Saved by the Salsa

by Barbara Barrett

  He held up a hand. “Whoa! That was a mouthful. Let me catch up. You’re okay with the physical part?”

  She couldn’t hold back a smile. “Sex. Yes, the sex has been great.”

  “But you think more is happening?”

  “Starting to. For me, anyhow.”

  “And that would be bad because—?”

  One way or another, she had to put it out there, though she knew things would change. She stopped before a stone bench overlooking a small hillside. They both sat. “Look what happened to my mother. She gave her heart to a seemingly loving man. And he left her, no notice, no reason, no contact the rest of her life.”

  “You said there was a good reason for his leaving you all behind.”

  “Maybe. But we didn’t know about it until after his death. My mother never knew, yet she believed in him anyhow, forgave him. Once I stopped blaming myself for his desertion, I shifted my disdain to my father for doing this to our family, especially my mother. My father gave me my first and most convincing life lesson about the hazards of trusting men.”

  “But you grew out of that stage, right?”

  “Yes. By the time I got to college. Talk about ‘out of the frying pan, into the fire.’” She snorted at her own foolishness.

  “Brian took my guardianship seriously, which made me crazy. Even though he was probably the only man I could put my faith in, I tested him at every turn, which included getting engaged when I was a sophomore because I wanted my independence. A month before my wedding, my fiancé dumped me for another woman. His rejection shredded my self-esteem. I even dropped out of school for a while.” She stopped. Gathered her thoughts. Retelling the story required so much energy.

  Jack waited for her to continue.

  “Actually, my fiancé’s betrayal was the best thing that could have happened, because he was a self-involved jerk who would’ve made my life miserable. But I didn’t see his true colors then. All I knew was pain and heartache.”

  His hand slipped over hers, squeezed it.

  “I don’t ever want to experience such despair again, so I haven’t allowed things to get serious with anyone since.”

  He didn’t reply for a bit.

  Well, of course not. She’d totally thrown him by getting so serious. Was this really what you intended me to do, Mom? “I’m sorry, Jack. You didn’t expect me to lay all this on you after you’d been so kind to join me here.”

  “No, I suppose I didn’t. But I’m glad you felt you could tell me.”

  “The last two nights with you have been…incredible. No man has ever made me feel so much a woman…and alive.” Her head bowed slightly. “But each time, I had this feeling something was missing. That’s why I came to my mother’s grave today. To ask her to help me figure it out.”

  He didn’t laugh or scoff at her admission. “What did she tell you?”

  She took his hand and gazed at him. “You showed up, didn’t you?”

  “You think she came to me in a dream or whispered in my ear to find you?”

  “No. Of course, not. But I do believe she’s telling me you’re the kind of person who cares enough about others to check on them when you think something may be wrong.”

  “Probably more credit than I deserve, but thanks.” He moved his gaze away from her, apparently processing her words.

  “I’m moving into new territory with you, Jack. I need to be able to trust you. Not just as my work partner. As my partner in bed. I’m not planning on your staying in my life forever, but don’t just up and leave. I don’t think I could get through that again.”

  The air around Jack seemed to have rarified. Other women had attempted to take him on a different trek, toward permanency, and he’d resisted, fought them off. Those affairs made him feel like he was stuck in quicksand, sinking into oblivion until he made a hasty escape. This woman was giving him license to enjoy their time together, no strings attached. The incredible thing? He was almost offended. Though he hadn’t been so foolish as to buy a ring, the possibility of someday considering the purchase had crossed his mind once or twice since he’d worked with Lacey, especially when his parents hinted, declared it was time for him to settle down.

  He trailed his fingers across her cheek. “It’s not enough for me to swear you can trust me. You have to feel and know it for yourself.”

  She gave him a half-smile. “I’m getting there. I trusted you enough to tell you about my father and my fiancé. How about you? Do you trust me?”

  His brain’s early warning system kicked into gear. This sharing stuff could rear its head and bite a guy in the butt. “I’ve already given you the lowdown on my parents.”

