don’t have to do that, Evie.”
“If this room wasn’t supposed to be used tonight, they’ll know someone was up here when they see the mess.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Evie frowned. “Nick…”
With no way to explain that wouldn’t tell her more about his finances than he wanted her to know, he bit his tongue and took the empty glasses.
Evie had to notice the number of strange looks sent their way as they came down the stairs. Earlier, when the place had been hopping, only a few people had noticed he was here. Now, with so few customers still hanging on, he could see the questions on every face of the Starlight staff.
Evie’s cheeks grew redder and redder and her feet moved faster, until she was out the door in almost a full trot. Outside, she leaned against a wall and covered her face with her hands. “Oh, my God, that was so embarrassing.”
“What?”
“Did you not see everyone staring at us? I felt like I was carrying a giant neon sign that said We Just Had Sex.”
He laughed, but smothered it with a cough when Evie turned stormy eyes on him. “It’s not funny.”
“You don’t know these people, and you’ll never see them again, so why do you care?”
Evie leaned her head back against the concrete wall. “I guess you’re right. That only makes it slightly less embarrassing.”
He’d never seen anyone die of embarrassment before, but Evie had to be close, so he took pity on her, even though he was loath to end their evening. “It’s late, and I have to work in the morning. I’ll take you back to your hotel. Where are you staying?”
“The Bellagio.” Her voice sounded small and he wondered why.
A taxi coasted to a stop, and he opened the door for Evie to climb in. In the backseat, Evie seemed even more withdrawn, a huge change from her brightness earlier. Unable to ask why when the cabbie was listening, he settled for lame small talk. “That’s a nice hotel. Have you had a chance to explore it?”
“Not really. Bennie—Sabine,” she corrected, “and I did a little shopping earlier today.”
“Bennie’s the friend who came with you?”
Evie nodded. “But I haven’t been to the casino yet. I’m not much of a gambler.”
“Don’t like it?”
“Don’t know how to play any of the games. I’ve played penny-ante poker with my brother and blackjack on my laptop, but that’s about it.”
“I could teach you.” Why had he offered that? He hadn’t been in a casino in years.
“You’d do that?” Evie brightened considerably. Maybe she really did want to learn to gamble.
“If you’d like.”
Her mood improved exponentially at that point, and by the time they pulled in at the Bellagio, Evie was almost back to her earlier self.
Including using her best manners. “I had a great time tonight, Nick. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” Understatement of the year.
A Bellagio doorman opened the taxi door, and Nick slid out and extended a hand to Evie. Once she was on her feet, he slid a hand under her chin and turned her face up for a kiss.
Evie’s response was as voracious as before, and he let the kiss continue until the cabbie started complaining about the wait. Evie stepped back, another adorable blush rising over her cleavage.
“Do you know the bar that overlooks the fountain?”
She nodded.
“Meet me there at seven tonight.”
Evie’s smile could be breathtaking, especially when she rose up on her tiptoes to kiss him one last time before finally turning to the doorman patiently holding the lobby door open.
At the door, she turned and waved.
He directed the cabbie to take him back to The Zoo, where he had left his car in a not-great alley off a side street. At the time, he only planned to be in the club for a couple of hours, tops. If he’d known it would be more like six, he’d have found a safer spot. Hopefully, it would still have a stereo and all four tires when he returned.
Hell, who was he kidding? He didn’t care, even as he noticed the broken window. A night with Evie was well worth the consequences.
Chapter Three
EVIE FELT LIKE SKIPPING through the Bellagio lobby, but ladies didn’t skip through hotel lobbies. She stamped down the urge.
She’d just had what was possibly the best night of her entire life, and even better, Nick wanted to do it again tonight. Ladylike or not, that thought put a bounce in her step anyway.
Even at this time of the night—or technically, morning—the lobby was active, the employees greeting her politely as if she didn’t look as if she’d just come in after a night of debauchery. She should feel exposed and embarrassed, since it was obvious what she’d been up to, but she realized that probably wasn’t an uncommon occurrence in Las Vegas.
And, as Nick had reminded her, it’s not as if she’d ever see these people again.
In the elevator, she slipped out of her shoes and stretched tiredly. The adrenaline and endorphin rush she’d been on all night dissipated quickly now that Nick wasn’t around to fuel it, and exhaustion settled heavily on her shoulders. An enormous yawn cracked her jaw, and she really, really needed to sleep.
She closed the door to the suite behind her quietly. Sabine’s shoes and evening bag were on the couch, and the door to her room was shut. Evie had no way of knowing if Bennie was alone in there or not.
And to be honest, she was too tired to care.
Evie collapsed on her bed and stared at the ceiling. She was keyed up mentally, sated physically and totally exhausted. She should shower, maybe eat something, but her legs felt too heavy to move. Getting out of her clothes almost sounded like far too much work, but she managed to shimmy out of them and wrap a robe around herself before she pushed the button to close the drapes and crawled under the covers.
When she closed her eyes, Nick’s face was there. She could feel the imprint of his hands on her hips, taste him on her lips, hear that low growl. She wanted to relive every moment and savor the anticipation of tonight, but sleep was dragging her under quickly…
“Jeez, Evie, wake up. How hungover are you?”
Evie felt Sabine land on her bed next to her. “I’m not hungover. Just tired,” she mumbled. “Go ’way.”
“The day is half-over, and I still haven’t heard about your night. What time did you get in, anyway?”
“Dunno.
