Morning Man (29 page)

“All I’m asking for is dinner and all you have to say is yes,” he said with a seductive grin, as if peddling apples in the Garden of Eden. With all senses on high alert, she was keenly aware that dinner wasn’t the only thing on the menu and the longer he gazed at her, the more intimacy she started reading into the invitation. “C’mon.”

Her gut instinct told her it was wrong and yet, her mouth opened and out came words that sounded entirely different. “Sure. Why not?”

He beamed. “Tonight at seven? Meet you in the lounge.”

“Okay, I’ll meet you at seven. Promise.”

After her afternoon sleep, Dayna groggily climbed into the shower to revive for the evening ahead. She then slipped into a slinky black strapless dress she’d bought weeks ago in anticipation of Tack taking her out on the town. Another frustrating reminder of something else that they’d never managed to consummate.

The elevator opened and her heels clicked on the tiled floor as she crossed the hotel atrium to the lounge. She clutched her pocketbook as she looked for Brad.

“You’re early. I like that,” he said, leaning in close behind her.

She momentarily tensed with surprise before turning with a smile. He cut a sharp figure in a handsome dark suit, his black shirt left open at the collar. And damn, he smelled as good as he looked.

“You must have been following me.”

“I was in the lobby. You walked right past me,” he said with an Adonis-worthy smile. “But I wouldn’t have missed you for anything, Dayna. You look sensational.”

“Thank you,” she said. “It’s just a little something from this season’s suitcase collection.”

Brad offered his arm. “You ready to go?”

Warily, she linked her hand around his firm, strong bicep. It wasn’t nearly as thick as Tack’s arm, but she felt the benefit of a lifetime’s worth of roping and riding and whatever else strapping young Albertans did. He escorted her out the hotel door, where a black stretch limousine waited out front. Even as the white-gloved chauffeur smiled and held the door open for her, it didn’t register that it was their ride until Brad told her so.

She blinked her wide eyes. “Really?” It seemed to be luxuriant pampering worthy of a movie star or something equally fantastical. “This is amazing, but it’s far too much,” she said as Brad slid in next to her on the backseat.

He gave her an easy smile, reaching for the bottle of champagne chilling in the limo bar. “It’s only a car. Besides, we have something to celebrate tonight.”

“Your negotiations went well today?”

“They’re done.” He handed her a glass flute teeming with bubbly. “The wells will be drilled in October and the royalty checks will start coming in by the end of the year. The way I see it, it should be enough to take care of my family until my generation’s grandchildren have grandchildren, maybe even longer.”

“I’d say that’s definitely news worth celebrating. Congratulations.”

“I’m glad you’re with me to celebrate, Dayna,” he said, clinking the thin rim of his glass to hers. “So, here’s to splurging a little and making this a wonderful evening.”

* * * *

Tack set his beer down, grabbed the remote and put up his feet, beginning a search for brainless viewing that would be like sleep-inducing warm milk before bed. He flipped through the channels, but quickly gave up. The only thing on his mind was Dayna. He put down the remote and picked up his cellphone.

“Hey sugar, it’s me again. Just thinking about you and well, I hope you’re doing okay. You’ll be happy to know that listeners keep calling in and asking, ‘When Dayna’s coming back?’ I guess they can tell the show’s not even close to being as good without you. And neither am I for that matter. I miss your voice. I miss your face. I just really miss you. A lot,” he said with a heavy sigh. “I’m sure you realize that the long weekend’s coming up. It seems strange that we’re apart after all these weeks of counting down to Labor Day. I haven’t stopped counting down, either, baby, and I hope that the date still means something for you too. God, I really want it to. I love you, Dayna. And if you still feel the same way, just say the word before Labor Day. I’ll be waiting to hear from you. If I don’t, well, then I guess I’ll have your answer,” he said. “So please, sugar, call me, okay? Tell me that you’ll be coming home soon.”

