Sinning in Vegas (Vegas Morellis 2)

Smiling, she snuggles into my side. “Good deal.”

My arm tightens around her and fondness washes over me. I don’t like always having to work so hard for her little ass, but I do like the results.

Of course right then is when the servers come over. Servers, plural. When I requested my usual waitress, I completely forgot that I told them to train Marlena with her. Knowing Marlena’s waitressing skills aren’t quite up to snuff and not wanting my waitstaff to suffer from my good deed, I figured retraining her with my best waitress was a solid plan.

It is, but I also look a lot like a liar when she walks up to the table I’m sharing with my not-girlfriend and Laurel is snuggling me.

Marlena’s lips thin like she’s thinking the same thing, but she writes on her orderpad to avoid looking at me.

The snuggle ends the second Laurel recognizes her.

Turning to look at me with wide eyes, she asks, “What is she doing here?”

Had I been thinking far enough ahead, I might have been able to come up with something better than the truth. “I hired her.”

Laurel’s jaw drops open and she looks at me like she cannot believe my gall. Then she starts laughing. I’m starting to think Laurel laughs when she wants to murder me.

Before she can jump to the same conclusions Sin did, I say, “I got her fired. I had to make reparations.”

“I can’t believe no woman has murdered you yet. Is that why you stay single? It’s the only way to stay alive? Good strategy. At least you’re self-aware.”

Marlena’s face is flushed and my favorite waitress stands there with her eyes wide and her pen poised over the orderpad, not having a clue what the hell is going on. I hadn’t made it public knowledge in the restaurant that I specifically made them hire Marlena, because I didn’t want anyone she would be working with to draw inappropriate conclusions.

Everyone is drawing inappropriate conclusions.

Laurel shrugs my arm off and scoots away, but she must figure she has to eat, because instead of trying to leave, she tells the servers shortly, “Ice water to drink, chicken alfredo for my entrée.” Glancing at me, she says, “I’m going to the bathroom.”

Marlena backs up as Laurel scoots out, but Laurel turns to face her anyway. Marlena flushes even deeper as Laurel stares her down, then wordlessly turns and leaves the table.

My regular server is a champ, so she pretends none of that just happened and says, “And for you?”

I sigh, glancing after Laurel to see if she’s actually heading to the bathroom. After the sneaky exit she pulled over Sin, of all fucking people, I’m a little wary about trusting her. I wouldn’t put it past her to order just to throw me off, then leave me sitting here like an asshole while she flees the scene.

Since she does appear to be heading for the bathroom, I look at Marlena.

“I told you this was a bad idea,” she informs me.

“It’s fine,” I tell her.

“Clearly.”

Glancing at my favorite waitress, I tell her, “Don’t mention this to anyone else.”

Her discretion is a given, but she nods anyway and assures me, “My lips are sealed.”

“If she doesn’t come back in a few minutes…”

Nodding, she says, “I’ll go make sure she’s in the bathroom. Gotta wash my hands all the time anyway, you know.”

I’m going to give her a really big tip tonight. “Thank you, Virginia.”

She smiles faintly, gives me a thumbs-up, then heads for the bathroom to make sure my date hasn’t run away.

18

Laurel

Bracing myself on the sleek brown vanity and peering into the mirror, I contemplate whether or not Rafe will be standing outside the bathroom waiting for me when I open the door. I shouldn’t have come to the bathroom. While he was busy with the skank he bought the dress for, I should have high-tailed it out of this godforsaken restaurant.