Do Not Disturb

by Carsen Taite

  Greer hung up the phone feeling happy but unsatisfied. She needed to make calls to her band members, who were enjoying a well-deserved vacation, but all she wanted to do was pick up the phone and call Ainsley to tell her what she had planned. She knew it was a selfish need. See, I’m not such a bad person after all. Was Ainsley past the point of caring? Greer thought she might be except when they were in the middle of their last kiss. Ainsley’s hungry lips and tongue told Greer she cared very much.

  Greer picked up the phone, but refrained from dialing the number for the Lancer. Bragging about one step in the right direction wasn’t likely to win her any points with Ainsley. Ainsley had her number, and if she wanted to talk to her, she could do so anytime. Instead Greer dialed the number for Harry Lowe, the band’s drummer. Harry and the rest of the band had traveled to a tropical island to enjoy some time off before the kick-off of their world tour. Greer knew her phone call asking them to come back a few days early to do a charity event was not going to be well received, but she and the guys had been together for so long she knew they would do anything for her. As she dialed, her mind buzzed with all the details she would need to handle. She wasn’t accustomed to buying her own groceries, let alone planning the details of her events, but instead of feeling like a chore, the prospect of doing more than merely showing up was invigorating.

  *

  Paul cleared his throat and Ainsley shot him a dirty look. She knew he’d caught her daydreaming, but paying attention to business was distracting her from flashes of Greer and a box full of chile piñon brittle. She realized she hadn’t been at the top of her game ever since she’d run into Tray, make that Greer, in the square two weeks ago. Since then she had engaged in a downward spiral of crazy antics, all revolving around an inexplicable attraction to Greer Davis. All her actions were completely out of character for someone looking to move up to a cushy corner office at corporate headquarters. If she had never seen Tray after the flight, she would have remained focused on her work, but at the rate she was going, she was more likely to wind up working the front desk.

  All day her moods swung between anticipation and frustration. The candy delivery from Señor Murphy’s sparked both. She wanted to call Greer and thank her for the thoughtful gesture while at the same time she wished Greer hadn’t muddied the waters by reaching out. Ainsley clenched her fists in her pockets and flinched when she came into contact with the well-worn slip of paper with Greer’s number. She didn’t have to pull it out to see the big flowing cursive in her mind’s eye. Did Greer use the same script when she signed autographs for her fans? Did she include her phone number to many of those? Ainsley cursed her jealous thoughts and wadded the paper up in her fist as if she could squeeze away its meaning. Finally she allowed herself to breathe and unclenched the tangible tie to Greer. She had to let go, or she would never get all the things she really wanted.

  Chapter Twenty

  The last two days had flown by. Greer was starting to feel the stress. No wonder she paid Rick so much. Preparation for the benefit concert gave her a small taste of what it took to manage Greer Davis, Inc. She definitely had a new appreciation for his seamless management style, but she would never again give up the freedom she now experienced at being in control of her own affairs. Her uncle’s lawyer had hired a firm in New York to begin the process of terminating Rick’s contract and locating a new management firm. Berkley was good, but she needed a comprehensive team in place. Greer was done letting one person call the shots, unless that person was her.

  She was taking control on the relationship front as well. Ainsley had thanked her for the candy from Señor Murphy’s, with a short and guarded voice message. Instead of returning the call, Greer sent another gift, this time a bright red chile ristra. The note she included said: Locals hang these beauties as a sign of welcome. I’d welcome a sign you’d like to see me again. P.S. Doesn’t this blazing red look better on these peppers than on my head?

  Ainsley hadn’t responded to the overture, but Greer still held out hope. In the meantime, she was determined to closely oversee the details of the upcoming concert. She and Berkley had selected a promoter who had secured the venue and purchased ad spots on all the local radio and TV outlets. Since Greer was underwriting the entire event herself, there were no sponsors to appease, so decisions about what to do and when were efficiently made. Tickets would go on sale in the morning, and Greer planned to spend the rest of the weekend sorting out the playlist. Harry and the rest of the band would arrive in town the evening before the concert. One of the major benefits of the band’s long tenure together was they could pick up and play together, seamlessly, even after a long absence. Because the venue was comparatively small and outdoors to boot, they would offer their fans a stripped-down, raw version of their rock ’n’ roll standards. Greer planned to pack the lineup with tunes from her early days with Betty to help her along. Right now, though, she was starving. Greer stowed her guitar and headed downstairs.

