by Mary Burton
“How long have I been asleep?” she asked. Her voice sounded husky.
Already, he ached to touch her. He wanted to take her in his arms, make love to her again, and banish all the violence she’d suffered from her memory. “Not long. An hour maybe.”
She studied his face and frowned. “You look worried.”
He deliberately smiled. “I always look worried. It’s part of the job.”
She swung her legs over the side of the bed. Dropping the sheet, she rose. She walked toward him naked, her gait relaxed and familiar, as if they’d been together for years. She sat on his lap, draped her arm around his shoulder, and kissed him lightly on the lips.
Ayden wrapped his arm around her narrow waist. He grew harder, if that were possible. “At the rate we’re going, I won’t be able to walk tomorrow.”
Lightly, she kissed his neck and then nibbled his ear with her teeth. “That such a bad thing?”
He chuckled. “I’ll find a way to survive.”
She cupped his face in her hands. “Good. I like having you around.”
They moved to the bed and made love a third time. This time he took his time. The fever that had consumed them before had eased and they were able to explore each other’s bodies leisurely. He’d forgotten how exhilarating the discovery process could be.
Ayden loved touching her. He loved her scent. The way her belly convulsed a little when he kissed her. The butterfly tattoo on her hip.
Nicole’s heartbeat raced as Ayden touched her body. In no rush, he took his time kissing every inch of her bare skin. Calloused hands cupped her breasts and teased her nipples into hard peaks. Fire shot through her body and she instantly grew moist.
She hissed when his hand slid from her breast down her belly.
“Nicole, you are so beautiful. So lovely.”
Here, now, she felt beautiful. The doubts and fears Richard had tried to brand into her had vanished.
She ached for him to touch her and to bring her desire to a climax. “Please.”
He glanced up, his gaze skimming over her to meet hers. The devil’s glint sparked in his gray eyes. “Not yet. There’s no rush, darlin’.”
Purposefully, he slid lower. Nicole moaned as he kissed the most sensitive spot between her legs. He cupped her buttocks and lifted her hips as if he couldn’t get enough of her. Nicole’s head dropped back against the pillow. So wrapped in desire, she was helpless to speak or move.
Nicole slid her fingers through his thick hair. The fire inside of her had reached a peak and she knew if he didn’t enter her soon, she’d go mad. “David.”
The single word held a wealth of meaning that he clearly understood. He rose up and stripped his pants off. And then he straddled her and in one steady thrust he entered her. She wrapped her legs around him, taking him in as deeply as possible. He moved inside of her, his thrusts hard and sure. She matched his rhythm, willing to accept what he offered.
When her release came, she called out his name and he drove into her to the hilt. Their bodies clenched in a hard spasm that seemed to last forever and then in a rush the tension fled their bodies.
Ayden collapsed against Nicole. Sweat from both their bodies mingled. Their heartbeats hammered in unison.
He held her for a long time, content to trace his finger up and down her arm and to kiss her hair. He whispered in her ear. “You are beautiful. I love touching you.” The endearments made her smile.
Later they opened the boxed lunches that had gone untouched until now. They sat on a towel on the floor, picnic style.
She’d slipped on her sweater and panties, and he’d slipped on his trousers. “I don’t want any of this to end. If it wasn’t for Beth, I’d never leave this room.”
Ayden didn’t want to destroy the magic of this afternoon either. He would have gladly locked them both inside for as long as humanly possible. But there was a life out there that neither could deny. And there were problems that had to be addressed.
“I understand,” he said. “But we both know there are things we need to talk about.”
She dropped her gaze to the half-eaten sandwich in her hand. Some of the light faded from her eyes and he could have kicked himself for dousing it. “You want to talk about Richard.”
“It’s not something I want. But it needs to be done.”
Nicole set down her sandwich. Even as she nodded her agreement her shoulders tensed. “What do you want to know?”
He tightened his jaw. Like it or not, he had to think like a cop now. “Anything you can tell me. I’m trying to figure out what kind of game Braxton is playing.”
“Richard was very stylish and sophisticated. Appearances were everything.”
“He owned his own business.”
“Yes. Though I couldn’t tell you what he did. Many times he’d have a dress sent to me along with a note. ‘Be ready by six.’ I learned to do as he said and not question. I met some of the men he did business with but they rarely spoke in great detail around me.” She sighed. “All of the men who worked with Richard were afraid of him. I only remember one questioning him. And he vanished from the party within minutes. His body was found by the Golden Gate. He’d been shot.”
Ayden nodded. “San Francisco police suspected Braxton in several unsolved murders.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he committed them all. He didn’t like being crossed.”
“Tell me again how you met.”
“When we met I had a small photography studio in San Francisco. I was living hand to mouth but I didn’t care. I was having a ball and some of my work was starting to catch on. Local art galleries were carrying my work. I had a bit of a following.”
“I’ve no doubt.”
