Five Alarm Lust (22 page)

* * * *

Jack jerked awake, his gaze sweeping the room. Disoriented, he glanced around, a knot in his throat as he stared at Gillian’s still form. Nothing seemed out of place, not that Gillian had moved any in the week he’d been sitting here. He scratched at his jaw and winced at the grating of stubble beneath his nails. Tugging her blanket up, he cursed the discomfort of the hard plastic chair. The slight sound from behind him drew his attention to the opening door.

“What are you doing here?” Barbara eased inside, her face twisting into a furious mask.

“I’d ask you the same thing, but I think we both know you’d just lie about it.” Jack turned back to Gillian. He clung to her hand, leaning forward to hover over her, and then he smoothed her hair back from her face, spreading the dark strands over the pillow. The beeping of the monitors filled the silence between him and Barbara, who hovered near the door.

“She’s my daughter.” Barbara stepped farther into the room, her voice evening out.

“I’m not leaving.” Jack sat back in his chair. “So if you’re waiting for me to leave, you’re going to have a long wait.”

Barbara narrowed her eyes, a thought-filled look crossing her face. Jack watched her set her purse down before she eased farther into the room. “Jack, I really think we got off on the wrong foot. Surely we can come to an understanding. After all, Gillian’s hardly your type. She’s still hung up on her ex-boyfriend. Even if you manage to get past all that, why would you want to have someone so emotionless?”

Gaping at her, Jack shook his head. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“I know Gillian. She’s a bit, well, cold would be the only word I would have to describe her. Hardly the kind of woman to satisfy a man such as yourself. I mean, I can see you’re one who enjoys the more carnal aspects of a relationship…” Barbara trailed her fingers down his jaw, tugging at the collar of his T-shirt, a small smile on her lips.

“She’s more than enough woman. You’re married, remember.” Jack caught her hand. “And I’m not interested in any understanding with you.”

“Now don’t be too hasty. You could at least hear me out. After all, I can get your job back for you. Must be getting tight with no money coming in.”

“I have more than enough to live on until I get a new job, Barbara. And I’m still not interested.”

“Don’t be stupid.” Barbara’s charming façade fell away like broken glass. “She’s not even worth the time—”

“She’s worth ten of you.” Jack leaned forward. “Now, get out.”

Stalking toward the door, Barbara grabbed her purse. One hand on the door handle, she stared at him. “You’ll come to regret this.”

“Not in this lifetime. I told you before, I’m going to do whatever it takes to protect Gilli.” Jack stared at the door after Barbara stormed out, fury dancing around his control.

“You shouldn’t piss her off.” Weak, tired, Gilli’s voice drifted through the silence.

“Baby.” Jack whirled to see Gillian blinking in the low light. “Are you in pain? Should I get a nurse?”

“No.” Gillian winced. “What happened?”

“You were in an accident, baby.” Jack trailed a finger down her face. His stomach twisted when she turned away. “Gilli? What is it?”

“Go away.” Tired, her whisper was filled with pain.

“Gilli, please.”

“I don’t want you.” Her voice broke, tears trailing down her face. “He means it. Please, please, just go away. I don’t want to hurt you.” Crying softly, Gillian closed her eyes, turning her face away from Jack.

Jack sank into the chair and shuddered in pain. He swallowed hard. What did she mean? Surely she didn’t mean it. She couldn’t … could she? He rose and gathered his coat and helmet, pausing at her stifled sob.

“Can’t hurt him. I won’t let you, Michael, I won’t.” Gillian’s broken whisper wrapped around Jack’s wounded heart. “I want him too much.”

Jack rested his head against the door, closed his eyes, and sighed. He wasn’t going anywhere. The pure terror in Gillian’s voice held him captive with a grasp stronger than steel chains. He tossed his things aside, settled into the cold hard plastic of a chair, and reached for Gillian’s hand. Ignoring the tremble in her fingers, he smoothed her hair away from her forehead and listened to her soft sobs.

Chapter 23

Over the days he’d sat in her room, the sound of the hospital was a far too familiar echo he’d tried to drown out repeatedly. Gillian hadn’t tried kicking him out again, but she hadn’t responded to him either. Jack stared out the window as the doctor moved around the room, taking readings and checking Gillian’s vitals. He listened with half an ear as he went over her injuries. The desperation in Gillian’s voice every night haunted him. Nightmares plagued her sleep, costing her precious hours of rest. What was so bad she’d be terrified to have him there?

