Unbridled Temptation (23 page)

“Thanks.”

“And if you need any help, I’m happy to scrub your back or whatever part you’ll let me touch.”

Kendall pointed her in the direction of the bathroom and went to make the appropriate calls so they could be gone for several days.

Logan caught up with him downstairs. “Her father is some piece of work.”

“Oh? What did he say?”

Logan gave him a blow-by-blow of the one-sided conversation. “And he spouted all of this thinking Jocelyn was at the end of the line. That’s what chaps me even more. No one deserves to be lectured like that.”

“Is that why you told her you love her?”

“No. I told her that because I do love her. I’d like to find a way for her to be a permanent fixture in our lives. Unless you are opposed.”

“No. I find that my feelings are very in line with yours, surprisingly enough.”

“Good because, we’re headed to Vegas. Never know what might happen.”

Kendall laughed, but Logan smiled as if something profound had changed him. Jocelyn changed his attitude on permanence and love. Kendall felt a rush of excitement barrel through his body at the idea of a future with her.

Less than two hours later they’d boarded Logan’s rarely used private jet and headed south. They flew into McCarran Airport after an uneventful flight.

As they were standing at the rental car place, Kendall’s phone rang.

“What’s up, Zane?”

“Bad news.”

“Tell me.”

“Reggie called and left a message for you. He’s written an article about what he thinks goes on afterhours here at our Western park. He called to ask for our side and any comments we wanted to include, if you can believe it. Although, I don’t think my comments are printable in the public media.”

“Any way to stop it?”

“Not that I’ve been able to figure out.”

Kendall pushed out a sigh. “I’ll call him and try to get it stopped. Maybe a libel suit will scare him off.”

“I tried that already. He told me he’s not afraid of us.”

“That’s a mistake.”

“Well, he’s determined to
expose the truth
, which is a load of horseshit if you ask me.”

“Call our lawyers and see if they can get it stopped. Otherwise, we’ll just have to weather it.”

“Weather it? So does that mean hog-tying him and dragging him through the streets of Old West Town behind a wild stallion trying to escape his bonds is off the table?”

“If only.”

“Fine. I’ll keep you apprised.”

Kendall hung up. Jocelyn and Logan waited for him to finish his conversation from hell.

“What’s up?” Logan asked.

“Reggie’s being a prick again. He’s about to put a fictional exposé up on the Internet tomorrow about what
he thinks
happens afterhours in Old West Town.”

“Fuck.
Nothing
happens afterhours there. Any way to stop it?”

Kendall shrugged. “Not likely. We’ll just deal with it afterward. Zane’s calling our lawyers. They can duke it out for now. We’re busy.”

Jocelyn held up the rental car fob. “I’m driving. Any issue with that?”

“Nope. Let’s go.”

Kendall had an odd sense of euphoria, actually grateful he didn’t have to deal with Reggie’s stupidity, but instead more anxious to accompany Jocelyn in her quest to find her wayward sister.

It had been a long time since he’d put the park’s business aside to handle something personal.

A mere glance at Jocelyn made him realize that he was doing the right thing in going with her.

Jocelyn steered the huge SUV out of the heavy Vegas main strip traffic and onto a side street leading to an older section of town. After several turns, the onboard navigation system told them they’d arrived at their destination.

Unsure if she was even at the correct address, Jocelyn gave the decrepit-looking rental building a careful look before putting the vehicle into park and shutting the engine off.

“You’re not thinking of going in there alone, are you?”

“Well, I’d rather not, but truthfully, if you two weren’t here, that’s exactly what I’d do.”

Before they could finish the conversation, the front door opened and Jenna came out.

“That’s her.”

Jocelyn grabbed her bag and got out of the vehicle. She approached her sister, who hadn’t noticed her yet, thinking furiously of how to begin. Jocelyn had learned that an angry overture rarely worked. So she did her best to temper her ire and at the same time tried to think of what to say.
Fancy meeting you here? Long time no see? What the hell were you thinking running off with Dean?

“Jenna,” she said simply. All the other angrier words she wanted to say crumpled at the end of her tongue and disintegrated. She didn’t want to start a fight. Didn’t want to have cross words. Even after chasing after her sister all these weeks with the intent to drag her back home, Jocelyn reconsidered her purpose.

Her sister whirled around with a very surprised look on her face. “How did you find me?” she asked in lieu of a greeting.

“I had some help.” Kendall and Logan had also stepped from the SUV and stood behind her.

“I don’t want to go back home, Jocelyn. And you can’t force me.”

“I know. But Mom and Dad are worried. You should have at least called them.”

Jenna laughed mirthlessly. “You know as well as I do that they are only worried about not having someone to order around. At least Dad is.” Her gaze narrowed. “The biggest question I have is why you always do his bidding and come running after me.”

“Force of habit, I guess.” Jocelyn was a little surprised at her sister’s fairly adroit and adult view of their father. “Will you come back with me and at least have a conversation?”

Behind her, the door opened, and Dean came out carrying a beat-up guitar case and a half-filled trash bag. He stiffened when he saw her. His gaze then went over her head to where Logan and Kendall stood. “What’s going on here?”

“Jocelyn wants me to go back home and talk to my parents.”

He shrugged. “Well, me and the band are headed to Laughlin for a gig. They’ll be here any minute.”

“Is that what you’ve been doing here all this time? Watching him play in his band?” Jocelyn asked.

Dean frowned. “What’s wrong with that? She also waited tables to help with expenses. Does that help your shitty opinion any?”

Logan stepped forward, but she held up her arm.

Jocelyn gave Dean a withering look that would melt steel then ignored him to stare into her sister’s downcast expression. “Come here, Jenna. Just talk to me for a minute, okay?” She put an arm around Jenna’s shoulders and walked a few steps away from the men.

