Slow Burn: A Colorado High Country Novel (15 page)

Joe’s brows came together in a frown, his head nodding furiously up and down. His gaze met Victoria’s. “Fantastic. Rico, man, what do you think?”

Rico had sauce on the corners of his mouth. “Best pizza I’ve ever had, boss.”

The relief and happiness on Victoria’s face made Eric smile.

She turned to him. “What do you think?”

He took a bite, the tang and spice exploding across his tongue, the thick crust both chewy and crisp. “Wow.”

That’s all he could manage before a second bite found its way onto his fork and into his mouth and then a third and a fourth.

Joe laughed. “I think he likes it.”

Taylor turned to Lexi, spoke with his mouth full. “Now I understand why you complain so much.”

A horrified look came over Lexi’s face, her gaze darting to Rico and then Joe. “I do
not
complain.”

“Yes, you do,” Eric and Taylor said at the same time.

“It’s okay, Lexi,” Joe said, a smile somewhere beneath his beard. “You’re getting married in a couple of days, so I’ll let you off the hook. Also, you’re right. This is a lot better than what we serve. I’m not sure you can even compare the two. Victoria, thanks for taking the time this morning. It’s settled. Your meals and drinks are on the house for the rest of your stay in Scarlet. If you ever need a job…”

Everyone laughed.

“Hey, I’m not kidding.”

The smile on Victoria’s face seemed to light up the world. “Thanks, Joe.”

While Joe and Rico started strategizing with Victoria about how they could add Victoria’s recipe to the menu, everyone else feasted, until there was only one slice left.

“Who gets the pig slice?” Eric asked, tempted to take it himself.

Victoria’s head whipped around. “Can we please save it for Bear?”

Her kindness hit Eric right in the chest. “Sure. Great idea.”

Taylor leaned in and spoke for Eric’s ears only. “I hear she’s not going with us to Central City tonight. I don’t like leaving her behind.”

“She has her reasons.” Eric hoped he could change her mind.

* * *

V
ic sat
on a bench in an aspen glade behind the inn, Lexi beside her, a nervous knot in her stomach.

“It’s going to be okay. Austin is not going to blame you or think you’re a slut.”

“Are you sure?”

Lexi laid her hand on Vic’s arm. “I know him better than anyone. Yes, I’m sure. Not everyone is as big of a jerk as James or your dad.”

That much was true.

They’d been on their way out of Knockers when Eric had asked Vic to change her mind and come with them to Central City.

Austin had piled on. “If it has anything to do with that guy in Buena Vista, just know that casinos have state-of-the-art security. Nothing will happen to you there. Besides, didn’t we have your back last time?”

She’d agreed to go if—and only
if
—Austin still wanted her to come along once he knew the truth. But she didn’t have it in her to tell the story again, so Eric had volunteered. Now, he stood in the driveway, telling Austin about the most horrible experience of her life. She couldn’t see them, which was a good thing because she’d be trying to analyze Austin’s facial expressions and body language and feeling terribly self-conscious.

Lexi lowered her voice. “We’re finally by ourselves. What’s going on between you and Eric? I’ve been
dying
to hear.”

Vic opened her mouth to tell Lexi that she had no idea what was going on between them apart from amazing, mind-blowing sex just as Eric and Austin walked around the side of the house headed their way. “That was fast.”

Austin’s gaze caught hers, and she could see he was angry.

Her pulse skipped, a little trill of fear sliding through her.

He sat down beside her. “I am so sorry about the things that bastard did to you. He’s lucky he’s locked up where Hawke and I can’t get to him. I swear by everything holy that if anyone bothers you tonight, Hawke and I will make him eat his own balls. I’ll understand if you still don’t want to go, but the best revenge is to enjoy your life again while that sack of shit rots in prison.”

Tears welled up in Vic’s eyes. “And you won’t be embarrassed if something like what happened at the gas station happens again?”

Austin shook his head. “How some asshole behaves can only embarrass him.”

Vic smiled, wiped her tears away. “Lexi picked a good guy.”

Eric knelt down in front of her, sunglasses hiding his eyes. “Does that mean you’re coming with us, city girl?”

Vic nodded. “Yes.”

And just then, a wonderful, wild, and crazy idea came to her.

Oh, this was going to be fun.

E
ric drove
from his cabin to the inn, fidgeting with his damned bow tie. He knew he hadn’t gotten it right, but then he’d never worn a bow tie before. He was into jeans and T-shirts, not Ralph Lauren. But if Lexi and Austin wanted to play
Casino Royale
and blow a bunch of money on food, booze, and gaming, he would dress up and go with them—and he wouldn’t complain.

He pulled into the inn’s long driveway, parking in the area reserved for family and friends, double checking to make sure the condom case was in his trouser pocket. Rose and Kendra sat together at a table on the back porch, the two of them bent over Rose’s tarot cards, a bottle of wine and two glasses sitting between them. They stopped talking when they saw him, smiles on their faces.

Rose wolf-whistled at him. “Victoria won’t be able to resist you.”

