Chapter 3
Torch
“What you got for me, Deuce?” I step off the elevator right into the noise. The hum of the casino floor swallows me whole, and I have to plug my other ear so I can hear him through my phone.
“Limo’s pulling in now.”
That means the brat has arrived.
My feet stop mid-step, feeling the excitement drain from the room.
The lights, the clinking sounds of the slot machines, all of it goes dull as I think of having to entertain Hemsworth’s daughter for the next three days.
Good news is that once she’s settled in her room, I’ve got her booked for a one-hour full-body massage.
Then after that, I’m hoping she’ll be too exhausted from her travels and will want to call it an early night.
I’ll even suggest room service and bribe her with the fanciest caviar that exists.
How anyone eats that shit I will never understand.
“Alright, I’m heading out to get her.”
“Just make sure she stays out of the way, Torch. I can’t have her messing up this deal.”
Yeah, yeah. I know. He doesn’t have to remind me.
He can go carry on with that little escort he booked himself for the weekend.
He claims he didn’t want to be the third wheel when dining and entertaining Hemsworth this weekend, but I know my brother better than that. That girl he chose is just his type.
“Doesn’t he want to see Evian at some point?” I ask, moving through the crowd. I’d assume he’d want to share meals with her or something.
“I’ll text you if he does. He’s currently tied up with Portia at the moment. Literally, if you catch my drift.”
So, Hemsworth is a kinky fuck. That doesn’t surprise me. The rich ones always seem to be the freakiest. What is a surprise though is the fact that his only daughter is coming to town and he’s not first in line to greet her.
“I’ll keep the girl out of his way until you tell me otherwise.”
“Thanks, brother.”
Yep, he’ll be thanking me alright. He’ll be owing me one hell of a favor for this one.
I move through the crowd, my boots tapping louder on the marbled floor as I head for the VIP entrance.
The bouncers nod as I approach, and I give them each a fist bump, bracing myself before I walk through the doors.
The limo’s coming to a stop right as I step foot in the dry heat.
It’s just three days. If I can take down the strongest men in the ring, I can handle anything.
The driver gets out and instantly rolls his eyes, shaking his head as he walks around the vehicle to open up the back door. Fuck. It looks like the girl was giving him grief, and now it’s my turn to deal with her.
He opens the door and turns his annoyed expression into a smile as he holds out his hand.
“Miss Hemsworth.”
A pair of checkered sneakers land down on the pavement, instantly catching me by surprise.
I thought the girl would show up in a pair of stilettos—the kind that cost more than my Harley.
My eyes scan upward, taking in every inch of her toned, tanned legs as she steps out.
Sliding up her calves, her thighs, up to the fringe of her denim cutoffs.
Curving my way up her hips. Along the ribs of her light pink tank top.
All the way up her tight stomach to the round curve of her neckline which is showing off her small breasts.
My attention gets caught on a little butterfly tattoo etched on her right collarbone.
Light pink just like her shirt. She must favor the color.
Most princesses do.
Although, I wouldn’t expect a billionaire heiress to have any tattoos, let alone one where everyone can see it.
I keep traveling upward. Her long auburn locks are layered in waves, giving her a retro vibe. Like she walked out of a centerfold from the seventies.
Fuck me.
Those eyes.
Green radiant eyes sparkling under the Nevada sun, bringing life to this dry desert.
And those little freckles peppered across her cheeks and over her little nose… She’s fucking gorgeous.
And not at all what I expected.
She reminds me of a skater chick. And what’s that in her hand? A book. That’s a shock too. I would’ve expected a tabloid magazine so she could stay up to date on the latest fashion trends and all the celebrity gossip.
Most Haunted Places in Vegas
She’s into ghosts? Maybe this weekend isn’t going to be so bad, after all. I could definitely get down with a ghost tour.
“Thank you, Thomas.” She smiles sweetly at the driver, giving him a hug and catching him off guard.
That voice…
It’s soft and pretty without an ounce of whininess to it.
She’s a fucking anomaly.
“Anything for you, Miss Hemsworth.” He returns the kind smile, looking sincere as he says it. Maybe there was another reason for his initial reaction. He could’ve encountered some bad drivers on his way here.
“Hell yeah!” comes a shout from inside the limo, right before a guy climbs out, nearly knocking the girl and her driver over with his huge frame. “Welcome to Vegas, baby!” He throws his hands up, punching the air.
Who the fuck is he? Her bodyguard?
The guy’s dressed in a pink flamingo button-down and surf shorts. If he’s the one on her security detail, I may be suggesting she gets a new bodyguard. She needs someone fierce and intimidating. This guy looks like Tweedledum.
