Heat and humidity assaulted her the moment she walked out of the airport. Taxi drivers and men quick with their hands tried to grab the bag out of her firm grip in order to “help” her.
Flies buzzed around her head, looking for a damp orifice in which to land. She swatted furiously at the pesky buggers with one hand and fought off the unwanted help with the other.
A few feet away stood a cab with its back door invitingly open. Gratefully, she slid into it and gave the driver the name of the hostel. The window wouldn’t budge, and hot air blew through the taxicab, tangling her hair and coating her lips with dust.
Jenna thought about the volunteers coming here for months at a time. They were certainly earning their right into heaven.
She’d check in right away, change out of her traveling clothes, then go and find Grant and the others. It was just past noon. She was sure they’d be at the clinic.
Fifteen minutes later she had a key to her modest room. No air conditioning, and the bed was small and lumpy, the shower ringed with rust and stains.
She wouldn’t be staying long, and with any luck, Grant had a nicer room. She took a quick, cool shower and used the small, thin towel provided to dry herself.
Wearing khaki shorts and a T-shirt, she went back to the front desk and asked for the location of the clinic and Grant’s room number.
Jenna decided to check his room before heading out. She ran up the stairs to the second floor and knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” a female voice called out.
Jenna checked the room number to be sure she had the right door. It was Room 203. She knocked again. “It’s Jenna Cassali.”
“Hold on. I’m coming.” A few seconds later, a chain slid back and the door creaked open. Catherine Melrose peeked out of the darkened room.
“Ms. Cassali? What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to see Grant. Isn’t this his room?”
“It’s his room all right, but you don’t want to see him right now.”
“Yes, I do. Why are you in his room, and why is it so dark?” She felt a tightness in her chest. “What the hell is going on?”
Catherine smiled with almost wicked glee as she stepped aside. It appeared that she had hastily dressed. Her blouse was unbuttoned and hanging out of her pants. She had no makeup on. Her always perfectly groomed hair was tied up in a messy knot. With darkly shadowed and bloodshot eyes, Catherine Melrose looked like she’d been on a bender.
Jenna’s stomach dropped to her knees and a sharp pain sliced right through her as she realized her trust had been misplaced. She shivered in spite of the heat. Icicles of fear trickled down her spine.
She didn’t want to know what had happened in that room. Once she knew, nothing would be the same again. She wanted to believe in common decency, the goodness of mankind, and that love really existed. She’d put her heart on the line against her better instincts, and it would kill her to be wrong.
She stood there, not moving, not breathing, wishing she could turn around and go back to the airport, get on the first flight to West Palm Beach and be none the wiser. It would be better than knowing he was nothing more than a slime bucket and she’d been suckered in by his smooth-talking, handsome, lying face.
She stepped into the darkened room. Grant was sprawled on the bed, face down. The sheet was half on the floor, both sides of the bed looked used and rumpled, and his naked ass was staring her in the face.
The imagery was enough to make her throw up. Anger, disbelief, and excruciating pain warred within her. And yet a small part of her still wanted to believe that there was an explanation—that he’d roll over and tell her something. That he was sick and dying, perhaps?
“Grant?” She took a step toward the bed, and saw a half empty bottle of rum on the nightstand.
Jenna looked into Catherine’s cold, empty eyes. “What kind of church operation is this? You two have been drinking?” Her hands were shaking, and her voice was a stranger’s, ragged and hoarse. “You shared his bed?”
“I told you that you wouldn’t want to see him this way.” Catherine walked over to the bed and draped the sheet over him, covering up his nudity. “He’s sleeping it off, as you can see.”
“I don’t understand,” Jenna whispered, almost too hurt to be angry. “He asked me to move in with him. Why would he do that and sleep with you?” She began backing out of the room.
“Come, dear. You didn’t really expect him to be faithful to only you, and that you could keep him all to yourself, did you?” Catherine laughed. “A handsome man like Grant? Naturally he plays the field a bit. We’ve been friends with benefits for years.”
“You’re despicable. He’s—he’s…” Jenna’s skin crawled as she realized how deeply she’d allowed herself to care for him—how she had believed he was special, a trustworthy man. What a joke. He was no better than her father or any other man she’d ever known.
“He’s a sick bastard, and you’re welcome to him.” Jenna lifted her head, straightened her shoulders, and marched out the door, slamming it hard on her way out.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
“What was that?” Grant rubbed his eyes and moaned. He shivered and pulled up a blanket. “It’s freezing in here. What’s going on? What are you doing here, Catherine?”
“Grant, you’ve been sick. You don’t remember?”
He blinked and tried to focus. “I had a fever. You were taking care of me.” He felt the bed, wet from his sweat. “How long have I been out?”
“Twenty-seven hours.” Catherine brought a damp cloth over to him, mopped his brow, then sat down on the bed. “Are you feeling better? Your fever has broken. Do you think you can get out of bed?”
“Yeah.” He realized he was naked under the sheet. “Where are my clothes?”
“I removed them. I had to—you were soaked through. I can find something for you to wear. Shorts, a fresh T-shirt.”
“Don’t bother. I’ll get up in a minute. Did I miss something? I thought I heard Jenna’s voice.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “God, I feel like death.”
