Next to Me (25 page)

Jace pulls a box big enough for a pair of shoes out of a supply closet along with a couple of round trays that look like small, shallow cake pans. When he’s removed the contents from the box, and everything seems to be set up, he hold his hand out to me, palm up.

My heart begins to pound inside my chest. What if this doesn’t work? What if something happens to the coin in the process? I’m worried and I can’t hide it from covering my face.

“It’s going to be fine, Jenna,” Landon says, trying to comfort me.

“I promise. The last thing I want to do is ruin such an incredible artifact.” Jace gives me a reassuring, tight lipped smile.

“I’m trusting you with my life here. You know that, right?” I say to Jace.

“I know.” Jace’s hand is still held out for me to give him the coin.

I take a deep breath and place the coin in his hand. He begins to work quickly, using some kind of rubber based compound. He presses the coin into one of the trays with the rubber substance in it along with a straw so as to make a well of sorts, and lets it set for a moment. It doesn’t take long for the rubber to set. He flips the whole mold out of the pan and pulls the coin out. He does the same thing with the other side of the coin in the other pan. When he’s done he removes the coin from the mold and gives it to me. My heart has officially stopped racing now that I have the Nickel back in my possession.

“So now what? What’s next?” I ask him.

“Next, I use both sides to pour the nickel and make an exact replica,” Jace says with some vanity. He takes great pride in his abilities. I hope that pride never costs him an important relationship the way my father’s pride has cost him ours.

“Won’t the nickel be too hot for the mold?” I ask, concerned the heat will melt the rubbery material.

“This is a special, a little more high-tech, material. You can’t exactly buy it online, if you know what I mean,” Jace answers cryptically.

“And you have actual nickel?” I question. Jace nods. “How?”

“Do you really want to know?” he asks, looking at me over his glasses.

“No, I guess not.” The less I’m privy to here, the better. “Just be careful to make sure the front and back line up just as they do on the original. And there’s a little discoloration near Liberty’s chin. And…” Landon puts his arm around my waist, stopping me mid-sentence.

“He’s got it, Jenna. I wouldn’t have brought you here if I wasn’t sure he could do this.” Landon’s reassuring words don’t completely take my worry away, but they do help. “You’ve got the coin in your hot little hand, so let’s take care of getting your dress for tonight, ok?”

“I guess shopping beats hanging around here for the next however many

hours.”

“Ok, that one
did
sting a little.” Jace winces at my comment so I lean in and kiss him on the cheek. “I’m good now.”

“Good, because that’s the last time my girlfriend’s lips are getting anywhere near you,” Landon tells him as he takes my hand and begins to walk us to the secret passage.

We get halfway into the shop when Landon asks me to wait for a minute. He goes to the back of the store where Jace is still working and I wander around the small store stuffed with antiques. I scan the shelves and tables displaying some of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen and even find a few things that I love. There are some gorgeous pieces of white china with gold embellishments around the rim of the plates and cups, and a porcelain doll that reminds me of one my mother had when I was a little girl. I think she said her mother had given it to her. I wish I knew where it was now.

I look at pieces of art and what look like Tiffany lamps to me, but I could be wrong. I have no idea what a real Tiffany lamp looks like. I have no idea if those dishes are fine china or not. That’s what would make me the perfect customer for Jace. He could show me any item in this store and give me some convoluted story about its ancestry, telling me about how there are only a few of whatever it is left and that I’d be lucky to have it in my possession. I would be completely unsuspecting.

But not Dellinger. And not my father.

I’m not sure how to execute this idea of passing a fake coin to one of them at all. Do I give it to my father for betraying me? Do I give it to Dellinger for swooping in and inviting my father back into the world he tried so hard to leave? Or do I throw them both in a bag and pick one randomly to give to each of them. They’re big boys. Let them duke it out for themselves.

Chapter 15

I didn’t want to, but I actually enjoyed shopping with Landon this afternoon. Getting to spend someone else’s money didn’t exactly hinder my fun. And since it was Dellinger’s money, I bought the most expensive dress and shoes I could find.  We walked through a shopping area of Versailles that Jace told Landon was a hidden treasure of stores. That must have been what Landon went back to ask him before we left.

Again, there were moments when we forgot about why we were there in the first place. We laughed and shopped and even stopped for a bite to eat at a little sidewalk café. Perhaps we didn’t forget, but chose not to remember. We also used the time to sort through a plan of some kind for tonight with my father. It’s a loose plan if anything. There are so many unknown variables that the number of
if this happens then we’ll do this
ideas is too many to count.

The only thing that was decided for sure was that I would have to use one of the coins as leverage with Dellinger. I’ll give him what he’s been looking for and strike a deal. It’s the only shot I have at not having to run. I let Landon lay out his plan and agreed with him on as many plot points as possible. It’s as good a plan as any, but I can’t walk confidently in anything until I have complete reassurance that Henry Dellinger is never going to interfere with my life again.

I’m just out of the shower when I hear the hotel room door close and Landon calling out to me that he’s back. “I didn’t realize you had gone anywhere,” I tell him as I emerge from the bathroom wearing only a robe and my hair twisted on top of my head with a towel.

“That’s a hot look.” Landon smirks and I roll my eyes.

“A paper bag would look hot to you,” I tease.

“On you? Yes, a paper bag
would
be hot. You could also make a potato

sack look sexy.” Landon tosses a garment bag on the bed before giving me a lip-crushing kiss. I part my lips and lift my hands, lacing my fingers together behind his neck. My short robe rises and Landon’s hands trail down my sides, discovering that I’m not wearing anything else. His fingers skim over my hips with light, feathery touches before he takes me by the waist and pulls me from him.

