Racing the Hunter's Moon (Entangled Bliss) (9 page)

Emotion welled up inside at his words. “I don’t either.” Needing physical contact with him, she rested a hand on his arm.

“I care about you, Betty.” His voice was gruff. “Let’s discuss this later.”

“Okay.”

He was right. The goal must be to bring Charmers to justice—by whatever means. Until that was done everything else would have to take second place. She consulted the map. “Three miles, then take a left.”

An hour later they cleared the next time control point. She handed over a bottle of water to Joe, then her cell rang in her bag.

She pulled it out and glanced at the picture on the screen. “It’s Alice.”

“Hey.”

“How’s the race going?” Alice asked. “Are you winning?”

“Well, we’re still in it.” She hadn’t expected to hear from her partner while they were on the rally; reception in the mountains could be spotty. “What’s up?”

“I know you’re busy— but I wanted to give you a heads-up. There’s been a development. Leonora’s son is here.”

“He’s not supposed to be back for a couple of weeks…”

“Well he’s definitely here. He got home early. He doesn’t want his mother to know—his deployment is over and he wants to surprise her at the Hunter’s Moon Festival. The entire town is buzzing with the news. I thought you and Joe should know.”

The turn was coming up. Betty covered the phone and passed on directions to Joe.

“Where is he staying? Is he at Leonora’s house?”

“No. He’s in the hotel here in town. The rally organizers have planned to bring him out after they announce the winners of the race tomorrow night before the festival. The whole town has been sworn to secrecy.”

“Okay, I’ll tell him. Talk to you later.” She disconnected the call and shoved her cell back in her bag. “We may have a problem. Josh De Witt, Leonora’s son, finished his deployment early and is waiting to surprise Leonora in Meadowsweet.”

Joe’s eyebrows pulled together. “Crap. That could be a major problem. Charmers’s MO is to run before a member of the family shows up.”

So even if she’d made it back to Christine, he could have cut and run, knowing she was on her way? “He’s hiding out at the hotel. It can still work. If Leonora gives him the money in the afternoon, Charmers won’t know Josh is even in the country until the evening.”

“The minute Charmers finds out, he’ll run. Coming face-to-face with a mark’s son is not something he’ll want to do. Especially once he has Leonora’s money.”

Betty cracked open a bottle of water and sipped to moisten her dry mouth. “When the rally is over we’ll only have hours.”

A flurry of activity lay ahead, after which Joe would leave for Chicago. Would there be time to talk about their future before he left? Did he really even want to discuss it, or was he just keeping her pacified so as not to jeopardize the assignment?

…

They achieved an almost perfect score on their time card on returning to the hotel, but there was no time to celebrate.

“I need to talk to my people,” Joe said as they walked to their rooms.

“I’ve got stuff to do too.” Relaxing in the tub was pretty high on her list of priorities. “I should call Alice back,” she said more to herself than to Joe, who had his key in the lock and his back turned to her.

“Don’t go down to dinner without me.” He squeezed her hand, but didn’t kiss her. “I’ll come get you.”

“Okay.” What point could there be to talk to Alice now? Her friend would be dying to know the details of the past couple of days—would no doubt be digging for romantic details. She opened her door, slipped in, and closed it. Rested her back against the cool wood and closed her eyes. Tonight she could sleep alone, or spend another night wrapped around Joe. Her body voted for the second option, but her head urged caution.

His words in the car had been heartfelt, but how realistic would persuing a relationship be, once his time in Meadowsweet was over? She’d thought she could just have fun, but something had changed along the way—her heart had gotten involved. He wasn’t a man she could easily walk away from when this was over. Somehow the strands that pulled them together had become tangled and knotted. If she were smart, she’d put the brakes on now, save herself from heartbreak, but she wasn’t smart. And she couldn’t deny herself what might be their last night together.

She did what she had to do, then dressed for dinner in the other designer gown she’d packed, the gold Azzedine Alaïa. The strapless style clung to her curves, and the ruche flattered. Every time she wore it her confidence soared. She slipped her feet into nude heels, and fastened a large statement necklace around her neck. Nothing else was needed—she left her hair loose around her shoulders and added subtle makeup.

She transferred her wallet into her clutch bag and picked up her phone.

There was a knock at the door.

Every man looks great in a tuxedo, and Joe looked spectacular. Betty glanced down at the cell in her hand. “You know, I don’t have your number.”

“That’s easily remedied.” He took the phone, tapped it in, and handed it back.

“Okay, look at the camera.” She held up the phone and snapped a picture, attached it to the number, and titled it “Joe.” “I like to see who’s calling me,” she explained, knowing damn well she’d just taken the picture because she wanted to.

“You look…” His gaze scanned her head to toe. “Amazing.”

“You don’t look too bad yourself.” She slipped the phone into her bag and pulled the door behind her.

