Sally didn’t miss a beat and slid a card to her. “Same as before. Nothing wild.”
Now what? Should she fake a fainting spell? Heart attack? Scream bloody murder?
Relief flooded over her when Sir Lancelot charged in on his motorcycle and stopped by the gazebo midway through the hand. She’d begun to think she might wind up a human sacrifice long before Nathan caught up to her.
Still looking haggard and gray, Cody slumped in his seat. He was badly in need of a shave and a haircut but it was the purplish mottled flesh rimming his eyes that concerned her most. “I’ve turned this town upside down looking for you. I was beginning to think you’d ditched me.”
She couldn’t tell if he was on the level but she felt heat rise in her cheeks nonetheless. Truth was, she wasn’t sure if she really was going to do just that or not. She’d come so close, so many times.
“You found me.” Was that her voice that was so husky? Or was it her imagination that it sounded that way? She did feel a little tipsy. More of that beer must have slid down her throat than she had realized.
Illicit thrills shot through her as she gazed upon her rugged savior. He certainly had a knack for turning up at the right place at the right time. Either he was a guardian angel, he was led by one, or he had wired her for sound.
As nonchalantly as she could with shaky fingers, she raked in her winnings and then stood. “I’ve got to go now. My ride’s here. It’s been fun.” She half twisted and cocked her head at Cody, hoping he picked up on the tense vibes and would help her out of this jam.
“Not with all our money, you don’t,” Frankie snarled and grabbed for her wrist, a menacing glint in his dark eyes. “You fleeced us. You ain’t no amateur, first-time card player like you pretended. You’re a no-good card shark who just took us to town.”
Sally glared at Cody then at her. “You’re his girl?”
With sudden revelation, she wished she were Cody’s woman. But she barely knew the man and she wasn’t sure she had the heart to be anyone’s woman again.
“I’m with him,” she settled for, letting all of them make their own inferences from her vague statement. The only opinion she really cared about was Cody’s. She wondered what would he make of it?
Meeting Frankie’s gaze steadily, she said firmly, “I won fair and square. I never even dealt. I have no sleeves in which to hide cards.” It wasn’t her fault they assumed she didn’t know how to play or was too stupid to live. Well, not all her fault. If they had the IQ of a moose, they should blame their gene pool.
“We’ve got to go.” Cody revved the engine, his expression a granite mask. “We’ve got a lot of road to eat.”
“Leave the pot and go.” Frankie rose to an astonishing six foot-five at the very least, blocking out the setting sun behind him. Rays cascaded around his large frame, illuminating the others, but his face lay in shadow. She’d only once seen such a demonic countenance--on Nathan--and she knew she didn’t want to mess with him.
But they desperately needed the cash and hunger overruled discretion.
“Come on,” Cody prodded, a scowl tugging at his lips.
Grabbing two handfuls of cash, sun glinting off her ruby ring, she shoved the wadded-up greenbacks into her jeans pockets and then vaulted over the gazebo’s railing. She stumbled, and then made a dash for the motorcycle. Rough hands grabbed her upper arms in mid flight, just about the same time she heard Cody swear.
“Give me my money, bitch.” Frankie grabbed her upper arm and spun her around roughly to face him.
For a split second, Nathan’s face superimposed itself over that of the big man’s, and then Melissa awoke from her daze and yanked away from him with all her might, almost falling flat on her face. She dragged in several big gulps of air as she backed slowly towards Cody, her hands fisted in self-defense mode. “I’ve got a black belt so you don’t want to mess with me.”
Frankie glared at her, emotions flickering across darkening eyes.
She hopped on the cycle behind Cody, wrapping her arms around his middle, whispering out the side of her mouth so that only he could hear. “These guys are about to eat me alive. I hope you can hold up long enough to get us the hell out of here.”
He rolled his injured shoulder, grimacing. “I’m almost good as new--for a few hours, hopefully. Doctor Kildare worked wonders.”
“I wish that made you bulletproof, too. Go, go, go!”
