Finders Keepers (14 page)
Authors: Fern Michaels
Seething with anger, Jessie slammed it again. This time it stayed in place. She turned to see a pair of summer blue eyes laughing at her. “I can truthfully say I've never been called a shit before.”
“Really,” was all Jessie could think of to say. Her backbone stiffened. “A shit is someone who keeps someone else waiting for fifty minutes without a word of explanation. Here, the senator asked me to deliver these. Merry Christmas.”
“Hey! Wait just a damn minute.”
“Don't tell me to wait just a damn minute. Get out of my way.”
The laughter in Tanner's voice only made her more angry. “How did you know I was the shit in question?”
“I see your stupid picture every day, that's how. I even have to dust it. Guess what, I won't do that again.”
“Look, I don't even know who the hell you are. I came here to pick up my father. When I didn't see him I went to the bar. I was on time. I didn't know I was supposed to pick
you
up. I knew Pop would come into the bar. I just assumed he met someone and lost track of time. He holds meetings in the john, on sidewalks, in the rain, in the snow, and sometimes on horseback. You're his secretary, I presume, so that means you should have taken your job seriously and called ahead. Did you do that? No, you did not. I'm a victim here. How long are you going to stay mad? We should go to the bar and talk this out. Then if you don't want to stay, you can leave. Do you really think I'm a shit?”
you
up. I knew Pop would come into the bar. I just assumed he met someone and lost track of time. He holds meetings in the john, on sidewalks, in the rain, in the snow, and sometimes on horseback. You're his secretary, I presume, so that means you should have taken your job seriously and called ahead. Did you do that? No, you did not. I'm a victim here. How long are you going to stay mad? We should go to the bar and talk this out. Then if you don't want to stay, you can leave. Do you really think I'm a shit?”
“You look like one,” Jessie snapped.
“Pop said you were one of a kind. He said I would like you. I hate it when he's right. That means I like you. Are we going to have that drink or not?”
“What time is the next flight?”
“Probably an hour or so.”
“Probably isn't good enough. I need to know exactly when the plane leaves, so I can change my ticket.”
“I guess that means you want me to check it out.”
“Since it's your fault, I'd say that's an accurate assumption.”
“You want to know something? My mother isn't going to like you. Not even one little bit.”
“Ask me if I care,” Jessie said, her voice ringing with sourness. “No manners either.”
“I heard that.”
“You were supposed to hear it. I don't talk just to hear myself, and I never say anything I don't mean. Run along and don't make a mistake on the time.”
“Run along! You're telling me to run along! No one has said that to me since I was in the first grade. Where the hell did Pop find you?”
“In the Rose Garden at the White House,” Jessie shot back. “Insufferable.”
“I heard that, too. Makes sense, in and about the thorns. Prickly as all hell.”
“I heard that.”
Tanner threw back his head and roared with laughter. People turned around to stare at him, amused expressions on their weary faces. “My mother is definitely not going to like you.”
“I really don't care, Mr. Kingsley, what your mother thinks of me. Since I'm not going to your ranch, I don't see that it matters. What time is the next flight?”
“Two hours and ten minutes. I guess that means we have time for that drink after all. Hemlock, Miss Jessie?”
“For two,” Jessie shot back.
In the dimly lit bar, Jessie ordered a gin and tonic. Tanner ordered a Coors.
“We should make a toast,” Tanner said, holding his beer bottle aloft. “Let's make it to meaningful apologies and new beginnings.”
“Okay.” Jessie's glass clinked against Tanner's bottle.
“I'm Tanner Kingsley, and you are?”
“Jessie Roland.”
“Obviously you feel the need to place blame, and I can't fault you for that. It's Pop's fault. He should have told you I'd be in the bar. Obviously he had other things on his mind. How is Irene?”
“Irene who?”
Tanner swallowed a mouthful of beer. “Ookayy. Is Pop coming home for Christmas?”
“Your father said to tell you he's been detained. He sent a gift for you and your mother”
“That's it, he's been detained. Would you care to elaborate?”
“No.”
“Is he coming at any point during the season?”
“He said it was doubtful.”
“My mother isn't going to like this. She must have scheduled at least two dozen parties. No, she is not going to like this at all. I meant it when I said she won't like you. I'm not trying to be brash and unkind. You'll pick up on it in five seconds. My mother is one of those people who can make you feel like hell just by looking at you.”
“Since I won't be there to give her the chance, what difference does it make?”
“I thought we went beyond that. Speaking strictly for myself, I'd like the opportunity to show you around the ranch and take you into Abilene. My mother's parties are boring, and she's forever trying to fix me up with one of her friend's daughters. She does the same thing with my sister, Resa. You'll like Resa. She teaches school. It's the only profession my mother thought was fit for a proper young lady. She doesn't come home much and prefers to live in town. Christmas is pretty much a command performance if you know what I mean. Then there's Pop. Whatever he has going for himself right about now is going to be spoiled if you return. I think he was counting on you to take up his slack.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh. What do you say? I'll keep you under my wing twenty-four hours a day so the wicked Texas witch doesn't get to you.”
“You sound like you don't like your mother.”
“You're right. I don't like her. I love her because she's my mother but that doesn't mean I have to like her. Resa feels the same way. Pop doesn't feel anything. I'm sure you picked up on that early on. As kids, Resa and I knew our parents were different. How could it not be different with a mother who lives in Texas and a father who lives in Washington, D.C.? I guess you know all that.”
“I don't know anything about your family. Your father doesn't talk about you or your mother to me.”
“He used to confide in Agnes. I guess I thought he'd do the same with you. She kept diaries.”