  “Something smells terrific.” She opened the lid of a large pot and breathed in the smoky aroma of her aunt’s homemade green chile stew. She grabbed a nearby spoon and started to fish around for a perfect bite only to promptly drop the utensil when her aunt poked her in the side.

  “Get out of there. It’s not ready.” Her smile belied her scolding tone. Ellen handed Greer a tortilla. “Here, munch on this. Lunch will be ready in about forty-five minutes. Go find something to do so I can finish getting it ready.”

  “Where’s Uncle Clayton?”

  “I think he’s out back.”

  Greer wandered out to the back yard of the house, but she didn’t see him anywhere in sight. Their property stretched out as far as she could see into a break lined with tall pine trees. She decided to while away the time till lunch by wandering around. When she reached the break, she could hear the light ripple of running water. She recognized the old acequia that served as the irrigation system on the ranch. She leaned down along the earthen wall and reached her hand into the cool water and wondered idly about its source. These ancient ditch systems had been developed to combat the usually dry desert conditions by catching water from the river and spring flows from the mountain range and diverting it to the local farms. Each acequia system had a commission led by a majordomo who regulated water rights. Greer learned about the intricacies of these systems and their effect on the state’s development in high school. She couldn’t help but marvel at the need for such a complex system of managing a resource she always assumed would be present at the turn of a handle.

  Greer’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a voice calling out. She looked around, but couldn’t immediately detect the source. She stood and started walking along the edge of the ditch, past a clump of sagebrush and gasped when she saw her uncle lying in the dirt. Greer dropped to her knees and leaned in close to his face.

  “Oh my God, are you okay?”

  Clayton sat up and offered a crinkled smile. “I’m okay. Just got a cramp in my leg and I’ve been trying to stretch it out.”

  “Geez, you scared me to death.” Greer frowned at her insensitive choice of words and barreled on. “Let me help you back to the house.” Clayton looked as if he might protest, but then shook his head and took the hand Greer offered to him. As Clayton leaned against her, she was again dismayed at Clayton’s appearance. His breathing was labored and he had lost a significant amount of weight. Greer decided to talk in order to distract herself from focusing on the toll the disease was taking on her uncle.

  “I have a surprise.”

  Clayton smiled. “You do, huh?”

  “Do you want to know what it is?”

  “If you tell me it won’t be a surprise anymore, will it?”

  “You’re going to find out soon anyway.”

  “You haven’t changed one bit. You never have been able to keep a secret when it carries good news for someone else.” His words were affectionate. Greer wondered if they were accurate. She did have hazy childhood memories of rev
ealing enough information about already wrapped presents to give the recipient the ability to guess the contents. She loved surprises, but she hated waiting. As an adult, she didn’t wait. She reveled in her ability to experience instant gratification in all aspects of her life. Whatever she wanted was within her quick grasp. Except the love of Ainsley Faraday.

  The mere possibility Ainsley might someday return her feelings made Greer want to speed into town and beat on Ainsley’s door, declaring her desires, until Ainsley relented. This new method of patiently waiting, desperately seeking the right moment to try again rather than forcing a choice was so foreign to her usual style, Greer felt she had to physically restrain herself from assuming her usual ways. For the first time in her life, she wanted something different, but she was going to have to go about getting what she wanted differently in order to get it. Somehow matching a new method to a new desire made sense.

  “Are you going to tell me your surprise, or were you only teasing?”

  “Sorry, I was lost in thought.” Greer decided it wouldn’t hurt to get a little instant gratification now as a tiny reward for behaving about her bigger goal. “Yes, I’ll tell you. The band is flying in next week. We’re doing a concert at Paolo Solari.”

