Home Is Where the Heat Is (30 page)

Not for Claire, not for anyone.

***

Why am I leaving?
Something he’d said.

What can I give…?

No, JT had spoiled and pampered her, fed her needs and nourished her desires. He’d enabled her, and she’d consumed it all like an addict desperate for a fix.
So why walk out on him?

Claire dropped her bags with the concierge, and gazed into the crowded lobby. Could she go back? And then what? She’d screwed herself the moment she stepped on the elevator.

“Can I call a cab for you, miss?” The valet smiled and waited for her reply.

“Um….” How would she pay for it? She could put it on her credit card, but covering the extra expense of dinner had nearly maxed out her limit. She wouldn’t get paid until next Friday, and all the spending money she’d brought along had been gambled away or spent on frivolous things. “No, I’m waiting for a ride.”

Now what?
She quickly searched travel sites on her phone, but any kind of ticket home exceeded her budget: air, train, even the bus. She’d have to call someone and borrow money or beg for a ride.
But who?

Kurt had given her his cell phone number last week, and told her to call him if she needed anything. How did he define ‘anything’? Irrelevant. He’d do it, but—
my God
—she couldn’t ask him. Seeing him Monday would be awkward enough without that added embarrassment.

Alex?
No, he’d ask too many questions, and she always cracked under his cross-examination. She scrolled through her contacts and came to the bottom of the alphabetical list.

Will.

Noooo… maybe? He’d never promised her anything, but since he’d resolved his feelings for Talia, his heart had grown bigger. He’d become a victim’s advocate, fighting for justice with a passion that ran deep.

I’m not a victim.
But as tears stung her eyes and her throat swelled up, she could think of no other option. She pressed the button. “Please answer.”

Three rings. “Hello?” His sleepy voice barely reached her ears.

“I need help.”

“Claire?” His muffled tone cleared instantly. “Where are you?”

“I’m stranded in Las Vegas. I can’t get home.”

“How did that happen?”

She heard noise in the background as if he was fumbling to get dressed. “It’s a long story. I just wanted to know if I could borrow some money, or if you know of someone who could lend me enough to—”

“I’ll come get you.”

“What? No. That’s too far to drive, and I can’t pay for gas.”

“Don’t worry about it. Where can I find you?”

“I’m at Caesar’s Palace. I’ll have to wait in the casino.”

“Okay. I’ll call you when I get there.”

“No, Will, it’s too far.”

“Don’t argue with me.”

“Please don’t tell Alex.”

“Why?”

“It’s too embarrassing.” Not to mention unethical. “I’ll explain it to him on Monday.”

“All right. Find someplace safe to wait. I’m on my way.”

The phone clicked off, and she pictured him scrambling for his truck. She collected her belongings and wandered back into the casino, scanning the surroundings for a seat to plant her broke ass in.

Someplace safe? Doubtful.

She choose a stool at the bar with a clear line of sight to the front door. The bartender threatened to make her move on unless she ordered something, so she bought a yard long margarita she was sure would get her credit card declined, but the charge went through, and she nursed the drink all night long, keeping an eye on the lobby in case JT decided to pursue her.

He didn’t.

Chapter 24

JT sat in the cockpit doing a second final pre-flight check while waiting for clearance to take off. He’d slept little and didn’t trust his instruments or his instincts this morning.

“Cessna 455, you’re headed for Denver, right?” The controller’s voice crackled through his headset.

“Yes.”

A snicker broke through. “You’re cleared, but don’t forget to make a big one-eighty. Denver is east, not west. You’re on the wrong runway.”

“Roger.” He switched off the intercom. “Fuck you.” Second fuckup of the day. He’d gotten out of the shower without rinsing the shampoo out of his hair and hadn’t noticed until he rubbed the towel on his head. Simple tasks, but apparently he couldn’t do anything right.

He taxied down the runway and made the turn, trying to focus on flying, but failing. Claire had told him not to come after her, so he hadn’t, but he’d lain awake half the night wondering if he’d made the right choice.

Should he go find her, or should he stay and wait to see if she came back?

