Summer Kisses (235 page)

“Thanks, Will.” She grabbed his hand and squeezed. “And have a great time tonight. You deserve the best.”

With his best friends’ approval of his and Nicole’s budding relationship, Will’s spirits rose. He inhaled, knowing he had to get past Laurie before he’d truly feel happy, however. “Okay, I’m off.”

He turned and his heart flipped unexpectedly against his chest. Laura’s jet-black bangs, fringed emerald eyes that challenged Cleopatra’s. Eyes that had haunted every lonely moment he’d had over the past three years. Once upon a time, they had looked up at him, glistening with the afterglow of their love making. Now, Laura’s eyes neither sparkled nor glistened. They simply reached out to him.

For what?

Her long fingers worked the belt of her trench coat while her full red lips pulled up into a tentative smile. “Hi, Will.”

The breathless two words were filled with questions. Questions he didn’t want to answer and didn’t intend to give the time of day. “I’ll get out of your way.”

He wanted to run, but couldn’t believe taking the first step was this hard. His sneaker’s soles felt cemented to the floor. Pulling his eyes from hers, the trance between them finally broke.

Will side-stepped his ex-girlfriend, ignoring the hand she offered and rushed out into the brightly lit hallway.

Why hadn’t he just thrown the fact he had a date in her face so he could rejoice in her reaction? Because his life now and who he spent his nights with wasn’t Laura’s damn business, that’s why.

Will shook his head. Unbelievable. Laura really thought he’d forgive her for dumping him and just pick up as pals?
Fuck her.

Relieved to be away from her, Will stalked toward the wing’s exit. In the short time it took him to reach the elevators, anger had beaten up his past and kicked the baggage to the darkest recesses of his mind. Now, he was mentally ready to move on with his life. He stabbed the down button.

“Will, wait.”

Laura’s cry caused frustration to flare in his gut and he inhaled through his nostrils, trying to calm his angst.

The elevator’s bell pinged above him and the doors slid open. The passengers inside shifted their positions and then frowned with impatience at his hesitation to enter. They wanted to be on their way. He wanted to be on his way, but again, his shoes were glued to the floor. If he got onto the elevator, he’d always wonder what would’ve happened if he’d stayed and faced her. He had enough what-ifs in his life.

He turned.

Their gazes locked and Laura’s gait slowed to a halt. Her fingers clasped together in prayer fashion. “Please. I need to talk to you.”

As if some power with more insight into what was good for him and his future had made the decision, the elevator doors swished closed, leaving the two of them alone in the small foyer.

Laura’s heels clicked against the vinyl flooring much like the slow tick-tock of a bomb.

Outside the large-paned windows, the world moved on. Will shifted his weight to his other foot as she closed the short distance left between them.

Stopping within a foot of his personal space, warily, Laura reached out and wrapped her soft hand around his fingers.

Tingles charged up Will’s arm and spiraled around his heart, searching for a way inside. Suddenly he wasn’t so sure the past was behind them. And that frightened him. “What do you want?”

Laura squeezed his hand. “I just wanted to say it’s good to see you.”

Noting the smile playing on her lips, Will denied the urge to pull back from her touch, and he held his position. He was aware of the way her body leaned toward him, the planes of her heart-shaped face, and the unyielding steadiness of her stare. Laura wanted something from him and was willing to use their past and his heart to get it.

Well, whatever it was, in order to get it, she was going to have to take as good as she gave. “I wish I could say the same.”

The brown specks in Laura’s green eyes flashed and her irises darkened into huge drops of resentment.

Her reaction confirmed his suspicions. It wasn’t a reconciliation she was after. What was her game?

Taking the verbal slap like a champ, she tilted her chin up a notch and stared into his eyes. Then she reached out and laced her fingers with his. “I thought after three years you’d be over me.”

“Don’t flatter yourself. I am over you.” He chuckled, squeezing her fingers, maybe a tad harder than he should’ve. He saw Laura flinch before she pulled her hand back. Nicole’s smile entered his mind. “I’ve moved on.”

“You have?”

“You say that like you’re surprised. You always told me I was a catch. Don’t you remember?”

“I remember.”

“Look, you don’t have to fish, Laura, or pry me with compliments. What do you want?”

