Careless Rapture (15 page)

“We were wondering where you were,” Cassie
said.

Adriana handed her a small plastic bag. “From
Nina’s garden.”

“It’s cilantro,” Eric said.

Adriana patted him on the cheek. “Thank you,
dear. Since they can’t read the prominent label on the front,
they’d never know what it is.”

Eric turned to Jackie and jerked his head in
Adriana’s direction. “I have my regrets about marrying her
sometimes.”

“The feeling is mutual.” She rested her hip
against the counter. “When I think of all the men I could have
married.”

He sighed. “And I think of all the women I
could be sleeping with.”

Adriana stuck out her tongue.

Jackie laughed. “You two are the oddest pair
of newlyweds.”

“Newlyweds? I feel as though I’ve known her
all my life.” He winked, then left.

Cassie folded up her napkins. “I think
everyone is here.”

“Clay hasn’t come yet,” Jackie said, then
blushed. “I don’t think.”

“Yes, he has,” Adriana said. “He’s talking to
Drake.”

“Oh.” She tried to sound nonchalant, though
she was disappointed he hadn’t said hello.

They walked to the dining room and Cassie
announced dinner.

Jackie pulled Adriana aside and said, “I wore
the rose design you created. It’s great.”

Clay appeared behind them. “Is that the one
with the embroidered trim?” he said.

The two women turned. Jackie’s heart
accelerated at the sight of him. His expression, however, was as
cool and unreadable as it had always been.

Adriana nodded. “Yes.”

“Brilliant design.”

“Thank you.”

Eric stared at him, curious. “How did you get
to see it?”

Clay faltered.

Jackie said quickly, “I took him by the shop
and showed him. He wanted to impress a date.”

Eric raised his brows. “By wearing women’s
lingerie?”

Adriana sent him a look. “You shouldn’t be
one to tease.”

Eric smiled, but still looked suspicious.
Fortunately, Drake’s son, Marcus, came in with Nina, loudly
explaining a long story only another child could understand.
Everyone headed to the table.

***

Jackie was determined not to meet Clay’s gaze
though he sat directly in front of her. She wondered what was going
on in his mind. Wondered if he felt the desire to be close to her
as she felt for him. She glanced at Adriana and wondered when Eric
would tell her about his lungs, then glanced at Drake, wondering
what he would say if she told him she was seeing Clay. She knew
they would both be furious.

As dinner progressed, her spirits dimmed. She
wished she had some sign that Clay’s feelings had changed toward
her. She knew their affair was casual, that anything more was
forbidden. Yet she craved for just a look or touch that would
signal that she meant something more to him than just a fun night
out—or, in their case, in. Then again, she knew that just a touch
from him would send her senses reeling and she wouldn’t be able to
hide what she felt for him.

Jackie helped Cassie clear the plates for
dessert then stayed behind in the kitchen, leaning against the sink
to gather her thoughts. She was so engrossed in them that she
nearly screamed when someone touched her shoulder, and she spun
around to stare up at Clay.

He put a finger to his lips and lead her to
the pantry. Shutting the door, he said, “I forgot to say hello.” He
kissed her, his mouth warm and demanding. Jackie made a few demands
of her own. When he tried to pull back, she wouldn’t let him and he
stumbled back against a shelf. A can of soup fell.

“Careful,” Clay said. “They’ll wonder what’s
going on in here.”

“I missed you.”

“I gathered that.” He grinned, then ducked
out of the pantry.

Jackie returned to her seat a few moments
later, glad everyone was involved in a conversation. About what,
she didn’t care—she only hoped she didn’t look “kissed.” She caught
Clay’s gaze and he winked. Jackie sighed wistfully. She’d never
noticed, how long his eyelashes were.

Eric asked, “So, Clay, how are you and Jackie
getting at it?”

Clay nearly choked. “I’m sorry?”

“How’s work? You two have been quiet. I’m
trying to draw you into the conversation. Your job must be
stressful.”

“Oh, it’s fine. I’m busy with three
cases.”

“You do missing people sometimes—what do you
think about this Amanda incident?”

“I think they’re looking for a body.”

Jackie said, “I think there’s hope.”

“The prognosis doesn’t look good.”

Cassie spoke up, hoping to change to a
lighter topic. “So, Jackie, how is Brian?”

