Girls' Night Out (Bad Boys) (12 page)

“Brett,” she moaned, pulling on his hair.

He gazed down into her face, his eyes wide, and then he crushed his mouth down upon her lips. His hard kiss turned soft and tender. Sucking her lip, he groaned. When he released her mouth, he smiled. “You drive me crazy, cowgirl.”

“Back—” She was about to return the compliment but the loud pounding on the door interrupted her words.

He shook his head. “I’m not a fan of ground floor rooms.”

CHAPTER 8

Brett rose from the bed, peeled off the condom and slipped on his trousers. Shirtless and barefoot, he went to see who continued to pound the hotel door like a madman. She sat up on the bed, running her fingers through her tangled hair. Her body jerked at hearing a female voice and worse when said voice clearly mentioned her name.

“Oh, God,” she whispered, her heart thundering, and all she could think about was getting dressed in two seconds before a mob of angry women overtook Brett’s hotel room.

Without an extra pair of hands, she could only get the dress zipper halfway up. And tying those darn shoes required more concentration than she possessed, with the insistent voice at the door getting louder. She heard Brett say firmly to
wait.
What would he think? She wouldn’t blame him if he never acknowledged this evening. Ever.

He appeared at the bedroom doorway, his face grim, and he walked toward her with her purse in his hand. “Your sister-in-law has been taken to the hospital.”

She dropped her shoe and stared up at him. “What? When? Is she going to be alright?”

Brett set her purse down on the bed next to her. He lightly traced the edge of her jaw with his fingertip. “Apparently, she began to have contractions and then her water broke.”

“I’ve got to go.” She swallowed a lump the size of a hay bale but couldn’t seem to get rid of the choking feeling. Brett came over to her and stood behind her. He took hold of her dress and helped her tie the straps, then zip the back. He bent down and picked up her shoes and settled her on the bed, a slight curve to his lips as he looked down at her.

“The ambulance already left with her. I’ll drive you.” He picked up his shirt and slipped it on, rolled up the sleeves and began to button it.

She held her shoe and hastily tied the lace around her ankle. “Who was at the door?”

“Gillian and Rich, a guy from my team. He showed her down here.”

Her gaze shot to the doorway. “Is she still waiting in the hall?” her voice sounded thin and scared.

“No. She went back to the group. They’re getting ready to leave. No one knew where you were and she had enough to sense to find a football player and ask instead of calling the police.”

“I didn’t think anything would happen. It’s all my fault. I basically twisted her arm into dancing. I hope Carolina and the babies…” She rose and folded her arms over her waist. Her chest constricted, tightly wrapped by worry.

“Hey, this isn’t your fault. You’ve no control over when a baby or babies are going to be born. I don’t know much about pregnant women, but your sister-in-law looked like she was close anyway…you know, to delivering.”

“She’s not due for another few weeks. I need to find my family.”

He crossed the carpeted floor and pulled her up, close to him. Wrapping his hand in her tangled hair, he forced her to look up. “I’m right here if you need me. Or I can stay in the background. We need to talk. I’m not a mind reader, nor are you. When we leave this room, I want you to promise me, you’ll not get lost. Your family, from what I can tell, is somewhat overbearing. Am I right?”

“That’s putting it mildly. I don’t want you to have to deal with their emotional upheaval which I’m sure will be a regular circus in crisis.” She inhaled, bending her head forward to rest on his chest. Her hands came up and squeezed his waist. He kissed the top of her head. Gentle and without pushing her, she wanted him to swallow her up for one more second before all Annona hell broke loose. Matt would be on his way by now with a carload of other family members. A two-hour drive from the ranch to Dallas. She wondered if he’d make it in time to see his babies being born.

“We’d best be getting you to the hospital, then.” His fingers slid down her arm and he picked up her hand, weaving their fingers together.

“Thanks,” she whispered.

He finished dressing, grabbed his wallet and keys and led her from the bedroom out the door, then down the hall until they were in the hotel lobby.

Cory had her cellphone out and dialed Gillian’s number. She saw all the messages, texts and phone calls. With her cell resting on her cheek, she didn’t really pay much attention to the ding of the elevator until the doors opened and out walked Ashley and two men. To say her cousin looked disheveled didn’t adequately describe her smudged makeup or matted hair. Wrecked came to Cory’s mind. Their eyes locked and Cory met her cousin’s sneer with an arched a brow.

