Sinning in Vegas (Vegas Morellis 2)

“Don’t act like you care. You’re never there to scare them off, are you?”

“And I never will be,” I assure him. “I am not your babysitter. If I can’t trust your ass, I don’t want your ass.”

“Yes, I’m aware,” he mutters, his eyes darkening. Without a word, he pushes up from the table.

“Where are you going?” I ask, watching him.

“To find my damn waitress.”

39

Laurel

When Rafe stormed off, I assumed he meant he was going after Virginia. She was the one he had just been concerned he pissed off, and she is obviously our waitress tonight.

But when Virginia returns to our table, Rafe isn’t with her. She puts a drink down where he should be sitting and shoots me a polite smile before turning to walk away.

“Did Rafe find you?” I inquire, before she can get too far.

She turns back, her dark eyebrows drawn closer together in confusion. “Did he find me?” she questions.

“He said he was going to find his waitress. He thought he might have pissed you off. Apparently, you normally tolerate more of his shit.”

“When I have time to indulge him, I do. He’s such a baby sometimes. They all are though,” she says, waving it off. “No, he didn’t find me. I’ll keep an eye out.”

Just as she turns to walk away, Rafe rounds the corner and she nearly collides with him.

“Whoa,” she murmurs, holding her hands up against his chest, then taking a quick, awkward step back and dropping her hands.

Casually touching her hip, he says, “Sorry, wasn’t watching where I was going.”

“Uh huh.” Her face is flushed and she’s looking down, shaking her head slightly. It strikes me as a ‘shake it off’ sort of thing, then she puts a smile on and looks back up at him. “Laurel said you were looking for me?”

“No, I was looking for—Yes, I was looking for you.”

Her smile tightens as he lies poorly, but she doesn’t say anything.

“Aren’t you still training Marlena?” he inquires.

“She didn’t show up for her shift. No call, no show.”

He scowls. “What?”

Virginia shrugs. “We’re all trying to go on without her. Not having her constantly in the way as she accomplishes absolutely nothing is trying, but we’re managing somehow. Now, if you don’t need me to locate anyone else for you, I have to get back to work.”

Then she’s off. Rafe glances after her, shaking his head, but he takes his seat. “She’s moody tonight.”

“You’re an idiot,” I inform him.

He lifts his eyebrows. “Excuse me?”

“How can you notice and read into subtle shit, but be so blind to what’s right in front of your eyeballs?” I shake my head, drawing my ice water close and taking a sip. “She likes you.”

Instead of offering a playboy grin and taking pride in the adoration of yet another woman, he shakes his head. “Nah, not like that. Not Virginia.”

“Why not Virginia?” I ask.

“She’s too smart to fall for me,” he says dryly.