“He’s asleep,” Grant whispered. “Jet lag. That flight from London is a killer. It’ll take him a couple of days to recover.”
“I can’t believe how different the dog is. The crazy thing is barely moving. Does Bugsy always do that when he’s around?”
“Actually, Bugsy’s like that most of the time. I don’t know what got into him today. Maybe he smelled another dog — or the traffic bothered him. Who knows?”
Jenny’s GPS instructed them in a musical female voice to turn left at the next intersection and go 1.2 miles to their destination. They silently followed suit. A few minutes later, Grant stepped out, leaned over his boss and unlatched both seatbelts before shaking the man awake and leading the dog out to the fence. He jogged back and helped Hodge get the bags from the trunk, then leaned in the passenger door and looked Jenny in the eye.
“Give me five minutes to get him settled and I’ll be right back,” Grant asked as he flashed an appreciative smile. Her eyes popped up to meet his.
“You want me to wait?” Apparently, she thought she was just going to dump him here. Then he’d have to call a cab and a tow truck. He glanced at his watch. He supposed he could do so, but admittedly he’d rather not.
“Please. I need to swing by Hodge’s car and get it towed. If you can’t take me, I’ll call a cab.” He watched her hesitantly. She looked at the clock on the dash and furrowed her brows.
“My day is shot anyway but I need to hurry; I have to pick someone up in an hour.” He looked at her confused before sliding the door softly closed.
• • •
Jenny whizzed them back to the car where the tow truck he’d called was already lifting Hodge’s beamer and preparing it to move. Grant silently prayed that the tow wouldn’t dent or scratch the precious automobile. Once the tow driver was ready to go, Grant jogged back to Jenny’s car and jumped into the passenger seat one last time.
“You saved my life tonight, Jen. I owe you. What can I do to make it up?” His eyes searched hers.
STAY.
The word bolted into his brain and echoed with the thought. Much as he hated to admit it, he was reluctant to leave. He realized she was in a rush, but the idea of her driving away and possibly disappearing was hugely disappointing. He started to say, “What about lunch?” then stopped. No.
“Don’t worry about it. Just consider it my good deed for the day.” She waved a hand, dismissing him. He doubted good deeds fit into her lifestyle very often. Grant didn’t know why he decided to lean in; it was a stupid thing to do. He didn’t even know the woman and she’d already mentioned that she was “involved, sort of.” Still, he was overwhelmed after listening to her wit all night. Her grating grouchiness had ironically grown on him.
Without thought, he leaned over to place a kiss on her cheek. She was small; reaching her was a stretch that required him to place an arm across the console. His fingers brushed the warm flesh of her forearm and she flinched. Damn it if she didn’t turn right into him, accidentally of course. His mouth was abruptly on her lips instead of her cheek and he panicked. Soft, pouting lips that felt incredibly warm against his. He sank back and waited for an angry quip of some sort to slip from her. Nothing came; she just stared at him.
“I guess no good deed goes unpunished,” he whispered and reached for the door handle. Her fingers clamped over his forearm and he looked down to see her slip something into his palm. A business card?
“You’re a strange guy, Grant,” she stated. “I don’t really understand what you’re doing with that dog and Hodge, but this was — interesting. Definitely entertaining. If you ever get stranded again, feel free to give me a call. Driving is what I do for a living.” She smiled briefly then sobered up. “Don’t bring the tiny horse, though. I’m gonna have to vacuum all the hair out tomorrow, and I believe I’ll have to shower all the slime off my neck. Just curious — why didn’t you strap him into the seatbelt to begin with?”
He stared at her. She’d completely flipped from the angry, crabby girl he’d first met, but he sensed it was all pretense. Glancing at the business card, he realized what had happened. She was making a sales pitch. This was her sweet and charming business personality. “Because I liked watching him aggravate you. So, how much do I owe you?” he blurted.
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“You said you do this for a living. Based on the calls earlier, I’m guessing I made you lose some business. How much?”
She blinked a couple of times then stuttered an answer. “I said don’t worry about it and I meant it.”