Dean called out, “The guys will be here any minute. You need to decide what you’re going to do, Jenna. You know I can’t wait around forever.”

Her sister nodded and they walked a few more steps until they were out of earshot.

Jocelyn started. “Here’s the thing. You’re nineteen years old. You can make your own decisions. But is
this
the life you truly want to live?”

“It’s not so bad. The music is great. Our life is simple, but I feel free. Besides, I love Dean. And I’d rather be with him and waiting tables than under Dad’s thumb all the time.”

“You don’t have to answer, but are you and Dean married or anything? I mean this
is
Las Vegas.”

“No.” This prompted another dispirited sigh. “Dean doesn’t want to ruin his band image by getting tied down.”

“Oh, but he’s happy to have you
help with expenses
by working as a waitress though.”

“If you’re going to be judgmental like Dad, I’m leaving.” She turned as if to go.

“Wait. Wait a minute. I’m sorry. You’re absolutely right.” Jocelyn put a hand on her shoulder. “My current task as per our parents for the past several weeks has been to locate you, talk some sense into you, and then demand that you return home with me so you can get back into community college.”

“Not going to happen.”

“However,
my
personal goal is only to ensure that you’re safe and happy. And also to get you to at least contact me on a regular basis so I continue to know that you’re safe and happy.”

Jenna’s gaze found her face. She looked determined. “Will you tell them where I am?”

Jocelyn quickly pictured the coming argument with her father if Jenna
didn’t
accompany her home, but said, “Not if you don’t want me to. I promise. I’ll just tell them you’re happy and don’t want to go to college now. The thing is, I worry about you. Just stay in touch, okay?”

“That’s not your job, Jocelyn.”

“Sure it is. Just ask Dad. He’ll tell you.”

Jenna laughed for the first time since they’d arrived.

Jocelyn glanced over at the three men, pointedly not talking to each other, and figured she had only a few more minutes of quiet cooperation. She reached into her purse and pulled out the cell phone she’d purchased. “This is a disposable cellular phone with about five hundred minutes on it. There’s only one number entered into the phonebook. Mine. Just take this and promise to call me from time to time.”

Jenna took it with a surprised expression. “What will you tell Mom and Dad?”

“I’ll just say that I found you, however, you declined their generous offer to return to community college.”

“They’ll yell at you.”

Jocelyn shrugged. “Not the first or last time that will happen, I’m certain.”

“I know you don’t approve of Dean.”

Jocelyn closed her eyes. “Don’t get me started.”

“But I am really happy, Jocelyn. Happier than I ever was at home. He was just talking big in front of you, but usually he’s not like that. He doesn’t hurt me. He doesn’t do anything he shouldn’t. No smoking. No drugs.” Her sister glanced over her shoulder at the boy she’d followed. “And you know, the place they played at this past week was really nice. I think you would have liked it.”

“Maybe so.” Jocelyn squeezed her arm. “My only concern is that you like it, and additionally that you’re safe and happy. That’s it.”

“If anything changes, then I’ll leave on my own.”

“Good enough. Call me if you need anything. Or if you decide this isn’t the life for you.”

“Okay.” She looked over her shoulder again. “Who are the two hotties that came with you anyway?”

Jocelyn wasn’t sure what their relationship might be, but she said, “Logan and Kendall?” How did she go about explaining them? “Well, they are two men in my life who are very important to me. Actually, I’m in a relationship with them.”

Jenna’s brows went straight to her hairline. “Two men? Really? Dad’s head will explode when he finds out.”

“Who’s going to tell him?”

She laughed again. “Not me. That’s for sure.”

“Well, I’ve decided that I want to be happy as well. You do it your way, I’ll do it mine.”

Jenna suddenly threw her arms around Jocelyn and hugged her tight. “Thanks, sis.”

“Sure.”

“You deserve to be happy most of all.” Her sister squeezed her a little tighter.

“Thanks, Jen. I appreciate it. Now don’t forget to call me every week or so. And if Dean changes or you don’t want to follow him any longer, you call me. I’ll help you.”

Her sister nodded, and pocketed the phone. Together they returned to the three men still not speaking to each other. “We’ll be fine.”

“What’s it going to be, Jenna? Crawl back to your parents’ house or stay with me?”

Logan spoke. “You don’t have to be a dick about it.”

Dean made a face. “I don’t have to listen to the likes of you. I know you think you’re better than me.”

Before Logan could say anything in response—and he looked like he
really
wanted to—Jenna stepped in front of Dean. “I’m going with you. Okay? Be nice to my sister and her…friends.”

He stared down Logan for a few seconds and then put his focus on Jenna. “Fine. Sorry. I didn’t mean to be a dick. I just didn’t want Jenna to leave.” He cleared his throat, turned his focus away from them, and held out the trash bag. Jenna took it. “Wait here. I’m going to get the rest of our stuff, okay?” He glanced at Jenna with the lingering look of a boy in love. She smiled back at him.

When he left, Jocelyn asked, “I don’t want to insult you, but do you need any money?”

Jenna shrugged and looked over her shoulder as if worried that Dean would catch her taking a few dollars. Jocelyn rummaged through her purse one-handed, found her wallet, and grabbed all the cash she had. It was only a couple of hundred dollars, but she folded it twice and handed it to Jenna. “Don’t forget to call me now and again.”

“Okay. Thanks.” She stuffed the cash in one front pocket. “And you can call me, too. If you want.”

Jocelyn hugged her sister tight for a few seconds until Dean came out with two more trash bags. A van sporting a loud muffler likely heard two states away came around the corner just then. It pulled in behind her SUV, and rocked to a stop. The side door of the van slid open and two skinny men spilled out.