“So do I.” With a squeal of tires, he shot-gunned the vehicle forward amidst shouts, curses, and dire warnings.
She twisted in her seat and waved. “Thanks, boys! It was fun.”
“You’re crazy. Don’t egg them on.” Cody treated her to his glare.
She held on with all her might when the motorcycle fishtailed and jumped into the air as it hit rocks and roots. Her fanny ached like she’d been kicked several times with steel-toed boots. Overworked legs felt rubbery and longed for a long, leisurely bubble bath, one luxury she’d never give up.
“Did we lose them?” she yelled as close to his ear as she could manage, praying the wind didn’t whip away her words. Loath to disturb their precarious balance, she wasn’t about to twist around and look and the rearview mirrors were useless. From her vantage point, she could only see tarmac about two feet behind the rear tire.
“They gave up the chase a few miles back,” he yelled. At least that’s what she thought he said. “We’ll ride another fifty miles before we stop for the night, to be on the safe side, okay?”
Her heart wanted to keep going a thousand miles, maybe even a hundred thousand miles, but her stomach and her backside begged they stop at the next town. She told all her complaining body parts to pipe down and stop being wimps and focused on her arms, which were having a lovely time encircling the ex-cop, and her chest that adored being pressed so intimately to him.
Night had fallen long before they had traveled far enough to suit Cody. Her legs had long since lost all feeling; she wobbled and almost sank to the ground when he set her on her feet.
“Whoa, Nellie! You’re not drunk, are you?” He caught her against him and instantly, she felt a swell in his denims.
Alarmed not only at his reaction to her, but more at her own to him, she gingerly stepped back and massaged her achy behind where it was coming awake very painfully. Shaking her head, she mumbled, “Not drunk. Saddle sore. No wonder cowboys walk bow-legged.” Like she probably would through the rest of her days after this.
“I have it on good authority that I have very magical fingers.”
Whose authority? A twinge of jealousy shot through her that she rapidly squashed. She barely knew the man. They had no commitments. She had no right whatsoever to be jealous. Furthermore, she didn’t want to feel jealousy over any man, much less him.
But his warm voice was entirely too husky, too seductive for her peace of mind.
He closed the distance between them and replaced her hands with his. He rubbed sensually, slowly working the tension out of her until she felt like putty under his ministrations.
“Uhm … marvelous.” She writhed like a cat she was in such ecstasy. He put her masseuse back home to shame. Who’d have thought a grizzled ex-cop would have such a silky touch? He surely couldn’t have learned that as part of his police training. Longing for him to continue, suppressing a moan, she arched closer. She wouldn’t mind if he did this all night....
Yikes! She slammed the brakes on her rampantly dangerous thoughts. She had a mission and this wasn’t going to get it done.
“Where are we?” She’d lost track of their whereabouts long ago. For all she knew, they’d left Pennsylvania behind hours ago. About two hundred feet distant neon lights blinked ‘Motel, HBO, Cable, Pool.’ ‘Vacancy’ flashed in large letters beneath that.
“We’re at a motel.” The way he pronounced motel was downright decadent.
Or maybe it was wishful thinking on her part. Either way heat surged into unbearable places and she squirmed. Trying to cover up her unease, she feigned her be
st businesswoman persona. She felt lost, roaming aimlessly. “Tell me something I don’t know. What state are we in? Town? What is your game plan?”
“We’re still in Pennsylvania, in some hick town. I didn’t catch its name. As far as a game plan....” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully and stared into the distance. “I still want to meet up with your husband and hand you over to him instead of just casting you off on your own. For now, I have to stay put long enough to have some funds wire transferred to me so that we aren’t forced to rely on your rather dubious skills again. But first, my stomach’s demanding I take care of it.”
Her stomach started agreeing with his, albeit rather rudely. Even this hick town should provide some kind of food, at least a greasy spoon. She’d eat about anything right now. “I don’t see a restaurant.”
