Page 22 of All Bets Are Off
“I didn’t stutter.”
He stumbles to his feet, backing away with his palms up. “I…I thought she was just a maid. I didn’t realize she was yours.”
Vida, appropriately, makes a sound of disgust.
Just a maid? Yours?
Yes, she is explicitly mine.
I don’t make her feel like property, though, do I? Not like this entitled asshole.
In the last twenty-four hours, I realized a lot about my life and how easy money has made things for me. But that truth has never been more obvious than it is right now.
“Go get your shit and check out of the resort now. Don’t ever come back here.”
“Whatever you want. Whatever you say.”
I wrap both my arms around Vida and watch the man scurry out of the pool area, past more than a few men who just sat there and did nothing while Vida was being harassed. I’m going to find out their names, too, and ruin their fucking lives, top to bottom. Swear to God.
In fact, I’m going to do more.
Something impactful.
This can’t happen again. Not to Vida or the other women she works with.
Not on my watch.
“Come with me,” I say, keeping her tucked into my side.
There’s a small alcove in the corner of the pool enclosure, and I guide her in that direction, walking until we’re out of sight from the rest of the guests. I set down the rolled-up illustration on a counter and lift Vida into my arms without delay because I thinkI need to hold her as badly as she requires holding. Her legs slip around my waist, her face tucking into my neck, as natural as breathing.
My arms cradle her tightly to my chest, and I rock her side to side.
Kiss her hair.
“I’m sorry, angel,” I murmur against her ear, my heart flipping over when she nuzzles closer.Quit this job, I want to say.Quit.I’ll make sure you never have to work again. It’s a struggle not to make these demands out loud, but I bite my tongue. She’d never go for it. “I’m sorry that happened to you. I’m going to make sure nothing like that ever happens again.”
She lifts her head and looks at me, attempting a smile. “How are you going to do that?”
God, she is the most beautiful thing in the universe. A product of heaven, hiding in plain sight right here in Massachusetts. “I have some ideas.”
Vida hums, her eyes traveling between my features. “You were very heroic.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet.”
Her expression warms, thoughtful and appreciative. “I didn’t know white knights came shirtless in headphones.”
“Well, we do. Now you know.” I continue to rock her, overwhelmed by the perfect feel of her in my arms. “Are you complaining?”
She shakes her head, the fingers of her right hand lifting to brush back my hair. “I’m definitely not complaining. I like that you didn’t resort to violence.”
“I wanted to. But I thought comforting you was more important.”
“It was.” She kisses me softly on the cheek. “And I do feel much better.”
Her ministrations are hypnotizing me. Normally, I hate when girls try to touch me, but I could stay here all afternoon and let Vida play with my hair.
“Besides, the kind of violence I’m going to commit is more…corporate.”