“Your dad sure knows how to pick ‘em, babe!”
Babe?
He slides his hands around her waist, and my jaw clenches tight—so does the driver’s.
This is why he was annoyed. It’s this guy who has him rolling his eyes as he shakes his head.
No one told me she was bringing a boyfriend with her. No one mentioned anything about their being a third wheel cramping my style.
“Let’s go hit the poker table, baby.”
She tugs out of his arms and smiles again at the driver before she turns back to the power nugget with the oversized biceps and oversized front teeth.
What on earth is a girl like her doing with someone like him in the first place? She’s a million times out of his league.
“I don’t want you gambling all your money away, Caleb. These places are rigged. The house always wins.”
And she’s smart too. Another unexpected trait.
“Don’t worry, babe. We’re going to be gambling your dad’s money, not mine.”
My entire body stiffens, wanting to walk over and punch the loser in the face. Who the fuck says shit like that? It’s obvious he’s after her money. And it’s obvious by the look on her face and the way her body has tensed, that she’s not comfortable with his remark either.
Change of plan. This weekend, I’m no longer just on babysitting duty. I’m on a mission to convince this girl to get rid of the loser. She deserves way better than a tool like him. Looks alone, he shouldn’t even be a contender.
She ignores his comment and turns, and I swear the earth’s poles collide as our eyes meet.
Head-on…full-impact…heart-pounding collision.
Her lips part and she sucks in a breath of air, almost a gasp, nearly a moan, and my lungs constrict.
Those green eyes travel slowly, taking in every inch of my frame, her cheeks blushing brighter with every passing second.
My system is in overdrive, the adrenaline pumping through my veins, blood pumping through my shaft.
My heart rate is growing erratic as her teeth sink down into her pink lip.
I step forward, holding out my sweaty palm. Never having had a full body reaction to a girl in my life. Even my throat is struggling to clear.
“Evian Hemsworth?” I get the words past my lips, trying to hold my deep voice steady.
“It’s… um…” Her eyes blink up at me as her cheeks blush even brighter. “It’s just Evie. Evian sounds so snooty.”
I fight the urge not to tug her right into my arms and kiss the hell out of those pretty lips. She’s an anomaly indeed.
“Name’s Torch,” I state, causing a shiver to rock through her shoulders, making me want to wrap my arms around her and chase away the chill.
“Who the fuck are you?”
She’s suddenly yanked away from me, her hand slipping out of my hold as the meathead pulls her to his side. I look over, pinning him under the anger that’s surging in my veins.
“I’m Torch. The one who’s going to be showing you around this weekend.”
“We don’t need a fucking tour guide,” he grits. “You can run along now.”
The thought of me slamming him in the nose, then pummeling down on his smug face comes to mind, but I can’t fuck up this deal with Hemsworth. If he gets wind that I beat the shit out of his daughter’s boyfriend, he might walk away now.
“Don’t be rude, Caleb.” The pretty girl elbows him in the side.
“Did my father hire you?” She moves in closer to me, still unblinking as she looks into my eyes.
My nerves settle under her stare, and I start to breathe steady.
The need to kill the loser starts to recede, and I’m able to rein in the madness.
“No, doll. I’m one of the owners of this place.
” I point the fucker with a look, one that promises he’s going to pay for his disrespect.
Much to his detriment, he doesn’t back down.
The kid is dense. But he’s not the one I’m concerned about.
He won’t be sticking around for long. By the time these three days are up, he’ll be out of the picture.
I return my attention back to the princess. “We want to make sure you enjoy your stay and that you get to experience the best of Vegas. So, I’ve planned a few things for the weekend. Now, shall we take you in and get you settled in your room?”
“Um…” She swallows hard. “Yes, thank you.”
That voice floats over me, and I almost can’t find my footing as I turn, signaling to the bellhop to grab their bags.
Surprisingly, they only have two. I would’ve expected a bag for her shoes, another for her purses, one for her swim attire, and one for everything else.
But she only brought one and it’s the size of a carryon.
The girl isn’t fitting the stereotype at all.
Her sweet politeness isn’t at all what I expected.
But the boyfriend… you’d think he was the one in line for Hemsworth’s throne.
He’s acting like an arrogant prick, telling Baron not to lose his bag or else he’ll lose his job.
What kind of establishment does he think we’re running here?
And who does he think he is speaking to my employees like that?
I give Baron a look, knowing that I’ll be tipping him double for the rude remark he just endured. Evie turns and gives him an apologetic look too, and I swear the old man falls in love with her on the spot. Makes two of us.