Space in His Heart (23 page)

The news didn’t
seem to surprise her, since she let him off the hook with a sweet
smile and only a shadow of sadness in her eyes. He couldn’t enjoy
the playful distraction she offered, not when his mind dwelled on a
completely different woman. Regardless of what Jessica decided, he
wanted to be free for the possibility.

He approached
her front door, which had been left ajar, and gently pushed it in
as he knocked.

“Hey, anybody I
know in there or did she send down a pinch hitter from the
majors?”

Familiar
laughter greeted him, then a flash of something ice blue and
shimmering squeezed the air from his chest.

“Whoa.” He felt
like an idiot, but it was all he could manage.

She literally
took his breath away and all he could do was stare. Up and down.
From the thick tussle of dark curls cascading out of some sparkly
clip over bare shoulders, down to a slash of satin that clung to
her breasts and waist in some kind of magical, miraculous way.

When he finally
made his way back to her face, he caught the glint in her eyes as
she reached over to touch his bow tie. “You clean up nice, too,
Stockard.”

“Maybe we
should go in the limo after all.” He stole another glance at the
dress. And the cleavage she rarely showed in her business
attire.

“What do you
mean? It’s here, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but I
wanted to drive. Just to have my own car. He can follow. But you
look so… amazing.”

She surprised
him with an agreeable tilt of her head and a shrug. “That’s no
problem. But, once we get to the Universal party, you need to leave
with Sydney Lynn in the limo. No one arrives at the red carpet in a
Corvette. Not even you.”

He watched her
gather up a wrap thing that matched her dress and inhaled the
sultry, smoky perfume that clung to her. She picked up a tiny
handbag, a small leather notebook, and her cell phone, reminding
him that she was going out for work, not play.

“I would like
you to drive over with me, though.” He held the front door open for
her and couldn’t resist running his knuckles over the tempting soft
skin of her shoulder. “You know, so you can coach me on how to act
and what to say.”

She shot him a
skeptical look, then a wry smile. “Just remember. Sydney Lynn’s
your date. That’s the whole idea.”

Everything
about her glistened. Her eyes, the subtle evening makeup, even the
lipstick that made her mouth downright appetizing.

He ached for a
taste.

“I know you’re
on duty, sweetheart. I’ll be good.”

* * *

Jessica
inhaled the leather of the Corvette and noticed how it mingled with
Deke’s clean, masculine scent. As much as she wanted to pretend
this was
their
date, she
flipped open her portfolio and began to review the typed agenda and
press list.

She tried to
concentrate on briefing Deke about what to expect but repeatedly
lost her train of thought as he hit the accelerator, catapulting
her into the seat with some baby-Gs, as he called the force that
left her breathless and him amused.

“We’ve arranged
some interviews with the media that will take place before you meet
Syd—”

His hand
left the gearshift and settled onto her thigh, a steady thumb
circling the fabric. “Am I distracting you?”
he asked.

“Yes.”

“Good. You know
I hate even talking about the media.”

“Why are you
doing this?”

“Because I
missed you.”

Turning
to look out the window, Jessica let his comment sink in and
destroy
all her
resolve.

He reached over
and flipped the portfolio closed. “Stop working and talk to me. How
was sunny New England?”

She sighed.
“Not.”

“And your
boyfriend, Jo?”

She grinned at
him. “Pregnant.”

“Guess that
sort of complicates things.”

He had no idea.
“It was the only bright spot in an otherwise dark week,” she
admitted. And even that bright spot only left her questioning her
own choices regarding motherhood and marriage. And fantasizing
about Deke.

“
No
snowboarding down Beacon Street?” he asked. “No fine dining
at
Bahston
hot
spots?”

She dropped her
head back on the seat. “Your imagination is as far off as your
accent. I spent the days at my office and the nights at my condo.
That’s my life.”

She didn’t want
to tell him that her world had turned cold and unwelcoming in her
absence. Even Rita seemed to believe the rumors that Jessica was on
the outs. When Jessica had asked her to get her stacks of client
supplies, files and stationery, Rita had returned with only NASA
materials and the coy response that Carla had instructed her not to
give Jessica anything for the other accounts.

She considered
confiding her professional worries for a moment, but it all seemed
so blissfully far away from the purring engine of the Corvette, her
dreamy silk dress, and his relentless hand resting just above her
knee. Forget Carla. Forget babies that would be born to other
women. This moment was too nice.

“How ’bout you,
Deke? Been busy?”

“Yep. Living at
the OPF, taking things apart and trying to put them back together
again.”

“Any
progress?”

He shrugged.
“Some, but not enough.”

“Will it launch
on time?”

“Has to. No
choice. We’re doing everything possible. Skip Bowker, though…” He
shook his head and sighed.

“What? What’s
the matter?”

“I just can’t
figure that guy. There’re a lot of holes in his work, but I can’t
find any evidence of a mistake.”

Jessica
studied his profile. “Deke, would you go up on
Endeavour
if you were scheduled?”

His
features grew tight and the fine vein in his neck became slightly
visible. His response to what she considered a rhetorical question
surprised her.

“It would never
occur to me to question any assignment. That’s what I’m trained to
do.” Then he turned to her. “Don’t go there.”

Hurt by the
strength of his warning, she turned back to the window so he
couldn’t see the look on her face. She felt his hand on her leg, a
gentle touch.

“I just meant I
don’t want to dwell on it tonight. You’re too pretty to talk about
shuttle launches.” He shot a sidelong glance and smiled broadly.
“Way, way too pretty.”

“You better be
prepared to dwell on it tonight. You’re talking to reporters and it
could come up.”

“
All
true,” he said. “But you
are
pretty.”

She tried
to smirk at him but couldn’t find the heart in the face of his
genuine compliments. She’d just have to stay away from the
Endeavour
subject. “So, what do you want
to know about Sydney Lynn? Have you seen any of her
movies?”

