The Designated Drivers' Club (12 page)

Jenny observed his trembling hands as they latched across his forearms. He was a wreck. Should she persist that Shiloh had been with her? It didn’t make sense to do so. It didn’t make sense period. And she certainly had no desire to further agitate him.

“Uh, okay — you got me.” What was the alternative? Tell him his dead sister has been haunting her? No way.

“God, he just won’t give it up, will he? Look, I don’t want to talk about it. It’s over and I’m not going to get all touchy-feely and spill all my deep-seated problems and regrets to someone like you. So, just tell him to leave me alone.” He strode toward the door.

“Good for you!” Jenny slammed her hands on her thighs and rose to her feet. She tugged up on the dress and followed him. “Now, that we’ve settled that, why don’t you head home and go to bed. I’m tired and I’d really like to get out of this horrible dress.”

Thank God, drama over. She yawned. It was late and she had absorbed more information than she could process. She wanted him out.

“Feel free to stop in any time you feel like it if you change your mind.” Okay, she
really
didn’t mean that. “So glad we had the talk.”

She opened the door. Grant lurched off the stoop and surveyed them both. She shoved Josh to him and waved.

“Good night guys! It was fun. Let’s not do it again.” Bam. She slammed the door in their stunned faces.

What the hell?

“I don’t believe in ghosts. I don’t believe in ghosts. I don’t believe in ghosts.”
Jenny repeated the phrase over and over as she sprawled on the sofa with her hand on her forehead. When her cell phone rang, she nearly leaped off the couch.

“Ms. Madison?” A pleasant male voice was on the other end.

“Yes.”
I don’t believe in ghosts,
she continued in her head.

“This is Barry.” She sat for a second. “Your new driver?” he said.

“Oh! Yes. Sorry. My mind was on something else. How are you, Barry?”

“Fine. I know you’re off today and I’m not supposed to call but since there are some early customers tomorrow, I thought I should. I have a church thing in the morning around eleven and won’t be done until the afternoon. I can’t take the first two rides. I’m sorry but well, this is something I have to do.”

She tapped the back of the couch. Church on Saturday? He must be Catholic. “No problem. I understand. Will you be able to work the rest of the day?”

“Absolutely. I’m just kind of doing a wedding so I have to be there.”

“You’re in a wedding? That’s great!”

“No, I’m
doing it,
you know, officiating. I’m an ordained minister.”

“Oh, wow.” Well, that explains the overtly positive attitude and exceptionally nice but sort of creepy smile. “I didn’t realize that. I mean you never mentioned. Uh, well, I guess that’s not really something that comes up in a job interview but … ” Open mouth, insert foot.

She heard him laugh a little. “It’s okay, Ms. Madison. It always catches people by surprise the first time I tell them. Anyway, I should be able to get back on the road by four o’clock at the latest. I apologize for the inconvenience.”

“No inconvenience at all. I’ll be able to take care of the early calls. Most of the business happens later anyway. Thanks for letting me know.” She hesitated. She didn’t want to lecture, but it was part of her business plan. “Barry, you know you can’t talk about that with the customers, right?”

“Yes, ma’am. I understand. I believe very strongly that certain things happen to you or around you for a reason. You just have to know when and then accept it and use it. This driving job was a calling for me. Just like the ministry, but I won’t let one interfere with the other. Don’t worry.” He hung up.

She worried anyway. It’s not that she had a problem with his religion. After all, she was practically raised in the church and her mom forced her to attend three times a week up until she was fourteen. Then it became such an argument that she finally wore the woman down and was able to skip it as much as she wanted. Still, her business was dependent on the principle that her customers were not given any grief over the need for a ride home. It wasn’t her job to try to clean them up — merely to deliver them safely home without incident. God, she hoped Barry really understood that. She giggled. Does thinking that count as a prayer?

Okay then. Well, maybe the appearance of Shilo and then Barry were signs? She burst out laughing. Yeah, right. You are seriously losing it, girl! Your head is so screwed up. You’re dreaming up ghosts, hiring ministers, kissing complete strangers in crowded rooms, wrecking cars, and carrying on conversations with said ghosts and considering them messages from a greater being. Anything else to add to that list? Her cell phone rang again.