Ashley had her cell in her hand as well. “Good lord,” she said across the lobby, stumbling forward, and one of the men reached out and grabbed her. When she came up to Cory, she narrowed her eyes, giving Cory a slow onceover and shook her head. “What’s going on?”

The fumes coming from her mouth repelled Cory and she immediately looked to both of the men.

Floored, Cory halted and shot a questioning look to Brett. “Uh…”

“Well?” Ashley demanded.

“We need to get to Southwestern Medical Center. Why don’t you come with us?” she asked.

“She was due, wasn’t she?” Ashley replied dryly. “We just had a few drinks and damn, I get slammed by a million messages. Carolina’s ability to upstage anyone is now confirmed.” One of the men, the guy Brett had referred to as Kenny, had his arm casually encircling Ashley’s waist.

Kenny glanced over at Ashley and snorted. “Damn, that’s harsh.”

Ashley snapped, “You haven’t met her. I can’t imagine why she even came.”

Brett’s fingers were at the back of Cory’s dress, pinching the material in a firm grasp, and it was a good thing. Cory’s fingers curled into fists. She’d had enough of Ashley. “Then you’re set to get back to whatever you had going on. You know where the hotel is, or are you staying here?” Cory asked.

“I don’t know yet. I doubt a group of twenty will be allowed to crowd into the maternity waiting area of any hospital. Maybe you should give them space and not add to the confusion as well, Cory. You’re not versed in birthing. The only people Carolina needs are her family, and none of those crazy Spanish-speaking hot heads are here, thank God. The wedding was enough to drive us all bonkers.”

Cory labored to take a breath, fighting to keep from overreacting. This was, after all, Ashley. Cory reminded herself her cousin was a jerk through and through, and had once again proved herself a complete moron. Why did she worry about what this woman thought or said?

“Close your mouth before you say something even more ridiculous. I’m warning you not to say another thing about Carolina.” Cory spoke between gritted teeth. “The only person who should have stayed back in Annona is you. You’re nothing but a bitter, mean-spirited gossip who couldn’t even find a date for her prom. Your daddy had to pay a ranch hand to take you. And tonight, you’re not faring any better. Stop pointing your finger.”

Her cousin blinked slowly, like a drunken cat. “Oh, and I suppose with your rumpled dress and messy hairdo you weren’t getting busy between the sheets with him. Did you have to give him directions on what to do?” Ashley had her hands on her waist. She laughed victoriously at Cory’s sharp gasp.

“You need to learn some manners.” Before she could fully conceptualize her actions, she stepped up to Ashley, so close she felt her cousin’s exhalation. Cory lifted her hands, ready to shove the woman.

“Oh, shit,” the man next to Ashley swore. He tugged her cousin backward as he moved in between them. “Brett, get hold of your girl if you don’t want to have to break up a cat fight.”

Brett had already intervened by taking hold of Cory’s arm. Her chest heaved in unexpressed fury, but she didn’t fight him. “Come on,” he whispered against the back of her head. “She’s not worth it.”

He was right. Cory nodded and raised her palms “I’m good.” She turned her back on her cousin. “Can we please leave?”

He nodded. “I’m parked in the garage. Did you want to check the club and see if anyone else is there?”

“I received a text that said everyone is on their way to the hospital.” She refused to say another word to Ashley. She’d wait until she returned home to deal with her cousin. Accordingly to Gillian’s recent text, Carolina had been taken to a hospital with a high-risk birthing center and a neonatologist had been called in. Brett walked alongside her, silently comforting with his hand on her lower back. He steered her over to his car. Convertible and low, sleek, and black, the type of ride she’d expect someone like him to drive. He opened the passenger door, helping her to climb inside.

She texted Gillian that she was on her way and then she dialed her mother’s cell number. Her finger shook and before she pressed talk, she turned to Brett. “Do you need directions?”

She cringed at her words after what Ashley had said, and slanted a glance in his direction from beneath her lashes. Her world was about to crash. Would he be around instead of disappearing was the real question, not her.

