Crimson Palace (27 page)

"No, Jenna, I haven’t moved back to the casino. Although I never regretted a minute of the years we spent living upstairs. All in all, I believe you will find the new house quite "acceptable."

"Oh, please, I didn’t mean to upset you, mother. I suppose I’m just a trifle tired from the trip. But not too tired to enjoy Maud’s good food!" She smiled endearlingly at Clay’s and Ned’s mother. "I certainly have missed your famous ginger bread men, Maud."

The room quickly filled with talk and laughter as waiters brought in tray after tray of delicious food.

"I’m really quite anxious to see the new house. Tell me about it, mother."

"I think you’ll like it. It’s about a mile out of town and overlooks the Truckee River. I suppose I was foolish, building such a big house at my age, but I admit I felt like indulging myself."

"Do we have a carriage and driver? Being so far out of town might prove to be a hardship for me after I go to work."

"Work? Why in the world would you be going to work?"

"I’m an educated woman, mother. I can’t just sit at home in that big house of yours all by myself while you spend all your time here at the casino."

"But I had hoped you would make friends with some of the young people here in town, maybe find yourself a nice young man and get married. There’s no need for you to work, dear."

Jenna’s laugh sounded hard, brittle.

"A nice young man, mother? Do you really think I’ll find a ‘nice young man’ in Reno who will be interested in marrying me? Can you imagine a society matron being thrilled to hear that her son is courting the daughter of the Crimson Palace’s owner? Or has the attitude of Reno’s upper class changed so much in the past eight years?"

"Darling, you’re a beautiful, very wealthy young woman. I’m sure you won’t have any problems finding someone."

"Just to set the record straight, I am not in the market. I’ll be damned if I’ll marry some man who finds me acceptable because I happen to be a wealthy heiress. No thank you, I’d much rather get a job. I’ve earned my librarian’s certificate and I’ll be proud to put it to good use."

Jenna’s chin stuck out defiantly, reminding Shinonn of the many times she had seen that very expression on her daughter’s face when she had been a toddler.

The girl’s eyes sparkled with defiance. She was secretly pleased to see the shock she had created by using her favorite curse word.

Shinonn sighed in resignation, realizing that when Jenna’s jaw was set like that she seldom changed her mind.

"If that’s what you wish, I’ll see if I can’t talk to someone who might help you find suitable employment."

"I’m sure I can handle it myself, mother. But thank you for your concern. Now, tell me all about school,"

she turned her attention to her brother.

***

Shinonn leaned back wearily in her chair, idly stirring her cooling tea. Alex noted a darkening under her eyes, a tenseness in the set of her jaw. Long past midnight, their work day was finally coming to an end.

Maud had just left after giving a report of the evening’s receipts.

"How is Jenna settling in?" he asked, suspecting that at least part of Shinonn’s tenseness might be due to her newly returned daughter.

"She’s fine, thank you, but, well, ... she’s certainly not the child she once was. Oh, I knew she was all grown up, but in my heart she was still that frightened little girl we put on the train eight years ago. I expected changes, but I just wasn’t prepared to see that look of contempt in her eyes."

"Give her time. She’s just young and idealistic. And don’t forget, the life style she’s been living in Boston is one hundred percent different than what she sees here. She’s been hob-nobbing with society’s upper crust. But I have faith that after she’s been here awhile she’ll come to see that what a person is inside is much more important than where their money came from or who their great grandparents were."

"I hope so. I certainly can’t change who I am this late in life."

"And would you want to?"

Shinonn chuckled, "No, I wouldn’t change one day of my life for all the tea in China. My life hasn’t been what you might call ‘conventional’, but it has been interesting!"

Alex smiled gently, remembering all the good times of the past.

"The irony of this whole situation is that here my daughter is, ashamed to have anything to do with the casino while I can hardly keep my son out of the place! At twelve he knows more about the business than I do."

"He hasn’t passed you up yet, but watch your step, mama, he’s coming on strong!" Alex chuckled. "His quick mind, coupled with his fascination with the business, almost guarantee that he’ll make a huge success of it when he takes over.

