The man walked forward until alongside Tank, whispered something only the big man could hear, and then put his hands in his pockets. Tank glanced at Jayce, then to the group by the porch, before asking in a gravelly tone, "Which 'o yuze iz the Summers kid?"
Hesitantly, Tiara raised her hand and Jayce heard the nervous tremble in her voice when she answered, "That would be me." She pointed to the short man. "Are you Mr. Spag... Mr. Span...?"
"Sparretti," Tank supplied helpfully. "We don't see Slim." He stated the obvious with a frown. "Mr. Sparretti demands you turn over hiz prop'ty, bein' one hoss by da name 'a Majestic."
Tiara took a step in their direction. "As my father is unavailable, I have to decline your request until I can ascertain all aspects of it."
Jayce wasn't surprised to see Tank's disorientation from Tiara's reply. He bent toward his boss, who whispered into his ear once again.
Awkwardly, the man nodded before straightening and slamming a beefy fist on the limo's hood. The driver immediately exited the vehicle, though he continued to stand by the opened door. Expecting trouble to erupt, Jayce nudged Buster closer to Tiara and her group without actually becoming part of it.
"The horse is mine," Mr. Sparretti said in a nasally whine of a voice. "If you won't hand him over, we'll rightly take him into possession. Your father had no right to bring him here." He puffed out his chest. "No one steals from me and gets away with it."
"That's not the first time you insinuated Mr. Summers is a thief." Jayce shifted in the saddle. "Can you provide documented proof that Majestic is owned by you?"
"Calling me a liar, sister?" Sparretti asked, his voice raising an octave. "Who are you, anyway?"
Prepared to give an annoyed yet wonderfully clever retort, Jayce held her response when the sound of racing hooves drew closer and all eyes turned to watch Sarah's approach on Arabelle. Sarah's long black hair whipped in the air behind her, an expression of barely controlled ire had her eyes darkening, and Jayce instantly recognized "Juanita's" gunslinger character. The way Sarah sat in the saddle had her looking like a picture of royalty from a long forgotten Spanish Court.
Pulling back on the reins so Arabelle stopped mere inches from the men and casting a glance in Jayce's direction, she asked in a heavily accented and decidedly sexy voice, "What is happening here, Señorita Mansfield?" From the look on the men's faces, they recognized Sarah's television personality; and, like most fans, were finding it difficult to separate film character from the human actor.
"Ms. Juarez," Jayce acknowledged and joined Sarah's charade. She pointed to the little man in the Fedora, and shook her head sadly. "Mr. Sparretti has threatened our friends by calling them liars and thieves. He's claiming ownership of a horse without supporting documentation."
Arching a dark, delicate eyebrow, Sarah said in feigned shock, "Say this is not true, Señor Sparretti. You believe my friends to be banditos?"
He removed his hat and bowed elegantly in her direction. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Juarez. I have always found you to be a remarkable woman," he declared in a gentled whiny pitch full of obvious awe. "And I never said they stole my horse, exactly."
Sarah raised the corner of her lip. "Ah, but guilt by association can be just as hurtful and character demeaning. They have taken insult, though you may not have intended it. ¿Ah, sí?"
Sparretti shrugged. "I just want Majestic returned."
Nodding, as if sympathetic with his situation, Sarah tossed a leg over the saddle horn. Jayce knew she would dismount, and jumped off her own horse to assist, and play bodyguard. However, Mr. Sparretti rushed forward to position himself beside the horse to assist Sarah.
Tank moved to block Jayce's own advancement. Sparretti reached up and wrapped his small hands at Sarah's waist gently guiding her to the ground. Her descent was less than graceful due to their size difference, and Sarah just about knocked him to the ground. "Gracias, Señor," Sarah cooed as she kept him from stumbling in such a manner as not to wound his dignity in front of the others. "It is always wonderful to witness gallantry in this day and age." He blushed profusely. She looped an arm in his and leaned into him. "Now, Mr. Sparretti--"
"Elmo, please," he told her.
Jayce rolled her eyes when she noted Sarah flutter her eyelashes, as if he had just proffered a wondrous honor upon her. Sarah slowly, yet effectively, tugged him closer to Tiara. So occupied with preventing her own advancement Jayce didn't believe Tank even noticed the maneuver. She hoped Elmo thoroughly chewed Tank out for dereliction of duty, as it would serve him right. Peering around the behemoth, Jayce tried to watch Sarah in action.
