Page 39 of Cupcake of the Month (Just Add Peaches #2)

When Jordan joined him after parking, they searched the terminal themselves, up the escalators to the TSA line and down to baggage claim, then back again, over and over.

The sky outside grew darker as it ushered in the constant flow of people until the sun was completely gone. Still they retraced their steps.

Families occupied the benches in the terminal, luggage strewn about and young ones making a game out of hiding behind the fake plants. Couples embraced and waved to one another as one went through security. Any lone figure was older than Zach.

“Mr. Lukasik.”

Josh’s weariness swept away when the security officer called his name, but the man approaching him wasn’t escorting Zach. The fatigue returned, pressing over his entire body. They’d been searching for hours. “Yes.”

“Your brother hasn’t entered the airport, near as we can tell, and there are no more flights heading out tonight.

We still have people watching the cameras for him, we’ve got undercover FBI agents here, and everyone on duty knows to keep an eye out.

All the airlines have a picture for their attendants.

” He patted Josh’s shoulder. “You’re plum exhausted.

Why don’t you check into a hotel, get some sleep, and start fresh in the morning. ”

“No.” Not without Zach.

“You’re half asleep already, Josh,” Jordan said. “Let me take you to a hotel.”

“I’m not leaving. He has to know I’m here for him, that I’m not going to abandon him.” How could he sleep when he didn’t know where Zach was, what he was doing?

“Mr. Lukasik—”

“Josh.” Jordan’s soft voice cut through his determination. “Only for a few hours. We’ll be back before the sun rises, I promise.”

Her words filtered into his heart. He’d listened to her instincts earlier when they went to the police station. She’d been right then. She was right now. Except…

Shit. “Jordan. Your case. You have to get on a plane right now.” How could he have forgotten? He turned to the security officer. “Do you have any planes flying to Connecticut?”

“Josh, it’s fine.”

“I won’t be the reason you lose your business.”

“I already talked to my lawyer. Now stop yapping and let’s go get some sleep.” She took his hands. They were warm against his cool skin. “Okay?”

Her clear gaze gave him a measure of calm and he gave a quick nod. He turned to the security officer. “You’ll call me if you see him?”

“That very minute. Zach will be okay, Mr. Lukasik.”

There was no way he could know that, but Josh nodded. He didn’t resist when Jordan took his hand and led him through the sliding doors and into the darkened night. There was nothing more he could do until tomorrow.

The hotel nearest to the airport had a dingy exterior, as if it was a continuous target for a plane’s exhaust and jet fuel. Even with the plastic plants in the corners, the lobby didn’t fare much better. Josh was too cross-eyed to care.

Jordan reached for her wallet, but Josh laid down his emergency credit card and dared her to say something.

It was bad enough he had to rely on her for transportation, that she put her life on hold and was going to miss her court date.

She had given up too much for him already. He could pay for a damn hotel room.

He got the key from the clerk and lifted Jordan’s carryon, ignoring her squawk of protest, and headed to their room.

Their room.

“Fuck,” he muttered. After all he said to her last night, why would she even consider spending the night with him? He wouldn’t give her the choice, the chance to reject him. He turned to go back to the lobby, nearly crashing into Jordan who was two steps behind him.

“What’s wrong?”

“We need a second room.” He was so damn tired. “You don’t need to share with me.”

“It’s okay, Josh.”

“You can’t mean that.”

Her brown eyes peered at him through her glasses. Funny, he’d never thought glasses sexy until he met her. But it really was the woman behind the frames. She put her hands on his arms. “I mean it. There are two beds, right? We’ll be fine.”

The warmth of her skin rippled up his arm, but he forced down any thoughts of enjoyment. “If it’s because of the cost, I can afford another one.” He’d live off ramen and peanut butter sandwiches for a few months, but he’d make do.

Her mouth tightened. “It’s fine, Josh. I want to be there when you get the call. We’re adults. We can share. Let’s go.” She brushed past him.

The room was like any other generic hotel room. Rough industrial carpet, seascapes on the walls, large windows, and the requisite noisy air conditioner. Two full-sized beds. He wouldn’t have to sleep in the uncomfortable chair parked beside a table too small to be of much use for anything.

Not that he’d be sleeping much with Zach out there somewhere, alone. Maybe hurt. Hungry.

God damn it.

The tightness in his chest became unbearable and he rubbed at it. Jordan’s bag slipped to the floor but he barely noticed. Hot pricks stabbed at his eyes and he squeezed them shut. He hadn’t cried in years. It wasn’t happening now. Especially not in front of Jordan.

