Up in Flames (Rosemary Beach 13)

The driver didn’t speak but pulled forward as if he knew where he was going.

A phone vibrated in Gannon’s pocket, but he ignored it. Instead, he leaned back and watched out the front window as the car drove down the Strip.

“Where is this place?” I asked, curious as we turned off the main Strip.

“Old Vegas,” he replied. “My favorite part.”

His phone began vibrating again. And again, he ignored it.

Major

After the fifth try, I stopped calling her. She was pissed again, and she wasn’t home. Dammit, she was moody as fuck. We had gotten too close on the beach the other day, and I needed some space. Figured that the moment I tried to back off, she’d up and run. Typical Nan.

She was so damn spoiled rotten it drove me nuts. When she was funny and sweet, like she had been two days ago, my defenses came down, and I enjoyed myself with her. I didn’t want to enjoy myself with her. In the end, she was going to hate me, and I couldn’t stomach that idea now. It’d be easier if I didn’t let myself care.

If Cope found out I’d lost her, he was going to be pissed. The date I had tonight with the girl from the country club, Maggie, didn’t seem exciting anymore. I’d hoped to release some more sexual tension before I had to deal with Nan again. That didn’t seem like it was going to happen now. Not with Nan MIA.

Cope had surveillance on her, so there was a good chance he already knew where she was. I was concerned, because he hadn’t come after me and sent me after her yet. He normally let me know the moment she left her house. But it had been almost an entire day that I couldn’t find her, and he gave me nothing.

Stupid son of a bitch was wanting me to come to him and admit I’d let her out of my sight. Fuck, I hated going to him for help, but he had the tracker on her damn phone. He’d be the only one who knew where she was. I’d also get fired by DeCarlo if I didn’t move on this. Nan was my job. My only job right now.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Cope’s number. No answer. I called a second time. No answer.

Motherfucker, was he pissed at me now, too?

I had to find Nan without his help. He was right. I wasn’t giving her enough attention. If I wanted to complete this job, I had to focus on her more. Less wild sex in bathrooms with hot waitresses and more time kissing the princess’s haughty ass. Although she had a nice one. A fucking smoking ass.

Jerking my keys from my pocket, I headed out to my truck. I would start by asking Rush Finlay, Nan’s brother. He normally kept tabs on her. He was my best bet at tracking her down. I doubted she’d leave town without telling him first. I should have asked him during golf, but I hadn’t known she was missing then.

My phone started to ring, and I looked down at the screen. It was Cope. Thank fucking God.

“Hey,” I said, but was interrupted.

“I’m with her,” he snapped, and then the call ended.

What the fuck? He was with her. Well, where the hell were they? And how did he get her? Was she with him willingly, or had he taken her? Shit!

Cope was a crazy son of a bitch. Nan wasn’t safe with him. I might be playing her, but at least I wasn’t dangerous to her. Cope was. I had to figure out where they were. Turning my truck around, I headed out of town toward the hotel where Cope was staying. I’d break in and check his surveillance cameras. Maybe I could figure things out before Nan got hurt and I had to kill a motherfucker.

Nan

Breakfast was enjoyable, but Gannon continued to be a quiet guy. I chatted, and he listened. Sometimes neither of us spoke while we enjoyed our food. Once we had ordered, he had excused himself and stepped outside to make a quick phone call. I assumed it was whoever had been trying to call him in the car. The fact that he was literally on the phone for fifteen seconds meant that either he didn’t get through or he only needed to leave a quick message. Whichever it was, he seemed relaxed about it when he returned.

When we were in the car headed back to the Bellagio, he looked over at me. “I’ve got some work this afternoon, but I’d like to see you tonight. Somewhere not as intense as last night.”

“Do you want to meet in my suite for a drink before we head out? We can decide then.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. I should have just said, Come to my room and fuck me all night long until I can’t stand anymore.

He nodded. “I’d like that.”

Oh, he would? OK . . . well . . . OK.

“I’m in room 1801,” I replied, a little too breathlessly.

When the car came to a stop in front of the casino, Gannon didn’t get out, but the driver did. Once we were alone, Gannon reached over and cupped my face, then leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips. I hadn’t been ready for that, but it was a wow kind of kiss.

“I’ll see you at seven,” he said, dropping his hand and leaning back just as my door was opened.

I managed a nod and climbed out of the car on surprisingly wobbly legs. Damn, what was it about that man?

Four hours later, and my heart was beating harder than it ever had in my life. I didn’t know this man, and he could potentially be a serial killer or just out of prison. Yet here I was inviting him to my room like it was no big deal. And I was sober. I was doing this without the aid of vodka to make me stupid.

Maybe I should have had a drink or five.

I stood looking at myself in the mirror and decided I looked like I wanted to be fucked. There was no way he’d miss the obvious invitation. I had spent the entire four hours preparing myself for tonight, which might have verged on pathetic.

The knock on the door startled me even though I had been expecting him. My nerves were working overtime. I had to decide what I was going to do. It wasn’t like I’d never had a one-night stand, but this guy was . . . different. He was as terrifying as he was attractive. The fact that I knew so little about him and that he knew a good deal about me—I’d had to talk a lot to fill the silence—put us on an uneven playing field. I wasn’t sure I liked that.