by Jean Adams
Luckily, Steve wasn’t there either. Just as well. She wouldn’t have Lucas coming out in her defense again if necessary.
For pity’s sake. This expecting to see him every time she visited the club, listening for him, had to stop. She was far too attracted to him, realizing jealousy threatened to rear its ugly head. For heaven’s sake, how could she be jealous of his sister? It’d do her good to keep him at arm’s length for a while. She had to get over this, whatever this was. He was probably busy, working on another project.
Monday morning finally came around, but Jenna felt no brighter as she walked into the office. The last one to arrive, she entered the staff room buzzing with excited voices. Everyone stopped talking and applauded the moment she opened the door.
Her spirits lifted. A huge grin spread over her face. She guessed what this meant, but played dumb. “Hey, what did I do?”
Claude beamed from ear-to-ear. “I’ve had word from Mission Control.”
“Mission Control?” She burst out laughing. “Oh, you mean Head Office.”
“You just got officially accepted into the program. Congratulations, Jenna!”
She grinned broadly. If anything could get her thoughts back on track it was that, and it was just the fillip she needed. “Oh, that’s wonderful. Thanks to you for a good report, Claude.”
“It wasn’t merely good. It was glowing. And everyone agrees.” His smile stretched across his face. “No more than you deserve. You’ve done real well all the time you’ve been here.” He held out an envelope. “So, without further ado, here’s the official letter giving your next mission, should you decide to accept it.” Ever the joker, not only did Claude call the airline “Mission Control”, he also called overseas postings “missions.”
Her hand shook with expectancy as she took the envelope from Claude’s outstretched hand and slipped it open. And gaped.
“Well, don’t keep us all in suspenders,” Claude joked again. “Where are you headed next?”
If she grinned any more her face would split in half. “The Bahamas.” She could barely speak with the excitement in her voice.
Comments such as, “wow”, “lucky devil”, and similar others filled the room. Still grinning, Jenna tucked the memo safely into her shoulder purse, and went to her position behind the ticket counter.
The Bahamas. One of the most glamorous playgrounds in the world, just what she’d always wanted. The people she’d meet there. She’d worked so hard to achieve this and now she’d finally got it.
The news kept her spirits on high octane for most of the day and it wasn’t until she was driving home the truth hit her squarely in the solar plexus. She felt as though she’d just been kicked in the stomach by a very large horse. It wasn’t as though she didn’t want to go. She did.
She just didn’t want to go right now.
The evening didn’t pass any faster. Several times she found her hand hovering over the phone to call Lucas, tell him her news, ask how his five days went with his sister, but managed to stop herself just in time when she admitted the truth: all she wanted was to hear the sound of his voice. But he’d made it very clear the last time they were together, they were just friends.
The next day she buried herself in work with the utmost diligence until, momentarily, the last passenger of the morning had left. They’d be back later with a vengeance. She took a deep breath and gazed out of the big window into the street to see Lucas striding past. He glanced in, waved and walked on.
Her heart beat double time. She hadn’t seen him for more than a week and now he’d walked right past. Disappointed, Jenna watched him disappear. He could have come in, said hello, at least while there were no passengers in the ticket office momentarily.
Almost as though she’d conjured him up, he came back, opened the door and walked in.
“Hi.” He seemed a little awkward. “I just realized it’s lunchtime. You got time for a bite?”
Her body came alive, her heart rate speeding up. “Oh, I’m not sure if I can go yet.”
Claude poked his head around the door. “Hi, Lucas. Better go while you can, Jenna. You might not get a chance later.”
“Thanks, Claude.” She grabbed her purse from under the counter, in a hurry to be with her unexpected lunch date.
As they walked out the door, Claude called after her, “Don’t forget to tell Luke your good news.”
He gave her a sideways glance. “What news is that?”
“I’ll tell you when we’re sitting down.”
They found a small sidewalk café and Lucas held her chair.
“So, did your sister enjoy her week?”
“Sure did.”
A waitress took their order.
“Did you go anywhere special?” Did he notice she was putting off telling him her news?
“She needed to chill, but we saw a couple of movies.” He took a sip of iced water. “So, what’s your news?”
This is it, Jenna. You’ve been expecting this moment. Just not this soon. “Claude gave me a great report and I’ve got my next assignment.”
He nodded slowly, as though he’d known what she’d say, his expression unreadable. “Great. So where are you off to?”
She let out a breath and made herself grin even though her heart felt heavier than it should. “The Bahamas.”
Dark eyebrows lifted and he returned her smile. “Hey, no kidding. That’s fantastic.”
Well, he didn’t seem fazed. “I’m so excited, I can hardly wait.”
“That’s good,” he said. “Lisa believes life should be full of ‘can-hardly-waits.’”
She forced her lips into the broadest smile she could muster. “Great philosophy. Mind if I borrow it?”
Lucas laughed. “Be my guest.”