“Don’t you look pretty?” Kendra teased.

Bob opened the back door, rubbing a hand over his bare, hairy chest, a beer mug in his hand. “I thought the wedding was Saturday. Should I get dressed?”

“Hey, Bob.”

Bob pointed with his thumb. “They’re all waiting by the guest elevator.”

Eric walked through the house and out the door that led to the main entrance hall, and stared. “Damn. You lot clean up nice. Moretti, I almost don’t recognize you. Lexi, Britta, Win—you look gorgeous.”

Lexi was living up to her nickname—Sexy Lexi—her red hair in a fancy updo, her body sheathed in a short, silky dress of white with silver beading. Britta wore a dress of shimmering purple, her hair swept up in a twist, while Winona looked amazing in a long spaghetti strap dress of dark green satin, her shoulder-length dark hair pulled into a stylishly messy bun. But something was wrong.

Eric looked down at himself, then at Taylor, Moretti, and Belcourt. “Why is my tuxedo jacket white and yours are black? I’m not the bride.”

“Thank God.” Austin shrugged. “Some kind of mix-up, I guess.”

“Where’s Victoria?”

“She texted to say she’ll be down in a minute,” Lexi said.

Eric made his way over to Taylor and gave him an update, keeping his voice low. “I called the head of security at the casino and explained our concerns. He told me that any man who accosted her would be escorted out. We’re supposed to check in when we get there. I’d like to do it without Vicki knowing.”

Austin arched a brow. “So it’s Vicki now?”

Belcourt walked over. “Is Victoria in some kind of trouble? Does she have a stalker or something?”

Shit.
He’d overheard.

“Or something,” Eric answered.

But Moretti had heard Belcourt. “Vic has a stalker?”

“What about Vic?” Britta asked.

Lexi glared at Eric and Taylor. “Don’t say anything, okay? Just watch out for her. After what happened in Buena Vista, she wasn’t going to come tonight, but Eric and Austin changed her mind.”

Moretti’s gaze went hard. “Any man who tries to fuck with her is going to have to go through us.”

Winona looked out the window. “The limo’s here. Wow. It’s huge.”

Then the elevator car began to move, heading up.

For some reason, Lexi looked over at Eric, a little smile on her lips.

“Do you know something I don’t?” he asked.

She got a wide-eyed, innocent look. “Me?”

The elevator was moving again, coming down this time. It reached the ground floor, the doors sliding open with a
ding
.

Victoria stepped out.

Eric’s heart knocked against his breastbone, and he stared. “
Jesus
.”

She was wearing it,
that
dress—the tiny black one he’d seen in her closet—and damned if she didn’t look good enough to eat.

“Wow.” That was Moretti.

From behind him, he heard Belcourt. “Hoka hey.”

The dress wasn’t low cut, and it wasn’t any shorter than Lexi’s or Britta’s. It even had long sleeves. It just wasn’t really
there
.

Made of whisper-light translucent fabric scattered with black beading, it looked as if it were painted on, a sheer, shimmering second skin. He could see her belly button, the curve of her hips, the dark line of her cleavage. The beading was dense enough over her breasts and those lovely female parts between her legs to conceal them from view, but his mind was happy to fill in the blanks.

“You are beautiful.” He held out a hand to her.

“Thanks. You look pretty amazing yourself.”

It was only then he noticed the loose curls in her hair, the strappy three-inch heels on her feet, and the vulnerability in her eyes.

“That looks so good on you. I love it!” Lexi motioned with her finger for Victoria to turn around. “I want to see the back.”

Victoria did a slow turn, and Eric felt the ground shift beneath his feet. The back was very low cut, exposing silky skin, thick beading hiding her amazing ass.

God in heaven.

She frowned at him. “What’s wrong with your tie?”

Eric had forgotten he was even wearing a tie. “I’m not very good with these.”

“I emailed instructions,” Lexi said.

“Obviously, I didn’t read them.”

While Victoria re-tied Eric’s tie, the others walked out to the limo. “I thought firemen were supposed to be good with knots.”

“I’m better with hoses.”

“Is that supposed to be sexy?” She pretended his lame joke hadn’t
almost
made her laugh, a smile tugging at her glossy lips.

He shrugged. “Those hoses are big and hard and tough to handle.”

“Speaking of tough to handle, I want to show you something.” She stepped out of the view of the open door, Eric helpless to do anything but follow.

Then she lifted the gown to reveal …

No panties.

“Holy shit.” The breath left his lungs, blood rushing straight to his groin.

How in God’s name was he supposed to survive the next few hours?

* * *

A
ustin raised
his champagne glass as the limousine started to roll. “To good friends and good times.”

Most of the time when people made toasts, the words just felt like a formality, but Vic felt these words in her heart. “Good friends and good times!”

She was so lucky to be here, to be a part of this, the darkness of months of fear and isolation fading a little more each day. Austin was right. She needed to live her life to the fullest and forget about that bastard. She couldn’t let what he’d done to her steal her happiness any longer.

She sipped the champagne, the bright taste and bubbles making her smile.