  “True,” she agreed, though the hesitation in her tone suggested she’d like to hear more.

  “And told you about my principalship frustrations.”

  “Yes, although anyone in the know at Mackenzie and Associates is also privy to such information.”

  Good point. Since she’d shared her concern about being abandoned by the two most important men in her life, maybe he should reveal a little of his soft side. Just a little. “I had a brief fling with another architect at the firm. She played me for a fool. Stayed overnight at my place a few times. Must’ve gone through my things during one of her visits. Some of my best ideas wound up in plans she claimed as her own. Got her on the fast track at Mackenzie, followed up by an offer with a prestigious San Francisco firm.”

  She stared at him as if seeing him for the first time. “You didn’t want to work with me because you feared history would repeat itself?”

  Trust Lacey to cut to the chase. “Yeah. But I was also insulted to have been stuck with a partner again.”

  “Stuck?” Her voice rose, causing a nearby squirrel to scamper off.

  “You have to admit, our being teamed up didn’t get off to the best start. You refused to back off and go find Cam when I slid under that tree.”

  “There wasn’t time.”

  “When you insisted on rescuing me yourself, you wound up in the same place for all your efforts.”

  She shrugged. “I’m not much of a super hero.”

  He grabbed her by her upper arms. “Do you know what hell you put me through? Mud and rotting leaves all around me and all I could breathe in was your scent, lilacs. All I could feel was your body pressed up against mine. All I wanted to do was draw you even closer.”

  His lips were within an inch of hers, ready to kiss her right there in the cemetery. She pulled back at the last second. “My body went on alert also.” She placed a hand on his chest. “Tell me more about the other architect.”

  “I told you everything pertinent. Except her name. Jorja. You don’t know her. She’d come and gone before you joined the firm.”

  She shook her head. “I’ve not seen your home. Apartment, condo, house? I have no idea. But—Jorja, you said?—apparently had the run of the place. Was it serious?”

  “Serious? Hell, no! It was casual, occasional, whenever one or the other of us got horny. I’ve, uh, never had a serious relationship. Wouldn’t know one if it bit me in the rear.”

  “We’re quite the pair.”

  He took her hands in his. “We are, aren’t we?”

  “Sounds like as long as you don’t walk away without notice and I don’t steal your ideas, we’re okay,” she said.

  “Want to shake on it?”

  She fluttered her eyes like a Southern belle. “Another way occurs to me.”

  The visit to the cemetery came to an abrupt end. Needless to say, although it was Wednesday, cards night, Brian had to find his own group of players. Celia, obviously, would no longer play. And Lacey and Jack found another form of recreation.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Lacey Rogers, Jack Dalton, I’d like you to meet our client, Jake Bonneville,” Cam said as Lacey and Jack entered the inner sanctum also known as the executive conference room. Almost a week had passed since Lacey and Jack talked in the cemetery. A week packed with days finalizing the design
concept and selling it to Cam and nights filled with heated passion. Now it was show time.

  Jack forced the million-dollar smile he’d gone in with to stay in place as his brain fought to make sense of the scene before them. Jake Bonneville? The mega-entertainer? Why would he be interested in a retirement community? He was barely in his thirties.

  The superstar rose from the chair at the far end of the conference table and offered his hand, first to Lacey, then to Jack. “Ms. Rogers. Mr. Dalton. I’m pleased to meet you.”

  Jack forced himself to relax. He’d been under the impression their client had yet to arrive. Now he had to launch immediately into presentation mode. He studied their client/guest. The guy was a little shorter than him but not much. His light brown hair was close-cropped on the sides, the top a little longer, jagged cut, the kind of refined scruffy look guys paid at least two-hundred dollars to achieve.

  Bonneville offered a confident, friendly enough handshake, but there was something in his expression that gave Jack pause. The guy’s eyes didn’t quite meet Jack’s when their hands came in contact. “The pleasure is all ours, Mr. Bonneville,” Jack said. “Caught your act in Vegas last year. Never would’ve guessed that same big-time entertainer was our client.”

