Chapter Nine
Suddenly, Jenna felt off balance and a little afraid of Harper. There was something about her, a kind of inner disturbance that was rising to the surface. She was only half listening to Brock and Dan talk. The subject turned to yachts for some reason. It was now a dual of who knew the most about them. She was more interested in Harper’s silence.
To throw her off even more, she realized though Harper was wearing her party face and was smiling, she was obviously annoyed by Dan’s glowing and intimate knowledge of Jenna in his conversation with Brock.
Harper, her barely polite persona cracking, put a hand on Dan’s arm. “Not to stray too far from singing Jenna’s praises and the beloved Southern political talk, and the holy of all hollies, golf, but can we talk about something else?”
Jenna felt the anger bubble up inside, and she turned to Harper. “And what are you proposing we discuss?”
“Fashion, of course.” Harper’s eyes took inventory of every detail, not missing Jenna’s designer dress, shoes, and her jewelry. She leaned back in her chair and squinted her eyes. “When I first saw you, I thought I knew you from somewhere. I recognized your name, anyway. Your magazine is more about fashion now? How did you and Dan meet?”
Jenna was only slightly surprised at Harper’s skill to get back around to what she really wanted to know. She made a point of looking at Dan and smiling before she replied. “I met him in New York through friends at a party but didn’t get to know him until I met him again racing motorcycles in Ireland.”
Harper smiled and licked her lips. “Well, imagine among all those people, you two met. What are the odds, right?”
“Yes, fate or small world.” Jenna smiled and nodded when all she wanted to do was use one of her martial arts moves to throw Harper over the balcony. “Yes, it was a huge event, with lots of people and noise. I was there on vacation and wanted to practice getting some action shots in my portfolio. And one of the pictures I took was of Dan. I tracked him down to get permission to use it in a story I was writing about the sport.”
Harper lost the fake smile. “And you two, what…dated, were friends?”
Dan put his hand on Harper’s arm. “Well, enough down memory lane. I don’t want to bore everyone with old history. I’m sure Jenna would agree, and I’d bet Brock would, too. I suppose we should mingle a bit before dinner.”
Jenna felt anger and relief at the same time. Her emotions were all over the place tonight, and she hated it. She reminded herself why they were there—to check out the attendees to see if they could find a likely so-called Red Cat candidate, and to get a closer look at all the jewels on display. She needed to get away from Harper before she said or did something that she would regret. She took Brock’s hand, and they walked off toward a group of people who were standing near the bar. She could feel Harper’s eyes boring into her back.
Brock didn’t wait long before he asked the question she was dreading. “Jenna, were you and that guy seriously involved?”
“Oh, Brock, yes, but ages ago. Ancient history.”
He shrugged as they got to the bar. “Okay, do you want another drink?”
“No, not right now. I’m going to find the ladies’ room and then look for the senator and his wife to say hello. Please, have a drink and mingle. I’ll find you in a little while.”
Jenna left Brock standing at the bar and walked away before he could say anything else. She stopped a few times as she made her way across the room to exchange words with the people she knew and to get a close look at their jewelry. Eventually, she found Marta, the senator’s wife.
Marta was wearing a stunning diamond-and-ruby necklace, and earrings to match. She sported a large, pear-cut diamond ring on her right hand and a gold ring on her left hand. Jenna estimated the woman was walking around with a cool million on her body. She was a walking treasure chest and a prime target for any experienced thief who knew how to separate the jewels from their target. This was the type of thief she knew who must be there, and they needed to find them. It was too great of a prize to pass up for any skilled jewel thief. She wondered if Dan had seen them on Marta Roseland yet.
As she made her way around the room, she caught sight of Dan once. Somehow, he was minus Harper, and seemed to be doing the same thing she was doing. He was mingling and talking with groups of people and moving on. There was no sign of their insurance investigator-tracking dog, Gail. Nor could she see Harper anywhere, or Brock.
By the time Jenna made her way back to where she left Brock, an hour had gone by. She felt a little guilty, but she was doing what she must do. She looked around for him now with an apology ready, but then she heard that laugh again.
Brock and Harper were standing out on the balcony, drinks in hand. Harper’s hand rested on Brock’s arm, and he clearly enjoyed himself.
Jenna almost left them there undisturbed, but she saw Dan coming her way with two glasses of wine. She nodded toward the balcony.
When he saw Brock and Harper, he smiled.
Jenna felt relief flood her body.
Dan did not care at all Harper was flirting with Brock.
She had forgotten how good Dan looked when he was dressed up, though he hated it. These past two nights reminded her what a truly sexy, charismatic man he was. Now he looked like the real James Bond. Dan, unlike Brock, looked as if he could spring into action if needed, with no regard for his outfit.
