Page 62 of Reputation
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.