“How does the champagne rate, city girl?”

“Mmm. It’s wonderful.” It wasn’t comparable to a true champagne from Reims, France, but it was still tasty.

They sipped champagne, talking and joking with one another, Vic only too aware of the beautiful man who sat beside her, holding her hand, his thumb caressing her knuckles. He looked like a movie star, the bright white of his tuxedo jacket a delicious contrast to his tanned skin and dark hair. He even smelled good, something dark and spicy mixing with the clean scent of his skin and driving her crazy.

She squirmed in her seat, an ache between her thighs that wouldn’t go away. If only they’d had ten minutes alone together before it had been time to go. The heat in his eyes when he’d seen she wasn’t wearing panties had aroused her so much she’d wanted to fuck him right there.

The idea to go all out on the hair and leave off her panties had come to her the moment she’d decided to go. She’d felt almost giddy getting dressed, excited by the idea of surprising him. This was something that the old Victoria, the pre-Stewart Victoria, might have done. The look on his face when she’d stepped out of the elevator had made it more than worth the effort, but the real payoff would come tonight.

She couldn’t wait.

They followed a winding two-lane highway through the mountains, the breathtaking scenery offering some distraction from her hormones. “You never run out of beauty in this state, do you?”

He kissed her temple. “Not when you’re around.”

After what must have been a half-hour drive, they arrived at a little town that looked like it had escaped from the set of a Hollywood western. Historic buildings with false fronts stood along narrow, winding streets, interspersed with buildings of rough-cut, quarried stone.

“There’s the Central City Opera House.” Lexi pointed out the window. “And that’s the Teller House, famous for the Face on the Barroom Floor.”

“Face on the Barroom Floor?”

“A guy painted a woman’s face on the barroom floor.” Eric shrugged. “That’s it.”

“Oh.” It sounded kind of cool, really.

A few minutes later, the limousine pulled up in front of the Grand Palace Casino. Though it was obvious the place had been built relatively recently, the architect had tried to make it blend in with the rest of the town, an old-fashioned façade sitting in front of a newish five-story brick building.

The driver opened the door, and one by one they climbed out, Eric and Vic last.

Eric whispered in her ear. “Try not to flash anyone—except me.”

She took advantage of the moment alone with him to lift her dress once more, her legs slightly spread this time. “That’s all you get till we’re home.”

His brows drew together, and he gave a pained little moan. “You are cruel.”

They followed the others inside, Eric’s hand resting on the small of her back.

The interior was more opulent than Vic had imagined, with wooden parquet floors, luxurious oriental carpets, a grand staircase with polished wooden balustrades, crystal chandeliers, colorful stained glass windows, brass fixtures, and antique-looking furniture upholstered in deep red velvet brocades.

They all “oooed” and “ahhhed” about the place, except for Moretti.

“Paid for by people who don’t understand the laws of probability,” he said.

“I’m going to run to the restroom,” Eric said to Austin.

Austin gave him a nod, then walked up to the front desk, where two men in black tuxedos welcomed them. “I’m—”

Vic cut him off. “I’m Victoria Woodley. The Taylor-Jewell party is here. We’ve got a reservation for eight in the VIP Club.”

“Yes, Ms. Woodley. Right this way.”

Lexi and Austin gaped at her.

She smiled. “This is my treat. It’s part of my wedding gift to you. Just enjoy yourselves tonight. I’ve taken care of everything.”

She would have paid by phone if she hadn’t come with them, but she was glad she had changed her mind. Now she could enjoy their reactions.

She started to follow their host, but Austin caught her arm and drew her aside. “The VIP Club? Are you serious? The deposit for that is
huge
.”

“This is so sweet of you, Vic, but we can’t let you do this.”

“It’s already done. Besides, it’s not that much.” She took Lexi’s hand. “You’re my best friend, the only person who has stuck by me through thick and thin. Let me do this for you. You know I can afford it.”

Lexi got tears in her eyes. “You are the best friend ever.”

“Stop that before you ruin your mascara. Besides,
you
are the best friend ever.”

And so the matter was settled.

Eric caught up with her just as they reached a beautiful elevator with polished brass panels on the doors. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Are you kidding me? The VIP Club? Those two must have spent a fortune on this. Jesus!”

“It’s exciting, isn’t it?”

* * *

E
ric held
Victoria’s hand as they walked with Taylor and Lexi toward the blackjack tables. Moretti was locked in a grudge match with the slot machines, while Winona and Belcourt were playing poker, Britta watching over Belcourt’s shoulder.

“Every man in this room is looking at Lexi and Vic,” Austin said to Eric in a quiet voice. “They’ve been staring all night.”

“Can’t say I blame them.” As long as they kept a respectful distance and didn’t make the women uncomfortable, Eric wouldn’t have to punch anyone.

Lexi giggled. “You’re just imagining it.”

No, they weren’t.

Taylor wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “You’re tipsy.”

Hell, they were all buzzed. They’d had wine with their prime rib dinner, the men topping that off with cognac. Now the champagne flowed freely.