Joe linked his arm through hers as they walked down the corridor. “I told Charmers I’d come into money,” he said. “He warned me off the stock exchange, and said he might have some ideas for me. I’ll try to push him again tonight—with Leonora’s investment and the recording we should have him, but it would be good to get more to nail him on.”

“I wish you’d said that before we left the room,” Betty answered. “I have a miniature recording device that looks like a tiepin…” She glanced up at him. “Should we go back and get it?”

Joe’s smile was genuine. “You really should consider a change of career. And no, I reckon we’ll do fine without it.”

They walked into a dining room full of beautifully dressed guests. Double doors to a second room had been opened up for the night, and through it, a casino could be seen. They walked to a cashier’s booth set up in the corner of the room, and both changed money into chips. Joe slipped his into his tux pocket, and Betty stowed hers in her bag.

People were making their way to the tables, and the rallymeister stood up and tapped his glass. Joe and Betty took their seats.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this year’s Meadowsweet Vintage Rally is almost over. We’ll be setting out early tomorrow morning and taking a more direct route to ensure that everyone has plenty of time to get home, get rested, and get ready for the Hunter’s Moon Festival tomorrow night.” He raised his glass. “I’d like to thank you all for being excellent competitors. We have lost a few cars along the way—unfortunately not every vehicle was robust enough to stay the course—but we will be reunited with our fallen contestants tomorrow at the awards ceremony in Meadowsweet, which will be in the town hall at six, before the Hunter’s Moon Festival. Please make sure that you all remember to attend.” He waggled his eyebrows. “There will be prizes. And trophies. And the final winners’ jerseys.”

Two folded jerseys sat next to his place at the table. “And speaking of jerseys”—he looked down at his notes—“we have today’s jerseys to present to the team that made the most accurate time today. Could Betty and Joe come up to the stage please?”

Joe took her hand as they stood. She slipped an arm around his waist, and he hugged her close. Her heart tightened. Soon, the operation would be over. The room applauded as they walked up and received their jerseys. “I hope you’ll come on the rally next year,” the rallymeister said. “It’s great to have some younger people along.”

Next year. A lifetime away.

Chapter Ten

In her gold wrapping, she was like an expensive gift that he couldn’t afford. She moved through the room with a natural ease, automatically accepted by the wealthy rally competitors.
Because she belongs.
Whenever he’d seen her in Meadowsweet, sneaking along after Charmers, this side of Betty had been completely hidden. Even once they’d formally met, at Mark’s house and during the practice runs for the rally, she’d dressed casually, just as Alice did. Nothing about her screamed money. But here, she was in her element.

Her clothing and jewelry were obviously expensive. She might not live like someone with money, but privilege was in her genes—in half of her DNA, anyway. When this was over, if he met her mother, what would her reaction be to the idea of her daughter dating an agent? One who’d come so far from the other side of the tracks he was practically shunted into a siding?

Her father had been a mechanic.

But they were so different. Her mother cared about her friends knowing that she’d been conned out of some money. His mother had cared about keeping food in their bellies.

“The Corvette didn’t make it. Ed Fleming and his wife are heading home in a courtesy car tomorrow. He says he’s looking forward to taking it easy in the backseat.” Leonora’s words broke into his thoughts. She pointed discreetly across the room. “But I don’t think he minds being out of the rally one hoot.”

The writer, clutching a tiny handheld video camera, was circling the room, filming.

“What’s he…” Betty started.

“Apparently it’s research,” Leonora said. “He told me he takes it everywhere to capture inspiration.”

Betty grinned. “I love the idea of the rally being inspiration for a new TV series or something, don’t you?”

“You’re a real fan of that TV show, aren’t you, Betty? Owning a script must be very exciting.”

She nodded. “It’s the perfect present.”

Charmers caught Joe’s eye. A slow smile started on his face, and a calculating glint was in his eye. “Yes, Joe chose well.” That look made Joe’s hackles rise. It was the sort of look a proud father might give to a son. Or Fagin to one of his pickpocketing boys.

His blood ran cold.

“Ah, here’s dinner.” Charmers leaned back as a plate was laid before him.

His knowledge of gambling ran to poker, slots, and once or twice, betting on horse races. Betty, on the other hand, was a natural at the tables. They hung around the baccarat table for a while, then she introduced him to roulette.

“Misspent youth,” she whispered. “I’m pretty good at poker, too.”

“For money, I guess.”

“Of course.” Her mouth curved in a smile. “Me, Mel, and Alice used to have a Friday night game—it was fun.”

“High rollers, huh?”

“We played for pennies, so not exactly. Although those games could get heated. We don’t get to play so much anymore. Alice has Mark, and now Mel and Heath are getting serious so we don’t spend as much time together. I think he’s going to propose while they’re in the Amazon. Alice thinks so too.”

