They were the guys who used unmarked cars. Every television show she’d ever seen said so. Okay, that may be fiction, but her ex had watched this documentary on government cover-ups. The car had been the same as this one.
She scrambled around to the other side, panting. This was body abuse. Invisible shoulder carrying and exploding houses weren’t her normal exercise routine. Who was she kidding? She hated anything that made her sweat… Well, almost everything.
Eric smoothed hands over her tires and pushed on the back of the car. He dropped out of sight on the other side. Another car inched along her road. Missy froze, then creaked open her door. She never kept the car locked and hoped someone would steal it. At least her insurance might pay out on it.
She’d always hated this car. It had been her ex’s choice. A nice solid family car, just without the family. A classic sedan, Taurus, in plain gray. Inexpensive but stable. At least it could have been red.
Blah
. She peeked at the other car again. Unmarked. Very spy-ish.
Missy dropped her head and peered under the car. Eric was still running his hand over her underbelly, so to speak, too busy staring at her car to register they were under surveillance. It was up to her. She reached her arm into the car and ferreted around underneath her seat. “It’s here. He shoved it under here so I’d know where it was.”
Her fingers bumped against cold metal and scrambled to get a hold of it. Grabbing it, Missy tried tugging her arm out. She groaned as her arm wedged hard under the seat.
Stuck tight.
She was a sitting duck if those agents chose to raid them now.
“Pssst!”
The loud hiss came from somewhere behind her. Missy twisted her head and peered over her shoulder. She grimaced at the sight of her neighbor standing there, staring, open-mouthed, over the fence at the smoldering ruin of her house. Then he flicked his gaze to the half-naked guy bent over looking underneath the car before turning it on Missy.
The old man pointed to the house. “Research?”
Missy bared her teeth. “No, meth lab.”
With a sigh, he shook his head and shuffled away.
Great, why did everyone assume the eruption of the house was her work? Surely a random accident wasn’t unbelievable?
Focus, Missy.
She adjusted her grip on the handle of the object she held then rocked her arm from side to side. That gained her a mere few inches. She needed to get out of this pronto. Who knew when they’d raid them and grab Eric? He’d saved her from a burning house. It was the least she could do.
“Problems?” Eric leaned over her, angling his head so he could see inside the vehicle.
“Just grab me and start tugging. I think I can get…” Missy bit her tongue. She tasted copper liquid as Eric pressed against her and pulled hard on her arm. Wow, mad scientists or Jason Bourne types must run to a higher body temperature because she swore the warmth of his bare skin seared straight through to her center.
She squirmed as moisture pooled in her core. Her clit throbbed and sensation zapped through her lower body. She pressed her thighs together and gave a breathy moan. Oh my, she was hotter than a bug on a barbecue right now. She needed to get her mind back on the job at hand.
Wriggling, she managed to yank her arm out with enough force it slammed back into Eric. It caught him right between the legs. He collapsed with a manly squeak and rolled over groaning, hands over his groin.
She winced and pushed herself upright, retaining a tight grip on the gun she’d pulled out from under the seat. “Sorry. But you were right behind me.”
Eric waved off her apology with a shudder and a sharp nod of his head. Missy scanned the road for the car. Whichever government agency owned the car had now parked nearby. She frowned. With the firemen still wandering about, they wouldn’t attempt to kidnap her and Eric right now, but they had to get out of here.
Surveillance. That’s what the peeping toms in the car were doing. Waiting to see if the target was moving, hiding or grabbing a super weapon, they could confiscate and use against Eric when they took him into custody
.
Missy nodded. She’d seen the movies. She was no dummy. With a grunt of determination, she tightened her fingers on the grip of the gun. Eric lay on the ground, incapacitated, but she was here to help.
She crouched over him, training her eyes on the car. Without looking, she prodded him with her free hand. “You there, Eric. We need to get you up and into the car before they raid us.”
Assisting him to his feet, Missy pushed him into the passenger seat, slid behind the wheel and flipped open the visor. Keys dropped into her lap.
“You don’t lock your car and you keep the keys in it?” Eric grunted and shifted to a new position.
“I live in hope someone will take the car. I don’t want to make it too hard for them, so I leave everything open.” Missy loosened her grip on the handle of her weapon.
