Page 28 of Romancing the Rumrunner
Tony paced the hallway near The Corkscrew’s entrance and checked his watch for the umpteenth time. She was only a few minutes late.Make that nineteen minutes, Tony thought, shoving his pocket watch back into his vest. There were any number of reasons she might be running behind. It was raining. Maybe she couldn’t get a cab. Maybe there was an issue at the butcher shop that needed her attention.
Or maybe she’d decided she didn’t want to come back. Though surely she would have sent word. She wouldn’t just not show up. Unless someone was keeping her from coming. If the Phoenix had decided he didn’t want his girl playing spy for him anymore, or if he thought something else was going on, or if Willie had gotten to her…
Anxiety sat like a lead ball in Tony’s gut and every second that ticked by made it grow and fester. When the secret knock sounded on the door, Tony jumped, pushing aside his doorman so he could slide back the eyehole himself. Jessie’s upturned face looked back at him and he yanked the door open before she could utter the password.
She squeaked in surprise when he grasped her arm and hauled her inside.
“Where have you been?” he said, trying to keep the concern from his voice.
Her eyebrow rose a notch and he tried to rein it in. He had no right to act like some fretful lover, but he could be the disapproving boss. Tony crossed his arms and glared down at her. “You’re late.”
“I know, I’m terribly sorry,” Jessie said, her brilliant smile undermining her words. The little minx didn’t seem at all sorry. She turned and hurried down the hall, calling back another apology over her shoulder. She seemed to be in remarkably good spirits, something that he might enjoy under normal circumstances. But after spending nearly half an hour worried about her well-being, he found her good mood irritating. He followed right on her heels, pushing through the dressing room door she tried to close in his face.
She looked startled but didn’t protest as he followed her inside. She dropped her belongings on the vanity table and went behind the screen to change.
Tony took a deep breath and sank onto the sofa. She didn’t appear in any way harmed or upset. Looks like he’d let his imagination run wild for no reason.
“Are you going to tell me why you are twenty minutes late or do I have to guess?”
Tony knew he sounded like an ass but the urge to haul her into his arms and assure himself she was whole and unharmed was almost too great to resist. Better to keep them both in their places and play up the disgruntled boss routine.
“I’m sorry,” Jessie said again, her voice momentarily muffled.
Tony gritted his teeth, the sudden vision of her raising her arms to let her silky dress flow down over her supple body invading his mind.
She stepped out from behind the screen and took a seat at the vanity, reaching for her hairbrush.
“There were a few issues at my clu—shop that needed my attention and by the time I’d finished, it was pouring rain and I had a devil of a time getting a cab.”
Tony hadn’t missed the slight pause before “shop” but let it go. For now. He released an exasperated sigh. “You need to get an automobile.”
Jessie snorted and applied some lipstick. “I couldn’t afford one of those machines even if I wanted one.”
Hell, he’d buy her one if it would save him another evening like he’d just had, even if he had to steal the money to do it.
“Why wouldn’t you want one? It’d save you having to rely on cabs.”And giving me a heart attack when you don’t show up on time, he added silently.
“I’ll ride in them when necessary,” she said, pressing some fresh powder to her face, “and have even enjoyed it a few times, when they are not driven by a maniac, that is.” She gave him a pointed look and he couldn’t help but smile at her. “But I have no intention of everdrivingone. I’ll stick with a cab when necessary and my own two feet whenever possible, thank you very much.”
She jumped up, bent down to look in the mirror and gave her hair one last pat, then spun toward the door. “Come on, boss, get a wiggle on!” She flashed him a huge, intoxicating smile and hurried out the door. “We’re late!” she called over her shoulder.
Tony laughed and pulled himself to his feet, the last of his anxiety melting away. The crazy dame was wreaking havoc with his life. He just wished he wasn’t enjoying it so much.
…
Jessie’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not getting in that breezer,” she said, her mouth puckering in a frown as she eyed the automobile in what Tony could only describe as abject horror. He couldn’t keep a laugh from erupting.
“It won’t hurt you, you know. And the top is up. Your hair will be fine.”
“I don’t care about my hair. It’s the rest of me I’m worried about,” Jessie said, kicking at the tire.
“I never pegged you for a wet blanket.”
“I’m not!”
“Then prove it,” Tony said, dangling the keys on his finger.
Jessie glared at him and snatched the keys. She stomped to the driver side of the car, though her bravado seemed to ebb the closer she got. Tony laughed and slid into the passenger side, leaning over to open her door.
