“I call bullshit. I would know his face anywhere. I’ve seen him twice in her office. Get him the fuck out of there… I don’t care if I have to fly back and personally do it myself. I don’t want him in that building or near you.”
“O—okay, Weston. Okay…” Riley says. “I’ll get rid of him. Damn it…I can’t be mean.”
Through my anxiety, I manage a laugh. “Yeah right…you’ll be just fine. Call me when it’s done and if you feel at all nervous about him, I’ll be on the next flight.”
“Okay…Bye, Weston.”
After she hangs up I toss my phone on the desk. What the flying fornication is Elsa trying to prove? What’s her angle putting her little fuckstick into my office? She’d have to know I would come back eventually and recognize him right off the bat.
“Pine Ridge Realty, this is—”
I cut the receptionist off. “Elsa. Now.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Lawrence is busy at the moment.”
“I don’t give a shit if she’s on the fucking toilet, put me through.”
She does.
“Elsa Lawrence speaking…”
I growl. “Hello, darling.”
“Oh, it’s you…How are you, West? It’s been too long.”
“So. What’s the deal with the kid? You’d have to know I’d find out he was working there.”
“What kid? Oh, you mean Hunter? Oh, sweetie. He’s old news. Turns out he just wanted a job here and I refused him one. Guess he made his way down the pile and found your quaint little office. Funny how things turn out, huh?”
I white-knuckle grip my phone and speak through gritted teeth. “I swear, Elsa. If you fuck with me once more…”
“You won’t do a thing to me. You can’t. Underneath that hard exterior is still the little puppy that followed me into the bathroom and humped my leg.”
My office phone rings just as I’m about to scream vile obscenities into my cellphone. Wishing Elsa were here so I could throttle her with my bare hands.
“What?” I ask, angrily into the speaker.
“Mr. Casey, there’s a Miss Marshall here to see you.” Jo’s voice flows into the room.
Oh, sweet shit.
“Looks like you’re busy, baby…Call me when you’ve calmed down,” Elsa says, just before I hang up on her, not responding back.
“Send her in,” I tell Jo.
I open a desk drawer and chuck my phone into it, slamming it shut just as Leah walks in and closes the door behind her. She turns and flicks the look with her fingers.
I raise an eyebrow. Looks like my afternoon has gotten much brighter.
“Miss Marshall…I thought you were at the studio.”
She smiles and stands with her hands clasped at her waist. “I was. But, we’re done for the day.”
Lucky me. “Where’s Neil? I thought you were going to stay with him.”
“He’s here. He’s in the lobby chatting with some security guard he thinks is cute.”
“Hmm…”
Leah saunters over and I turn in my chair. “I think you’re cute,” I say.
“I think you’re mean. And you owe me an apology.”
“I do, do I?”
Leah nods and sits on my lap, straddling me between her legs. “You can’t do that to a girl, you know. It’s not very nice. Definitely not something a gentleman would do.”
“Leah, baby…whatever gave you the impression that I was a gentleman?” I ask, just as I take her face into my hands and kiss her. Her soft lips fit perfectly between mine, her tongue licks along my lip and I groan into her mouth.
I can feel the heat pouring from her body. My dick twitches in my pants, straining to spring free and push deep inside of her. Leah responds and grinds down against me.
I growl into her mouth, knowing I’m losing all control. “Leah…”
Her hands loosen my tie and unbutton my shirt. I begin to shrug off my jacket.
“Don’t. Leave it on. It’s hot,” Leah whispers. “You have no idea how sexy you look right now.”
I smirk and raise an eyebrow. “I was just about to say the same thing.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Leah
“You slut,” Neil says, crossing his arms with a giant grin on his face when I walk in the lobby where he’s been waiting for me.
“What?” I ask, innocently.
“You know what. How’s Mr. Real Estate?”
“Perfect,” I answer, grinning like a cat, and turning thirty shades of red.
“Let’s go celebrate your post-office sex with ice cream.”
I wrap my arm around Neil’s waist. “Only if you’re buying.”
