Yeah, that was what bothered him more than her taking off without him. He might think they operated as a team when they were together, but it looked as if she didn’t feel the same way.
It struck him that his life had been spread out in front of her, literally in the case of the photo gallery, but he knew very little about hers. Maybe she didn’t trust him enough to tell him that, either. And that bothered him.
Before he had time to examine why that was, she appeared, walking toward him with that graceful stride he admired. Yeah, he still wanted her. He couldn’t turn off his natural reaction, although he wished he could.
She held his gaze as she approached. “Thanks for waiting.”
“You saw your brother, didn’t you?”
“I talked to him, but—”
“What about Cynthia? Did you—”
“She wasn’t there.”
“What did he say?”
She hesitated, as if deciding what to tell him. “I asked if they were involved, and he said no. There’s no chemistry.”
Luke’s tension eased a fraction. “That’s good, but did you ask him if we could sit down and discuss this?”
“No. He didn’t want to stay long. They must not feel the timing is right.”
“Yet it seems he deliberately created an opportunity to talk with you. Why?”
“He thinks I’m a good influence on you.”
“Which he obviously thinks I need.” At first he was indignant, but that began to fade as he recalled that he’d basically told Giselle the same thing. He just didn’t like Landry saying it. He sighed. “Well, he’s right.”
“I’ve decided to accept your invitation to stay in the penthouse in one of your guest rooms.”
“You have?” Relief flooded through him. Until he’d resolved this issue with Cynthia, he needed Giselle nearby.
“I’ll need my things.”
He forced himself not to appear overly eager. “No problem. Jim will drive us down there so you can pick up your suitcase and check out.” He wondered what Vaughn Cartwright would think of Giselle leaving his hotel.
She spoke as if reading his mind. “Vaughn will hear about it. Because I’m a family friend, his staff will report that I’ve checked out.”
“Do you care?”
“Only to the extent that I don’t want to be rude. He’s been nice to me.”
“So send him a text and explain that we’re on the trail of your brother and my sister, and we need to be together for efficiency’s sake.”
Giselle pulled out her phone. “Would you repeat that? I liked the wording.”
Luke went through the logical explanation again. “And thank him for his hospitality.”
“Right.” Her thumbs moved rhythmically as she completed the text. “Done.”
“The town car is right over here.” He gestured toward it. When Jim saw them coming, he got out and opened the back passenger door.
“Jim, this is Giselle Landry, a guest from San Francisco. Giselle, this is Jim Hicks. He drove my dad for about fifteen years, right, Jim?”
“About that.” The burly chauffeur smiled at Giselle. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Landry.”
Luke knew Jim had to be curious. Giselle was the first woman Luke had been seen with, other than his sister, since his dad died. But Jim was a professional and would never let his curiosity show. “We need to go to Illusions,” Luke said, “to pick up Giselle’s suitcase.”
“Very good.” Jim’s gaze didn’t flicker. He waited until they were both seated in the backseat and then he closed the door.
Luke settled back against the leather seat. “How did you know Bryce was close by, anyway?”
“Just a hunch.”
He glanced over at her. “Pretty good hunch. Do you two have a mental telepathy hookup?”
“Sometimes.”
“When Cynthia and I were younger, I used to think we had one. When she was two, she managed to sneak out to the pool and fell in when nobody was around to see her. But I got this panicky feeling and raced out there. She was already at the bottom.”
Giselle’s eyes widened in horror. “How awful!”
“It was awful.” Luke would never forget that moment. “I don’t remember screaming for help or diving in. But I must have, because I do remember working on her once I got her out. I was only ten, but thank God we’d studied CPR in school. And help came, so I must have screamed pretty loud.”
“Wow. Scary.”
“It was. I watched her like a hawk for the rest of that summer, and the next summer she learned to swim, so I relaxed a little.” And here he was, once again, revealing details of his life when he knew so little of hers. “Sorry. Ancient history.”
“Vivid history, though, I’ll bet. Were there other times you sensed she was in trouble?”
“A few.” Actually, more than a few, but he wanted an exchange of information this time. “How about you? Did you and Bryce come to each other’s rescue?”
“All the time when we were little. But as we got older, not so much.”
He didn’t know if she would have expanded on that or not because just then they arrived at Illusions. Jim parked under the portico.
Leaning forward, Luke spoke to Jim. “No need to get out, Jim. Giselle has to check out, but we shouldn’t be long.” He’d never walked into Illusions, and he was damned curious.
“Luke.” Giselle laid a hand on his arm. “You can’t come in with me.”
“Why not? Can’t a guest bring someone in?”
“No. Only registered guests are allowed through the front door. You’re not registered.”
“Not even into the lobby? I’ve never heard of something so ridiculous. Who stays here, the president of Iran?”
“No.”
“I don’t get it. We’ve hosted Tom Hanks and Lady Gaga, and neither of them required that level of security.”
“It’s the way the Cartwrights want it, I guess. But come up to the door with me and we’ll see if you can step inside for a few minutes and then come right back out.”
Luke thought about not going because he was ticked off, but in the end, curiosity won out. “Okay.” He helped her out of the car and walked beside her to the double doors of the lobby.
Impressively muscled doormen in gray uniforms stood on either side of the entrance. They both smiled at Giselle. “Good evening, madam.”
“Good evening. I was wondering if—”
“Your companion is not staying at the hotel, correct?” The doorman on the right eyed Luke with suspicion.
Luke wondered how in the hell the guy knew that. Was it written on his forehead?
“No, he’s not,” Giselle said. “But he’s with me. I was wondering if he could step inside for a minute. I wanted him to see the lobby decor.”
“I’m afraid not, madam.” The doorman gazed at her stoically. “You know the rules.”
“I know, but I thought a few minutes wouldn’t be a problem.”
“Sorry.”
That was enough for Luke. He didn’t go where he wasn’t wanted. “That’s okay, Giselle. I’ll wait in the car.”
She looked embarrassed. “But—”
“Seriously. It doesn’t matter.”
“Okay. I’ll be very fast. I didn’t bother to unpack, so I’ll be out in no time.”
“I’ll be waiting.” He walked back to the car and climbed in.
“Wouldn’t let you go in, would they?” Jim said.
“Nope.”
“I didn’t think they would. I’ve seen plenty of folks get turned away from that door. Must be some really famous people staying there.”
“I can’t imagine who. Really famous people stay in hotels all along the Strip, and they don’t keep you from walking into their lobbies.”