Page 258 of Vegas Heat

“Because your mother kept you from him for eighteen years, and I know how he feels about her. He’s gone on and on at length about how secrets ruin relationships. I knew what I was risking when I agreed to keep your secret for you, but I never thought he’d find out I knew.” Her eyes are glassy as she stares out over the pool.

A text comes through from Cooper.

Captain:Danny said he hasn’t seen him at the stadium. Victor checked with the receptionist at his club, and she said he just walked in. I’m on my way there now.

I read the text to Joanie, and her face crumbles into sadness again.

I don’t know what that means. Maybe he’s going there to work out some secret kinks without her, and maybe that’s upsetting to her for whatever reason, but I can’t find it in me to ask.

“Of course that’s where he went. It’s his home away from home. The place he can go to unwind,” she says.

More words I don’t want to ask about. “Do you want to go there, too?” I ask instead.

She glances at me. “I’ve had a few glasses of champagne and I want to go home and change first. Would you drive?”

I don’t want to go. It’s the last place I ever wanted to see.

But this feels an awful lot like my fault.

I need to find him, and I need to fix this.

“Let’s go,” I say.

CHAPTER 31: COOPER

I make it to Coax in record time, my tires squealing as I throw the truck in park and leap out.

God, I hope he’s not on the third floor. I hope I don’t catch him with his pants down—literally. I hope he’s not here with some other woman as retaliation against his would-be bride’s secrets. He doesn’t seem like the type that would do that, but who knows what the hell goes on here?

I walk toward the front door and the security guard there recognizes me from previous visits. He waves me in. I hand my phone to Heidi, the receptionist in the front room, and she waves me into the next room. I glance around for Troy, but the place is empty and I don’t see him. It’s early on a Saturday evening. I’m sure this place will be hopping later tonight, but not quite yet.

I make my way into the next room—the lounge that sort of reminds me of a study with its bookcases and wingback armchairs and couches and pool tables. I glance all around. Two men sit in the wingback chairs near the window chatting with tumblers in their palms. A couple plays pool at one of the tables. Nobody stands by the bar, and the bartender appears to be looking at some paperwork. This is probably the one room I’d be most comfortable having this conversation, but no dice in here, either.

My heart pounds as I make my way up to the second floor, praying I find him watching the strippers since if I don’t, that likely means he’s somewhere on the third floor.

I don’t. In fact, nobody is on this floor at all. The stage is dark, and I’m guessing it doesn’t open until later tonight.

Before I go up to the third floor to look for him, I head back down to Heidi in reception.

“Have you seen Troy?” I ask.

“Is there a message I can deliver for you?” she asks rather than answering my question.

I shake my head. “I need to see him.”

She studies me for a beat, and then she nods. “He’s up in his office. I’ll let him know you’re here.” She picks up a phone and dials in, and a moment later she says, “You have a guest in reception.”

He appears a minute later. He’s still wearing his tuxedo, and so am I, and I can’t help but wonder how much Heidi knows. I’m not sure why that’s where my mind goes, but she’s always here. She has to havesomesort of relationship with her boss, right? Does she know he was supposed to get married today? Does she know he ran out on his own wedding?

He looks…agitated. The opposite of the low-stress environment we were supposed to be providing for him. Clearly this is hitting him in some way, and I’m not sure if it’s because of the secrets we’ve all been keeping or the brand-new knowledge that his best friend is banging his daughter.

But it’s so much more than that, and I just need to make him understand.

“Can we talk?” I ask.

“I have nothing to say to you. We will communicate only on the field going forward. You are no longer welcome in my club, so you may kindly see yourself out.” His tone is firm, and he turns to leave the room.

I can’t let him just run away.

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