His Old Lady - Debra Kayn Page 0,78

down the hallway. "Faye? I'm home."

He entered the bedroom. The bed was made, and the drapes were open. Checking out the bathroom, the laundry room, and the spare bedrooms, he went to the backdoor and stepped outside onto the deck, scanning the area.

Not finding her, he walked inside and picked up the phone receiver on the wall of the kitchen, dialing Rick's number.

"Hello?" answered Tracy.

"It's Curley. Did Faye drive to your house, or did she get a ride?"

"She drove. Why?"

"Her car is here, but I can't find her." He stretched the phone cord toward the window and looked outside again. "The house was locked up."

"That's weird. She left about a half-hour ago or so, and was excited to see you again."

"Do you think one of the other ladies had plans with her or would stop by the house?" He ran his hand over his head.

"I don't think so, but I couldn't swear. She does have her own life and schedule, so I don't know." Tracy paused. "Actually, Curley. I don't think she'd leave. She really missed you and shot out of here as soon as she heard you were at the clubhouse and coming home. Maybe she went to the clubhouse."

"But her car is here."

"It's only a mile away. Could she have walked?"

There was no reason to walk when she had a car. Adrenaline filled him. His return to Missoula forgotten. He wanted his woman.

"Is Rick still home?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"Send him to my house. Tell him to hurry."

Tracy's voice quieted as she spoke with her man, then she came back on the line. "He's heading out."

"Thanks."

"Curley?" Tracy softened her voice and said, "Everything is okay. Faye's okay."

"I hope so." He hung up and stormed over to his duffle.

Pulling out the clothes and supplies he had for the trip, he left the extra pistol and ammo inside. He jogged out of the house, secured the bag, and started his bike. By the time Rick arrived, he was past ready to go.

"I have no idea where she went," he thundered over the revving engines. "Let's split up and see if she's walking as we head to the clubhouse."

"Someone should be here in case she shows up," said Rick.

He flipped his sunglasses down. "I'll send someone when we get there. I'll also swing by Promise and make sure she's not there with her girlfriends. Knowing her, she probably got an idea to spiff up the place and wanted to surprise me or some other shit."

"Roll on, brother. I'm right behind you." Rick dipped his chin.

Curley sped out of the driveway. There had to be some ridiculous excuse for her not being at home when he'd arrived. He was probably worried for no reason.

But until he had her by his side, he'd send out a damn search party.

Chapter 34

Faye

The sweat stain around the collar of Cal's shirt spread toward his shoulders. Faye gripped the armrest, tense, and ready to jump the moment the car got off the interstate. Knowing the area, she also picked out a spot where it would be safe to escape with people around to help her.

"You're going to like what I've done for you." Cal glanced over at her and smiled as if none of his prior sexual harassment of her while working had ever happened. "You'll be real happy."

"I'll be happy when you stop the car and let me out." Her toes curled in her sneakers. "You lied to me."

"I'm going to make it up to you." He turned off the interstate, dropping his speed down to fifty miles an hour. "You'll see that I'm serious about making things right between us."

Would she survive a jump out of the car at seventy-five miles an hour?

She looked out the side window. Where the pavement met the grass blurred in her vision. She wasn't even sure she could jump far enough to land on the grass.

Not letting him think she was happy about anything he'd done, she said, "I don't want anything to do with you, Cal. We've been over this before. You purposely lied to get me alone. Why?"

He reached over and rubbed her thigh. She pushed his hand away and scooted as close to the door as possible. It was unbelievable that the first few years she'd worked for Cal and his wife, he'd treated her with respect when he showed up at the lounge.

The man sitting in the driver's seat had lost his mind.

There was something seriously wrong with him.

He was a danger to other people, especially women.