While Neil and I sit on a bench in Central Park eating ice cream from waffle cones, his cellphone rings. Lucas’ name flashes on the screen and I pout. As much as I love what I do…doing something normal, like eating ice cream on a park bench will probably always be cut short.
“Yeah…I’ll tell her….Kay, gotcha…Bye.” Neil hangs up and sticks out his bottom lip. “You’re gonna be mad.”
“Tell me.”
“We have to go to Vegas.”
“Vegas? Why?”
Neil grins. “Oh, you know…just some last minute cancellation for a show at the MGM Grand…it needs filling, and we’ve been asked.”
“Shut up.”
Neil shakes his head. “I’m not kidding. Let’s go pack our bags, baby girl.”
Weston. Oh, shit. He’s not going to be happy about this. He won’t want me to leave…and do I even want to leave? I know I’ll have Neil and the boys, but…oh, crap.
***
I pace back and forth in front of the door of my hotel room. I haven’t been back in there since the red shoes incident. Biting my nails I stand at the door, with one hand in my mouth and the other inches from the door handle. My fingers almost touching.
“Do it, Leah…just open the door,” I whisper, trying to encourage my shattered nerves. I told Neil I would just run in and grab my clothes. He’s just in the room behind me gathering his own things, so if I need him I know he’ll be right here…but I’m still so scared.
One, two, three….breathe. I take my hand from my mouth, pull the card out my pocket and swipe it. The light flashes green. It’s go-time. I push the handle down and swing the door open.
They’re gone. The shoes are gone. What the…Shit, I hope room service didn’t take them. Then again…by the looks of the place they haven’t been in here since the morning before all this happened. Maybe Weston told them not to, who knows.
Stepping around the cart where my shoes were once placed, I hold my breath and find my suitcase in the closet. Throwing—not packing—clothing and toiletries into the luggage, I pull open the handle and zip it up. I need to get out of his room. Now.
One last glance around to make sure I’ve got it all, I blink at the bed. A quick flash of my night with Weston. A smile lingers on my lips as I forget about the shoes—for the moment—and close the door behind me. Neil’s waiting in the hallway.
“Got everything?” he asks.
I nod. “Yep.” Now, I just have to find a way to tell Weston. He’s not going to be happy about this. Not at all. I have brilliant idea to tell him once I’m on the plane. As much as I want to kiss him, touch him…taste him, once more before I leave. I know he’ll probably just lock me up somewhere and refuse to let me go.
I use the phone on the airplane.
He’s not answering his cellphone. Weird. I hang up and call the directory for Montedesco Properties.
“Weston Casey, please,” I say to the sweet voice on the other end. Neil elbows me and smiles while putting on his Beats headphones.
“Hey, Weston. It’s Leah…I didn’t want to tell you this on your voicemail, but I’m going to Vegas for two days. I’m sorry, please don’t be mad. It’s a big show…and I’ve got the boys with me. It was last minute. I promise I’ll let you be all kinds of mean once I get back. I’ll call you once I land.”
I sigh onc
e I hang up. I miss him already. Heat scorches through the deepest part of my belly as I think of him. His hands. His lips…that tongue. Oh, that tongue. I squirm in the chair, and glance over at Neil. His eyes are closed and he is mouthing the words to whatever music he’s listening to.
Picking up his iPod I see it’s Florida Georgia Line. He’s probably working on getting their lyrics down pat so he can try to impress them at Madison Square Garden. Wow. That still doesn’t seem real. You know you’re somebody when you play at MSG.
I breathe through some turbulence and close my eyes. I hate to fly. Neil smiles and reaches to hold my hand. What would I do without him? Leaning my head, I close my eyes and fall into a brief sleep.
“Repeat it again!”
“I—I promise to never speak to Weston Casey ag-again…I will n-never touch him again.”
“Or what?”
“You’ll kill me.”
“That’s right, bitch. Dead. Over…Like, no fucking more. Capiche?...Now, I’m not completely heartless, I’ll toss you out at the hospital. You need one. But I swear, if you talk, I’ll find you in a heartbeat.”
