Fugitive Millionaire (Fugitive Millionaire Book One) (6 page)

“Yes. I love you, Fabian Cooper. Maybe I’m crazy to, but that’s the truth. I can’t help how I feel. You don’t need your father or Nathan to validate who you are. Every time I’m close to you like this I feel your inner strength. I like that you live life on your own terms, regardless of what anyone else thinks.”

“You’re amazing, Claire, you know that?”

“I know. So, don’t waste this opportunity to kiss me.”

Fabian wipes his tears away and holds Claire’s head between his hands.

Claire closes her eyes and leans into his waiting mouth. She feels an explosion of passion as their tongues mingle together again. This kiss is way more sweetly passionate than any they’ve shared before. She now knows for sure that Fabian is the man she’s meant to be with. No matter what happens from this point forward, they are going to be linked together.

What happens to him happens to her too.

“Claire. I love you.”

Fabian rises slowly. He holds out his hand and Claire takes it. The two of them walk into his equally tasteful bedroom. Fabian pulls the maroon colored comforter off the bed and pulls down the top sheet.

Claire starts undressing. She’s ready to give him all of her this time. She stands before him naked and ready to join their bodies together as one.

She watches with rapt attention as Fabian pulls off his clothes. He’s beautiful for a man. Claire is sure that in another life Leonardo da Vinci would have chosen Fabian to be one of his male models. Fabian has that classic chiseled body that is not too overbearing, or too slack. His muscles are nicely taught. She’s sure that his lean, hard body attracts plenty of attention wherever he goes.

That body now belongs exclusively to her. He belongs to her. No other woman understands him the way she does. Claire is grateful that his model type girlfriends failed to win his heart. He could have wasted years of his life thinking he was happy, but not ever experiencing the closeness that they are sharing with each other right now. She too would be missing out on enjoying everything she loves about him.

Claire gracefully lies down on the bed. She gives Fabian her best come hither look. He responds by sitting next to her and stroking her hair gently. He moves on to stroking her face with the back of his hand.

“Kiss me.”

Fabian leans down and kisses her again, this time more softly.

Claire pulls him on top of her. This is where she wants to be, underneath his sturdy physique. He makes her feel secure and amazingly wanted. She runs her hands along his shoulders and down his back. She can barely stand how strappingly handsome he is.

“Never leave me, Claire. I need you in my life.”

Fabian squeezes Claire’s breasts and brushes his lips against her nipples. This greatly arouses her lust for him. She reaches between his legs and rubs his manhood, causing it to stiffen almost immediately.

Fabian takes his cue and guides his stiff rod into her waiting honey cave. Claire is more than ready this time to receive all of his delicious thickness inside of her. She squeezes her throbbing walls around his pleasure seeker. His groaning response lets her know he’s enjoying this.

The power of their combined lust and desire for each other takes over as his intense thrusting inside of her moves their bodies up and down in perfect rhythmic harmony. She could care less that he is under suspicion by those men downstairs. In her heart she knows he’s innocent of those accusations. The man that is making love to her may be conflicted, but deep down he’s a good soul. She is sure of this with every fiber of her being.

“Claire…get ready, cause I’m going to devour you.”

“Take me, my sweet darling. Devour every inch of me.”

Her body again explodes in waves of erotic ecstasy as he coaxes her erogenous zone to the peak of delirious happiness.

*****

Claire lazily lounges on her sofa with her laptop sitting on her lap. A reality TV program drones on in the background, but she’s not paying much attention. She’s too busy looking for qualified lawyers for Fabian. This task isn’t as simple as she thought it would be. There are countless highly skilled criminal defense attorneys in New York that would want him as a client. The best work with top-rate firms. She’s managed to create a list of eight attorneys that have solid credentials. Now, she’s cross checking references and reviews in order to narrow the list down to the best three. She’s glad she’s the one compiling this information, because she has Fabian’s best interest at heart.

Claire completes her research and selects the three attorneys that she thinks will do a fantastic job representing Fabian, if he should need their services. Of course, Fabian gets the final say, but she’s giving him the cream of the crop.

Claire places the word document into a zip file and emails it to Fabian with a brief note. She adds the word urgent in the subject line so that he can easily separate this message from the others. Claire picks up her cell phone and is tempted to call him, but stops herself from pressing those digits. He has promised to call her for sure this time and she’s waiting to see if he passes the test.

She can’t wait to hear his sultry voice again. Despite the brewing mess over Sloane Cooper’s disappearance, which could land Fabian in some real legal trouble, she’s excited about the unexpected fast track their relationship is on. After what they shared together last night, going slow is completely out the window.

