His Property, page 18
“Yeah, if there's an extra mile on the odometer or I find a single scratch on my baby,” I say, glaring at him, “they're never going to find enough of your body parts to have a funeral. Believe me on that.”
His eyes grow wide and he nods quickly. “Of course,” he says. “Sir. Just over to the lot. No problem.”
He gingerly gets behind the wheel and creeps away, going about two miles an hour the whole way to the lot. Harper just laughs.
“You're kinda scary, sometimes,” she says.
“Was the glaring too much?” I ask. “I felt like it may have been a little bit over the top.”
“Oh, no,” she says. “The glaring was perfect. And hey, he might not think so, but you're kinda sexy when you're all scary like that.”
I laugh. “Developing a taste for the bad boys now, are you?”
She shrugs and gives me a flirty little smile. “Only the fake bad boys who have a golden heart.”
She gives me a peck on the lips as Miguel and Jack get out of the SUV they've been following us in. They walk on by and board the plane ahead of us – no doubt going over every inch of the plane, searching for bombs or ninjas who want to kill me hiding in the overhead compartments.
“Afternoon Mr. Rossi,” the captain says. “Last minute trip, huh?”
I nod. “Good afternoon, Captain Daniels. It is a last minute trip and I appreciate your availability,” I say. “It seems that the beautiful Ms. Wilkins here has never seen Vegas before. I thought we'd remedy that.”
The skycap gets our luggage out of the plane, setting it gently on a cart and wheeling it over toward the cargo hold.
“Oh, it's my pleasure, Mr. Rossi,” he says and then turns to Harper. “You're in for something then, Ms. Wilkins. Vegas is a – unique – city.”
I laugh. “That it is.”
“So, I've heard. I can hardly wait to see it,” she says, her smile gleaming brighter than the sun.
The captain tips his hat to us. “I'll see you on board.”
Harper gives him a smile and then looks at the sleek, black corporate jet with skeptical eyes – I can see the nervousness on her face. She's not used to flying.
“And you're sure this thing is safe?” she asks
“It's not just safer than those giant flying commercial cattle boats,” I say, “it's a hell of a lot more comfortable too.”
“I'm trusting you here,” she says, a nervous laugh escaping her.
“Would I ever steer you wrong?”
“You better not.”
I give her a mischievous little smile. “Think of it this way,” I say. “If I'm wrong and we crash and die, I'll never steer you wrong again.”
“Yeah, so not comforting,” she laughs.
Taking her hand, I lead her to the plane and help her up the steps. I follow her up and step into the cabin right behind her.
“Wow,” she says. “It's beautiful.”
The plane, like my house, is done in soft, earthy colors and dark woods. I figure I should be just as comfortable flying as I am at home, right?
“A lot different than the cattle boats, huh?” I ask, grinning at her.
“Oh, yeah,” she says.
Miguel and Jack are settled into seats at the rear of the plane and as I escort Harper down the aisle, I see Miguel flash me a little smile and a thumbs up. I grin and shake my head, getting Harper seated near the front of the plane.
I'd tried to convince Miguel and Jack that it's just a quick pop into Vegas and that I didn't need bodyguards. I told them to take a couple of days off, to go have some fun. They'd both flat out refused. And when I tried to ditch them by not telling them when I was leaving and scrapping the driver, opting to take the Lambo and drive us myself, they'd been ready for it.
By the time I got our bags into the car, got Harper loaded up, and we pulled out of the garage, Miguel and Jack were already in the SUV waiting. As I drove by, they were both smiling and laughing at me. At that point, all I could do was shake my head and accept the fact that they were coming with us.
Their loyalty and dedication to keeping me safe is admirable and honestly, I appreciate the hell out of it. And them. I never know if there's anybody out there gunning for me – some ghost from my father's past that at some point is going to rise up and take a shot at me. It seems more and more unlikely as each day passes, but I just never know.
Grudges are bitter and often run deep. Sometimes it takes a generation for some of these mob ties to peter out. Some never do. And my father made more enemies than I can even begin to count. He might be dead, but that bitterness and those grudges didn't necessarily die with him – not while I, the heir to his empire, is still drawing breath.
Meaning that these men – and everybody in my security detail – put their lives on the line for me each and every day. And the risk they take by working for me doesn't seem like something that can be repaid with a simple paycheck.
“You okay?” I ask Harper.
She smiles at me. “Yeah, I'm fine.”
“Can I get you anything before takeoff?”
She shakes her head as she buckles her seatbelt tight. “No, I'm fine,” she says, a slight tremor in her voice. “But, thank you.”
I sit down and buckle up myself, ready to get this show on the road.
Chapter Thirty-One
I booked us rooms at the Bellagio, and when we walk into ours, Harper's eyes grow wide and her mouth falls open. She gasps and runs around the room, soaking in the elegance of it all. Well – elegant by Vegas standards, anyway. It's a little too gaudy and artificial for my personal taste, but it's a nice hotel all the same.
“Oh, my God,” she exclaims. “Pinch me, I have to be dreaming. This place is amazing.”
I laugh. “I thought you might like it here.”
