Trusting Jack (12 page)

***

              Norah was waiting for her when she got back.  “You’ve done it again,” she told her and handed her the magazine.

             
“Damn.”  Emblazoned on the front was a picture of her and Jack hand in hand, smiling up at each other, as they left the hospital.  The caption read
, New couple looks cozy as they visit a friend.  Is Jack Brandon finally over Sarah?  Is Sarah smarting over his new love?
  There was an insert of Sarah’s face, looking decidedly upset.

             
“Where the hell do they get off?  It’s not a

competition, for God’s sake!”

              “Isn’t it?” Norah asked mildly.  “Sara’s still pissed that Jack ended it before she did, no matter the reason why.  Then you enter the picture; someone unknown, someone from the sidelines.  The look on her face says she’s not happy, even if the picture is weeks old and not from seeing you together.”

             
“It’s just stupid,” Emma exclaimed.  “They’re tryin’ to cook up some stupid rivalry story when there isn’t one.  I don’t believe these people.”

             
“I know,” she replied with sympathy.  “It really does suck to have your privacy invaded.  But after you’ve been in the business long enough you get used to it.”

             
“If you say so.”  Emma began putting the food away and changed the subject.  “Mama is excited about the cruise.”

             
“I’m glad.  You’re a good daughter to do that for her.”

             
“She’s fifty-one.  It’s time she got to do some of the things she’s always dreamed about.  And, Happy Birthday to you!  Since you and Mama share one I can’t forget.”

             
“I share age with your mom, too.” Norah sighed mournfully.

             
“You do not,” Emma laughed.  “She’s got eleven years on you.”

             
“Still, I’m feeling old.”

             
“Aw.  Cheer up.  Do you want your present?”

             
Norah’s eyes lit up.  “Gimmie.”

             
Emma went into the other room and came back

with a box wrapped in pale green paper and topped

with a pretty white bow.  Norah ripped into it and

pulled out a violet silk shirt.

              “I love it!  Thank you so much, Emma!”  She gave Emma a hug and stripped off her shirt to try the new one on.  “How do I look?”

             
“Gorgeous.  Still young.”  Emma grinned.

             
“Smart ass.  I’ll wear it tonight, at my birthday bash.”  She had reserved the VIP room at Tristan’s the week before and invited her She-Wolf companions.

             
“Will Richard be there?”

             
“No; he had to fly to Oregon and begin work on his new film.  He sent me flowers and a note thanking me for the good times.”

             
Emma shook her head.  “I still can’t get over the way y’all hook up so causally whenever you work together.  I’m not judging,” she said quickly.  “I just don’t think I could do it.”

             
“I know you don’t judge.  But what do you think is going to happen when we’re through here?  Are you and Jack going to call it quits?  Have you talked about doing a long distance relationship?”

             
Emma was silent for a long minute.  “I don’t know,” she finally admitted.  “We haven’t talked about it.  I hadn’t even thought about that.”  But she filed it away to think on later.

             
“Well, I’m sure you will work it out.  Meanwhile, who do you think I should be next?  The jilted wife accused of murder or the slightly neurotic virgin convinced she had a phantom lover?”

             
Emma sat with her to discuss the options.

Chapter 14

              Emma and Norah were escorted to the VIP room, with Norah stopping occasionally for autographs and photos.  When they walked through the doors, the people inside broke into a chorus of Happy Birthday.

             
“Thank you, thank you.”  She and Emma shrugged out of their coats and tossed them onto a nearby chair.  The weather had turned even colder and it had started to rain.  “And thank you all for coming.”

             
She went around the room giving hugs.  When she reached Janet, Roger’s wife, she was complimented on her blouse.  “Emma gave it to me.”

             
Janet nodded at her.  “You have excellent taste, my dear.”

             
Emma smiled and looked around the room.  It boasted its very own bar and bartender, a great sound system, and mood lighting.  There were tables placed about and a few booths tucked into the corners.  The music was already pumping. 

             
Jack walked over to her and she accepted his kiss.  “There’s my girl.”  His warm blue eyes slid over her.  “You’ve raindrops in your hair.  They make the brown sparkle.”

             
Emma laughed and lightly shook her head.  “Such flattery,” she teased.  The conversation with Norah crept up, and she forcibly pushed it aside.  She wouldn’t ruin the evening by moping.  She smiled brightly and pulled him towards James.

             
Jack saw the shadow of sadness in her eyes and wondered what was wrong.  Before he could ask, she was putting her arms around James’s neck and kissing his cheek.

             
“Lovely Emma.”  James returned the affection. 

“I’m delighted to see you again.  This is Anna,” he indicated the busty brunette poured into the yellow minidress at his side.  “I talked her into being with me tonight.”

              Emma smiled.  “Nice to meet you.”

             
“Oh, you, too!”  Anna bounced excitedly and Emma thought her boobs would pop out of the dress.  She noticed James’s eyes glued to her chest. 

She rolled her eyes and resisted the urge to poke him. 

              “I’m so excited to be here,” Anna continued.  “I’m going to get everyone’s autograph and dance with you all.  I’ve never met anyone famous before.”  She reached behind her and grabbed a small notebook.  “Will you sign for me?”

             
“I’m afraid I’m not famous,” Emma laughed.  “But Jack is.  I’m sure he’d love to help you out.”  She winked at James as she dodged Jack’s grab for her hand and left to join the others.

