Ian's Ultimate Gamble - Brenda Jackson [57]
Ian caught the elevator down to the lobby and quickly looked around. He released a sigh of relief when he saw Tara and Thorn at one of the slot machines. Before he could ask them if they'd seen Brooke, an excited Tara asked, "Is the rumor that we're hearing true? Did your security team actually nab a bunch of jewel thieves?"
"Yes, with Brooke's and Dare's help." Ian glanced around, his gaze anxiously darting around the crowd. "By the way, have either of you seen Brooke lately'?"
Tara's smile turned to a frown. "Yes. I saw her a few moments ago. She was leaving." Ian nodded as he eyed the nearest bank of elevators. "To go up to her room?"
"No, leaving the casino."
He snatched his head back around to Tara and a deep frown creased his forehead. "What do you mean she was leaving the casino?"
Tara narrowed her gaze at him. "Just what I said. She was checking out. She apologized to me for not staying for Delaney's party, but she said that she felt under the circumstances it was best if she left. She then got into her rental car and drove off."
"Damn." Ian rubbed the tension that suddenly appeared at the back of his neck. "Did she say where she was going1?"
Tara glared at Ian and placed her hands on her hips. "Maybe. But then why should I tell you anything. You had your chance with her, Ian Westmoreland. Twice."
Ian glared back and then he looked at Thorn for help. His cousin merely laughed and said, "Hey. don't look at me. That's the same look she gives me before telling me to go sleep on the couch."
Ian bit back a retort that, considering Tara's condition, it seemed Thorn hadn't spent too many nights on the couch. He shook his head. He knew how loyal the women in the Westmoreland family were to each other, and there was no doubt in his mind that they had now included Brooke in their little network. That was fine with him because he intended to make a Westmoreland woman out of her— however; he had to find her to do so.
But first he had to convince Tara that he was worthy of Brooke's affections. "Okay, Tara. I blew it. I know that now. I owe Brooke a big apology."
She rolled her eyes and cross her arms over her chest. "That's all you think you owe her?" He drew in a deep breath in desperation. ".And what else do you have in mind?" "A huge diamond would be nice."
Ian thought about strangling her but knew he would have to deal with Thorn. Although Ian would be the first to admit that Thorn had mellowed some since he'd gotten married, nobody in their right mind would intentionally get on Thorn's bad side.
"A huge diamond is no problem. She deserves a lot more than that."
Tara studied him as if she was considering his words. Then she asked, "And do you love her?"
"Yes." He didn't hesitate in answering. "More than life itself, and I just hope she'll forgive me for being such a fool."
Tara shrugged. "I hope she will, too. She looked pretty sad when she left here tonight and nothing I said could convince her to stay."
Ian nodded and thought he'd try his luck again by asking, "And where did she go?"
Tara looked at him for a long moment before saying, "To Reno. She couldn't get a flight out tonight so she's going to stay at a hotel in Reno and fly out sometime tomorrow."
Panic gripped Ian. He was beginning to come completely unraveled. "Do you happen to know which hotel?"
Tara took her sweet little time in answering. "The Reno Hilton." With that knowledge in hand. Ian was out of the casino in a Hash.
"Yes. Malcolm, I'm fine," Brooke said, biting down on her bottom lip to keep from crying. "No. I'm not at the casino. I'm at a hotel in Reno," she added when he asked her whereabouts. "I'll be flying home tomorrow."
Moments later she said, "It's a long story, Malcolm, and I don't want to go into details tonight. I'll call you when I'm back in town and we'll talk then."
Brooke hung up the phone. According to Malcolm, everyone at national headquarters was blissfully enjoying the news of the capture