  Bonneville gazed at Jack, his mouth a straight line. “Entertainers make investments too, Mr. Dalton. Especially in their home towns.”

  “That’s right. You’ve been away so long, I’d forgotten you grew up here,” Lacey cut in, attempting to smooth over Jack’s sudden stiffness. “Please, call us Lacey and Jack.”

  “Lacey, Jack.” Bonneville didn’t return the offer.

  Introductions made, Cam suggested they be seated at the large mahogany conference table where the portfolios they’d assembled for their boss and client awaited.

  Bonneville followed but remained standing.

  “I’ve been telling Jake here even though you’re two of my most creative people, I’m still marveling at how you’ve put something so spectacular together in record time.”

  “Yes, well—” Bonneville said.

  “Why don’t we let them get right to it?” Cam interrupted, apparently not wanting to give the man any chance to delay. “Jack, Lacey, enlighten Mr. Bonneville about baby boomers, change, and—”

  “Their presentation won’t be necessary,” Bonneville cut in. “I’ve been trying to tell you, Mackenzie, my plans have changed. I’m no longer interested in developing the property we discussed.”

  The sound level in the room dipped to nothing as Lacey, Jack and Cam absorbed the shock.

  “I beg your pardon?” Cam finally said, dropping his portfolio. “Surely I didn’t hear you correctly? You’re still interested in building a retirement community for baby boomers, aren’t you?”

  Bonneville removed the hand he’d been resting on one of the spread portfolios, as if to demonstrate his decision to disassociate himself with the project. “Yes. Yes, I do still want to build. But not like we discussed. Not outside town. Nor as a collection of individual home sites.”

  “But, but—” Though obviously at a loss, Cam attempted to counter Bonneville’s announcement.

  Jack knew his boss well enough to anticipate a major eruption once the surprise wore off. Cam had been had. People didn’t undercut their boss.

  Eyes narrowed, jaw taut, Cam marshaled his dignity. “Why didn’t you tell me you changed your mind before my staff committed so much time to this project?”

  Bonneville sat a little higher. “I fully intended to go through with the plans I discussed with you until I ran into an accountant friend of mine several days ago. Though I kept our plans in confidence, I shared the general idea with him. He convinced me it would be a waste of money. I’d get more return on my investment if it were in a high-rise here in town.”

  “A high-rise?” Jack bolted from his chair. “Have you checked out that theory, Bonneville? It may be more cost-effective, but research shows the people who live in such structures really don’t feel a sense of community. Especially baby boomers.” Had he really said that? Jean’s research and Lacey’s theories had fully permeated his brain.

  “I’m well acquainted with baby boomers, Dalton. At least my mother, and she’s the only one I care about. That’s why I’m pursuing this development. To get her out of the rundown neighborhood she lives in and keep her safe while I’m on the road.”

  “But—” Lacey attempted to add.

  Bonneville turned to Lacey and Jack. “I’m sorry I wasted your time.” Shooting a gaze at Cam, he added, “Of course I’ll pay you for your firm’s efforts to date. Sorry this didn’t work out, Mackenzie. No hard feelings.”

  He headed for the door. As he passed Lacey and Jack, by way of closing, he said, “Dalton. Ms. Rogers.” Raising his eyebrows, he turned back to Lacey. “Rogers? You wouldn’t be related to Brian Rogers, would you?”

  “He’s my brother,” Lacey said flatly. “Why do you ask?”

  Bonneville paused. “I suppose there’s no harm telling you now. Brian Rogers is the accountant who advised me to switch to the high-rise.”

  He exited the room, leaving three mouths gaping behind him.

  ****

  Cam was the first to speak, his initial bewilderment replaced with denial. “He can’t do this to me!” He started for the door. Turning back to them, grim-faced, he said, “I’m going after him. See if I can’t talk him out of this absurd idea. You two stay here. If I can’t save this deal, we’ve got to figure out our next steps.”

