Vegas Vacation Read Free Page B

can.”
    Tamlyn’s face heated. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to stare. I phoned the hospital, and they won’t tell me anything. Except that they sent a report to Dad and the police. So I figured as you’re the police, I’d ask you to call.”
    “And for this you drag me out of the shower?”
    “I need to know.”
    Sgt. Ames rolled his eyes. “I’ll let you know soon as I do. How’s that sound?”
    “That’s fine, thank you.” Tamlyn paused. “Can I ask you something?”
    “Can I go put on some clothes first?”
    His eyes lingered on her and Tamlyn pulled her own robe tighter. Though honestly, I deserve that for ogling him first . “I’ll get dressed, too.”
    “We’ll eat downstairs in one of the restaurants. You can choose which one.”
    Tamlyn stood there as he turned and headed back into the other bathroom, closing the door behind him. His back’s unscarred. I wonder what happened . She shivered, not expecting the depth of reaction within her. For some reason she didn’t fathom, this bloke had surely gotten to her.
     
    ****
     
    Tamlyn sat at the corner table in the restaurant and looked over at her bodyguard. His white buttoned shirt and jacket hugged his body. Not that she needed to imagine what lay underneath it. She forced herself to focus on his face. He’d ordered chicken and plain vegetables for the both of them with soda for her, and iced tea for him. Not that she minded. She was hungry enough to eat anything. Except she wouldn’t drink iced tea if they paid her—tea needed to be hot. Any other way of drinking it was just—weird.
    Sgt. Ames smiled. “That’s a pretty necklace you’re wearing.”
    She touched it automatically. “Thank you. My grandmother gave it to me for my birthday several years ago, just after I become a Christian.” She ran her fingers over it. “I never take it off. Going back to Raleigh, did you get the report yet?”
    “Not yet.” He put his fork down and sipped his drink. “According to you and your father, Raleigh was fine when you left home. You both ate the same thing on the plane, which rules out the airline food.”
    Tamlyn smothered the chicken with cranberry sauce. “It does?”
    “If it was the food, half the passengers on the plane would be sick. There are no more cases like this anywhere. I checked.”
    “There wouldn’t be. Garth insisted we fly over on Dad’s private jet. So, if not the plane or at home, when? Raleigh never lets me out of his sight, except when I’m in the bathroom.” She winked at him. “So I keep a whole selection of books in there and tend to vanish for several hours to read.”
    Sgt. Ames grimaced. “Duly noted. Reminder to self—check the bathroom for books. And remove them.”
    She chuckled. She did love his sense of humor.
    “What about dinner last night?”
    “I had pizza from room service. Raleigh wasn’t hungry and went to bed early.”
    “Hmmm. OK. What about breakfast this morning?”
    She shook her head. “I had toast. Raleigh was sick all night.”
    “Does he have any enemies? Is there anyone who’d want to hurt him?”
    Tamlyn almost dropped her fork. “What, you think someone did this deliberately? I mean, he drives me nuts at times, but I don’t want him hurt.”
    “It’s a possibility we have to consider, Lady Bradshaw.”
    Tamlyn looked at him over her glass. “Sergeant, will you please stop with the Lady Bradshaw thing? I get enough of that at home from the servants. My name’s Tamlyn.”
    Sgt. Ames smiled, his eyes twinkling. “Sure, as long as you stop with the sergeant thing. I get enough of that at work.”
    “You are working.” She paused. “And sergeant is your rank, right?”
    He sucked in a deep breath. “Most cops my age have put in for promotion by now. I actually turned it down because I prefer working the streets to a desk job.”
    “I can understand that—sitting around all day isn’t my thing, either.” She looked at him pointedly.
    “Tamlyn, you want to go