He’d gotten up twice, made it all the way to the elevator the second time, before caving and going back to the empty bedroom, cursing himself for his indecision.

Why did she leave? Splurging on a high-roller suite couldn’t have been a deal-breaker. She’d spent all day blowing her money, and he’d gone along for the ride, but when he did the same…
poof
… she’d left.

When the sun came up, he’d crawled out of bed and attempted to shower, gathered his belongings and stuck her ruby in his chest pocket beside his lucky arrowhead. After checking out, he’d searched the lobby, the casino, the restaurants, and even the dance club for her. Nothing. She’d either found a way home or had done an excellent job hiding from him. She could’ve been anywhere in the city, and he had no idea where to start looking.

He’d called the police and intended to report her missing, but the officer snidely informed him that a breakup did not demand help from them. No,
that
had been his second fuckup.

Shit, I can’t keep track.

JT called a cab and waited at the concierge stand. He’d sent her a text message:
‘Just tell me that you’re safe.’

Half an hour later her reply came in:
‘I am.’
Finally something going right.

He radioed the tower in Denver and requested permission to land. The empty passenger seat caught his eye, mocking him.
You’re not good enough for her. You went over the top to impress her and she rejected you. Give up now before you make a bigger fool of yourself.

Ugh. Why had he heard that in his mother’s voice?

The landing gear touched down without a hitch, and he pulled into the hangar a few minutes later. He unloaded his bags and tossed them in his truck, and as he started the engine, a nagging question circled his brain.
Give up or go after her?

“Fuck me with another Goddamn choice I can’t make.”

***

Don’t come after me.
Why did I tell him that?
Yet another unanswered question joined the ‘why did I leave’ dilemma bombarding Claire while she sat strapped in Will’s truck.

She closed her eyes and rubbed her fingers over her pounding forehead.

Will signaled and changed lanes. “So how did you meet this guy?”

She scowled and snapped at him. “Why is that always the first question everyone asks?” She couldn’t tell that story even if she wanted to.

“Sorry.” He passed the overloaded moving van and settled into the right lane, then cast a sideways glance at her. “How’d you get stranded at Caesar’s?”

She suspected he’d been dying to ask that since he found her sipping the watered-down margarita. The drink could’ve impaired her memory, but the events made no sense to begin with. “Honestly, I have no idea.”

“Well, let’s reconstruct.”

Great. Will-the-detective showed up.

He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “You flew into Vegas Friday afternoon. Did he buy your ticket?”

She shook her head. “No, he’s a pilot, has his own plane.” At least
he
wouldn’t be stranded. The suite upgrade had probably drained his finances. She remembered something about Ramen noodles….

“Impressive.” He acknowledged the fact with a slight nod. “You checked into Caesar’s. Nice room?”

The first room had been perfect—plenty of space for their recreational activities, and the bedroom window made a great mirror/stage. Why did he have to change it?

“A small suite. I liked it.” Kurt had enjoyed it, too.

“Finally a smile.” He stroked her stiff shoulder. “Did you go gambling?”

A yes or no question. Amateur move. “Yes.” She clamped her lips together.

“Win or lose? How much?”

Now he wants details.
“I won over ten thousand dollars playing Roulette.” She decided not to mention the other bet she’d won.

A low whistle slipped through his teeth. “What happened to the money?”

The weak alcohol churned in her otherwise empty stomach. She shouldn’t have been hungry after all she’d consumed in the last twenty-four hours, but she still craved something—not necessarily food. “I spent it
all
.”

“How did he feel about that?”

She hadn’t thought about it, but as she reflected on her spending spree, images of JT’s indulgent grin flooded her brain. “He loved it, encouraged me all the way.”

“Uh-huh.” Will scratched his stubbled chin. “Did you buy something for him?”

She smiled as the best memory came to life. “I gave him a really cool watch. Black leather cuff, diamonds on the face. You’d like it.”

“He liked it?”

He’d resisted at first, but she remembered seeing it strapped to his wrist while they fought. “Yes.”

