“Okay, Hart. He’s useless. I say you take him out of here.”
Hart took a step forward and Miles cursed under his breath. “I didn’t kill anyone, okay!”
“But you know who might’ve done it, don’t you?”
“No. Not specifically.”
“Then give me a general answer,” said Nathan.
There were a few tense moments of silence as Miles looked between the two of them and the door. As though he was looking for any way out of this. “I don’t know any names,” he said finally.
“So what do you know?”
“I was hired to procure something.”
“To steal something,” said Hart.
“No. It doesn’t belong to the inn. It belongs to a former guest.”
“The dead guy,” said Nathan. “The ghost you were trying to hunt.”
“He stole something before he came here. He had it when he checked in and he didn’t have it when he went out in a body bag.”
“What was it?” demanded Hart.
“Information. A USB drive that he stole from work.”
“Have you found it yet?” asked Nathan.
“I’m still here, aren’t I?”
“Not the time to be a smartass,” said Hart, gesturing to his gun.
“No. I haven’t found it. I looked in his old room and I’ve been making my way through every other room here. Which would be easier if there weren’t a damn family reunion going on. But there’s a time crunch here.”
“You need the drive by a certain time?”
“No. I’m not the only one looking for it. I was hired by an outside source. The dead guy’s employer wants it back too and God knows who else. I’m just going to be the first one to get it.”
“What makes you so sure?” asked Hart.
“Because I don’t fail. Ever.”
Nathan and Hart exchanged a quick look and Nathan asked, “Who was Paulson’s employer? The other one looking for it?”
The corner of Miles’s mouth hooked up. “The Killion Group.”
Hart finally lowered his gun and looked over to Nathan. “We need to talk.”
“What about him?” asked Nathan.
“He will be fine waiting right here.”
Nathan and Hart both glared at Miles. If they left him alone, he’d be out of the inn in minutes. Which left only one option. “Give me the handcuffs.”
Katy heard the door crack open. It didn’t wake her up. She hadn’t been sleeping. Just lying in the darkened room and trying to keep her thoughts away.
But every time she closed her eyes, she kept seeing Levi’s smiling face. Maybe she’d judged him too harshly. His personality could be grating, but maybe she could’ve gotten used to it. He’d been so focused on her whenever he’d hung around, what harm could it have done to go on a date? To give him a chance?
So when she heard the footsteps approaching from behind, she was almost grateful that she could get out of her mind. She rolled over as Nathan sat on the bed next to her. “Hey,” he whispered. “Were you sleeping?”
She shook her head, but he must’ve seen her red and watery eyes even in the darkness because he reached over and used the pad of his thumb to brush away the trail left by one of the tears. “I’m sorry to bother you.”
She shook her head once more. “No. Really, I was awake. What’s up? Is there trouble downstairs?” She pushed herself up, carefully covering herself with the blanket.
“Downstairs is fine. Sean has it covered. I found something out and I think you need to know.”
“Okay...”
“You remember the man who killed himself here last year?”
She nodded. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget.”
“He stole something from the men he worked with. Information. It’s very valuable and on a USB drive. The people he worked with think that the USB drive is somewhere in the inn. They’re the same people who tried to purchase the inn.”
“They’re doing this because he left something here?”
“Apparently. The ghost hunter, Austin Miles, isn’t a ghost hunter at all. He was hired by a third party to get the USB drive before anyone else. Hart is babysitting him right now.”
“What does any of this have to do with Levi?”
Nathan shrugged. “I have no idea. Miles says he had nothing to do with the murder.”
“Do you believe him?”
Nathan sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. He sounded sincere, but I have a feeling guys like that can sound sincere whenever they want to.”
Katy rolled out of bed, pulling the sheet along with her to keep herself covered. Nathan had to get up to allow the sheet to move, and she picked her bra and dress up off the ground. “We need to find it first then.”
“Katy—”
“If those bastards hurt Levi, I’m not letting them get what they want. It’s the least we can do for Levi, okay?” She clipped the bra behind her and stepped into the dress.
Once the dress was over her shoulders, Nathan stepped in to move the zipper up. She could do it on her own, but she savored the few moments he was close. “You know, I can zip my dresses up on my own,” she said once he was done. “Have been for years.”
“I know. But I need to take my joys when I can.”
She walked away and flipped the switch to turn on the lights in the room. After looking in the mirror, she groaned. “There’s no saving this.” She brushed her hair behind her ears and dabbed at the corner of her still red eyes.
“You look great.” Nathan met her eyes through the mirror.
“I look like I’ve been crying all morning.”
“No shame in that. Sean knows what happened. I’m sure by now the rest of the inn does too.”
“As long as the guests don’t freak out. He better keep his mouth shut to them.” He knew what he was doing. He’d been around long enough to know how to carry himself around guests. She couldn’t worry about that. Instead, she was going to turn her focus to the problem at hand. The mysterious three-million-dollar USB drive.
“Gregory Paulson stayed in the Tower Room. He made a point of asking for the nicest room in the inn. I suppose we should start there.”
“Miles said he already searched it.”
