Chapter Eight
Frustrated and getting nowhere, they ordered lunch from room service. Jenna checked the flight schedules and figured Brock was still in the air. After taking a break to eat some room service food, they got back to the topic at hand.
Jenna raised her eyebrows and looked at Dan, who was busy checking his emails. “Okay, one more time. Let’s talk it through. Why do you think she has a partner, because you don’t think a woman is clever enough to do this on her own?”
Dan’s head popped up from his phone to check Jenna’s face to see if she was just taunting him. “That’s not what I mean at all, and I can’t believe you would say such a thing. I just think a woman who is alone gets noticed more than a couple…that’s all. Our girl is too smart to be noticed unless she wants to be. But the mysterious appearing red hair is throwing me.”
“Okay, truce. So, yes, what if the red hair has been left there on purpose to point them in a direction of a redheaded female for a reason?” Jenna held up a strand of her hair again.
Dan ran his fingers threw his hair and huffed out a loud sigh. “The thought has occurred to me, but that would mean whoever this is knows that we were a team, or at least knows my partner was a redheaded female. It’s clear, they plan to use it to help set me up. Ask yourself, who could know that?”
Jenna shook her head. “I have no idea, and that is what worries me. We have an enemy out there, and not only your insurance investigator. At least, we know who she is and what she wants. This Red Cat person or persons—what’s their agenda? And how are they connected if they are—and why? But yes, it’s personal. It’s revenge. Who wants revenge? I can think of a few.”
Dan’s phone pinged, and he stared for a full minute before shoving it back into his pocket. “Damn, another problem. Harper is coming.”
“Who is Harper?”
“She is my, uh, she and I, well, we see each other from time to time. She’s a roving photojournalist. We met when I was racing cars.”
Jenna’s stomach did a little flip “So, she is coming here because…?”
“I might have mentioned it I was coming and asked her to join me, but this was before I knew…well, before. I thought it would be a good cover to be a couple. Like I said, couples get noticed less, and I knew, or rather guessed, Gail Wells would be tracking me here.”
Jenna, feeling as if she had been punched in the gut, walked to the door and opened it as she turned back to Dan. “Well, that is just great then, we will both have dates, and we will have one more person we must work around. You’d better be on your way. I’m not sure when Brock will arrive. See you tonight, Dan.”
Dan opened his mouth to speak but threw up his hands, instead, and left with one glance back at Jenna.
She closed the door in his face. Jenna fought the little jealous fire that started in her stomach as she watched him walk through the door. She knew this was the most ridiculous thing she could do; to get involved with Dan again in any way was a disaster. Why did she feel that old tingle of excitement now when she thought all this was in the past? Would it never leave her alone?
Jenna secured her long hair in a ponytail, put on her sweats, and ran down the stairs and out the side door of the hotel. She needed to clear her head and get rid of this itchy buzz that traveled through her body. She ran until she could hardly stand, and then she made her way back to the hotel, feeling rung out in every way possible. However, she was still not satisfied she was thinking clearly.
Her clothes were plastered to her body, and she was so thirsty she could hardly swallow as she went through the main lobby doors. Rather than offend everyone around her by using the elevator, she went down a side hall in the lobby to the door leading to the stairs. As she put her hand on the door handle, she heard a full-throated laugh coming from near the lobby’s main desk. She turned to look because Southern women didn’t laugh that way in public. That was always a dead giveaway you were an outsider, but something about that laugh rang a bell.
Jenna eased her way back down the hall toward the front desk area.
A tall, buxom redhead wearing tight white pants and a short black top that barely covered her breasts stood at the end of the front desk.
Brock stood beside her with his 100-watt smile plastered onto his face. Well, what is going on there, and who is the woman? She made her way back down the hall and through the door to the stairs. How long has Brock been back?
Jenna ran up the stairs and got into the shower so fast she almost forgot to take off her shoes. She wondered why she was more curious than jealous about seeing Brock with the woman in the lobby. Something about the woman was familiar; yet she was sure she’d not met her before. She couldn’t think what was bothering her. She forgot names sometimes because she met so many people in her line of work, but she rarely forgot a face. And that laugh—what was it about that laugh?
Brock was unpacking his clothes when she came out of the shower. “Hey, I’m back. I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course, now I have a date to the big event.” Jenna walked over and gave him a hug. “Oh, Brock, your tux got wrinkled. Just call room service and have it steamed.”
“Thanks, Jenn, I wanted to come back and be with you. I couldn’t do anything for my uncle or his family. He left strict instructions for his family, so there is no actual funeral, at all. Equally important, I couldn’t leave my girl alone without a party escort and for all the wolves to pounce upon.”