Dan handed her a glass of white wine, and they stood side by side, looking at their dates flirting with each other on the balcony for a few seconds before they spoke.
Jenna pointed toward the couple. “Well, looks like they are getting along.”
“Harper gets along with everybody, if there’s something in it for her.”
“You would know, I guess. Where did you say you met her, Paris, right?”
“Long time ago, in Paris. She was taking some photos at one of the fashion shows and attended a party I was invited to there.”
Jenna raised her eyebrows and looked him in the eyes. “So, you hit it off and then…”
“Then, well, we saw each other when our paths crossed. She traveled a lot.”
“And your paths continue to cross?”
Dan frowned. “I’ve not seen her in months. It’s not serious, Jenn, never was, never could be. She seems to turn up where I am from time to time. It’s not like I share my schedule.”
“It’s none of my business, Dan.”
“It could be.”
“I can’t do this now, Dan. Can’t.”
“Sure, I get that. We’ll table it for another time. Now, to change the subject completely, I saw millions on display tonight and no Gail Wells. I’m thinking she couldn’t wrangle an invitation.”
“Yeah, the display of wealth is a bit breathtaking. I hope you got to check out our hostess, Marta Roseland. I figured over a million was walking around with her. These women don’t seem afraid of wearing the real things. Over confidence can be dangerous. But I did notice some plainclothes security guys.”
“Yep, saw them, about eight of them in all. Maybe a dozen if you count those outside the door and the senator’s body man.”
“One is looking our way now, Dan.”
“Okay, shake my hand and walk off. I see Gail Wells coming. The security guy has sent her my way. We don’t want her to clock us as a duo.”
Jenna did as he instructed and turned into the crowd, winding her way through the room again, but this time, she watched for security and not jewels. After a quick stop in the ladies’ room, she found Brock on the balcony, but no Harper.
He sat at a small table with his feet propped on the balcony rail.
“Sorry to leave you for so long, Brock, but I kept getting stopped by old friends, and the line in the ladies’ room was a mile long.” She sat down at the table with him, but he barely registered her presence.
“Not a problem,” he finally said, looking her way. “I’m taking it easy out here away from the crowd and resting up for another round of golf tomorrow. The senator asked me to join his group. Well, the senator’s friend did. But the senator agreed with the plan. A good sign, don’t you think?”
Jenna was determined to be kind to Brock, but all she wanted was for him to leave her alone. “Wow, that’s an honor, for sure. I hear he is picky about his golf buddies.”
Brock smiled and nodded. “Connections. It’s all about connections, like I told you. It turns out he went to Emory for his undergrad work the same as I did, so we ended up talking for a good while. I like him.”
“Sounds like you were in good company and not too bored. I saw that Dan’s friend, Harper, found you, too.”
Brock shook his head and frowned. “That’s an interesting woman. She’s smart in her own way, but more street smart than book smart; yet she has these little pockets of expertise. Kind of unusual. I can’t figure her out.”
Jenna looked at Brock to make sure he wasn’t kidding. She was slightly surprised at the depth of Brock’s comment. “Oh yeah, like what kind of expertise?”
“She can speak four languages, and yet she seems to be clueless about literature, politics, and anything having to do with world affairs. I found it fascinating.”
“Oh, she is fascinating now, and it has nothing to do with her looks, I suppose,” Jenna teased.
Brock looked at her and grinned. “No, I said it was fascinating, her odd knowledge base, but not her. A big difference. And she spent a lot of time talking about Dan and all his risky adventures. Then she started asking me about you.”
Jenna frowned and tried not to sound too interested. “Oh yeah, what about me?”
“Things like how long you dated Dan, where you met, why you are not still together, and then, all these questions about your family. Imagine my embarrassment since I didn’t know about Dan or that much about your family.”
Jenna, all her red flags up now, tried to be calm. “Brock, I’ve told you about my mother and father. My mother is long gone, and Dad died of heart failure after…well, after his business failed. And Dan, I guess there’s nothing much to tell. It’s history, as I keep telling you. I don’t expect you to tell me details about every woman you dated.”
Brock moved his legs off the banister and sat straight in the chair. “Fair enough. Let’s stop talking about other people and get back to us.”
“What about us?” Jenna’s stomach clenched. She was not ready to have this talk with Brock, but she should have seen it coming. There were obvious hints about how nice it would be if they lived together several weeks before.
Brock put his ever-present cell phone in his pocket and looked at her. “This trip has made me realize our relationship has been skating somewhere on the surface and has not gone very deep, and I would like that to change. But I sense that maybe you don’t. Am I right?”