“Well, it’s my inn. Wouldn’t I have better luck?”
“It’s actually my inn. But he’s a professional, so who knows. Couldn’t hurt to look it over once more, though.”
She nodded. “Okay. I’ll get the key. Why don’t you go upstairs and I’ll meet you?”
“I’ll go with you.”
“And run into one of your brothers downstairs and get stuck in one of those conversations? No. I’ll meet you upstairs.” Before he could give her any more pushback, she left the room and made her way for the lobby. She walked silently, hoping no one would notice whose room she came out of.
Sean was at the front desk and gave her a sympathetic smile as she walked up. “I heard about Levi. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you, Sean.” She walked behind the desk to pick up the key. “It’s going to be a tough day. If any of the guests asks you about it, just play dumb. You don’t know what happened or who it was, okay?”
“You got it.”
“Thanks.” She went back upstairs, climbing the three flights until she reached the private loft at the top. Nathan was waiting for her next to the door. Because the stairway was tight, she handed him the key and he unlocked the door for both of them.
Once she was inside, she turned in a full circle. “Austin searched the whole room?”
“That’s what he said.”
“I can’t tell.”
“I think that’s the point. I suppose we start at one wall and work our way down?” said Nathan.
“Sounds like a start.”
They started at the dresser. Nathan opened a drawer and felt along the sides and then the top. “So what exactly happened with this guy?”
“It was very surreal. He checked in and was
a perfectly normal guest. Always a bit strange when a man checks in by himself, but it’s not like it never happens. According to the kitchen, he had the most expensive dinner on the menu his first night here, including dessert, and then took a walk around the grounds. Then no one saw him until housekeeping found him the next morning.”
“That’s one way to go out. How did he do it?”
“Funny enough, no one told me. I had to call Sheriff Dan and ask him. He overdosed on painkillers. So he took some pills and that was that, I suppose. I wonder if he knew the mess he was leaving behind.”
“Considering how well he hid the damn thing, I’m guessing he had a clue.”
They kept on with their search. By the time they finished, the entire room looked as though it had been turned upside down. The sheets were on the floor, drawers were pulled out, everything in the closet had been moved and tossed on the floor. Furniture was moved away from the wall. Assuming he hadn’t hidden it inside the furniture, Katy didn’t know where else to look.
She let out a sigh as she sat on the edge of the mattress. “This is ridiculous.”
“Do you think he could’ve left it in the restaurant? You said he had a big meal. Would’ve had plenty of time to plant something.”
“Maybe. Seems risky. Tables get moved and jostled around. They get replaced. His room really seems like the safest bet. Maybe the library. There are thousands of places. He could’ve gotten to the front desk. I can see why they would need to purchase the place to really search thoroughly for it.”
“Miles said he was in the library last night. He thinks the guy who was working the desk could be his alibi to prove he didn’t kill Levi.”
Katy shrugged. “He’d have to be there early. The sheriff thought Levi had been dead for a while. Maybe right after he called me. I might’ve—” Katy sucked in a deep breath and rubbed the bridge of her nose.
Nathan sat next to her on the bed and set an arm over her shoulders. “I’m here,” he said softly.
She leaned into him, appreciating the support and warmth for a moment. “He died before I came home last night. I went all last night without knowing and now I feel like I got hit by a truck. Like everything is different.”
Nathan pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “We’ll get through this. I promise.”
Katy turned to face him. “We? I should be furious at you.”
“Should? I thought you still were.”
She sighed. “I don’t know. Everything is so...muddled now. Relatively, everything seems small. I’m sure I’ll be back to being mad at you eventually.”
“And as soon as all of this is taken care of, I’ll be ready to grovel.”
“I didn’t think you were capable of groveling. Especially not for something you don’t feel sorry for.”
“When I said I’d do anything for you, groveling was included.”
“Nathan, I—”
“I know you don’t feel the same about me. But you will. I swear I’ll—”
“Don’t tell me what I feel, Nathan. That’s one thing you can’t control.”
He started to pull away. “You’re right. I—”
Katy stopped him by brushing the side of his face with her fingers, his stubble against the pads of her fingers. “I do like you. I’ve always liked you. That’s the problem. That’s why I’m so angry. It isn’t just an insult, but a betrayal.”
He leaned into her hand. “But you believe I love you.”
“In your own hardheaded, controlling way, I think you do.”
“And that bothers you?”
“No. It... It makes me happy.” In a way she knew it shouldn’t. She should feel nothing for this man who had been out of her life for so long. Hell, even when he was in her life, he was barely there. So how did he get under her skin so easily? Maybe it was how he felt. Was it possible that they were both going through the same thing? Being pulled by emotions they barely understood?
Katy didn’t know what to think. Didn’t want to think. She just wanted to... Katy tilted her head up and pressed her lips against his. If Nathan was surprised, he didn’t show it. He kissed her back immediately, setting a hand at the curve of her waist as she cupped his neck.