Jenna struck a defensive pose. “Humm. You know I’m a black belt, right?”
“No, I did not know that. Good information to have in case you need to rescue me.” He kissed her on the neck and tried to remove her towel.
But she backed away. “Not so fast, big boy. I’ve missed lunch, and I’m about to faint from hunger. Can you run down to the place around the corner and get me a salad of some sort with some protein? Room service is backed up because this hotel is so full now, and it will take forever to get anything sent up.”
“Consider it done. But feel free to stay undressed until my return.”
Jenna locked the door behind Brock and got into her jeans and T-shirt. She looked at her watch. She must keep him busy for three more hours until time to get dressed to go to Tybee for the party.
She ate her late lunch, and Brock ate two protein bars and returned calls and emails. She managed to get a facial and hairdresser appointment and left him sitting on the bed in his underwear, talking on the phone again. By the time she returned, there was only one mission—get ready for the party. Since it took her longer to get dressed, Brock propped himself up on the bed to watch the news. She kept glancing at him and wondered who he kept texting.
As she stood in front of the long mirror, she looked not at herself but at Brock in the background. She thought again how insanely beautiful he was, more than just handsome. He was tall, broad-shouldered, blond, with blue eyes the color of the sea off the coast of Amalfi, Italy, deep but clear. She understood why he was so successful in the business world, especially with his women clients, of which there were many.
Jenna didn’t spend too much time thinking about why she was not madly in love with Brock until now. She enjoyed his company, his sense of humor, and his attention to her comfort—no denying that. Yeah, a bit of lust was part of it, but that moderated over time. Then it became clear what was bothering her. Something was not quite right about him; something didn’t ring true that she could put her finger on. Was he holding something back, hiding his true self in some way? He was almost too good to be true—that was it! In addition, they were missing that special something, that spark, with the two of them as a couple. She hadn’t put a name to it until now. Of course, the unique spark of the soul was missing, as her grandmother used to say. She kept hoping it would come, but so far nothing. She sighed and went back to her makeup. “I’m nearly ready, Brock. This is your time to get dressed alert.”
He laughed and turned off the television. “It takes me ten minutes, you know.”
“I know, and just shut up. It takes me ten times as long, but that’s my burden as a woman. Your burden as a man is to wait.”
He came into the dressing area and pulled her to him, kissing her lightly on the lips. “You are always worth the wait, Jenna.”
“Okay, no more of that. Time for lipstick and shoes. Put your clothes on, for heaven sakes.”
“It would be so much more fun to stay here without clothes.”
“Come on, think of all the good food and drink you will miss, and all the beautiful women who will be sure to fawn all over you tonight. And those glorious business contacts who you are sure to get.”
Brock pulled his shirt from the hanger. “Okay, but I’d prefer one redhead in this room to fawn over me, instead.”
“I promise you I’ll do that later if you’ll get dressed. The car will be out front any minute.”
“Okay, okay, I give up. Lucky for you I’m hungry.” Brock shrugged and pulled on his shirt. “Tomorrow night is the ball, right? So, what the heck is tonight? How many ways can this guy ask for money?”
“Yes, the senator did not advertise this one. It’s more for his cronies and high-level press. He wanted to see and be seen in a more intimate setting, with so-called friends. But more than that, he wanted to make those crucial connections with political friends, political operatives, and the press. He wants his name on the top of every important list in the state. He is trolling for power all the time. That’s why I have an invitation.”
“You’d think at least one of these things would be less formal,” Brock complained as he finished getting into his tux.
Jenna shrugged as she put on the finishing touches, including her own jewelry, and got into her mile-high heels. “Maybe he likes to dress up. Okay, here I am ready to go.”
Brock came into the dressing area. “Oh wow, you were worth the wait. Look at you!”
Jenna turned slowly to show off her emerald necklace and her matching dress, a backless style, cut low in the front. It fit as though tailor made, accenting her waist and her curves. When she stepped into the very high heels, she felt like one of the long-legged, beautiful people for a few minutes.
Jenna looked at herself in the mirror. “Some fight left in me yet.” She decided to let the dress speak for her tonight, and her jewelry was minimal. Well, minimal for her, with only her emerald necklace, earrings, and ring. This particular combination of jewelry, all with special significance for her, always made her feel confident. They were quality pieces and the ones she loved most.
She looked at Brock and smiled. “You look great as always, like a blond James Bond. I guess if we are through admiring ourselves and each other, we should get downstairs.”
They made good time to Tybee Island. Tonight was the select dinner event, and since the senator didn’t advertise this one, it was even more special when one got an invitation.
