“I have my cash hidden, and I have a special necklace that belonged to my great grandmother,” she said.
“Okay, that’s simple enough,” Jackson said. “Tell us where they are and we’ll get them, I promise.” Chuck stepped out onto the porch as Jackson continued to argue with Amanda.
“Amanda, you’re not going,” Chuck said simply, her mouth dropping open in shock. “I don’t like leaving Laura here alone at the house for that drive into the city two nights in a row. I need you to stay and keep her company.” He said it in such a way that she felt like a jerk for even thinking about arguing with him. And that’s when she knew she was falling for Jackson’s family almost as hard as she was falling for him.
Jackson had made a quick exit after the discussion about returning to collect Amanda’s belongings. She’d explained in detail where everything was and they were certain they could pull it off with no problems. Jackson returned to work with a few words about coming back around 5:30 that afternoon.
Chuck nodded in agreement as Laura joined them on the porch. Jackson hugged her and then slapped his dad on the back. As he walked by Amanda, he reached out to touch her, but he pulled his hand back as if remembering his limits. Pausing, he looked at her and then lifted his hand again, brushing his knuckles lightly across her cheek. “See you later, Amanda,” he said softly, before stepping inside.
That soft touch was almost as effective as his kisses, and it had her knees trembling. Chuck and Laura exchanged a glance that went unnoticed by Amanda. She sat back down, determined to remain nonchalant. Laura joined her at the picnic table. Clearing her throat, Amanda got down to business.
“Okay Laura, what can I do this afternoon?” She looked around the immaculate yard, realizing her duties would not include yard work, at least not today. Chuck brushed a kiss across the top of Laura’s head and mumbled something about reading the paper before skipping out on the ladies.
Laura leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. “Well, I really need a pedicure,” she said with a smile.
“You want me to give you a pedicure?” Amanda was surprised. She’d thought she was signing up for domestic work like cleaning and cooking, not personal attendant duties such as massages and manicures.
“No, silly girl, I want you to go with me and get a pedi with me!” Laura leaned back, her mug in her hand. “It’s been a long time for me, and I bet with those crazy shoes you wear that your feet could use a good massage too, right?”
Amanda was surprised for the second time in as many minutes. “Well, I don’t really have the money to spend on that, but I guess I could go and keep you company,” she said half-heartedly. Her heart hurt as she thought about the time she had gone to the mall with Angie and their mom to share laughs while getting pedicures together.
“Oh dear, nothing I ask you to do with me is going to cost you anything,” Laura assured her. “I want to go get pedicures with you because it’s something that’s more fun when you go with someone else. I want that someone else to be you this time.” She raised her eyebrows, waiting for an answer.
“Oh, wow, okay, well that would be nice,” Amanda answered. “The last time I had one of those was with my mom and my sister.” Laura’s heart leaped as she realized it was the first time Amanda had volunteered anything about her past life. She had to be careful not to scare her off.
“Oh, then it must’ve been a very long time indeed,” Laura mused. “What is your mother’s name?” She hoped she hadn’t pushed too far already, but she had to start doing some digging if this woman was going to be her future daughter-in-law.
“Susan,” Amanda said quietly, and Laura knew she had to let it go at that for now.
“Well, let’s get ready to go,” Laura said, linking arms with Amanda as they headed inside. There was so much she wanted to know about Amanda, like what happened when she went for the abortion, where did she come from, what she planned to do now, and Laura knew she would have to be patient to get to all of that.
They could start with a late lunch at her favorite spot in town, Caprice Café on State Street.
“The crab cakes here are so good,” Laura said as they were seated. She opened her menu, but it was just for show. She already knew what she wanted, but she wanted to help Amanda feel at ease.
Amanda opened the menu and was surprised at the prices for lunch. She tried to find the cheapest thing on the list, so she decided on the quinoa salad. Laura ordered the crab cakes and the Cobb salad with chicken. They both decided on water when the server took their menus, and then Laura turned to Amanda.