“Will that change things? At the garage, I mean. Heath works away a lot, doesn’t he?”

“He can choose to be based anywhere really, and Mel is where he wants to be.” She moved on to the craps table, picked up the dice, and brought her hand to his mouth. “Blow on them, for luck.”

“I thought only beautiful women blew on dice.” But he did as she said, and blew on them anyway.

The dice tumbled on the table, and the others around the table murmured approval as the croupier announced the result and slid a pile of chips her direction.

“It seems to work with beautiful men too.”

Joe glanced around the room and spotted Leonora, Charmers, and a stranger seated at a poker table. “Come on.” Holding Betty’s hand, he walked over.

“We have room for one more. Joe, will you join us?” Charmers asked.

He glanced at Betty, who nodded.

“Texas Hold’em,” Charmers advised as Joe took his seat and placed a stack of chips on the table in front of him. “And I should warn you, I like to win.”

Half an hour later, the pile of chips had reduced significantly, and with a smile, Joe counted himself out. Charmers hadn’t lied; he played to win, and did—consistently.

“Maybe I should try the slot machines instead.” He slipped the chips into his pocket.

Charmers glanced over at Betty. “Being confident enough to lose money is always attractive to a certain type of woman,” he said quietly enough that the rest of the table couldn’t overhear. “If you’re still interested in investing, I may have a proposition for you at the end of the week.”

Not soon enough. By then, they’d have him in custody. Joe stood. “I’ll look forward to it.” With a smile, he walked to Betty.

The day was catching up with him fast. “Let’s go sit for a while.” Taking two glasses of sparkling champagne from a waiter, Joe led her to a couple of red velvet armchairs on either side of a fireplace on the back wall. It was quiet here, away from the rest of the guests who clustered around the gaming tables.

“Anything?” she asked once they were out of earshot.

“He offered to advise me on investing, but not until the end of the week.”

“And you’re not exactly James Bond at the tables.”

He shook his head. “Gambling’s not really my thing. I see a lot of people whose lives have been destroyed by it. It starts innocently enough, ten dollars here and there, and before they know it, they’re betting the week’s wages and worse. We’re a financial crime unit. So gambling, all manner of cons, internet scams, that sort of thing. It all comes down to money.”

She crossed her legs, revealing a glimpse of smooth thigh, and nodded. “Money can ruin things. But it can be used for good too. The money raised last night and tonight will help fund a shelter in Meadowsweet—the people here tonight get to have fun and be proud of themselves for helping a really worthy cause.”

He knew firsthand what a lifeline a shelter could be for people who needed it, but now wasn’t the time to share any more confidences. He’d already opened up to her more than he had to anyone. She swallowed the last mouthful of her champagne and yawned. “Man, I’m tired.”

Joe took her glass and deposited it on a nearby table. “Let’s go.”

They detoured into his room for a moment where he collected some clothes, then continued into her room. “I should retrieve the recording device. I want to hear Charmers ask Leonora to invest.”

“Shouldn’t we leave it there until after the rally? He might let something else slip.”

“You’re probably right.” He undid the tie that had been strangling him all evening, and took off his tux jacket. Betty stood in the middle of the room. Her gaze was steady and the golden dress glittered.

“Could you”—she gestured over her bare shoulder—“unzip me?”

She didn’t turn around—didn’t present her back to him. In a couple of steps they were toe to toe. “Did I tell you how much I like this dress?” He smoothed his hands over her soft shoulders, then reached behind her to edge the zipper down a fraction.

Her sigh ignited his senses. She leaned in, and he breathed in the scent of her as his mouth found hers. Tonight was a special night. Their last night together on the rally—before life intruded and took him away from her. He slid the zipper all the way down, and the dress slipped down, pooling at her feet. Beneath it, she wore an ivory garment—maybe it was a teddy?

He pulled back and looked. Strapless and fitted, the lace clung to her curves. A tiny lace bow between her breasts matched bows on the straps that dropped front and back on her thighs.

His mouth dried. “A garter belt?”

Her slow smile lit a fuse that raced through him like wildfire. “Unwrap me.”

…

Betty snuggled down in bed. Joe had returned to his own room half an hour earlier, to dress and pack, and she really should be getting up and doing the same. Another five minutes. She pulled up the duvet around her ears, reached for Joe’s pillow, wrapped her arms around it, and pressed her face into the cool cotton. His scent lingered. Last night had been more than sex; she’d been making love, and he had too—it was apparent in every touch, in the look in the depths of his eyes, in the sure and steady way he brought her to heaven in a heartbeat.

At one point, she’d almost told him exactly how important he was to her, exactly how much she wanted to be with him, not just for a day or a week, but caution had stilled the words in her throat. She’d known the clock was ticking on their relationship, but now that the time to part was almost here, she wasn’t ready—wasn’t prepared for the moment of his departure.