Catherine got off the bed and moved out of his view. She quickly buttoned up her blouse and began tidying the room.
“Okay.” Grant said. “Let me get freshened up. If I can manage a shower, I’ll meet you downstairs and we’ll grab something to eat. I’ve been dragging my ass in bed all this time. Some volunteer I turned out to be.”
“You did take your malaria pills, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I’m sure it’s not that. It might be the West Nile virus.” He sat up straighter. “There’s no netting in here,” he grumbled. “It’s possible I was bitten by a mosquito, carrying the disease. The symptoms can hit a person after a matter of days.”
“You still might need medical treatment.” She opened up the cheap curtains at the window to allow in the light. “Maybe you should get back to the States instead of staying through the weekend.”
“I’ll get myself checked out, but I’m feeling much better already.”
“Are you sure?” She gave him a bright smile. “I don’t want you dying on me.”
“I came here to help out the orphans, and I haven’t done much yet. I’m going to do what I came here to do.”
“Don’t push yourself too much. You’ve been very sick.” She blew him an airy kiss. “I’ll see you in half an hour for a bite to eat.”
* * *
Jenna caught the first flight back to the states. She sat in the plane’s window seat, staring at the clouds. She willed herself not to cry. It was easy. Her heart was now turned to stone. She could feel it weighing her down and wondered how it was possible for a heart to be shattered in a million pieces and yet feel as heavy as a granite rock. What was the logic of that?
She ordered a double vodka tonic from the flight attendant and let the alcohol take the edge off her pain. Damn me, anyway—falling for a player like Grant. I deserve to be smacked.
How could she be so stupid? No woman in her right m
ind would hook up with eye-candy like him. He was trouble with a capital T. She’d known it from the start, but had let her guard down. Never again.
When she got to Chicago, she’d keep the steel armor around herself, lock it tight, and never let anyone get back inside.
After landing in West Palm, she grabbed a cab to Grant’s house. She packed up her belongings and slowly walked around the house that would never be her home. She didn’t bother with a note. He’d know why she’d left.
She was done with Florida, and she was swearing off romance and men for the rest of her natural life. This little reminder came just at the right time. It refreshed her memory as to who she was and what she did best.
Jenna pulled out her cell phone and called ANP to accept the job. She could start Monday, she told them. Then she called a few airlines and found space on a flight to Chicago leaving in four hours.
With that accomplished, she called her sister.
“I can’t believe he turned out to be such a scum-bag,” Cindy said. “You’re lucky you found out now and didn’t waste any more time on him.”
“Yes, I suppose I am. Well, Cin, it sure makes my decision clear. I’m going to take that job in Chicago and go back to my real life. I was only fooling myself thinking I could get a catering business up and running. And the idea of having a child by myself? Well, it’s probably biting off more than I can chew.”
“You still could, Jenna. Many women do. Once you get into this new job and have things running smoothly, you could adopt a baby and hire a nanny. Don’t give up the chance to be a mother and go back to being the workhorse you used to be. Hasn’t this time with all of us taught you something?”
“Yes, of course it has. And you’re right. I’m not going to let this experience with Grant sour me on motherhood. I don’t need a man or marriage to enhance my life. But if I want a child, I should have one.” Jenna smiled. “And I think I do.”
“Good, Hon.” Cindy sighed. “I sure wish you could get a job closer to us, but I know this is too big of an opportunity to turn down. We’re going to miss you, but I know you’ll be back to visit us soon. Don’t let a couple of years go by, ya hear?”
“I won’t, Cindy. You can bet on that. Give my love to everyone, will you? And tell them I’ll be seeing them soon.” Jenna felt tears spring to her eyes. “Give that precious baby a hug and kiss for me.”
“I will. Call me when you get there.”
“I’ll do that.” She called a cab, locked up, and slid the key under the door.
Leaving was harder than she expected. Admittedly, she still had a tiny hope that Grant would come charging in and explain it all away, telling her she’d made a mistake.
He’d take her bag and lead her back into the house. Then he’d make sweet, beautiful love to her and she’d conceive his baby, and they would live happily ever after.
Yeah. Right.
The taxi was waiting, and she gave one last look at the house before turning her back on it.
The cab dropped her at Palm Beach International, and she checked in her bags, paid the overweight charges, and made her way to the departure gate.
She sat down and pulled out a paperback novel, hoping to lose herself in it until it was time to board, but she couldn’t get engrossed. Too much had happened too quickly, and she struggled to wrap her mind around it.
Catherine and Grant? It didn’t make sense.
If he had an interest in Catherine, why did he pursue me? And why ask me to move in?
Also, he had invited her to go to Honduras with him. What was wrong with this picture? If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she’d never have believed it. But her eyes didn’t lie. Men lied.
Grant was no worse and no better than any other. He was weak and selfish, but not mean and evil. He had multiple bed-partners because he could.
So why did her heart tell her something else? Why did she continually glance up from her book to check the corridor, hoping against hope that he’d come barreling toward the gate and stop her from boarding?
And why was she feeling guilty about running off without speaking to him first? He had betrayed her, hadn’t he?