The sex is great, but that’s not the only thing propelling them forward. She’s finally met a guy that pushes all of her female buttons, mentally, emotionally and physically. That’s hard to find in a city filled with millions of strangers. Being a single woman in New York City is like playing the relationship lottery. You keep hoping you get a winner, but usually you strike out. She knows how lucky she is to have this incredible love connection with Fabian.

Once Sloane is found and brought home safe, and Fabian is cleared of any wrongdoing, they can make plans for a future together.

Claire closes her laptop and sets it underneath the coffee table. She fluffs up the large decorative pillow and cozies up against it. She decides to watch the remainder of a rerun episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. This is the only version of this popular series that she bothers to watch. She is always amused by their petty back and forth bickering over issues the average person could care less about. Despite their shallowness, she enjoys watching these privileged ladies go about their scripted adventures.

The musical notes from Claire’s cell phone alerts her that she’s got a call. She grabs it with excited anticipation.

It’s him!

“Hello?”

“Hello, Claire? It’s Nathan.”

Claire hides her disappointment. “Hi, Nathan. What’s up?”

“Are you at home?”

“Yeah, I’m sitting on my couch watching TV, why?”

“Turn to channel 7 right now. You’ve gotta see it for yourself.”

The tension in Nathan’s voice is palpable. There must be something big happening.

“Okay. Hold on just a second.”

Claire grabs the remote and switches over to channel 7, which is showing local news. What Claire sees on her TV screen shocks her to her core. They are showing a video clip of Fabian walking down a hotel hallway. He hesitates a moment, before entering a room. The clip cuts to him exiting that same room in a hurry. He’s wheeling an oversized suitcase behind him. They keep showing this clip repeatedly while the anchorman relays the breaking news to the viewing audience.

“…he’s seen leaving the room with a large suitcase. Police say this is the same room where Sloane Cooper was last seen alive two days ago. Police consider Fabian Cooper a suspect in his stepmother’s disappearance. There is a warrant out for his arrest. Police released this video to alert the public. If you see Fabian Cooper, do not confront him. Contact police at…”

Claire feels like someone just let the air out of her happy future. Her mind is struggling to accept the reality of what she’s just learned. Fabian was at the hotel the same time Sloane was there. He went into her room and came out with a big suitcase. He’s now a suspect. Fabian’s claim of innocence is full of more holes than Swiss cheese. He led her to believe Sloane’s titillating accounts of them being together was all made up. But, there he is on tape looking guilty as hell. It’s damning evidence no matter how you try to explain it.

What is in that suitcase, Fabian?

She’s afraid of the answer, even though it’s already stuck in her mind.

“Claire? Are you still there? Claire?”

She forgot Nathan was still on the line. “Yeah, Nathan. I’m here. I can’t believe what I’m seeing, though.”

“Me either. I hate to say it, but…I think he did something bad to her.”

Claire shakes her head vehemently. “No. Whatever’s going on, he wouldn’t do that.”

“Look, Claire, Fabian is like a brother to me. We’ve grown up together and shared a lot of good times. I mean I changed my mind about his possible guilt, even when Gray was so sure. I allowed myself to believe Fabian after he convinced me it was all a misunderstanding. But, after seeing that video, there’s no way I can come to any other conclusion.”

Claire sighs heavily. “I know.” She doesn’t have anything else to say.

“The police came to the estate to arrest him, but he’s not here. Nobody knows where he is. Have you heard from him?”

“No. He was supposed to call me, but so far he hasn’t.”

“If he contacts you, give me a call. I know I can talk him into turning himself in. Oh, and call the police just to be safe, okay?”

“Yeah.”

“You okay?”

“Not really.”

“I understand. One of the house staff told me you spent time with him yesterday. Sorry, kiddo. There will be other guys that are better suited for a great person like you.”

“None like him, unfortunately.”

“Listen, Claire. Whatever your feelings are for him you’ve got to put them aside and do the right thing if you ever see him again. He’s considered dangerous and I would hate if anything bad happened to you too.”

“Don’t worry, Nathan. It’s obvious he can’t be trusted. I have to protect myself, even if that means calling the cops on him.”

“Good. Okay, I’ve gotta get back to Gray. He’s not doing too well.”

“None of us are at this point.”

“Talk to you soon. Bye.”

“Bye.”

Claire is devastated by this turn of events. She’s fallen madly in love with a man that could possibly be a lady killer. Cupid must have been drunk or angry when he pointed his arrow in her direction.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

“Ugh. Who can this be? Probably a wrong delivery address.”

Claire intends to get rid of whoever is on the other side of that door quickly so she can settle in to do some serious moping.

Claire peers into the peephole and is stunned to see Fabian standing there.

