Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Grace slid into the SUV while debating on calling it a night and letting Sam enjoy time with his brothers and the other guys.
He didn’t need her with him. There wouldn’t be any other women that she needed to keep away from Sam, except maybe a stripper or two, and Sam was capable of thwarting advances.
Her phone rang, and she slipped it out of her purse and glanced at the caller ID to find Aunt Betty calling. She never called unless she’d had a vision or someone was in trouble. Grace answered and pressed the phone to her ear, holding her breath that the apocalypse wasn’t upon them.
“Hey, Aunt Betty. You better not be calling me with bad news.”
“Actually, I’m calling to tell you that the jet is at the airport for whenever you’re ready to leave,” Betty said against the sounds of the bar in the background.
“I didn’t ask for the jet. Sam has his, and how in the world do you know where I am?” Grace asked, ignoring Sam’s questioning looks.
“You’re going to need it, doll. Trust me.”
Grace turned her gaze to the passing fields and lowered her voice. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“I can’t say. Your sisters made me promise. But we both know I don’t take orders from anyone. You should leave now. Make him take you to the airport. Hell, bring him back with you. Nothing good is going to come out of you staying in Texas for another minute.”
“Aunt Betty, just tell me what you saw.” Grace knocked Sam’s arm. “Stop the car. I need a minute.”
Sam pulled over to the shoulder, and Grace jumped out of the SUV and started pacing. “Start talking.”
“Sam is going to get hurt, and if you stay, so are you.”
Her words had Grace stopping in her tracks. “Like our hearts broken or physically hurt? Which are you talking about?”
“Both. So just get on the plane, Grace. I promised your momma that I wouldn’t let you girls get hurt again after what happened with Cara. So, get on the damn plane, Grace.”
Grace turned toward the SUV and met Sam’s questioning gaze.
“I can’t, Aunt Betty. I have to see this through. Deep down in my gut, call it my intuition or whatever you want, I know I have to see this through. My future depends on it.”
Aunt Betty’s voice turned serious. “You won’t have a future if you aren’t careful, Grace.”
“And Sam? What happens to him if he stays?”
“Grace, do you have wax buildup in your ears? Let me be perfectly clear. If Sam and you stay, one or both of you are going to the hospital with a gunshot wound. Get the hell out of that godforsaken town, or I’m calling in my favors and sending an agent with the FBI to escort your stubborn ass back home. ”
“How long do I have?”
“You need to be gone before the sun rises.”
“His brother is getting married. Sam isn’t going to leave,” Grace said to placate her aunt. “But I’ll work on him.”
Grace hung up and spun back to the SUV to find Sam leaning against the passenger door. “Everything okay?”
“No.” Grace shook her head. “What kind of chance do I have of getting you to leave Texas with me tonight?”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“That was my Aunt Betty. There’s no easy way to tell you this, but we’re in danger.”
“What kind of danger?”
“The kind you don’t walk away from. She wants us to leave.”
“I’m the best man. I can’t just leave.”
“I know.” She clasped her hands together. “I’m sorry.”
Sam ran his hand through his hair and opened the passenger door. “I can’t go, but you should. I’ll have my jet fly you home tomorrow and come back for me at the end of the week, after the wedding. You shouldn’t stay.”
“No need. My company jet was already sent to bring me home. I’ll have the pilot waiting for when I’m ready to go. Is there anything I can do to change your mind about leaving with me?” Grace slid up to him and rested her hand on his chest. “Anything at all?”
Sam cupped her neck and pressed his lips to hers. “No, but if your aunt is correct, we might as well make better use of our time.”
“I couldn’t agree more. How about we go to the club to tell the others we aren’t staying and go back to the hotel.
” Where you’ll be safe behind closed doors.
She kept that part to herself while she kissed him once more before climbing into the SUV.
She could find ways and things for them to do that kept Sam busy and out of the line of fire until the wedding.
At least that was her plan, until she had to leave at the last minute.
Sam drove to the strip club where the other SUVs were already parked. The parking lot held only a few cars and a few motorcycles. It was still early, and they weren’t busy yet.
They both walked in and headed to the bar for a beer after deciding to have one drink before putting on the show that they couldn’t keep their hands off of each other in a plausible excuse for them to leave. She could sell it.
Music blared as lights flashed. Half-clad women were on the stage, twirling around the pole and dancing provocatively.
Men wearing everything from leather vests to business suits sat around the stage and in the darkened corners, where a few were in the process of getting lap dances.
Some of the men were drinking, some just watching like voyeurs.
A few guys in cowboy hats lined the bar, and Grace immediately recognized them from the grounds around the hotel she’d seen while on her jog and in the pool.
Michael, Stan, and Richard had a booth near the stage.
Stan was in the process of shoving some dollars in the woman’s thong.
Sam kept his arm around Grace’s shoulder or on her back as if he was staking his claim for all others to see.
Grace didn’t mind. They wouldn’t be in the bar long enough for anything to happen.