“We broke up.”

“Sorry.”

“I’m not.” She rushed on when Cassie sent her
an odd look. “We weren’t really suited.”

Cassie nodded. “I see.”

***

Clay helped carry dishes to the kitchen as
Cassie filled the dishwasher. She turned to him and smiled. He
smiled back, remembering when she’d first smiled at him. It had
been a warm, toothless grin and it was beautiful, making him feel
for the first time as though he’d belonged—the stepchild in his
father’s new family. But her love for him hadn’t kept him from
running away. He knew that had hurt her, and was glad she had
allowed him back into her life after so many years.

“Mom called,” she said.

He managed not to cringe. “Why?”

“Just to talk. It wasn’t an interesting
conversation, but at least she wasn’t picking on me. You should try
it some time.”

“Picking on you?”

“No, talking.”

“I don’t need to talk.”

“Yeah, that worries me. You’ve been unusually
quiet.”

“I have a lot on my mind.”

Cassie nodded, but looked unconvinced. “You
do have someone you confide in, right? I know it doesn’t have to be
me, but you do talk to someone?”

“I don’t need to talk. I can take care of
myself.”

“I don’t doubt it. How about women? Are you
seeing anyone?”

“There are women. I got high marks for ‘plays
well with others.’”

Cassie grinned. “I’m sure you did. But you
know the offer is open.”

He patted her on the head. “Yes, little
sister. I know.”

***

Under a starless night, Claudia Meeks drank
her fourth beer, then sat on the sagging brown couch in her
apartment. She wasn’t sure canceling HOPE Services was such a good
idea. Perhaps she should have talked to Jackie about it. She was
always understanding. She never judged her, even when she made
mistakes. Unfortunately, Claudia couldn’t talk to her, she’d been
sworn to secrecy.

She took one long swallow, then glanced
around her dingy apartment. The window didn’t close all the way and
the heater had been turned off for an inspection she knew would
never happen. Who would have thought her life would end up like
this? High school band leader and she had graduated top of her
class. Well, more like the middle. She sighed and set the beer
down. HOPE Services had promised to help her get on her feet soon.
She wanted to get on her feet now, not wait—she was tired of
waiting. Soon she wouldn’t have to. The deal was made. The promise
of money was good.

She stood at that sound of a knock and opened
the door. She welcomed her killer inside.

Jackie smiled at
Patty as she entered the office. She knew she had to choose her
words carefully since Patty was quick to take offense. “I’d like to
see you in my office,” she said.

Patty looked at her, surprised. “Do you need
me to take notes?”

“No, I just have a few questions and I know
you can help me.”

“Okay.” Patty followed her into the office
and sat down.

Jackie sat behind her desk and chewed her
lower lip. She pulled out a card and handed it to her. “What do you
think about this?”

Patty looked at the card and shrugged. “I
think the design is pretty. You need help designing new HOPE
Services cards? Sure, I’ll help you. I think the current color is
so dull. I’d go with purple myself—”

“No, the office cards are fine. I was just
wondering about the message.”

“It’s a nice message.”

“Yes, but not appropriate for the office,
which is why Faye took these cards off your desk.”

Her lips thinned. “She had no right touching
my things.”

“But you understand the policy here.”

“I understand that I should have been given a
warning before she up and took my cards. She’s just Ms. Clean
Everything. Always so tidy. Her office is like a library.” She
glanced around Jackie’s desk—books were on the floor her desk was
filled with old proposals. “Unlike your office.”

“Yes, well, I’m not here to accuse you or her
of anything. I was just curious why you chose this card.”

“Listen, I got it in the mail and I liked the
message and the symbol. Looks like a peaceful sign, doesn’t it? If
I believed in tattoos I’d get one looking like that. But I don’t
believe in tattoos—”

“So that’s why you had it on your desk?”
Jackie asked, trying to keep her on the subject.

“Yes. I think everyone should have something
to believe in. I liked the thought of our clients surrendering to
our help and thought it would be nice for them to carry around. I
wasn’t trying to preach anything.”

Jackie nodded, knowing Patty was still
annoyed about the time when she had told her to take down her Jesus
fan.

“So you don’t believe in the Careless Rapture
Ministry?”

“I don’t even know what that is.”

