“We’ll go on upstairs, and have Candace ask for you at the desk—loud enough so the reporters can hear you.”
“I’ll need to know your full name then,” Candace said.
“Chaz Vincent.”
She frowned. “That sounds familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?”
Chaz shrugged. “Probably just the papers.” Scott had told him his disappearance had made headlines for several days after the plane had gone down. But he didn’t want to get into all that now. “What then?” he asked Scott.
“Because of the reporters lying in wait in the lobby, Billings will refuse to give her your room number. Candace should just say something like, ‘He must have left for Denver already,’ then head up to room three oh six. Make sure the reporters know what the room number is.”
Kelly’s room? “Why there?”
Scott grimaced impatiently. “Because I need to make sure my sister doesn’t leave her room—they’ll be looking for her, too. But they’ll think it’s Candace’s room. And, just in case they don’t believe Candace, we’ll have another little playlet concocted to convince them.” He turned to Candace. “You up for this?”
“Of course,” she said. Smoothing the wrinkles out of her slim slacks, she looked resolute and determined.
Chaz suspected she liked the thought of having something to distract her from her own problems. “Okay. Just give us ten minutes to get up the back stairs, all right?” Chaz said.
Glancing at her watch, Candace said, “Ten minutes. I can do that.”
“Good,” Scott exclaimed. “Now, let’s go.”
It took them awhile to locate the stairs without calling attention to themselves, then they hurried up them and knocked on Kelly’s door.
“It’s me,” Scott said. “Let me in, quick.”
Kelly opened the door and they darted inside. Damn, she looked good. She smelled like she had just come from the shower and looked crisp and clean in a long dark skirt over leather boots and a soft red sweater that looked incredibly touchable. Chaz clenched his fists by his side, curbing his instinct to reach out and touch all that sweet softness.
Oblivious of his dilemma, Kelly glanced from Scott to Chaz. “What’s this all about? I thought I was seeing Spencer first.”
“You are, you are,” Scott assured her. “But there are some reporters we need to get rid of first.”
She closed her eyes briefly and shook her head. “I should have known. Where are they?”
“Downstairs in the lobby, putting Billings under siege.” When she grimaced, Scott said, “Don’t worry. I have a plan . . . and I’d better let Spencer in on his part of this.”
He quickly called Deuce and filled him in, adding, “We have a friend downstairs trying to put them off the scent. If that doesn’t work, they’re liable to follow her up here. Do me a favor and keep an eye out in the hallway. If you see a bunch of guys hanging outside, call me right away in Kelly’s room. I’ll take it from there, and just ignore anything I say.”
Deuce must have agreed to do as Scott asked, for Scott hung up.
“What are you planning?” Kelly asked.
A knock came at the door. “It’s me, Candace. I don’t think they fell for it.”
“Candace?” Kelly exclaimed in surprise. “How—?”
“Never mind,” Scott said. “Too late now. Just hide in here and don’t come out until I call you.”
He shoved Kelly and Chaz both in the closet and closed the doors. As darkness enfolded him and he fought through clinging material to the back of the closet, Chaz heard Scott open the door and close it quickly. Then the phone rang, but the closed doors and clothing muffled the sound so that Chaz couldn’t make out what Scott was saying.
He felt Kelly move next to him and with both their backs against the wall, she whispered, “Can you hear what’s going on?”
“No, not a thing,” he whispered back.
And frankly, he didn’t care. The entire closet was filled with Kelly’s scent—a familiar combination of herbal shampoo and the light scent of baby powder. It wasn’t particularly exotic or alluring, but it was all Kelly, and that was seductive enough for Chaz.
He inhaled, savoring her fragrance. Hell, if he’d been a dog, he’d have wallowed in it. All he wanted to do was sink his nose into the curve of her neck and breathe her in.
Kelly’s arm brushed his and her nearness, combined with the closeness of the closet, made him realize how small this space was. Scott could have hidden them in the bathroom and achieved the same objective, but maybe he intended to do Chaz a favor by confining him in such close proximity with his wife.
