Spring Into Love

by Chantel Rhondeau

  “Something wrong?” Carl stretched and opened his eyes.

  “Yeah. I’m going to be late to the set and my director might kill me.” And maybe goodbye Oscar nomination, too. “Other than that, life’s grand.”

  “Better get out of here, then.” Carl got up and went toward the kitchen. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll make sure everything’s okay here. I’ll take care of Jordan.”

  “Yeah, I bet you will.” The words were out before Jake could filter them.

  Carl jammed his hands in his pockets and stared at Jake. “Do you have a problem with that?”

  “Actually, yes,” Jake said. “I’m in love with her, and I’d prefer not to have competition.”

  Carl poured water into the coffee pot and set it to brew. He was definitely way too at ease in Jordan’s house, Jake decided. “I’m not your competition,” Carl said. “That was obvious the second you came to town. I care about Jordan, though, and if you’re going to put her at risk, then we are going to have a problem.”

  “I’d never put her at risk,” Jake said, but the words sounded hollow even to him. It was hard to make that promise knowing Macy was still in town.

  “Yeah?” Carl raised his eyebrows. “I hope you mean that, but right now I’m a little skeptical.”

  ***

  Jordan awoke without a headache, which she was thankful for, though her clear head also left her with vivid memories of a day she wished to forget. “Jake?” she asked, when someone pushed the door open. She hated that he was the first person she asked for.

  “Sorry, no.” Carl leaned against the doorframe. “He had to go to work. You’re stuck with me.”

  Good ole loyal Carl. Jordan was glad he was there, even if he wasn’t who she really wanted to see. “I can live with that.” She smiled. “Thanks for staying.”

  “For you? Anytime.” Carl walked over to the bed and held out a hand to help her up. “You need to get yourself together, though, JP,” he said, using the once-familiar nickname that took her back to an easier time. “People need you.”

  Jordan wasn’t sure who needed her besides maybe Trey Lozano, but that was enough to get her moving, at least for now. “It’s been a long time since you called me that.”

  “It suddenly seemed fitting.”

  “I think so, too.” Jordan made her way to the bathroom and turned the shower heads on full blast. As the water hit her body, some of the tensions of the day before seemed to wash away. It was a new day, and there’d be another one tomorrow, and she’d take each of them one at a time.

  ***

  Jake left Jordan’s and headed straight to the set. He could shower there, and going by the hotel first would make him even later, as well as potentially subject him to another close encounter of the Macy kind. He wasn’t delusional enough to think she’d actually leave simply because he asked her to. He’d deal with her later. First he had to face the wrath of his director.

  Even though Jake called him on the way to let him know he was running late, Reece still made an elaborate show of looking at his watch when he saw Jake. “Nice of you to join us,” he said sarcastically. “Especially since your set call was twenty minutes ago. And by the way, you look like hell. Our make-up people will sure earn their money today.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.” Making excuses wouldn’t help his cause. “I had a long night.” Yeah, real brilliant thing to say there, Jake. That statement, combined with his appearance, would surely make the director think he was hungover, or possibly worse. “A friend of mine was in trouble and I had to help her.” Except he hadn’t done Jordan any favors at all yesterday.

  “Is she okay now?” Though Reece’s concern was dubious, at least he wasn’t yelling.

  “She will be, thanks.” Jordan had already battled so much, Jake had little doubt she’d get through this setback, too, and be stronger than ever. The question was whether Jake would be a part of her life when it happened. “I won’t be late again.”

  Reece nodded. “Good. And better late than never. At least you made it. That’s more than I can say for the kid you wanted me to hire as a gofer.”

  “He’ll probably show up soon,” Jake said. He didn’t add that it was dependent on whether Jordan could get Trey released from the custody of the United States Customs and Border Protection.

  ***

  Jordan pushed pancakes around the plate, saturating them in as much syrup as possible before taking a bite. She didn’t have an appetite, but she knew Carl wouldn’t let her leave until she ate something.

