Trusting Danger (Danger, #2)(17)

As he and Jeremy listened to Eli’s plan, Grayson’s gaze shot to the clock on the dashboard. They’d just be able to make it. He pulled the Suburban away from the curb and sped toward the airport.

“How could someone want to ransom his own girlfriend?” Jeremy said. “That’s nothing short of brutal.”

“Agreed. I’m texting you both a picture of Miss Parker,” Eli said, then hung up.

Jeremy’s phone pinged, and he pulled it from his pocket and let out a low whistle before he tipped it toward Grayson. At the next red light, Grayson turned his head to glance at Claire’s picture. She was beautiful with long auburn hair, high cheekbones, and intriguing amber-toned brown eyes.

“It shouldn’t be hard finding a looker like her,” Jeremy said.

Grayson nodded and returned his gaze to the road. He’d need to hustle if they were going to be able to put their plan in motion before her flight landed.





Chapter Fourteen





All through her flight back to DC, Claire’s thoughts pinged around inside her head like the steel ball in an arcade game. Gabe’s mention of marriage had shocked her, forcing her to pick apart her relationship with him.

Am I with him for the right reasons?

Gabe was handsome, wealthy, successful, and he spoiled her. What wasn’t there to like?

How about he’s moody, self-absorbed, and selfish in bed? a little voice inside her suggested. And you really have nothing in common.

Stop it, she told herself. You’re being ridiculous. He’s a good man.

Any other woman would be thrilled to date him. But was she with him because she truly loved him, or because her parents had pushed them together?

Her anxiety ratcheted even higher when turbulence rocked the plane as they flew over Georgia. When the plane leveled out, she forced herself to stop her worrying and turned her thoughts to her upcoming week. No matter what, she had to ensure she wouldn’t miss any more meetings related to Chris’s case. She’d do whatever she could to make sure he stayed out of prison.

Once the plane had landed, Claire made a quick detour to the Starbucks counter before following her fellow passengers to baggage claim, searching for Fred’s familiar smiling face. He always waited for her near the same exit door in baggage claim, but instead, she spotted a burly young man about her own age who held a sign aloft with Claire Parker handwritten in large bold letters. Rather than wearing a dark suit and tie as Fred normally did, the man was dressed in jeans and a Henley.

Lucky for him, I’m not my mother. She’d have him fired for showing up to pick her up like that.

Clutching the cardboard tray holding the drinks she’d purchased, she approached the man and frowned. “I’m Claire. Fred wasn’t available?”

The man lowered the sign he was holding. “No, ma’am. The senator’s service sent me instead.”

Disappointed, Claire nodded. It wasn’t the first time Fred had been unavailable for her. Since her father was out of town, odds were Fred was either busy driving a senior staffer to an event, or was taking some much-deserved time off with his grandchildren.

While they waited for her luggage, Claire sent a quick text to Gabe, letting him know she’d arrived. He was still on the golf course, so she didn’t bother waiting for a reply before returning her phone to her purse.

Once the new driver had plucked her suitcase off the carousel, she handed him her tote to carry and followed him to the parking garage. She shivered in her lightweight blazer as they walked, the autumn air here chillier than the Florida heat she’d left behind two hours ago.

When the driver led her to a town car parked near the elevator on the first level, Claire frowned as she recognized the scratch on its side. “Fred is letting you use his car?”

The driver’s eyes widened slightly before he handed her the tote and turned to open the back door for her. “I’m new and haven’t been assigned my own car yet.”

“What’s your name?”

“Uh, Jeremy,” he said, seeming surprised.

“I’m Claire, and this is for you.” She handed him the cup of coffee meant for Fred.

“What’s this?”

“Americano, two sugars, one cream,” she said with a small smile. “It’s what Fred likes, so I hope you like it too.”

The driver gave her a confused look but mumbled his thanks as he set the coffee on the roof of the car so he could load her suitcase into the trunk. She situated herself in the backseat, placing her tote and purse on the seat next to her before glancing at the time on her phone.

What were the chances that Professor Moore was in her office? Pretty good, even though it was a Sunday; the woman practically lived on campus. If Claire could have a chance to apologize in person, it might help defuse the woman’s anger and would mean one less thing to worry about that week.

“I need to stop at Georgetown University first,” she said as the driver got behind the wheel.

He met her gaze in the rearview mirror. Claire sat forward in her seat, maintaining eye contact until he nodded before looking away to retrieve his parking voucher from the sun visor.

What was going on? What was that look he’d given her?

She looked out the window and shook her head. Nothing was going on. Her anxiety about facing Professor Moore was just making her crazy.