“Whew.” She picked up her bag and breezed past him, angling to the side of the bed where she kept her back to him. “It’s been quite a day. Why don’t you go shower. I’m going to head out to take care of a few things.”

The sweat and rank odors coming from his body probably rivaled Zach’s socks after gym class. He swallowed and hoped his voice didn’t waver. “Where are you going?”

“To get food and stuff. I’ll be back soon.” She grabbed her purse and gave him a quick peck on the cheek before leaving.

He threw his hat on the bed and stripped, then went into the small bathroom.

Bracing his hands under the faucet, he let the water beat down on his head, not caring that tears mixed in. His gut tore with the effort of keeping in the sobs. A few deep gasps escaped him, echoing against the tiled walls of the shower.

Josh surrendered to the despair that wrecked him all day and slid to his ass to the floor of the tub, resting his hands on his bent knees.

Hard sobs shuddered through his body and anguish tightened his chest as the water beat down on him.

He could have told Zach the truth about his parents at any time, but that would shatter his brother’s innocence, his belief that Marian and Clint loved him more than themselves.

Would that have kept Zach from running? And what would he do when he found out how little regard his own parents had for him eight years ago?

After what seemed like hours, he stood up and tore the paper off the soap and grabbed a washcloth.

He scrubbed it vigorously over his body, then lifted his face to the water, letting it erase the evidence of his tears.

He’d clean himself off, get a couple hours of sleep, and be ready as soon as the sun rose to head back to the airport. He could stay calm.

When his mind returned to some semblance of normalcy, he shampooed his hair and rinsed his body.

He wrapped a towel around his hips, unable to bear the thought of putting on his dirty clothes.

The smell of hamburgers and fries filled his nose as soon as he opened the bathroom door.

His stomach revolted, and he swallowed, hard, to keep the bile from rising.

“I thought you might want something to eat,” Jordan said. “It’s not Fountenoy Hall standards by any means, but it’s something.”

“Thank you.” He’d try to force something down. Maybe the bread. He hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and his body needed the fuel.

“There’s stuff on the bed for you, too.” She rolled her carryon into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

An unopened pack of white briefs sat on the bed next to a campy t-shirt with a picture of a beach and the word Florida written in large capital letters. He pulled on a pair of the briefs and the shirt, and bit down hard on his lip to keep himself from getting overwhelmed by her thoughtfulness.

He flipped the bun off the burger to pick off the onions, but there weren’t any. Eight years and she still remembered he hated onions. The tears came again and stung his eyes, and he gave them a rough swipe with his hand. The woman wasn’t real.

Half the sandwich was all he could manage. He tossed it back on the wrapper and wiped his hands, then dimmed the lights and lay down on the bed. Something small and hard hit him at the base of his spine and he rolled over, patting the bedspread behind him.

It was a toothbrush. And a small tube of toothpaste. And damn it again if his throat didn’t tighten. Every act of kindness was setting him off, and he was perilously close to the limit of how much more he could take.

When the water of the shower stopped, he rolled over and faced away from her bed, making his breathing deep and even. He couldn’t face her. Not tonight.

Getting comfortable was next to impossible when his every cell ached to be with the woman on the other bed.

The slide of her sheets reached his ears and all he could picture was her glorious hair spread out on the pillow, passion and desire on her face.

He scrunched his eyes shut to demolish the vision. She deserved better than him.

Tapping sounds came from her computer, but she soon huffed out a quick breath and muttered to herself. She put her computer away and turned off her light, then settled into her pillows. A soft sigh carried over to him.

One look. One look was all he needed to satisfy the yearning in his body and settle his mind. He maintained the steady pace of his breaths and rolled over, then opened one eye into a slit.

Jordan’s profile was visible in the dim light coming in through the curtain, from the tip of her nose to the dip of her neck and the rise of her breasts. He was wrong. It only intensified the need. He opened both eyes to take in all of her.

She rolled over and stared straight into his soul.

His body zinged like it had been kissed by lightning, his breath caught in his chest. He needed her. Fiercely, with his entire being desperate to be near her.

He lifted the cover in silent invitation. She didn’t hesitate to slide between the sheets and settle into the heat of his body. He pulled her against him and tucked her head under his chin. He wrapped one arm around her waist and brushed a soft kiss on her forehead.

The stress of his day disappeared as he relaxed against her body, soothed by her familiar scent as he fell into a deep slumber.