California Schemin' - Kate George [35]
Hammie turned from the window where he’d been looking out on Sacramento.
“Not much to see, is there? Sacramento is a pretty small town,” I said.
“I wouldn’t say Sacramento is small.” He looked down at the street below. “Used to be a much smaller town.”
“Compared to say, Boston or Chicago, it’s still pretty small.”
“At least they don’t roll up the sidewalk at seven any more.” He looked at the remote in my hand. “I suggest you keep your viewing down to a minimum. We have an early wake-up tomorrow.” He looked at Moose and tilted his head toward me before he stepped through the adjoining door.
Moose got up and walked over to me. He fished around in the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a couple of zip ties.
“Sorry about this,” he said. “We can’t risk you taking a walk in the night.” He pulled back the covers and slid the zip ties around my ankles, linking them together. Then he left through the adjoining door, leaving it cracked open.
“Hey!” I shouted. “What if I need to pee in the night? What if there’s a fire?”
“That’s why I left the door open, so I could hear if you call out. Don’t worry, if there’s a fire the sprinkler system will kick on. You’re more likely to drown than burn. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight?” I grumbled under my breath. “How the hell am I supposed to have a good night?”
I did eventually go to sleep, but every time I tried to roll over I woke up. Around two a.m. I got totally fed up and started yelling for Moose. He came in sleepily rubbing his eyes and cut the zip tie off my ankles. When I came back from the bathroom, he was asleep on my bed, and I stood there nonplussed. How was I going to sleep with a huge guy sleeping sprawled across my bed? I was looking at the bed, thinking about which side would give me more room, when my brain finally woke up, and I looked at the door. I was free.
I slid back into the bathroom and pulled on my jeans, socks and bra. I kept the big shirt, since it smelled a hell of a lot better than the one I’d worn on the plane. I crept back into the room, watching to make sure Moose didn’t move, and picked up my shoes. I wondered where the keys to the car were but didn’t bother to look for them. I doubted I could get that limo out of the parking lot.
The click the lock made when I turned the deadbolt sounded way too loud, and I stood frozen for a moment listening for movement from either of the men. I could see Hammie through the open door to the next room. He was stretched out on the bed, dressed in his jeans and a white T-shirt. He looked big and rumpled and vulnerable, so sexy he knocked me for a loop. I shook my head and slipped into the hall. I avoided the elevator and went through the fire door to the stairs.
I sat on the top step and pulled on my sneakers, lacing them tight and double-knotting the bows. Then I started down the stairs quietly. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself. When I finally shot through the door at the bottom flight of stairs I realized I’d made a mistake. I was in the parking garage. I’d been shooting for the main entrance.
I weighed the risk of taking the elevator back up to the lobby against how much faster it might be than climbing back up the stairs. Speed won, and I punched the elevator button and waited. It didn’t come. I paced for a couple of minutes hoping it would show up before I walked back over to the stairwell. I grabbed the handle and tugged, but it didn’t budge. Shit. A sign next to the door caught my attention. No access to the shopping mall or hotel between midnight and six am. Great. I was beginning to think I should have stolen the keys to the limo after all. I trotted down the rows of cars, following the exit signs. Panic was starting to rise in my chest, and I worked at pushing it aside.
“Be like Hammie,” I said aloud. “Cool and calm.