"If he wasn’t so young, I’d be happy to see him do it now. He’s got ambition and he’s not afraid to work. Yes sir, it’s going to be something to see when he finally gets his wish."

"I never expected Jenna to take an active role in the casino, wouldn’t want her to. But it hurts to see that look in her eyes. As far as she’s concerned her ‘tainted’ roots are bound to ruin her life. Do you think she could be right, Alex? Have I made it nearly impossible for her to find happiness in a good marriage?"

"No, of course you haven’t. Any decent man would be proud to marry Jenna. She’s beautiful, she’s bright. Any man who would let his family’s high faluting society ideas about what’s decent keep him from marrying our girl wouldn’t be worth his salt anyway. No, she’ll find herself a good, decent man, just mark my words.

"And then we can think about grooming Garrett to take over my job. I can’t tell you how anxious I am.

I’m an old man. I’m ready to sit in the sun for awhile."

"Well, come on, old man. I’d say we’ve both put in enough time here today. I’m here to tell you, this has been one long day. Sometimes I wonder how it is that the days manage to get longer as I get older."

Chapter 20

"Clay Turner, what a surprise to see you here at the library again. Funny, but you never struck me as the scholarly type before."

Jenna, clutching a stack of books in her arms, peered down at Clay from her elevated perch on the library ladder.

"You know I don’t care a whit about books. I just came by hoping for a glance at your ankles. Looks like my timing was perfect today," he added, grinning wickedly as he made a playful grab at the hem of her skirt. The action elicited a squeal of pretended indignation from Jenna.

"You should be ashamed of yourself acting like that here. Don’t you know how a gentleman should behave in a library? Why, libraries are practically sacred institutions!" She tried to appear shocked, but it was obvious she thoroughly enjoyed his outrageous behavior.

"Yes, and I come here every day to worship at the feet of the new assistant librarian."

"Well, you’d better do your worshipping from afar, sir, or there won’t be an assistant librarian left to worship. If I get caught talking about anything other than books, I’ll be out of here before you know it.

And believe me, nothing would please my mother more! Now git, before we get caught."

"Shhhh! Don’t you know you’re only supposed to whisper in libraries?" He shook his head in mock dismay. "My, my, my, young lady. Whatever will we do with you?"

"‘We’ will leave me alone while I work, is what ‘we’ will do with me! Now, go on. You’re going to get me in trouble."

"I’ll go if you promise to come to lunch with me."

"Maybe I’ve already had lunch," she teased.

"Don’t add lying to your already growing list of sins. I happen to know for a fact that you go to lunch precisely at one o’clock. I also know that the head librarian takes her lunch between twelve and one, and that all this talk of yours about being caught talking to me is a crock, because your boss left the library twenty minutes ago."

"My, my, you are very well informed." Jenna sat down on the top of the ladder, drawing her knees under her chin and wrapping her arms around her ankles. She looked down at Clay from her lofty perch, her deep blue eyes sparkling with merriment.

"I try to be, where you’re concerned. A fellow’s got to keep on his toes if he’s going to beat out all your other suitors."

Jenna was pleased to see that Clay had put extra effort into his appearance for this meeting. His coal black hair, which usually tended to be unruly, had recently been cut and thoroughly brushed. His glistening face reflected a barber’s straight razor. The scent of the lotion the barber used after his shave drifted up to her, enticing her with its masculine fragrance. It pleased her no end that he had gone to so much trouble to impress her.

"I suppose I should be flattered by all this attention?"

"Well, I don’t go to this much trouble for most girls."

With his good looks, Jenna doubted that Clay Turner ever lacked for female attention, or had to put himself out much to attain it.

"My, I am impressed. So impressed that I do believe I shall accept your gracious invitation."

"Well, it’s about time! I was beginning to wonder if you’re worth all the trouble."

"Probably not, Clay Turner. But then, you’re the one who will have to decide that!"

"I’ll meet you outside at one. But before I go, let’s have just one more peek at those ankles." He reached out and playfully lifted the hem of her skirt.

"Why, you keep your hands to yourself, you rake!" she giggled as she slapped his hand away. "Keep behaving so outrageously and I’ll have to change my mind about lunch."