“Yikes!” She dropped it and stared at the display. The device bounced around on the floor, vibrating and ringing. Nervously, she reached down and picked it up. “Hello? Barry?”

“No. Grant. Who’s Barry?” She couldn’t help but smile in relief.

“He’s one of my drivers.”

“Is he headed to your apartment too?” His voice was snippy.

“Of course not. He just called to say he needed me to take his early shift tomorrow. Why are you calling?” she asked.

“What are you doing to Josh?”

“I’m not
doing
anything
to
Josh. What kind of stupid question is that?” She pulled on the bottom of her dress. Patience with the fit and struggle of the dress was gone — it had to come off. She yanked the zipper down and stepped out of it. She scooped it off the floor, and headed to her closet with the phone to her ear. Grant’s voice was practically booming.

“Why was he in your apartment? And why did he tell me not to tell his dad he’d been there?”

“I don’t know. That’s his business, not mine. What does it matter?” She pulled out her pajamas and struggled into them with the phone anchored between her ear and shoulder.

“Jenny, he’s been through a lot. I can handle you messing with my head. I’m a grown man. I don’t give a shit. He may seem like he’s got it all together but he doesn’t. He really took Shilo’s death badly. They all did. Don’t screw with him.”

Yeah? Well, I kind of took Shilo’s death badly too since I just now found out about it! Is he insinuating what I think he’s insinuating?

“Are you really suggesting I’d go after a kid young enough for me to have babysat for him in high school? Do you think I would do that? That I
did
that?”

“No. I don’t know. Hell. A couple of days ago, I would have said absolutely not. Now, after tonight, I haven’t got a clue what’s going on in your head.”

“Grant?”

“Yeah?”

“Go to hell.” She ended the call. Jenny’s mom had always said she tried to find the best in even the worst people. Perhaps sometimes first impressions really are accurate and delving deeper doesn’t help. He really was an ass.

• • •

The next morning, Jenny woke abruptly and padded to the bathroom, did her business, and started toward the kitchen. The sound of banging on her door brought her out of the groggy, half-awake stupor. She peeked through the hole to see Grant standing on the other side, two cups in his hands.

“What?” she shouted.

“I brought coffee.” He held up the cups.

“Go away.” She was
not
in the mood.

“I need my car. You said you had to work early so I thought we’d kill two birds with one stone and go get yours.”

Her neighbor from across the hall leaned out and shushed him.

“Open up, Jen.” He frowned at the neighbor, a scary look that sent her scurrying back inside. Jenny snickered at the old bag and opened the bolt on the door. As soon as the door opened, Grant breezed in. He handed a cup to her.

“I didn’t know if you put anything in it or not.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out some packets. “Here’s some cream and sweetener if you want it.”

She wasn’t about to thank him after the ridiculous accusations last night. He needed to explain himself.

“Nice pajamas,” he said. She pulled the shoulder of the T-shirt tight. “Put some clothes on and we’ll get your car.”

“Is this supposed to be an apology?”

“Apology for what?” he asked.

“For basically calling me a child-abusing whore.”

He looked startled. “I didn’t say that. I just — I was mad, I guess.”

“No kidding. I never would have guessed. I suppose I’m responsible for that?”

“Yep. That’s right.” He sipped from his coffee.

“How so?”

He looked at her and laughed. “Your hair is sticking straight up in back.” He patted a hand on her head.

Jenny jerked back and bared her teeth. “Wow, thanks. Be careful. I bite in the morning and I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“Promises. Promises. Get dressed.”

“So, that’s the best I’m going to get?” She raised her cup and took a sip.

“What’d you want?” Grant asked.

“An explanation would be nice.”

He just stared at her then plunked his cup on the counter. “Okay, I’m sorry. I really don’t mean to be like that. I don’t know why you get to me so much, but it brings out my worst. It’s like I can’t stop it and what comes out of my mouth isn’t at all what I’m thinking. You kissed me and it was … unsettling.” He shook his head, “I don’t like the idea of that happening with someone else and it seemed so easy for you.”

“Easy? As in with anyone, even a kid?”