  He gave her a thumbs up. “Atta-girl. You can do this.”

  She wasn’t sure whether he referred to eating the meal or something else, but Jordan welcomed the encouragement. “I can’t believe I fell off the wagon last night.” Seven years, down the drain. At least the cheap convenience-store wine went down the drain, too, when Jake arrived.

  “You didn’t fall off,” Carl said. “When I went on a twelve-day bender after Maggie left me, that was falling off the wagon. But this? It’s more like the wagon hit a pothole and you bumped your head. Just a bump, JP.”

  Jordan had helped Carl through that time and remembered it well. Things were simpler then, when they were two platonic friends battling the same demons. Adding the ‘benefits’ made things complicated because it led to a gradual subtraction of the ‘friends’ part. Jordan wondered if calling her by the familiar nickname he’d given her then was Carl’s way of saying he wanted to go back to the simpler time. “Bumps still hurt,” she said.

  “Do you want to tell me about the pothole?”

  Jordan took a drink of coffee. When she set the mug down, she kept her hands wrapped around it. “I met Jake’s fiancée last night. At least that’s who she claimed to be. He, of course, insists otherwise.”

  “And you believe her.”

  “At the time? Obviously. Hence the bump.”

  “At the time,” Carl repeated. “Does that mean now you’re not sure?”

  Jordan swallowed another piece of pancake while she sifted through her thoughts. “I’m a criminal defense attorney. My days are filled with listening to people proclaim their innocence. Many of them are lying. Most of them are probably lying.”

  “But you always listen to their explanation.”

  “Of course. It’s my job. Part of it, anyway.” Yet she hadn’t afforded Jake the opportunity to explain.

  “Right,” Carl said. “And the other parts? What else do you do?”

  “Investigate,” Jordan said. “Try to poke holes in the state’s case. Look for the reasonable doubt.” She wondered where he was going with this.

  “Exactly.” Carl leaned back against the booth. “Look, I don’t know who the woman is or what she means to Jake. Whoever she is, though, I know he wasn’t with her last night because he spent the entire night on your couch.”

  Jordan had suspected as much, but it was nice to hear it confirmed. “So what are you saying?” She figured she knew.

  “Do your job.”

  ***

  Carl was right. Jordan needed to do her job. Her first stop after breakfast was the Customs and Border Protection office. “My name’s Jordan Priestley.” She handed her business card to the agent on desk duty. “I represent David Lozano the Third. I understand he’s in your custody.”

  After a few taps of a computer keyboard, the agent nodded. “That’s correct.”

  “Great. I’d like you to release him to my custody, please.”

  The agent gave her a condescending look. “I’m afraid that’s not possible, Miss…”

  “Priestley,” Jordan finished, though she knew he had deliberately left off her last name in an attempt to patronize her. Being blonde wasn’t always what it was cracked up to be, and Jordan was no stranger to having her intelligence insulted by the old boys’ club, of which this agent was likely a card-carrying member. “And yes it is, Agent…” She looked at the badge on his uniform. “Reynolds.”

  “I don’t think you understand,” Reynolds said. “Yo
u see, Mr. Lozano is suspected of offering aid and assistance to individuals who attempt to enter the United States by illegal means.”

  Actually hearing why Trey was there caught Jordan momentarily off guard, but she recovered quickly. “You’re the one who seems to be confused,” she said. “You see, any charges which may be filed against my client would fall under the authority of the Clayton County District Attorney’s office.” Jordan looked around the room. “I don’t see the DA standing here with an indictment, do you?”

  Reynolds shuffled paper, avoiding eye contact. “No.”

  “I didn’t think so, which leaves you with two options. You need to either deport my client or release him,” Jordan said. “And since your authority does not extend to deporting United States citizens, I suggest you choose option B.”

