argument.

But when she’s asleep it’s the only time she shuts up. I should appreciate it while it lasts.

I loosen my tie and lean back on the butter-soft leather seat, watching the Vegas lights blur past the window. I owe Vin big time. When I told him I had an emergency in Las Vegas, he offered his helicopter without hesitation, calling in the pilot so we were ready to go in no time.

Because apparently, I’m now the guy who bails out my best friend’s kid sister in the middle of the night after she goes full eco-terrorist.

Not that she looks like a kid right now. With her long legs and tumbling curls she looks like a sexy Jackson Pollock painting. And yeah, I know she’s an adult, but I’m twelve years older than her at thirty-seven and I really shouldn’t be looking.

I let out a sigh and lean my head back, exhaustion washing over me.

I’m doing this for Hudson. Even though he can never know about it.

He’s been my family since freshman year of college, when he and Parker took me in like I wasn’t some lonely rich kid with a smooth veneer and no substance. They gave me friendship, support, loyalty.

And I swore that I’d always protect them both.

During college, and for years after, I spent every summer on Liberty with Hudson and his family. Every Thanksgiving stuffing myself with turkey at the Fitzgeralds, feeling like I belonged somewhere for the first time in forever.

Eden lets out a soft snore, and I turn to look at her again, remembering the little kid she was when we first met. In the summers she was always barefoot, loud, and way too smart for her own good. Yelling at her brothers, trying to save oysters or whatever she thought needed rescuing that week.

Her top is slipping off one shoulder, and red paint is streaked across her skin like she’s about to go to war. Her mouth isparted, breathing soft and quiet, in a way that makes the back of my neck itch.

I pull her shoulder strap up and look away. Take a long drink from the minibar whiskey.

The limo slows as we pull under the portico of The Vantaggio, the luxury casino and hotel that’s owned by one of Vin’s many cousins – another favor I’ll owe him for.

Eden stirs beside me, blinking with a sleepy, confused frown that makes something twist low in my gut.

“Where are we?” she asks, her voice thick with sleep.

“The Vantaggio.”

She sits up suddenly, almost making me jump. “We’re going gambling?” she asks, taking in the bright lights, cars lined up, and people milling in and out of the huge white edifice of a building. “Now?”

“We’re going to sleep,” I say firmly. “I have a room for us.”

“Just one?”

My jaw tics. I was waiting for that. “Don’t get too excited. It has two bedrooms. I don’t trust you in a room far away from me.”

She stretches, arms high above her head, her tank top rising to reveal a sliver of her red paint-splashed stomach.

Don’t look. Don’t look.

My mouth goes dry.

“Damn,” she says, grinning at me, back to her usual teasing. It didn’t take her long. “And here I thought tonight was the start of something special.”

“Trust me,” I mutter, stepping out of the limo. “This is the last kind of special I need right now.”

Eden slides out after me, paint splattered, and still somehow managing to look like she owns the place. She’s woken up punchy. Maybe I should have kept her awake. I’m not sure I have the patience for this.

And every eye outside of The Vantaggio is drawn to her. I take off my jacket and offer it to her. She frowns at me. “I’m not cold.”

“Put it on,” I say sharply. “We’re going into a luxury hotel.” My eyes do a once over, hopefully expressing her attire is not ideal.

Her eyes widen. “Oh, you’re embarassed of me.” God, she sounds almost gleeful.