This wasn’t like before. Sure, she was once again using him to distract herself from what was going on, but this was different. He wasn’t the nearest warm body she could turn to for comfort. This was Nathan comforting her. This was someone who loved her, and right now she needed that more than anything.
Once she gave herself permission, she didn’t hold back any longer. Nathan seemed to have some misgivings as he pulled back. “You’re not thinking—”
Katy abruptly got off the bed. But instead of leaving, she straddled Nathan, setting a knee on either side of his hips. Her position was rather precarious, but he immediately set his hands at the small of her back to hold her up.
Her skirt rode up her thighs as she straddled him, and from this position, her breasts were level with his face. Even though they were both fully clothed, the sensation was undeniably erotic, and she let out a small sigh as she bent in for another kiss.
Nathan took control as his hands roamed her body. One slid up her back while the other went to her bare thigh exposed by her skirt; it pushed the material higher and gave her ass a quick squeeze. Katy jerked and Nathan took advantage by nipping at her bottom lip while his other hand pulled the zipper of her dress down. It was like a sensory overload and exactly what she wanted.
As soon as the zipper was down, she rolled her shoulders. Nathan immediately took the hint and pulled the material down where it now pooled at her waist.
“You’re so fucking beautiful.” Nathan pressed a kiss to the side of her neck and then worked lower until he reached her collarbone. Katy’s fingers twisted in the fabric of his sweater and when he reached back to unhook her bra, all she could do was bite her lip in anticipation.
He savored her breasts as if she were the only woman he’d ever been with. As if he wasn’t a billionaire playboy and as though there were no life-or-death stakes. He moved from peak to peak, balancing Katy on the edge of pleasure and pain.
She rocked her hips against his. The rough fabric of his jeans was felt through the thin silk of her panties. The dual assault on her body proved too much, and the orgasm rocked through her body. As she came, she breathed Nathan’s name, and for the first time that morning, she really smiled.
The peace only lasted a second as Nathan stood with her in his arms. She would’ve fallen right on her ass if he hadn’t been holding her so tightly. But in a flash, he had turned and they both went down on the bed. This wasn’t patient and it wasn’t slow. Nathan was kissing her before she had even touched the mattress.
She kissed him back, this time going for his lips as he reached between the two of them to undo his belt and jeans in a few quick motions. Katy kept on kissing him, half dreading when she’d have to pull away to take off her panties, but he solved that quick enough when he gave the flimsy material a quick yank, ripping the fabric easily. And then there was no barrier between them.
Nathan broke the kiss and pushed himself up, meeting her eyes as he braced himself on one elbow. Then he was at her entrance and sliding inside in one quick thrust.
Katy gasped at the sudden fullness and her legs wrapped around Nathan’s waist. And then he was moving. His free hand gripped her hip and held her steady as he sped up; she angled her hips with each thrust to meet him.
Her body still felt the aftershocks of her orgasm, but it just made her more sensitive. Her body seemed to tighten, and as his thrusts became more forceful and the bed started to shake under the effort, her body gave in once more. This time her eyes snapped open and she opened her mouth, but Nathan covered her scream with his mouth. And as she trembled and convulsed around him, he pushed himself up as every muscle in his body went tense.
They both were quiet for a few moments. Well, except their breath as they both came down from the sex.
Katy let her eyes dr
ift shut. Once she got up and dressed, she’d have to face the day again, and she was much too happy right where they were.
The best room in the inn. The room with all the best views. You could sit on the balcony and soak in the cool breeze and salty air. Her eyes opened again. How could Gregory Paulson have decided to spend his last day there? It must’ve been a completely different experience to him.
“What are you thinking about?” asked Nathan.
Her face must’ve shown the troubling thoughts. “Gregory Paulson. Trying to imagine someone having their last day here.” Having the gourmet dinner. Walking along the beach like all of the other guests. Nodding and giving polite hellos. Doing things anyone else would be doing... Katy sat up abruptly. “I know.”
“Know what?” Nathan sat up too.
“I know where Gregory Paulson put the USB drive.”
Nathan kept up with Katy’s lightning-fast stride. “Just tell me. Where is it?”
“Well, I’m not sure sure...but I’m pretty sure. You know?”
No. No, he didn’t know. “Are we almost there at least?” They had passed the restaurant and were striding along the walkway leading toward the beach.
“It’s right up here. The memory garden.”
“The memory garden?”
“Yes. We make a point that guests can’t take any stones or rocks from the property to preserve the landscape. But the memory garden is our consolation prize.”
“I know what the memory garden is. You think Paulson buried it here?”
“No. I think he tossed it here.” Katy bent to her hands and knees and started to look through the rocks. They were all palm-sized or smaller and mostly smoothed by the water. There was a pail of blank ones next to a big sign detailing the significance of the memory garden and with a few markers for people to use.
Nathan decided to go with it and sat down at the other end of the garden. Katy was already picking up stones and then setting all the ones she looked at in a pile to her left. “What are you looking for?”
“You know how people can hide a key in a rock? Well, let’s see if Paulson hid his USB drive in a rock.”
Relentless (Fractured Farrells: A Damaged Billionaire Series Book 5) Page 15