“I only have a few days to help,” Remy said. “After that, you’re on your own.”
“What happens in a few days?” Greyson asked.
“None of your business,” he replied. “Back to my original question, why are you here?”
“I wanted to show Jenna.”
“Show me what?” she asked.
“They’re in the black van two rows up,” Remy said. “They have an arsenal in there. I’d stay away. That much power to nab one woman is a red flag. David’s in the lot keeping tabs.”
“Where are you?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Remy said, disconnecting.
Jenna glanced over at Greyson. “Is he always so abrupt?”
“I thought he was rather chatty this time. He told us what I wanted to know.”
“Which was?”
“The men looking for you and your brother are in the black van over there,” Greyson, said, pointing. “They would’ve kidnapped you before you even unlocked the door.”
Jenna wilted against the seat. She knew she was in danger, but seeing them waiting for her made her realize just how much danger she was in. Suddenly, she was relieved that Greyson was willing to help her and that he’d acted like a wild boar when she tried to leave. If he hadn’t stopped her . . .
Greyson touched her shoulder. “Should we go home now?”
Jenna nodded.
He drove out of the lot, checking the mirror to make sure they weren’t being followed. “Do you still want to go to the police?”
“No, don’t bother,” she said, her breath shaky. “They’ve had a year to find these men, and you found them in less than a day. What are Remy and David going to do?”
“Knowing them, I’d have to say I have absolutely no idea. But whatever it is, we’re going to stay far away.”
“Why?”
Greyson scratched his jaw. “Let’s just say they tend to be very destructive.”
“Destructive?”
Greyson nodded. “And abrupt.”
Jenna had a feeling he wasn’t going to elaborate, and really, being ignorant was sometimes better. “What did Remy mean when he said they were a red flag?”
“Just that these are common thugs under someone else’s thumb. They’ll use brute force instead of brains. You could outsmart them, but they’d have you knocked unconscious before you could.”
Jenna sighed. “I wish I knew where my brother is and what he did.”
“We can try to figure that out when we get home.”
Jenna straightened. “How?”
Greyson grinned. “You’re the cyber stalker, you tell me.”
Chapter 15
Greyson and Jenna walked into the house together. She felt like a balloon that had leaked its helium and was left on the ground, withered and saggy.
“Jenna!” Mya bounded over to them. “It’s about time you got here.” She gave Greyson a quick hug before snatching Jenna’s hand and leading her to the great room. “I can’t wait for you to see all the clothes we picked out.”
“We?” Greyson questioned, following behind.
“Frankie and Mark helped.”
“Ah. I was wondering how you managed such a quick shopping trip.”
“Stop teasing,” she said. “It was a monumental task, and they wanted to tag along. It worked out perfectly.”
Jenna, for the first time in Mya’s company, felt nervous. “Who are Frankie and Mark?” she asked.
“Really good friends,” Mya said. “You’ll love them. They’re chapel owners,” she said, looking at Greyson before shifting her gaze to Jenna. “Not that you needed to know that, but tuck it away for later.”
At Jenna’s arched brow, Mya smiled.
“Who’s a pretty fluffy princess?” a voice cooed.
“You dressed him in that yesterday,” a different voice complained. “I had his sailor suit pressed for today.”
Jenna’s arched brow lifted higher as she walked into the great room.
“Jenna, I’d like to introduce you to Frankie and Mark,” Mya said, gesturing to the two men sitting on either side of a . . . was that a cat?
“It’s nice to meet you,” Jenna said, still eyeing the gray tubby feline.
“That’s Gus,” Mya said. “Isn’t he cute?”
Jenna nodded out of politeness. The pudgy cat was bursting out of his princess dress. He didn’t look too happy either. He cocked his head at her for a moment, peering at her with his twitchy blue eyes before yawning and rolling over, looking more like a walrus attempting to scratch his back.
Jenna noticed Greyson stood at the doorway.
“It’s nice to meet you, Jenna,” said Frankie. His dark hair and eyes accentuated a hint of Latino blood.
