Page 53 of Lead Me On
Panic exploded through her. Not because she thought he meant something inappropriate, but because he didn’t. He honestly respected her. He loved the woman she pretended to be, and that made something deep inside her ache.
If he knew the real her—the brash, angry girl who’d grown up in half a dozen trailer parks—he wouldn’t be so sure of his opinion. And Lori wouldn’t want Jane anywhere near her boyfriend, much less cuddled in his arms.
“Maybe someday you’ll call me Quinn,” Mr. Jennings said, seemingly unaware of her turmoil. “That’s my first name, you know.”
She nodded, holding her arms stiff against his chest until he let her go. “Maybe. But not in the office.”
“Oh, God no!” he gasped in mock horror. “Of course not.”
She had to force the laugh, but she managed it.
“You need more time off, don’t you? You shouldn’t be here.”
“No, I can do this. Don’t worry.”
“Jane, I’m not worried about the office. I think you’ve only called in sick one time since we opened. You’ve earned whatever time you need. Take it.”
She knew he was just being kind, and she knew she needed the time, if only for her own sanity, but something inside her still held tight to denial.You can do this,it insisted.You don’t need a break. You don’t need help.
Her nails dug into her sweaty palms. Shecoulddo this without help, but that didn’t mean she had to. She did have friends, and they were offering help. Quinn and Lori…and even Chase if she were being honest.
Jane took a deep breath. “I’ve set up e-mail notifications that should get you through the next few days.”
Mr. Jennings smiled as if he were bursting with pride for her.
“But I will stop in!”
“Go on, Jane. I’m not a child.”
She arched a doubtful brow.
“I can do this. I swear.” He grimaced at her stare. “All right…if I can’t, I’ll call you.”
“Okay.” Her smile was real this time. “That’s more like it. Promise that you’ll call if you need me.”
Half an hour later she’d done all she could. Quinn Jennings got lost in his work, and there was nothing to be done about that, but hopefully if his cell phone beeped incessantly enough, he’d notice it.
Jane left relatively guilt-free and headed straight for the jail to see Jessie. If he looked okay, she could stop considering fronting his bond money.
But he didn’t look okay. He looked awful. “Jessie, what’s wrong?” she gasped.
“My lawyer was just here. I could get six years for this, Jane.”
“Jess—” she sighed, slumping a little “—you were stealing from people. What did you expect?”
“I don’t know!” Tears glinted in his eyes. “I wasn’t hurting anyone. I didn’t threaten any of those girls and flash a gun around. I just copped a few dollars, that’s all.”
The fear on his face left her torn between heartache and anger. “You’re not a child, Jessie. And after what Dad went through, you can’t even claim ignorance. How many times did he warn you never to put yourself in this kind of situation? Even aside from the theft charges, you’ve set yourself up for huge trouble.”
He flattened a hand against the counter. “I didn’t touch those women, Jane. I swear to God, I didn’t. Can’t you talk to your D.A. boyfriend for me? Get him to believe me?”
Crud. She shook her head. “He’s not my boyfriend. Not anymore.”
He asked about home, and Jane told him about Grandma Olive and her margarita accident.
Jane tried to hide her tears behind laughter, but Jessie noticed anyway.
“I really am sorry, sis. I know I let you down.”