“Richard ducked in to avoid a rainstorm. He was very charming and asked me out. I agreed. For a time it was like magic. Flowers every day, small gifts, phone calls. When he asked me to marry him, it seemed so natural. I saw us growing old together.” She frowned. “But after the wedding things changed almost immediately. When I spent time with my friends or working, he would get angry and annoyed. Said I didn’t love him. I don’t know why I felt like I had to prove my love to him, but I did. So I gave up my friends. Soon I was so isolated. Then he really started to criticize me. And then he hit me.”
Ayden was adept at keeping his expression neutral but it was hard. It angered him that Braxton had treated Nicole so viciously. “I wish I’d been there to protect you.”
She shook her head. “I probably wouldn’t have listened. I thought if I tried a little harder I could fix his anger.”
He touched her cheek with his hand. For a moment neither spoke and then softly he said, “Would Vincent have killed Claire for Braxton?”
“Yes.” She sighed. “He would have done anything for Richard. He was intensely loyal. But I don’t think he did.”
“Why?”
“Because Vincent was very efficient. He did the job he was paid to do and there was no emotion. He didn’t waste time inflicting pain. Claire’s killer was angry. And she suffered. No matter what Richard said on that video I think now that he killed her.”
“What do you think is at the bank?”
“It would only be guesses now. But knowing Richard, probably another clue or even nothing. Jerking me around like this—controlling me—would have given him great pleasure. He knew driving north on the interstate would have terrified me. He knew I’d have no one up here to rely on. He should have been laughing in hell right now.” A smile lifted her lips. “What he hadn’t expected was you being here with me.”
He took pleasure knowing his presence would have driven Braxton insane. “I doubt he envisioned the scenario that’s played out.”
She smiled. “No. He didn’t.”
“Do you have regrets?”
“About us?” She sounded surprised by the question. “None. Never. You?”
“None.” He chose his words carefully. “This is what I’ve wanted for a very long time, Nicole.”
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nbsp; “I know.” She grew silent. “I’m sorry again that I pushed you away in the spring.”
“Don’t be.”
He had promised himself that he’d be patient, but with Nicole it was hard. He feared if he weren’t careful she’d slip through his fingers and they’d return to Richmond and all this would be just a sweet memory. “I’d like to see you when we get back to Richmond. And I don’t mean as friends.”
“I don’t want to make promises. I just don’t know what I can give over the long term.”
Ayden would be lying if that remark didn’t disappoint. “I know. Let’s just take it one step at a time. We can go at your pace.”
She leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips. “I think I can do that.”
Nicole’s lips tasted sweet. He was very aware that she’d made no commitments.
Denny had altered his appearance after he’d left Charlotte’s office. He’d changed out of the black wig and glasses and chosen an auburn one. He’d slipped on a turtleneck and tweed jacket over his T-shirt and selected a pair of wire-rimmed glasses from the collection in the trunk of his car. He lost time bandaging his foot, which had a deep puncture wound. It ached like a son of a bitch and he knew he’d definitely double back and pay Charlotte back for the inconvenience.
Now he looked more like an attorney than a biker. The change in appearance meant few would question his presence. And, in case he couldn’t get back to Charlotte, he wouldn’t be connected to her attack.
It had taken him more than an hour to visit three of the four hotels in a mile radius of the bank. No one at the first three hotels had heard of a Christina Braxton or a guy named Ayden. No one recognized the picture he had of her. He was tired and getting frustrated when he reached the Layfette House just after eight. Irritated, he was ready to be done with this job. The pain in his foot had migrated up his leg.
Denny welcomed the heat of the lobby as he moved gingerly across the carpeted floor to the front desk. A young woman stood behind the counter. She was young, heavyset, and had dark hair and chocolate eyes. He smiled, knowing that most women liked the way he looked when he was dressed like this. Chicks digged the brainy types.
He laid his right hand on the counter but didn’t lean too close so that he didn’t invade the woman’s space. “Good evening.”
She smiled. Her teeth were crooked and her mascara a bit too thick for his tastes. He’d liked the way Charlotte had looked. Clean, simple, elegant. He couldn’t wait to return to her.
“Good evening, sir.”
“I’m looking for someone.”
She frowned. “We can’t give out the names of our guests.”
Everyone said that but the fact was that desk clerks didn’t make much money and for a couple hundred bucks they’d toss him all kinds of information.
He laid Christina’s picture on the table along with two one hundred-dollar bills. “She’s my sister. She lives in New York and came home for the holidays. Long story short, she and Mom had a fight during the big family meal we were having. See, we normally eat on Christmas Day but Mom has cancer and was in the hospital until yesterday. Anyway, figured it was best to eat today seeing as she’s so weak. We got the table set and the turkey and trimmings on the table when Mom asks Chris, my sister, if she’s going to ever get married. Chris got all mad and stormed out. She’s always been dramatic.”
The desk clerk seemed to sympathize with his story. “I haven’t seen her.”
“Are you sure? My job is to find her so we have peace on earth. It’s a big family dinner. And frankly this could be Mom’s last Christmas.” He dropped his voice a notch. “The cancer’s spread to her bone.”
The woman’s eyes softened a little as her gaze dropped to the picture and the money. “I’m so sorry, but I can’t really say.”
Not an out-and-out no like he’d received at the other hotels. “It’s Christmas and you could really help me out.”
