Thoroughbreds and Trailer Trash (37 page)

She arrived at her hotel, tired, dirty and desolate. Stopped in front of the reception desk crammed into a tiny but spotless foyer. “Did my luggage arrive?” she asked with a spark of hope. A shower and clean clothes might loosen the hammy fist stuck in the middle of her chest.

“Sorry. Nothing for you. Sometimes it takes days.” The hotel clerk flipped a dark braid over her shoulder, studying Jenna’s stained blouse with outright sympathy. “But we have toiletry items. There’s also a tourist shop next door that sells T-shirts.”

“Thanks.” Jenna forced a smile and accepted her room card. This mission was over anyway. She couldn’t get to Burke and even if she did, she couldn’t possibly appear in a tacky T-shirt. Not when he was surrounded by beautiful babes in even more beautiful suits.

She stepped into her cramped room and flopped on the bed. With the time change, Emily would be asleep so thankfully, it was too late to call. Tomorrow would be early enough to admit the trip was a total bust.

Chapter Thirty-One

A phone chirped in Jenna’s ear. She bumped the bedside clock as she groped in the dark for her cell.

“Good morning,” Emily whispered. “Is he right beside you? Don’t talk. Just say ‘yes’ and hang up. I couldn’t sleep all night wondering.”

Jenna squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn’t sleep all night either, but there had been no wondering involved. “It’s five o’clock in the morning here, Em. And it’s not easy to get into his building. Also, I think he’s seeing someone else.”

Silence for which Jenna was grateful. She kept her eyes squeezed tight, reluctant to face another pissy California day.

“You need a kick in the ass.” The vehemence in Emily’s voice bumped Jenna wide awake. “Not so easy to get into his building! Since when has anything ever been easy? And so what if he’s seeing someone else? Didn’t you go out for dinner with Colin just last week?”

“That was different,” Jenna said. “Wally was there too, and we were discussing the company scholarship.” And it hadn’t been fun. She hated seeing the longing in Colin’s eyes, realized now how horrible it was to love someone who didn’t love you back—the most desolate, awful, bleakest feeling in the entire world.

“Did Burke kiss this woman?”

“No, but he smiled and touched her elbow.” Jenna’s voice trailed off in fresh misery.

“If you were that close, why didn’t you rush up and say hi?”

“I looked awful.” She didn’t want to admit the sight of Burke smiling at someone else had slammed her in the gut. “Plus the airline lost my luggage, and I spilled tea on my blouse.”

“You whine more than me,” Emily snapped. “Do you love him?”

“Yes.”

“Then you better dig deep because if you’re anything like Mom, he’s the only man for you. Hell, you fight tooth and nail for everyone else—me, Wally, Peanut, friends, even strangers—yet when it’s for your own happiness you turn into a jellyfish. Come on, Jenna. At least find out. Otherwise, you’ll wonder the rest of your life. You’ll sit alone on the trailer porch, shriveled up on our ancient swing, a lonesome loser, never—

“Okay, Em. You can shut up now. I get the picture.”

“I’ll call you later,” Emily said, her voice threatening.

Jenna sighed. Her little sister was turning downright bossy. However, it was rather comforting to know there was another adult in the family. Not that Em was right. Of course, there were other men in the world she could love. Other men whose company she’d enjoy. Men who could control their temper, who wouldn’t yell and smash and hit and go on drunken binges that lasted for weeks.

Colin, for example. Although he didn’t make her heart jump with a single look, couldn’t arouse her with the sound of his voice, the touch of his finger—not like Burke.

Thank God, she’d fallen in love with a good man.

Unlike her poor mother. No wonder, she’d been torn. Jenna gripped the sheets, her usual bitterness tempered with fresh empathy. It couldn’t have been easy. Her father had been a charming bastard—smart, handsome but selfish. However, he had loved them. There was no doubt, he’d loved them.

And for the first time in her life, she prayed to her parents.
Please, Mom. Please, Dad. If you can, please help me out here
.

***

“Derek Burke, please,” Jenna said crisply, checking the bedside clock, even though she’d been staring at it for the past three hours. Eight am. Finally, they were answering their phones.

“One moment, please,” the friendly voice said.

A nanosecond later.
Click
. “Derek Burke’s office. May I help you?”

