Risking the Crown

by Violet Paige

“I like it. It’s different.” He sat in Greer’s old seat. “I’m Vaughn.”

  Even his name was hot.

  Another waitress appeared at the table. She noticed Vaughn and never looked at me. “Can I get you something?”

  “What are you drinking?” he asked me.

  “Oh, I’ll take another Cosmo.” I had a rule about not switching liquors during the night. Three Cosmos put me on the wrong side of alcohol consumption, but I couldn’t turn him down.

  “A Cosmo for her and a bourbon and coke for me.” He stared at me while he ordered the drinks, dismissing the server.

  “Got it,” she responded.

  I swore the waitress winked at him.

  He pushed forward on the table. “I’m not crashing a date or anything am I?”

  “A date? Oh no.” I shook my head. “My roommate was called into work and had to leave.”

  “I was wondering why a pretty girl was in here alone. Something didn’t add up.”

  Pretty? He thought I was pretty. Had the man seen a mirror? I tried not to stare at his features, but there was something strong and confident about him. Maybe it was how the lines of his face made perfect angles. He had a solid jaw and sharp cheekbones.

  I knew the line made me blush. “I could ask the same thing.”

  “Are you calling me pretty? Because that might be a first.” There was something serious about the way he flirted. Maybe it was the low tone of his voice.

  I immediately glanced at my drink to escape how he made me feel.

  “I just wrapped a meeting with some co-workers,” he explained.

  “What do you do?” I asked.

  “I’m in lending.”

  “Oh.” I tried not to sound disappointed. I don’t know where that came from. I expected him to say he had some kind of fascinating position I’d never heard of.

  He smiled at the waitress when she handed us our drinks.

  “Yeah. Not really that exciting,” he admitted. He must have noticed my reaction.

  “So was that a line about being in a dangerous line of work? Do you secure death-defying loans?”

  He chuckled as he kicked back the bourbon. “You’re a smartass.”

  I wasn’t going for smartass. I was going for flirty and self-assured. I bit my bottom lip. I wanted him to see me as confident. As confident as he was.

  “It wasn’t a line. I used to do dangerous. Not anymore. I gave it up you could say. Let’s call it retirement.”

  I felt my pulse race again. There it was. The thrill of something reckless and different.

  “What did you do?” I twirled the lemon twist on the surface of my drink.

  “I don’t talk about it much.”

  “And what keeps you from talking about it? What were you? Some kind of special operations trained killer?” I giggled at my own joke, but I saw the way his midnight eyes cut into mine.

  “Oh,” I whispered.

  His stare was intense. I had pressed too hard. We were strangers. I didn’t have a right to pry into his personal life. I took a sip of my drink, trying to ignore the excitement that ran through my spine from the way he answered me.

  A few seconds passed before Vaughn spoke again. He seemed comfortable with the silence.

  “Let’s talk about you. What do you do?” he asked.

  “I work at American University. Well, actually I don’t work-work there. I was selected for a program.” I realized how flustered his eyes made me. He followed my lips with piercing focus. “I’m in sort of a residency program for attorneys.”

  “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a lawyer.” He sat back in his chair. “You look too sweet for something like that.”

  Maybe I had disappointed him. I wondered what line of work he thought I was in before I started talking. Did he think I did something fun and sexy? Or was he like everyone else who thought the innocence in my eyes meant I wasn’t old enough to do something harrowing?

  “Who said I’m sweet?” I bit my bottom lip.

  He picked up his glass. “Good point. Keep talking, pretty girl.”

  Shit, what was he doing to me? I felt feisty all of a sudden. I felt like there was a hellcat inside of me who wanted to come out and play. But really, how long could I pull that off? He’d see through my charade before my next sip of vodka. I decided to stick with the truth.

  “I don’t practice law like I did. Not anymore—not like that. I was at a firm for two years after law school, but I realized I wasn’t cut out for that kind of law. I didn’t have the stomach for it. Maybe it’s a little like your retirement.” I had a feeling Vaughn wasn’t the kind of man who shrank from confrontation or a fight.