“I won’t tell anyone.”
I smell the bag again and my throat begins to close. “No!” I scream, opening my teary eyes to see faces and brows furrowed, staring at me in the quiet of the plane.
“Leah? You okay? You were just dreaming…it’s okay.” Neil squeezes my hand.
“Neil, I dreamed about it again. I’m sorry…”
“Don’t be sorry, sweetheart! Holy shit, you went through something unthinkable…you’re allowed to hurt. What can I do?”
I lean into him again. Resting my head on his strong, tattooed arm. “Just stay you.”
“I promise.” He squeezes my hand again. “Always.”
“She okay?” I hear Lucas ask Neil quietly.
“She’s fine. Bad dream, that’s all.”
I force a smile at Lucas. He frowns then smiles a worried smile at me and sighs.
***
As overwhelming as my feelings are with the memory of my abduction still fresh in my mind, I can’t help but feel slightly happy about seeing the lights of Vegas. There really isn’t anything like it. Movies and pictures do nothing. Not like seeing it in person. It’s just…wow. Glitter and gold, and lights and life.
“We’ll do a sound-check first thing in the morning. Brent said all is a go, we just need to show up,” Lucas says when we pull up to the hotel. “Leah? You sure you’re gonna be okay?”
I nod. “I’m fine. I’ll be fine. I’m happy…I’m excited.”
“Okay,” he says, giving Neil a look. “I want you to stay with her.”
“I wasn’t planning on leaving her alone, no worries.” Neil threads his fingers through mine and we follow Jett and Aaron into the hotel and up the elevator.
“Night, guys.” I hug each of them and follow Neil into our suite. “Damn…”
“Yeah, that about sums it up.” Neil drops our bags.
This room is crazy stupid. Too much for just two people. It’s so elegant, and modern…and I just want to run and jump on the bed.
“Baby girl, check this shit out.”
I find Neil in the bathroom. I mean the spa. “Whoa…”
“Right?” Neil asks. “Wanna share a tubby with me?”
I laugh. “We could fit the entire band into that tub.”
“Let’s go ask them…” Neil teases. I think he teases anyway.
“I have to call Weston. He’s probably worried, and I haven’t even turned my phone on since we landed. Enjoy your tubby.”
Neil is almost out of his clothes by the time I leave the bathroom. The scent of flowers flows out the open door and soothes me as I sit on the edge of the bed and turn on the power on my phone.
Just as I suspected. A voicemail.
“Baby, I’m sorry for missing your call. I was in another meeting, and I forgot my fucking cell in my desk. I wish you weren’t going to Vegas. I hate the thought of you being away from me. I know you’ve got Neil…fuck, I should be there to protect you. Please call me when you land.”
I smile as I call him.
He sighs before he speaks. “You’re safe…”
“I am.”
“I miss you.”
“I miss you.” Grinning. “You should see this room.”
“Maybe I will. I don’t like that you’re so far away, Leah.”
“I know.” I pull on a frayed string on the knee of my jeans. “It’s only for two days. This show will be huge for us.”
“Promise me you’ll be safe.”
“I promise.”
A knock on the door startles me. “Hey, I gotta go. I’ll call you before I go to bed.”
“You better.” Weston grumbles into the phone. His voice turning me on, as it sends tingles deep into me.
Through my happiness of hearing his voice I don’t bother to check the peephole. Opening the door I’m faced with a pretty brunette in jeans and a hoodie.
“Miss Marshall?” she asks.
“Who is there, Leah?” Weston asks.
“Just a sec,” I tell him. “Can I help you?” I ask the woman.
“I just wanted to look into your eyes. I want you to see the pain in mine.”
Something clenches in my stomach and I feel panic.
“My name is Sara.”
“Leah! Close the fucking door.” Weston’s voice growls through the phone.
“What? Why?” I ask him. “Who are you?” I ask the girl, Sara.
I’m so confused.
Neil comes out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. “Who’s this?”
“I’m nobody.” Sara turns and bolts down the hall.