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
When Jenna arrived in Chicago, she checked into a deluxe hotel downtown. It was centrally located—near Chicago’s famed shopping street, the Magnificent Mile, the lakefront, and the central business district known as the Loop. She booked in for a week, with the option to stay longer. This would give her some time to find a rental.
Her job started Monday, so she had the whole weekend to explore and get her bearings. After unpacking her bag, Jenna decided to take a walk along the lakefront and venture into Lincoln Park.
It was a glorious day. The early summer weather was perfect—high seventies, no humidity, a light breeze blowing off Lake Michigan.
Being a city girl, she knew she’d learn to love Chicago—once she got used to it. And once she forgot about Grant and stopped missing her sister and the kids.
She bought a frozen yogurt and sat down on a park bench facing the city. In many ways it reminded her of Central Park. Her real estate agent in New York had had several calls from interested parties. Hopefully, she’d get a good offer soon.
After Jenna finished her frozen yogurt, she decided to walk the famous Magnificent Mile to discover why it was considered one of the top ten avenues of the world.
Not only was it a shopper’s paradise, but the parkways were pristine and the manicured gardens immaculate. It was a delight to stroll past the sidewalk cafes and soak in the atmosphere.
Perhaps that was exactly what she needed to cheer herself up—a shopping spree. She’d buy herself a new suit to wear on Monday morning—and new shoes too. She might as well spend some of her Plasmic money. This new job was giving her a signing bonus and a salary that made her sit up and take notice.
Jenna found a wonderful boutique with fine Italian suits and accessories. She tried on two lovely suits in the most luxurious fabric, and the weave and cut made her look and feel like a million bucks. She bought a pair of expensive pumps at one of the department stores and carried her purchases back to the hotel.
She had no messages. Feeling suddenly homesick for Florida and family, she decided to call Cindy and have a long talk with her.
* * *
Jenna’s new office was on the fourteenth floor, with a nice view of the lake. Sam Girard, the CEO of America National Plastic, had personally welcomed her to the firm. She’d been shown around by the chief financial officer.
As senior vice president for sales, Jenna would report directly to Sam. She had an executive vice president under her, as well as a team of managers and her sales force.
Meeting the other employees took up most of the day. During a rare moment alone, she sat back and reflected. It felt good sitting in her leather chair in her ivy towered executive corner suite.
She straightened up in her chair and tugged at her jacket. Funny how sitting down, the suit didn’t feel quite right. She stood up and walked to the wall of windows, looking out at the city.
Yes. She almost pumped her fist in the air. She was back in the game, and back on top.
She couldn’t wait to sink her teeth into her new job and be up to her eyeballs in corporate accounts, in-house politics, and proving to one and all that she was the best in the business. She’d be working long hours and be too tired to miss anything but her bed at night. The first few weeks would be tough, but that was to be expected.
It was seven o’clock before she returned to her hotel room. She’d only just kicked off her shoes, when the phone rang. Figuring it was Cindy wanting to know all about her first day at work, she picked up with a friendly, “Hello.”
“Jenna, it’s me. Grant.” He took a deep breath and expelled it. “I don’t know what’s going on, or why you left so suddenly. Why haven’t you been answering your cell phone?”
Her heart pounded painfully, and squeezed the oxygen from her lungs. She didn’t trust herself to speak
.
“Jenna?” His voice rose. In anger? “Your sister gave me this number, but she wouldn’t tell me a thing. What happened? I go away for a few days and you leave without saying a word?”
Jenna sucked in a breath and released it slowly. “You’re a piece of work, you know that?” She was tempted to hang up on him, but she wasn’t through with him yet. She wanted to make him squirm before she tossed him back into the sea.
“I left for obvious reasons. I don’t share living quarters with men who can’t keep their dicks in their pants.”
“What the hell do you mean by that?”
“Catherine Melrose. Didn’t she tell you I was in Honduras?”
“No. She didn’t tell me anything. I thought I heard your voice just before I came out of my delirium.”
“You are certainly something,” she snarled. “I saw everything, Grant. The bottle of booze, the rumpled sheets, your naked ass, and Catherine half undressed. So, sorry, but no, I didn’t stay and join the party.”
“Jenna, what you saw was not what you think happened. If you’d stayed, I could have told you that.”
“Told me what? That you and Catherine are ‘friends with benefits’? Her words. Not mine.”
“She said that? No, never mind. I get the picture.” He swore softly. “I can see why you jumped to the wrong conclusions, but I wish you’d trusted me enough to ask.”
“Oh, yeah, like I’m the bad guy here.” Jenna grabbed the phone and began walking around with it. Unfortunately, the cord was too short to let her get very far.
“I was sick, Jenna. Catherine was taking care of me. I had a fairly mild case of the West Nile virus—came down with a raging fever and was out of it for a few days. That must have been when you showed up. Catherine and I did not sleep together. I’m sorry, honey, but you’ve got to trust me, you really do.”
“No, I really don’t, and don’t ‘honey’ me.” She took the phone away from her ear, ready to slam it down. But she just had to hear what he would say next.
ESCAPE INTO ROMANCE- 4 Book Bundle Page 45