Virtue & Vengeance

by Tabatha Vargo

  He smelled amazing. Like expensive cologne and heat. I took a deep pull of his scent and almost sighed.

  “Let me guess. Another night of sitting and watching reality TV?” he asked.

  He wasn’t looking at me.

  Instead, his eyes were glued to the TV as he reached over and filled his large hand with popcorn from my bowl.

  “You know, if you don’t like sitting and watching reality TV with me, you could always go home.”

  He turned his eyes my way as he chewed a mouthful of popcorn. Instead of responding, he rolled his eyes and turned back toward the TV.

  An hour later, we were both laughing as one of the houseguests on Big Brother made a fool out of himself inside the confessional room.

  Then an hour after that, I woke in Zander’s arms as he carried me upstairs to my bedroom.

  I didn’t let him know I was awake.

  Instead, I lay there enjoying the feel of being safe in his arms and filling with some untapped emotion over the fact that he was doing something so charming for me.

  My body melted into the plush mattress when he set me down, and I sighed when he pulled the blanket up and over me.

  “Goodnight, angel,” he whispered.

  And then he shut off the light.

  I heard the tap of his shoes on the stairs followed by the television turning off. There were a few more steps and the click of the front door closing.

  Zander Hale was something else.

  My feelings for him were dangerous, but then again, so was he. Still, that didn’t stop me from smiling to myself and replaying the feel of being in his arms through my mind for the rest of the night until I finally fell back to sleep.

  THE NEXT DAY I worked an extra shift. One of the girls from an afternoon shift, which I rarely covered, called in sick so I offered.

  That meant I was working with people I hadn’t worked with much. Still, I jumped in and took care of tables without any problem.

  No one spoke to me much, and I noticed that on several occasions some of the girls were rolling their eyes in my direction. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but two hours into my shift, I found out what the problem was.

  I was clearing a table full of empty bottles and glasses. The tip left behind was nothing next to the money they had spent, which sucked, but still, I did my job.

  Once my tray was full with the empty bottles and glasses, I pulled my damp cloth from my back pocket with my free hand and swiped it across the table.

  I did this regularly, but for some reason, my fingers shifted under the tray, and I lost my balance. I struggled to keep it up, dropping the cloth instantly so I could use both hands to keep the tray balanced, but I was too late.

  The tray slipped from my fingers, and the empty glasses and bottles fell to the floor shattering all around me in a loud smash.

  “Shit,” I muttered, reaching over to begin to clean up my mess, but just as I bent over, a shadow covered me when someone stepped up to my side.

  “It must be nice knowing you won’t lose your job if you fuck up,” a waitress named Marie said.

  “Excuse me?”

  Marie and I hadn’t talked much since I started working at Empire. Usually, we worked different shifts, but tonight was an exception.

  After working a shift with her, I could say I was glad it wasn’t something that often occurred since she had spent the entire time being rude to me.

  “You heard me. Everyone at Empire knows you’re fucking Mr. Hale.”

  Her words were like a hammer to the chest.

  Who was saying these things?

  Did he tell people?

  I couldn’t very well admit to sleeping with him. Not if I wanted the rest of the employees at Empire Sevens not to hate me.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I’m sure you don’t,” she hissed and walked away.

  The rest of the night I ignored the smirks and whispers from every employee I passed. The accusation spread through the workers like a wildfire fueled with vodka.

  It was too much.

  I finished the shift as quickly and quietly as possible before leaving for the night.

  The second I opened the door for Zander that night, I let him know precisely how my second shift at work had gone.

  “People at work think we’re having sex!” I exploded before he even had a chance to shut the door.

  He turned and lifted a brow at my words before saying, “Well, technically.”

  I growled at his words before tossing the remote at his head.

  He ducked, and it exploded against the door sending batteries flying across the entry space.

  “No! Not technically.”

  “Did you just throw a remote at my head?” he asked with a grin.

  “I did, and I’m pissed that you ducked!”

  “You do realize you’re the only person in Vegas with enough balls to do such a thing?”

  I threw my hands up in the air in aggravation. “And?”

  “And it’s fucking hot.”

  “You want to know what’s not hot, Zander? People whispering behind my back. Or other waitresses telling me I won’t lose my job if I screw up because I’m fucking the boss. Or better yet, having to work a full shift with everyone ignoring me. Please tell me where people got this idea?”

  His jaws flinched, and I could tell my words made him angry.

  I knew half of this was my fault. I looked at Zander when I saw him at work. I needed to stop doing that. Also, he singled me out a lot. That was probably obvious to people, as well.

  It also didn’t help that he had food delivered to Kennedy’s condo late at night. All of these things needed to stop as soon as possible.

  “I’ll take care of it,” he said.

  “No. That would just make things worse.” I sighed and readjusted my messy bun before collapsing onto the couch.

  Then he shocked me when he asked, “Then what would you like me to do?”

  I wanted him to hold me.

  I wanted him to make it all better and take away all the stress in my life.