“You’re very lucky, Miss Hilliard. All your vitals are normal, the broken bones will heal, and the stitches will dissolve on their own. The staples in your forehead will need to be removed in a few days and will leave a minor scar. However, you’ll be able to go home today. I’ll process your discharge within the hour. You’ll need to pick up a prescription for pain medication and see your family doctor within twenty-four hours.”

“Thank you.” Gillian offered a weak smile.

“Yes, thanks, doctor.” Jack grinned at her. If it was a little shaky she didn’t appear to care. “I’ll be with her, so you won’t have to worry. I’ll keep an eye out for further symptoms.” Ignoring Gillian’s gasp, he watched the doctor leave. As soon as the door was clicked shut, he turned to Gillian.

“I don’t want to impose upon you.”

“Gillian.” Jack heaved a breath when she refused to meet his gaze, her eyes skittering away from his nervously. “We need to talk, and we will as soon as we get you home.”

“No!” Gillian bolted upright, all color draining from her face. “Please, I can’t go back there! Please. Just take me—”

“To my place.” Jack grabbed her hand. “Relax, it’s going to be okay.”

Gillian shook her head, fear in her eyes. “I need my glasses.”

Jack chuckled. “I’ve got Sally getting you a new pair. Yours were a little broken. Sally’s bringing your bag as well. We managed to get it out of the car.”

Gillian nodded shakily and sat hunched over as Jack wrapped her in his coat. He sighed as the nurse rolled a wheelchair into the room. Guiding Gillian into it, he ignored her attempts to physically brush him off.

“Here’s the prescription.” The nurse held out a slip of yellow paper. “You can fill it at the drug store or the pharmacy on the way out.”

“Thanks, I’ve got it.” Jack slipped the paper from Gillian’s fingers with a grin. Leaning down, his lips brushed against her ear, the shiver she couldn’t hide warming his heart. “Relax, let me take care of you.”

Gillian glanced at him, pain in her eyes. “It’s not safe to care about me, Jack. You’re going to regret—”

“Nope.” Jack straightened and began pushing the chair toward the exit. “I doubt I’m ever going to regret taking care of you.”

* * * *

Gillian winced as she eased onto the familiar leather of Jack’s couch. She could hear him moving around in the bedroom, the sound comforting even as nerves gnawed. If Mike found out, there’d be hell to pay. To keep Mike from hearing, she’d need to keep her whereabouts a secret from her mother. There was no doubt if Barbara knew, she’d tell. There was no other alternative, and Barbara had already admitted to seeing him, talking to him. But keeping the secret would prove difficult. Sliding down into the plush seat, she sighed. Her mind raced with plans, schemes she quickly disregarded. Drumheller wasn’t a huge town, but it wasn’t so small she couldn’t disappear at least for a while. She’d just have to figure out how to do it.

Exhaustion wrapped around her, sapping her strength. She smothered a yawn and glanced up at the softest touch of a hand on her shoulder. “Here, lean forward, hon.” Jack slid a pillow behind her. “This’ll help. Sally’ll be here in a few minutes with your purse. She said she got your glasses patched and a new pair on order.”

“She didn’t have to.” Gillian swallowed, the expense of new glasses would drain her limited cash stores. Having to purchase a new car, new glasses, pay rent on her new place meant she’d be lucky to have enough for groceries.

The sounds of Jack puttering in the kitchen drifted through the archway. She could feel her nerves stretch, worry biting at her. “Did my mother know you were going to take care of me?”

“Don’t worry about your mother.” The clanking of pots and pans reached the living room along with Jack’s voice. “You hungry?”

“No, no thank you.” Gillian shuffled down into the cushions. Closing her eyes, she listened to Jack moving around. Fear raked at the back of her mind. If Barbara knew, she’d be by sooner or later. She’d never questioned Barbara’s lack of emotion, never forced herself to think on it, but now? Now she had to.

She licked at her lips, the memory of her mother’s voice in the hospital room a physical blow. How could Barbara, a married woman, proposition Jack? Did she really see Gillian as a cold, useless blob? Why? What could she possibly have done?

The angry peel of the doorbell jerked Gillian from her confused haze. Her breath caught, throat tightening. She sat up, her fingers digging into the leather.

“Hi.” Warmth in Jack’s voice was the first indication the visitor wasn’t Barbara. “Did you get everything?”