This voice was cool and efficient, not quite as welcoming as the first. Maybe it belonged to the woman in the coral suit? Was this Miss Higgins? “I’d like to speak to Derek, please,” Jenna said.

“And who may I say is calling?”

“Jenna, Jenna Murphy.”

“One moment please,” the voice said.

Jenna’s knuckles whitened around the phone. In the hall outside, a cleaning trolley rattled past. Someone laughed and muted conversation drifted through the thin door. She swallowed but her heart wedged in her throat.

She paced to the window and back. Two minutes. Paced some more. Felt like an hour. He must have someone in his office, was trying to get rid of him—or her—so he could talk. Another minute dragged.

“Ms. Murphy?”

Jenna stiffened. The cool voice again, no emotion.

“Mr. Burke wants you to know Impact Management now handles Three Brooks. This is the phone number. They’ll be glad to help you out.” She recited a number then paused. “Did you write that down?”

“Yes, thanks. Good bye.” Jenna said, her voice scratchy. She fumbled and the phone tumbled to the carpet.
Shit, shit, shit
. This was worse than she’d thought. But Burke didn’t know she was so close. Couldn’t know. Of course, he’d want to meet once he knew she was in LA.

She leaned over and snatched up the phone, trying to control her burgeoning panic.

Another call. Same friendly initial voice, same cool second voice.

“This is Jenna Murphy again.” She spoke quickly, hating the note of desperation in her voice. “Please tell Burke I’m in the city and hope to see him today.”

“Ms. Murphy, I’m afraid
Mr
. Burke is extremely busy. He’ll be out of the office for an extended period. Impact Management is handling all queries. Now have a good day.”

This time Jenna didn’t drop the phone, could only stare at it with growing incredulity. He didn’t care enough to see her. She couldn’t imagine being so cruel. Or so blunt. Clearly, with him, it was all or nothing. And right now she was nothing. A piece of trailer fluff he’d enjoyed and forgotten.

Or was trying to forget. Oh, God, she prayed he hadn’t forgotten.

She grabbed her purse and rocketed from the room. Found a tourist shop just outside the hotel entrance, with racks and racks of T-shirts, shirts of every color, size and slogan. She picked a tiny peach one that read ‘Private Deliveries’ and bought a ball cap to match. Tight black biker shorts. The flip-flops didn’t fit her outfit but they were only three dollars, and she doubted the security guard would be looking at her feet.

She detoured to her friendly hotel desk clerk. “Do you have a large envelope?” she asked, nodding with approval as the receptionist produced an officious Fed-Ex envelope.

“Sorry but your luggage hasn’t arrived yet.” The dark-eyed receptionist gave an apologetic shrug. “Maybe this afternoon.”

“It doesn’t matter now,” Jenna said. She wasn’t going to sit around any longer. In fact, she was looking forward to showing Burke just how piss-poor his security actually was.

She pulled on her new clothes and checked her reflection in the bathroom mirror. All the delivery people yesterday had worn shorts and T-shirts, not quite as tight as what she had on, but she needed some confidence. And she did look rather…good.

Emily would groan if she saw the ball cap that hid her fancy new haircut, but her cheeks looked nice. A little lipstick, then Em’s glossy stuff, and she was ready.

She stuffed some blank hotel stationery in the Fed-Ex envelope and headed toward Burke’s office. The streets were crowded but people seemed friendlier today, streaming by with loose-hipped walks and in-line skates. Now that she knew where she was going, what she was doing, she felt invigorated. Now she had something to think about rather than worrying about Burke’s reaction. She could almost smile.

“Excuse me. Can you tell me how to get to the Herbalife building?” a slim lady asked.

“Sorry. I’m not—” Jenna glanced up and spotted the sign on top of a towering building. “Look. It’s right over there.” She pointed helpfully.

“Thank you so much. You delivery people always know your directions.” The lady nodded her thanks and rushed off.

Jenna smiled, her steps lightening. Maybe she was a bit of a con, like her dad, but she felt alive this morning. Alive and ready to battle.

The first step was to wait for another delivery person. She lingered in the shade of Burke’s building, beneath an island of palm trees, out of sight of the security guard. Missed the first guy, a blue-haired man in baggy shorts, ears plugged with music, who approached from the opposite side. His mailbag swung as he bounded through the doors.