  I hadn’t taken my eyes off the glimpses of his tattoo. I wanted to see what the full ink looked like on his arm.

  “And you decided to retire to D.C.?” he questioned.

  “Sort of. When the chance to help clients at a clinic and teach opened up, I applied. Plus, my college roommate is in D.C. and she really wanted me to move.” I tried to gauge if I was spilling too much information.

  He made me feel off-balance, but it was fun. I enjoyed trying to stay centered around him. Every time I tipped too far, I tugged myself back up and then let the pull of his eyes or the gravel in his voice tilt me to another dizzying place.

  “How long have you been in D.C.?” he asked. He pushed the ice around on the top of his drink.

  “Three days.”

  He laughed. “Three days?”

  “My room isn’t even unpacked. I’m lucky I have clothes.” I smiled.

  He tipped the glass over his perfectly shaped lips. He lowered it slowly. “Maybe I’m not so lucky then. You without clothes sounds like something I’d like.”

  The tingle spread through my body. God, he was hot and a fucking amazing flirt. The words rolled off his tongue effortlessly. It was as if he wasn’t even trying.

  “Hey, you owe us forty bucks!”

  I was jerked out of the cloud of lust by a fist slamming a drink bill on the table. I looked up and recognized the guys who sent drinks over when Greer was here.

  Vaughn stood up. I saw his chest rise and just how imposing his frame was. The guys were dwarfed by his broad shoulders and the expanse of his chest.

  “Who the hell are you?” he growled at them.

  “She owes us money.” They pointed at me in unison. I could smell the beer on their breath.

  I shrank in my chair, shaking my head. “I-I didn’t ask for the drinks.”

  Vaughn wedged himself between the angry assholes and my chair. “Take your bill and fucking pay it.” He grabbed it from the table and shoved it the closest one’s hands.

  I swallowed. What was happening?

  “I can pay it,” I whispered.

  He looked down at me. “I’ve got this.” His voice was rough and commanding. Holy shit.

  I nodded.

  “We’ll pay it with your credit card.” The idiot didn’t seem to realize who he was facing. I knew enough to put my wager on Vaughn.

  Vaughn straightened his shoulders. “Let’s make things very clear here.” He looked at each of them. “Take your check. Take your fucking attitudes. Take your asses back to where you came from. She’s not paying.” With each word his voice grew lower and by the time he was finished speaking the jerks had leaned forward to listen intently.

  I waited for them to retaliate, but instead they backed up and returned to the bar, exchanging dirty looks at us over their shoulders.

  Vaughn cleared his throat and sat down.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “You didn’t have to do that,” I whispered. I wasn’t sure who around us had seen the exchange.

  “I did have to do that. You didn’t deserve it. And I wasn’t going to put up with those dicks treating you like shit.”

  I needed to steady my breath. The adrenaline was pumping through me. I’d never had someone stand up for me like that. It had to be the sexiest thing I’d ever experienced. Was he real?

&nbs
p; I saw his shoulders relax.

  “And I thought you had given up bar fights.”

  There was a naughty gleam in his eye. “That wasn’t a fight, sweetheart. You should really see me fight.”

  The shiver running through me was wicked. He was right. He hadn’t laid a finger on either of them, yet the testosterone was dripping from his posture, his voice, his eyes.

  “You wouldn’t have let it get that far though, right?” I didn’t know why I was questioning him. Would I have walked away if he had decked one of them? Would I be any less turned on by how he defended me? Was I worried that maybe he had once been involved in something illegal?

  “I take things as far as I want.” His voice was low and even. “I set the limits. Always.”

  There was an edge to Vaughn. On the outside he was calm, but there was a barrier he was willing to break through.

  “Thank you.” I grinned.

  “Not a problem.” He winked. “Anytime.” He checked over his shoulders and smiled when he saw the douchebags paying the tab.

  “All right. So back to you. You were telling me about your move here.”

