“What a beautiful room,” she gasped as she looked around. The penthouse featured virtually everything a person could imagine. Two stunning marbled bathrooms with deep jetted tubs and separate all-glass showers, a spacious bedroom with an enticing king-size bed, a living room with a glowing fireplace, and a dining area with a table that had seating for their entire party, plus a few extras.
“Yes, I always enjoy my stays here. The hotel and casino that we’re developing will have much of the same. I build only the best,” Rafe said as he took off his jacket.
“Ari, you have thirty minutes to dress. We’re heading out soon,” said Rachel, while appearing through a doorway with a big smile on her face.
“Where is your room?”
“Right next door; the rooms connect. I’ll be right back,” she called as she flew past and went through a doorway that Ari hadn’t even noticed.
The suite was bigger than most people’s homes. Ari was afraid of getting used to a life of such luxury.
“You have a moment to enjoy a glass of champagne and strawberries, don’t you?” Rafe asked as he approached holding a bubbling flute out to her.
With an appreciative smile, Ari accepted the glass and took a sip. She really didn’t like champagne, but she didn’t want to spoil the moment by seeming ungrateful. Walking to the table, she picked up one of the juicy red berries and took a bite, the sweet fruit squirting into her mouth. When she took her next sip of the champagne, its taste had greatly improved.
Maybe that was the trick with the awful stuff. She managed to finish her glass in between bites of berry.
“Thank you,” she said to Rafe before gathering some clothes and walking into her large bathroom. No, it wasn’t quite as nice as Rafe’s — what did she expect? — but, with the marble tile and counters, she wasn’t hurting.
Although Rachel had put her on a time crunch, Ari couldn’t resist taking a quick shower. Her toiletries were already laid out, after all, and it didn’t take her long to wash, dry and dress.
She felt a bit like a princess as she sat on the comfortable bench and applied her makeup in front of the vanity mirror. This was something she’d love to have in her own home someday — a place she could pamper herself in the most comfortable way possible.
But a glance in the cheval mirror made Ari cringe. Lia had insisted that she wear the outfit, but Rafe would have a fit when he saw it. Was Lia trying to infuriate her brother or did the girl just like really short, tight dresses? Either way, Ari didn’t know what was worse — arguing with Lia, or fighting with Rafe.
As she gathered up her courage to open the bathroom doors, she gave herself a pep talk. Tonight was supposed to be all about fun — something she hadn’t had enough of lately.
*****
“Are you sure you ladies wouldn’t like to have us along for protection?”
“If we wanted bodyguards, we’d hire some of the sexy men advertising themselves on all these nice billboards, Shane.”
“Ouch! That wounds me deeply, Lia.”
“I think you’re just pretending to be worried about us, but deep down, even a man as manly-man such as yourself, is dying to see La Rêve. I’m sure we’ll be safe among the other ten thousand people out walking on this stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard,” Rachel mocked.
“I’m not dissing your dancing show, but I’ll take the Ultimate Fighting Championship fight card that’s on this weekend any day over a chick concert, even if it is at a nice venue.”
“Oh, you macho, macho man. How could we have been so wrong about you?” Lia said as the door opened.
Rafe was trying hard to tune out the bantering between his little sisters and Shane while he waited for Ari to appear. He wished that the three of them would leave so he could show Ari what happened to little teases. Her act on the jet deserved to be…rewarded.
He couldn’t even pretend he hadn’t liked it. He’d been ready to throw her on his bed and sink deep inside her, but he wanted more than that. Her growing confidence was like fuel to a fire. He wanted to take her so hard, she wouldn’t be able to sit down for a week.
“Are you kidding me?”
Everyone in the room had stopped talking and turned in his direction before Rafe realized he’d spoken the words out loud. At what must have been a furious expression on his face, Ari had the nerve to smirk at him before sending a wink his way and then swaying her h*ps as she walked up to Lia and Rachel.
“Is there a problem, Rafe?” the minx asked innocently.
Hell yes, there was a problem. Her dress was indecently short and hugging her in all his favorite places, and with her hair tied back in an elegant knot, the smooth lines of her neck screamed its own come-on to half of the world. Rafe knew that every single — and married — man who came within twenty feet of her would be picturing himself in the most X-rated positions known to man — and those images were for him alone.
“Don’t you think you’re dressed a bit inappropriately for a nice show?”
As his sisters gasped in outrage and disbelief, Rafe knew he’d said the wrong thing. He’d never win this battle. Even if Ari gave in and decided to cover herself up, his sisters would drag her from the room first. Rafe really hated it when women banded together. They were more impenetrable that way than the freaking Great Wall of China.
“On that note, we’ll be leaving now, you egotistical a-hole,” Rachel said as she took Ari’s arm and pulled her from the room.
Rafe thought about chasing after her, but then he saw Shane’s face and sent a withering look his way before walking to the wet bar and pouring himself a double shot.
“You know, you were the object of their fury first,” Rafe reminded him. Shane’s laughter spilled out and Rafe had to admit the humor of the situation.
“Damn, Rafe. With you around, I look like a superhero. I think we need to start double-dating again like we did back in the day. You play bad cop, because you’ve got the role down pat. I’ll swoop in and save the poor damsels.”
“And how does that help me?”
Oh, I was just thinking of myself, but I guess there are some women out there who like ass**les.”
If Rafe hadn’t known his friend so well, he might have been tempted to slug him, but even though Shane was wearing a deadpan expression as he spoke, the twinkle in his eyes gave him away.
“I need to get out of this room,” Shane said. “Let’s go play cards.”