The only problem was, Chaz had spent far too much time in cramped quarters like this over the past five years, planning escape, desperately wanting a way out.
God, he wanted out now, too.
His breathing turned loud in the stillness, and he couldn’t seem to stop it from becoming more labored. Suddenly, he felt as if he were back in his prison and the lush foliage, persistent humidity, and the threat of savage beasts lurking in the undergrowth seemed to close in around him.
“What’s wrong?” Kelly whispered.
“Nothing,” Chaz said. Then realized his unwillingness to share his fears with her would only push her away even more.
She edged away, and Chaz cursed himself, then forcibly calmed his breathing. As the jungle retreated from his imagination, he said, “It’s just that I don’t like small spaces . . . I occupied far too many of them during my imprisonment.”
“Oh, Chaz, I’m sorry,” Kelly murmured. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Just . . . let me touch you.” Without waiting for permission, Chaz turned and placed the front of his body full-length against hers, pressing her against the back wall of the closet. Though he longed to hold her, to let his hands roam her body until she screamed out his name, he held himself in check, firmly planting his hands flat against the wall.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered as he felt Kelly stiffen. “I just need human contact.”
He concentrated solely on his wife and, though he couldn’t see a blessed thing, he let his other senses fall into her as he inhaled her special scent, heard the soft sound of her breathing, and felt her soften and relax under him when she realized he didn’t intend to take advantage of her. It helped him slow his breathing and bring it under control.
Tentatively, Kelly raised her arms, and held him, stroking his back. Not as a lover, but in comfort.
Hell, he didn’t care. He’d take anything he could get.
And now that his panic attack was under control, Chaz’s body reminded him just how much he had missed his wife. Longing filled him, sensual remembrance flaring at every point they touched. He sighed and kissed her hair, the only place that seemed safe at the moment. Her embrace tightened and turned into a caress, causing another sort of adrenaline to sizzle through him. God, did she want him as much as he wanted her?
The inevitable hardness occurred and, wishing he could see her face to gauge her reaction, Chaz rubbed up against her, holding himself just short of grinding into her. The delicious friction sent waves of pleasure through him. Damn, what he wouldn’t give for the power to make their clothes vanish right now.
Kelly gasped and he froze for a moment until he realized her hips were thrusting against his just as much as his were against hers. He let his arms slide around her and he sought her lips with his in the darkness.
They clung together in what seemed like desperation, a primal need to connect with a human being on the most basic of levels. His head swam and he retreated for a moment, only to dive back into the sweetness that was Kelly, caressing one pebbled breast in his hand as he licked and nipped his way down her neck.
Her whimper of desire only encouraged him, and he raised her sweater, yanked up her bra, and took her breast into his mouth.
Sudden light flooded the closet, disorienting him, and Kelly yanked down her sweater and pushed him away. Damn. Scott sure had lousy timing.
&nbs
p; Surrendering to the inevitable, Chaz shoved aside the hanging clothes and abandoned the warm, sensual atmosphere of the closet for the cool room beyond. Kelly came out right behind him, tugging her sweater into place and fussing with her hair.
Chaz glared at Scott, daring him to say something, but Scott kept his mouth shut. Of course, he couldn’t hide the amusement in his eyes.
Candace blinked in surprise. “Kelly?”
Kelly nodded, nowhere near as surprised as Candace. “Hello, Candace,” she said dully.
Chaz glanced back and forth between them. “You know each other?”
Kelly smoothed her hair. “Yes—Candace is my publisher.”
“Your boss?” A sudden suspicion entered Chaz’s mind and he glanced swiftly at the older woman.
Dawning comprehension showed on her face, too. “You two . . . know each other?” Candace asked, myriad expressions warring for dominance on her face.
“You might say that,” Chaz drawled. “She’s my wife.”
His suspicion was confirmed when delight filled Candace’s face. She must be in love with Deuce.
“But how do you know Candace?” Kelly asked with a frown.