Oh, my god. What do I do?

“Open up, Claire. I saw you looking at me.”

Claire flushes red with embarrassment. She forgot that people see movement from the outside when the living room light is on.

Should I grab my phone and call the police? There’s a warrant on him. I’d be within my rights as a law- abiding citizen.

“Claire, please open the door. Don’t shut me out like this. I love you.”

Claire decides to keep a locked door between the two of them. “I can’t, Fabian. I want to, but I can’t. You’re all over the news.”

“I’m not going to talk about everything that’s happening standing in the hallway. I just wanted to see you one last time before I leave.”

“Where are you going?”

“Goodbye, Claire. I’ll always remember what we had together.”

Fabian heads down the hallway.

Claire unlocks the deadbolt and swings open the door. “Wait! You can’t leave here without getting a goodbye kiss.”

Fabian rushes back and embraces Claire tightly. “My Claire. I knew you wouldn’t let me go that easy.”

Claire pulls Fabian into her apartment to avoid being seen by her nosier neighbors. She notices he’s wearing a long coat and rugged boats. “Are you going to go hide out in the Catskills?”

Fabian laughs despite the grave situation. “Nope. I’m not telling you where I’m going. It’s better that way. You can tell the cops you don’t know where I’m at and be telling the truth.”

“You don’t have to be so mysterious. I’m not wearing a wire. Go ahead and frisk me.”

Claire holds her arms high up in the air like she’s seen on countless cop shows.

“I trust you, Claire. The thing is, you could get arrested if the cops think you’re helping me. I want you to stay out of this as much as possible.”

What will she do without him? Wither away from loneliness? It’s not like she can turn back the clock and pretend they never met, or had the greatest sex of her life. She can never forget how wonderful it feels to be held in his arms. To be caressed by his hands. To be kissed by those sensuous lips.

Fabian glances at his watch. “I can’t stay more than a few minutes. I’ve already made arrangements to leave New York.”

“I can’t stand not knowing anything. Can’t you give me a tiny hint?”

Fabian gazes into her eyes and gives in. “Two words. Private jet.”

Claire realizes he’s going to be flying far away from her. Wherever he’s going her heart will be willing him to come back to her every second he’s away. “I guess I won’t be able to call you or text.”

“No. It’s best we don’t have any communication. I need to make sure you’re not implicated.”

“I need to make sure you’re okay!” Claire is suddenly feeling angry. It’s not fair that she is being left in the dark about where he’s going, or who he’s going to be with. As the saying goes, out of sight, out of mind. He’ll be on the run meeting other people—other women, and before you know it, she’ll simply be that brief romance he had with a cool girl during a hazy past. Well, she’s not happy about it one bit.

Fabian pulls Claire close to him. “Hey, I’ll be okay. I can’t say any more than that.”

Claire pulls away. “I’m not okay, Fabian. I have so many questions about what’s going on between you and Sloane. I wanna know why you were in her hotel room, and…what’s in that suitcase?”

Fabian holds his head as if it aches. “Argh! I don’t have time to explain anything. There’s a good explanation for why I was there, that’s all I can tell you. I found the suitcase by the door, so I took it down and left it at the front desk. Maybe someone claimed it.”

“I still don’t understand.”

“I know, Claire. I wish I could stay and talk about how I’m being framed for something I didn’t do, but I gotta go catch a plane.”

“Fabian, why don’t you turn yourself in? Tell the police everything you know and let them follow up leads.”

“Right. They’ve already issued a warrant for my arrest. That means they will handcuff me and take me to jail. I could get out on bond, but I’m not sticking around to let myself go through all that public humiliation. It will ruin my reputation and any chance I have of being a successful film producer. My only chance is to stay free so I can use my personal resources to clear my name.”

Claire is on the verge of tears. “I don’t know if I can handle being away from you. We were on this big high, and then this happens. I’m afraid of losing you.”

Fabian hugs her from behind. “You’re not losing me. This is only temporary, until this thing is sorted out.”

“How long is that gonna take?”

“I don’t know, babe. It may be a while.”

“Nathan thinks you hurt Sloane. He told me to call the police if I saw you.”

“He did, huh?”

“Yeah, but I’m not going to because I want you to do what you have to do to find out why this is happening to you. To us.”

Fabian holds Claire so tight he almost squeezes all the air out of her lungs. It’s like he’s clinging to her for dear life. “Come with me, Claire.”

“What?”

“We don’t have to be apart. Come with me.”

“Right now?”

“Yeah. I’ve got a jet waiting for me at JFK airport. If you wanna go, pack a suitcase with casual clothes. Take only essential stuff. Leave your cell phone and laptop here. We’ve got to be untraceable.”