"Thank you, Elmo." Sarah nearly purred."I understand how you believe yourself taken advantage of. Fine men are always so abused. But we would all," she indicated Tiara and her group with a nod in their direction, "like to see this resolved amicably. You must understand that Señorita Summers is only attempting to protect her Papa." Sarah linked her free arm with Tiara's and gradually edged her and Elmo toward the limousine's back door.
Watching her progress, Jayce silently admitted that sometimes the Juanita persona was a remarkable, and useful, piece of work. Slowly twisting to watch the three must have alerted and reminded Tank of his duties. He darted toward his boss, who didn't seem to notice the large man hadn't been at his side. "I understand, of course," Sparretti agreed. "I will give your friend, Ms. Summers, another week." He glanced at Tiara. "If you haven't contacted your father by then, I will have no other choice than taking Majestic, forcibly, if I must."
"Sí, you must do what is right by the horse," Sarah said with a nod. "One week, all will be resolved. You are a great and kind man. ¡Gracias!" With the last comment, Sarah leaned down and kissed his cheek.
Sparretti, his face bright red, pulled the flower from his lapel and stammered, "Miss Juarez, it has been an honor. Until next we meet." He handed her the small carnation, snapped his fingers, which immediately had the driver and Tank getting in the vehicle, and then moved to the limo's back door. He blew Sarah an air kiss, wriggling his fingers in a childish good-bye gesture, closing the door himself after entering.
As they drove away in the limousine, Jayce waved and shouted, "Bye, Spaghetti-man and Tank," and then moved to Sarah's side and put her arm around her waist, presenting a relieved and thankful smile. Still in Juanita mode, Sarah leaned into Jayce and said to Tiara, "So, one week to find your missing Papa and make this go away, Sí?"
Tiara frowned as she gazed at the closeness of Jayce and Sarah. "I appreciate your assistance, Miss Juarez, and only wish contacting my father were that simple." Directing her attention to Jayce, she said, "Thank you. I appreciate--"
"Hey, no worries, Tiara," Jayce interrupted. "We didn't mean to intrude, you able to take care of yourself and all." She pulled Sarah closer. If Sarah were making more of their friendly embrace, Jayce decided to go with it. "Juanita, we should be going. You've promised to join me for dinner and drinks, remember?"
Sarah raised a hand and caressed Jayce's cheek. "True, mà amor. I will allow no further intrusions," she said, sealing the statement with a tender peck to Jayce's lips. She quickly turned her head toward Tiara. "I hope you and your friends have a wonderful evening." A devious smiled played across Sarah's lips, "I plan on one," she said huskily before moving to Arabelle and fluidly hopping into the saddle. "I will await you at home, Jayce, darling."
Jayce started toward Buster, but stopped when Tiara placed a halting hand on her arm. She turned to find Red staring at her with a mixed expression of surprise and hurt. Tiara asked in a whisper, "You're dating a famous star?"
She shrugged. "I wouldn't want to disgust you with particulars, Tiara. However, I was training Arabelle for her, and Juanita has wanted more than a business relationship for quite some time. You've made me realize that I have no reason to continue putting her off. So, if you'll excuse me, I have a date." Tiara dropped her hand, and Jayce got back on Buster, yanked the reins to turn him toward home. From over her shoulder, she s
aid, "Evening, folks," to the rest of Tiara's crew as she kicked Buster into a gallop.
Part of her hated misleading Tiara into believing there was more than a friendship between her and Sarah. When she saw Tiara's response to the feigned romantic touching between her and Sarah, part of Jayce clutched at the hope that maybe Tiara, even if just a little tiny bit, did care for her a smidgen more than the she cared for the boy-toy.
Chapter Ten
JAYCE TURNED BUSTER'S care over to Charlie at the barn and caught up with Sarah, who was sitting on the porch. "Thanks for your help with the little gangster," she said.
Sarah asked as she patted the empty spot next to her. "Just with the gangster?"
Jayce shrugged. "Mostly, but no, not just with the puny guy, who is more of an admirer after you bestowed a kiss on him. Also, for helping misrepresent our relationship. For half a second, I actually thought Tiara was jealous. Strange, huh?" With a quick smile that held no warmth, Jayce said, "I'm not going to back out of dinner, either. You want the shower first?"
