Page 49 of Playing with Trouble

“I do like Art Deco,” I said defensively, crossing my arms.

She glanced up at the chandelier, grinning.“Andthatmonstrosity?”

“Looked badass,” I said simply.

Her laugh was soft but genuine.Music to my ears, honestly, and I was glad to hear the sound after everything she’d been through earlier.

“Okay, I admit, this placeisa little… all over the place, like you said.”Her voice was lighter now, a bit of a sparkle in her eyes as she teased me.“But there’s good stuff here.Someone could definitely work with this.”

The truth was, I hadn’t decorated this place to impress anyone.It was a stopgap, a placeholder until I found something real.Until I foundsomeonereal.Someone likeher.

I wasn’t the kind of man who hesitated once he knew what he wanted.And I wanted Violet.But wanting her wasn’t the problem.Convincing her she could trust me,trust us,was going to take time.

While Violet got settled in the guest room, I stepped into the kitchen and called Sutton to give him an update.

He answered on the first ring.“Sutton.”

“It’s Ford,” I said, keeping my voice low and glancing down the hall.“We’ve got a situation.Violet’s house was broken into and vandalized.I’ve already contacted LVPD, filed a report, and got her relocated.”

“Where is she now?”

“With me, at my place,” I said, rubbing a hand along the back of my neck.“She’s safe, but shaken.Whoever hit her place wasn’t trying to be subtle.”

Sutton let out a slow exhale.“Things are clearly escalating so I’ll let the casino know so that they can retain you for a while longer.In the meantime, keep her close and keep me posted.”

“Always do.”

After we hung up, I lingered in the doorway between the kitchen and the hall, hearing Violet’s voice drifting from the guest room.

“I’m fine, Andrea.Really,” she insisted, and in that moment, she did sound surprisingly okay, which was probably for her sister’s benefit so Andrea didn’t worry.“No, I don’t want to come stay with you and Chase.”

A pause, then a sigh.“Yeah, Ford’s here.I’m staying with him for a few days until everything’s sorted.No, it’s not like that,” she added quickly.“He’s just…helping.Doing his job.”

There was a beat of silence, then a soft laugh.“Okay, fine.Whatever.The sex is amazing.Having a bodyguard with benefits is not the worst way to stay safe.”

I held back my chuckle and a few minutes later I heard her calling Christopher to tell him what had happened.Her tone shifted, became gentler and more protective despite the fact that she’d been the one who’d just had her world turned upside down.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she assured him, then listened to him for a moment before replying with, “No, I don’t need you to come over.I’m staying somewhere safe for now, with Ford.”

I stepped back into the kitchen while she finished her conversation with her brother and ordered Thai food, which was delivered a short time later.We ate quietly at the kitchen island.She didn’t say much, just pushed her noodles around with her fork, her appetite gone.Every now and then her gaze flicked to me, quick, cautious, like she was checking to make sure I wasn’t watching her too closely.

I was.Of course I was.I couldn’t help it.I wanted to make sure that now that the adrenaline had worn off, she didn’t start to spiral.That was when it usually hit people, when things slowed down and your brain finally caught up with everything you’d lost…and whatcouldhave happened.

After dinner, I told her to take a long, hot bath in my soaking tub while I cleaned up.She didn’t argue, just nodded and disappeared into the master bedroom.I listened to the faint sound of running water while I stacked our plates in the dishwasher, letting her have a little peace.

When she came back out, the difference in her was subtle, but noticeable.The rigid set of her shoulders had softened.Her hair was damp and loose around her face, her skin still flushed from the heat of the bath.She looked less like the woman who’d walked through the wreckage of her home earlier and more likeherselfagain.Still guarded, still tough, but calmer.

Then I noticed what she was wearing.One of my t-shirts.

It was an old gray one, soft from years of wear.On me, it was nothing special.On her, it looked indecently good.She looked small in it, almost fragile, something Violet never allowed herself to be.And that, more than anything, undid me.Seeing her wrapped in my shirt, standing barefoot in my kitchen like she belonged there…it lit up every protective instinct I had.

Violet caught my stare and tugged at the edge of the shirt self-consciously.“I hope you don’t mind,” she said, shifting on her feet.“I didn’t think to grab anything to sleep in when we were at the store.”

I slowly shook my head.“You can wear whatever you want of mine,” I said, my voice rougher than I intended, which I followed up with a sinful, teasing grin.“Or nothing at all.”

Her eyes flicked up to mine, that spark I loved flashing in them.“You really can’t help yourself, can you?”

“Not with you,” I admitted quietly.