Trust Me on This - Jennifer Crusie [50]
Victoria. Dennie ran her hand through her hair as she tried to make sense of what he was saying. Could Victoria have talked to Janice already? “Taylor, don’t be ridiculous,” she said, stalling for time so she could think. “I didn’t go anywhere near her.”
“Well, you went near somebody because she called the owner mad as hell this morning to say you’d been having dinner with somebody you shouldn’t have, and he called me mad as hell, and you’re fired.”
Dinner. That meant it wasn’t Victoria Janice was mad about. She really wanted her fired. The matter-of-fact satisfaction in Taylor’s voice made Dennie go cold suddenly. “You’re not kidding.”
“Nope. You get two weeks’ severance pay, and, Banks? I wouldn’t ask for a reference.”
“Taylor, c’mon now—”
“You asked for it, Banks. I warned—”
Dennie slammed the phone down before he could finish and then sat there, desperately trying to order her thoughts.
Fired. She really was fired. No job. No paycheck. No biscuits for Walter. Nothing. Two weeks’ severance pay and then what?
And all just because she’d had dinner with Alec and his aunt?
She was beginning to dislike Janice Meredith.
The phone rang again, and she picked it up. “Listen, Taylor,” she said, trying to keep the fear out of her voice.
“Who’s Taylor?” Alec asked.
“I don’t have time for you,” Dennie said, overwhelmingly glad to hear from him, and overwhelmingly angry she was so glad. “You said good-bye, you rat. You made the big exit. Go away.”
“Ten minutes. That’s all I ask.”
“Alec, I have problems. Go away!” Right before Dennie slammed the receiver down, she heard Alec say, “Don’t hang up!” which made slamming it that much more satisfying.
Alec dialed again, taking the phone with him as he crossed his hotel room to stare out the window.
“That was childish,” he said, when she picked it up the second time.
Her voice came across the wire, taut with emotion. “I’m having a bad day. Do not tell me what to do.”
Alec grinned. “All right then, I’m asking you, pleading with you. On bended knee. Groveling.” He sat on the edge of the windowsill. “I swear to God, I’m wallowing on the carpet right now. My eyeballs are full of broadloom.”
“That’s not all you’re full of.” The break in Dennie’s voice was even rougher than usual. “I’m not kidding about a bad day. What do you want?”
Alec kept his voice light. “I need your help, Dennie. You and me, together again.”
“No. You thought I was a crook, and then you dumped me because I was a reporter. The hell with you. I have to go.”
“Look, I’m sorry I didn’t trust you. I will apologize over and over if you meet me. I’ll be happy to come to your room. Hot fudge sundaes on me.” The silence on the other end wasn’t encouraging so he got serious. “Dennie, this is important. You can help me get this guy.”
“You want me to help you do your job?”
“Yes.”
“What’s in it for me?”
“What?” Alec’s voice cracked in outrage.
Dennie’s voice stayed sharp. “What’s in it for me? Come on, Alec, you’re getting paid for this. Would you do this if there was no paycheck involved?”
“Yes,” Alec said, without hesitation. He stopped, surprised at himself. “Yes, I would.”
“You would?” Dennie sounded as surprised as he felt, and suspicious too. “Why?”
“Let me come see you, and I’ll tell you,” Alec said.
“Here?” There was a long pause, and then her voice came back, grimly serious. “You swear you’ll come clean? No tricks, no lies, no evasions?”
“Not about Bond,” Alec said. “I reserve the right to revert to my usual devious self in other matters.”
“There are no other matters between us,” Dennie said.
“Well, we can talk about that too,” Alec said. “I can be in your room in five minutes. What do you say?”
Alec waited out a long pause before she said, “Come up. I will give you only fifteen minutes to explain, no hands, so you’d better talk fast.”
“It’s what I do best,” Alec said.
“That’s what I figured,” Dennie said.
“Hey,” Alec said, but she’d already hung up.
“You know, if you were serious about trying to win me over, you’d have picked something