Sarah grinned. "We could share, that way Aunt Edna is aware and helps perpetuate the return of our tumultuous relationship."
Blushing, Jayce corrected her. "I told Tiara I'd held you at bay for quite some time and that I'd finally given into your magnetism."
"Ah, me siento honrado. Then I gallantly fight for your affections. Melt each time we touch or gaze into one another's eyes." More seriously, Sarah dropped the accent and added, "Not a difficult role to play, babe. You are, after all, the only one to treat me like a woman, not a conquest or a rung upward on the Hollywood ladder."
Jayce wrapped an arm around Sarah's waist and pulled her close, kissing the top of her head as it leaned against her shoulder. "Honey, I never understood the TV star stuff. Guess I'm a dolt. I see the sweet woman that lives inside that hot body of yours."
"Are you sure you want to keep the charade going? Tiara seemed like a nice kid, even from a first impression."
Biting her lower lip, Jayce swallowed the lump in her throat, "She was--once. You probably won't need to do more than you just did. I'll have a talk with Edna, tell her about Sparretti and get her to talk to Slim. I'm almost certain she knows more about his whereabouts than she's telling me. I wish I knew all the details of what they had concocted to get Red here."
Sarah sat up. "You think that man was part of a plan?" Jayce nodded. "We have a fairly good idea where everything is leading, so I say we just continue this course and see who we drag out of the woodwork." Jayce flinched at the last word. "Sorry," Sarah said. "I'll leave carpentry words and phrases alone. Maybe a little jealousy will get you those answers you crave."
"Either way, I'm famished. Let me tell Edna not to hold supper for us, while you take a shower. Make sure to save me some hot water." Jayce stood and started for the door.
"Aren't you in enough hot water now?" Sarah slapped Jayce playfully on her rear-end as she rushed passed her and jogged up the stairs. Jayce smiled as Sarah's laughter filled the house.
"TIARA, SWEETIE, ARE you okay?" Darla asked with concern.
The question broke Tiara from the spell of watching Jayce ride away. She wasn't exactly stunned that someone as beautiful and full of life as Jayce had women, even one as famous as Juanita Juarez, waiting in line for her attention, her affection. Tiara had personal experience of just how affectionate Jayce could be. Automatically, Tiara touched a finger to her lips in memory. "Yeah, fine," she said, dropping her hand and turning to face Darla.
Not certain what emotion Darla saw on her face, Tiara heard Darla say, "Oh dear, let's get you in the house." Then, as if realizing Mark and Craig were still there, Darla added, "Can't you find somewhere else to be? Shoo. Go sit in front of the brain drain." When Mark started to protest she scowled up at him, "I'm not kidding. Go," she said, while dragging Tiara toward the back porch.
Amazed to see Darla seriously bossing the guys around, Tiara allowed herself to be pulled along by Darla who opened the screen for her to enter the kitchen, and then pushed her gently into a chair. Tiara protested and stated she was fine, but Darla silenced her with a glare the second she opened her mouth. It wasn't until Darla had the kettle heating, two mugs ready with the teabags inserted, and then sitting in the chair to Tiara's right that Darla finally spoke. "Okay, spill it. And don't leave anything out."
"Well," Tiara said, "you know I got the key and note to come down here? In his note, Dad mentioned the horse and that he was in trouble."
"No, Tiara." Darla sighed. "Tell me about Jayce."
"I don't know--"
"Tiara Summers." The kettle's whistle punctuated Darla's use of her nearly full name. As Darla stood up to turn the heat off, Tiara tried to decipher what the other woman expected to hear and what she already may have figured out about the relationship between her and Jayce. She hadn't come up with any ready response before Darla had a mug in front of her and took her seat again. Darla sighed, again, more heavily than a moment ago. "I may look like an ugly country bumpkin who doesn't know a thing, but anyone has only to be within a few feet of you two to feel the energy."
"You are not ugly. And, there isn't energy," Tiara said, "mutual irritation is what you feel."
"Are you that far into denial, or don't you truly understand what's going on?" Darla asked. "Never mind, it doesn't matter. Talk to me, please. Tell me about Jayce. How old were you?"
Dunking the teabag into the hot water, Tiara decided to answer in as short a reply as she could get away with giving. "Twelve."
