Page 51 of Broken Rules
Heat rushes across my neck and cheeks from his closeness. He pulls away, staring into my eyes. “Why did you leave?”
“I didn’t see you.”
“I was by your side the entire time, Peaches.”
“You were?” I ask, and he nods, caressing my cheek with his palm.
“Oh…thank you. For coming with me, Lex,” I whisper, leaning into his kind hold.
“Of course.”
Enzo appears a moment later with a scowl. “Well, I didn’t see that fight ending that way.” He turns to me. “You did great, Evie. Ready to head to the hotel?”
“Yeah. Let me get changed. I’ll be right back.”
It doesn’t take long to get ready as we drive to the hotel, and even if it’s New Year’s Eve in Vegas, I’m ready for bed. Lennox walks with me to my room door, Enzo already entering the room he’s sharing with him across the hall, and I open mine, pausing as Lennox stays with me a moment longer.
“You’re officially off duty, so go relax.”
He smirks, leaning his arm on the frame as I press my back against the door, looking up at his handsome face. “I’m not off duty until we land in Oregon.”
“Is that so?” I ask, dipping my head with a smile, and he gently lifts my chin with his index finger.
“I’ll always have your back, Evie. Even there.”
Licking my lips, I stare into his eyes, wanting to believe every word he says. “I should head to bed.”
“Would you like company tonight?” he asks, smoothing his thumb along my jaw, and I close my eyes, tilting my head away from his gentle touch.
“I shouldn’t,” I whisper, feeling him close—a part of me wants him to stay, but I push inside more before he can press his lips to my cheek. “Goodnight, Lex.”
He smirks, walking backward. “I’m only a few steps away if you change your mind. Sweet dreams, Peaches.”
Lennox enters his room, and I lean against the door once I get inside mine, banging my head a few times against the wooden surface.Why can’t I let him in?He’s a good, selfless, caring guy, yet I continue pushing him away. Sighing, I wander across the room and flop onto the king-size bed, staring at the ceiling, wishing I could be brave, just once allowing someone else to take the lead instead of needing constant control of my heart.
A ringing sounds in my purse, and I take out my phone, ignoring Gin’s call. It’s 8:30, the time Vivid starts to pick up, but I don’t want to think about work tonight—another call comes through, and I sigh, answering it to get the lecture over and done with.
“Yes?”
“9:30, at Seclusion. You have a private customer waiting for you.”
My brows furrow as I check my phone, gripping it tight in my hand. “You got to be fucking joking?” I say to Jared, lifting to a seated position. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You are, and you will. Thousands of dollars in revenue tonight, Evie. That’s what you owe Vivid for not showing up to do your job.”
I laugh from deep within my core at how comical he is. “You’re sick in the head. You know that, right?”
He chuckles. “You and I both know who’s sicker and who will receive the end of his wrath if you don’t make up this money.”
I grit my teeth, hating that he’s using Gin to get me to take this job. “Fuck you,” I seethe, ending the call, and lie back while resting my forearm on my eyes as tears emerge.
Holding my breath, I bite back the sting, hating that even an ounce of me is willing to go, that deep down, I can’t say no.Maybe I’m the sick one?My lip trembles as I open my maps, typing Seclusion into the search, gasping at the results.
No fucking way.
My hands shake as I drop the phone, holding them over my mouth as the dam breaks and tears fall freely. I need a drink. Several fucking drinks in me right now. Rushing for the mini bar, I take back the first nip I get my hands on, coughing when the brown liquor burns down my throat before I take another two. I’m in Sin City on New Year’s Eve. I might as well end this shitty year the right way and start the new one just as shitty.
I crawl to the bed, grab my phone, sit on the floor, and sip on the next drink while texting Janelle that I’m heading upstairs in a few minutes. My duffle bag is on the chair next to the dresser, so I tear it open to grab my sluttiest outfit and drag the pearl tulip mini dress over my body. The hem rests slightly above mid-thigh, my tits perking up in the ruched shiny velvet fabric, the back swooping dangerously low as I check myself out in the mirror.