Why didn’t she feel as excited as she should? It wasn’t as though she didn’t want to go. She did. Of course she did. So what was holding back the bubbling elation she should be experiencing? If she showed one iota of regret, not that she regretted anything, not really, Lucas might ask awkward questions and she had no answers to give. Other than ones he wouldn’t want to hear. Once she left in a few weeks, she’d soon settle down into a new routine.
A few weeks. Goodness the time was flying by so fast. How she’d miss seeing Lucas around. Miss his friendship, such as it was. Just a little bit of acting on her part and she could pull this off, no problem.
If anyone knew how to pretend, it was Jenna Blake. But would she have to do a lot more pretending before this posting came to an end?
****
Lucas thanked the waitress when she came back with their coffee and burgers, then turned his full attention to Jenna.
Eyes bright, beaming from ear-to-ear about going to the Bahamas, she positively glowed. He’d damned well have to pretend to share her excitement or he’d be in trouble. Not that he wasn’t already. He’d have to make the best of the time she had left here and there was an end to it. Now he wished he’d had more time with her, instead of letting that other woman color his life.
Bad sign.
“You’ll love it there,” he said with all the enthusiasm he could muster.
“Have you been?”
“Not me. Lisa.” He put a French fry into his mouth. “She’s in love with the whole Caribbean.”
Jenna shot him a glance. “I’m going to miss LA though. I’ve made some wonderful friends.”
“Nah. You’ll soon forget all about us.”
“Lucas Nelson, that’s not fair. Memories might fade a little, but forget?” She shook her head. “Never.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it must’ve sounded.”
Dammit. He’d better change the subject before he made a complete jackass of himself and asked her to stay. She’d made her plans and he had no right trying to change them, especially since he already knew what her answer would be.
He’d miss her. God, how he’d miss her. Miss seeing her at the club, miss walking past her office and seeing her behind the co
unter. Finally, he forced a laugh. “You’ll probably cry like a baby when you leave, but all you have to do is think of where you’re going. You’ll soon make new friends.”
“I want to stay in touch with the friends I’ve made. You, especially,” she said, and smiled a wobbly grin. “Hey, maybe I’ll even visit your Greek island some day.”
“Well, you’d better make sure I’m there when you do.”
Blinking furiously, she put down her cup. “But I can’t help it if I feel a little sad about leaving—everyone. That’s allowed, isn’t it?”
“Sure, it’s allowed.” He reached out and touched his hand to hers. “It’s understandable, but don’t let it stop you.”
She blew out a breath. “So, I want you to give me your Greek address just in case I get the chance to visit.” It wasn’t much, and she’d probably never use it, but right now it felt like a lifeline.
He hesitated briefly, then, “I’ll write it down for you.” He took a notepad from his inside pocket, wrote down the address and tore out the page. “Here,” he said, as he handed it to her. “Try not to lose it in that cluttered purse of yours.”
She tucked the piece of paper into her bag. “I won’t lose it.”
****
At home that evening, Jenna sat in front of the TV, not watching anything in particular, it’s mesmerizing buzz having little effect on her meandering thoughts.
Lucas was right. She would have to say goodbye to all her friends. She hadn’t thought about that. It was all very well meeting new people, living in a dream world, but she’d have to wave those friends goodbye at the end of each posting. Probably never see any of them again.
She couldn’t imagine never seeing Lucas again. Then she knew for sure. It was Lucas she didn’t want to say goodbye to. Damn the man!
He’d slipped under her defenses, burrowed under her skin. Even knowing him for only a short time. How could that happen? It wasn’t as though she was in love with him. He was nothing more than a good friend. He’d said so himself.
She forced herself to remember her mother’s words. Don’t let a man derail your plans. But why should she listen to her mother if she’d been lying all along?
Well, if she didn’t check herself right now, Lucas could easily derail her if she let him. She mustn’t let that happen.
But everywhere she went, she saw his face. Saw him sitting across the table from her this past lunchtime. Giving her the page he tore out of the notebook. He was always hovering around the edges of her mind.
She’d become infatuated with him, that was all. Why? He could be rude, sometimes to the point of arrogance, but it was all an act, to guard himself from further treachery. Hide his terrible hurt.
Even taking her to lunch had come across as an afterthought. At other times he was infuriatingly charming. He seemed like two different men, constantly at war with himself.
She’d spent a night under his roof and he hadn’t even uttered so much as an innuendo, let alone made a move on her until she’d ruined everything. How would she have handled it if he’d been the one to make the move?
That was a question she’d rather not think about.
The phone rang. Lucas?
Excited, she hurried to answer the phone, but her heart sank when she heard Steve’s voice.
“Hey, there, Jenna.”
She couldn’t hide a small groan. “What do you want?”
“I think it’s about time I apologized properly, made up to you for what I said the other week.”
She got the impression his mouth was really close to the phone. “There’s no need. I accepted your apology at the time.”
“But I want to do more.”
Her fingers toyed irritably with the phone cord. “You don’t need to.”
“But I do, I—”
“I’m sorry, Steve, but I have to go.” She clicked off with a sigh of satisfaction.
It rang again. Again it was Steve. “Stop playing hard-to-get, Jenna. Be nice. I’m calling to ask you on a date.”