Jessie's heart skipped a beat. “A lot of women keep diaries. I did myself when I was younger.”
“So, are you staying or going?”
“It probably wasn't a wise idea for me to come here at all. I find it very difficult to say no to your father. He was concerned that I was going to be alone for the holidays and that's why he invited me. I won't feel comfortable, and obviously your mother doesn't know about me.”
“Surprises are wonderful! Please, change your mind and come with me. You don't really want to be alone for the holidays, do you?”
“No, not really. On the other hand I have no desire to be abused by your mother. I've had enough of domineering mothers to last me a lifetime.”
“I'm not even going to ask what that means. So, if you're ready, let's hit the road and head for the ranch. It's a good hour's ride.”
Jessie finished her drink. “I know this is a bad idea. I'm only doing this so I don't let your father down.”
Tanner reached for her bags. “You didn't tell me how Irene is doing.”
“Irene who? How would I know how she is, whoever she is.”
“She's my old man's lady friend is who she is. I know you know, and I know that you know I know. She's a very nice lady. She's the kind of mother every kid should have. I really like her. When I was in D.C. last time Pop told me she was very ill. I asked because I genuinely care how she is.”
“If you know who she is, why don't you call her and ask how she's feeling? People who care do things like that. It isn't that hard to pick up the phone to make a call. It might be nice to send a Christmas plant if she isn't feeling well. Poinsettias are lovely at this time of year. You could even send more than one.”
“You are tight-lipped, aren't you?”
“Is that a compliment or a criticism?”
“Actually, it's both. If anything happens to Irene, Pop will leave Washington.”
“How do you know that?” Jessie asked.
“Because he told me. I always thought he'd stay until they voted him out or he died in his office. He's not big on ranch life these last ten years. He can handle it for a few days at a time. I don't think he could live here year-round.”
“Why doesn't your mother live in Washington? If it's none of my business just say so.”
“She won't play second fiddle to a fat little nobody with gray hair. That's how she views Irene. She totally ignores the fact that Irene was a federal judge until four years ago when she got sick. She retired three months after her diagnosis. I've known Irene since I was a senior in high school visiting Dad on spring breaks. She makes the best cookies you ever ate.”
“I don't think you should be telling me things like this. Your father might not want me to know about your personal lives.”
“So, what do you think of my truck.”
“It's a kidney crusher,” Jessie said as they bounced along a rutted road. “Don't you have highways here?”
“We're taking the scenic route. It chops off seven miles. This truck was my father's first vehicle. I can crank this old girl up to seventy and zip right through the pasture and not miss a beat. I bet you're wondering if I take my dates out in this.”
“I wasn't wondering any such thing.” He was just like his father in the sense that he could read her mind.
“I do it once. If they balk, I don't ask them out again. My wheels shouldn't be important. What's your opinion, Jessie Roland?”
“If I was dressed up, and you showed up in this manure-smelling vehicle, I'd tell you to go fly a kite. If I was dressed for pumpkin picking or cow tipping, I might consider driving in it. Then again I might not. I'm really hungry.”
“Why didn't you say something?”
“Why didn't you ask?”
“Are you always so prickly? Do you ever smile? Are you engaged or dating anyone? Do you like making slow love for hours at a time, or do you like that wild, animal stuff?”
Jessie felt herself cringe. Virgin that she was she wasn't sure how to respond. Damn, Sophie would have turned on a dime and given him a shot he wouldn't forget.
“Well? Cat got your tongue?”
“No. I was thinking how best to respond so you would understand. I like a man with slow hands who knows what to do with those hands and who follows instructions to the letter. Anything less is totally unacceptable. Sex in my opinion is an
event. ” Sophie, you would be so proud of me
. The fact that her body felt like it was on fire was something else.
event. ” Sophie, you would be so proud of me
. The fact that her body felt like it was on fire was something else.
“An
event?
” Tanner's voice sounded nervous.
event?
” Tanner's voice sounded nervous.
Jessie's head bobbed up and down. “An event. You gotta measure up.” She hoped the laughter bubbling up in her chest wasn't obvious to the handsome man sitting next to her.
“Measure up?”
“Hmmnn. Yes, measure up.”
“What does that mean
exactly?”
The voice was jittery-sounding now.
exactly?”
The voice was jittery-sounding now.
“What do you think it means?”
“Hell, it could mean any number of things.”
“Like what? Name me something.”
“This is a stupid conversation,” Tanner said.
“Yes it is, considering you just met me.”
“I was just trying to put you at ease by being friendly.”
“Why didn't you just ask me what color my underwear is.”
“What color is it?” She'd never heard a strangled voice before.
“Yellow.”
“Yellow is a nice color. I like yellow.”
“What color is yours? Do you wear those baggy things or those tight cotton ones?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“I want to put it in my memory sampler. Well?”
“The tight white ones, only they aren't
really
tight.”
really
tight.”
“Tsk, tsk,” Jessie clucked her tongue. “I just read an article in a leading health magazine that said underwear like that reduced men's sperm count to zero.”
“You better not talk like that in front of my mother.”
“You started it.”
“Then I'm finishing it. Have you been to the Washington Monument?”
“No. I don't think I'm going to like your mother.”
Other books
Street Safe by W. Lynn Chantale
Producer by Wendy Walker
Warrior's Princess Bride by Meriel Fuller
By Fire and by Sword by Elaine Coffman
phil jones2 by J. R. Karlsson
The Drop Edge of Yonder by Rudolph Wurlitzer
Spellfire by Jessica Andersen
Twice Shy by Patrick Freivald
The Family Man by Elinor Lipman
Shameless Playboy by Caitlin Crews