In Southern politics, the women were often as driven and dedicated as their men. They knew how to play the games and could be a deal breaker or maker for some of these men, especially those politically connected with dreams of higher places. The senator’s wife was his best asset. Tonight was all about cementing allies and hyping the big Black-and-White Masked Ball set for the following night.
The women would keep their masks a secret, but some would tell so they could recognize each other at the party. The dresses and the jewelry would remain a secret until the big party reveal. The women usually wore abbreviated masks so not to mess up their faces, but the men often donned more elaborate ones, at least for half an hour. Most of the men hated the masks. It was the South, and it was hot, and the masks were not comfortable. Women, being smarter about this, picked the half-masks they held in front of their faces. Annoying, yes, but it didn’t mess up their makeup and make them even more uncomfortable in the heat. Halfway through the evening, all the masks came off for good. After all, one must eat dinner. But wearing them for the cocktail hour was fun for most, or at least a bow to their ancestors, so the tradition continued on through the decades.
They entered the party a few minutes behind schedule, and Jenna could see things were well underway. She scanned the room for Dan but without success. She wondered, not for the first time, how he seemed to make himself invisible when he chose to do so.
Brock made his way to the bar.
She stood near the door leading out to the deck. Her gaze took in the manicured lawn and the trees beyond. She tried not to think about it too much, but she was curious to see what this Harper person friend of Dan’s was like.
When Jenna turned back to look at the room, her breath caught in her throat. Brock was not only coming toward her with their drinks, but he was also coming with Dan and a woman who she guessed might be, Harper. Was this, Harper, the buxom, loud, and very beautiful redhead she had seen that morning at the hotel? This was Dan’s Harper? She couldn’t get her head around it.
Harper wore a form-fitting, deep-pink gown with a low, scooped neckline. Her fire-red hair was worn up, making her look even taller. Jenna noticed the darker roots as she looked closer at her hair. But the diamond necklace and diamond earrings Harper wore were meant to be the attention draw. They were real and not from the neighborhood jewelry store.
After introductions were made, Dan suggested they go out to the balcony.
Jenna, unable to think of a reason not to, found herself trailing along behind the three of them. As they sat around a small table on the balcony, Jenna noticed Harper was looking at her with the same quizzical expression she must have had on her own face earlier.
Dan zeroed in on Brock. “So, Brock, tell me a bit about what you do. You sell houses, is that right?”
Dan made the question sound as mundane as possible.
Brock took the bait and did a five-minute monologue about the life of a successful real estate broker. He wanted to make sure Dan and Harper understood he did not sell houses .
Jenna covertly watched Harper devour Brock with her eyes.
Dan nodded from time to time but didn’t interrupt Brock’s monologue.
Jenna knew what Dan was up to now, and she went along with it. Dan wanted someone else to carry the conversation while he watched the room and kept Harper busy.
After he talked himself out, Brock turned to Harper. “Sorry, I’m passionate about my work. There is nothing better than putting together these million-dollar deals and seeing something fantastic come from it. I’ll shut up now and let someone else talk. What’s your line of work, Harper?”
Harper flashed him a smile and licked her lips as she edged even closer to Brock. “I’m a professional photographer, mostly fashion. I love it because I get to travel around the world, but even better, I get to see the fashions before they hit the runway.”
Brock smiled and nodded toward Jenna. “Sounds like a fun way to make a living. Jenna here takes pictures, too. Sounds like you two have a lot in common.”
Dan cleared his throat. “Well, Jenna did more than take pictures, as you put it, Brock. She was a well-respected photojournalist for a long time before she started her own magazine. She got to go where things were happening in the world and be there as they happened.”
Jenna felt all eyes on her and knew she needed to say something. “Yes, I loved the job. I stopped when my father died. I still take pictures, but only for myself. Mainly, I manage his charitable trust now and try to make my magazine relevant. I do miss taking photos, but that wasn’t something I could do for a living. I just wasn’t good enough. So now, I just tell photographers what I want for my magazine.”
Harper leaned toward Jenna. “Oh, I hardly think there is anything you wouldn’t be good at, Jenna. I love your magazine.”
Jenna managed a smile and looked at Brock, who was looking at Dan. Brock’s face changed as he watched Dan. It was as if he knew he was more than he seemed. Jenna changed the subject back to the senator and his wife and how astute they were in the world of politics.
Jenna felt Harper’s eyes on her as she talked. She knew if they were alone and under different circumstances, Harper would be reacting differently. The real Harper was still hidden behind her lovely, polite in-public-company face.
Jenna watched Harper observe the back and forth between Dan and Brock. She saw the moment something changed. Harper looked as if she had just solved some puzzle, as if the answer had appeared before her eyes. She looked over at Jenna, smiled, and took a long drink from her glass.
A chill ran up Jenna’s spine.