Almost an hour later, she was drying her hair when there was a rap at the door.

She opened it with a smile and looked at Joe’s chest. “Oh, that’s a good idea. Hang on, I’ll change.” She stripped off her sky-blue cotton shirt and changed it for the emerald-green winners’ jersey they’d earned the day before. “What do you think?”

“I prefer you without it.” His voice was husky. “But I guess we better go grab some breakfast.” He pulled her close and kissed her.

“I’m not really that hungry.”

He shook his head. “Don’t tempt me. We have about forty-five minutes before they hand out the route books, and a ton of things to do before then.” He nipped at her earlobe. “We just don’t have enough time.” He stepped away and took her hand. “Come on.”

She followed him into the dining room. “Bacon and eggs?” Joe waved the waitress over.

“Of course.”

He cast a look over her body. “I swear, I don’t know where you put it. There’s not an ounce of fat on you.”

The waitress stood next to their table, so pushing away thoughts of their naked bodies, she ordered for both of them.

Knowledge that it was the last day of the rally bound the competitors together, simmered in the air as the navigators plotted the route onto the last day’s maps. Joe and some of the other drivers were talking and laughing—he’d fitted in easily to the group, and had even been approached about some of his furniture that was for sale in the furniture shop in town. If his business were real, he’d have made some valuable contacts this trip.

“Five minutes,” the rallymeister said.

Betty stroked the final few instructions onto the map with her highlighter, gathered up her paperwork, and straightened.

“Good luck.” Leonora was doing the same on the other side of the large table. She had put all her things into a bag, except for a ballpoint pen with a button on top that she absentmindedly clicked on and off with her thumb. She looked fresh and free this morning, no doubt relieved that this entire operation was almost at an end.

“You too. Not long now.” They shared a private smile, then separated to find their drivers.

Moments later, with their time recorded, Joe started the engine. “I’m going to miss this car.” He ran a hand over the top of the steering wheel. “Maybe I’ll search out one of these myself. I love driving it.”

“There’s a place in Chesapeake that could source one for you. Under the Hood could maintain it for you.” She was talking as though he was going to be around, as though he wasn’t racing back to his life in Chicago within days. She looked down at the route book and swallowed. “I guess you could probably find one in Chicago too.”

He rested a hand on her thigh. “Sometime next month we’ll take a trip out to Chesapeake together, and check that place out.”

“Next month?”

Joe smiled. “Yeah, I reckon I’m due some vacation time.”

Betty’s heart rate quickened. Did he mean he’d be back for a week or two and hoped to have a quick fling, or did he mean more—that they might…

Betty blinked away all thought of their uncertain future and concentrated. “This route is going to be easy. We’re taking the quick way back. Take a right in half a mile, then go straight for ten.”

Joe returned his hand to the steering wheel and released the hand brake. “Okay.”

The day was clear and bright. Sunlight bleeding through the canopy above dappled the ground ahead. It had been too long since she’d taken time out—had escaped from the pressure of work to just enjoy the scenery. Had pressed the reset switch on her life.

“Right here.” She ticked the instruction off the route map. “Ten miles straight on. Charmers is going to run when Josh De Witt appears, isn’t he?”

“Probably, but we’re ready for him. Bond and the team are already set up in the Meadowsweet Grand.” Joe switched gears. “Charmers might play nice for a while. Cutting and running is likely to arouse suspicion, but I imagine he’ll transfer the money from his account to his
real
account immediately. We’re watching both accounts, and the moment he does the transfer we’ve got him.”

Her heart dipped.
And that would be the end of it.
“Is there anything I can do?”

“You’ve done enough already. I wished you and Leonora weren’t involved, but without both of you we wouldn’t be where we are today.” His mouth curved in a smile. “What happens at the end of the race?”

“Once all the competitors have passed the finish line, we only have about an hour and a half before the presentation ceremony. Apparently they want to get it over with before people join their families and get ready for the Hunter’s Moon Festival. Leonora said she and Charmers are heading home quickly so she can transfer the money into his account. He told her the investment is time-sensitive and he needs to do the transfer before close of business today.”

“We need that recording device.”

Betty nodded. “I know. All the cars will be parked outside the town hall. She knows the recording device is only stuck up under the dash with tape so she’s going to retrieve it and slip it to me before they take a taxi home.”

“Great. I’ll distract him while you two handle that. Then I’ll drop it off to Bond at the hotel and meet you back for the presentation ceremony.”

Excitement danced in Betty’s chest. They had everything covered. The team was in place, and even if Charmers tried to run, there was no way this could go wrong now. She wished she could join Joe with his team at the hotel, that they could see this whole affair out together—but explaining her presence would no doubt be impossible.