* * * *

Brad took Dayna to the revolving restaurant at the top of the Calgary Tower, with breathtaking panoramic views of the city skyline and the dazzling sunset over the Rockies. Dinner had been a gourmet masterpiece. He’d had beef, she ordered bison, and it would’ve been the scene of a perfect evening, maybe even the setup for a perfect seduction if it weren’t for the niggling feeling in her gut.

“Forgive me, Brad, I just–” she said, opening her purse and pulling out her cellphone. She looked at the display. No messages. “Hmm.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know, but I just had the strangest sixth sense to check my phone.” She smiled apologetically. “Sorry.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“It’s weird, but I don’t think I’ve heard it ring once since I thr–uh, dropped it. It broke, but I snapped it back together and it powers up fine, so it must be okay, right?”

Brad pulled out his own phone. “Give me your number and I’ll try right now.”

She arched her eyebrow. “You sure this isn’t just a ploy to get my number?”

“It sure is,” he said with a grin before dialing in her digits. He kept his eyes on her as she watched her phone, lying lifeless on the table. “It went right to voice mail,” he paused. “Oh wait. Now it says your mailbox is full.”

“Shit,” she huffed.

“Let me take a look.” He unsnapped the back of the phone and deftly slid apart a few components. “No wonder it hasn’t been ringing. The pins in your SIM card are bent.” He picked up the tiny chip between his slender fingers and held it out to her. “See?”

“Well, can you bend them back?”

Brad chuckled, sliding the pieces back into place like a child’s puzzle. “Uh, no, I’m afraid you’ll need to pick up a new one.” He toyed with the keys. “Figures. It’s wiped out your memory and your phone book too.”

“What? No!” With a lurch, she grabbed the phone from his hand to see for herself. She hadn’t bothered to memorize anyone’s number in ages; they’d all just been stored in her phone. “So, how am I supposed to retrieve my messages if this hunk of junk is worth as much as a bar of soap?”

“You could use a regular landline. Just call the number and dial in your PIN.”

“Well, hypothetically speaking, what if someone was unable to recall their PIN?”

“Then hypothetically speaking, I guess they’d be up shit’s creek.”

Dayna racked her brain for the code. Or a word. Yeah, a short word. Or maybe the last four digits of her phone number? Her birthday? Mother’s maiden name? No, that was her last phone. Damn it, what is it?

“Don’t panic. Just get another card.”

Her face fell. “But, but…my whole life is connected by that phone.”

Brad smoothly reached for the bottle on the table. “You know what might help in this situation? A little more wine.” He proceeded to fill her glass, glancing up as he did so, and recognized her worry. “This is about Tack, isn’t it?”

“Hmm?”

“The reason you’re so upset about the phone. Not to mention why you aren’t surrendering easily to my charms this evening,” he said. “I figured that once we got through salads and appetizers, you might stop talking about him. But after we finished our entrees and you were still singing his praises, I knew I didn’t have a shot.”

“Did I? Oh, Brad, I’m so sorry.” She sighed, gazing at his dark, come-hither eyes and a smile that could melt stone. “It’s not a reflection on your wonderful company whatsoever. You’re gorgeous, suave and sexy. And if I knew for sure that there isn’t something special waiting for me back home, I’d already be in my suite eating dessert off of what I can only presume are your perfectly-toned abs.”

“Aw, you’re just saying that.”

“You’re great, really great. But I’ve already got myself a cowboy and you’ve already got a girlfriend. So I’m afraid that means we won’t be hooking up tonight.”

“Tack’s a very lucky guy.” He tilted his head and smiled as he reached for her hand across the table. He brought it to his lips and kissed it. “If things don’t work out with him or you end up moving here and find yourself wanting some company, I’d like it very much if you thought of me first.”

She smiled. “I promise, Brad. If I move to Calgary, you’ll be at the very top of my list of things to do.”

Chapter 18

Tack rocked back and forth in his office chair, his weight precariously balanced on the teetering hind legs as he stared off into space.

“Hey, hey, Friday’s done, long weekend’s here!” Jared announced merrily. “Have any big plans for the…er, oh, sorry.” He gulped. “Still nothing?”

“Nothing,” he said without blinking. “Tried twice last night. Now it says her mailbox is full so I know she isn’t even picking up her messages.”