“There’s a possibility it’s a cult.”

Patty shrugged. “I wasn’t encouraging anyone
to join it. I just had the cards on my desk. It’s not like it has a
one–eight hundred number on it or even an address. It’s almost like
a calling card.”

“Yes.” That was what was so strange. “Did you
receive anything else besides the cards? Like a flier?”

Patty thought for a moment, then shook her
head. “No, just the cards.”

“Have you received any strange phone
calls?”

“Yes.”

Jackie sat forward. “What?”

“My ex-husband’s wife called me to say—”

“No, I mean really odd.”

“No.”

“Do you remember any of the clients taking
the cards?”

Patty’s eyes narrowed. “Why? Are you trying
to blame me for some client joining a cult? I didn’t do anything
but have the cards on my desk. If someone wants to take it a step
farther then that’s their business and I won’t have the blame
pinned on me.”

“I wasn’t blaming you. But you’re a key to a
mystery I’m trying to figure out.”

“I don’t remember anyone taking the cards,
but you know how busy I am.”

Jackie didn’t know, but nodded anyway. “Thank
you for your time, Patty. I really appreciate it.”

“No problem.”

Jackie watched Patty leave, then rested her
chin in her hand. She still didn’t know much about her invisible
man—this adviser. It was possible Melanie had taken a card from the
office, but that didn’t explain how she had gotten involved. Jackie
called Melanie and left her number, then stared at the stacks of
old proposals on her desk. So far staring was as far as she had
come. She couldn’t get her mind to focus on writing the new grants.
Fortunately, no other clients had called to cancel, but that didn’t
make things all right. When the phone rang, she pushed the piles
aside and answered the phone.

“Hi, Jackie,” she heard Cassie say. “Adriana
and I are going out for some girl time to hang out. Do you want to
come?”

“Sure...”

Cassie paused, then said, “You seemed a
little down the other day. Is anything wrong?”

Jackie brightened her voice. “Oh, no. Things
are just hectic at work.” At least that wasn’t a complete lie.

“Yes. I understand. See you tonight.”

***

In tune with the changing seasons, the stores
in the mall blossomed with spring sales followed by the cacophonous
sounds of rustling bags, crying children, harried adults, and
flirting teens. Adriana stopped in front of a Nordstrom window
display. “Let’s go in.”

“Adriana, we’re window-shopping,” Cassie
said.

“I’m just looking.”

“Then continue.”

She wiggled her fingers. “I like looking with
my hands.”

“All right.” Cassie glanced at a bench. “I’ll
wait for you out here. Try to leave the store empty-handed.”
Adriana just smiled and went inside.

Since Jackie wasn’t much of a shopper, she
decided to keep Cassie company. She watched the passing crowd,
noticing a child with a drink the size of his head.

Cassie touched her hand. “Jackie?”

She turned to her. “Yes?”

Cassie began to speak, but at the same time
an eager voice interrupted her. “Are you Cassandra Graham?” They
both looked up at the short stylishly dressed woman with fluffy
brunet hair and nervous grin standing in front of them. “I think I
went to one of your workshops.”

Cassie offered the woman a polite smile. “I’m
afraid you must have me confused with someone else.”

The woman’s face fell. “I guess you’re
right,” she said, looking at Cassie’s simple patterned dress.
“She’s a lot more glamorous.” The woman rested a hand on her chest.
“She changed my life

“You changed your life, she merely gave you
the tools.”

“Wow! You even sound like her.” The woman
narrowed her eyes, skeptical. “Are you certain you’re not her?”

Cassie glanced at Jackie, then sighed. “I
suppose I should reward you for seeing through my disguise.” She
held out her hand. “Yes, I’m Cassandra.”

The woman was besides herself. She
enthusiastically pumped her hand. “Oh, I knew it!” She wiggled
herself between them and grabbed both of Cassie’s hands. “I love
you! I didn’t like
Fear of Ridicule
as much--I know it’s for
men, but I thought I could get some tips. I didn’t, but who cares?
Recipes for Romance
was fantastic! Oh, and that book you did
for teens was great! My daughter read it twice and I’m going to buy
it for my niece. That poor girl needs it. So, what are you working
on now? Will you be traveling to New Jersey anytime soon? I have a
cousin there. She loves you, too.”