Highways & Hostages by Jax Abbey Page A

He winked.
    “Come on, dear ,” Stella said through clenched teeth. She smiled at Rachel, and with a stern grip, pulled Finn away from the desk toward the cluster of couches in the middle of the room. When they were far enough out of earshot, she pinched Finn’s upper arm hard. “What do you think you are doing?” she hissed, trying to keep her voice a whisper.
    “The Honeymoon Special gets us a suite and a nice meal at the hotel’s restaurant for a steal. We can’t beat it.”
    “Of course the word ‘steal’ appealed to you!” Stella muttered.
    Finn scowled. “That’s the only way we can afford to stay here. I didn’t exactly factor luxury into the budget for this trip.”
    “It doesn’t seem like you factored in a lot of things.”
    Finn shrugged.
    Stella shook her head and held her palm out. “I need to call Derek.”
    Finn looked bewildered. “Why? Because all of a sudden you find yourself already married?” he asked, one corner of his mouth lifting up.
    Stella jabbed him in the abdomen and held her palm out again. “Because I told him I’d call today. He’ll be suspicious if I don’t.”
    Finn frowned. “If I can’t use my gun, you can’t use your hands as weapons.”
    “Oh, for Pete’s sake!”
    Finn felt in his jacket pocket and held up the phone. Stella grabbed for it and he pulled it back out of reach. “Can I trust you?”
    Stella rolled her eyes. “No funny business. Gimme the phone.”
    Finn tossed her the phone and moodily plunked himself down on one of the couches, lips pursed and brows furrowed.
    Stella moved toward the lobby entrance so Finn wouldn’t be able to eavesdrop on her call. She punched in Derek’s number.
    “Hi!” he answered on the first ring.
    “Hey—I told you I’d call you today.” Stella paused. “So here I am…calling,” she finished lamely.
    “I’m so glad you called. I thought about it, and I’m going to take a few days off work to come and meet you in Arizona. I could use a few days of vacation myself.”
    Stella chewed on her lip. “I told you it was a me and Phoebe thing. You know, to bond?”
    “Stella, I don’t think that’s the only reason you decided to leave all of a sudden.”
    Stella gripped the phone harder and massaged a temple with her free hand. She felt the beginnings of a headache stirring. Normally she admired Derek’s persistence. After all, it was one of things that had attracted her to him. He showed up and ate dinner at the bar five evenings in a row after she first turned down his offer for a date. Now, though, it felt suffocating.
    “I asked for some space, and I really wish you’d listen to me. Everything is fine. ”
    “Forgive me if I don’t believe you, but generally when a woman says ‘it’s fine,’ it’s really not. Are you sure there’s nothing you want to tell me?” Derek asked, his voice soft.
    Stella’s knuckles were white on the phone. She willed herself to remain calm. “Nothing is wrong. Phoebe’s waiting for me so we can grab dinner. I’ll talk to you again soon, okay?”
    The silence stretched on Derek’s end of the phone. “Fine,” he said tersely. “Enjoy your trip.”
    “Derek—” Stella heard a click and then the dial tone. She sighed and let her hand fall. She turned away from the exit to find Finn smirking, his arms stretched along the back of the couch and his legs crossed.
    “Trouble in paradise?”
    Stella wanted to strangle him, but instead merely glowered. “How did you even hear me from over there? You are so obnoxious.”
    Finn smiled wide. “I didn’t. It was a wild guess.” He held out his hand. “Phone, please.”
    “I don’t even care anymore.” Stella chucked the phone at him.
    Finn quickly shielded his face with his hands. “Hey!” He rose from the couch, picked up the phone from the floor, and backed away from Stella as if she were a spooked horse. “I’m going to give you a minute. I’ll be back with the bags.”
    Stella watched Finn retreat through