Her perfectly plucked brow arched under her bangs. “What makes you think I want something?”

“Come on. You haven’t had any contact with Gary or Sharon since you moved on with your life.” He’d said moved on with your life as if he’d scratched the space between them with air quotes. “So it’s a safe bet you didn’t drive all the way up here from Virginia to see Gary, not without another reason. You knew I would be here. After three damn years, what could you possible want with me?”

“You’re right. I knew you would be here.”

Will clamped his jaw together and looked up at the dropped-panel ceiling. His anger seemed to tighten the collar of his Henley thermo shirt around his neck. He glared at Laura. “Sharon?”

“No. Sharon didn’t say a word to me.” Her long, black hair fell over her shoulder, cascading past the mounds of her breasts.

He quickly changed direction of his attention away from the area he had loved to nuzzle and where he had laid his head after a long, hard day. “You’ve been spying on me?”

She sighed. “I reasoned you’d be here. Gary’s not only your partner, but your best friend. I know you were with him when this happened. Sharon told me that much. And I know you. You’ve undoubtedly been beating yourself up thinking what happened to him was your fault. Even though, it wasn’t.”

“How would you know whose fault this is?”

“I know you’re the best.”

He felt the wall he’d built between them wobble. He was such a fool. How did the old saying go? Fool him once…

Will stretched his arm and pulled the sleeve of his jacket back to look at his watch. He knew what the time was, but he wanted to impress on Laura that he had more important things to do with his life than share chitchat with her. In about six hours, he’d be keeping Nicole warm and having a hell of a great time. “What do you want? I have a date.”

“A date?” She blinked.

“Yes. A date. Is that so hard to fathom?” He didn’t bother holding back the irritation he felt and heard echoing in his tone. Will turned and stabbed the elevator button again. The lit numbers above the doors showed both elevators had climbed to the top floors. Taking the stairs would’ve been faster, but they also would’ve been the coward’s way out. “If you’re going to tell me what you came here for, you’ve better do it now.”

Apparently catching the elevator’s light signaling its descent, Laura slipped in between him and the stainless steel doors. She tilted her head slightly to the left, the green of her eyes catching the sunlight streaming in the window and reflecting back at him sorrowfully. In that split second, the wall crumbled and he couldn’t help but think how beautiful she was.

“I don’t want anything, Will. Just the opposite. I have something for you. Here.” In her palm, his grandmother’s diamond engagement ring sparkled. The ring he had given her when he had confessed he’d love her forever and asked her to marry him. “I thought it was about time I gave this back to you.”

His brows pulled together. “I thought—,” he stammered.

Laura’s shoulder’s relaxed and the strong lines of her face took on a humble appearance. “I know. I deserve every negative thought. The way I ended things between us was bad. Real bad.”

She was right there. His heart cringed, recalling the pain she had inflected on him.

“I should’ve been more honest with you about my feelings and where I stood as far as marriage. I never wanted to get married, Will, not to anyone. Ever.” She ran her tongue across her lip and peeked up at him through her dark lashes. “But I want you to know, because of you, I came damn close to changing my mind.”

The elevator dinged.

Glancing at the doors, she drew a breath leveling her shoulders again, and smiled up at him. “Here.” Her warm hand caressed his and she gently pressed his family’s heirloom into the soft bed of his palm.

The tenderness of her touch remained with him for a moment after she withdrew her hand. He trapped the diamond in his fist as the stainless steel doors slid open.

Ignoring the world, Laura reached up and drew him into a hug. She whispered into his ear, “It was good to see you, Will. I wish you the best.”

She lingered a kiss on his cheek, breathing in his scent before she let him go. He knew she was taking a memory with her.

As Will watched her walk away, he realized Laura no longer felt right in his arms. Thanks to her visit here today, his past was firmly where it belonged…in the past.

Gorgon dropped his arm from over his eyes, sat up on the hotel’s sofa, and arched his back, stretching the stiffness from his spine. He hated this sitting around. The damn cold damp weather was seeping into his bones. Fuck. He should be on a Caribbean island, sunning himself on the beach. And he would as soon as he had his woman and child back. They would leave this country for good. Well, he’d come back for business matters, but Katrina would never see her homeland again.

