by Sharon Sala
“It was so close.” She pointed to the mirror. “I saw my reflection, and for a fraction of a second, I almost knew the woman in there.”
Roman had been wondering what excuse he would use to get her out of the house. Now he had it.
“You know what? I think you need to get away for a while. Let’s take a drive. We’ll pick up something later. Maybe have a picnic.”
She sighed. “I’ll go, but only if you promise I don’t ever have to come back.”
A wry grin tilted a corner of his mouth as he dug his hand through the back of her hair and pulled her to within inches of his lips.
“No promises,” he whispered.
Tears came swiftly, but she blinked them away. “I know, I know, and no regrets.”
“Where’s your father?” he asked.
“I don’t know, probably in his study. I heard him say something earlier about making some calls.”
“Go change into something comfortable. I’ll tell him we’re leaving.”
Now he had her attention. “Where are we going?”
He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “You’ll see. Just hustle. I have this sudden and terrible need to get you naked.”
Her eyes widened, and a small smile broke across her face. “An offer I can’t refuse,” she said, and took the stairs two at a time.
Roman watched her go, telling himself he was playing with fire. Day after day, he kept opening his heart to a woman who might one day give it back.
Ah, God, I’ve lived life on the edge before, but never to this extent.
All the way to Davis’s study, he was wrestling with his conscience and trying to decide how much to tell her father about what was happening. By the time he got there, his decision had been made. Basically, he could tell him nothing without revealing the fact that she’d bailed out of a plane with a million dollars in her possession. The door to the study was open. He paused on the threshold.
“Mr. Benton?”
Davis was deep in a financial report and answered without looking up.
“Hmm?”
“I’m taking Holly out for a drive.”
Now Roman had his attention. Davis dropped the report and looked up. There was a frown on his face, and Roman could already see the objection coming.
“She needs to get away for a bit. The pressure she’s under is getting to her.”
Davis stood. Anger was thick in his voice. “I do not pressure my daughter, and I’d rather you didn’t take her off the premises.”
“Mr. Benton, just because something bad happened to her once doesn’t mean it will happen again. You can’t keep her locked up. She won’t get well until she regains a normal life.” Then his voice hardened. “Don’t forget what I do for a living...and I’m good at what I do.”
Davis’s shoulders slumped. “I overreacted. I’m sorry. But you have to remember that I thought I’d lost her. When you called and told me she was still alive, I felt as if I’d been given a miracle.”
Roman turned to leave. “I understand. But it doesn’t change what she’s going through now.”
“I know, and I’ll try harder to give her space.”
“That’s good,” Roman said. “If we’re going to be late, we’ll call.”
“Fine,” Davis said. “Have a good time.”
Davis picked up his report and sat down, but Roman hadn’t finished.
“Mr. Benton...”
“Please, call me Davis.”
“Davis, then. Where is Gordon Mallory?”
Benton shrugged. “I don’t know. He said something at breakfast about going to his apartment to get some more clothes for himself and for Billy. Why?”
“Just curious,” Roman said, and left.
Now his interest was piqued. What apartment? According to the Las Vegas city billing records, Gordon Mallory no longer had one. He headed up the stairs to get Holly, but as he reached the landing, made a quick decision and went to Billy Mallory’s room, instead.
He knocked. A private nurse he’d seen in the halls came to the door.
“Yes?”
“Is he asleep?” Roman asked.
“No, but he’s—”
“I won’t stay long. I was looking for Gordon and thought maybe he knew where I could find him.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “I don’t know,” she said, still hesitating. She’d had orders straight from Gordon Mallory himself to keep people out. Still, it seemed cruel, keeping the young man all alone like this. In her opinion, a good frame of mind helped a body heal, so what could this hurt?
“All right, but only for a moment,” she said.
“Thanks,” Roman said. “Why don’t you take the opportunity to take a break? I promise I won’t leave until you get back.”
She smiled. “Why, thank you. That’s very kind. I did need to make a call.”
“Take your time,” Roman said. “I’ll be here.”
“Mr. Mallory, you have a visitor,” she said. “Since it’s nearly time to take your medicine, I’ll go down to the kitchen to get it, rather than have staff bring it up. Would you like me to bring you a snack?”
Billy shook his head. “I’m not hungry,” he said, wondering who his visitor could possibly be.
The nurse smiled. “I’ll be right back.”
She walked out the door as Roman walked in, and Billy had an urge to call her back. But he didn’t. The worst thing he could do was give way to panic. As far as the world knew, there was no reason on earth why he should dread seeing anyone from this household. Right now, only he and Gordon were aware of their duplicity, and he wanted to keep it that way.
Roman stopped at the foot of the bed and nodded. “Mallory.”
“Mr. Justice...isn’t it?”
Roman nodded. “We didn’t exactly get introduced last time we met.”
“True,” Billy said. “I saw more of that Luger than I did of you.”
Roman refused to be intimidated by the remark. “Like I said before, I take a threat to Holly as personal.”