She moaned silently. There he went demanding to see her husband again. She had to either tell him the truth or split now that she was solvent again. She’d leave him enough money to survive until his funds arrived. It shouldn’t take more than a day. Too bad it was after bankers’ hours so he couldn’t get his funds wired tonight. Or maybe his credit card company could still do it tonight.
“I spied a sign advertising one of those mega grocery stores a couple of miles back. After we check in, I’ll run there.” Belatedly, he asked, “How much money did you win?”
She dug around in her pockets and pulled out wrinkled wads of the green stuff. “I don’t know. Help me count.”
They found a secluded bench and counted. Only about four hundred plus. She couldn’t afford to leave him very much as she had herself to think about and he would have funds coming. She didn’t. “Maybe I can find another game, multiply my winnings.”
Cody shot a worried look at her as he straightened the bills into a neat stack. “Think you might have an addiction going there? Let’s just hold onto the bird in hand. That’ll last us a few days if we’re careful. My money should arrive shortly.”
“I’ll reserve a room for a couple nights.”
Another thought nagged at her brain, creasing her brow. “Will they release funds to you without any identification? You had it all in your wallet?”
He looked away and murmured lowly, “I’ll get a copy faxed to the motel. That should work.”
She presumed cops, even ex-cops, had good resources and probably dealt with losing their ID so dropped the questioning. Her stomach nudged her on. “So what are we waiting for? Hurry so we can eat. A thick, juicy hamburger would be nirvana.” At this point, she’d take peanut butter and jelly to fill the void that was becoming a physical ache.
“Let’s expedite this. Everything closes up early in most small towns.” Cody put his hand against the small of her back as he escorted her to the motel lobby.
Check-in didn’t take long and there were several vacancies, judging by all the keys in the room slots. Making his private phone calls to arrange for his identification and wire transfers took quite a lot of time, however.
She wasn’t thrilled by the knowing look and suggestive remarks the desk clerk raked over them, but she shrugged it off. Who cared what he thought?
Still, she whispered in an aside, “Rent separate rooms.” She didn’t dare stay in the same room the way sparks were flying off them. And she could escape easier if he wasn’t hovering over her day and night.
“No.”
Her heart skipped several beats and she lifted a brow at him.
His intense gaze burned into her and he leaned in close and spoke lowly, although his voice still vibrated through her. “We need to hold onto our cash as long as possible just in case this wire transfer takes longer than we’d like. There are two beds in the room so you’ll be safe enough, princess … if you want to be....”
Her blood sizzled in her veins and she was in desperate need of an icy cold shower. She crossed her arms over her chest and reminded him. “My husband?”
“Oh yes. The mythical, absent husband? He’ll just have to understand that this is a safety measure.”
Alarm flooded her. Had he been doing more than arranging for replacement ID and wire transfers during his long conversations? Maybe he knew about her and Jesse. He must still have contacts on the force. A force Nathan seemed to rule from coast to coast?
She really had to ditch him. No more stalling.
So why did her heart sink to her knees at the prospect?
Cody escorted her to their less than five-star room and dumped his saddlebags on the corner table with a loud thump. “Wait here. I’ll be back in a jiff.”
He leaned so far forward she thought he was going to kiss her for a brief, dizzying moment. When he pinched her cheek as if she were a lovesick ten-year-old, embarrassment and disappointment warred deep inside. Without much fervor, she pulled back primly and reminded him ad nauseum, “I’m a married woman.” Or was she reminding herself to stay off limits and keep a clear head and unfettered heart?
All of the above.
“My apologies.” He pursed his lips and suspicion rimmed his irises as he spun on his heel and departed the room.
So why did she feel thwarted when she’d won this round? She had won, hadn’t she?
Finally, her chance had arrived to escape. She peered through the curtain and watched until his backside rounded the far corner. “Now or never,” she muttered.
Hurriedly she counted out a hundred, folded it neatly, and tucked it under his saddle bags. She scribbled a brief note on the hotel stationery. “Thanks for everything. I can’t stay. Can’t explain.”
She peeked out the window again and then opened the door a slit and stuck her head out again. Good, no sign of Sir Lancelot.