  Clayton raised his eyebrows. “Wow, what’s the occasion?”

  “It’s a benefit. For the local chapter of the Lung Cancer Society.”

  Clayton stared into her eyes, and the love she felt reflected in his look was overwhelming.

  “It’s no big deal, really. I’ve always wanted to perform there. I figured this would be a good opportunity.”

  Her words were squeezed off as he wrapped her in a tight embrace and whispered in her ear, “I love you, Greer. You are an amazing person. I am proud to be your uncle.”

  Greer didn’t meet his eyes again for fear she would start bawling, but she held him close and whispered back, “I love you too.” They were standing in the middle of a field, about halfway back to the house. The mountain range rose up in the distance and the sun shone down, bright and full. Their breathing was the only sound. Greer lost herself in the comfortable embrace of unconditional love and marveled at how good it felt to revel in the simplest of things. She was so comfortable it took her a few moments to realize her uncle’s breath had become jagged. His slight frame slumped against her. She remembered his leg had been hurting. She needed to get him back to the house.

  Drawing back from the embrace, she felt him stagger. Greer looked closely at his face. It was ashen and his breathing was ragged. His eyes were mere slits. “Clayton, Clayton? Are you okay?” His lack of response answered her question. Greer desperately fought to channel her panic into a plan of action. She needed to get him back to the house, but she couldn’t carry him. She didn’t want to leave him in the yard, but there didn’t seem to be a choice. She conjured up the image of the brochure she had gotten from the doctor’s office. Maybe he was experiencing side effects from his treatment earlier in the week, but she wasn’t convinced. She needed to get help, and she needed to get it now.

  Greer eased him onto the ground and made a pillow with her hooded sweatshirt. She kissed him on the forehead and made two promises: she would be right back, and he would be okay. As soon as he was settled, she took off running toward the house knowing for sure she could keep one of the promises she had made.

  *

  Ainsley reached a hand up to rip down the poster someone had slapped onto the brand new glass doors of the hotel. Some bellman was about to get his head ripped off for letting what amounted to graffiti mark the entrance of the pristine hotel. If she hadn’t accomplished anything else, at least she had managed to bring the sleek style of a Steel property to this Mom-and-Pop operation. The renovations were not yet complete, but the new signage and polished entryway signaled the start of a new era for the formerly frumpy hotel.

  “Ms. Faraday, please don’t take that down.”

  Ainsley saw the hulking bell captain, Joey Vega, who had so helpfully answered her questions about Greer the other day. Awkwardly stuffed into his stiff new uniform, he didn’t project the image she would have preferred the hotel’s front door personnel to have, but she couldn’t help it, she liked him. He was always ready with an easy smile and sparkling eyes. She decided to scale back the scolding she was poised to deliver. After all, he was the only employee who didn’t act like he should dive into a foxhole every time she walked by.

  “Joey, would you like to explain why you thought it was okay to mar the front doors of this fine hotel with advertisements?”

  “This isn’t an advertisement, Ms. Faraday.” He looked at her as if cautiously deciding whether or not to proceed. “Did you read it?” His tone conveyed an innocent question and eager anticipation regarding her response. She hadn’t read it. Since the poster shouldn’t be there in the first place, it didn’t really matter what it said, but she found she couldn’t ignore the enthusiasm in his voice. She looked up at the playbill. The headline screamed, but it was the picture that riveted her attention. Greer Davis, her hands cradling an acoustic guitar, looked down at her. The look on her face mirrored the wild abandon Ainsley had seen the very first night they had made love. The force of it made Ainsley want to rip the guitar from Greer’s hands and make those talented hands stroke her instead.