  “Was I?” I couldn’t think of anything before Vaughn stood in front of me like a protective wall. The moment I actually enjoyed being the rescued damsel.

  “Yes. Boxes and a new job,” he reminded me. His eyebrows rose playfully.

  “Can you believe I haven’t made it to the White House yet for a tour?”

  “Sounds like you’re a busy woman right now.”

  I placed my empty glass on the table. “I’m trying to get my bearings.”

  He leaned forward and I inhaled deeply, trying to memorize the way he smelled. It might be the last time I inhaled a man so intoxicating.

  “Maybe when you get settled in, I’ll give you a call. Dinner sometime? Maybe I can take you to the White House.”

  I met his eyes head on. His question sounded like a promise, but he was giving me an out. A chance to postpone things. There was something about Vaughn that excited me. He was gorgeous as hell, but there was more to him than that. I didn’t think I could define it, especially not this close to him. Words were jumbled and fuzzy.

  “I-I…” I scolded myself for not getting it together more quickly. “Yes. I’m free this weekend. I’d love to see the city.”

  Truth was I was always free. My calendar was wide open. Greer was my only lifeline here and she didn’t have time to give me between the demands of her job and Preston. I wasn’t anxious to have another night of being the third wheel, or pretending like I wanted to know Preston any better than I did.

  He looked down at the solid watch on his wrist, it glinted under the lights. “It’s getting late.” He didn’t use his phone to check the time.

  He stood from the table. “Let me walk you outside and make sure you get a cab.”

  I wasn’t ready to go, but I had clinic in the morning, and something about his words made it seem as if I was supposed to follow him outside.

  I found myself being led through the bar with his palm on the small of my back. His hands were wide and firm, pressing his fingertips into my skin with a possessive touch. We stepped outside and I heard the noises of Georgetown filter around us. Somewhere in the distance a dog barked. A car honked as it rolled past us, setting off a chain reaction.

  Vaughn whistled as one of the taxis slowed in front of the bar. I stepped toward the curb.

  For the first time all day it didn’t feel sweltering outside. There was a warm breeze that wisped over my skin. The city felt different at night—there was an air of romance in the history of the buildings surrounding us. A couple walked by holding hands. I scooted closer to Vaughn.

  “Thank you for the drink.” I was close enough to smell the juniper on his skin. God, he smelled incredible.

  “Thank you for plowing into me.” He winked.

  He opened the door to the car, but I hesitated.

  “And thank you for earlier. For handling that situation.” I wanted to tell him how hot and heroic I thought it was, but he didn’t seem like the kind of guy who wanted it to be a big deal.

  “Oh wait. You need my number.” I felt silly giving it to him, but there was no way I was riding off without a way to hear from him again.

  He pulled the phone from my hands and typed his digits into my messages and hit send. His phone beeped.

  “Got it.” He smiled, returning the phone to me. I dropped it into the straw bag.

  “Okay. So…” I wanted to say something cute and flirty. Something memorable. Something that wouldn’t let him forget me, but before I had a chance his hands slid to the side of my face.

  I stopped trying to talk or think.

  His eyes locked on mine and I saw the glimpse of a smile as his mouth lowered to mine. My eyes closed as I surrendered to his kiss.

  His warm lips moved over mine with tender firmness. Vaughn wasn’t hesitant or shy. He was in control as his thumb stroked my cheek. I forgot we were standing on the sidewalk in front of a cab. I forgot about the guys in the bar. I forgot about the loneliness from the day.

  My body yielded to the rush of pleasure from this stranger’s lips, blistering my mouth with passion. I sighed lightly as his tongue twirled against mine. My hands cupped the back of his neck, lingering in the kiss. Losing myself in the moment.

  The wind picked up the edge of my skirt and I heard a group of girls giggle as they walked by. I didn’t care. I didn’t want anything to spoil the magic of this sliver of happiness. Somehow my feet didn’t hurt anymore. I didn’t care that I didn’t know my way home. The day suddenly wasn’t so crappy anymore.

  The world fell away while we stood next to the cab, breathing each other in.