  He could do that. He had the power and the money to do so, but that’s not what came out of my mouth when I opened it. Instead, I said the opposite of what I wanted.

  “Please just leave.”

  “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

  It wasn’t, but it was what I needed right now. “Yes.”

  Surprisingly, he didn’t argue.

  Instead, he turned on his heel, stepped through the door, and closed it behind him.

  The following day, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do, I retook the same second shift. I knew what I was walking into. I knew I would spend the day while people whispered behind my back, ignored me, and or was rude.

  Except none of that happened.

  Everyone smiled and was overly friendly. Even Maria, the girl who called me out the day before, smiled when she passed me. Sure, her smile was stiff and forced, but still, she smiled.

  Which let me know Zander had said something. I wasn’t sure if I was angry with him for shutting down the gossip or if I was relieved, either way, he had stepped in and taken care of the situation.

  So even though I’d dealt with the whispers and the drama, when Saturday night came around I found myself in front of the mirror dressed and ready for the charity event with Zander.

  I told myself I was an idiot and I had no business going anywhere with Zander Hale. Still, I found my heeled feet moving out of my bedroom and down the stairs.

  By the time the doorbell rang, I was convinced I was the dumbest woman in Vegas.

  And when I opened the door and saw Zander Hale in his tux looking like hot sex and money, I knew I was.

  11

  EDEN

  THE ROOM GLITTERED like something in a movie. Since coming to Vegas I’d seen some opulent places, Empire Sevens being one of the nicest, but this place was astonishing.

  Men and women socialized around th
e room dressed to perfection. Their chatter and laughter wafted through the air filling the space with a sense of happiness and joy.

  Zander took my arm and laced it through his before we took the grand staircase down to the main floor. Once we were on the main floor, I stopped to take in the room. I could feel Zander’s eyes on me, so I looked over to find him staring with a grin.

  “God, you’re beautiful.”

  Chills moved over my flesh.

  His words.

  The way he was looking at me like he wanted to devour me.

  It was all too much.

  “Stop it. You’re surrounded by some of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen. Compared to them, I’m a hot mess.”

  His face went serious, and his emerald eyes clashed with mine. “No. You’re right. Attractive women surround me, but they have nothing on you. You’re gorgeous, Eden.”

  I swallowed, feeling as though he had somehow reached inside me and flicked my heart. He rarely used my real name, and when he did, it did something to me. Not to mention, I had the most handsome man in the room filling my head with sweet compliments.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome.” He turned away, stopping a guy holding a tray of champagne glasses.

  “Thank you,” I said again when he handed me a glass.

  He moved closer, his eyes capturing mine as he said, “Save all of your thanks yous for later. You’ll need them more then.”

  My cheeks blazed making him chuckle before he put his succulent lips onto this glass and sipped from it.

  “What makes you think there will be a later? Remember, this isn’t a date. You’re basically keeping me hostage for the night.”

  “What if I’ve changed my mind? What if just this once we call this a date?”

  “What exactly are you asking?”

  “Do I get to go all the way with you tonight?”

  He was grinning, and I knew he was teasing me. “You think if you pretend this is a date I’ll sleep with you tonight?”

  “You mean f-“

  I pushed my finger against his lips, silencing and glaring at him all at once. “Don’t ruin our first date, Zander.”

  “If you’re going to agree it’s a date, you’re going to agree to all my terms of this date, Ms. Vaughn.”

  I took a drink from my champagne, leaving him hanging.

  “So, what exactly is this charity event for?”

  “We host this event every year to raise money for kids who live on the streets.”

  I looked up at him not at all expecting him to say that. “Really?”

  He grinned. “What did you think it was for?”

  I shrugged, sipping the champagne and looking around at all the guests. “I don’t know. Making the rich richer.”

  He laughed at that and then finished off his glass. “Would you like to dance, angel?”

  I looked up at him surprised. “You dance?”

  He rolled his eyes at me and then his hand was on my back, guiding me to the dance floor.

  “Of course, I dance, Eden.”

  He swung me around, positioning me against him as we waited for the music to start.

  “You also roll your eyes. I’m learning quite a bit about you tonight.”

  The music started, and he took the lead in waltzing us around. “You know a lot about me. I, however, know nothing about you, Ms. Vaughn.”

  “What do you want to know?”

  His eyes dipped to my lips, and he smiled a genuine smile, making my heart skip several beats. Then he leaned in, kissed the side of my neck softly, and whispered, “Everything.”

  The rest of the night was perfect.

  We danced.

  We drank some of the most expensive champagne.

  And we ate the most delicious food.

  Zander was the perfect gentlemen in front of the other guests, and he introduced me to everyone, always making sure I felt like I was a part of the conversation.

  As the night came to an end, Zander ushered us through the ballroom and to the exit. Stepping into the warm Vegas night, we waited for the valet to bring around Zander’s car.

  “Did you have a nice time tonight, Eden?”

  Again, he used my name instead of calling me angel. I liked it way more than I should have.