Twenty minutes later, another guy swooped in on a silver bike. She edged behind him while he locked his wheels to a metal rack. Stayed five feet from his hip as he lightly ran up the steps and into the cool lobby. He jogged past the spraying waterfall, the imposing security desk and directly to the elevator with Jenna tight on his heels.

Open elevator. Please open now
. But the overhead numbers flashed six. She flicked her envelope with an air of impatience, copying her companion’s attitude. Even copied his slight panting. Obviously, this delivery business was strenuous work.

She felt the guard’s scrutiny, but he didn’t holler a challenge. Didn’t demand any credentials. And then more visitors entered and the elevator doors slid open. She leaped forward with alacrity.

She and the deliveryman were the only two on the elevator. “Do all Edge deliveries go to six?” she asked. “My package is for the top floor.”

The man grunted and adjusted his bulky bag. “They’re anal about security here so we leave everything at six. And it takes forever to get signatures. I was here first, right?”

“Yes,” she said, “you were first.”

The elevator eased to a stop and the doors parted. She gulped. Now that she was in Burke territory, her palms felt sticky, her face hot. This floor was more opulent, with a gleaming desk and a bored-looking receptionist who didn’t even look up as she stamped another delivery. Two loaded mail carts sat to the right of the desk.

Jenna glanced over her shoulder. Five elevators but only one went all the way to the top. There it was, floor fifty. Probably needed a security card, just like at the casino. Not good.

A girl with black pants and a distracted smile wandered past and stopped by the first cart. She checked the envelopes, then wheeled the cart toward the elevator servicing floors seven to twenty. The receptionist was preoccupied with date and time stamping and didn’t raise her head.

Jenna edged back, studying the girl on the elevator. Damn. The girl inserted a plastic card before the elevator moved. Jenna sucked in a breath, checking for signs to the bathroom. She might have to hide out for a while. Figure out a plan B.

A man with a sparse goatee and pink tie emerged from behind a door and strode to the last elevator, a manila file and white security card tucked in his hand. She didn’t stop to think, just grabbed the remaining mail cart and pushed after him, the back of her neck prickling as she listened for the receptionist’s alarmed shout.

But nothing, just the steady thumping of an officious stamp and then soft classical music filled the elevator.

“Executive floor?” the man asked. He slipped his plastic card into the slot.

Jenna nodded. “Yes, please.” She opened her fingers, trying to relax her grip on the cart. This floor would be toughest. Worse, she didn’t know what direction to turn when the elevator stopped. No doubt, there’d be four corner offices but it was hard to bluff her way when she didn’t know which way she needed to go.

“Just a word of warning,” the man said, his eyes narrowing.

Damn. Her damp fingers tightened around the handle.

“Mr. Burke and I sent a memo about the dress code. Shorts weren’t on it.” His eyes lingered on her legs.

“That’s why he wants to see me now.” She managed a sheepish smile. “Can you direct me to his office?”

“Certainly.”

The elevator doors opened and they stepped off, unloading directly in front of a razor-eyed lady sipping from a dainty blue and white cup.

“Morning, Sue,” the man said, wheeling to his right. Jenna gave Sue a breezy smile trying to hide her awe at the expanse of windows, the impressive view, the tasteful art. She gripped the cart tighter, squeezing the handle like an old friend, as she maneuvered it past an exotic-looking plant. Her heart rate stabilized slightly once they turned the corner and disappeared from Sue’s sight.

The man paused by an open door. “Mr. Burke’s office is at the end of the hall. You’ll have to check in with Donna first.” His gaze drifted back over Jenna’s legs, and he shook his head. “Good luck,” he added.

“Thanks.” But Jenna’s voice cracked. “Is he in his office now?”

“Yeah, saw him this morning.” The man paused. “You
do
have an appointment?”

“Of course.” She tried not to shake. Oh, God, he was here. In a short minute, she’d see him.

She clamped her mouth and began pushing, building up speed and careening down the hall. Donna was on the phone and seemed disinterested in the arrival of the mail cart, at least not until Jenna rolled past and rapped on Burke’s door.

“Yes.” His impatient voice sounded and Jenna shoved the door open even as Donna yelled, “Stop!”

Jenna rammed the cart in and closed the door, watching Burke’s face. A slight flare of his nostrils but nothing. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, a slightly bored expression on his face. His cheeks looked leaner, almost cruel. She swallowed and wet her throat.