Risking the Crown (The Crown 2)

“I don’t practice law like I did. Not anymore—not like that. I was at a firm for two years after law school, but I realized I wasn’t cut out for that kind of law. I didn’t have the stomach for it. Maybe it’s a little like your retirement.” I had a feeling Vaughn wasn’t the kind of man who shrank from confrontation or a fight.

I hadn’t taken my eyes off the glimpses of his tattoo. I wanted to see what the full ink looked like on his arm.

“And you decided to retire to D.C.?” he questioned.

“Sort of. When the chance to help clients at a clinic and teach opened up, I applied. Plus, my college roommate is in D.C. and she really wanted me to move.” I tried to gauge if I was spilling too much information.

He made me feel off-balance, but it was fun. I enjoyed trying to stay centered around him. Every time I tipped too far, I tugged myself back up and then let the pull of his eyes or the gravel in his voice tilt me to another dizzying place.

“How long have you been in D.C.?” he asked. He pushed the ice around on the top of his drink.

“Three days.”

He laughed. “Three days?”

“My room isn’t even unpacked. I’m lucky I have clothes.” I smiled.

He tipped the glass over his perfectly shaped lips. He lowered it slowly. “Maybe I’m not so lucky then. You without clothes sounds like something I’d like.”

The tingle spread through my body. God, he was hot and a fucking amazing flirt. The words rolled off his tongue effortlessly. It was as if he wasn’t even trying.

“Hey, you owe us forty bucks!”

I was jerked out of the cloud of lust by a fist slamming a drink bill on the table. I looked up and recognized the guys who sent drinks over when Greer was here.

Vaughn stood up. I saw his chest rise and just how imposing his frame was. The guys were dwarfed by his broad shoulders and the expanse of his chest.

“Who the hell are you?” he growled at them.

“She owes us money.” They pointed at me in unison. I could smell the beer on their breath.

I shrank in my chair, shaking my head. “I-I didn’t ask for the drinks.”

Vaughn wedged himself between the angry assholes and my chair. “Take your bill and fucking pay it.” He grabbed it from the table and shoved it the closest one’s hands.

I swallowed. What was happening?

“I can pay it,” I whispered.

He looked down at me. “I’ve got this.” His voice was rough and commanding. Holy shit.

I nodded.

“We’ll pay it with your credit card.” The idiot didn’t seem to realize who he was facing. I knew enough to put my wager on Vaughn.

Vaughn straightened his shoulders. “Let’s make things very clear here.” He looked at each of them. “Take your check. Take your fucking attitudes. Take your asses back to where you came from. She’s not paying.” With each word his voice grew lower and by the time he was finished speaking the jerks had leaned forward to listen intently.

I waited for them to retaliate, but instead they backed up and returned to the bar, exchanging dirty looks at us over their shoulders.

Vaughn cleared his throat and sat down.

“You okay?” he asked.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I whispered. I wasn’t sure who around us had seen the exchange.

“I did have to do that. You didn’t deserve it. And I wasn’t going to put up with those dicks treating you like shit.”

I needed to steady my breath. The adrenaline was pumping through me. I’d never had someone stand up for me like that. It had to be the sexiest thing I’d ever experienced. Was he real?