She nibbled her lip.
He pushed the money toward her. “Mom has been crying for the last couple of hours. Dad is near tears. It’s a mess.” He nudged Christina’s picture toward her. “A little extra change couldn’t hurt this time of year.”
She glanced from side to side and then laid her hand over the bills. She pulled them toward her.
Denny’s first reaction was to slap his hand over hers. He didn’t want her to take the money until she told him what he wanted, but he played it relaxed like a novice might. “So you’ve seen her?”
“She checked in with a man this afternoon. She came down for soda about a half hour ago and then went back to her room.”
He leaned forward. “What’s the guy’s name?”
She glanced at her computer screen and punched a couple of buttons. “David Ayden from Richmond.”
David Ayden. That fit. “I didn’t realize her boyfriend had come with her.” He smiled. “Are they still here?”
“Yes.”
“That’s excellent.”
“I can’t tell you the room.” She glanced from side to side. “Then people will know we talked.”
“No sweat. I’ll just take a seat in the bar and wait. They’ve got to come out sometime.”
She lowered her voice. “You’re not going to say I told you anything.”
He pretended to lock his lips closed and toss away a key. “Just between the two of us.”
Charlotte checked her wristwatch. Denny had been gone almost an hour. She’d half expected him to double back and kill her but the lapse of time told her he’d gone after Nicole. She said a prayer for the woman and hoped Ayden could save her.
For as long as she lived, she’d regret that phone call. But regrets had never gotten her anywhere and they wouldn’t get her out of this room.
As bad as she felt for Nicole she knew she had a little time to figure out an escape plan. If she got out of here, she could help Nicole. She kicked off her high heels and rose from the bathroom floor.
Every inch of her body ached. The bleeding in her side had slowed and the blood had started to clot and crust on her skin. She’d not bleed to death today, but the pain in her side did not ease her fears.
With a wince, Charlotte unfastened the pearl buttons of her blouse, peeled back the silk, and inspected her wound. The left side of her blouse was crimson and wet. With trembling hands, she slid off the blouse. The first glance at the blood and wound nearly made her stomach reel. She’d never been fond of the sight of blood, especially her own.
Faint heart never won… The words had been her mother’s mantra for as long as she could remember and it had been hers since the day she’d decided to leave the trailer park behind. She grabbed a wad of toilet paper from the spindle, rose up gently and turned on the tap. She ran the tissue under the water and then squeezed out the excess. She placed it on the blood caked over the wound. Immediately, she yelped. “Damn it!”
The pain took her breath away and for a moment she had to pause and wait for her heart to stop thundering in her chest.
Gingerly, she dabbed the wound until the area around it was clean. A tentative touch to the skin told her that the bullet was in her, lodged deep inside. There was no getting it out now. She’d cleaned it as best she could. Her best bet now was to find a way out of this room.
She’d tried the door several times but the desk Denny had shoved in front of it ensured it wouldn’t budge. She pressed her ear to the door.
“Help! Can anyone hear me?” There was no answer but she shouted for another five minutes before pain and fatigue got the better of her.
No one was going to save her. It was up to her to get out of this damn bathroom.
She wondered if Denny had found Nicole and Ayden. The Layfette House was an out of the way, romantic place few knew about. Most tourists went for the chain hotels.
Though the couple had tried to play it cool, the sexual chemistry between them snapped.
“You’re getting soft, Wellington,” she whispered. Normally, she didn’t encourage romance.
Fanciful and foolish as far as she was concerned. But it was Christmas after all.
Now she prayed her moment of weakness had saved the couple’s lives.
A wave of dizziness washed over her. Her vision blurred. She moistened her lips as she closed and opened her eyes. She focused on the wallpaper, a hunt scene that featured strong greens and reds. She’d chosen it because she’d seen it in a magazine. It had looked expensive and spoke of old money.
The time and effort she’d put into decorating a bathroom now seemed so foolish. “Gracie Jane Wells, Grannie always said your high ambitions would come to no good. And look where it got you. Dying, alone, and during the holidays no less.”
Tears welled in her eyes. Not so much from dying, which she didn’t want to do, but at the waste. She’d scrimped and saved and worked so damn hard to get out of the trailer park and make herself into a person worth knowing. And now a job that had bothered her from the beginning was biting her in the ass.
“I ain’t dying today.” Wincing, she straightened herself up and glanced around the bathroom again. The vent on the ceiling was too small for her to fit through even if she could have climbed on the pedestal sink and hoisted herself up there.
There were no windows. The only way out was the door and it was jammed.
She stared at the door, hating the thick walnut that she’d been so proud of when she’d purchased the place. The old wood was as hard as iron and it would take an ax to penetrate. Even if she had an ax she doubted she’d be able to wield it.
She laid her head against the cool wood. “I’m not dying here. I am not dying here.”
Raising her head, she ran her manicured hand over the smooth wood. That’s when she noticed the hinges on the door. Why the devil hadn’t she noticed them before? Brass pegs secured each of the three brass hinges. If she could remove the pegs, the door would fall open. Once it was open she could crawl over the desk and get to her phone.