Shocked by his sudden perception, Jenna couldn’t speak for a few seconds. Her mind was busy re-evaluating everything she thought she knew about Brock. This was not like him, at all. Or worse, maybe it was, and she didn’t know him as well as she thought. She took a deep breath and looked at him. “Brock, you know how much I like you, and we have a lot of fun together. It’s just that I am not ready for more right now. I need more time.”
“How much more time, Jenna?”
“Listen and really hear me, Brock. I don’t want to hurt you or hurt your feelings, but I can only be honest. I hate game playing in relationships. I try to be as open as I can be about what I want. Life is too short, and it’s cruel to string anyone along by not being honest.”
Brock slid to the edge of his chair and leaned toward her. “So, you are telling me I’m fun to be with, we get along great, but that’s not enough. And there is something more that you want, but maybe not with me? Do I have that about right?”
“It’s not that, Brock. It’s that I don’t want to live with you, not right now, anyway. I like my independence. I’m not ready for marriage and kids. You know yourself your parents would not like it if we lived together without marriage.”
“Jenna, I’m a grown man, and my parents don’t rule my world anymore. They haven’t for twenty years or more.”
“But I know you still want to please them.”
“You are making excuses, Jenna. We’ve traveled together, my family loves you, and you tell me you want to marry and have kids one day…so, I must assume you don’t want those things with me. Or you aren’t telling me the truth. Your biological clock must be ticking pretty hard right now. Now that makes me think you don’t truly want marriage or kids—maybe with anyone. Whatever it is, I need to know.”
Jenna could feel the heat on her face. “Wow, that’s a lot of assuming. Not a conversation for a party, but I’m saying I don’t want those things now .”
“I don’t think that is what you are saying. That was my point.”
Jenna sat back with a sigh. “Oh, we’re going around and around in circles, and this is hardly the time and place for this kind of conversation, Brock. Can we postpone this until later?”
Brock stood and looked out toward the coastline. “Maybe you’re right. Why don’t you stay and enjoy yourself here? I’m going back to the hotel and work for a while. I need to rest up for the game with the senator tomorrow. Too much alcohol and not enough sleep will do me no favors. I’ll need to be there on time and ready to make a decent showing, if I’m ever to be invited to play again.”
“You don’t have to go, Brock, but I understand. I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, but we can talk later.”
“I want to go, Jenna. Let’s give each other a little breathing room. Maybe it’s time for each of us to decide what is really important, and if our relationship is or is not. You didn’t hurt my feelings. Your rejection might not be good for my pride, but I appreciate your honesty.”
Jenna watched Brock walk off and knew that he was hurt, and more than he was admitting. She couldn’t blame him for pushing her toward the next step in the relationship. He had been patient. But she knew she couldn’t want what she didn’t want or feel what she didn’t feel. She also knew once they really talked about it, it would be over. She knew she was dragging it out and it wasn’t fair to Brock just to save herself some discomfort. She went back inside, ordered another drink, and went into dinner, alone.
She wasn’t sure who looked at her the most through dinner—Dan or Harper. Jenna knew that everyone wondered why the chair next to her was empty. Even Dan raised a questioning eyebrow.
When the dinner was finally over, the senator and his wife got up to make a toast and to thank everyone for coming—and for their hefty contributions.
Suddenly, as if someone closed the curtain at the end of a play, the lights dimmed as a signal that the party was over. Jenna was amused that, in a way, it was like a performance. Everyone put on their party face and played their part. All of this was more tiresome than fun. But she would think about that later.
Though some would stay on with the senator and Mrs. Roseland until the wee hours, the close friends and some family, most would make their way back into town.
Jenna stood to join the crowd winding through to the main doors to go home. The cars begun to line up in front, and she waited on her driver and tried not to think about Brock, Dan, or anything else. She was exhausted. Her phone pinged as she settled into the limo.
Dan wrote:
— need to see you, where, when?—
She wrote back:
— 9 in the morning, bench at river —
He replied:
— I’ll be there —
When she got back to her room at the hotel, she found Brock sound asleep. She smiled as she looked around the room. His clothes for the next day were all lain out on the bed. His excitement about playing golf with the senator was another quality that she liked. He knew how to live in the moment and take joy from life’s smaller things—not that golf with the senator was so small to Brock. But she recognized the sincere, joy-in-the-moment quality fade as he got more caught up in the world of the rich and powerful. The more he advanced, the more success came his way, the less likeable he was becoming. That sweet, dependable, loveable and uncomplicated guy she was first attracted to, for reasons she chose not to examine too closely, was almost gone.