  ***

  Twenty minutes later, Trey leaned back in the passenger seat of Jordan’s car while she sped in the direction of the movie set. With a little luck, he’d still have a job and his probation wouldn’t be immediately revoked, but Jordan also knew that wasn’t the biggest worry. The DA might not be waving an indictment around right now, but Jordan held little hope that Beth wouldn’t file one.

  “Thanks for coming to get me, Jordan. You’re the best,” Trey said.

  The best? It was hard not laugh. And where was I last night when he really needed me? That’s right. Trying to drown my sorrows with a four-dollar bottle of wine. “You’re not out of trouble, Trey. Not by a long shot.” She hoped he realized that.

  “It’s not all true, the stuff they’re saying about me,” Trey insisted.

  Yeah. Where have I heard that before? “We don’t have to talk about it right now,” Jordan said. They would soon enough, though, and then she’d be faced with all of the things Trey might have said to complicate things while his attorney wasn’t available to help him. She couldn’t dwell on that, though. She had to keep moving forward.

  Jordan considered just dropping Trey off at the set and avoiding Jake, but she couldn’t do it. If she always gave her clients an opportunity to tell their side of the story before condemning them, shouldn’t she extend the same courtesy to the man she loved?

  She gave her name to the set manager and asked to see Jake, then leaned against her car while she waited. Her heart almost skipped a beat when she saw him approach, and she silently prayed for the strength to get through this conversation, whatever it might bring.

  “You look much better today than you did last night,” Jake said.

  Jordan lifted her sunglasses and perched them on her forehead. “Thanks. I feel much better, too.”

  “And you got Trey sprung, I see.”

  “Yep.” Jordan smiled. “That part was actually kind of fun.” She doubted Agent Reynolds would agree. “I assume he still has a job?”

  “Yeah, I tried to cover for him, because I figured you’d come through.” A nervous silence settled over them. Jake rolled back on his heels and looked at pavement. “I only have a few minutes right now, but I’ve got a break coming up in an hour, if you want to... Maybe we can go someplace and talk?” He looked at her hopefully.

  Jordan nodded. “I think that’s a good idea. I’d like to hear what you have to say.”

  Chapter 23

  Jake suggested they meet at the taco joint Jordan had taken him to a few weeks before, thinking a place she liked might put her at ease. Where it was didn’t really matter to him as long as Jordan was there and willing to listen to what he had to say.

  “I’m not even hungry,” Jordan said when he set the tray of food down on the table. “Carl made me eat a big breakfast.”

  Jake hated that he couldn’t have been the one to have breakfast with her, and hated even more the twinge of jealousy he felt every time the other man’s name was mentioned. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be there this morning. I was late to the set as it was.” He smiled wryly. “Didn’t get yelled at, though.”

  “Of course not. You’re a star now.”

  Maybe, but at what price? Jake hoped the stunt with Macy wouldn’t end up costing him everything he wanted. At least Jordan had agreed to talk to him, though. That was a start. “How are you doing?” he asked. “You scared the hell out of me last night when I saw you with that bottle.”

  “I scared myself,” Jordan admitted. “I’m glad you showed up, or I’m not sure what I would have done. Probably drank the whole thing, then I’d be in much worse shape today.” She sipped soda through a straw. “As it is, I’m a little embarrassed and down on myself, but I know I’ll be okay. It sounds horribly trite, but I just need to take it one day at a time.”

  Looking at her across the table, Jake doubted anyone would ever guess she was a recovering alcoholic with seven years sober who’d relapsed the night before. Her light blue eyes held no hint of redness, and her hair and makeup were as flawless as usual. “You look great. Beautiful, actually.”

  “Yeah?” Jordan raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. “Does your fiancée know you talk to other women like that?”

  Jake nearly choked swallowing a bit of taco. Jordan didn’t mince words, that’s for sure. “Macy’s not my fiancée,” he said. He hoped on some level Jordan knew that. Otherwise why would she be there?

  “Macy, huh?” Jordan toyed with her straw. “So now the naked bimbo has a name. Charming.”

