The evidence of his hardness brushed against her stomach. She thought of pushing the stop button and demanding he make good on his promise. A ding signaled their arrival on the ground floor, keeping her from doing anything stupid.
Jeter gave her a swift, hard kiss. “Hold that thought, farfallina.”
He reached for his bag and then ushered them out into the lobby. Although they exited together, Jeter was careful to keep her slightly behind him. She marveled at how easily he moved through the crowd. His head swiveled back and forth as if he scanned each person they’d passed. Tori didn’t doubt the man memorized things about each of them, discarding those he felt were nonthreatening.
If he gave a lover that much attention, she was positive they never walked away wondering what all the fuss was about.
“Good evening, sir. Are you checking out?”
Jeter stopped outside the glass doors, eyeing the man who spoke. “No, we’re going for an evening photoshoot. See you soon,” he said, smiling at the valet.
The shiny, black, hardshell suitcase didn’t stand out as anything major, definitely didn’t scream money like a designer logo would.
She held her head high. Jeter made up stories on the fly, while she found it hard to spit out the truth. She froze mid-step. “Jeter, where’s my Bronco?” she whispered.
He wrapped his arm around her waist, urging her toward the right. “Follow me, love. I found the perfect place with the best lighting to capture the images we need for the magazine,” he said loud enough his voice carried around them.
Tori pulled out her cell phone, tapped on her screen, and sighed. “Found it.”
Jeter continued to guide them away from the front of the hotel. They both let out a breath at the sight of her vehicle parked next to a couple of luxury cars.
“Hold up. I’m going to have that guy get your vehicle and bring it around for us.” Jeter turned them back around. His stride, longer than hers, had her stumbling to keep up.
“Hey, slow down before you make me fall on my face.”
He stopped and turned, freezing mid-step and coming inches from her face. “Shit, my bad. Listen, when we get back to him, I’m going to tell him we forgot we had the Bronco parked and ask him to get it for us. I don’t like the feeling of getting into it without a little insurance that all is good.”
JETER DIDN’T LIKE SCARINGher, but their lives were more important than sparing her. If someone was out there, ready to pop off another shot, they’d have a clear view. Or, in a worst-case scenario, they put a bomb on her rig. Then he’d rather it blow up on someone else. If the weasel who’d spoken to him when they exited was in the know, then he’d either deny his request, remove the device before bringing the Bronco around, or end up blown to smithereens as he drove.
“Hey, sorry to bother you again. I realized we had our vehicle valet parked. Can you get it for us?” Jeter gave him his room number and the make of the vehicle. With no hesitation, the young man nodded, then moved to the podium where they kept keys and such. Seconds later, he walked away.
They moved back, Jeter finding a space for them to be less out in the open.
“Have you talked to your brother lately?”
He looked at her, watching the puffs of cloud form from her breathing fill the air. It was fucking cold, and he had her out traipsing through the night. “He texted to let me know they didn’t have any answers yet. We need to get you inside before you freeze your tits off.”
The thought of her breasts being cold made him look down. Sure as shit, he could make out the outline of her hardened little nipples pressing against the thin top she wore.
Lights from an incoming vehicle’s headlights washed over them as pulled into the circular entrance. The familiar Bronco’s familiar rumble heralded it’s arrival before it came into view. He stopped Tori from opening the passenger door, placing a hand on her arm. “Hold up,” he whispered.
The valet came around, grinning. “This is a sweet ride, sir. I see lots of expensive cars, but that is the first Bronco I’ve driven since they came out.” He pulled the back open, offering to place the suitcase inside.
Jeter waved him off, putting the luggage in himself. He gave the guy a twenty, then eyed him as he opened the passenger door for Tori. She climbed in, smiling down at him. Jeter shut the back hatch and walked around to the driver’s door.
“Buckle up, gorgeous.” He snapped his seatbelt in place, keeping an eye on those around him, then eased the car into gear. The breath whooshed out of him once they were clear of the hotel. He hit start on the map that would lead him to the clubhouse. Fifteen minutes away from his location. The distance wasn’t far, which didn’t give him long to find a store to pick up any necessities Tori might need.
Although Enzo knew he was bringing Tori with him, and his ole’ lady Sophie would more than likely have shit Tori could borrow, he wanted her to have things of her own.
Jeter pressed the buttons on her dash to get the heater to the hottest setting on her side. He pushed the heated seat button next. “We’ll get you a coat as soon as we can,” he promised.
She shook her head. Her hands rubbed together. “I have several at my place, Jeter. I don’t need to buy another one. It’s not like I’m going to be running around town.”
He wanted to tell her they’d do whatever was needed, and he’d make damn sure she was comfortable while they did it. She lifted her hands to the air vents and let out a little moan, making him lose his focus.
The sign for an all-night store that carried just about everything from over-the-counter meds, clothing, and gifts came up on his right, showing it was on the next exit. He held his tongue, figuring he could buy her what he felt she needed, along with what she wanted. Two birds with one stone.
They were the only vehicle in front of the store when he parked. “Come on, farfallina. Let’s get you some things and get the hell out of here. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired.”