“We met downstairs last night when I was trying to find out where you went,” he explained. Then, before Kelly could ask any more questions, he added, “Small world, isn’t it?”
A knock came at the door and Scott went to answer it, saying, “And I suspect it’s about to get much smaller.”
There, on the other side, was Deuce. Scott waved him into the room, but he came to a halt two steps inside. “Candace? What are you doing here? Is there something wrong at the office? Did you find a Pizzazz Girl?”
Good Lord, was that all Deuce could think of at a time like this—business? He deserved to lose Kelly.
Candace smiled at him. “No, it’s pure coincidence that we showed up at the same hotel. I decided to give myself a treat for a week and didn’t realize you’d chosen the same hotel for your . . .” She glanced questioningly at Kelly and Chaz. “Honeymoon?”
That last word was more of a question than a statement. But she must have anticipated the answer, for her face relaxed and she looked years younger.
“That remains to be seen,” Chaz said firmly.
But Kelly evidently didn’t want Candace to know what was going on, for she interjected quickly with, “What happened here, Scott? Did you get rid of the reporters? We couldn’t hear a thing in the closet.”
At the word “closet,” Deuce gave them a quick appraising glance and Chaz grinned at him, hoping the imaginary canary feathers showed around his mouth.
“Yes, we got rid of them. Once Spencer told me they were outside the door, I had a loud telephone conversation with you, Chaz, telling you to get the hell out of Denver before the reporters got there. They must have heard me, because they didn’t knock on the door until after I hung up.” Scott grinned, rocking on his heels. “I tried to convince them you two had gone to Bermuda, but for some reason, they didn’t buy it.”
“Very clever,” Chaz said. “I owe you one, buddy.”
Scott nodded. “Maybe. I don’t know how long it will keep them off the scent, but it should buy you some time.”
The phone rang, but though they all gave it a wary glance, no one made a move to answer it. “I don’t think I want to talk to anyone who might be calling,” Kelly murmured.
“Good,” Deuce said and moved toward her. “Then perhaps we should start on our date now?”
Before Chaz could protest, Scott said, “Good idea. Get out while they’re still on their way to Denver.”
And Chaz had to keep his mouth shut. After all, he was the one who came up with this date idea in the first place. He consoled himself with the thought that Deuce couldn’t possibly top the moments Chaz and Kelly had shared in the closet. That made it a little easier to keep his clenched fists in his pockets—even when the asshole shot him a triumphant glance and carried Kelly off with him.
As the door closed behind them, Chaz turned to Candace. “Is that the man you’re in love with?”
She darted a furtive glance at Scott, but said with a lift of her chin, “Yes. And is she the wife who is trying to choose between you?”
“Yes.”
“Then the marriage isn’t . . . valid? There’s still hope?”
“We don’t know about the validity,” Scott said, “since Chaz was declared dead.”
“But there is hope,” Chaz said with a grin. “Especially if we join forces.” As Scott watched with a fascinated expression, Chaz added, “It seems we have the same objective.”
A slow smile spread across her face. “Indeed we do. Hmm. Remember what I said earlier about all being fair in love and war . . . within reason?”
Chaz nodded.
Candace’s eyes blazed with purpose. “Well, forget the reasonable part. As far as I’m concerned, anything goes.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Let’s follow them and see if we can sabotage this date.”
Chaz laughed. “Hell, I’m game, but . . .” He glanced at Scott. “Are you gonna try and stop us?”
“Me?” Scott repeated, surprised. “Not on your life. I’m coming along. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
8
Chaz led the way out the door, then paused in the hallway. “Where’d they go?”
Scott grinned at him, closing the door behind Candace. “It shouldn’t be difficult to find out. Spencer used the limo to come here before he sent it to pick up Kelly, which means he has no more transportation until the week is up.”
Chaz did a slow burn as the implications of that seeped in. No doubt Deuce had intended to spend the entire time in their honeymoon suite. “So he can’t leave?” Chaz asked as they hurried toward the elevator.