He slipped the card in his suit pocket and shoved the door open. Clarity hit Grant like a baseball to the brain. She had pulled over to him hoping to make a new client — not out of interest or any Good Samaritan tendencies. “You’re a little strange yourself, Jen, but I have to admit I don’t like the faked sweet you. The sarcasm fits better. Being genuine is always a plus with me.”
She looked at him as if he had slapped her, “Ouch. Being a genuine ass, you mean? You know, I could have just left you on the side of the freeway.”
He started to speak, to apologize, then closed his mouth. He stepped out of the car, pushed the door shut and strode toward the flashing lights of the waiting tow truck. He
was
an ass and he had no idea what bothered him about her motives.
Why did it disappoint him that the entire experience was just a business thing for her? After all, that wasn’t uncommon. He did it all the time. In fact, his entire career was based on strategic relationships. Working for a man that would help him get into the business. Meeting people that might someday be clients. Building relationships that could prove financially successful. Funny that even his personal life had an agenda — one that supported his career. He thought about Emma Howell — gorgeous, bleached blonde, incredibly perfect Emma. What a bitch. Had she ruined him permanently? Admittedly, he had better lose the bitterness at some point. Not yet.
Grant watched Jenny’s car veer around the truck, the red taillights were quickly engulfed in the traffic ahead. Within minutes, he couldn’t determine which were hers. How ironic that surface personalities often hid a much thicker, more sincere, or perhaps more menacing basement of complexity in people. Both Emma and Jenny obviously wore their outer selves like a winter coat, hugging it against them to hide the real person. The inner self was not even close to the exterior. He wasn’t really sure what Jenny’s inner personality held, but he knew for sure it had to be better than what he’d found in Emma. That woman was an empty, calculating, selfish — okay, he needed to stop thinking about it. Jenny was the opposite, burly on the outside, but he sensed her real self was much more genuine and likeable.
Grant shook his head and struck up a conversation with the driver as they headed to the tire shop. He hoped he would get home in time to get at least five or six hours of sleep before Hodge’s first phone call.
Jenny plunked a beer down in front of Katy and slid into the seat across from her at her tiny kitchen table. She dispatched the thought of asking about the night Katy had driven David home. It was ridiculous to superimpose a flirtation onto something that, in all likelihood, was just joviality. After all, David was a lighthearted guy — he couldn’t help it. She studied her friend’s face, contemplating the possibility that Katy would cheat on Bruce, the professed love of her life. No, she wouldn’t. Katy reviewed the resumes for drivers that Jenny had already inspected. Jenny wasn’t sure it mattered. Her feelings for David seemed a little platonic after meeting Grant. “I did background checks on all these guys,” Katy announced. “And I rated them by my thoughts.” Thick, red ink numbers at the top of the pages communicated her preferences. She shoved the papers back at Jenny and waited. Jenny flipped through. Only two had a number above seven. One was a clear nine (her best score), with a plus mark.
“Why a nine plus?”
“His driving record is impeccable. He’s the only one that hasn’t had so much as a speeding ticket in ten years,” Katy clarified.
“Then why not a ten?” Jenny questioned.
“He’s … old. I know. I know. Don’t give me that look.” Katy held up a hand. Jenny’s wrinkled forehead must have given away her thoughts. “It’s not just that. He was almost too eager. Maybe too cheerful. I don’t know; it just didn’t feel right.”
Katy referred to their phone interview with him earlier in the week and she was right. Something about him communicated a feeling of carefully executed optimism. Almost as if he didn’t really mean it — just blindly said what they wanted to hear.
The thought made Jenny smile as it conjured up images of the CD cover David had shown her the night before. His band now had a contract with an agent and scheduled tour dates for the next six months, with rumors of a possible contract with a larger firm that could take them worldwide. Blind Optimism was stampeding into fame and his time with Jenny had dwindled to a few hours a week as opposed to almost every other night just weeks ago.
She supposed that was why Katy’s perceived flirting motivated a jealous twinge. The phrase “absence makes the heart grow fonder” was total fiction. Still, he had showed up last night with the CD jacket, and a new charm to add to her bracelet. He’d kissed her and teased with her as he chased her around the living room, singing. She didn’t even mind when he fell asleep on her lap without even so much as an attempt at more than the few kisses. She understood the demands of the music industry had worn down on him. She shouldn’t let herself jump to irrational conclusions just because both he and she were working hard and trying to get their businesses going.