His wait wouldn’t be long now. His plan was in its final stage.

A knock at the door turned his head. What did his man want now? He’d told Drat not to disturb him unless it was important. His doctor said he needed to rest even though he felt stronger than he had in months.

Holding his arm across his stomach, Gorgon pushed off the cushions. His muscles had healed, but the memory of pain shooting through his adnominal muscles when he moved made the action a habit.

The knock echoed through the suite again.

Gorgon straightened and tucked his shirt in his pants as he crossed the room. Without checking the spy hole, he opened the door. “What is it?”

“Sorry, boss. Arnold’s here.”

Arnold. He didn’t expect to see the man so soon. Gorgon peered down the hall to where his other guard held the tough kid at bay. Gorgon had found Arnold last summer hustling in Atlantic City. The kid had guts and dreams which put him instantly on Gorgon’s good side because he’d always said, “What good were dreams without guts?”

Gorgon’s jaw twitched. And the kid had a hellva of a good right hook.

The smug look Arnold wore told Gorgon he had good news. “Okay. But frisk him good and then bring him in. Rafe can guard the door.”

Gorgon flipped on the lights over the bar. As he reached for two glasses, the door closed behind him. He sat the glasses down and turned. “Arnold, you look as if you’ve swallowed the proverbial canary.”

“I think you’ll be very happy.” The young man’s lips curved upward. He shoved his hands into his leather jacket’s pockets and arched up on his toes. Another attribute Gorgon liked in Arnold was that he always was eager to please.

“That so?” Gorgon heard the emphasis Arnold had put on the word ‘very.’ He trapped his bottom lip, fighting the show of excitement wanting to curl his mouth into a smile, and nodded. “Have a seat.”

He stepped to the bar and grabbed a bottle of vodka. Maybe things were turning around for him at last. He poured three fingers of vodka into the glasses, turned, and handed one to Arnold. “I drink to your health.”

Arnold raised his glass. “And I to yours, boss.”

“Thank you.” Over the rim of his tumbler Gorgon watched the man kick back the shot. The liquor’s heat flowed down his throat and into his gut, chasing the chill from him.

After setting his glass on the table, he pulled a chair out and took a seat across from Arnold. “So, what do you have to tell me?”

Smiling, Arnold sat his glass aside. “We made our first run without problems.”

“Did you expect trouble?”

“I expected some; yes. Since that marshal was shot last week, seems like every cop is on our ass.”

“That is what happens. So you got one.”

“Three.” Arnold’s brown eyes twinkled with the glow from the small chandelier over the table. He held up three fingers one at a time.

“Three?” Gorgon raised a brow, surprised by the number. “Junkies?”

“No. Good girls.” Arnold smile widened to a broad-toothed grin. “Two are twins.”

“Twins?”

“Identical. Blond-haired, blue-eyed, blossoming beauties.”

Gorgon pictured his off-shore account doubling in size. “How old are they?”

“Fourteen. Maybe fifteen. Hard to tell nowadays the way they dress.”

“Where did you get them?”

“Upstate New York. Last night, after a high school football game they had walked away from the school grounds and stood on a corner. My guess is to get away from the traffic emptying out of the parking lot and make finding them easier for their parents. My partner waited down the street with the van while I walked up behind them. Zap, zap, they were on the ground and a minute later they were in the van. No one was around to see us. Easy.”

Gorgon reached over and poured Arnold another shot while the kid continued to tell his story.

“The other is a cute little redhead. Freckles. Huge brown eyes. She says she’s nine. We picked her up later, at a Hamburger Heaven. Her mother let her go to the bathroom by herself. Mistake. I carried her out the side door. We drove through the drive-thru and got our burgers, and then hit the interstate a quarter mile down the road. Easy target.”

“Where are they now?”

“We took them to the house in Valance.”

Valance was one of the four locations he and Donnie had set up for their men to take their captives and hold them without raising suspicions until they could find buyers.

All of the realtors Donnie had worked with had run circles and jumped through fire rings to find exactly the types of places he wanted and they needed. The realtors had thought Donnie was a ghost writer for a renowned author, searching for seclusion in order to do his work in peace. Gorgon chuckled inside. The government wasn’t the only one who could run covert operations.