Trusting Jack (23 page)

             
Norah laughed.  “I could say the same.  I’ll be going to bed as soon as I get home and out of these shoes.”  She flexed her toes inside the new Jimmy Choo heels she’d bought while she’d been shopping.

             
“I told you they’d uncomfortable,” Emma told her.  “They’re so pointy toed.”

             
Norah made a rude noise and Alison giggled.  “I’ve had so much fun.  Thank you for asking me out.”

             
“I’m glad you came,” Emma told her.  “We’ll have to do it again, soon.”

             
“Yes, let’s,” Alison agreed as they pulled up to the curb.  When Norah said goodbye and got out, Alison touched Emma’s hand and stared at her.  “A word, please?  Did you invite me out tonight to see if I would deliver the message?”

             
“No,” Emma answered honestly.  “I invited you because I like spending time with you.  I’ll admit, though, that I’m angry enough to enjoy the thought of said message.”

             
Alison nodded.  “I can understand that.  I just want to be clear.  I’m not going to be in the middle.”

             
“I wouldn’t ask you to.  I know your loyalty lies with Jack.”

             
“It does,” she agreed, “for the most part.  But you can damn well be sure I’ll be asking him why he mucked things up when he confesses.”

             
Emma gave a faint smile.  “I’d like an answer for that, too.  I’d like you and me to be friends; I don’t want this to spoil that.”

             
“It won’t,” she promised.  “I’m loyal to all my friends.”

             
“Good.  I guess you want to go home, check on your baby.”

             
“I really do.  I miss him like crazy,” she admitted with a laugh.

             
“Have a good night, then.  Be careful going home.”  She got out and closed the door.

             
Alison tooted the horn and waved cheerfully before pulling away.

***

Later on, as the night deepened over Germany and he was alone again in his trailer, Jack stared at the four walls, his expression bleak.  He was beginning to have doubts. 

He remembered Emma’s hurt filled eyes and shaking voice and he hated himself for being the cause of them.
             

He missed her so damn much.  Her smile, her laugh, the way she clung to him in bed, the way she fit into his life.  He wanted her back.

He sat at the tiny table and buried his head in his arms.

Chapter 30

             
Emma held onto the mad.  It felt better that the hollow pain she’d had before.  Two more days, she thought.  Only two more days till Jack was due back.

             
She knew she’d have to face him.  Oh, she could cry off from being on the set with Norah, but she was tired of running away.

             
She’d face him and ride out whatever came next.

             
Chris offered to fly over, but Emma told him no.  She didn’t want him to put his work or his fledgling relationship on hold just to hold her hand.  And she was ninety percent certain that she’d convinced her mother nothing was wrong.

             
She had it under control.

             
Emma opened the door to get the paper and came face to face with James.  “Oh, Jesus, not this again.”

             
“You’ve every right to be mad,” he said quickly.  “I’m sorry.”

             
“Did he send you over here again?”

             
“No.  I came to apologize.  I wasn’t a good friend to you.”  He said it so directly, so earnestly, that Emma felt her anger downgrade a notch.

             
“No, you weren’t.  Well,” she gestured, “come on in.”

             
He flashed a grateful smile and closed the door behind him.  “Elizabeth loved the sweater,” he offered as he sat on the sofa.

             
“I’m glad.”  Emma eased onto the other end and tucked her feet under her.  “I went back got two for myself,” she confessed with a grin.  “The blue and the rust.”

             
“Women.  Can’t stay away from the shops.” 

Emma stuck out her tongue and made him laugh.  “I know, I know.  Great bargain, can’t live without it.  So on and so forth.”

              Emma hooted.  “You’re right about that I guess; it’s in our nature.”

             
“It’s also in your nature to be impossibly annoying, mysterious creatures,” he replied, a frown creasing his forehead.

             
She lifted her eyebrows.  “Woman trouble?”

             
“There’s a new accountant, a transfer from the states.  Tennessee, I think she said.  She’s damn prickly.”

             
“Can’t get her to agree to a date?”

             
“I haven’t asked.  I offered to buy lunch since we’re stuck working on an account all day, she says not necessary and orders her own.  Heaven help the man who wants to date her,” he grumbled.

             
Emma smothered a grin.  “What’s her name?”

             
“Liv. Olivia Hughes.”

             
“Is she pretty?”

             
“Yes, actually.  Red hair, beautiful blue eyes,” James replied.

             
“Not your usual type, huh?  Beauty and brains.  Don’t worry,” she leaned over, patted his knee.  “I’m sure you’ll talk her into a date before long.”

             
“What?  No.  No.  You’re right, not my type at all.  I just want to know why she’s so…prickly.”