She runs to me and throws her arms around my neck, squeezing me tight. I give her a kiss and relish the feeling of her body against mine. As I look into her eyes, I still can't believe that this is all really happening. We haven't known each other for very long at all, and already, I can't see my life without her.
The pull I have to her is more powerful than anything I've ever experienced. I'm utterly drawn to Harper. Compelled by her. She burst into my life and turned everything upside down. And the really strange thing is, I like it. I'm usually so controlled and so careful about everything. But Harper encourages me to be more open. To be freer. To be more the man I want to be.
“You might want to get yourself dressed and ready,” I say. “We have an early dinner planned and then I have a surprise for you.”
She arches an eyebrow at me. “A surprise, huh?”
I nod. “Yup.”
“And what is it?” she asks, a flirtatious little smile upon her lips.
“Well, if I told you that, it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it?”
She slaps me playfully on the arm. “You're going to make me wait?”
“That's kind of the point of a surprise,” I say, giving her a devilish little grin.
“Such a brat.”
“That's me.”
She turns and walks into the bathroom and I can hear her ooh'ing and ahh'ing over everything in there. Her awe and wonder about everything is so refreshing – not to mention, that it's altogether adorable.
“Oh, my God! There is a jacuzzi in here!” she squeals.
“We may have to try that out later,” I say.
She leans out of the bathroom and smiles at me. “We could try it out now, baby.”
I glance at my watch. “You're incorrigible,” I say. “Not that I mind it. But we can't be late tonight.”
She sticks out her lower lip, giving me a sad puppy dog look. I just laugh and shake my head.
“Make it up to you later?” I ask.
“You better.”
“I have to go check on the boys,” I say. “I'll be right back.”
“I'll be here,” she calls to me.
I step into the hall and go to the door across the hall and knock. A moment later, Miguel opens up and gives me a smile.
“Not only do I get to ride in a private jet,” he says, “but now I'm staying in the damn Bellagio?”
I shrug. “Nothing but the best for my guys.”
“Obviously,” he laughs. “Thanks, boss.”
“Anytime, Miguel,” I say. “Listen, are you sure you and Jack want to split a room? I mean, I know he's married, but you're not –”
Miguel shakes his head. “It's cool. But thanks,” he says. “We're working.”
“Always the dutiful soldier,” I say.
“Yes, sir,” he replies.
“Listen, that's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about,” I say. “I'm taking her over to Nico's for dinner and I figure that you two can just take the night off. Get out, enjoy a little of the Vegas nightlife.”
“Appreciate the offer, but we're here to do a job,” he says.
“And I appreciate that,” I say. “But I think I'm going to be perfectly safe in the restaurant.”
“That's what they all say right before somebody walks up and puts a bullet in you.”
I laugh. “Thanks for that bone-chilling description.”
He shrugs. “It's my job,” he says.
“No way I'm going to talk you both into going out and getting shitfaced and enjoying a night off, huh? It's on me?”
“You couldn't shake us on the way to the airport,” he says. “You really think we're going to let you out of our sight now?”
I chuckle. “Apparently not,” I say. “Fine then. We're heading down in about an hour. I assume we'll see you at the elevator?”
“Wouldn't miss it for the world.”
“Thanks, Miguel,” I say. “I mean it. You and Jack are – I just appreciate you guys.”
“Remember that when bonus time rolls around,” he laughs.
“I'll do that.”
I turn to go and Miguel's voice stops me.
“Hey, boss,” he says.
I turn back to him. “Yes?”
“For whatever it's worth, I think she's good for you, you know,” he says. “I see a real difference in you when you're around her. A good difference. I think she's good.”
I give him another smile. “I think you're right,” I say. “I feel different around her.”
Miguel gives me a nod. “See you in about an hour.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Harper
“Well, it looks like you got to take me out for a super swanky night out after all,” I say.
“Not every night can be hot dogs off a food truck,” he replies.
The waitress comes over and drops off the bottle of wine Rob ordered – and thankfully, didn't bother to check my ID. I'm not that far off my twenty-first birthday, but I'm far enough that I'm not legally allowed to drink just yet. I guess when you're dressed to the nines and are with a billionaire, people are more willing to let things slide.
Miguel and Jack, Rob's two bodyguards are a table over from us. And even though they look like they're relaxed and at ease, I can tell that they're ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. They're both very nice men, but I would never want to be on the wrong side of them. I'm still not used to having bodyguards shadowing us around everywhere we go, but they're both pretty good at making me forget that they're there. They do a good job of just blending in.
Rob pours us both a glass of wine and sets the bottle down. He picks up his glass and holds it up. I follow suit and we touch our glasses together lightly.
“To us,” he says. “To – whatever this amazing, crazy, insane thing between us is.”
“What you said,” I reply with a laugh. “It's all of those things and more.”
We take a sip of our wine and set our glasses back down, staring into one another's eyes, the candlelight glinting off of his eyes, making them sparkle. I really don't know what this thing between us is. I haven't had time to stop and analyze it, really. I know at some point, I'll probably need to, but for now, I'm happy to just sit back and enjoy the ride – and I get the impression that he's happy to do that as well.