“I’ll share my crab cakes with you,” she whispered, as if it was a crime. Amanda smiled back, appreciating Laura’s attempt at making her feel welcome.
“Thanks, but actually, I have a shellfish allergy,” Amanda said. Laura’s mouth gaped, but she recovered quickly.
“I’m sorry, I had no idea,” Laura said. “Can you eat any fish?”
“Yes, fish is fine, but crabs, lobster, etc, all that makes me quite sick,” Amanda shared. Her last episode with her crab allergy had been in high school when someone had mistakenly told her some appetizers had tuna in them, when in fact, it was actually crab meat.
She’d been just a few seconds away from her throat completely closing off when her sister Angela had pulled out her own epi-pen and drove it home, deep into her thigh. The ensuing trip to the emergency room had been enough to convince her to carry own epi-pen, but of course, she did not have one now.
“Amanda?” Laura’s voice brought her back from the daydream where Angela had held her hand and whispered to her to keep her calm in the ambulance. She remembered how Angela’s hands had been shaking.
“I’m sorry Laura, do you think I could use your phone sometime? I really need to call home and let my family know I’m okay,” Amanda asked.
“Of course, dear, you can use it any time, I have oodles of minutes,” Laura sipped from her ice water before handing her cell phone to Amanda. “Here you go.”
“Oh, uh, I didn’t mean right now,” Amanda said, pushing the phone back to Laura. “It kind of needs to be a private conversation.”
“Oh, okay, no problem,” Laura said, wondering if she dared to ask. “How long has it been since you’ve called them?” She watched Amanda’s expression harden and knew she’d pushed too far.
“I haven’t talked to them since the day I left two years ago,” Amanda said icily. The guilt was there, but she used the anger she remembered to protect herself. “I don’t want to talk about it. Period.”
“I’m sorry,” Laura said soothingly. “I didn’t mean to pry, honestly. I thought you just wanted to let them know where you were now since you’ve moved in with us.”
“It’s not permanent, Laura,” Amanda said with a bite in her voice. Their server delivered Laura’s crab cakes, which she immediately pulled far away from Amanda. “I’m not going to stay with you forever, you know. Just until I can get on my feet better and I can make sure it’s safe to go back.”
Laura had prepared herself for this reaction, but she hadn’t prepared for the tear in her heart. Attempting to hide her disappointment, she smiled brightly. “It’s okay dear, I am happy to have you for however long you would like to stay,” she said. “Now, let’s talk nail colors.”
Amanda was grateful for the subject change, and they spent the next five minutes discussing what color they should each get on their toes when they went for their pedicures.
Later, Amanda relaxed in the massage chair as she soaked her feet. Laura was next to her with her latte, and Amanda was savoring her frappuccino while she flipped randomly through a popular magazine.
She loved seeing what her favorite starlets were up to, who had made the best and worst dressed lists and what scandal had befallen them this week. But page 27 held a surprise, and Amanda’s sharp intake of air nabbed Laura’s attention.
“What is it, dear?” Laura leaned over to see what she was looking at. “Oh, pictures from the fundraiser. I heard it raised we
ll over the half-million mark Clarissa was shooting for. That’s an adorable picture of Clarissa dancing with the senator.” Laura continued to babble, but she didn’t notice the couple in the background.
Amanda stared at the picture that clearly showed her face as she danced with Jackson. The paragraph below the photo said it all: Trouble in paradise for heiress Clarissa Black and long-time boyfriend Jackson Brennan? Who is the woman he danced with while Ms. Black spent time with Senator Atwater? Rumor has it the two have split, ending what many believed was a match made in heaven, so Clarissa Black and her millions may once again be on the market. Speaking of being on the market, it appears Mr. Brennan may be off the market permanently, if the expression on his partner’s face is any clue.
