Forever Yours
Page 19
In a matter of minutes, Toby turned up a steep hill that gradually leveled off. Up ahead was the ambiguous iron gate. Zach felt a muscle leap in his jaw. Toby pulled up until the back window of the car was even with the speaker box.
Zach rolled down the window and punched the black button. “Zachary Wilder to see Ms. Raineau.”
“Ms. Raineau is unavailable.”
Zachary held on to his temper. It wouldn’t do any good to blow. The person was just following orders. “Perhaps if you’d tell her who is calling, she might change her mind.”
“The answer would be the same,” came the droll answer.
Patience. “If you would please just tell her.”
“Sir. She is unavailable and this conversation is over.”
Zachary locked the curse behind his lips. If he ever got his hands on Ms. Snob, he’d have a few choice words with her. He sat back in his seat. “Home.”
Toby pulled off and started back down the road. Arms folded, Zachary slumped back in his seat. Somehow, some way, he was going to talk to her.
“Zach, a stretch limo just came out of the gate.”
Zach shot up in his seat. Sure enough, there was a black limo behind them. The car could have dropped her off or anyone else off or have someone else inside. “Once we’re on the street, follow it and don’t let it get away.”
Toby snorted, straightened his mirror. “You’re such a kidder.”
Zach grinned. Toby lived for speed. He might not have a GPS system, but he did have the latest radar detector.
The limo passed, and although Zach already knew he wouldn’t be able to see inside, he leaned closer to the window. “Can you tell if it’s a car service or private?”
“Service,” Toby answered.
The chances went up that Laurel might be in the car. People who were as successful as she usually had a personal driver. They tended to be more loyal and they were on hand whenever you needed them, but Laurel hadn’t been in L.A. long enough to hire a driver.
“He’s taking the exit to LAX.”
Better and better. Zachary watched the limo take the lane for departing international flights. “Ten bucks says Ms. Snob is in that car.”
“Not this time,” Toby said good-naturedly. “I always lose when I bet with you.”
Laughing, sensing he’d run Laurel to ground at last, Zach scooted forward in the back seat. “I’ve got you now.”
“The paparazzi are always hanging out here. You’re going to have to be fast on your feet to get past them,” Toby warned.
Zach had always been courteous in the past. It was better that way. However, today he had no intention of letting the horde with cameras and mics slow him down.
The limo inched its way over to the curb and parked. Toby muscled the Bentley in ahead of a Jaguar. The man in the car laid on his horn in protest. “You better hurry. I’ll circle.”
Zach was already reaching for the door handle. On the sidewalk, he hurried toward baggage check-in for first-class passengers. He didn’t see her at first, until a guy who looked like he could bench-press five hundred pounds and not break a sweat moved to reveal a delicately shaped woman wearing large-rimmed sunglasses, a short-brimmed woven hat edged with black ribbon, a white blouse, and slim black pants. On the other side of her was a twin to the first guy.
Laurel Raineau. Victory. Grinning, Zach moved to follow her into the terminal. He made it within five feet of her before one of the twin samurai faced him, blocking his way. He moved to step around him. The man moved with him.
“You’re in my way,” Zachary said.
The man said nothing.
Zachary tried to look past or over him, but that was impossible. He was a yard wide. “Should I call airport security?”
The bodyguard folded his massive arms.
“Rolling Deep!” a female voice screeched. “It’s Rolling Deep!” The cry was taken up by another and another. If he had miraculously managed to escape the attention of the paparazzi earlier, he was in for it now.
A crowd converged on him. Cameras flashed. The bodyguard moved back, then turned and walked away. There was no way Zach would try to follow. People would follow him. If he got close to her again, her bodyguards would stop him. He was sure security was nearby, watching to see that things remained relatively calm.
All he needed was Laurel seeing him having an altercation with the authorities. She already thought the worst of him. Swallowing his disappointment, he signed any paper and legal body parts presented to him.
Laurel had managed to escape him.
Table of Contents
Cover
Title
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Epilogue