It took only a few seconds for her eyes to widen as she put it together. “A big party. Tonight. Like…the gala.”
He nodded. “I’m not familiar with the social calendar of events in the valley. Have you heard of any other event they could be referring to?”
“I suppose there could be, but the school’s centennial is pretty big. We’re expecting the mayor, the Salt Lake bishop, a few state senators, and several preeminent businessmen and women.” She paused. “It’s got to be it.”
“Yeah. That’s my bet, too. I said as much to the officers who took my statement, but I don’t know whether they agreed with me. They weren’t exactly sharing their game plan. Think they might have been a little pissed that we risked ourselves and the other girls going into that house tonight without at least giving them a tip. So is it going to be impossible to wrangle up another ticket for me?”
For the first time, she managed a slight smile, and he noticed the reddened skin around her mouth caused by their kissing. Kissing that he’d almost give a leg to continue. “I might have some connection with the broad that’s running the thing.” Another thought seemed to occur to her. “But this auction,” she nearly spit out. “How are we going to figure out where this is and stop it?”
“All we can hope for, for now, is that Meems finds something in her search and the police do as well. Meems is relentless and brilliant and doesn’t give up. I wouldn’t put it past her to have a strong lead or two by morning.” A shadow passed over her face at the mention of Meems, but she didn’t say anything. “For now, you need to get some rest. You’re exhausted.”
Which was true, because even the healthy glow their make-out session had given her couldn’t hide the dark shadows of fatigue under her eyes.
She rose almost reluctantly from the window seat and headed to her bed. “You’re right. I should probably try and sleep.” She pulled her covers down as Travis grabbed his laptop and headed to the door. “What are you going to do?”
“Shower and then try and get some sleep myself.” A long cold shower.
Her thoughts seemed to have wandered a moment, and she suddenly cleared her throat. “Let me know if you need anything. There should be fresh towels in the bathroom linen closet.”
“I’ll manage,” he said at the door. “Good night, Mer.”
And even though every freaking inch of his body wanted nothing more than to turn around and pull that robe off so he could kiss and worship that body, kiss away the sadness and fatigue in those pretty eyes, and finish what they had started, he kept going, shutting the door behind him.
…
He’d rejected her. That was all there was to it. Not that she could blame him, exactly. She had been horrible to him all those years ago, and since seeing him again she hadn’t behaved any better. It was enough for her to cover her face with the pillow and groan in frustration.
She looked at the clock again. Quarter after three. This was ridiculous. Her daughter was God knew where and she and Travis had until tomorrow night—scratch that, tonight—to find her before she was lost forever.
And Meredith was worried that Travis didn’t like her.
It was shallow and selfish, but knowing this didn’t make the humiliation any easier to bear. She’d thrown herself at the man, and he’d kindly said no.
That was it. She sat up. At this rate she wouldn’t get any sleep, which would make her not just useless later but possibly a threat to her daughter’s life if she made a wrong step. She still had a bottle of Ambien downstairs in the kitchen with the rest of the household medication. She’d been prescribed it after her ex-husband told her he was leaving for some college girl. She’d spent too many sleepless nights wondering why she’d let herself think—even for a moment—she could have a happily ever after.
But she’d only taken one pill before she realized she wasn’t going to start medicating herself to forget. Instead she began yoga and came to the realization that she wasn’t designed to be anyone’s mate and that her destiny was to be happy…alone.
Outside Travis’s room, she paused. But his deep, even breaths told her she didn’t have to be afraid of disturbing him.
Clearly the effects of their little rendezvous hadn’t given him a moment’s pause. Hadn’t kept him up for the past hour, sick with embarrassment.
She shook her head. Men.
She slipped by the open doorway and made her way to the stairs, careful to avoid the creaking third step. At the cabinet, she dug out the bottle and poured a glass of water. She turned, about to toss the pill in her mouth, only to find Travis’s hulking body in front of her.
A scream tore from her mouth followed by the sound of shattering glass. Cold water splashed at her feet.
“Don’t move,” he said and stepped forward enough to grab her by the waist and lift her into his arms to carry her past the broken glass. It happened so fast that it took her a moment to realize that she was being held in the warm arms of the very man she’d come down to try to forget.
The thumping of his heart under her hand made her aware she had braced her hand against him.
And that he wasn’t wearing a shirt.
Immediately she wanted to run her fingers across the smooth expanse of skin, to see if he’d tremble at her touch. She shook her head. Madness.
She should move her hand. There was no need to brace herself for anything now that they were completely still. But she was loath to remove it, the intimacy so comforting and heart-stopping at the same time. She looked up to see he was watching her, his mouth quirked in the slightest smile. So rare it made her stomach twist—not uncomfortably.
“I heard you on the stairs.” Of course he had. “Wanted to make sure you were okay. Did something happen?”