Love Me Sweet (Bell Harbor, #3)

She heard the sounds of a phone being passed and a door shutting, and the clunking of bracelets as her sister came back on the line. “OK, so I just checked your phone’s location about ten minutes ago and it says it’s in Bentley, Illinois, just north of Champaign.”


Delaney watched in the mirror as Grant pulled a white T-shirt over his head and threaded his arms through. He was bigger than Finch, and the shirt filled out.

“Lane? Are you there?”

“What? Oh, yes. I’m here.” She’d been distracted by the plain white tee. “So, Bentley, you said? Does the phone signal seem to be moving?”

“I think so. Still heading south.”

“OK. Thanks. Can you keep an eye on it, and text me at this number if it stops moving or looks like it’s heading someplace other than Memphis?”

“Of course. So where are you guys now? Anywhere close to Bentley?”

“Not exactly. We had—” she was just about to say they’d had an accident, but that would just worry everyone even more. This was Delaney’s mess to clean up as best she could. No sense dragging Melody further into it than necessary. “We had a little car trouble but we’re rolling again. Tell Mom everything is fine.”

“We? As in you and this Grant person? Who is this guy?”

Delaney glanced in the mirror to see him pulling up a pair of dark gray sweatpants. “I told you, he’s a friend from my apartment building. Gotta go, now, OK?”

By the time she’d said her good-byes to her sister, Grant was fully dressed in dry, borrowed clothes and he had their damp things draped over one arm.

“Everything good?” he asked.

“As good as can be expected. Looks like your mom is just north of Champaign and still on the move. Do you think you could try to call her again?”

He nodded. “I’ve left half a dozen messages with her, and I left a message at my aunt’s house because she doesn’t have a cell phone. And you tried to call your own phone, right?”

Delaney nodded. “It went to voice mail.”

“Well, that’s the best we can do, I guess. I told Carl to let me know if he heard anything too. Should I mention again now how sorry I am about all this?”

She knew he was, but of all the people involved in this fiasco, Grant was the only one not to be blamed. This was Donna’s fault for taking the money, Boyd’s for releasing that video, and Delaney’s for running away. Oh, to rewind. But if she did, she never would’ve met Grant, and the idea of that caused a little trip and stumble to her heartbeat.

“Stop apologizing. Let’s just hope we get lucky and can still catch up with your mother tonight.”

His laugh was low and suggestive. “I am all about getting lucky.”

But luck was nowhere on their radar.





Chapter 13




“HEY, GUYS,” SAMMY CALLED OUT from the driver’s seat as Delaney and Grant came out of the back bedroom and headed up the narrow aisle. “This storm is getting worse. I think we should pull over at the next rest stop and call it a night. We’re still on track to make it to Memphis in plenty of time if we get an early start in the morning.”

Delaney’s optimism vanished. So much for catching Grant’s mom sooner rather than later. Her disappointment must have showed. Grant looped an arm around her waist, whispering low, “Lane, I’ll get your money back to you. I promise.”

She blinked fast and nodded. “It’s OK.” It wasn’t, though. Not even a little bit, but what could he do about it?

“I’ll take those wet duds,” Reggie said.

Grant handed them over with a nod. “Thanks.”

“Your lady all right?” she heard Reggie ask.

“She’s just anxious to get her phone back,” Grant answered.

Reggie didn’t respond. He just took the damp clothes and walked back to the rear of the bus.

Minutes later, they pulled into a truck stop parking lot, and before the wheels were done turning, Finch was standing up at the kitchenette, rubbing his hands together.

“Well, looks like it’s time to party. Who wants a drink?” He pulled a fifth of Honey Jack from the cabinet, along with a couple of glasses.

“I’ll take one,” Delaney said immediately. She’d have just one. Facing a day-long bus ride tomorrow was going to be bad enough. Facing it with a hangover would be unbearable, but she needed something to fend off her distress. Hopefully this drink would cheer her up and not send her into the boogie-woogie room crying like a little girl. Delaney Masterson was not a crier.

Drinks were poured, and soon they were all sitting on the couches along either side of the bus and getting acquainted. She took a sip of the whiskey, and the heat was instantaneous and welcome.

Sammy, Finch, and Humphrey were on one side, and Delaney sat between Grant and Reggie on the other. Judging from appearances, Finch and Reggie were truly brothers, but the other two were clearly no relation.

“So, besides looking for a lost cell phone, what’s your story? Where are you guys from?” Finch asked.

Grant stretched, and rested his arm along the back of the sofa, letting one hand dangle over her shoulder. She leaned into him, liking it.

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