Chapter 25
The helicopter ride to San Antonio took almost an hour, the private jet from there to Dulles slightly more than another three. Jackie slept during the first, staying awake to work on notes for her speech for the second.
Razorback sat nearby and she occasionally caught him looking at her, but they didn’t talk much. The stakes were too high for light conversation, her anxiety running at a fevered pitch.
By the time they landed and took a cab to the hotel, it was almost six. She got out, conscious of her own filth and how she must look to the bellhops and valets. She closed her eyes. “I have to go shopping. I need clothes.”
Razorback took her hand and led her through the entrance. “Already taken care of. I made a phone call while you were asleep.”
“To whom?”
“Jax’s wife, Jessa. She had some things brought over from Nordstrom for you to try on.”
“Well, bless her heart.”
They checked in. “Two king suites?” asked the clerk.
She looked to Ian, who looked back, clearly saying it was her call. “Do you have any adjoining?” At least she would have her own shower, which she thought she might never get out of at this point.
“Of course, madam. Name?”
“Jackie Desjardins.”
He passed them their key cards. “I’ll have someone bring up the clothing. Enjoy your stay.”
“Do you have toothpaste and brushes?” she asked.
“I’ll have them sent up, as well.”
They were the only two people in the elevator. She fiddled with the key card. “Sorry, I just thought it would be nice to have our own space.”
“Our own showers.”
She smiled. “Exactly.”
“You don’t need to apologize for wanting to be alone.”
Did she? She was as prepared as she could be for tomorrow and had just assumed they’d be spending this night together as they had the last several. Her cheeks heated and the elevator doors opened, each of them walking to a different door.
She shrugged, feeling as awkward as a teenager. “I guess I’ll see you later.”
“Sounds good.”
She went inside and leaned her back against the door.
Sounds good? Did that mean he was happy they weren’t sharing a room, or was she reading too much into this?
She walked to the door adjoining their rooms, turning the bolt to unlock it.
If they were apart tonight, it wouldn’t be because she hadn’t been open to the possibility of him joining her.
She moved to the window. There, just a block away, was the convention center with day three of the Democrat National Convention going on inside. Tomorrow they would formally announce their nominee for president.
She took a shaky breath in and held it. Everything was about to change. She could see now the days of cowering to Doug McGrath had never ended, they’d simply been put on hold. Tomorrow she would break free of him forever. She would fight back.
A knock at the door.
Razorback.
She smiled, pulling open the adjoining door to find his still firmly locked.
Her face fell, another knock clearly coming from the hallway door.
She opened it to find a stunningly beautiful woman with long, straight black hair, holding an equally perfect little girl on her hip.
She looked to be two or three years old.
“You must be Jacqueline,” the woman said with a smile, extending her hand. “I’m Jessa Andersson, and this is Emily. My husband is with HERO Force.”
Jackie had never felt so disgusting in her life, but she returned the smile and shook Jessa’s hand. “Please call me Jackie. Come on in.”
“I brought over some clothes for you to try on.” A bellhop followed her in, wheeling a long wardrobe bar with at least twenty outfits hanging from it.
“Wow,” Jackie said, closing the door.
“Wait,” said a second bellhop, wheeling in a wheelbarrow-sized cart. He smiled. “Shoes and personal items.”
“Oh, my goodness.”
“I wasn’t sure of your size. I brought several based on Ian’s description.”
Jackie ran her fingers over the fine fabrics, her eyes taking in the gowns in royal blues and deep greens and even red.
Three sizes of each had been provided, her true size the middle of the three.
Dresses like this had once been common in her closet, political functions a mainstay in her life.
She hadn’t worn anything so fancy in years, her love of beautiful clothing long ago pushed aside.
“These are unbelievable.” She laughed. “I’ve never felt so frumpy in my life.
I don’t think I even remember how to put on makeup. ”
Jessa put the little girl down and gave her a few toys from her bag, then gave Jackie a kind smile. “I’d be happy to help, if you like. Nothing I enjoy more than a good makeover.”
It had been so long since Jackie had a friend other than Bill, and she certainly didn’t have any girlfriends anymore. But something about Jessa seemed genuine and sweet, and she liked her instantly. “That would be great, thank you. I need to shower first.”
“Take your time. There’s underwear in that bag over there.”
She showered, reveling in the sharp citrus scent of the toiletries and feeling herself relax. She and Razorback were safely back in America, and she was poised and ready to confront Doug for the final time.
Her hair took three washes before it felt clean, but by the time she rinsed her body, she almost felt like her old self again.
The white lace underwear and bra were a perfect fit, which would have been miraculous if she’d picked them off the rack herself, and she wondered just how detailed Razorback’s description had been.
She pulled a fluffy white hotel robe over herself and emerged from the steam-filled bathroom. Jessa and Emily were on the floor having a tickle fight, and Jackie missed Selena acutely. It had been a long time since she’d had a toddler herself, but in a mother’s mind her child never really grows up.
“Good shower?” asked Jessa.
“Oh my God, yes.”
Jessa turned to her daughter with an excited expression. “Are you ready to help Miss Jackie pick out a beautiful outfit?”
The little girl clapped. “Yes!” They joined her in front of the rack, and Emily tugged Jackie’s robe. “We do hair?” she asked, tugging on her own dark locks.
Jackie smiled. “I would love it if you would do my hair.”
Emily clapped again. “Yay!”
“She’s my own personal stylist,” said Jessa with a laugh, pushing a cerulean-blue suit-dress aside to reveal its tailored bodice. “Now let’s see what we have for you.”
The women chit-chatted as Jackie tried on clothes.
Jackie told Jessa all about her time spent with Razorback and Sloan and their mountainous hike across the border.
Jessa told her about Jax’s role with HERO Force and his recent campout in the living room with his daughter—complete with tent and a campfire made of candles.
Nearly an hour later, Jackie stood before the full-length mirror in awe of the woman staring back.
Gone was windblown hair and the washed-out complexion, her features perfectly accented by expertly applied makeup, brows neatly shaped and arched.
Her hair flowed in gentle waves that framed her face, the way it once had long ago.
They’d selected a jewel-green dress that clung to her in places, the collar making it an ideal combination of professional attire and formalwear, the color accentuating her eyes.
Jessa had finished off the look with a pair of pearly heels that matched her skin tone, the effect elongating her legs and making her feel like a queen. “I can’t thank you enough, Jessa.”
The other woman stepped beside her, looking at Jackie in the mirror. “You’re very welcome. You look gorgeous. When I come back from the dead, I’m totally borrowing that dress.”
“It’s the lipstick that really looks terrific,” Jackie said, nodding at Emily, and the girl beamed with pride.
“Do you want me to come back in the morning, or do you think you’ve got it?” Jessa asked.
Jackie exhaled a shaking breath. “I think I’m good. Like riding a bicycle, I guess.”
“Well, one day when this is all over, you’ll have to come by the house and join us for dinner.” Jessa hugged her. “And bring Razorback.”
Jackie felt her cheeks heat. She hadn’t intended to give so much away in conversation, but there was no reason to deny it. “I’d like that very much.”
“He’s a lot like my husband, Jax. A man of few words, and not all of them kind. But he’s a good man, and I like him. I always have.” She gave Jackie a squeeze. “Now I need to get out of here and get little miss sweet cheeks to bed.”
Jackie thanked her and saw them out, then stood beside the door to Razorback’s room with nervous anticipation.
She wanted him to see it—wanted him to strip it off her, more like—but she was keenly aware of the fact that he hadn’t knocked since they’d arrived.
She reached for the knob and turned it. “Nothing to it but to do it.”
The second door leading into his room was already open.