That's not to say that whatever this is between us is fleeting. Or something I think can just be discarded at a moment's notice. Far from it. What I feel for him is taking root, deep within me. When I look at him, I feel that swarm of butterflies in my belly and feel my heart pounding so hard, I'm sure it's leaving bruises on the inside of my chest.
I've never been in love, so I can't say I know exactly what it feels like. But as I look into his eyes from across the table, my heart swells with a feeling so intense and powerful, I feel like I want to cry – in a good way, of course. And I know, without a moment's doubt or hesitation that I'm falling in love with his man.
“You really look beautiful tonight,” he says.
I look down at the dress and scoff. “What, this old thing?”
He laughs of course, because it's one of the dresses Sabrina and I had picked up the other day. It's actually a very similar dress to the blue one I'd worn the other night on the pier – this one is green though.
“You're not looking too bad yourself tonight, you know,” I say.
“I pale in comparison to you,” he says. “As does every other woman in this restaurant. Hell, in this whole city tonight.”
I feel the heat rush to my cheeks and I have to look down at the table. Rob reaches across and puts his fingers under my chin and raises my head, forcing me to look into his eyes.
“You're going to have to get used to me telling you just how beautiful you are, you know,” he says. “Because I plan on telling you at least once a day for however long you'll have me.”
My heart, which had been swelling to cartoonish proportions, suddenly melted all over my insides as I listen to him speak. He always seems to know the right thing to say. Always knows how to make me feel special. Not to mention the way he looks at me – he looks at me like I'm the only woman in the room. Maybe even the only woman in the world. At least, to him.
“You have quite the way with words, Mr. Rossi,” I say.
“Remember, I minored in Comparative Literature,” he says. “I specialized in the romantics.”
I laugh and shake my head. “Well, you are certainly putting that education to good use right about now.”
The waitress comes and we place our orders. I sample foods that I've never heard of, let alone tasted before. And each thing I try is even more amazing than the last. Everything is just so good, I want to keep eating and eating. Eventually though, I'm stuffed to the point I feel like I'm going to burst and have to stop just so I don't die.
We sit back and let our food settle as we talk for a while and finish our bottle of wine. Rob keeps checking his watch, and it's making me curious.
“Do you have another date?” I tease.
He shrugs. “Yeah, would you mind going back to the room with Miguel and Jack and I'll meet up with you later?”
I toss my napkin at him. “You're a monster.”
“That's not the first time I've heard that,” he says and grins. “Actually, we have an appointment and I just need to make sure we're not late.”
“Oh, this mysterious surprise you keep talking about.”
“Indeed.”
“Color me curious.”
He checks his watch one more time. “Well, let's go satisfy that curiosity then, shall we?”
“Yes, please.”
We get up from the table and he drapes my wrap around my shoulders. With Miguel and Jack following behind us, we leave the restaurant and head out onto the bustling streets of Las Vegas.
~ooo000ooo~
We stop at the door of a swanky, hipster looking lounge called Nova's. It actually reminds me a lot of The Grind back in New York – only about three times the size. People are coming and going and the place is packed. It really doesn't strike me as the kind of place Rob would frequent, which only piques my curiosity even more.
“What are we doing here?” I ask.
He gives me a casual shrug. “Just enjoying a nice evening out with the most beautiful woman in the world.”
I cast a skeptical eye at him. “Uh huh,” I say. “What aren't you telling me?”
“Honestly, a lot of things,” he says.
“Oh, that's comforting.”
He laughs. “Would I ever steer you wrong or put you in harm's way?”
I look at him and smile. “Of course not,” I say. “At least, you better not or I'll kick your butt.”
“Trust me,” he says. “We're just here to see a show.”
I look at him, arching an eyebrow. “That's all you had to tell me.”
“That would have ruined the surprise.”
He takes my hand and leads me into the club. The man at the door nods and Rob leans over, whispering something in his ear. The man nods again, this time a little more emphatically and leads us through the maze of tables inside Club Nova. My curiosity is growing by leaps and bounds when we get to a table at the very front of the club. The man takes a small sign marked “reserved” off and seats us.
The interior of the club is dim, but the atmosphere is buzzing and electric. The sound of a hundred hushed conversations hangs over us and when I look at Rob, he's smiling. Our table sits before a stage that's decked out with dozens of candles and is very moody. A microphone sits in front of a chair and sitting beside the chair is a guitar.
But as I look closer, my eyes widen and my heart starts to pound furiously. I shoot a look at Rob who's looking back at me, the smile on his face widening.
“What did you do?” I ask.
He shrugs. “I told you, we're here to see a show.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Club Nova,” the emcee's voice booms over the speakers.
I whip my head up and see the man who'd led us to the table standing onstage, leaning over and speaking into the microphone. The club grows hushed and the air is suddenly filled with anticipation.
“We're lucky enough to have a very special guest with us tonight,” the emcee says. “And she's somebody you should probably get pretty familiar with because I have a feeling we're going to be hearing a lot about and from her very, very soon.”