Amanda pulled her foot from the surprised woman who was working on her rough heels as she sat up to get a better look at the picture. If anyone who knew Billy was looking for her saw this picture, he would be able to track her down through Jackson. That meant it was only a matter of time before Billy found her. And when he found her, he’d find the sweet woman sitting next to her.
Chapter 19
Her toenails were lacquered and her eyebrows had been waxed, but Amanda didn’t even have time to admire the handiwork as she contemplated the words from the photograph. She’d had quite the dreamy expression on her face, she thought with disgust.
Not to mention the fact that our bodies looked like they were molded together. She remembered the feeling of pressing her softness against his strong body, but she quickly tamped down on the heat she felt because she was in the car next to the man’s mother.
She had to warn Jackson, she thought. If Billy found out who he was, which the caption clearly stated his name, he was just one step away from finding out where he lived. I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to him, she thought. She’d stopped questioning why she felt so strongly for Jackson and just accepted it now.
Accepting and believing they could actually be together were two different things, and Amanda had no delusions that he would consider a real relationship with her. She was a hooker, after all, and even though she was no longer turning tricks, she was still just a woman who got paid to let men use her.
Jackson sat in his car, waiting for the perfect moment to head into the apartment building. Things looked pretty quiet right now as the sun was setting, but Jackson knew Billy could have lookouts just waiting for Amanda to return. Chuck sighed next to him, and although they’d only been sitting there for about five minutes, it seemed like it had been forever.
“Well, I guess we might as well get this over with,” Jackson said. He picked up Amanda’s key and stepped out of the car. Chuck joined him on the sidewalk and the two walked into the building together.
They made short work of the apartment, gathering Amanda’s meager belongings. Jackson found the necklace she had talked about and slipped it into his pocket. They filled a duffel bag with her clothes and a few odds and ends and then headed out the door.
They looked up and down the street before leaving the building, but they saw nothing out of the ordinary. The two men headed to the car, and Jackson was just about to slide into the driver’s seat when a shadow fell over him. As he started to turn, he heard his dad yell out, but then he was blinded by pain.
Amanda gripped Laura’s cell phone tightly, silently begging Jackson to answer, but it just went to voicemail. “You’ve reached Jack Brennan, and I can’t get to the phone right now, but if you leave a message, I’ll be sure to get back to you. If you need someone on the church staff, please contact the on call pastor at 323-555-7199. Thanks!” The beep sounded and Amanda began to speak rapidly into the phone.
“Jack, you’ve gotta be careful, and please call your mom as soon as you get this so I know you are okay,” she said with urgency. “I think Billy might be able to find out where I am, and if that’s true, then he can find you too, and…oh god, I just can’t even think…”
Amanda gulped back a sob, her breath hitching. “Your mom doesn’t know but because your name is under the picture of us dancing, Billy could find you, so please be careful, and if Chuck is with you, please make sure he is okay too, I couldn’t stand it if something happened to either of them or especially…” She trailed off again, unable to continue and unwilling to say the words she was thinking in her head.
I love you, Jack. I can’t live without you. I don’t know how or why, but you saved me and I love you for it, despite everything that has happened. If she was brutally honest with herself that was what she needed to say to him. Instead, she just pleaded with him.
“Anyway, please call us, and just forget about the stuff at my place, it’s not worth it,” Amanda said, true panic setting in. “Just please come home.”
Calling home was not an option for Jackson at that very moment. He heard his phone ringing in the car, but it seemed very faint. Something warm trickled down the side of his face, but he barely had time to register the fact that it was blood before Billy’s face filled his vision.
“Jack! Are you okay? Let me go, you punks!” He heard his dad’s muffled shouting and could see him past Billy’s face. What he saw made the rest of his blood run cold. Chuck was facedown on the sidewalk, two big guys pinning his arms back as he struggled.
Jackson shifted, trying to throw off the weight that was pressing him onto the asphalt, but it was like a bulldozer on his back. Billy’s hand was in his hair, raising Jackson’s head off the street as he made his point.
