Trust Me on This - Jennifer Crusie [5]
Eventually she noticed that this was not helping her situation in the slightest, and then she began to plan, a new experience for her. Walking out had been a good idea only as a threat, she realized. Taking care of herself held absolutely no interest at all for her. She was going to have to find Brian again and convince him to take care of her until she could find somebody else who could do the job better. It was stupid of her to have walked away without having another man to walk away to. Her only problem was, Brian was in Riverbend by now.
She should never have cashed in that plane ticket. It just went to show you, somebody else should have been there making the decisions.
Three hours later, Sherée got on the bus for Riverbend. By now Brian would have seen how wrong he was and be ready to apologize, or she’d make sure he was when she got there. Either way, at least she was doing something. Sherée leaned her head on the window and went to sleep, dreaming of validation and vengeance.
Chapter 2
Dennie went flying through the brass-framed revolving doors of the Riverbend Queen Hotel, her cheeks glowing from the April wind, and plowed right into a handsome, lanky blond in the middle of the red-flocked hotel lobby.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, and he smiled at her, a shy smile that might have warmed her heart if she hadn’t just given up men for the duration. He looked like her type: easy to enslave.
“That’s all right,” he said. “It was my fault. Not lookin’ where I was goin’.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Brian Bondman. Pleased to meet you.”
Dennie shook his hand once. “My pleasure.” She turned to go, but he held on.
“You sure are a pretty sight comin’ through that door—” he began.
Dennie tugged her hand back. “Thank you.” She turned to go again, but he’d sidled around her so she was face-to-face with him.
“I sure would be willin’ to take you to dinner tonight to make up for this,” he said and ducked his head at his own temerity.
This is an act, Dennie told herself. Nobody drops that many g’s naturally. It would be interesting to know why it was an act, but not very. “No,” she said, and pulled her hand away. “But thank you anyway.” Then she turned and headed for the brass-edged registration desk before he could leap in front of her and offer drinks, frozen yogurt, or breakfast. He had the look of a man who didn’t quit trying, all that aw shucks to the contrary.
“I have a reservation,” she told the registration clerk. “Dennie Banks?”
The clerk took her form when she’d signed it, handed her the key card to her room, and said, “Is there anything else?”
This was it. Don’t waste a minute, she told herself. Dennie leaned forward. “Yes, I’m supposed to meet Janice Meredith here. Do you know—?”
“She’s in the Ivy Room,” the clerk said. “Right over there beyond the bar.”
“Could you hold my bag for me, please?” Dennie passed her carry-on over the desk. “I don’t want to miss her.”
Be firm, she told herself as she headed for the restaurant. Be professional and firm and focused. Believe in yourself.
Right.
Alec had taken it all in from his well-upholstered seat in the mahogany and brass hotel bar, and he’d never been more delighted to see a hunch pay off. He’d been watching Bond case the lobby when the brunette had started up the steps to the revolving door. Bond saw her at the same time and moved to meet her, deliberately running into her as she came through the doors, and Alec thought, Nice touch. Anybody seeing them would swear it was an accident. The brunette had smiled at him