"I’m going, I’m going. But just between us and these books, I bet you like a little fun more than you let on."

Jenna watched Clay walk down the aisle, a cocky little swagger to his step. As he turned at the end of the row, he looked back at her and gave her a playful wink.

The fact that her mother thoroughly disapproved of their relationship only increased Jenna’s interest in the eldest Turner brother. Shinonn may have had the power to force her to leave her friends in Boston and come back to this hell-hole, but by God, her mother would have absolutely no say in who she associated with.

Personally, she found Clay both intriguing and frightening. He radiated a sense of danger that, rather than putting her off, drew her irresistibly to him. And, she had to admit, he was wickedly handsome with his dark good looks. She was mesmerized by his intense, brooding eyes, sensing a barely controlled passion lurking in their depths.

Her instincts told her that Clay was a man who had been with hundreds of women, a man who, given the opportunity, could be a complete rascal. He was a man who would take what he wanted from a woman then walk away from her without a backward glance. And, most intriguing of all, she believed him to be a man who had never been tamed.

A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Maybe a bit of taming was just what Mr. Clayton Turner needed!

With sparkling eyes and a saucy tune on her lips, Jenna finished slipping the books back into place.

***

"It beats the heck out of me why you would waste your time with Ned. You and I both know that he bores you to death will all his talk about his precious farm."

"It’s not a farm, Clay, it’s a ranch. And maybe I don’t finding it boring."

"Planning on being a farmer’s wife?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I can just see you at round-up time. How are you at branding beefs? Or are you just planning on ‘rustling up the vittles’?"

"It seems I’ve found Clay’s weak spot", Jenna thought to herself with satisfaction. "All I have to do is mention that I’ve talked to his brother and Clay flies into a fit of jealousy!"

It was a perfect late Spring day. Clay had hired a buggy to drive the two of them along the Truckee River to a secluded sandy stretch along the river shore.

Jenna knew she looked adorable in her saucy sailor’s middy dress and pert straw hat with matching blue and white ribbons.

"You should be ashamed of yourself, disparaging your own sweet brother like that," Jenna said in mock seriousness.

A slow smile spread across Clay’s face, one corner of his mouth lifting slighter higher than the other. He looked at her a moment, and then, very deliberately, reached across the short space that separated them.

Placing both hands firmly on her shoulders, he pulled her toward him, kissing her on the mouth, full and hard.

She was quite breathless as he pulled away.

"I’m not ashamed of anything. And I’m not worried about my brother. Ned’s looking for a girl. You’re a woman, Jenna. You’re going to be my woman, whether you know it or not."

Jenna fought for composure. She would be damned if she would let him know that no man had ever kissed her like that before. She looked at him, trying with all her might to appear the aloof, experienced woman from the big city that she pretended to be.

"We’ll see about that. No one tells me what I’m going to do. No one ever will. And, if you don’t mind, I’ll let you know if and when I want you to kiss me again. Who knows, maybe I never will."

"Here, let me help you make up your mind."

Suddenly changing tactics, Clay spoke in a low, seductive tone as he reached for her again. This time there was no mistaking his intention. She knew exactly what he had in mind, and she didn’t resist. She leaned into his embrace, enjoying the sensations of his hands as they slipped from her arms to her back.

His fingers worked their way to her sides, edging their way toward her breasts. He pulled her closer, and then closer still.

Their lips melded together. Exciting, new sensations raced through her as she felt the tip of his tongue touching her lips. Fear and desire fought within her. She had been kissed by boys before, but they had been quick, dry, furtive kisses. This sweet torment was different. Clay Turner was no innocent boy. He was a man, with a man’s experiences, and a man’s desires. A shiver of excitement ran through her as she realized just how very dangerous a man he might be.

His outrageous behavior both frightened and pleased her. Though his desires were even more powerful than she had anticipated, they actually fell right in with her plan. She intended to make Clay Turner want her as he had never wanted any other woman. In order to get him to do what she wished, she would need to tame him with her feminine wiles. Clay Turner wouldn’t know what hit him. When she put her mind to it, she was very good at getting exactly what she wanted.