“Yes, I even stopped by the old place and grabbed a few things. I found a bunch of documents in the pantry, wasn’t sure if they were needed or not so I brought ’em. Hey, Gillian. Hope you’re feeling better. Scared ten years off Jack’s life.” Sally’s voice reached her a moment before a gentle touch to the back of one hand.

“Set the papers on the desk. Do you want some coffee? I’m making lunch.”

“Why, Jack, I thought you’d never ask. I’ll take the coffee, nothing to eat.” Sally chuckled. “Gillian, here. I think these are going to help.”

Relief flooded Gillian as she slid her glasses on. Blinking a couple of times to clear her vision, she glanced around. Her bags sat near the hallway, her coat and shoes next to them. “Um, I only had my purse in the car, you didn’t have to—”

“Oh, hon, I know that, just know you needed your things. The landlord let me in when I told him I was helping you move out. He was more than happy to hear it since your lease is up in a week. I got a couple of the boys to go over and pack up the rest of your personal belongings. Do you want me to bring them here?”

“Yes, she does.” Jack’s voice drifted over the back of the couch.

Gillian nodded, her stomach twisting as she debated asking. “Did you say you got some papers?”

“Yeah, from a law office, and there was other mail in your box. I just grabbed it all. Very nice young boy was there asking after you. I told him you were staying with a friend and he asked where. I told him you were here, and he said to say hi. Said he might pop by if that was okay. Thought I saw Barbara as I was leaving, but why she’d be looking for you there—”

“Can I see the letter from the lawyer?” Gillian sucked in a pain-filled breath as she struggled to get off the couch.

“Of course you can. Just stay there, I’ll bring it to you.”

Gillian accepted the envelope with a weak smile. She frowned as she checked the address. It wasn’t her lawyer’s office. Ripping it open, she pulled out the letter and unfolded it.

Dear Miss Hilliard,

As per our yearly audit, we have discovered to our consternation several rather suspect transactions on your account outside of the parameters set in place by your father. As well, we’ve noted the increase in payments to BMC Consulting. These transactions are not in line with the previous withdrawals. We are acting to protect your interests, therefore we are responding to this suspect activity as is our policy. As a result of our initial investigation, we are freezing your accounts. Please feel free to contact us to discuss this further. Our goal is to protect your interest.

Sincerely, Robert Fritz.

“What’s it say?” Jack lounged against the doorjamb.

“Someone says they froze my bank account.” Gillian looked up at Jack. “I don’t understand. I’ve never even heard of this company, much less this account. Maybe someone got mixed up.”

“Let’s have a look,” Jack offered quickly. He read through the letter, a frown pulling his brows together. “This is odd. You’re certain you haven’t been making any payments to this company? Though this sounds like a lot of money.”

“No.” Gillian closed her eyes, her throat tightening. “But it could be my mother. She meddles…”

A firm, distant knock on the door interrupted them. Gillian stared at Jack in a horrified stupor. Another knock halted her unspoken protest as Jack hurried to answer the door.

* * * *

“Rick, what a surprise. What can I do for you?” Shock tightened Jack’s voice as he stared at the tall, muscular blond dressed in a pressed blue and gray uniform hovering on his doorstep. “I have coffee on.”

“I’m afraid this isn’t a social call.” Rick adjusted his weight, his hand going to the briefcase he held. “I’m working on an investigation. Fritz, Fritz, and Jamieson contacted me about some questionable transactions on an account. Apparently they sent out a letter and haven’t heard anything back from Miss Hilliard. As soon as they told me the name, I suspected it was tied in with another investigation.”

“Really? Seems a bit odd. She only just got the letter. How’d you know to come here? Come on in, she’s resting at the moment.” Jack ushered him in. “She was just released from the hospital earlier and…”

“I heard about the accident. I also heard from the nurses you were there at the discharge, and since she’s not at her registered address I assumed she’d be here. I’m well aware of your involvement with Miss Hilliard. Damn, Jack. Look, I know this sucks but I have to do my job.” Rick sighed. “Would it be possible to speak to her?”

“Sure, but don’t upset her. She’s already got plenty on her mind.”

Rick nodded his agreement and followed Jack past the foyer table and into the living room. Jack sighed. Gillian lay curled up on the couch, her dark hair spread over the pale pillows as she stared at the silent television.