Page 55 of Reputation
“Oh, trust me,” he practically purred, “I would be more than happy to be watched by the boss’s assistant.I think…” he paused, taking an almost imperceptible step closer, “she would enjoy what she saw.”His voice turned gravelly as a mischievous glint sparked in his darkening eyes.
Annoyance shot through her at his arrogance.His assumption that he knew what she would enjoy irritated her, even more so because she had a quiet suspicion he would be right.
Her ordinarily calm temper rose as her eyes narrowed on him.“I’m confident she wouldn’t enjoy the view,” Eavie replied through clenched teeth despite the false smile she plastered on her face.
His smile only grew in response to her surfacing ire.Damn him—hewasenjoying eliciting this response from her.The thought that he took pleasure from even her irritation just flared her temper further.
“You don’t know what you’re missing,” he practically whispered.
Eavie wasn’t sure if the other three people around them could hear, but she was aware of their presence and keen focus on them.
He let his meaning sink in before he stepped back and continued.“Have yourselves a good night, ladies.”
Still annoyed at his confidence, she had to force her jaw to unstick.Licking her lower lip quickly, she said, “Enjoy your celebration, boys,” refusing to give him more.
A crooked smile tugged at his lips as he tracked her tongue’s movement before he stepped back and nodded at Molly before he gracefully climbed the stairs of the bus.Brooks and Josh gave her amused smiles before they turned and followed Jax.
As they watched them disappear inside, Molly stepped up beside her so her arm brushed Eavie’s.“Sooo,” she said, underlining the word with the extra O’s.“You want to explain whatthatwas about?”
Shit.Just what she needed.Someone else picking up on their…ugh, whateverthe fuckthis was!
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Eavie said as she lifted her chin slightly, trying not to blush.
“Mmm,” Molly said, the sound disapproving.“Be careful there.”
The quiet warning was enough to make Eavie swallow.
Back at the hotel, Eavie adorned herself with a gold satin slip dress that fell just above her knees, with a high halter neckline and a swooping low back.She paired the outfit with her nude stiletto pumps and a simple white clutch.She left her hair as it was, piled in a high bun, and added only a touch more bronzer to her cheeks, finishing the look with a pinkish shimmering lip gloss.Even though she normally went heavier on make-up for a night out, since she was here with the Royals organization, she felt like she was still at work and office social etiquettes were still in place.It was why they would not be joining the team at the club.
Molly, apparently, didn’t have the same trepidation as she did.Stepping into the suite’s living area, she called out to see if she was ready.Clad in a tight, deep turquoise dress with a square neckline that hit mid-thigh, black suede chunky stilettos, and a velvet black clutch tucked under her arm, Molly emerged from her bedroom holding out two lipstick tubes.
“Which one do you think is better?”she asked.
Eavie took in the rest of Molly’s ensemble.She’d shaken out her thick, chocolate-brown hair so that it curled wildly down her back.She had gone heavier on the eyeliner, with dark purple eyeshadow and a light swipe of bronzer.The effect on her caramel eyes was stunning, and the tight dress hugged her generous Italian curves, as Molly had once described them.
Eavie studied the colors of the lipstick Molly held out.One was a deep red, and the other a deep raspberry.
“The raspberry, definitely,” Eavie said, nodding toward her outfit.“It’ll go better with the dress.”
Not one to debate, Molly turned and chucked the red lipstick onto her bed before she pivoted on her heels to face the giant, gold-trimmed hall mirror in their suite entryway.She deftly swiped the color onto her thick lips before tossing it into her clutch.
Eavie never had a reason to be jealous of someone else’s lips.She knew she had a good set—a desirable set of her own.But they were nothing compared to the wide, full lips that sat perfectly on Molly’s round face.Despite her own confidences, she couldn’t help but envy them.
“Ready?”Molly asked, turning to look at Eavie expectantly.
“Yep,” she answered, fiddling with a loose strand of hair.“Where should we go?”
“How about the casino downstairs?It’s been a long week, and I’m a bit tired.Plus, it’s already pretty late.I’m not sure I want to try to get in anywhere tonight.”
Relief washed through Eavie.She wanted to have some fun tonight, but truthfully, she was not feeling up to clubbing.
“That sounds great to me,” she replied with a nod.
Chapter Twenty Two
Eavie
The casino at the MGM Grand was a swirling cacophony of levels, crowded with games and people.Everywhere you turned, sounds and neon lights were flashing, beckoning people to play.The low lighting and patterned carpet added to the overwhelming stimulation crammed into every corner.