“You’ll just love what we picked out for you,” Mark said, his fair complexion a ying-yang balance to his companion’s.
“We had so much fun!” Mya added, bouncing in place.
“And it looks like we came just at the nick of time,” Frankie said, standing to walk around Jenna. “Love what you did with the dress shirt, but that won’t cut it out on the strip.”
“She’s not going anywhere for a while,” Greyson said, coming to stand next to Jenna, his hand brushing against the small of her back. Her skin erupted with the sensation of butterfly wings fluttering on her.
“Keeping her all to yourself?” Frankie asked, swatting playfully at Greyson’s chest. “I nearly felt sorry for you, but it seems you bounce back on your feet.”
“Hard not to when you look like a demigod,” Mark added.
“Why not a real god?” Frankie asked. “He has enough money to be one.”
Mark snorted. “Look at him. He’s definitely more of a Hercules than a crusty old Zeus.”
“Well, when you put it that way, I guess you’re right,” Frankie said. “But I still think we should take his money into consideration.”
Jenna didn’t know if she had moved closer to Greyson or if he’d moved closer to her, but she was right up against him as Frankie and Mark lobbed back and forth about Greyson’s money and gorgeous physique. She didn’t know what the fuss was about. Sure, Greyson was handsome despite his untamed beard, and sure, he was rich, although he couldn’t be as rich as they claimed. But there was something about Greyson that made her think they weren’t far off the mark.
And for once, she hoped for something that would never happen.
Greyson’s hand traveled from the small of her back to her waist, settling on her hip.
Or could it?
She tentatively looked up at him and blinked as he gazed back. There was laughter in his eyes and a gleam that she hadn’t seen before.
“Do you want to see what we bought?” Mya asked.
Jenna tore her eyes away from Greyson and nodded to Mya. Mya clapped and hurried over to the side table heaped with shopping bags.
“You bought all of this?” Jenna asked, wandering over to a bag to peek inside. This mountain of shopping bags was all for her? There were more clothes here than what she owned. And shoes! Boxes were stacked to the point of tumbling over.
Frankie and Mark scurried over. They tittered with Mya as they brought out one designer label after another, gushing over the fabric.
“And look at this fabulous gown,” Mark said. “A princess would trade her tiara for this.”
“We’ll need to go back and buy killer heels for it,” Frankie said. “There just wasn’t enough time to accessorize like we ought to have.”
“Let’s go tomorrow,” Mya suggested to their enthusiastic nods.
“I don’t need all of this stuff,” Jenna interrupted. “I have no need for a ball gown.”
“Oh, and we’ll have to get her to the salon,” Mark said. “These tresses need a little bounce.”
Jenna’s mouth fell open.
“She can’t go anywhere,” Greyson said. Jenna felt a surge of relief until Greyson winked at her and said, “But you can bring the salon here.”
Mya squealed as she boun
ded over to Greyson to hug him.
Jenna’s breathing grew jagged. She couldn’t pay for all of this. It’d take a lifetime to cover the costs. She fell into the couch next to Gus.
“Are you okay?” Greyson said, kneeling in front of her.
She wheezed, shaking her head. “I can’t afford this.”
His head cocked to the side, attempting to get a better look at Jenna’s downturned face. His fingers gently lifted her chin. “You don’t have to pay for anything.”
Mya rushed over. “Jenna, don’t worry. It’s on Greyson’s account.”
Jenna couldn’t believe what she was hearing. There had to be thousands of dollars worth of top designer and boutique fashion in those bags, and they were telling her that she didn’t have to pay for it? Plus, they wanted to buy more?
“Jenna, I knew what I was getting into when I called Mya,” Greyson said. “Shopping is her specialty.”
“But this is too much. I was expecting a few outfits and I’d pay you back. This is more than my last ten years of clothes.”
Mya’s nose wrinkled. “We’ll have to work on that.”
“No!” Jenna squawked, waving her hands frantically. “We have to take all of this back.”
