Fugitive Millionaire (Fugitive Millionaire Book One) (12 page)

Amanda is momentarily taken aback, but quickly recovers her composure. “I don’t know what you’re trying to pull, but this bullshit is gonna end now.” Amanda points to Jeremy. “You! Get your clothes and get out of here.”

Jeremy just sits there and looks at Claire. He’s not sure whether to blow off Amanda’s angry demand or do as she commands.

Claire doesn’t know what he should do either. Her plan could be going awry. However, she regains a spark of hope when she notices Amanda checking out Jeremy’s naked physique with her eyes. Amanda may be angry, but she recognizes a hot guy when she sees one. Claire sure hopes that Jeremy is smart enough to keep himself from being thrown out of this house. The longer Jeremy stays on the premises, the more time she has to free Fabian from his chains.

“Did you hear me, or are you too dumb to follow basic instructions?”

Jeremy slowly gets off the bed and begins gathering up his clothes. “Hey, there’s no need to get all worked up over what is clearly a tiff between you two ladies. I’m just a local guy who somehow wound up here in bed with a woman I barely know.”

“Hurry it up,” Amanda barks.

Jeremy bends over, exposing his perfectly shaped rump for Amanda’s benefit. “Let me find my other shoe. It’s down here somewhere.”

Amanda looks for the shoe, finds it and hands it to Jeremy. “Here. Now take your things and get out.” Amanda shoves Jeremy towards the door.”

Jeremy reluctantly goes out into the hallway, but hesitates to move further. “I don’t even know where I’m going. Where’s the bathroom so I can change?”

Amanda sighs loudly. She goes out into the hallway. “Walk ahead of me. I’ll tell you how to get to the downstairs front foyer. You can put your clothes on there before I kick your ass out.”

Jeremy gives Claire a quick glance before being forcibly shoved towards the stairway.

Claire waits until the two are out of sight before springing into action. She grabs her jeans and fishes inside one of the pockets. She pulls out a small key and swiftly unlocks the padlock around her waist. The circular chain hits the floor with a clanging noise. Clancy had given her the keys to freedom and she’s not wasting one second in using them. Claire hurriedly dresses, barely taking time to tie her shoelaces.

“I gotta get to Fabian before she comes back.”

Claire runs into the master bedroom, startling Fabian who is sitting on the floor. He looks up with surprise in his eyes. “Claire? How did you…”

Claire’s fingers are already nervously turning the key into the padlock around his waist. “No time to talk about it, honey. Just get dressed as soon as you’re free. We’ve gotta move fast before she realizes she’s been tricked.”

They both watch as Fabian’s chains hit the floor. Fabian grabs Claire and plants a big kiss on her lips. “I love you, baby, you know that?”

“Yes, I know. Now hurry and get dressed. We’ve gotta get downstairs fast without her seeing us.”

Fabian practically flies into his pants and shoes. He grabs Claire’s hand and they rush to the top of the stairs. They stop and listen. They both hear Amanda talking to Jeremy somewhere near the front entrance.

“That doesn’t sound like Clancy she’s talking to,” Fabian whispers.

“It’s another guy I brought here as a decoy. I hope he can keep her preoccupied so we can get back to the cabin.”

“Okay, we’ll sneak downstairs and wait for a chance to make a run for the back door. Where’s Clancy?”

“I don’t know. He doesn’t want Amanda to know he’s helping us, so he’s making himself scarce.”

“Let’s go.”

Claire and Fabian gingerly make their way down the steps as quietly as possible. They manage to get to the first floor without any problem. Amanda is still near the front door trying to get rid of her uninvited guest. They hear Jeremy pleading with Amanda.

“Come on, baby. Just give me a chance to feel what it’s like to be submissive to you. You can see that I’m already hard as a rock just thinking about it. You’ve already had that other guy. I’m fresh meat. Come on. Give me a chance to play some kinky games with you.”

“This whole thing is strange,” Amanda says with doubt in her voice. “I don’t know why Clancy would bring you here to have sex with Claire, or why she wants you to think we’re sisters. Something’s fishy.”