  Vaughn’s hands slipped from my face. He stole another kiss before breaking away completely.

  I fought to catch my breath as he shuttled me into the backseat. My lips were reeling. My head. My chest. I was on fire.

  “Nice to meet you, Emily.” He smiled wickedly and closed the door.

  The cab pulled away from the sidewalk and I finally exhaled as I watched Vaughn fade from view.

  Chapter 3

  The next morning the alarm on my phone buzzed incessantly until I knocked it to the floor.

  I ran my fingers over my lips and smiled. It was an epic kiss. The kiss to beat all kisses. Maybe it was the romance of the city lights, or because Vaughn had defended me when we barely knew each other. Maybe it was just because he was hot as hell and anything from his lips was going to be amazing.

  I shuffled to the bathroom to start the shower.

  It didn’t appear as if Greer had come home last night. I peeked my head into the living room. Preston had been right. Things must have been serious at the capitol and she ended up staying at his place.

  We hadn’t come up with a system like we had in college. It wasn’t as if I had anywhere else to go, but maybe we could at least start texting each other if we weren’t going to sleep in the apartment.

  I brushed my teeth before stepping into the rush of hot water. I looked at my feet as the water trickled down to the drain. There was no way I could wear a pair of heels today even if I wanted to.

  I thought more about last night. I thought about meeting Vaughn. I wanted to talk to Greer. I didn’t know how I would describe him to her. Hot, cocky, mysterious, and … I tried to think of something that would explain the effect he had on me over a drink.

  There was an instant attraction I felt. The whole dizzy, reckless, trembling rush was there. I could picture his face. The way he stared into my eyes.

  This was crazy. One drink. One kiss. That was it and he was already taking up head space.

  I dried off and got dressed for work. I slid my feet into a pair of Keds and tucked my patent ballet flats into my messenger bag. I smiled, feeling as if I had accomplished a small victory before I even left the apartment. I swore to myself today was not going to suck.

  I searched the kitchen cabinets for a coffee cylinder and lid. I tes
ted a few to make sure they didn’t leak. After I made a pot of coffee I poured it inside, sealing it tightly.

  I already felt better as I descended the stairs to the street. It was a quick walk to the Metro and only one stop to Tenleytown. The jitters from yesterday were gone. The helpless feeling of being lost had evaporated.

  I climbed onto the Metro, knowing I should stand close to the door.

  As soon as the train slowed I exited and headed for the escalators. The noise didn’t seem quite as deafening in the tunnel. I held my ground and secured a place on the steps. Today I wasn’t going to be knocked to the side.

  A few minutes later I was on campus and walking toward the clinic.

  I paused in front of the double doors as soon as I heard my phone buzz.

  I reached into the messenger bag. My stomach dropped.

  “Mom?”

  “Emily, thank God.” I could hear the crack in her voice as if she had been crying.

  “What’s wrong? What happened?” I looked for a place to sit as people walked into the building.

  “I can’t find Garrett.”

  “Can’t find him? What do you mean? It’s early.”

  “Have you heard from him?” she asked. “Did he call you this morning?”

  I hadn’t spoken to my brother since I arrived in D.C. He was still angry I had left. He had threatened not to speak to me again.

  “No. Mom, tell me what’s going on? Why isn’t he at the house?” I pressed.

  She sighed. “We had an argument last night about his treatment. It ended when he locked himself in his room. When I knocked on the door this morning he wasn’t there.”

  “Maybe he went out for a run,” I suggested.

  My brother used to be an amazing runner. He’d won all-state in track when he was in high school. But now he used running as an escape from the constant therapy. It was his self-prescribed medication. This wasn’t the first time my mom hadn’t been able to find him.

  “He isn’t out for a run,” she snapped.

  “Did you call dad?”

  She sighed. “He doesn’t know anything. He never helps. Worthless.”

  I closed my eyes. The instinct was there. I could feel it tugging at me, urging me to do something. To jump back into the cycle that was my brother’s toxic pattern.