Gulping in the summery evening air, she stepped out into the waning twilight. When she rounded the corner, Cody ambled toward her with his arms stacked with two grocery bags.
Yikes! Fate hated her.
“Here, take one of these.” Cody shifted the supplies and held one out to her. “Where were you going?”
She said the only plausible thing to come to mind. “I have a terrible craving for a soda. Surely this place has a drink machine somewhere.”
“Downstairs. I’ll get one for us soon as we drop these bags in the room. I passed the vending machines on my way in so I’ll show you.” He winked at her and a dimple came out of hiding to play.
She almost swooned and damned her unruly heart. This wasn’t supposed to be happening. She couldn’t allow it.
Like she hadn’t known Jesse and had taken a chance on him?
She raced Cody back to the room and did a sleight of hand to retrieve the money and note before he saw the damning evidence. She palmed them into her pocket, telling herself to shred the note as soon as she could get a moment alone.
She pawed through the groceries, pretending more interest than she felt. In the first bag she found bread, lunchmeat, and chips. She grabbed the ice bucket to keep the meat cold, and wiggled a finger at her roommate. “Sodas. Now.”
When they passed the gurgling pool, she gazed at it longingly. That was one thing she sorely missed at home--having a pool whenever she wanted it. “How about an after dinner swim?”
“A moonlit swim?” Code came up behind her and tilted his head at the rising moon.
The insinuation of romance almost did her in. Her nerves were so taut, the sexual tension so high, she couldn’t stand one more iota of nonsense, not one more suggestive word, not one more clandestine touch, not one more heated gaze. It was either a cold shower or a dip in that pool. Pronto.
“I don’t have a suit. I don’t think you do, either....”
Scorched by his addendum, she pretended not to catch his drift. They weren’t at a skinny dipping stage in their relationship.
Ack! Relationship?
They had no relationship! They never would. By this time tomorrow night, she’d be history and Sir Lancelot would be but another finished chapter in her journal.
Keeping her tone as neutral as possible, she avoided his devilish gaze, and asked, �
�I can borrow one of your T-shirts, can’t I? And you can wear your boxers.”
He sidled closer and his warm breath strafed her neck. “What if I say no?”
Her heart almost melted, but she reined in her heaving emotions as best she could. “Oh well. It was a thought. Guess swimming wasn’t in the stars tonight.”
Cody turned her around to face him and frowned. “Of course I’ll let you borrow a T-shirt. I imagine you’ll look quite fetching in a wet T-shirt.”
She rolled her eyes and snorted, even as her nerves tingled throughout her body. She imagined he’d look pretty awesome in wet boxers.
A half hour later, the water was luxuriously warm and heavenly, not the icy cold she’d counted on to alleviate the unwanted emotional turbulence. Nor had she counted on just how sultry and romantic the twinkling stars overhead would be. After a few laps, she rolled onto her back and floated, then gazed at the dark blue heavens. The scent of chlorine wrapped around her, blending with the clean woodsy smells of the forest. Crickets serenaded her and the gentle lapping of water against her lulled her into a timeless reverie.
Paradise. This was absolute perfection. Life couldn’t get any better. If only she could capture this moment and replay it at will.
Water washed over her face in an unexpected wave. Spluttering, she sank and swallowed about a gallon of the chlorinated stuff.
Strong hands groped for her, and lifted her high. “Are you ignoring me or can’t you hear with water in your ears?” Cody whispered in her ear. His hands didn’t leave her waist.
“I usually don’t hear well with water in my ears. Do you?” She fluttered her wet lashes at him provocatively, enjoying the danger. When their gazes clashed, her lips parted involuntarily. Her flesh burned where he touched her and her blood boiled in her veins. She wished she could slide down his near naked body, or even splash him, but she didn’t dare wet his dressings.
He grinned unrepentantly as he finally lowered her into the water. “I always keep my ears and eyes on my companions. Especially when she’s a beautiful lady.”
Deadly Love Page 9