“I’m not sure how much longer I can do this, Jenna. I don’t think you realize how difficult it is to say no to you.” Landon steps away and takes a deep breath.

“I’m sorry,” I say softly.

“No, no…
I’m
sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m in total agreement with you that, while this is the most perfect setting for us, these aren’t the right circumstances. I guess I’m just…a guy in love.” He smiles sweetly and it’s hard for my heart not to melt. He’s been so understanding about my reasons for not sleeping with him, even though since we got here those reasons have been lies. I can’t tell him that we can’t have sex because then I won’t be able to make a sound decision to leave if I need to leave. I know that once we take that step I’ll be even more bonded to him, more in love with him, that I’ll be too torn. I can’t solidify my relationship with Landon like that until I’m sure Dellinger has taken the deal with the coin and I’m free to move on with my life.

“Everything will be different when we get back to Chicago. Things will be as they’re supposed to be,” I tell him. It’s just as cryptic and full of mixed signals a message I’ve been sending since he sat next to me on the plane here. I wrap my arms around his waist and let him envelop me with his. It’s a warm and safe place and I’ve decided that I will have and enjoy it as long as possible. “So…where did you go?”

“I went down to get my tux. Concierge had one sent over for me. I gave them my measurements so hopefully it fits like they promised it would,” he

tells me.

“I’m sure you’ll look very handsome. The shower is free,” I tell him.

Landon strips down to those eternally sexy boxer briefs of his and heads into the bathroom to shower. I take that time and do my make up at the mirror by the bed and then move back into the bathroom when Landon is done so I can finish getting ready. I take everything in there because, along with the dress and shoes I bought today, I also bought a new black lace bra and panty set to go with it. Landon has seen me in my underwear before, but it would just be cruel to let him see me in this set. It’s not just underwear. In any other setting it’s an invitation for crazy hot sex.

I step out of the bathroom as Landon is adjusting his bow tie in the mirror across the room. I can see his reflection and he looks even more handsome that I had imagined. I smile at the site of him and he catches my eyes in the mirror. A look washes over him, one I haven’t seen before, not even when I modeled the dress for him in the store. He turns slowly and takes me in from head to heel.

The dress I chose is black, with a halter strap that attaches at the farthest points along the top of the bust, reminding me of those retro bathing suits from the 50s. The whole thing is a bit nostalgic, actually. The skirt comes just above my knees and flares at the waist. The red crinoline peeks out just enough, making my only option for shoes a sexy pair of red, Jimmy Choo stilettos with handcuff hardware around the ankle. I’ve left my hair down and in its natural wavy curl, letting it all fall down my back.

“Oh, my God, Jenna. You look…you look
so
beautiful.” Landon kisses me gently on the cheek rather than my lips so he doesn’t smudge my lipstick. It’s one thing for a guy to tell you he thinks you’re hot,  but there’s something about being called beautiful that means so much more.

“Thank you,” I say softly. “You look pretty incredible yourself.”

“Are you ready?” he asks.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I say. I grab the red clutch I bought to complete the outfit and walk through the open door Landon is holding for me.

The car arrives promptly at 7:00 pm just as we are stepping out of the

hotel and onto the sidewalk. Landon helps me in and then the door closes behind him as we settle in for the drive to the Ambassador’s home. We’re silent the whole drive as I run through all the possibilities in my head. I’m leaning toward giving my father the real Nickel. He
is
my father and despite what’s happened, I can’t shake this feeling of loyalty to him. Is it his fault that he got sucked into this life again? If Dellinger hadn’t offered him the money he did, would Dad have sought out this life after working so hard to leave it? I blame Dellinger for inviting my father to betray my mother and the work he had done to live an honest life. But…I blame my father for accepting the invitation. Neither one of them deserves the coin. Maybe I will toss the real one in Lake Michigan after all.

The car pulls up to the Ambassador’s home. It’s a grand, palatial estate that looks like it was built in the 1700s.
Our US tax dollars at work
, I think as I consider the upkeep of a home like this.

We step onto the gravel drive and Landon holds my hand to help me so I don’t fall.
I don’t understand why they don’t pave driveways out here.
There are two secret service men, or whatever kind of security they are, standing next to the front entry. One of them is holding a clip board, while the other is clearly there in case things get out of hand. I’m nervous because Dellinger only got an invitation to this event for me. I’m not sure what they’ll do with Landon and I know I can’t make it through this night without him.

“Good evening. May I have your name, please?” the security guy with the clip board asks.

“Good evening. Yes, my name is Jenna Rockwell,” I begin. I’m about to try and explain Landon’s presence with me when the guy interrupts me.

“And is this Mr. Scott?” he asks, looking at Landon.

“Um, yes, it is,” I tell him.

“Enjoy your evening.” He and the other security guy both nod at us,

sending us away and into the vestibule of the house.

“How did they know about you?” I say to Landon with a mix of curiosity

and worry.

“Dellinger,” Landon reasons.

It makes sense. Dad probably laid into Dellinger for sending me and told him about Landon. They would assume that I wouldn’t come tonight without him. Adding him to the list would mean avoiding the scene I would cause in my efforts to make sure he was with me all night.

The estate is just as beautiful on the inside as the outside. There are antiques and heirlooms everywhere. They must be part of this wing of the house…the area where they entertain and display their wealth and prestige for their visitors. I’m sure it’s how they play the part and point to the master of the house’s important position.