Up in Flames

“I need to know where she is,” I demanded. I wasn’t fucking around now. I wanted an answer.

“I honestly don’t know where she is. I just know Cope would have you by your throat if she had slipped past him, too. So you can get over it and calm the hell down, or run around in circles looking for her.”

I threw Captain one snarl before stalking back to my truck. I used to like that guy. Not so much now.

“Where you going?”

I didn’t answer him. He didn’t need to know I was going to go question everyone who knew Nan. Starting with Rush.

“I’d stay clear of Rush,” Captain called after me. “He thinks you hurt his sister and she’s run off because of you.”

For fuck’s sake! It wasn’t like I was in a relationship with Nan. Jesus, why did everything have to be so damn serious around here? Why couldn’t we all just get along?

I climbed into my truck without responding and headed to the Finlays’ house. I didn’t care what Captain said. I was going to go find her. If I had to deal with her protective, slightly pissed-off brother, I would.

Nan

My phone started vibrating again. Major’s name was lighting up the screen. He had left me alone most of the day, but he was going strong now. He needed a taste of his own medicine. The only difference was, when he ignored me, I didn’t keep trying. I had more pride than that.

His early texts had tried to charm me, but now they had a worried tone. He wasn’t happy about not knowing where I was. Served him right. I was not the kind of girl who sat around until someone gave her attention. I went after it.

“Boyfriend?” Gannon’s voice broke into my thoughts, and I put my phone down.

“No. A friend. An annoying one.” He wanted us to be friends. He was getting that now.

“You going to answer?”

I thought for a second, then shook my head no.

“Good,” Gannon replied, then held out one of his hands. “I planned something for this evening I thought you’d enjoy.”

Wow. OK, so he hadn’t come over here thinking about sex. That had been only me. Nice. We had just finished our drinks, and I was wondering where the night was going to take us.

“What?” I asked, putting my hand in his and standing up.

“You ever seen the Grand Canyon at sunset?”

I shook my head.

“Good. This will be your first time, then.”

“How?” I asked, a little confused.

“Helicopter tour.”

Oh. Nice.

The driver pulled the Mercedes up to a building with a sign outside that said Maverick Tours. There were several buses unloading and loading people. Gannon was watching me closely.

“We have a private tour scheduled. We won’t be riding with everyone else.”

“Do you fly?” I asked, confused.

He smirked. “I have. Illegally, but that’s another story. I won’t put you through that tonight. We have a pilot.”

My stomach did a nervous flip. The way he admitted to flying a helicopter illegally as if it were no big deal was exciting and terrifying. Who was this man?

“Did you go to jail?” I couldn’t help but ask.

He didn’t bat an eye. “Several times.”

The door beside me opened, and he nodded for me to get out. “After you.”

When a man admits to you that he’s gone to jail “several times,” the smart thing to do is get the hell away from him. However, I wasn’t very smart. The area between my legs actually tingled, and I felt like squirming. It absolutely turned me on.

I was screwed up in the head.

I slid over and stepped out of the Mercedes without taking the hand the driver had held out for me. I didn’t need his assistance, nor did I want to touch another man at the moment. I was more than turned on by the fact that I was with a man who was exactly what I suspected him of being: dangerous.

Gannon’s large body came up behind me, and his hand rested on my hip. I felt my panties get damp, and I inhaled deeply. I needed to get hold of myself. This was ridiculous. He’d been in jail. That wasn’t sexy; it was scary . . . no, it was sexy. As. Hell. Who was I kidding? I was completely hot for his dangerous side.

“You keep panting like that, and I’m going to throw your ass back into that car and fuck you until you become one with the leather seat. You understand?” His voice was in my ear; it was hard, and the warning tone in it made me shiver. Fear? Yes. Definitely fear. Lots of fear, but my female parts didn’t seem to get the fear memo, because they were humming with an ache I hadn’t felt before.

I inhaled sharply and nodded. I didn’t trust my words. His grip on my hip tightened, and he jerked me close to his side with a force that was sure to bruise my pale skin. Then he eased his hold and ran his hand gently over the spot he’d just abused.

“Sweet baby, you can’t toy with me. I’m not a boy. I’m a motherfucking man. Understand?”

I nodded again, and my breathing was erratic. There wasn’t a thing I could do about it. I was completely drawn in by this taste of brutality. I’d never known this, and I wasn’t sure why it called to me. I should be running like hell, not burrowing closer. Was I that fucked up?

He led me inside, and while the others around us were being weighed and given directions for their flights, we were immediately directed to a back door.

“Mr. Roth, this way sir,” a young guy said, staring toward Gannon with a fearful expression I understood. The guy didn’t even glance my way, as if he’d been warned not to, as he led us outside onto the tarmac and toward a waiting helicopter.