“You’re asking me to just pick up and leave my entire life, as I know it, behind to go off with you to god knows where?”

“Yep. You’ve got ten seconds to say yes or no.”

Claire understands that this is the most important decision she’s ever going to make in her life. Running off with a fugitive was not on the list of personal goals she wants to achieve this year. Finding a boyfriend was. She must make a choice between the orderly and the chaotic lifestyle. She can stay here, keep her secure job and continue her predictable routine. Or, she can do something totally outside her character and throw caution to the wind.

“I’m coming with you.”

Claire rushes into her bedroom and starts stuffing her suitcase full of clothing and personal items no woman can be without. She is fully aware that running off with Fabian is risky—she could end up in jail. But, she’s willing to take that chance. Turning her back on the man she loves is not an option. They belong together.

Ten minutes later…

“Claire, are you almost ready? The driver has to get us there before the cops figure out I’ve gone to the airport.”

“I’m coming, babe.”

Claire zips her suitcase shut and grabs her purse and overnight bag. Everything’s happening so fast she barely has time to process it all. As she heads for the elevator with Fabian, she feels a rush of pure adrenaline pumping through her veins. She’s ready for anything.

*****

Claire had always wondered what it was like to fly in a private jet—now she knows. It’s one hundred percent more comfortable than flying in crowded coach. This plane has large, luxurious leather seats. Above each seat there is an adjustable entertainment console that allows passengers to play games or watch movies. The mini bar is well stocked and she can heat up a tasty meal in the microwave whenever she gets hungry. Right now, she’s nursing a glass of white wine in a vain attempt to remain calm and relax her nerves.

Fabian is sitting right across from her. His seat is in the recline position and his eyes are closed. She’s not sure if he’s asleep or not. After the plane took off, they fell silent. He still refuses to tell her where they are going. He said he’d reveal that after they land. Claire figures his paranoia over being caught by the police is the reason why he is staying mum about their destination. However, it’s not like she can tell anyone way up here. They are the only two passengers.

Claire drinks more wine. Maybe it will turn part of her mind off so she can get some rest. Anxious thoughts about what she’ll encounter when they land keep her from enjoying her first private jet ride. How can Fabian fall asleep so easily when she’s a bundle of nerves?

“Fabian, are you awake?”

His eyes open. “Yeah, unfortunately.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to bug you when you’re trying to sleep.”

“Yes you did,” he says with amusement.

“You’re right. I was curious to know how you could sleep while we’re jetting away from the New York City police, and our normal lives.”

“Are you worried?”

“Yeah, I’m worried. My mind keeps playing out all these awful scenarios. The main one is that the cops will be waiting for us when we land and they’ll arrest us.”

“That’s not gonna happen.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because, my contact is solidly in my camp. There’s no way he would betray me.”

He?

This was the first hint about who they might be entrusting their lives to. Now she knows it’s a guy. “Is he a friend?”

“Maybe.”

“Oh come on, Fabian. Why not just tell me everything now? I’m going to find out soon anyway.”

Fabian reaches over and grabs a hold of Claire’s hand. “Okay. If I tell you who he is will you promise me that you’ll try and get some sleep?”

“I promise.”

Fabian adjusts his seat so that he is almost sitting in an upright position. “His name is Ryan Burdett. Ryan is a really good friend of mine going back to our college days. He’s an awesome vacation resort consultant and developer who owns a nice spread of land out west. That’s where we’re going.”

Claire’s eyes widen. “You mean we’re camping out in the wilderness?”

Fabian chuckles at her earnest naiveté. “No, Claire. He’s got a very nice ranch home with plenty of room for a couple of fugitives from New York.”

“That’s a relief. Thanks, babe, for filling me in. I feel better about this trip now.”

Fabian affectionately squeezes Claire’s hand. “Good. Now let’s both try to relax and get a nap in before we get there.”

Fabian puts on his complimentary headphones and turns on some music. He reclines and closes his eyes again.

Claire finishes her wine and decides to watch a movie. Maybe she’ll nap later. Her mind is now filling up with curiosity about Ryan Burdett. She can’t wait to land and find out more about him and his friendship with Fabian. He must have some great stories to tell about his college days with her guy.

Claire adjusts her seat to get more comfortable. Unfortunately, physical comfort doesn’t equate to mental peace. While the movie’s opening credits roll, more anxious thoughts pop into her head.

How is Fabian going to get out of this mess?

Does Ryan know he’s a fugitive?

How long are they going to be able to hide out before the cops get clued in on where they are?

Claire turns up the volume on the console to drown them out. Escapist entertainment is the best cure for all these questions that can’t be answered thousands of feet above ground.