Will’s eyebrows drew together and he cast a stern glance at her, commanding her to think. “Did he ask you for anything else? More gifts, dinner, show tickets, gas for the plane?”

JT had said nothing when she told him she wanted to spoil him. Except for the watch, she’d spent most of the money on herself or both of them. She’d required little prompting. “No, it was all my idea. I bought what I wanted.”

“Or did he lead you to believe you wanted it?”

She’d seen this coming, and had considered the possibility since Will started the line of questioning. “JT isn’t a con artist. He’s a good guy with a naughty streak a mile wide.”
Don’t volunteer information!

A sly grin crept across his face. “What do you mean by naughty?”

She crossed her arms over her chest and stared straight ahead. “I’m invoking my right to remain silent.”

“That only works if I arrest you.” He laughed, then got serious. “Did he make you do something you were uncomfortable with?”

Not at all. In fact, JT had been encouraging her threesome fantasy since they’d first met. She’d seen that too, and she’d played along, not really believing it would happen but still hoping. “Let’s just say he let me live out my fantasies, and loved it when I did.”

“Sounds like a great guy.” His stern face relaxed and he gazed at her as if searching for the last piece of the puzzle. “What happened to make you leave him?”

She’d braced herself for that question, but it still stung. “That’s what I can’t figure out.”

He checked his blind spot and slid into the left lane. “What were you doing in the moments before you walked out?”

“Arguing.”
Duh.

“About?”

That’s where things get confusing.
She knew exactly what had upset her, but JT’s response made no sense. He seemed to be having another argument, one that didn’t entirely involve her. So she told Will what she knew for certain. “He upgraded our room to a penthouse suite. I accused him of going overboard.”

He bit back a laugh. “Wow. That’s a capital offense, darlin’.”

“Bite me.”

He stepped on the gas and accelerated past the semi-truck. “You realize you’re guilty of the same crime, right?”

Bite me harder.
“What’s your point?”

Will glanced at the rearview mirror. “I can’t blame the guy for spoiling you. And I think you don’t either.”

Claire chewed her lip.
Is this my fault?

He reset the cruise control and shot a pointed glance at her. “You’re feeling guilty because you overindulged in shopping, eating, and God only knows what you two did in the bedroom.”

Us three.
“Oh, you’re the one to talk about sex antics.”

“And you deflected it on him.”

“Did not.”

He cocked that sexy left eyebrow. “I’m not wrong.”

Cheese and crackers. Does
he have to gloat?
“Arrogant bastard.”

“I’ve been hanging around Alex too much.” He chuckled, reaching over to rub her stiff shoulder. “And it kinda sounds like JR adores you.”

“JT.” Will had told her she needed that kind of man. “He does… in his own way.”

“How is that?”

“The wrong way.” Their very meeting had been illegal. “He likes to break rules, push boundaries. Actually, he likes it when I break rules and push boundaries.”

“Do you like it?”

A smile pulled at her lips. “Yes, damn it! I love it when he encourages me to do things I never imagined.” But that puzzle piece didn’t quite fit. “No, he makes me do things I’ve always wanted, but never acted on.”

Will nodded as if he knew exactly what she meant. “He’s a risk-taker.”

“Very much so. I like that.” She couldn’t deny JT’s careless appeal. “My world is so structured, but he shakes it all up. It’s refreshing.”

“A little rebellion is good for the soul.” Will slowed down to let a police car pass.

Claire smiled, her heart fluttering. “He calls me Rebel.”

“Sounds like he gets you.”

Her heart crashed as quickly as it had soared. “That’s what I thought.”

“But?”

Just when she’d gotten some answers, that pesky question popped up again. “I don’t know. Something didn’t work, and it had all been so great up to that point.”

“You need to find out what it was, and make it work.”

Her stomach knotted. “What if it doesn’t?”

“Then make your own way to fix it… Rebel.”

A yawn hit her from nowhere, and her body turned heavy. “I can’t think anymore. Do you mind if I sleep?”

“Go ahead.”

Another yawn shook her frame. Will must’ve been exhausted, too. “Are you okay with driving? You’ve been on the road for hours.”