“A gun?” he growled. “Why the hell do you have that?” He yanked it away and tossed it on the floor of the car then stared at Missy as if she was a psychotic gunrunner.
She winced at the anger in Eric’s voice and glared at him. “This is America, buddy. You never take someone’s weapon. Besides, it’s a replica. My ex bought it thinking I’d pretend if anyone broke in.”
Eric rubbed his hands over his eyes. “Why didn’t he just buy you a real one?”
“Because I would have accidently shot off a body part, not necessarily the burglar.” She shrugged. “I have an issue with falling over. I once pepper-sprayed my neighbor’s cat when I ran out to check on a sound and tripped over her. We both dry-retched for hours after that.”
“Next question. Why did you think you needed a fake gun now?”
Missy turned the car over and revved the engine, itching to be on her way. The longer they sat there, the twitchier she became. “Ah, because of the agents, of course.”
“At the risk of sounding confused, you have the government after you?”
“Not me, you. They’re after your invisibility potion. I’m saving you.” She grinned and planted her foot flat on the pedal. They shot back with racing precision, right into the idling black car that blocked her driveway.
The crunch of shrieking metal enveloped them and the force of the crash pitched Missy toward the windscreen. Eric shoved his arm out and she rebounded back off his hard, muscled forearm.
She slumped, stunned, against the driver’s door. Well, that was one way to get rid of the boring hunk of stability. Total it.
Eric flung his door open and collapsed on the ground.
Whoops, she might have broken the man. Missy climbed out and walked around the car. “This is government harassment. I’ll sue you.” She waggled her finger at the older man standing next to his car, rubbing his neck.
“Lady, you are crazy. I drove past your house and you come flying out as if you’re a racecar driver. You didn’t even look.”
Missy stood with her hands on her hips. “You’ve been driving past all morning. You’re up to something.”
The veins on the man’s forehead pulsed. “I’m a crime reporter. Your house blew up. That’s news,” he screamed at her, his voice squeaking in the middle.
That’s what he says, but I don’t believe him.
She didn’t trust anyone in an unmarked car.
Missy slunk across to Eric, leaned over him and pried one of his hands off his face. “You alive? I think we need to go. This guy is getting antsy. He may be about to break cover and arrest us.”
“Am I being punked? This is new-guy hazing, isn’t it?” Eric sat up and goggled at the mess around him. People came out of neighboring houses. Car parts lay strewn across the drive. A couple of policemen from the blockade near the smoking house were taking the other guy’s information.
“Ms. Duncan. We’ve taken the accident victim’s details and will send yours to the insurance company. He’s refusing treatment so as long as you’re okay, we’ll just add this to your file.” The earnest young man nodded in Missy’s direction.
Boy, he made it sound like her police history was a mile long. She had a short attention span and things happened. Everyone had those sorts of issues.
“File?”
The policeman shot a suspicious glance over at Eric after he spoke. “Ma’am, is everything okay here? Do you need help?”
Missy smiled. Davis was always lovely when he came around. In fact, with the glare he was shooting Eric, he might be over-protective of her. Most of the police guys thought she was hilarious, with her accidents and research questions, but he treated her with respect. “Well, Officer. There is something you can do. I think that man over there is a government—”
Eric broke in, cutting across Missy’s words. “A lift to the Olympus Casino is all we need. Isn’t it, sugar?”
Okay, he had to keep quiet about the invisible thing. He must be a superhero or a mad scientist on the run from the invention-stealing government. This was her best chance at plot ideas, so she was sticking for the duration.
“The ride would be great, Officer.” Missy smiled up at the policeman. Then she caught sight of her ex-husband hurrying up. The smile soured.
“Missy. Come here. Come to daddy. You can stay with me and Winnie.”
He steamrolled past the roadblock and shot straight at her. Shit, the last thing she needed to see was her cheating ex falling over her best friend. Naked mad inventor it was.
“Thanks for your invite, Andrew, but Eric and I are heading to his family’s place. The Olympus Casino. Heard of it?” The most expensive and exclusive gambling heaven on the strip—he’d die of envy. Missy leaned over and nuzzled Eric on his chest. Damned if she could reach anywhere else.
