Until We Touch (Fool's Gold #15)

She and Jack were sitting side by side in the bird’s rear seats. They both had on headsets so they could hear each other and the pilot. Before they’d taken off, Jack had made several phone calls. Larissa hoped none of them were to tell everyone at Score how stupid she’d been. But as soon as the thought formed, she pushed it away. Jack wouldn’t do that to her. The only one beating up on her was herself.

She watched out the window as the ground disappeared below, then they were moving fast through the sky. She tried to calculate how far they were from Fool’s Gold. She’d had the trip to just north of Sacramento to join the group, then they’d all gone south maybe eighty or ninety miles. But the helicopter could fly straight. She would guess their trip would last about an hour.

Forty minutes later she looked out the window to find they weren’t anywhere near Fool’s Gold. Out in front of them was the Pacific Ocean. And up ahead...

“San Francisco?” she asked, speaking into the microphone.

Jack nodded.

She wanted to ask why but knew the pilot could hear everything they said. She waited until they were on the ground, which came only a few minutes later. They didn’t land at the international airport, but instead settled on a tarmac very near the center of the city.

When they stepped out, she saw a limo was waiting for them. She turned to Jack. “I don’t get it. What are we doing here?”

He stared at her. “I’m going to help you get over me.”

She felt her mouth drop open and consciously closed it. “You’re here to sleep with me?”

He raised one shoulder. “There’s more to it than that. We’re going to stay the night here. Whatever happens is up to you.”

She had more questions, but realized she didn’t actually want to know. The city beckoned and the man next to her was irresistible and she was in love with him. A night away was exactly what she wanted. Why would she want to spoil the mood with a bunch of questions?

Anticipation bubbled inside of her. Whatever the outcome, this was going to be a great day.

She followed him to the limo. The driver stepped out and opened the rear door.

“Fisherman’s Wharf,” Jack said before sliding in next to her.

“I already talked to Percy,” he said. “He’s going to feed Dyna tonight and spend some time with her. Taryn knows you won’t be back until tomorrow.”

“What did she say when you told her where we were going to be?”

He took her hand and laced his fingers with hers. “She said I was going to get into more trouble than I could handle.”

“Did you believe her?”

“Sure. Taryn’s never wrong.”

Larissa laughed.

They drove into the city and the driver dropped them off at the wharf. She and Jack walked around for a couple of hours before getting lunch in a waterfront restaurant. After they’d eaten, he excused himself to make a few more calls. Larissa sat at the table, content to stare out the window and enjoy the warm sunny day in the beautiful city.

Tomorrow she would return to her regularly scheduled life. Tomorrow she would have to face the consequences of what she’d done today. But that was okay—the price would be worth it. She loved Jack—of course she wanted to spend time with him.

He returned to the table and paid the bill, then they walked out of the restaurant and he hailed a cab.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“To the hotel.”

Already? Her toes curled in her athletic shoes.

“The Ritz,” Jack told the driver.

The Ritz? As in the Ritz-Carlton? “I’m not dressed for a fancy hotel,” she said, aware that while she’d brushed her teeth that morning, she hadn’t showered. And that her jeans were a little frayed at the hems and her T-shirt had seen better days. She’d been planning to rescue dogs, not go to the Ritz.

“Don’t worry,” he said and took her hand in his.

Good advice she couldn’t follow. Not only did she look as if she didn’t belong, they weren’t checking in with luggage. That couldn’t be good.

“I’m going to need a toothbrush,” she told him. “And shampoo. And something to wear tonight.”

“Not to worry. It’s all taken care of.”

They pulled up in front of the magnificent hotel. An elegantly dressed middle-aged woman was waiting and smiled at Larissa. “Ms. Owens?” she asked.

Larissa nodded.

“I’m Francine. If you’ll come with me, please?”

Larissa looked at Jack. “What are you doing?”

“You’re going to have to go with her to find out.” He leaned in and lightly kissed her. “You’ll like it. I promise.”

She wasn’t sure but decided to go along with whatever had been planned. She was in the Ritz-Carlton. It wasn’t as if anything bad could happen here.

Francine led her through the luxury hotel to the spa. Once she was there, she was checked in for an afternoon of relaxation and pampering, according to the very perky attendant. There would be a facial followed by a manicure and pedicure. After that she would get her hair done.

“It sounds wonderful,” Larissa said, grateful Jack hadn’t booked her for a massage. There were only a few people she trusted to do that.