“Unfortunately, I’ve visited every hospital in Dallas over the years.” He backed out of the spot, his hand holding onto the neck rest behind her, and his thumb rubbed the top of her head.

“Right,” she said. “Probably not the maternity wing though.” And with her family this would be memorable, even if Carolina and her nephew and niece were perfectly fine.

“More like the ER, or surgical units for friends. I’ve had a couple a visits myself.”

“Your shoulder?” she asked.

He flashed her a quizzical look. “Yes. The scar?”

“I noticed. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Heck, no. I’m not vain. It’s an ongoing issue. In my line of work, injuries end careers. No one likes to discuss them. It’s more than an image thing. It’s an impression, and those impact contracts, trades, a whole domino effect, really.” His mouth set into a tight line as he shifted gears and drove from the garage.

She recalled when they’d first bumped into one another, he’d been occupied in some discussion about a contract. Staring straight ahead, she felt the tension inside the car ramp up. She didn’t want to ask the burning question if that was an issue for him. That would be nosy, something her stupid cousin would do.

“I need to call my mother,” she said and pressed her finger to the talk icon.

It was almost midnight and if the babies arrived today they’d be born on the last day of November. Snow began to fall, a light dusting of white over surfaces. Brett’s windshield wipers batted away the flakes that fell on the glass. She’d left the hotel tonight without a coat or wrap. Her reflection in the window made her wish she’d brought more than a slim clutch. She tied her hair in a loose knot at her neck, and rubbed her fingertips under her eyes. Everyone who saw her would know exactly what she’d been doing.

“Corinth McLemore, where are you?” her mother asked, concern punctuating each syllable.

“I’m on my way to the hospital. Is Carolina going to be okay?”

“Yes. She’s being admitted. The doctor examined her and she’s in labor. These babies are coming. Doctor said he doesn’t expect them to be born before tomorrow morning.”

“Oh, thank God!”

“Yes, we are praying. Matt is on his way with Stephen and your Daddy.” Her mom’s words were low and she sounded extra tired. “Cory, Daddy doesn’t know the exact details of tonight. I want you to leave him to me. You hear?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Cory closed her eyes. The weighted words spoke volumes, as though her mother had been given a play-by-play version of the whole short night. “Nothing outrageous happened.”

“Oh Cory, we all had hoped you would grow up by going off to school. You still have a lot of living and learning to do. You need to think about your actions. Do you know what I mean?”

She opened her eyes and knitted her brows, unable to find the words to defend herself. “Are you saying this is my fault?”

“Of course not. But you can’t up and disappear from the group without anyone knowing your whereabouts. Hotels and you…Cory, this isn’t the first time tongues have wagged. Speculation or not…sneaking off is always a reason for talk. That’s what doesn’t set well here. I couldn’t reach you. Nobody could, from what I understand.”

Not this again. How many times was she supposed to claim she was innocent? She’d never met up with any man in a hotel before. Not back when Carolina’s ex-boyfriend showed up in town. Fine, she’d take the heat on what happened with Brett, but she hated having to take it on the chin for the other hotel debacle. Not when she knew darn well who the woman was who’d shacked up with that snake.

“Mama, that’s not fair. I’ve never done anything like this. Ever! This was supposed to be a party. I wasn’t gone long and besides, the last fiasco…it wasn’t me, it was—, ” she sputtered in humiliation, but stopped talking suddenly. It was coming out all wrong. She didn’t need to defend herself, but dang it if she didn’t feel like she was a child again. She’d love to spill the beans about the other hotel mess, but she’d not be the snitch of the family. With as much control as she could muster, she said, “This isn’t about me. Carolina is the one who needs to be the focal point.”

“I agree with you on that.” There were voices in the background. “Cory, I need to go sign some papers. Be careful, it’s starting to snow.”

“I am. See you soon.” She stared at the screen going dark in her hand.

“Do you want to swing by your hotel?” Brett asked. “You’re not dressed warmly.”

CHAPTER 9

Cory stared back at him with a vacant expression. He could more than imagine the load of shit she was about to be dumped on her. Brett wanted to turn the car around and head out of Dallas. Not stop until they reached his house, secluded and far enough away that her family would need a team of private investigators to find them. Running away didn’t mesh with Cory’s personality, though. She didn’t run, except headfirst into trouble—not this little wildcat.