Tough Guy: A Hero Club Novel, Jamie Schmidt [best books to read now txt] 📗

the room and didn’t say a word to me until we were in the car.

“Did you think Angelique was pretty?”

I shrugged. “I guess. The feathers were a bit distracting. You’re prettier.”

She smiled, linking her fingers through mine. I started the car and headed back to Vegas.

“I know we had plans tonight. Can we alter them?” Jackie asked.

I hid a sigh. “Of course.”

“How long is it to Carson City?”

“By car, about six hours. If you charter a plane, it’s about an hour. If you go the regular airport route, it’s cheaper but by the time you’re past security it’s about double that time.”

“You know I’ve got to go to Carson City, right?”

“Yeah,” I said slowly. I knew where this was going.

“How about you come with me? We’ll get dinner at the airport and skip the show. We’ll land too late for the winery to be open, but I figure we could have our evening in my hotel room in Carson City. The rest of the plan can stay the same.”

She surprised me. I’d figured she’d want to storm the winery.

“Sounds like a great plan. I especially like the part where the next day you confront Lisa and then get back to enjoying your vacation.”

“Me too. Okay. You drive us back to the Wynn and I’ll make all the arrangements.”

Jackie already had her phone out.

Chapter Sixteen

Jackie Mitchell

I was spending a lot more money than I had originally planned on. Yeah, I was sticking it to Lisa by staying at the Wynn, but the plane tickets and the bribes/tips I’d been paying out were starting to add up. I didn’t want to bankrupt Lisa, if she was even going to be able to pay me back from any residuals or royalties she was still getting from the odd commercial or television show. While my mother would probably cover anything Lisa couldn’t, she shouldn’t have to. This could have all been solved by a few simple phone calls.

I understood now why Lisa had been so vague and hadn’t bothered to explain things to Mom. She had been ping-ponging all over Nevada doing one sketchy job after another. And this Parker dude could be stringing her along as well. If she was struggling so hard to finance Parker’s play, I was hoping it wasn’t a scam and that she hadn’t already given him her life savings. I hated when my mother was right. Lisa did need someone to watch out for her.

Miles had gone back to Dalton’s while I packed an overnight bag. He had a bunch of things to take care of and was on the phone for most of the drive back from Pahrump. I felt a little guilty about taking him away from his job, but his support was the only thing keeping me centered. My emotions were flying all over the place. I was running out of spending cash, but the end was in sight.

Placing a hand on my stomach to calm the jumpiness I felt, I took some deep breaths. All I had to do was make it until tomorrow. I’d talk to Lisa at the winery, report back to Mom, and I would still have a few days in Vegas with Miles. And if I were lucky, my family would leave me alone to enjoy it. I’d never been to the Hoover Dam or the Grand Canyon and I was hoping Miles could take some time off from work and do some touristy things with me.

I didn't know why I was so nervous. Things were looking up.

“You haven't found her yet,” I said to my reflection as I paused to see if I looked as disheveled as I felt. She better be at this winery and that bitch Dee better not have tipped her off that we were coming.

Luckily, the chartered flight saved us time at the airport. It was costly, about a hundred and fifty dollars each way, but we were there in an hour and ten minutes. I didn't even have time to suggest to Miles that we join the mile-high club.

We checked into the Carson City hotel, which was more of a budget-type place than the Wynn. But it was clean, and it had a soft bed. By the time we were settled, the winery had long since closed. I was glad. I wasn't up for a confrontation with Lisa right now.

“You're tense,” Miles said, coming up behind me as I looked out into the parking lot from the hotel's window. His big hands landed on my shoulders and when he started to massage them, I let out a deep, appreciative sigh.

“It's been a long week,” I said. The view wasn’t as nice as the one outside of the Wynn.

“Any regrets?” he asked.

I turned so I was in the circle of his arms. “Not one.”

The hotel room may have been a little shabby, but it all faded away when his mouth touched mine. Finally. Finally, we were alone and had all the time in the world to explore each other. I kicked off my shoes as he pulled my shirt over my head.

“Disappointed there're no angel wings?” I said breathlessly.

“Not at all. You better be wearing your granny panties.”

I slithered out of my shirt and stood there in my all-white cotton bra and underwear.

Miles groaned. “You're so sexy.”

“Dalton's has warped you,” I said.

“In more way than one,” he agreed.

“Your turn.”

He tossed off his shirt and stepped out of his shoes while I took off his belt and pants.

“I should have made you do a striptease for me.” I held him tight, shamelessly running my hands over his muscled back and tight ass.

“I'm no dancer.” Miles pulled my hair away from my neck and made me go up on my toes with the slight scrape of his five o'clock shadow on my sensitive spots.

“You're a tough guy. Surely, you know karate patterns or something.”

“That's not sexy.”

“Oh, speak for yourself. All those rippling muscles.” I tugged down his boxers and would have eagerly taken him in my