She felt him jerk at first, but then he wrapped his arms about her. The way he snuggled her against his chest inspired her to drag the tip of her tongue across his heated flesh. Salt and moisture met her quest. His unique flavor slid into her mouth. Tangy and spicy, with a hint of maple syrup sweetness. Missy closed her eyes and sighed. Nerves ignited, zip-zapping her with bursts of heat. This guy packed a punch and figuratively socking her ex in his double-crossing eyes was even better.
“Um, yes. Of course, whatever you want is acceptable, Missy.” Andrew squinted at the house then pasted a weak smile on. “I left some things in our house. When the firemen have finished, do you think I could retrieve them if they’re still intact?”
She concentrated on the half-clothed man holding her. “Hmm? They probably won’t let you into the crime scene. But speak to them if you want—but if you steal any of my stuff, I’ll hunt you down and kill you.” Missy smiled up at Eric and waved her ex off. Suddenly his betrayal with her best friend didn’t feel so bad.
“You ready to go, baby? The cops have radioed my family. Everyone will be waiting for us.”
Eric’s tone of voice was a combination of worry and resignation. Maybe whatever covert program he worked for didn’t know he’d found a formula for invisibility. Or maybe they did know and he was on the run from them and probably worried he might put his family in danger. “Of course, sweetmeat. Whatever you want.”
God, she felt sick listening to the syrupy tones pouring out of her mouth. Well, it served the man right for calling her sugar.
* * * *
The cop car pulled up to the Olympus and Missy stared at the casino in awe. She’d never been inside but had driven past numerous times and it never failed to impress. Tall, white columns of marble rose above them. Carved statues of ancient Gods and Goddesses stood staring in a circular pattern. Gold twinkled like stars across the curved front of the building.
This was all that glittered and it remained to be seen whether the inside would live up to its promise without. Lush grass snagged her attention on the other side and colorful plumed peacocks strutted next to her. A valet popped up and opened the door casually, as if guests exiting from a cop car were normal. Since this was Vegas, it probably was. Missy clambered out and turned toward her semi-naked cohort.
“If you need anything, Ms. Duncan, just give the station a call.” The policeman smiled and blushed at Missy before frowning at Eric. “Anyone gives you trouble, you can call me. You have my number.”
“Thanks, Officer Davis. You’re a sweetie. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us here at the Olympus.”
Such a lovely boy.
Eric moved to shake the policeman’s hand. Darts of sensation seeped low into the pit of her stomach. God, this man was built. Muscles, long brown hair, to-die-for voice and his family owned the most expensive hotel on the strip. Too good to be true?
She followed Eric’s bitable ass into the lobby. Frescos of ancient Gods and Goddesses and heroic deeds caught her eye.
Wow,
the ex would froth at the mouth. He was into pretentious glamour, and this place rated among the best. Another thought crossed her mind and she snickered. Andrew would never see the inside of this casino until he dumped her best friend. Most of the major casinos had blacklisted his new partner for card counting. Ha, this was one experience she’d enjoy.
“Eric? Not to knock a naked gift horse in the mouth, but are you sure it’s okay to stay here? You don’t look like you have any money on you and my cards are back at the house.” Missy ran a possessive eye over his bare chest and sweat-panted ass again, just to make sure she hadn’t missed anything.
“My family does own the casino and they won’t mind us staying here. Besides, I have people I need to talk to.”
He strode to the desk and had a quiet word with the receptionist. A few minutes passed before a well-dressed hunk of a man appeared to give Eric a hug.
Eric gestured Missy over to them. “This is my cousin, Hermes. He runs this flea-bit casino.”
“Please, if this is a hole, it’s an expensive one. It’s nice to meet you, Missy. I’m sorry to hear about your house, but you’re welcome to stay here as long as you like. Go on up to the family suite and I’ll send clothing up for both of you.” He pulled a card out of his pocket and handed it to Eric.
Missy gaped at the dark-haired hottie in front of her. Where did they get these guys from, Greek Gods R Us? “Thanks. I’m sure the police will work it out and I’ll be out of your hair soon. But we do need a place to lie low.”