  “So, is it okay to leave it?” Joey’s voice startled her. She didn’t have a clue what the poster said, she only knew the woman featured there called out to her. No matter how she rationalized it, she had made love with Greer Davis, wild and crazy superstar, not Tray Cardon, meek and lost traveler. If that was true, was it also true that Greer was capable of the easy, sweet affection Tray possessed? Dammit, Ainsley, Tray doesn’t exist. She had repeated the thought over and over since she learned Tray’s true identity, but it wasn’t till now she realized the knowledge held possibility as opposed to self-incrimination. She flashed on the unique and thoughtful gifts of local flavor Greer had sent. What if the only real difference between Greer and Tray had been a name? Didn’t she owe it to herself to find out?

  Decision made, Ainsley started toward the office but she only made it a few steps before she felt a touch on her arm. She looked over her shoulder into the face of a bewildered Joey. He must think she was crazy, but she didn’t have time to explain. If she altered her focus now, she might lose her nerve.

  “By all means, leave the poster up.” She returned his grin and practically ran across the lobby. Once in the office, she shut the door and scrambled to locate the slip of paper with Greer’s number. She didn’t allow herself an instant to second-guess, instead punching the numbers into the phone as if she was opening the combination to a safe full of riches. When she heard the other line ringing, she finally settled into her chair and allowed herself to breathe. Three, four, five, six… Finally, she heard the click of a receiver and she braced herself for the expected sound of sultry tones.

  Hi, you’ve reached Greer Davis. Well, my cell phone anyway. I can’t get to the phone right now, but leave a message and I’ll be in touch.

  Ainsley let out a pent-up breath as she listened to Greer’s recorded voice. She had no intention of saying what she wanted to say to a recorded message. She gently replaced the receiver. Damn. She leaned back in her chair and folded the small piece of paper into a variety of shapes while she contemplated her next move.

  A quick knock on the door preceded Paul sticking his head in. “Have you seen Drew?” Ainsley shook her head. Paul gave her a funny look. “Are you okay? You look like you lost your best friend.”

  She shrugged in response, and he left as quickly as he’d entered. Greer wasn’t her best friend, but she was important. She must be or Ainsley would’ve been able to put her out of her mind like the countless others she had shared a bed with over the years. A slow thought, chased by feeling, crept into her mind. Greer was different from those others. And she might not be her best friend, but Ainsley wanted her to be. She wanted her to be her best friend, her partner, her lover. She wanted thos
e things fiercely. She wasn’t going to wait a moment longer to have what she wanted. If she couldn’t reach Greer on the phone, she knew someone who might know how to find her.

  Ainsley raced through the office door. Paul was at the front desk. She grabbed his arm. “Did you find Drew?”

  “Someone said she’s in the restaurant. I sent Joey to get her. She has an urgent phone call.” Paul’s expression signaled he was dying to know why she was so intense in her request. She waited in silence for Drew to appear. Finally, Drew jogged up to the desk. She gave Paul and Ainsley a questioning look, probably wondering why the senior members of the transition team were standing by the phone waiting for her. Paul spoke first.

  “Drew, there’s an important call holding for you.”

  Drew took the phone, but before she punched the line to connect it, she shot a look at Ainsley. “Did you need something?” Her tone was cool and dismissive. Ainsley felt her resolve falter slightly. She bought herself a moment by pointing at the phone. She could talk to Drew after she’d taken her call. As Drew began to speak into the phone, Ainsley began an internal dialogue to rebuild her courage. Drew’s call didn’t last nearly long enough, but Ainsley decided to plunge ahead once she saw her put the phone down.

  “Drew, I wonder if I could talk to you for a minute?” The minute the words left her mouth she registered Drew’s pale, anguished expression, and Paul shaking his head and mouthing “no.” Before she could say anything else, Paul circled an arm around Drew’s waist and ushered her to the front door, waving Joey over. Ainsley followed close behind and heard Paul tell Joey to get Drew’s car, pronto. The pieces started to form a picture. Drew gets an urgent call and has to rush out. Paul is protective of her. Suddenly, Ainsley realized something was wrong, terribly wrong. She wondered if it had to do with Greer. Whatever it was, she needed to find out, in person. She called out to Joey’s disappearing back, “Get my car instead.”