“It’s really not that big of deal,” Greyson soothed.
“Yeah,” Frankie added. “He’s rich.”
Jenna crossed her arms. “It doesn’t matter if he’s rich or not. I’m the one who has to pay for all of this stuff.”
They looked at her peculiarly, as if she was a Picasso mixed amongst Monets.
“But it’s already paid for,” Mya said, her mouth turning into a pout. “You have to keep it.”
“I can’t,” Jenna said, wondering if Mya was going to cry. She looked awfully close to shedding crocodile tears. She really hoped she wouldn’t. Now Jenna could understand why it was difficult to say no to her. It felt as if she’d spanked a puppy with a rolled newspaper. But there was no way she could keep the clothes.
“Can I speak with Jenna alone?” Greyson asked.
Mya’s smile was instant. “Of course!” She shooed Frankie and Mark out. Before she followed them, she asked, “Can Gus stay? You know how he is.”
“He can stay,” Greyson said.
Mya beamed and fluttered out.
“The clothes have to be returned,” Jenna said.
Greyson stood and nudged Jenna over, sitting next to her. She was now squashed between Greyson and a snoring cat.
“If you want the clothes returned, you’ll have to be forceful with Mya.”
Jenna inwardly winced.
He grinned when the silence stretched. “Can’t do it, can you?”
“She’s sweet and she meant well, but I really can’t afford it.”
“I’m happy to pay.”
“Why?” she asked. “Why would you want to?”
His slight shrug wasn’t reassuring. “Why not?” he asked. “You need clothes. Mya’s happiest when she’s shopping. What’s the harm?”
“The harm is to your bank account.”
“Barely,” he said, his hand drifted over to rest on top of hers. “If I don’t care, why should you?”
His hand unsettled her, not that she was very settled to begin with. Something had changed in him. Why wasn’t he barking at her, ordering her to take the clothes and stop giving him a headache?
“I care because you’re already helping me. I don’t know how I can even repay you for that.”
“Do you even have to?” Greyson asked, his fingers trailing hers.
“Of course,” she said, trying her hardest to ignore the sensation shooting up her arm. “Everything comes with a price. Hard work is the only way to succeed.”
Greyson’s fingers stopped as he looked at her curiously.
“Don’t you agree?” she asked, wondering why she felt the loss of his fingers so keenly.
“I used to,” he said.
“And you don’t anymore?” she questioned.
He shook his head and stood. “Many things have changed my views,” he said and paced over to the fabric heap. “Okay, Jenna. Since you feel strongly about this, and I have a feeling nothing I can say will sway you, tell me what you’d like to do, keeping in mind that you have to tell Mya the verdict yourself.”
“It all has to go back,” she said.
Greyson gave one single nod and called for Mya to return.
Mya smiled brightly as she returned. Jenna began to ramble about the cost and economy and a host of other subjects that didn’t even pertain to the matter at hand. Mya’s faraway look told her she was failing miserably. Greyson’s growing smirk didn’t help matters. She scolded herself to focus and get to the point.
“Oh!” Mya said, ignoring Jenna’s mumblings to turn to her purchases. “I forgot to show you an outfit I picked up. You always wear business suits, and I thought you could use one that’d go with your complexion. I guarantee it’ll fit you perfectly.” She rummaged until she found a garment bag behind a very large bag of shoes. “Here it is,” she said, unzipping the bag to reveal the most beautiful suit Jenna had ever seen.
It was light blue in a material that looked soft and feminine even though it was tailored and structured not to wrinkle or sag. It was powerful and soft all at the same time. Jenna stood to look at it more closely. It was as if the suit was calling her name. She loved it.
“Do you want to try it on?” Mya asked.
Jenna nodded. She could at least do that. She didn’t have to send everything back, did she?
Mya’s arm looped around hers and hurried her out the door and up the stairs to Greyson’s room.
“We can use my room,” Jenna said.