Jenny shook off the reservations on mister nine-plus and gave him a call. He quickly accepted her offer and she had her first bona fide employee.
“Cheers to our first staff member.” She dinged her beer against Katy’s in a mock celebration and they chugged down the cans.
“Hey, what am I, chopped liver? Don’t I count as your real first staff member?” Katy admonished.
“No, actually, your official title is partner.” Jenny grinned. She’d drawn up the agreement the prior week. It was only fair that Katy shared in the profits since she was instrumental in the startup. Jenny had solicited the help of an attorney for the first time in her life. The Designated Driver’s Club was now a Limited Liability Corporation. Actually, it would be as soon as the state approved the documents.
Katy’s mouth dropped. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Ha. Don’t you think it’s about time you made more than just a pittance off all that hard work and late hours? Besides Bruce needs to know that you really are working and not just running around on him at night.”
Katy’s face turned pink. She looked out the window with wet eyes. “I don’t know what to say.” Jenny thought the reaction a little odd except for the tears. There was nothing embarrassing about working hard.
“I want you to say you’ll do it. If not, I have to hire employee number two also. There’s no way I can keep going at this pace. I don’t know about you but I miss the days I could come home at night and take a bubble bath, then curl up and watch television. I haven’t seen one single reality show since this gig started.” She giggled, “I don’t even know what reality is doing these days because I’m too busy living it. So, what do you say partner? Are we doing this or not?”
Jenny rose and pulled a bottle of water from the fridge. She held one up for Katy, who politely declined.
“We are — on one condition.” Katy asserted her controlling tendency and added, “No, make that two. I want to train all incoming staff. Otherwise, they’ll all end up scaring off our customers with your surliness and negativity. Plus we both get at least one full day off a week, scheduled in advance of course. A day where we don’t take any calls, no matter what.” Katy gave her best admonishing glare. “Not even in an emergency. If we do well, we up it to two days.”
Jenny wiped the condensation from her hand and held it out for a handshake that sealed the deal. “Done.”
“What are you doing for Thanksgiving?” Katy quickly moved on to new business.
“Have you and David made a plan?”
“Not yet, he’s supposed to be in Dallas for a concert the night before so I doubt he’ll be around.”
“That’s a shame. This would have been a good time for him to meet the fam. That is, unless you’re not ready for that. Come to think of it, I’ve never really asked — is this a serious thing? Or just, you know, casual?”
“Since when have I ever been casual about anything?” Jenny asked.
“Good point. You’re the definition of serious. Or at least you pretend to be, but we all know it’s just a front to cover up your ‘softer soul’.” Katy’s voice became sugary on the last two words. “We’re just waiting for you to realize that and expose it to us.”
Jenny laughed and held up her drink. “Here’s to the wait. I hope it’s worth the while. Speaking of waiting, when are you and Bruce gonna start bringing little midgets into the world? Are you planning to jump right into it — pun intended — or wait a while?”
Katy exhaled a slow curse. “Off limits, partner. I get that enough from my parents. You don’t need to go there too.”
“Yikes. Sorry. I didn’t realize that was a touchy subject. Thinking back though, I guess you did have a lot of relatives dropping hints at the wedding.” Jenny clunked the bottle on the table and stood up to act it out. Rubbing a hand on Katy’s arm, she dissolved into a coughing fit as she pretended to be Katy’s aging aunt, who suffered from a chronic cold.
“Oh, Katy.” She pinched her friend’s cheek. “Hurry up and get us another baby to torment. You’re reaching the top of your prime you know.”
“Thanks partner. I appreciate that you can find humor in my torture and frustration.” Katy shot her a smile. “Well, I’d better get home and busy myself ‘jumping’ my husband. I’d hate to disappoint everyone.”
Jenny laughed.
“I was kidding. At least about disappointing everyone, not the jumping — we’re not on the fast track to baby land right now. We just got married. We need to learn how to tick each other off first.”
Jenny watched as her friend plodded out the door of her apartment to her waiting husband.