             
He was beginning to get twitchy and Emma took pity.  Changing the subject, she asked “Have you had breakfast?”  When he shook his head, she offered, “I can make you some scrambled eggs and bacon.”

             
“Bless you.”  He stood to follow her and

grabbed her hand.  “I just want to say this, Emma.  I

am sorry.  I do believe Jack and I am his friend.  But I’m yours as well, and I’m sorry for what I did.”

             
Emma cocked her head and studied him.  “I believe you are.  And I forgive you.  It’s over and done and we can act like it never happened.”

             
“Just like that?”

             
She nodded and they went into the kitchen.  “You apologized.  I forgave.  It’s hard for me to hold a grudge over most things,” she admitted as she put a pan on the stove.

             
“I’m glad for that.”

             
“If Jack knew you told me the whole backstory of him and Sarah, would he be mad?”

             
“Not mad, not exactly.  He wouldn’t be thrilled about it, though.”

             
“Then maybe I’ll find a way to let him know.”  She felt James’s stare and said blandly, “I said I don’t hold grudges often; I didn’t say I’d let you off scott free.”  She lay bacon to sizzle and began cracking eggs into a bowl.  “Pour me some coffee, will you?”

             
James poured.

***

Norah started and Emma knew. 

             
She steeled herself, pasted on a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, and turned around.

             
Jack was striding towards them, his eyes never leaving Emma’s face.  He stopped in front of her and reached for her hand.

             
She quickly stepped back.  “Hello, Jack,” she greeted him quietly.  To her everlasting relief, her voice didn’t tremble.

             
“Emma.  God, I’ve missed you.  Can we go

somewhere?  Talk?”

              “No.”

             
“Please.”  His desperate gaze flicked to Norah, who gave him a small smile of sympathy.  “Ten minutes is all I ask.”

             
“All I ask for is the man I’m sleeping with to be faithful,” Emma responded sweetly.

             
“Oh, for Christ’s sake.”  Exasperated, he raked his fingers through his hair and took a step closer.  “Cut it out.”

             
Temper flared in her eyes.  “Cut it—“she began and Norah lightly touched her arm.

             
“Don’t make a scene unless you want to be on another cover,” she said softly.  “Almost everyone has a camera phone these days.”

             
With an effort, Emma managed to keep the bright smile on her face.  “Why can’t you leave me alone?  You had your fun, you got back at Sarah.  Can’t you just be happy with that, instead of trying to hurt me again?”

             
Jack winced.  There was a distance, coolness in her voice that scared him.  Still, he had to make her believe him.  He couldn’t lose her. 

             
“Ten minutes,” he repeated.  “That’s all I ask.”  His eyes questioned her and she could see the honest plea in them.

             
She sighed.  “Come by the house when we’re through here today.  You can have your time, but then we’re done.  Understand?  I’m moving on.”

             
Jack nodded.  “I’ll be there around nine, if we don’t run over.”  He started to say more, but a make-up assistant walked up and announced he was needed in the chair.

             
Emma and Norah walked towards the buffet

tables where the caterers had set up lunch.  “You know,” Emma informed her, “I am going to move on.”

              “What do you mean?”

             
“When we get home, I’m going to change and go out dancing.”

             
“But you told Jack—“

             
“I’m not going to listen to him.  When he shows up you can tell him to go to hell for me.”  There was an edge to her voice.  “I’m goin’ to find someone to help me forget.”

             
“Emma.”

             
“You’re the one who said rebound sex is good,” she pointed out.

             
Norah paused.  “You’ve got me there,” she admitted.  When they reached the tables, she grabbed two plates and passed one to Emma.  “I have to tell you, though, I believe him.  I think it was a set up.”

             
“I know you do.  I already know what I’m going to wear tonight.”  Feeling energized and suddenly hungry, Emma loaded her plate with a ham sandwich on rye, potato salad, and a slab of carrot cake.

Chapter 31

              Emma studied her reflection and nodded, satisfied with the result.  The short, siren red dress she wore clung in all the right places and the matching heels did great things for her legs.  She’d left her hair curling madly around her shoulders and redone her makeup, adding smoky eyes and lips to match the dress.

             
She grabbed a cropped jacket out of the closet and stopped at Norah’s open bedroom door before heading out.  “Do you think this is sexy enough to get a man tonight?”

             
“If that doesn’t do it, nothing will.  Are you sure this is what you want to do?  This isn’t like you.”

             
“I’m doing it,” Emma replied flatly.

             
“Well, ok then.  Just promise to be careful.”

             
With a nod, she went downstairs.  She made sure she had the essentials in her small clutch and opened the door.

             
And found Jack on the other side.  They stared at each other.

             
“It’s not nine yet,” she managed.

             
“I couldn’t wait any longer,” he replied.  “Skipping out on our talk?”