“That’s on the third floor,” Mya said. “Don’t repeat this to anyone, but my feet actually hurt from shopping. I think it’s all the water weight I’ve been carrying around.”
Jenna couldn’t find an ounce of extra weight on Mya. She was quite slim with just a hint of a baby bump.
“Plus, your closet is too small,” Frankie called from Greyson’s closet. “This will work much better.”
Why was Frankie in the closet?
“I can’t use Greyson’s closet,” Jenna said. What was she saying? She couldn’t even keep all the clothes to fill the closet.
“Just try on the suit,” Mya urged.
Jenna took the suit into the bathroom and closed the door. There was no harm in trying on the beautiful creation. Maybe it wouldn’t fit, and then her job of returning it would be made that much easier.
“Do you think Greyson needs all of these shoes?” Jenna heard Frankie ask.
“Probably not,” Mya answered.
“Good. Because we’ll need the extra space. I know just where to put these handsome devils.”
“Stop trying to steal his shoes,” Mark complained. “You have enough at home already.”
Frankie gasped. “You can never have enough.”
“How’s it going?” Greyson asked.
“Jenna’s trying on the outfit now,” Mya said.
A knock sounded on the door. “Does it fit?” Mya asked. “Let me see.”
Jenna finished with the last button and opened the door.
“It’s perfect!” Mya gushed. “I knew it would be.”
Jenna glanced into the mirror. It was perfect, and it felt divine. Whatever this suit cost, she was willing to pay. But how? She had no money and no job, plus she was stuck here.
“Let’s go show Greyson,” Mya urged. “Wait!”
Jenna had wondered what her change of mind was about until Mya reached over and pulled Jenna’s hair down and over her shoulder. She ran her fingers through Jenna’s hair a few times before giving her nod of approval.
* * *
Greyson sat in a chair near his unlit fireplace, waiting for Jenna and Mya to reappear from the bathroom. He could hear Frankie and Mark arguing about the shoes in his closet but didn’t care enough to investigate.
At present, he pondered how to tell Jenna about a plan
he had. He’d thought of it on the way back from her SUV. He knew she wasn’t safe, and she was a hazard to herself. He also knew that while this house was secured, it wouldn’t stay that way for long. So, while they remained on property, they’d have to share a room. If something happened to her on the third floor, he wouldn’t make it in time or, more likely, he wouldn’t hear a cry for help.
“What do you think?” Mya asked.
“That she’s going to throw a fit,” Greyson muttered, staring into the fireplace.
“What are you talking about?” Mya asked, shaking his shoulder. “You didn’t even look at Jenna.”
Greyson blinked out of his thoughts and glanced up to find Jenna hovering behind Mya.
“Well?” Mya asked, her smile growing wider by the second.
Jenna stood quietly in her light-blue suit that made her look just slightly taller with its tailored cut. For the first time, she had her hair down and draped over her shoulder. It took restraint not to reach out and run his fingers through the mass of silky threads, restraint that he was losing by the millisecond.
“Beautiful,” he breathed.
Mya grinned. “I knew it’d be perfect for her.”
Greyson kept his eyes on Jenna, wondering how she was going to say no to Mya. He was happy to pay for the massive wardrobe Mya had bought. Money was a trifle matter. He had more than he’d ever need or spend. But he understood that sometimes a person had to work for what they wanted. He’d let her make the decision and stand by that choice no matter how painful it might be. But she should keep at least the suit. It looked good on her. Softened her.
“Mya,” Jenna said hesitantly and then looked down at her toes. She bit her lower lip before taking a breath to refocus on Mya. “I really like this suit, so I will keep it.”
“I knew it! I knew you’d like it,” she said. “Let’s try on more clothes. Greyson won’t mind, will you?”
Greyson shook his head. “Please do.”
Before Mya could budge an inch, Jenna stopped her. “I don’t think I should try on anything else.”
“But why? Do you have plans?”
“No,” Jenna said, avoiding Mya’s round, questioning eyes. “I just don’t want to try them on.”
Last Tailored Suit Page 12
