cell phone call hadn’t connected? This hotel was built when walls were walls and bathrooms were private. “Why don’t we talk about it, Owen. In the living room. You go on out there, and I’ll follow in a minute. I just need to freshen up a bit.”
“You don’t, Jessica. You’re perfect the way you are.” He sat again, his hand moving below the bubbles right into the water.
Jessica scooted all the way over, but if he made one more move, she’d have to do something. Screaming was out, but maybe she could take one of the candles and hit him in the head with it.
She glanced at the door, willing it to open.
“I’m afraid you’ve misunderstood something, Owen,” she said. “Where did you get this wild idea about me hiring Dan?”
“This morning, when you were having coffee with Marla. I heard the whole thing.”
She laughed, but it sounded unbelievably phony. “You heard things out of context. I didn’t-”
“I heard every word. He’s a whore, that’s all. A gigolo. You don’t feel anything at all for him. I heard you say it.”
Just then the bathroom door swung open, and there was Dan, flanked on either side by two burly men in dark suits.
“Funny,” Dan said. “I don’t feel like a gigolo.”
Owen sprang up from the side of the tub, crossing his hands in front of his privates like some kind of cartoon character. “Hey, what the hell?”
Dan held up his cell phone. “We heard it all. Especially the part about you breaking into her suite and her bathroom. You, sir, are about to find out how popular those red briefs are going to be on Rikers Island.”
Owen blinked as though the whole thing was a bad dream. The two men, security for the hotel, walked over to him. It was clear they weren’t interested in anything but removing Owen before there was a scene.
Dan stepped away from the door. “Don’t worry, baby. The police are downstairs.” Then he turned to McCabe. “I can’t wait to see what the
“My clothes,” Owen said as each man took an arm. “At least let me get my pants. Do you know who I am? I’m a very important man. I can show you my ID if you let me get my-”
Dan swung the door shut behind them, then turned to her, his face creased in worry. “Are you all right?”
She nodded, although her whole body shivered uncontrollably. It felt as if she was in a tub of ice.
Dan got a towel and held it out for her. Jessica stood shakily and let him wrap her up. He held her close and tight, warming her as much from his concern as his body heat.
“I heard everything. I was downstairs in the cafe,” he said.
“Thank God. For all I knew, you were in Hoboken.”
“That bastard’s gonna fry for this.”
“I don’t care about frying, but I’ll make damn sure the president of the company hears about it. I just feel sorry for his wife and kids.”
Dan pulled back for a second to look at her. “He didn’t touch you, did he?”
She shook her head.
He smiled, kissed her, then pulled her back into his embrace. “I’m glad you trusted me to help.”
She didn’t answer, but the violent tremors had eased, and that was enough. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s get you in bed. You need to warm up.”
“I can’t. I have to go to Central Park.”
“Marla can’t handle that herself?”
“Not with Owen out of the picture.”
After transferring the towel to her hands, he reluctantly let go. She shouldn’t have to work now, not after that. Dan figured he’d call the police while Jessica got dressed and find out what they needed to do to press charges. Son of a bitch. He was almost sorry he’d brought the security men with him. He’d give anything to have five minutes alone with lover boy.
JESSICA WENT to her bedroom, a little surprised at how she was still shaking. Nothing had happened, except that Owen was no longer a problem. She hadn’t been hurt, he hadn’t even seen her naked. She’d have preferred not to have seen him in his underwear, but she doubted that would cause permanent trauma.
She was also surprised at how grateful she’d been to see Dan, and she wondered if she would have been just as happy to see anyone come to her rescue or if it was specifically Dan.
As she dressed, she ran her plan over one more time. The more often she heard it, the more logical it seemed. And now she knew that if all went according to plan, Dan was someone she could count on even if it wasn’t one of their designated weeks. Good to know.
She’d had to count on herself alone for such a long time, she had mixed feelings about having someone else to turn to. Her father had died years ago, and her mother had never been someone to rely on, so it had all fallen on her shoulders. Getting into college, finding her first apartment, investing…she’d researched everything on her own. In that way, she supposed, she and Dan were alike. Although from what he’d said, he had his mother. She envied him what sounded like a great relationship. Although her lack of closeness with her family had given her free rein to pursue her own path with no interference whatsoever.
That was one of her fears about getting too involved with Dan. With anyone, for that matter. She didn’t play well with others, never had. Her goals were always to be the leader, the field marshal, the captain. Never a follower. That’s what made this job so important. After this, the real perk she’d receive in her new position, whatever it may be, would be freedom. She would be able to negotiate herself into a position of real power. No more Owens to contend with.
It was a solid plan, and given her success so far, it was going to turn out beautifully. It would be fascinating to see what came down about Owen. Geller and Patrick might just ask her to take his place. If they paid enough, she’d jump at the chance. There were so many things she wanted to implement in the company.
Dressed, she checked her look, ran a brush through her hair, and went back to the living room. Dan was just hanging up the phone.
“I’m going to the police station when you leave for Central Park. How long do you think you’ll be?”
“God, hours. We have to wait until the last person checks in. It could be really late.”
“What about dinner?”
“I’ll send someone to pick up a pizza or something.”
“Okay, I’ll call before I join you, and see if you need food.”
“Great. Thanks.” She looked at her watch and saw she was late. Marla was probably pacing downstairs. She caught Dan around the waist, gave him a quick kiss, then said, “That thanks was for more than the offer of dinner.”
“I know.” He kissed her back, and then she was out the door, heading toward the elevator. It wasn’t until the red light dinged that she realized she no longer needed Dan’s services. Without Owen, she didn’t need an escort at all.
IT WAS JUST AFTER nine-thirty when Dan left the police station. He made sure Owen wasn’t going to walk away from this unscathed. In fact, he wanted him scathed to the max.
He held his arm out for a taxi as he dialed Jessica’s cell phone. She answered after the fifth ring. Her hello was brief and harried, setting the tone.
“You want pizza?” he asked.
She paused.
He waited.
“Yes, please. Four or five big ones. A couple of just cheese, two pepperoni and one vegetarian.”
“Got it. What about drinks.”
“Don’t worry about it. There’s a vendor here.”
“I’ll be there in about forty-five minutes.”
“Great. Oh, and Dan?”
A cab pulled over and he opened the door. “Yeah?”
“You don’t have to do this, you know.”