Neil runs into the hallway. “What the fuck? Who the hell was that?”
“I—I don’t know. She said she wanted to look into my eyes.”
“Still on the phone?” Neil asks, nodding toward my hand at my side.
“Shit!” I put it to my ear. “Weston? I’m sorry…”
I can hear his voice is panicked. “Leah. Let me talk to Neil, please.”
I hand the phone to Neil.
“Yeah?” Neil answers, pushing me back into the room and locking the door behind us. “Stay here,” he says to me as he turns and walks back into the bathroom and closes the door behind him.
What the?
Who is Sara?
What did she mean “the pain in her eyes?”
“Well?” I ask, crossing my arms angrily when Neil comes out and hands me my phone.
“He’s coming to Vegas. Don’t ask. Don’t answer the door again, either.”
“What the hell, Neil? What did he say? Who was that?”
“I don’t know. But he doesn’t want you alone for a single second. Let’s go to bed.”
I don’t fight it. Neil crawls into the bed behind me and wraps his large body around me. “Neil…” I whisper.
“Just know we love you. We’re tryin’ to protect you.”
“I know…”
“Go to sleep.”
I exhale, loudly and obnoxiously. Which just makes Neil squeeze me tighter.
I manage to fall asleep. With Sara in my head. Her questions and her penetrating glare don’t leave my head at all throughout the night.
***
Weston
Neil told me where Leah’s sound-check was and even notified security that I was coming and allowed access to the building. The only flight I could book with such short notice didn’t leave New York for another three hours. How the hell am I going to be able to keep sane during that time? Knowing Sara was just at Leah’s hotel, and she had the audacity to confront her.
Sara won’t answer her phone. It keeps going to a mailbox that is full. So I couldn’t leave a message even if I tried.
Josh was pissed when I told him I was leaving. I told him I didn’t give a shit. Montedesco wasn’t going anywhere with me being gone for a day, and Leah is more important to me anyway. I can get a job anywh
ere. There’s only one of her.
“Flight 394 to Las Vegas will be boarding in ten minutes.” The speaker above my head blasts.
Finally.
I grab my bag and my ticket and stand in the long line.
I’m stuck behind a giggling couple. They’re young. Like, really young. Probably eloping to some white chapel to get married by Elvis. The pretty redhead keeps whispering into her boyfriend’s ear, and kissing his neck. She turns and smiles at me just as she reaches down and squeezes his ass.
I don’t smile back.
The flight is long. Too long. The stupid giggling couple is seated right across from me too. Am I being punished for something? Having to sit and witness their love and cute-ness is going to make me fucking gag. I wish they’d fuck off and go join the Mile High club in the bathroom like most other horny couples on planes. At least I wouldn’t have to be subjected to this constant annoyance.
I lean back in the seat, plug in my earbuds and turn Leah’s voice on. It instantly soothes me, calms me…makes me forget about everything around. She grounds me—even when I’m thirty thousand feet in the air.
As we descend into the glittering Las Vegas horizon, I feel a pit in my stomach. A sickening feeling. Knowing Sara is out there somewhere. Neil said she was a brunette. Did she dye her hair to match Leah’s? The thought terrifies me. I have no idea what she could be capable of. Damn, Detective Soloman…damn me. I should have given him her name sooner. Maybe she’d be locked up in a nuthouse somewhere.
If Leah gets hurt…I’ll never forgive myself. Never.
The cab takes me to her hotel. Neil takes too long answering the door, and I push past him. “Where is she?”
“Still sleeping.” He points to the bed.
Leah’s curled into a pillow. Her hair scattered all behind her. She looks perfect.
I glance back at Neil. He’s only in boxers.
“Ugh, don’t even, man. Gay, remember. I love that girl. But the thought of boobs makes me want to hurl.”
I smirk. “You’re lucky.”
“You’re the lucky one. I don’t know why she’s so crazy for you. She’s just…well, I’ve never seen her like this.” Neil shakes his head. “Whoever that chick was earlier…she better not touch Leah. She looked all kinds of crazy.”
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