Not if she had her way. She needed time to talk to Aunt Betty again and grill her sisters for a bit more specific information about the shooter, like when and where or even name and room number would have been helpful.
Sam kissed her neck and whispered into her ear, “Ten minutes max and we’re out of here.”
Grace nodded and danced toward the bachelor party table. The men were wearing big, bright smiles. They had a table full of shots lined up. Stan handed Grace and Sam one as they approached. “You guys need to catch up.”
Sam set his down. “I’m driving.”
“Aw, man, don’t be a party pooper. We can call you a cab.”
“I’ll drive.” Grace handed her shot to Sam.
“You should have a shot with your brother. Make memories since we won’t be staying long,” she said with a smile and took a seat at one of the dark booths behind the table and out of the way.
She really didn’t want to be the cause of him not enjoying this special time with his brother, even if neither Sam nor she liked the bride.
Grace sat at the table while Sam handed his brother a few shots and patted him on the back. She couldn’t hear their words, not that it mattered. A waitress showed up with a beer on her tray and set it down in front of Grace. “It’s from the cowboy at the bar.”
Grace nodded. “Tell him thanks, but I don’t need anymore. I’m driving. Do you mind bringing me a bottled water?”
“Sure thing, hun.”
“Thanks.”
The waitress returned and placed the bottled water on the table along with a slip of paper with a phone number on it. Grace’s brows dipped. “The cowboy in the black hat.”
Grace glanced to the guy at the bar. His belt buckle was almost as big as his head.
He tipped his hat in way of greeting, and Grace gave him a quick smile of thanks before turning back to find Richard handing Sam something.
Sam’s heated gaze was on Grace. She could feel the flames coursing through her body.
Within seconds Sam was by her side and sitting at the table, his arm around the back of the booth.
“I don’t think you realize how many men admire you.”
“Black Cowboy Hat sent over his number.” Grace grinned.
“You won’t need it,” Sam said, taking a sip of his still half-full beer. “You promised to let me date you if I guessed why you were in my office.”
“Ah.” She nodded. “I almost forgot.” As if. She slid onto his lap and straddled him. Her dress was hiked up to her thighs, and the only things separating her heat and his bulge were her panties and his jeans. She wrapped her hands around his neck. “Ready to leave?”
His hands slipped beneath her dress and landed on her ass. “Thong?” He grinned. “My favorite.”
She nodded, and he squeezed her ass cheeks, shooting a bit of excitement up her spine.
“Kiss me and mean it,” she demanded.
He leaned closer to her and kissed the swells of her breasts, which were peeking out from her dress. He kissed a path up her neck as he held her bottom against him, stopping her squirm.
His lips tilted up into a lazy smile as he met her gaze. “You like that?”
“I like a lot of things.” Her heart raced against her ribcage as his hands toyed with the scrap of material going down her crack.
He leaned forward and kissed her hard. He took what she gave, wanting, craving more, bringing every one of her nerve endings to life in a lust filled haze. “You should tell them bye.”
He rose, slowly letting her slide down his body. “I already did.”
He lowered her dress down her thighs. Each agonizing inch against her sensitive skin ensured that she wasn’t leaving Texas without taking him for a trial run, or two, during a hot unadulterated sex-a-thon.
Feeling his need and desire for her, for the first time in a long time, she’d truly felt wanted and needed.
He’d given her back what she thought was unattainable, that elusive partner she thought didn’t exist, and she wasn’t ready to walk away. Not yet.
He took her by the hand and led her outside.
She’d follow him just to see if what he promised was just as good as the real thing.
What started as a game had the possibility to be so much more.
Her panties were wet in anticipation. His erection bulged behind his zipper.
They were both in need of a cold shower, if they planned to keep their wits about them.
“I hope you’re ready for a long hot ride, Ms. Thatcher.”
She was and she knew they’d never make it back to the hotel room before one or both of them found release. It was just a matter of whether Sam was going to screw her in the back seat or if he was going to find somewhere else.
“The hotel is too far away,” she whispered around his kisses as he backed her up until she was pressed against the door. The smell of his cologne surrounded her, soothed her. Made her forget their problems.
“I know.” He rested his forehead against hers and clenched his eyes closed. “I know of a place where it will just be us. No threats, no guests, no hotel workers. Just us, and it’s closer.”
“Where?” she asked excitedly, trying to calm the rapid beat of her heart.
He slipped his fingers beneath her dress and inched her panties to the side, running the pad of his finger through her wet folds before moving it inside of her hot, wet channel.
A moan slipped free as she clenched his arm.
The need to keep him inside of her left her frenzied with desire.
He pulled it out while holding her gaze, and placing the finger in his mouth, he sucked her desire from the digit before kissing her hard once again.
The musky taste of her arousal drove her need only higher.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” she said, out of breath, fighting the need to ask for more.
“I read it in your book.” He winked. “It’s not far. Do you trust me?”
“Yes.”