She sighed irritably. “Will you please stop harassing me?”
“How can asking you on date be harassing you?”
“Oh, for pity’s sake.” Why couldn’t Lucas have called? But that was wishful thinking. She needed a distraction from him. But Steve wasn’t it.
“I said I’m busy. Sorry. Bye.”
Once again she put down the phone. Hopefully this time he’d get the message.
She could have said yes, but a date with Steve wasn’t what she wanted. She could be in real trouble if she went out with him just to get Lucas off her mind.
Lucas was making her question everything she’d worked for. Well damn and blast. She knew exactly what she wanted. Always had. It was about time she grew up, got the romantic stars out of her eyes and got on with the life she’d built for herself.
After a little while, the phone rang again. If that was the pest again, harassing her further—“Look, Steve. I’ve already told you, I have—”
“It’s Lucas.”
His announcement took her by surprise. Her heart rate picked up speed. She swallowed. “Oh, hi.”
“Were you expecting Steve?”
“Uh, kind of. He’s been hassling me about going on a date.”
“You going?”
“Of course not.”
He paused so long she almost had to prompt him to speak. Agitated hands played with the phone cord again, winding it around her finger then snapping it free. But this time it was excitement, not anger that brought on the jitters.
After a brief silence, he continued. “I’m ringing about the same thing.”
Her heart fluttered. Why was she having trouble breathing? “You’re asking me on a date?”
“Next Saturday, the thirtieth. Problem?”
“No, of course not. I’d love to,” she said, a little too readily. “Where...um—”
“I managed to get two seats for the last night of Tosca. Thought you might like to go seeing as how it’s your favorite opera. Fancy affair. I get to give my tux an airing.”
“The last night!” she exclaimed, her enthusiasm for the opera taking a quantum leap. “That’s fantastic.”
“We’ll have dinner first,” he said when she gathered her thoughts. “Pick you up around six thirty.”
“Sounds great.” Her excited outburst was followed by an awkward silence. “So, are you going to be at the club tomorrow night?”
“Don’t know. Might.”
Her bubble burst. “Might see you there then.”
“Yeah. Might. Got a big job on, but whatever happens I’ll see you next week.”
“I look forward to it.”
The phone clicked off, leaving her feeling elated and deflated both at the same time.
She’d better get on to the Internet and bone up on Tosca or he’d know she’d never seen it in her life.
Chapter Twelve
Lucas stopped the car outside Jenna’s condo. No light shone out from inside, even though it was starting to get dark. Her car was there, so she must be home.
He got out, squared his shoulders, walked to her door, rang the bell, and waited.
No sound came from inside the darkened condo. No light came on inside. No answering voice called, “I’ll be right there.”
Had she chickened out from going on a date with him? Had she forgotten their date, gone out with someone else? The latter, he figured, since her car was in the driveway. Well how do you like that? She didn’t even have the balls she was born with to tell him to his face she didn’t want to go. She’d decided not being there was easier than looking him in the eye. Maybe she had changed her mind, called Steve after all and he’d picked her up. Women.
To make absolutely certain he hadn’t misinterpreted the situation, he rang one more time. Again, he waited.
Nothing. At first he’d been prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt. He could hardly believe Jenna was into that kind of thing, to employ such rude behavior. Obviously, he’d
been wrong. She was a woman after all, wasn’t she? They all had the same game plan: bring a man to his knees.
He turned away in disgust and started to walk away.
A noise came from inside. What was that? It sounded like a crash! As though something had been knocked over. He stopped, spun.
“Lucas!”
Her voice called his name. But it sounded so weak, he could’ve been mistaken. He banged on the door. “Jenna? Are you there?”
“Oh, Lucas.”
Dammit, she was in there. But something was obviously wrong.
Gut churning, he waited impatiently for her to open the door. The safety chain slid across. She seemed to be taking a hell of an age. The door opened and she stood in the half-light, holding herself upright by leaning against the wall.
She started to crumple, but he caught her in his arms before she hit the floor. “Jenna! What is it?”
She groaned. “I feel like death.”
“Here, let’s get you inside.”
She collapsed against him.
Taking her full weight, he helped her into the bedroom and laid her on the bed. He could see at a glance by her pale, drawn face she was ill.
He rested his hand on her forehead. “You’re burning up. I’ll call your doctor. What’s his name?”
“I didn’t register with one,” she defended weakly. “Not just for six months.”
“I’ll call mine.” He hurried for the phone.
She tried to sit up, but fell back. “This’ll pass. You can’t bother him on a Saturday night.”
“It’s his job,” Lucas said over his shoulder. “It’s what he does.”
“I feel awful for ruining the evening.”
“Don’t be. Do you have any idea what it might be?”
She shook her head carefully. “Must be something I ate.”
He almost laughed. “Well, obviously.”
He left her to call the doctor. After spending a few moments on the phone, he went back to find her lying deathly still on top of the bed where he’d left her. “Doc’ll be here in fifteen minutes. Here. Let’s get you under the covers.”
Even though she was burning up, she was shivering.