“What difference does it make?” Jeremy says. “I’m here for you to do whatever you want. That’s all that matters. Feel me up and then tell me you want me to leave.”

“You’ve got a great body for sure, but I don’t need…”

Claire and Fabian strain to hear more conversation, but there’s nothing but silence. This could be either good or bad for their chances of escape. Claire dares to get a wee bit closer in order to get a better view of Amanda and Jeremy. She observes them embraced in a hot, passionate kiss. This makes her a real happy camper. Jeremy has come through after all.

“I think we should go for the door now,” Claire urgently whispers.

“I think you’re right,” Fabian agrees.

Claire and Fabian quickly run through the house. They find the back door exit and make a mad dash for the cabin. The cute cabin looks just like as it did when Claire last saw it. The beer bottles and food containers are gone, though.

Fabian grabs her arm and pulls her into the bedroom. “We gotta get packed!”

The couple throws their belongings into their bags and is now faced with another dilemma. How are they going to get off the ranch?

Fabian looks completely lost for ideas. “Now what?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t plan this far ahead.”

The front door to the cabin opens and Clancy steps in flashing a weather-beaten smile. “Claire, you continue to impress me. You told me you would rescue your man, and that’s exactly what you did. I like your feisty spirit.”

“Thanks, Clancy. Although, we wouldn’t have made it this far without your help.”

“I think Amanda was getting tired of butting heads with Fabian, anyway. Still, she hates it when she’s not calling all the shots. Better you guys leave here before she realizes she’s been duped.”

Fabian shakes Clancy’s hand. “I don’t know why you decided to help us, but I’m glad you did. Only now we’ve got another problem. We’re stuck unless we get a ride to the nearest town.”

Clancy’s eyes twinkle as he pulls a set of car keys out of his pocket. “Here. You can take Ryan’s silver SUV. He doesn’t use it much, anyway. I’ll let him know you borrowed it.” Clancy hands the keys to Fabian.

“Thanks, man.”

“Clancy you’re a real gem,” Claire says. “In spite of everything, I’m going to miss you.” Claire gives Clancy a peck on the cheek.

“I’m gonna miss you too, little lady. You really got me thinking that maybe I need to find a job that doesn’t involve babysitting a pampered princess, or breaking the law. You guys better get going. The car is parked inside the big barn. Drive along the back road until you hit the main highway. Good luck.” Clancy leaves.

“I’ll go get the car and drive it up to the cabin so we can load in our stuff,” Fabian says.

“This hideout didn’t work out like you planned, huh?”

Fabian takes a moment to make amends. “Claire, I apologize for getting you mixed up in this crazy shit. If I would have known about Amanda being such a freak, I would have never brought you here, or come here myself, for that matter.”

“Oh, I know that. There’s no way you could have predicted any of this.”

Fabian tenderly kisses Claire. “I’m so glad you’re sticking by me, baby. I really need you now more than ever.”

Claire wouldn’t dream of leaving him now. She’s into him way too deep to even think about changing her mind. The things she has done so far to preserve their relationship have even astonished her. She now believes with all her heart that she and Fabian can get through anything together.

Claire teasingly nudges Fabian. “So, tell me, Clyde, where are we headed next?”

Fabian wraps his arm around her. “Well, Bonnie, I figured we’d drive until we find a decent town were we can hold up for a spell without being noticed. We’ll rent a motel room and plan our next move. How’s that sound?”

Claire brushes away unruly strands of hair from her eyes. “That works for me. We’re a couple of unstoppable fugitives.”

Claire watches Fabian head towards the barn to get the SUV. There’s no place else in the whole world she’d rather be right now than on the run with him.

Thank you for reading book one in the Fugitive Millionaire saga. Claire and Fabian continue their intriguing journey together in book two: Fugitive Millionaire Revenge.

Any support you can give me as a writer by taking a moment to leave a review of this book is very much appreciated. Your feedback fuels my passion for bringing you more great contemporary romance stories.