  “Next steps?” Jack spit out the words as soon as the door closed behind their boss. “Aside from finding a new client, nothing’s going to salvage this project. Geez, Jake Bonneville is an—”

  “Perhaps,” Lacey interrupted, sparing Jack from saying the word. She’d gone to the sideboard to find a glass of water, hoping a few sips would help her process what just happened. “It sounds like the real culprit might have been my own brother. But that can’t be. Bonneville had to be wrong about the accountant’s name. Brian would never interfere in my business.”

  Jack’s eyes sought hers. “You really think so?”

  She swallowed more of the liquid before answering. “I don’t know. Brian hasn’t said anything about this, especially knowing this big-time entertainer. But then, I haven’t seen much of him lately, since we’ve gone underground to finish the concept piece.”

  Jack moved to her and placed a hand on her arm. “Bonneville must’ve been mistaken. Brian’s not exactly my favorite person, but I can’t believe he’d deliberately set out to sabotage us. At least you. He’s a pretty honorable guy. He definitely wouldn’t hurt his own sister. Why don’t you sit down? You look like you’ve been hit by a truck.”

  They returned to the conference table and settled in to wait for Cam. Neither said much for the next several minutes. Eventually, Jack asked, “What are you thinking?”

  Lacey had been flipping idly through her copy of the proposal but set it back on the table to answer. “Nothing coherent. I can’t get my mind around this setback.”

  “I know what you mean. The only lucid thought I’ve had has been to realize I’ve just made the acquaintance of a mega-entertainer in a business suit.”

  She couldn’t resist a slight smile. “Always the Beau Brummel, aren’t you?”

  “Made you smile.”

  Bless his heart. The world was collapsing around them, and he was trying to keep her laughing.

  If Cam couldn’t convince Jake Bonneville to change his mind, or find a new taker for the project, this really was the end of Project Veronica. She analyzed the situation philosophically. She’d put so much of herself into it, into her research on boomers. She’d probably get past the disappointment after a bout of soul searching, several times around the walking track and a pint of maple nut ice cream. Then she’d wait for the next project to come along with which to make her name. But she doubted she could say the same for Jack. “Wish I could return the favor,” she told him. “Make you smile. I know this project
meant a lot to your career.”

  He curled his lips in a rueful version of a smile. “If this is a wash, something else will turn up, though I may be waiting longer than ever for the word principal to follow my name.”

  “Surely Cam won’t hold Bonneville’s defection against you?” How could what appeared to be such a bright future for both of them just minutes ago have turned so totally against them? If Brian had anything to do with this, her relationship with him was in for hard times, only surviving relative or not.

  Squeezing her hands, he said, “Too late to be concerned now. We have to focus on recouping our losses.”

  Lacey glanced at the door. “Do you think Cam will be able to change his mind?”

  “Maybe, but don’t count on it. Bonneville was pretty clear the deal was off. Cam’s gonna be hot if he can’t turn this around, so let me do the talking. He’ll say things he won’t remember when he cools off. Don’t take anything personally.”

  She started to protest, to tell him she could defend herself, when Cam burst into the room. “Pack up your books, boys and girls. Bonneville’s a no-go.” He went to the sideboard, rummaged through the cabinet underneath. “Where’s the whiskey? There’s nothing here but gourmet coffee.” He pitched a vacuum-packed bag into a nearby wastebasket.

  “He wouldn’t reconsider?” Jack asked.

  “Show people! You’d think all they’d care about are their audiences or going platinum with their latest CD. Who’d have thought they paid much attention to business. The guy even knew what return on investment meant!”

  Jack asked, “Did you make a pitch for our doing the high-rise?”

  Cam snorted. “Think I’d miss the chance to pick up some of the pieces? He said we could bid on it, but he was starting over and it would be months before he’d be ready to proceed.”

  Jack’s shoulders caved inward as the futility of the situation sank in. “Sorry, Cam. I know how much you were counting on this project. We all were.”

  Cam hung his head and rubbed his neck. “Go home, you two. There’s nothing more you can do here.” His voice had gone quiet, full of disappointment and regret.