“He can if he calls a cab,” Candace reminded him.
Oh yeah. It was the small things that constantly tripped him up, as if his time in the jungle had erased selected portions of his memory. Luckily, things seemed to come back quickly enough with just a hint. “We’d better hurry, then, in case there’s one waiting.” At a popular spot like this, the cabs might be lined up, waiting for passengers.
As they rode the elevator down, Chaz thought, Why am I doing this?
Because Candace had given him permission? Because Scott egged him on?
No, because he couldn’t stand the thought of Deuce touching Kelly. It made him feel twitchy all over. Besides, he needed to scope out his competition, didn’t he? To know what he was up against? Hell, if he thought of it that way, it was a moral imperative.
Feeling virtuous, Chaz headed purposefully toward the Bell Captain’s podium, pleased that he had remembered the name for it. But Scott stopped him with a hand on his arm.
“No need,” Scott said, nodding toward the other side of the lobby.
Chaz looked in that direction. Good grief, was Deuce taking her to lunch in the hotel restaurant? Obviously, the man had no imagination. Well, Chaz couldn’t complain, especially since it made it easy to follow them. “That’s convenient. Let’s go.”
“Where are we going?” came an accented voice behind him.
Chaz groaned. Garcia. He’d hoped she’d given up, but his luck was holding true—all bad. The woman clung like a burr and had as much sense.
“You’re going nowhere—” Chaz began, only to be interrupted by Scott.
“We’re going to lunch,” Scott said. “Would you like to join us?”
Chaz stared at him in disgust, but Scott just shrugged. “Hey, you’re not getting rid of her anyway, and this way we avoid a scene in the lobby.”
Very true. “All right,” Chaz said grudgingly.
But Amalia was already giving Candace the evil eye, probably assuming she had her sights set on Chaz as well. “Who is this?” Amalia asked bluntly.
“My wife’s boss,” Chaz said just as baldly. “Candace, Amalia.” Feeling he had done his duty as far as the pleasantries went, he repeated, “Let’s go.” He didn�
�t want to lose track of Kelly and her idiot suitor.
Candace merely raised her eyebrows at him. Heck, another thing he had to explain. But not now.
They were seated across the room from Kelly and Spencer which suited Chaz just fine. He could see them easily, but they didn’t know he was watching them. At least, not yet.
Pain speared through him. They both looked so refined, so sophisticated . . . as if they belonged here. Oh, he knew Kelly came from this kind of background, but he thought she’d given it up, left it gratefully behind with her mother and all Grace’s pretensions when they were married. Maybe she hadn’t after all. Was this her true preference? Was this how she really wanted to go through life? If so, Chaz didn’t think he could stand it.
He watched as Spencer ordered for both of them. Something frou-frou and incredibly elegant, no doubt, Chaz thought with a grimace.
In silent rebellion, he gave his own order to the waiter—a plain burger and fries. Besides, it had been one of the meals he’d fantasized about during his captivity. He’d missed good old American food almost as much as he had Kelly.
“Uh-oh,” Scott said.
“What?” Chaz glanced in Kelly’s direction and found her staring back with a frown. “Oh, they’ve spotted us.”
Scott nodded. “I’d better do a little damage control. Hold on.”
He walked across to Kelly’s table, had a few words with her, and strolled back.
“What happened?” Chaz asked, wondering how ticked off Kelly was.
“I just explained that we had to eat somewhere and didn’t know they’d choose the hotel. I told her just to ignore us.”
Good—Scott hadn’t blown their cover. Chaz sneaked a peek at Kelly again. She seemed absorbed in something Deuce was saying, though her interest had to be politeness only. The guy couldn’t be that fascinating, for heaven’s sake—he was a fashion magazine editor. Chaz was surprised he even liked girls.
Well, Chaz might not be able to overhear what was going on over there, but he did have some control over what happened at this table. Glancing at the others, Chaz said, “Let’s pretend we’re having a really good time.”
My Favorite Husband Page 10