“You pass on a little message to Mandy for me, will ya?” Billy’s sneer, combined with his reeking breath was enough to make Jackson nauseous. “Tell that little bitch that she better get her ass back on my street or Whit is gonna end up like her old roommate.” He let go of Jackson’s hair, which resulted in his left cheek connecting with the ground hard enough to take his breath away.
“Let him go!” Jackson heard his dad struggling and yelling, but it all seemed surreal as he floated somewhere between consciousness and the blackness that threatened to overtake him again. Suddenly, the bulldozer was gone and he could breathe again.
Moments later, he felt rather than saw his dad leaning over him. “Jack, oh my God, are you okay?” Chuck’s hands were rough from years of work at the garage he owned, but they were gentle as they cruised over his face, trying to assess his injuries.
“I feel like I got hit by a truck, but other than that…” he trailed off, laughing weakly.
“Son, this isn’t funny, I thought we were in some real trouble,” Chuck said, helping Jackson to his feet. His head was throbbing, his shoulder hurt and his hip was on fire, but he figured he’d survive just fine.
As Chuck saw Jackson’s entire face for the first time, he gasped. “Okay, that’s it, we’re going to the hospital,” he said firmly. “I know there’s one close by.”
Jackson protested, wanting to get back to Amanda as quickly as possible. His dad helped him into the passenger seat, tossing the duffel bag into the back before quickly getting into the car.
“Wait, Dad, I have to check something,” Jackson said, fishing around in his pocket for the necklace Amanda had specifically requested. His pocket was empty, and his heart stopped. That was something she’d been very forceful about; he had to get the necklace, because it had belonged to her great grandmother.
How can I go back to Amanda without that necklace?
Amanda paced back and forth, biting her nails and looking at the clock for what seemed like the hundredth time. Why hasn’t he called? What if Billy already found them?
“Amanda, honey, you’re going to wear a hole in my tiles if you keep this up,” Laura said. “Let’s have some coffee and a couple of cookies while we wait.” She loaded a plate with her sugar cookies, made famous by her own mother’s recipe and set them on the table.
When Laura indicated a chair at the table, Amanda reluctantly took a seat. She grabbed a cookie, but her heart wasn’t in it. Laura was busy at the coffee maker, setting up a mug for Amanda before brewing her
own cup.
Laura joined her at the table, where Amanda was anxiously tapping the fingers of one hand while nibbling on the cookie. She was sure the cookie was good, but right now it tasted like sawdust in her mouth.
“Okay, I’m going to call Jack again,” Amanda announced, hopping up to find Laura’s phone again.
“Amanda, you left a message, and calling them again will not change anything,” Laura said wisely. “Come sit down with me. Tell me about the night you met Jack. I don’t think I ever got the full story from him. You know men don’t give details.” She smiled at Amanda to encourage her to start her.
Amanda tried to smile, but her frustrations and worries made it come out a little shaky. She sat down again and laughed a little tremulously, but she began to weave the story of the night Jackson pulled up to her curb.
Chuck and Jackson had continued to argue for a few minutes about whether to look for the necklace or not. Finally, Jackson grabbed his phone, pulled the door handle and slid out despite Chuck’s pleading. Stepping around the front of the car, Jackson used his cell phone as a light to search for the necklace.
Chuck joined him in order to move the search along, but he was more worried about Billy returning to finish the job or pass on another “message.” At Jackson’s gasp, Chuck swung around to see his son proudly holding up the silver chain. He grinned and then stood up too quickly, nearly dropping it again when he wobbled.
The two men returned to the car and Chuck pointed the Focus toward Redlands. It was half an hour before Jackson remembered he had a voicemail from a missed call. He saw that his mom had called and he wondered what she wanted, but figured he’d better listen to it in case the women needed them to pick something up before they returned.
Hot Pink Heels (The Street Series) Page 12