  “Macy Hayes,” Jake said. “She’s a singer. I don’t expect you to know her, unless you’re into insipid pop.”

  “Not really, no.” For the first time, Jordan’s lips curled in a slight smile. “Who is she to you, then, if not your betrothed?”

  “The biggest mistake of my life,” Jake said without hesitation. “And a bad PR stunt I should have never agreed to.”

  “I’m listening.”

  Jake wondered if there was a silent threat of ‘so make it good’ at the end. “Macy and I used to be repped by the same PR firm,” he explained. “A year and a half ago, we were both in a bit of career crisis. Her new single flopped. I’d been killed off General Hospital, and you know how forgettable that zombie film was.”

  “So you’re saying your PR people decided to fabricate a celebrity romance for the tabloids to see if they could kick-start your career and hers?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Did Jordan believe him? She used to live in Hollywood, too. She had to know that kind of thing happened all the time. “I went along with it because I didn’t know what else to do and it all seemed harmless enough; at least until they decided we should get married.”

  “How sweet.” Jordan’s voice dripped with sarcasm, but Jake didn’t know if her distaste was directed toward him or the stunt he’d participated in. “Did they want a reality show, too?”

  “Macy did.” It made Jake nauseated just thinking about. “I couldn’t go along with that. If I get married, it’s going to be for love, not a damn stunt, and it’s going to be forever.” And hopefully with the woman sitting across from him at the table, but he was probably getting ahead of himself.

  “How noble.”

  The sarcasm was still there, which made Jake wary. “It’s the truth. I called the whole thing off and changed PR firms. Valerie Fraser reps me now.”

  A hint of recognition crossed Jordan’s face. “I remember her. She’s one of the best.”

  “That’s why I hired her,” Jake said. “She’s still trying to pick up the pieces. Call her if you don’t believe me.”

  “I might do that.” For the first time, Jordan reached for one of the rolled tacos he’d bought her. “None of this explains what Macy was doing in your room wearing only your shirt.”

  “No.” Jake knew that was tricky part, and he probably hadn’t helped his cause by lying to Jordan when she showed up. But the truth was stranger than any fiction that ever played out on the soaps he starred in. “I got back to my room yesterday after filming and Macy was there. I guess she bribed a few employees to let her in. She was lying on the bed without any clothes on.”

  “Convenient,” Jordan
said, her tone still not carrying any indicators of whether she believed any of what Jake was telling her, or if he was likely to end up with a tray of tacos in his lap. “Let me guess, she seduced you.”

  “Tried to,” Jake corrected. “She didn’t get very far. I, um, had a little equipment failure.” He never thought he’d admit that to anyone. “I’m not interested in Macy, and I think you must have cast a spell on my dick.” He gave her a sheepish smile. “It only responds to you now.”

  “It’s nice to know my powers still work,” Jordan deadpanned. “So where is the delightful Ms. Hayes now?”

  “Gone, I hope,” Jake said. He doubted he was that lucky, though. “I don’t know. I left right after you did because I’ve been shadowing a Border Patrol agent to try to learn as much as I can for my part. That’s how I knew when they brought Trey in. When you didn’t answer, I was afraid something was wrong, so I went to your house.”

  “Which I very much appreciate,” Jordan said. “I’m sorry you had to see me like that.” She looked at the table instead of at him, and Jake suspected she was ashamed. Even if Jordan believed him about Macy, the dynamic between them had changed, and Jake didn’t know if she’d let him in again. He didn’t plan on giving up, though.

  “Don’t be,” he said.

  “You didn’t need to stay all night or be late for work because of me.”

  “There’s nowhere else I wanted to be. There still isn’t.” He finished the last of his soda. “I haven’t been back to the hotel since yesterday, so I don’t know if Macy’s still hanging around. I did sort of threaten to charge her with trespassing if she didn’t leave, though.”

  “You didn’t.”

  “I did. Told her I had the DA on speed dial.” Jake grinned. “Think your friend could help with that?”