Page 32 of Steal My Breath Away

I left Haley to change her clothes, and went downstairs to talk to Mav. I never asked for favors. I handled my own business and never put myself in a position where I had to rely on someone else. I’d also never let myself get close enough to people to ask. But Mav seemed like a good guy, and this was for Haley.

“We could both get in trouble for this,” Mav pointed out when I told him Haley was still shaken from the online threat and didn’t want to stay at the house.

“She’d still have protection,” I said. “She’d be with me.”

Mav laughed. “I have a feeling your attention wouldn’t be fully on the job.”

“How about tickets to the next Bears game? Chad gets comps through the radio station. He offered to take me to the next game and said I could bring a friend. I doubt I’ll still be here when they play, but I’m sure he’d be happy to have company.” I didn’t knowMav well, but one of the few times I’d met him he’d been wearing a Bears cap.

“Can’t say no to the Bears.” Mav grinned. “Two games. One night. And I’ll come and walk the floor at the hotel. But the Bears better fucking win.”

We bumped fists to seal the deal, and something shifted in my chest. Asking favors. Making friends. If I closed my eyes and opened them again, would it still be real?

As I passed the living room window on my way to get Haley, I caught movement in the bushes. My adrenaline spiked and I drew my weapon, crossing back to the kitchen so I could slip out the back door. I made my way around the house and came up behind the intruder. It was only when I saw the brown ponytail that I lowered my gun.

“Christ, Haley. I didn’t think you were serious when you said you’d climb out the window.”

A grin spread across her face. “I was worried Maverick would say no. It wasn’t hard…” She trailed off when I scowled.

“I told you I was going to talk to Mav and work something out. What if you got hurt?”

“I didn’t get hurt,” she said. “You know I’m good at climbing trees, and I used to climb down the roof all the time when I’d sneak out of the house to Ryan Trevino’s parties with Paige.”

“You did what?” No way would Matt or I have let Haley go to Trevino’s parties. He was a local drug dealer who also sold alcohol to minors and was known for wild parties that usually ended with some sort of emergency vehicle attending his property.

“It’s like riding a bicycle.” She slid her arms around my waist and looked up at me with an expression of pure manipulative innocence. “Don’t be grumpy. Did you work things out with Mav, because if you didn’t…”

“‘Grumpy’ isn’t the word I’d use to describe how I’m feeling right now.” I cupped her jaw, running my thumb over her cheek, seeking the simple assurance she was indeed here after jumpingoff the roof and not a ghost. “And yes, we worked something out. He’s coming with us.”

Haley’s eyes widened. “With us as inwith us?”

“He’ll be in the hallway.” I didn’t want my mind going down that path, because just the idea of anyone else touching Haley set my teeth on edge. “And I thought I told you to stay in your room. There are consequences for not following the rules.”

Her eyes lit up and she licked her lips. “What kind of consequences?”

I’d always known going down this road with Haley would be a wild ride. She had few inhibitions, and an openness to new experiences unmatched by anyone I’d ever met. Jump a creek? Climb a tree? Steal an apple from an orchard guarded by a ferocious dog? Go outside to “see the stars” with a senior who didn’t just have notches in his belt, he had a whole damn collection? If I didn’t keep control, the two of us together might combust.

“You’ll have to wait and see.”

CHAPTER 17Haley

“This is amazing.” I walked around Ace’s lavish hotel suite at the Four Seasons, taking in the vast, elegant room decorated in soothing shades of beige and gray, while trying to ignore the simmering tension between us. Ace had insisted on driving his SUV with Maverick beside me in the back, and by the time we got to the hotel, my imagination had gone wild. I was all ready for a little spicy action in the elevator, but Ace had other ideas. He ordered room service at the front desk when we checked in and then we had to ride the elevator to the fifteenth floor with Maverick like two civilized adults who didn’t want to tear off each other’s clothes.

“Look at the view,” I said, trying to hide my frustration. I’d imagined spending the night with Ace for years and in detail, and now that it was finally happening, I didn’t want to waste any time. I was so wound up, I didn’t care if he slept with me and disappeared the next day, breaking my heart into smithereens. I was living in the moment and this moment was supposed to be all about sex.

“I am.”

I turned to see Ace leaning against the minibar, arms folded, watching me like a predator about to feast. I wasn’t sure what was happening between us. All I knew was that Ace had been there when I needed him, the chemistry between us was insane, he wanted to do everything with me, and now we were alone in a fancy hotel room that was dominated by the biggest bed I’d ever seen, and we weren’t in it.

Before I could suggest a little appetizer before the meal, hisphone buzzed in his pocket. He checked the screen, then motioned for me to be quiet while he took the call.

“Tony.” He pulled out the desk chair and took a seat. “Yeah, I’m at the hotel. Any info from the FBI?” He mouthed the words “I’m sorry” and shrugged.

I smiled, partially relieved for a moment to catch my breath. “It’s okay,” I mouthed back.

I took a last look out the window at the twinkling skyline and then vaulted onto the bed, landing on the pillowy duvet with a loud flop. I heard a snort behind me and looked over my shoulder to see Ace’s amused smile.

“It’s all good,” he said into the phone. “Haley was fine with Mav. I told her it was just the weekend…”

---