  “I did. Honestly. Thank you for bringing me. I’ve never been to anything like this before.”

  The valet pulled up then, and after Zander helped me into the car, he moved around to get into the driver’s seat.

  The radio was on, but the volume was turned down low. Other than the soft hum of the engine and the light melody of whatever was playing on the radio, the interior was quiet.

  “You know,” I said, breaking the silence. “If you had told me six months ago that I’d be going to a gala with one of Vegas’s most eligible bachelors, I would’ve never believed it. But here I am, in a dress that cost as much as a used car, feeling like I could take on the world.”

  Zander didn’t say anything at first, but then he rolled his head in my direction.

  “You could do anything you wanted to do, Eden. I truly believe that.”

  My chest filled with so much emotion I almost choked on it when I replied. “Thank you, Zander.”

  He reached over the console and took my hand, neither of us saying anything else.

  I don’t know when, but I fell asleep as we drove through the city. I slept until I felt Zander pulling me from the car, and when I woke, I felt like I was floating in the air.

  “Where are we?” I asked when I didn’t recognize my surroundings.

  “At Empire,” he said.

  I panicked at his answer, pressing against his chest until he set me down. “Zander, I’m not going in there with you.”

  “It’s okay, angel. We’re going through the back entrance. No one will see us together.”

  I didn’t relax, but I let him lead me into his hotel, and onto an elevator I’d never seen before. As he said, no one was around to see us go up to his floor.

  “Why did you bring me back here?” I asked as we went up.

  “It was just instinct. I figured you could sleep here for one night.”

  “And where do you think I’m going to sleep?”

  “The couch.”

  I looked up at him, but he continued to look straight ahead.

  When the doors opened to his floor, Zander wasted no time stepping off the elevator and removing his jacket.

  “Are you going to get off or stand there all night?”

  I wanted to tell him I was going to stand there all night, but I didn’t say anything as I stepped off of the elevator and followed him into his place.

  Zander’s home, as he called it, was unlike anything I’d ever seen outside of a magazine. Windows surrounded us, and the Vegas skyline glittered just beyond the glass.

  It was dark inside, but I could easily see Zander, thanks to the lights of the city, as he loosened his tie, throwing it onto the nearest piece of furniture.

  “Would you like me to show you where you’re going to sleep?” His back was to me when he asked.

  I crossed my arms over my chest. “I thought you said I was sleeping on the couch?”

  “Eden…” he warned, finally facing me with his hands on his hips.

  He had rolled his sleeves up to his elbows and unbuttoned the first few buttons of his dress shirt. He looked so damn sexy; I wanted to jump him right then and there.

  “Fine, Mr. Hale. Show me to my room.”

  He stalked toward me until his chest was pressed against mine. “I like when you call me that. I like it very much, angel.”

  The back of his fingers rubbed my arm.

  “You would.”

  “Has the high of tonight worn off already? You’re in a mood.”

  Instantly, I felt terrible.

  “I’m sorry. This really was one of the best nights I’ve ever had, Zander.”

  “The best, huh? What was your favorite part, angel?” he
asked.

  As if I could just choose one.

  The night had been perfection.

  “The dancing. No. I can’t choose.”

  I giggled.

  The champagne had gone to my head.

  “But the room was beautiful. Oh, and the food was the best.”

  He chuckled, the deep sound resonating into my center.

  “Yeah, well, you deserve the best always.”

  Then he worked his fingertips into my hair and pulled out the pins. My hair fell around my shoulders, sending chills across my flesh.

  I sighed, enjoying the feel of his fingers on my scalp.

  “You’ve been amazing tonight, Zander. I wish every night were this perfect with you,” I said, pressing my palms into his chest and working them up to his neck.

  He stiffened.

  “Wait.” He stopped my hands from moving up his chest and turned away. “I think you’re confused. I’m not a good guy, Eden. I’m not going to whisk you off like this is some goddamn fairytale. I’ve done a lot of shit I’m not proud of, and beyond a good fuck, I don’t plan on taking this any further.”

  His turn in attitude sent me reeling.

  One second the moment was warm and succulent.

  His large, hot hands were in my hair, sending waves of goosebumps along my flesh.

  And the next second, he was lashing out at me.

  With the champagne swimming through my veins and giving me courage, I opened my mouth and said precisely what I wanted to without regard for the next day.

  “What if that’s not good enough for me? What if I want more than a good fuck from you, Zander?”

  He paused, his eyes scanning my face as some strange emotion flickered in his steely gaze.

  He shook his head and settled his hands on his hips.

  “Tough shit, angel. I don’t have anything else to give.”

  He was lying.

  There was so much more to him than the little bits he showed me.

  I wanted it all, and I had a feeling he did, too.

  Otherwise, why was he so protective over me?

  Sure, he could use the excuse that he did it because I was Kennedy’s niece, but Zander was loaded. He could have easily hired someone to keep an eye on me.

  There was a reason he kept showing up—a reason he was always near me—and I had a feeling his reasons were similar to my own.