“No. See, there I go again. I think one thing and it comes out totally different. Let’s just go before it gets worse okay? I need my car and you need yours. Let’s get it and be done with this.”

She shrugged and plodded to her room to change.

• • •

Thirty minutes later they were in his convertible, breezing toward David’s house. The top was down and wind whipped her hair back and forth across her face. She tried to get a grasp on what he’d said earlier. It didn’t make sense. Unsettling? The sun toasted her cheeks with warmth. No wonder he kept the car. It was awesome to ride with the roof down, blue skies and sunshine above. This was what a sunny California day was supposed to be.

When they pulled up to David’s house, her car sat in the drive. Not a scratch on it. Jenny realized when the tension loosened that she had worried about that. That car was her livelihood. One wreck was bad enough, but two would ruin her insurance rates. She couldn’t afford any more expenses right now. She dropped her shoulders, relieved.

“Thanks. I appreciate the help.” She closed the car behind her and stepped toward David’s door to get her keys. Grant followed.

“You don’t have to come,” she said.

“I thought you might need some support.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. Before they reached the door it opened and out walked David, followed by none other than tiara-girl. “Oh. Hey!” David said. A flush of panic crossed his face.

“What are you guys doing here?”

Crap. Guess that seals it.
Jenny forced a smile.

“We came to get my car.” She held out her hand for the keys.

“Her car?” The girl, who turned out to be too old to classify as a girl, asked. “I thought it was yours. Why are you driving her car?”

“Because he went to the party last night with me,” Jenny explained. “Then apparently he ditched me for you. In my own car, no less.” She couldn’t believe how calmly she could speak.

Up close, the woman had to be ten years older than David. Her makeup smeared down her cheeks. Ugh. Good thing she’s famous because she’s butt-ugly. Jenny’s ego pumped a smidge.

“What?” The woman’s voice hitched up. “Is this true?” She whirled around to face David. Her ratty hair was plastered stiff against her head.

“Uh. No! I borrowed her car because I don’t really have one.” He glared at Jenny. “I never drive. I don’t drive. I pay people to drive me.”
Ouch!

“Well,” Jenny smiled. “I am here to borrow it right back. Right now in fact, because I need to go to work. So, let’s have the keys,
BABE.”

She snatched them from his hand and turned. He started after her but Grant stepped in front of him. “Call a cab, dude. Or call a friend. Call anyone but you better not call her,”

Grant muttered before following Jenny.

She screeched the tires as she pulled out of the drive and floored it back to her apartment. Seconds after she killed the engine, Grant pulled up next to her and opened the door. He knelt in front of her, one hand on the car door as he closed her in. “You okay?”

She pushed the hand away and stepped out. “Of course I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?”

One of the neighbors carried his trash out to the dumpsters. He waved a single brush of his hand in acknowledgement before going back inside. They both watched the man for no reason other than to avoid talking.

Grant cleared his throat to answer her. “Just checking. Well, good, then.” He stood for a few minutes, shifted his weight from foot to foot, and watched her expression, then left.

Never mind that she had spent the entire morning dealing with an appraiser on the damage done to the new car, nor that she had shuttled around three clients to the farthest ends of the city in the afternoon without a second in between to eat. Jenny was tired.

At 2
A.M.
, exactly one week from the party, she sat at a red light, ticking off last week’s events. One super cute, blue-eyed, very selfish boyfriend (David) gone. Check. One hunkier but grouchy guy (Grant) on the “great kisser, but who knows” list. Check. One very youthful, free-spirited ghost in tow. Check. Ghost’s big brother breaking into apartment. Check. New employee with issues. Check. Brand new car. Check. Brand new car crashed. Check. Insurance threatening to not pay. Check. Oh, yeah — one fancy party of elbow rubbing with California’s super elite. Check. Quite the eventful week.

An apparently homeless woman sifted through the Salvation Army drop box that was placed at the corner of an empty parking lot. Jenny banged a hand to her forehead. Her dry cleaning was still in the trunk. Since she hardly ever dressed for success anymore, her trips to the cleaners were far and few between. In fact, this was the first one since she lost her job last year.