Not wild about this chapter, but must push on regardless for the good of the story. So it goes.


By the time they were dressing for a late dinner, Cal had dismissed the nightmare, chalking it up to his insecurity about his relationship with Gillian. With his track record it was hardly surprising. Besides, he didn't believe in omens.

He wandered toward her room now. In truth, she'd only spent about 10% of her time in there but she kept it for appearances. Apparently, she also had something in mind for the formal dinner at the hotel tonight. If there were any remnants of the nightmare left, they completely slid out of his head when Gillian opened the door for him. Cal's jaw sagged as he absorbed every detail. He stood for a moment, blinking stupidly.

She wore a sapphire blue satin sweetheart dress with a slit partially up her thigh. Her hair was swept up and away from her face with the exception of a few sexy wisps. Watching his reaction, her blue eyes twinkled.

Recovering, he finally shut his mouth, and moved quickly into her room, shutting the door behind him.

"We could always stay in." His hands immediately reached out and locked on her waist as he pulled her to him. His face moved closer to gently kiss her before moving down to nibble on her throat. "You're stunning."

"You don't look too shabby yourself Dr. Lightman." Cal looked quite handsome in his dark suit. He'd even shaved.

Gillian could feel his warm breath just below her ear and was tempted for just a moment to go with his not so subtle suggestion before deciding it was more fun to play hard to get. "Nope."

He pulled back, one eyebrow rising. "Nope?"

"Nope." Her eyes continued to twinkle as she teased. "Dinner and dancing."

"But that involves other people in the room." It was almost a whine.

"Dinner and dancing…first." Gillian's voice dropped, taking on a sultry quality.

A sideways grin split his face. "Aye aye!" He ran the side of his hand down her cheek before leaning in for another tender kiss and resuming his ministrations down her neck.

She could feel her breathing begin to accelerate right along with her pulse and almost forgot herself before stepping away, her hand against his chest. "Uh uh." Gillian watched as his expression turned smug, no doubt reading desire all over her face. Nonetheless…

"Public relations Cal."

He huffed and narrowed his eyes. "We already solved their bloody case."

"Doesn't matter. Can't disappear indefinitely after they comped our rooms. Appearances are still important."

"What, you afraid ratboy's gonna think we've just been upstairs shagging the whole time?"

"Cal!"

"Okay, okay. Fine. Whatever you want darlin'." He conceded, waving his hand, eyes still laughing.

(BREAK)

They drew attention when they entered the dining room. Of course Cal knew damn well that people weren't looking at him. Gillian practically glowed and he felt himself swell with pride to know that she was on his arm. He made a point to stare down any other man that he caught sizing her up.

As soon as they walked in, Gillian could feel his arm almost coil under her light grasp as he went into search, read and judge mode. An almost inaudible groan escaped her as she had second thoughts about making him come here. It was almost akin to throwing a grenade in a fireworks factory.

"Are you going to behave?"

Cal turned to her, wide eyed. A smirk played around his mouth. "Of course darlin'. Good PR, right?"

She narrowed her eyes.

"What? I'll be good if they are."

Uh oh.

They were shown to their table and Cal immediately took the seat with the best view of the room. Gillian sighed, once again starting to regret bringing him down here. But damnit, she deserved to have some fun too, right? Of course this was fun for him, just in a different way.

His hazel eyes swept the room, shifting into an intense green as he fixated on certain people.

"Cal?"

"Hmmm?" They moved back to her, darkening slightly.

"I've been thinking about dates again." They'd been engaged over a month now and an actual wedding date was still some kind of nebulous time in the future.

Expression warming, he reached over and gently laid one hand across both of hers. She now had his complete attention. This was something she always marveled at. He could suddenly dial back his typical ADHD behavior and look at her like they were the only two people in the room. A blush crept up and he raised his eyebrows.

"What kind of wedding did you exactly have in mind there darlin'?"

"Shut it!" She hissed but smiled in spite of herself.

He just grinned.

"I thought, well, it would be nice to wait until Emily's on her summer holidays."

Cal nodded. He loved how his daughter was always at the forefront whenever Gillian planned anything.

"So, what do you think about the last weekend in May?" Her eyes were bright, edged in excitement.

"Would that make you happy?" He asked softly, knowing full well the answer.

"Mmhm." Gillian felt him give her fingers a squeeze. Despite the frigid temperatures outside, his hand was warm.

"Well, I guess the end of May it is then." His eyes shifted away before immediately hardening. A frown crinkled his brow.

"Cal? What's the matter?" Gillian turned to see where his gaze was locked.

"I believe we may have another player that our boy may have neglected to mention."

Across the room, standing at the bar, a young twenty-something was flirting with a portly business type. She playfully pulled on his tie as one of his meaty hands made its way to her backside.

Caldwell had informed them the previous day that the busboy's girlfriend had been picked up at her home and had admitted her place in the scam.

"Could be a coincidence."

"Could be. Unlikely though." Before she said another word, Cal was bulldozing his way across the room.

Gillian hesitated before following him, her eyes moving around the room, looking for Caldwell.

"Hey darlin'. Already moving on I see." Cal leaned toward the young woman, a smile on his lips that didn't go beyond.

"Who the hell are you?" The doughy man already started to redden.

Cal ignored him, studying the girl. "Have a good time with what you stole from my wallet last night?"

The woman's mouth dropped open, anger lacing through her face. "What are you talking about?" Her eyes shifted to the other man. "I don't know this guy! I have no idea what he's talking about?"

Finally looking at portly man, Cal lowered his voice. "Have a wife waitin' at home do you?"

The man's face reddened even further. Cal dimly wondered if he was heading for an aneurysm. "You have no right…!"

"There's a mark on your ring finger that suggests that you may have just removed it mate."

His mouth fell open, closed and then opened again, breathing labored in anger and embarrassment.

Cal dismissed him and moved toward the girl again. "You didn't get the memo? Didn't hear about Chris and Izzy? Ah come on, you must of. Amazing that you'd pick up where they left off. Not the brightest bulb are ya?"

Caldwell walked up behind them, Gillian right in step with him.

"What's this?" His tiny mustache bobbed up and down in annoyance.

Not paying attention to the rodent-like manager, Cal took another step into the girl's space. "Who's waiting upstairs for 'im? Huh, darlin'?"

A gray pallor was now replacing the redness as realization hit the big man. "You were going to…rob me?" Clearly the fact that the pretty young girl wasn't in it just for a good time hadn't occurred to him.

"What's your room number?"

He stared at Cal like he was speaking a foreign language for just a moment before shaking himself and fumbling for his card key. "Um, 332."

Eyes not leaving the girl, Cal spoke to Caldwell. "Might wanna send security up there."

Gillian let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding; worried that Cal might make the run upstairs.

She relaxed a moment too soon.