“
Was she
in the one with the three women plotting to kill their
husbands?
Dance Lessons
?”

Jessica nodded
and smiled, knowing what he’d say next.

“
With
the, shall we say, rather
memorable
outside shower scene?”

Of course.
“The only thing any man liked about that movie.”

“What’s not to
like?”

“You’re being a
good sport about this,” she told him as they pulled into the lot at
Universal. “And I know you’re going to do really well.”

He grinned at
her. “Blondes are my specialty.” At her surprised look, he added,
“But not my preference.”

* * *

The minute they
arrived at the richly appointed ballroom on the studio lot, the
entourage of Universal people took over and hustled Deke away.
Jessica held back, wanting to let him get fully immersed in the
experience but watching with fascination as he worked the crowd and
charmed everyone in sight. What a remarkable and complicated man
he’d turned out to be.

As her gaze
stalked his every move, he turned and caught her staring from
across the room. He winked, sending fireworks down to her toes.

Finally, the
double doors of the ballroom opened, and Sydney Lynn Lancaster made
a suitably grand entrance with her own entourage of hangers-on. She
magnetically drew everyone’s attention as an audible gasp rippled
through the crowd. Signature platinum waves glistened like glass,
cascading over a red, sequined dress that dropped backless to the
very lowest possible point of her tailbone.

Deke greeted
her with his most devilish, appealing smile. Sydney Lynn
practically melted at the sight of him, never allowing more than
six inches between her and her date. She slipped her arm into his
and introduced him to everyone as “my commander” and acted as
though they’d known each other since childhood. Intimately.

At the imposing
entrance to the IMAX theater, the press and photographers filled
the first several rows of many bleachers lining the red carpet.
Jessica and Stuart worked together to find the most important
reporters, give them fact sheets and press kits about Deke, and
encourage the photographers to get a shot that every wire service
in the world would pick up.

Just
before eight, the deafening cheers signified the arrival of the big
names. Standing behind the first few rows of camera crews
from
E!
and
Entertainment
Tonight
, Jessica
whispered some instructions to the producers and on-air talent,
wanting to be sure Deke got some interview time and that he wasn’t
lost next to Sydney Lynn.

As his
limousine pulled up to a stop and the official greeter opened the
door, Deke stepped out and the crowd responded. How did he know to
do that perfect wave? He looked like he’d done this his whole damn
life. He reached back into the limo and held out a hand to assist
Sydney Lynn and the crowd exploded with love and the excitement of
seeing her in the flesh.

Sydney gave
them what they wanted. Her smile was as bright as the thousands of
flashing cameras, her dress as daring and unforgettable as the
roles she played. Jessica couldn’t help but notice how her long red
glove stayed wound around Deke’s arm and that the movie star
treated her date to almost as much attention as she gave the
crowd.

He
certainly didn’t seem to mind, showering her with admiring gazes
and whispering in her ear, making her laugh as he slowly escorted
her down the red carpet and through the screaming crowds.
What the hell was
he saying to her?

Didn’t matter.
He was doing what he was supposed to do. He was just doing it
really, really well.

As they reached
the press section, the impromptu interviews along the red carpet
started, and although Sydney was the focus, Jessica could see that
Deke managed to get a few seconds here and there of airtime.

She stepped
back into the crowd as he approached her section, not wanting to
distract him. But as he stood close to Sydney Lynn, offering his
undivided attention to the answer she was giving an excited young
reporter from FOX News, his gaze moved up into the stands and he
found her. A hint of a secret lifted his lips and an instant,
lightning-like realization shook her to the bone.

I’m in love with
him.

* * *

The rest of the
event passed in a blur. Jessica managed to talk to enough reporters
and photographers to be sure Deke got included in the coverage as
more than just ‘Sydney Lynn’s date.’

She went
through the motions of answering questions. She handed out press
kits. But her whole being buzzed with awareness of new feelings.
She’d have to face him and fight the longing to tell him. She’d
have to be near him and resist holding him and loving him. Somehow,
she’d have to resist the ache to make love to him.

She could
barely breathe with all she couldn’t do, but wanted to.

It was past
eleven by the time the lengthy drama finished and the stars had
accepted their rounds of applause and the producers had all made
their speeches. The last venue for celebration was a cavernous
restaurant owned by the world-renowned chef, Dante Cardinelli. The
wood and chrome two-story atrium of “Inferno” had been transformed
into a play place for lovers of airplanes and combat. Deke and
Sydney Lynn were strategically placed at a table in the center of
the wide-open room with other stars.

From her
vantage point across the room, Jessica watched him lean on one arm,
close to Sydney’s ear, whispering, making her laugh. The room
echoed with the jazzy sounds of an orchestra that couldn’t begin to
drown out the party banter of the crowd. A reporter from the
New York Daily
News
hollered above the
din to get Jessica’s attention and ask for an interview.

“You can try,”
Jessica answered with a shrug. “But I don’t think she’s doing any
more interviews tonight.”

“I don’t want
Sydney, ma’am. I want that fighter pilot astronaut guy.” The young
reporter looked over to the center table. “He’s the great story.
And I want a photo. Of him alone. One nobody else has.”

Jessica
couldn’t resist the request. “Let me see what I can do. I have to
get his attention.”

Which wouldn’t
have been that hard about three hours ago, but she was beginning to
doubt her ability to tear him away from the incredible Ms.
Lancaster.

She
worked her way through the room to his table, only to see him rise
to take Sydney to the dance floor.
Jeez. You don’t have to dance with her,
too.

Mesmerized, Jessica watched Deke put his arm on
Sydney’s
bare
back and
guide her around, never taking his gaze off her, never pausing the
easy conversation.