             
“Is she tipsy already?” Roger asked.  “Or merely that empty headed?”  He grinned when Marcus laughed and earned a reproachful look from Janet.             

             
“She just young,” she told him as Emma sat.  “Like Emma.”

             
“Yes, well, young as our Emma is, she’s always been professional.”

             
“Can I have your autograph?” she asked, fluttering her eyelashes, and caused Roger to snort.

             
“Silly girl.”  He held up an empty glass.  “I believe I’ll go order another.  Can I get you anything?”

             
“A vodka tonic, please,” Emma told him.

             
“I like those as well,” Janet said.  She was still attractive at 64 and a full fourteen years older than her husband.  It had caused a minor scandal when they’d wed five years before.  “And I like your outfit.”

             
Emma had elected to wear a short oatmeal

colored sweater dress with a pleated skirt and paired it with dark brown tights and tall boots.  “Thank you.”

              “You look sexy, as always,” Marcus put in with a toothy grin.  “Did you notice the karaoke machine in the corner?”  She hadn’t but she glanced at it now.  “I hope we make use of it; I’ve been told I have a marvelous singing voice.”

             
Janet tried and failed to suppress a smile as Marcus wondered towards the bar.  “He’s a bit pompous,” she said.  “I don’t care for him, really, and I believe Roger is beginning to tire of him.  Oh, look, Roger’s bringing nachos.  Delightful.”

             
Everyone ended up pushing the tables together so they could share the bar food.  The conversation turned inevitably to
She-Wolf
.

             
“We’re slightly ahead of schedule.”  Pleased, Thomas popped a fried pickle in his mouth.  “We’ve only got two on locations left.  Cologne and Whales.  Where you, Roger, flee with Piers Gaveston.”  He waggled his eyebrows.  “Your lover.”

             
“Despenser,” Emma corrected absently as she tried to decide between a cheese stick or more nachos.  “Hugh Despenser the Younger was rumored to be Edward II’s lover then.  Piers was murdered by the barons in 1312 and Despenser became the king’s favorite.” 

She trailed off and flushed when she saw everyone looking at her.  She cleared her throat.  “Anyway.  Sorry.”

              Norah grinned.  “Told you she knows her history.”

             
“I’ll say.”  Thomas wiped his mouth, pushed

back his chair and held out a hand.  “Let’s dance and

you can tell me more.”  Emma stood and let him lead her out onto the floor.

             
After dancing with Thomas and Jack, Emma stood at the bar and decided she’d try a Highland Fling.  “You’re right,” she told the bartender.  “It is good.”

             
James came up and ordered a drink.  He looked slightly rumpled with his shirt half way unbuttoned and his hair mussed.  “Marcus has Anna cornered, telling her about the big part he’s about to land.  He’s already signed her little autograph book.”

             
Emma grinned and eyed his drink.  “What’s that?”

             
“It’s called a Turkish Delight.  Taste?”  He held the glass to her lips and she sipped.

             
“Mmmm.  I’ll get one of those after this one.”

             
“Are you thinking about tying another one on?” Norah asked as she and Jack paused beside them.

             
“God, no,” she replied.  “One of has to stay sober so we’re not late tomorrow.”

             
“True.”  Norah and Jack both grinned as they danced off.

             
“You and Jack seem to be enjoying each other’s company.”  James reached for an olive.

             
“We are.” 
For now
.

             
“I’m glad,” he said easily. “I like you, even if you did toss me over for him.”

             
Emma burst out laughing.  “If I hadn’t of then you wouldn’t be here with Anna.”

             
“Ah, sweet Anna.  I’ll be enjoying her later tonight.”

             
“I bet,” she replied dryly and nodded at Marcus as he walked up.

             
“Emma.  Care to dance?”  She didn’t see a way

to refuse politely.  She sat her drink down and followed

him.  Once they hit the floor, he spun her out and back,
causing her skirt to flare.  She let out a surprised laugh and he grinned down at her as they fell into the beat of the music.             

             
“I enjoy dancing,” he told her.

             
“Me, too.  You’re very good.”

             
“Finally, a compliment from you lips,” he teased her.  “I’d all but given up on you noticing me.”

             
“I’ve noticed you.” 
Mainly acting like an ass
.  “I’ve just been too busy to talk to anyone much.”

             
“Except for Jack.”  He spun her again.  “I still don’t understand why you won’t join me for lunch.  I’m as good as he is.”

“When I’m with someone, I’m with only him,” she replied with frost in her voice.  “I don’t play around.”

“As if he’d know.  I don’t kiss and tell, love.” 

Emma stiffened in his arms and tried to pull away.  “Excuse me.  I think I need to sit down now.”

His hold tightened.  “I’m sorry; I shouldn’t spoil our dance.”  He held on and Emma danced stiffly.  She didn’t want to make a scene and ruin Nora’s night.

“All right, everyone,” Norah called as the song ended.  “Let’s karaoke!”  She was tossing the microphone from hand to hand, grinning drunkenly. 
“Who’s first?

             
“I’ll give it a go.”  Marcus moved away from Emma and caught the mike Norah threw at him.  “How about a song from Mr. Robert Palmer? 
Addicted to Love
?”  Norah punched in the number for him and went to sit with the others.  Marcus launched into the lyrics and it wasn’t long before the group was tapping their feet and singing along.