Page 37 of Truth & Lies

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I spend most of the afternoon at the police station. Their early inquiries show that Mom had returned from her honeymoon with Gavin four days earlier, but none of her credit cards or bank accounts have been touched since then. Her phone has not been switched on either. All of which is very unlike my mother.

Thankfully, Bridget stays with me while I fill out paperwork and even while a nice detective by the name of Marlee Manning carried out preliminary checks. Then she leads me into an interrogation room so I can give her a formal statement and an official missing person's report could be lodged. I lay it all out for her; when I last saw and spoke to my mother and what I know of her movements since then. I also relay my concerns about Gavin and tell her everything I know about the FBI investigation—which granted, still isn't a hell of a lot—and how Gavin had kicked me out of my office. Lastly, I give Barrett's details to Marlee in case she needs any further information.

That night, sitting in my hotel room, I stare at my phone, my finger hovering over Aiden’s contact details. I want to call him and have him reassure me that everything would be fine. He’s one of the few people in my life that has always been able to make me see reason. And I know he would help me, even if it’s just holding me close and kissing my head while promising me that everything would be okay.

Then I think about Barrett. I still haven't returned any of his calls or text messages since leaving Seattle. I owe him an explanation--for a lot of things—and yet again, I now have a lot more questions to ask him.

Lying back on my bed, I stare at the ceiling, part of me wishing I'd never gotten on the plane to Vegas six weeks ago. I might still have my company, and know where my mother is, but then I never would've met Mark "Barrett" Lucas.

For some reason I refuse to either acknowledge or admit to, the thought saddens me. For all his faults—and lying is high up on that list—there’s no denying the visceral and unmistakable connection I have with the man. The moment I first saw him I felt the pull between us. It started as pure physical appreciation, which then morphed into an intellectual attraction, and add in the thrill of his challenge to find him to get what we both wanted… I was putty in his hands. It was a game of cat and mouse that turned around on me in the most surprising and thrilling of ways. Until it all went to hell.

I know I'm kidding myself though because getting on the plane and meeting Barrett was not the catalyst for everything going wrong in my life—that award belongs to Gavin Barnes. He may have orchestrated the meeting, but he didn't magically conjure up the chemistry I had with Barrett. He can't be blamed for my heart being torn in half, each part owned by two different yet fatefully connected men.

Compelled to do something to stop myself from spiraling further, I call my assistant Carrie, something I should’ve done yesterday.

“Ms. Jacobs?” she says when she answers.

“Carrie, hi. How are you?”

“I’m . . . I’m still in shock. I wanted to contact you, but I wasn’t allowed to bring anything from my desk—my company phone included.”

“I’m really sorry about that. I’m sorry about all of it actually.”

“It’s not your fault, Ms. Jacobs.”

“Call me Alyssa, Carrie. I just wanted to make sure you were okay and to assure you that I will be reinstating you as soon as I get to the bottom of all of this.”

“Thank you. I love my job and working for you. I’ve been so distraught thinking about what that man did, and how he just walked right in and fired you.”

“It was done to you too.”

“It’s not my company, though. I know what Jacobs Publishing means to you.” Her words hit me hard and tears sting my eyes.

“I’ll get it back,” I say, my voice betraying my confidence. And after promising Carrie that I’ll be in touch, I end the call.

My stomach growls loudly then and I remember that I haven’t eaten since breakfast. Grabbing my purse, I go downstairs to one of the in-house restaurants. A glass of wine and a Chicken Caesar Salad later, I’m walking back through the lobby when I see the back of a dark-haired man standing in front of the elevators—wide muscular shoulders covered by a navy cotton tee, and a perfectly sculpted behind wrapped in dark-wash denim that clings to his hips and thighs. A silhouette I’d recognize anywhere.

My heart beats wildly as I rush toward him. He turns around and even expecting it—and hoping for it—I’m still awed at the beauty of the man in front of me, and the instant relief I feel knowing I’m not in this alone anymore.

Barrett

ChapterSixteen

“Kitten.”

The expression on his face is unreadable as he reaches out his hand and pulls me into him. Wrapping his arms around me, he runs his fingers up my back to rest on the back of my head as I bury my face in his neck and burst into tears, the stress and worry of the past two days finally catching up with me.

He ushers me into the elevator without letting me go and I feel the floor jolt beneath us as we start going up. “I can’t believe you’re here,” I murmur, burrowing deeper into him.

Tightening his arms around me, he doesn’t say a word as the doors open a moment later. But when I lift my head, I recognize the dark grey corridor of my floor, and seconds later, the lacquered black door to my hotel room.

I lift my head to meet his concerned gaze. “How did you find me?”

“I’ll always find you.”

“But—”

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