Trust Me on This - Jennifer Crusie [29]
Victoria thought about Harry in the middle of the college political circuit and smiled in spite of herself. Harry would probably do damn well there. In fact, she couldn’t imagine any place Harry wouldn’t do damn well. That was one of the many things she found so attractive about him. That and his shoulders and his hands and—
Oh, hell, she thought. I’m sixty-two years old, and I’m still falling for the wrong men. When will I learn?
Then she put Harry firmly from her mind and went to finish her makeup.
When Alec found Harry in the hotel kitchen, he was hunched over the recorder, snarling about Victoria.
“Aunt Vic can handle this,” Alec told him. “This guy isn’t dangerous. There’s no problem.”
“She’ll spook him.” Harry was even grouchier than usual. “That woman is a mental case. She’ll get herself killed.”
Alec frowned at him, bewildered. “Will you relax? She’s the smartest woman I know. She didn’t get to the top of her profession by being nuts.”
“I don’t like it,” Harry grouched. “And as far as I’m concerned, she is nuts. Can’t you control her?”
Alec laughed. “Control Aunt Vic? Good luck. The best you can do is aim her. Will you relax?” Harry snarled again, and Alec gave up. “I have to go meet Dennie,” he said. “Try not to chew on the tape recorder during dinner. It’s government issue.”
Alec almost missed Dennie when she got off the elevator. She was wearing a black linen dress with a standup collar and long sleeves, and she’d pulled her hair back in a knot on her neck. “What is this?” he asked her as she came toward the gilt chairs where he was sitting. “You dressing for the convent now?”
Dennie looked uncertain for the first time since he’d met her. “Sorry. I’m trying to look serious and trustworthy.” The lilt was gone from her voice, and she seemed diminished somehow.
“Hey, it’s all right.” Alec stood up, alarmed. “I’m sorry. Really. Come on, fight back here. Don’t go all weak on me.”
“Things aren’t going well for me,” Dennie said. “My boss yelled at me. I’m a little depressed. Give me a minute.”
Her boss had yelled? That rat Bond. She looked crushed, and Alec hated it. It was going to be a pleasure to arrest him. “Come here.” Alec took her hand and pulled her down beside him.
“I remember these chairs.” Dennie looked around as she sank into one. “I was threatened with arrest here yesterday.”
“Arrest?” Alec felt his heart skip a beat. Was somebody else after her too? It took him a moment to realize that he wasn’t afraid somebody else would get his collar, it was that if somebody else moved in on Bond, he wouldn’t be able to protect her. Just when he’d decided to protect her, he wasn’t certain, but the idea had him in full grip now.
“I’m probably going to lose my job too.” Dennie shook her head. “I’m going to bounce back from this, I really am. It’s just taking me a minute.”
“You know if your job involves doing something you’ll get arrested for, you might want to rethink careers,” Alec said, adding silently, especially since I don’t want to be the one who busts you.
Dennie shrugged. “Oh, heck, what’s a jail sentence? At least I’ll have three square meals.” She looked at him plaintively. “Will you bring Walter to visit me in the slammer?”
“Hell, I’ll bail you out for conjugal visits.” Alec put his arm around her and pulled her close, patting her shoulder. “You’re just depressed because you look like a nun. It depresses me too.”
“I know this is a tough one,” Dennie said, more to herself than to Alec, “but I need it. I need to know I can get the really tough ones. Even if I go to jail.”
“If it’s that bad, I strongly suggest a career change. Depressing careers are bad for you. Also, I think your hair’s pulled back too tight.” Alec pushed her head forward and started pulling bobby pins out of the knot. “It’s got to be giving you a headache.