Billy shifted his position on the bed, grunting painfully as aching bones and muscles objected.
“That’s fine by me. I would never fault you for that,” he said.
Roman frowned. That was a remark that Gordon should have made. He stared thoughtfully at the young man, judging him to be in his early twenties. He was smaller than Gordon, a bit fairer in hair and complexion than Gordon. One might say he was a faded version of the original. But Roman reminded himself that this man had been a passenger on the plane. He had to know more than he was saying.
“I assume you’re healing,” Roman said.
“Yes, but far too slowly for my peace of mind. If I had my way, I would be out of this bed and on my way to the Bahamas.” And then he realized that he might have sounded a bit desperate and added. “I was looking forward to beaches and babes, if you know what I mean.”
“If it was meant to happen, then it will happen,” Roman said.
Billy’s frown deepened. That was a rather cryptic remark.
“Did I hear you asking the nurse about Gordon?”
Roman nodded. “Where is he?”
“After waving a gun in his face the other night, I can hardly believe you want him for a tennis partner. Why do you ask?”
“Had some questions I wanted to ask him,” Roman said. “Maybe you can help me, instead.”
Panic returned twofold. Calm down, Billy reminded himself. All I have to do is play dumb. Gordon does it so well, surely I can handle a couple of lies on my own.
“I’ll try,” he said. “Although I don’t remember much about the crash. In fact, I expected to die.” He laughed harshly. “Imagine my surprise when I woke up in the hospital instead.”
Roman didn’t respond, but it occurred to him that, for someone who should have been thanking God that he was still in one piece and breathing, the man was rather bitter.
“So, what do you want to know?” Billy asked.
Roman strolled over to
the window, giving the man a chance to relax. When he turned, his question caught Billy off guard.
“Everyone says that Gordon and Holly were eloping.”
Billy’s heart skipped a beat. He could tell by the tone of the man’s voice that he doubted the story.
“Yeah, that’s right,” Billy said.
Roman kept baiting the trap, waiting for the man to give himself away. “That’s odd.”
“What’s odd?” Billy asked.
Roman walked back to the end of the bed, pinning him with a hard, unflinching stare.
“You know the old saying—‘Two’s company, three’s a crowd.’ If they were eloping, then why were you there?”
Billy choked, and it felt as if all the air went out of his lungs at once. Damn, damn, damn you, Gordon. I knew we shouldn’t have come here. This man is too curious and he’s asking questions no one else has thought to ask.
“Every groom has to have a best man,” he said, trying for a smile. “I’m Gordon’s best friend, therefore the best man, right?”
“Oh, then you’re saying that they were making a party out of eloping.”
Billy relaxed. “Yeah, that’s it. It was going to be a real party.”
Roman shook his head. “Only three of you? Who was going to stand in for Holly? I find it strange that Gordon would insist on taking a witness, but Holly would not.”
The smile stayed on Billy’s face, but that’s as far as it got. Panic continued to spread throughout his system.
“Don’t ask me, ask them,” he finally said. “I was just going along for the ride.”
“Yeah, that’s right. Babes and beaches, you said.” Then before Billy could regroup, Roman fired another question that left Billy stuttering to answer.
“I’ll bet you’ll be glad to get up and about and get back to your own home, your own things. Do you live far from here?”
He was saved from having to answer as Holly appeared in the doorway and waved at Roman.
“There you are,” she said. “I’ve been looking for you. I’m ready to go.”
Roman held out his hand. “Come say hello,” he urged.
She hesitated, and then entered. She knew this was Billy Mallory’s room, but up to now had not paid him a visit.
“Mr. Mallory, I hope you’re feeling better.”
It was hard for Billy to breathe normally. Of course, he knew about Holly’s amnesia, but the total lack of recognition on her face was disconcerting. In a way, it lessened his perception of his own identity.
“I’m doing fine.”
He kept staring at her, taking careful note of everything about her, from the old Levi’s she was wearing, to the tank top and tennis shoes. She was nothing like the stylish and perfectly manicured woman he’d been used to seeing, but he thought he liked this Holly better.
Suddenly embarrassed, she glanced at Roman. “I guess I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
She started to leave when Billy called out her name.
“Holly! Wait!”
She turned. “Yes?”
“I’m very glad you are all right.”
His sincerity was obvious, and because it was unexpected, it touched her deeply.
“Why, thank you,” she said, and then impulsively, walked to his bedside. “I know this must be strange to you, but were we good friends?”
He sighed. “Not as good as I would have liked, but yes, I’d say we were friendly acquaintances.”
Holly nodded. “I thought so.”
Her answer surprised him. “Why?” Billy asked.
“I’m not uncomfortable around you.”
Billy smiled. “That’s good. I would hate to think I made you afraid.”
Dump her out if she doesn’t change her mind.
A pervasive chill suddenly swept through her body. “I need to go now,” she said, and bolted from the room.
Roman’s eyes narrowed. Something had spooked her. He glanced down at Mallory. Billy’s expression said it all. I’ll be damned, Roman thought. The man’s in love with her.