“I’m real sorry, Mr. Collins. I would’ve thought for sure–”

“Yeah. Me too, kid. Me too.” He suddenly bucked forward and the chair landed on all fours with a heavy thunk. “Think it’s time to just face the facts. She’s not coming back anytime soon.”

Jared shook his head. “I can’t believe that’s true. You’re the dream team.”

Tack picked up a pencil and anxiously drummed it against the desk. There had to be some way to get one last message to Dayna before he left for the weekend. “Say, what time have you got?”

“Quarter to eleven. Why?”

“Just a hunch,” he said, dropping the pencil to pick up the phone. “You mind giving me a moment?”

Jared left and quietly closed the door behind him as Tack dialed directory assistance and requested the number for Big Country Q92 in Calgary.

* * * *

“Big Country, you’re caller twenty-six, sorry,” Gord said, pressing the next button in the row of eagerly blinking phone lines. “Big Country, you’re caller twenty-seven, try again.”

“Ooh, we’re getting close.” Dayna sat in the news booth on the other side of the glass. “We’re about to hook up a lucky listener with a Calgary Stampeders’ ultimate fan prize package complete with dinner out, an autographed team jersey and four primo seats to this weekend’s Labor Day Classic against the Edmonton Eskimos.”

“Ohhh, I’m sorry, caller twenty-eight. Missed it by that much,” Gord teased with a chuckle as he played the sound of a timpani roll. “You ready, Dayna?”

“Congratulations, caller twenty-nine, you are Big Country’s Big Winner of the Day!” she announced jubilantly.

“Wha–huh?” The caller stumbled. “I am?”

“Yes, you are, sir, congratulations. Can we get your name?”

“It’s, uh…Ta-Terrence. Jeez, did I just win something?”

Tack? Dayna nearly choked on her tongue.

Gord jumped in. “Well, hey there buddy, you sure did. The ultimate Stampeders’ fan package including four tickets to this weekend’s showdown against the Eskies.”

“Stampeders? Ugh, are you talking Canadian football?”

“Terrence, you must be one of our listeners from south of the border.” Gord scrambled to cover the awkward pause with an uncomfortable laugh as he shifted in his seat. “I’m guessing you’re not a CFL fan.”

“Nope. Never caught on to the three-down system and why the heck your football isn’t regulation NFL size,” the caller said with a chuckle. “I was only calling to make a request.”

“You mean to tell me we’re trying to make you Big Country’s Big Winner of the Day but the only thing you want is a tune? Well, ain’t that a kick in the head.”

“I’ll gladly give up my prize if you’ll do me this solid.”

Gord rolled his eyes. “This is certainly unprecedented, but all right, I think I can do that. What was it that you wanted to hear?”

“My girl’s been away for a while, but she listens to your show every day. It’d be great if you could play a little somethin’ special so she knows how much I miss her.”

“Aw, that’s sweet. What love song did you want me to get on for you two?”

“
Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy
. It gets her going every time.”

Dayna did a faceplant as Gord guffawed. “Gee, that’s awfully romantic…not!” He turned to the music library on the computer and quickly found the song, pushing up the slide to increase the volume as the electric guitar kicked in. “Okay folks, stay tuned next hour for a chance to be our Big Winner of the Day and claim the Stamps’ ultimate fan prize package. In the meantime, going out to Terrence and his long-gone girl, here’s Big & Rich on Big Country Q-Ninety-two.”

Dayna hurled her headphones onto the console and rushed from the news booth to the control room. She reached for the phone before realizing all the lines had all gone cold. “Where did Ta…uh, Terrence go?”

“Guess he hung up when he heard the song.” Gord shrugged. “Heaven knows that hoser wasn’t holding on for the football tickets.”

Her shoulders slumped before it occurred to her that he had to be calling from work. She dashed into the production studio next door and dialed an outside line. “Yes, operator, I need the number for Hot Country One-oh-three in Columbus, Ohio? Actually, even better if you can connect me directly,” she said, her heart pounding in her throat.