"So about twelve years?" Tiara nodded. "You were good friends back then?" Darla asked, causing Tiara to glance away. "This would go much quicker if I didn't have to get the information playing twenty questions. Have you any idea how ticked off Mark is going to be if I don't get my baby sleep?"
"Darla, it's just--"
"Sweetie, don't you think I recognize love comes in different packages, or that it has no boundaries, can even be unconventional?" Darla lowered her voice and reached across the table, taking one of Tiara's hands in her own and squeezed reassuringly. "You think I haven't noticed how sexy your neighbor is? Let's not get started on Ms. Juarez. Wow." She laughed at Tiara's shocked expression. "Admiring a woman isn't exclusively lesbian, you know. Besides, what kind of woman would I be if I hadn't learned to appreciate what might catch my husband's eye?"
Tiara raised one shoulder in a quick shrug. "I wouldn't think you'd have to worry about that with Mark."
Blushing, Darla smiled. "Actually, I don't worry anymore, but let's get back to you. I know you feel something or you wouldn't have released the green jealousy monster from your eyes. Don't you return Jayce's affection?"
"It's complicated, Darla."
"Is it? Or are you making it more so because we're here as witnesses to your personal life, let alone your love life? I can't answer for Craig, but neither Mark nor I are homophobic." Darla squeezed her hand once more before releasing it, then picked up her own cup and took a sip. "More importantly, I'm a sucker for a truly mushy romance, you know."
Tiara grinned. "I bet you are, however, this isn't a romance, most certainly not a mushy one." She took a deep breath. "Okay, you asked for it. When I lived here as a kid, I had a huge crush on Jayce. She's wonderful, so full of life, so who wouldn't fall for her, right? I didn't think she returned my interest because she was always pulling pranks on me. After a while I didn't care because I wanted any of her attention, good or bad. One day she found me hiding away in our old barn." Tiara hesitated, not wanting to mention she was whittling. "Well, anyway, she kissed me."
Nodding, Darla sighed. "It was wonderful and you realized Jayce cared for you too."
"No. She literally ran off," Tiara said. "Guess kissing me scared her. Or made her realize I wasn't worth her time."
"Maybe there's another explanation. Did you ask?"
Shrugging, Tiara said, "Seeing her with Juanita, I know it was me not fitting her type. Things grew a little more distant between us after that, but I admit she was always
there for me. Up until just after Christmas, when my mother took me away."
"I've seen the way she looks at you, Tiara," Darla said. "This is not a woman who has in any way discounted you from 'her type', even if she has one. If you weren't back then, you most certainly are now. I can't believe you two have dissociated yourselves over what may very well be a misunderstanding. What you need to do is talk to her."
"Not gonna happen, Darla. There's a wedge between us now. I think she's a bonehead, and Jayce can't accept that I'm capable of actually handling myself." Tiara raised an arm and flourished it in an arc. "I tell her I'm going to fix the place, and she tells me not to hurt myself. Damn it, I'm not an incompetent child."
"Just a petulant one," Darla stated. "Seriously, Tiara, have you considered now that you're back home, Jayce is worried about you for other reasons than hurting yourself because of incompetence?"
"Why care now? Why not back when I needed her and Slim, even Aunt Edna, while I dealt with Angie alone?"
Darla flinched at the fury heating the words. Quietly, she asked, "Is that what your alienation is really about? They abandoned you, and you want to return the favor, no matter the cost?"
"It's not like that," Tiara denied. But she realized that was a huge part of it, what she had believed as the best course of reaction. Was Jayce correct that Tiara twisted every word Jayce uttered into a negative disparagement? "Okay, maybe it is like that. Not that it matters. Jayce has apparently moved on. Let's not forget that Jayce thinks Craig is my boyfriend, which is why I'm surprised she even rode over here like Annie Oakley ready to save me from the bad guys."
Darla snorted a laugh. "You and Craig an item?"
"Yeah, I'm thinking that's what prompted her attitude the first day you got here. She probably saw Craig's greeting." Tiara blushed. "She was kissing me when you arrived. Needless to say, I haven't corrected her misunderstanding." Tiara shook her head, and then focused on Darla. "Did you see the way Jayce had the horse going all 'hi-ho-Silver' to cover wanting to laugh at Sparretti and his goons? That's what she does, you know, trains horses for TV and the movies. I assume with Juanita Juarez here, she's training a specific horse for the Deadly Aimes series."
A Majestic Affair Page 8
