Free Dalton, Tymber - Stoneface (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Tymber Dalton Page A

they’re still in Rapid City. Well, she is, at least. Probably both of them from the amount. A purchase just came through on her Visa for a meal.” More tapping.
    “Where?”
    “I don’t know, hold on. It’s a Denny’s. Let me see if I can figure out which one.” More tapping. “Yes! I found it. I’m e-mailing you a map link right now. Where are you at?”
    “Rapid City.”
    “Smart-ass. Where?”
    “How the fuck should I know? I don’t know how the hell I’m going to find the hotel again.”
    “Gee, honey, what did I teach you about your phone when we got it for you?”
    She sighed. “Built-in GPS.”
    “Right. Go use it. Bye.”
    She hung up and retrieved the address from her e-mail, wrote it in the notebook, then switched to the maps feature on her phone and plugged it in.
    She was less than two miles away.
    She made it without wrecking while trying to follow the phone’s directions. After a quick consultation with the manager on duty and showing her Amy’s picture, Gwen discovered she’d missed them by ten minutes. Discouraged, she returned to her rental.
    The private eye option was looking better by the minute.
    Her phone rang “Silent Lucidity,” startling her. “Did you find her?” Liam asked.
    “No. Just missed them. She’s still with the guy.”
    “Her friend Rita from work just called. She was trying to reach Amy. Apparently, Amy e-mailed her and told her she needed to take an extra two weeks of unpaid leave, cited personal issues.”
    “Two weeks ?”
    “Yeah.” He sighed. “Come home, sweetie. We’ll deal with Mom and Dad. I’m sorry I sent you out there on a wild-goose chase after her. I’ll reimburse you for the flight, hotel, and car.”
    “It’s the principle of the matter now.” And she couldn’t bring herself to step on a plane yet.
    Liam’s tone turned big brotherly, the calming inflection he used to make her see things his way. “Gee, I can’t drive out there and get you. At least you can get drunk on the plane and have a taxi bring you home. You have to come home now. You’re done.”
    The thought of flying again terrified her. Last night, in crisis mode, she could put it behind her. “Just one more day to look for her, please?”
    His voice gentled further. “I’ll take a taxi to the airport and meet your flight, Gee. It’s okay. Come home. You tried. I’m sorry I made you go.”
    “You didn’t make me go. I volunteered. How’s Ruthie doing?”
    “I showed her the wonders of World of Warcraft . She’s addicted and having fun killing virtual monsters. Bob’s going to hate me. Come home, Gee.”
    “I haven’t even had breakfast yet.” Then again, if she was getting on another plane, maybe eating was a bad idea. She would only puke it up again.
    More tapping on his end. “There’s a flight out of there, connecting through Chicago again, at two. Want me to put you on it?”
    “No.” She shuddered. “Just…wait. Okay?”
    He sighed. “Go back to the room, get your stuff, check out, and go eat. Call me when you’re at the airport, and I’ll get you booked on the flight.”
    Big brother trying his best to fix the only thing he could fix now, since they couldn’t find Amy. “No. I’ll do it. Let me go.”
    She returned to the room and tried not to think about flying again. At least she could check her e-mail. She immediately spotted a message from TimE.

    OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!! You’re in Rapid City?? CALL ME right now!

    Followed by a phone number.
    Knowing she was only putting off her terrifying inevitable return flight home, she called the number. A man answered, his sweet, rich voice soothing her.
    “Ellis Books and Bites, this is Tim.”
    “Hi, it’s Gwen—”
    His voice immediately changed, excited. “Oh my god! Go-Go, what the hell are you doing here in Rapid City?”
    “Here? I thought you lived in Laguna Beach?”
    “Long story, I’ll tell you later. Where are you? You have to come see me!” She gladly agreed. It would further