“Tell Gordon I was asking about him,” Roman said.
Billy blinked, as if coming out of a trance, and then nodded. “I’ll be sure and do that,” he said.
“Here’s your nurse,” Roman said as the woman entered the room. “Wouldn’t want to outstay my welcome.”
As Roman left, Billy had the distinct impression that his and his brother’s days were numbered. Roman Justice was no man’s fool. Their story about the reason for the flight and explanation of the events leading up to the crash were weak, and he obviously knew it.
Billy rolled onto his side, testing his strength and mobility. A sickening pain hit instantly, and he fell back with a groan.
“Please, Mr. Mallory,” the nurse cautioned. “You must not move.”
Move, hell. Thanks to Gordon, I need to be able to run, and soon. I have a feeling our time is running out.
They drove west from Las Vegas, passing casino after casino until there was nothing to see except desert and the mountains in the distance. The closer they got to the foothills, the more relaxed Holly became.
“Roman.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m so glad you thought of this. Thank you. I should have done it days ago.”
Roman gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. She was so happy, and what he had to tell her was going to ruin the mood.
“You’re welcome, baby.”
She leaned back in the seat, completely relaxed and enjoying the lulling motion of the ride.
“When you left this morning, I expected you to be gone most of the day. Coming back was a nice surprise.” Then it dawned on her that he had come back. She’d never asked why.
“Roman?”
He grinned as she scooted closer to him. “Now what?”
“I was so wrapped up in my problems I never did ask why you’d come back. You hadn’t been gone an hour. Did you forget something?”
“No, I didn’t forget anything.”
There was something about the tone of his voice that alerted her to a problem. She sat up.
“Then why?”
He took a deep breath. There was no easy way to say what had to be said.
“I got a call from my secretary. The police had come to my office looking for me.”
All the blood drained from her face as she straightened with a jerk. Clutching her hands in her lap, she was unable to look at him and afraid of what he was going to say.
“This has something to do with me, doesn’t it?”
He pulled over to the side of the road and then stopped.
“Holly, look at me.”
She turned and then waited.
“Someone broke into the cabin.”
Her heart skipped a beat.
“They didn’t take anything, just tore it up.” He paused, then added. “As if they were looking for something.”
She swallowed nervously.
“And last night, someone broke into my house back in Dallas and did the same thing.”
She covered her face with her hands. “Oh God, oh God. It’s the money.”
He sighed. There was no use lying to her. “Probably.”
“Probably? There’s no probably about it. It’s my fault this is happening to you. I asked you to hide that money for me. You tried to talk me out of it, but no! I wouldn’t listen. And now your home and your property have been vandalized, and it’s all my fault.”
He took her by the hand and pulled her into his arms.
“Hush, baby, it’s okay. It comes with the territory of my job.”
She pulled back, unwilling to let him bear the burden of her mistake.
“But this is my fault, and it’s not all right. What are we going to do?”
He traced the shape of her face with the tip of his finger and then grinned.
“I know what I want to do.”
She grimaced. “Oh, Roman, be serious.”
He bent his head until their lips were only
inches apart.
“You want me to get serious? Here? In broad daylight? Where everyone can see?”
“You know what I mean,” she said.
“Well, I might, then again, I might not. Are you saying you want to trade spit and hugs, or just talk about Gordon and Billy Mallory?” He grinned. “Personally, I’d a whole lot rather love you, but I’m a man of the nineties. I’m willing to let a female be boss.”
She grinned, which was exactly what he’d been aiming for. “Trade spit and hugs! Where on earth did you ever come up with a phrase like that?”
“My daddy. That was his standard warning to all of us boys before we went out on a date. Boys, don’t be tradin’ nothin’ but spit and hugs with your girl. You go any further than that, and you’ll be changin’ diapers before your time.”
She laughed aloud. “He must have been quite a character. I wish I could have met him.”
“I do, too,” he said softly.
She looked at Roman. “Can we worry about the money later?”
A slow grin spread across his face. “You bet, baby. We’ve got all night and all day tomorrow to worry about that damned stuff.”
“Good,” she said. “Then let’s go back to plan A. What was it you said earlier? Something about getting me naked?”
Roman threw back his head and laughed. Then he laughed some more. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this lighthearted, or this much in love.
“That’s close enough,” he said, and started the car. For today, he was willing to pretend that everything in their world was perfectly in place.
The Wild Horse Hotel and Casino was just off the highway and about a quarter of a mile from the foothills of a nearby mountain, although it wasn’t the scenery that pulled in the customers. It was the luck of the draw...the game of chance...the opportunity to become rich from a throw of the dice. Even out here in the middle of nowhere, the place was packed.
Roman walked up to the desk with Holly beside him. It was all he could do to keep her still until they had checked in.
“You act as if you’ve never seen a casino before,” he teased.
She grinned. “I’m sure I have, but for the life of me I can’t remember where.” Her eyes were alight with interest as she looked around. “However, I think I like them.”
