Forecast (14 page)

He wouldn’t even let her meet his dog.

To be fair, he had ended things gently, and behaved respectfully since. Well apart from boinking Eva Sanchez right under her nose, but he wasn’t expecting her to find out. An unplanned fall broke that cover. And, from what she’d heard on the office grapevine, it was just sex.

No, Drew had been quite considerate of her feelings—which surely meant something—until this moment. He was watching Rowie like a 5-year-old glued to the Disney Channel. And it was like a knife in Jess’ gut.

It amazed Jess that Drew was so blind. Didn’t he see how compatible they were? He could upgrade from the weather (yes, yes, he loved the weather … but it wasn’t really the top of the media food chain) and have his own show. She’d produce it. They could be the golden couple of the media world. They were obviously meant to be together? It was crystal clear to Jess. If only she could make him see. If only there was a way to …

Holy shit! Why hadn’t she thought of it earlier?

Jess stared at Rowie and remembered what she’d said when they first met.

“When I kiss someone I see their whole future in my head … like a movie.”

Jess smiled to herself. How convenient! Rowie could kiss Drew and tell him exactly who he was meant to be with. Perfect! It was a sure-fire way to get her relationship with Drew back on track. She knew they were meant to be together. He just needed a nudge in the right direction. She knew a prediction from a psychic wasn’t the most rational way to reel Drew back in, but hell, she was clutching at straws here. And Rowie certainly had Jess questioning her own skepticism. In the past six weeks, Rowie had made some outrageous predictions, and they’d all come true. Her track record was faultless. She may be weird, but she was also
always
right.

Jess quickly formulated her plan. Firstly, she needed Drew and Rowie to kiss. The thought hurt, but it wouldn’t be too difficult to set up. Judging by the way he was drooling, Drew was already planning it himself.

Rowie may need more manipulating. But it was just one kiss … and she’d made it perfectly clear that she didn’t go back for seconds if the guy wasn’t meant for her. She’d said it herself:
“I’m waiting for a man I can’t read.”

Jess could picture it. Rowie and Drew would kiss—okay, she didn’t want to picture that bit—and then Rowie would pull away and, in a gentle, but firm voice say: “Why Drew, you’re in love with Jess.” For some reason she even had a southern accent when she said it. And then Drew would step back … reeling. “By God, you’re right. I’ve been such a fool.”

Jess gave Rowie a cheery wave, called her over and turned back to Drew. “Try not to scare her. She’s a bit—naïve. Innocent. She’s led a sheltered life. She told me it takes her weeks before she’ll even kiss a man.”

“I bet I could change that,” said Drew, only half joking.

Bingo! “You’re on.”

Drew frowned. “What?”

“It’s a bet. $100.”

“You’re betting I can’t kiss her?”

“Yep. One kiss. Tonight,” challenged Jess.

“No thanks,” said Drew. “I’m not a betting man.”

“You’re forgetting, I’ve seen you in action in Atlantic city,” said Jess.

Drew gave Jess a lazy smile. “You sure have.”

Jess tried not to look as flustered as she felt. “I meant at the casino. You were a regular Ben Affleck, so don’t tell me you’re not a betting man.”

Drew watched Rowie as she made her way towards them.

“So, how about it?” asked Jess.

“Not interested,” said Drew. “She’s … not my type.”

Jess burst out laughing. “Oh bullshit! She’s female, she has a pulse … what more do you usually ask for?”

Drew ignored the dig. “The psychic thing is a bit of a turn-off.”

“You don’t have to marry her.” Let’s just make that point clear, thought Jess. And then realizing she needed to challenge him more … “It’s cool. You wouldn’t be able to do it. It’s a tough call.”

Like a seagull on a chip. “Of course I could.”

Jess humored him. “Sure you could … But from what she’s told me … there’s no way …”

Drew took the bait. “One kiss? Okay, why not? You’re on. You’re a wild woman, Jessie girl.”

Jess took that as a compliment. “You’d better believe it.”

Rowie arrived, like a breath of fresh air in the musty bar. She gave Jess’ arm a quick squeeze hello and then turned to Drew. “It’s great to see you out of bed.” An embarrassed heat crept across her cheeks. “I mean … out of hospital …”

“Thanks for filling in for me.” Drew quickly scrutinized her. She was even more gorgeous than he remembered … if that was possible.

“I had such a great time,” Rowie beamed. “I’d love to keep your job.”

Drew raised his eyebrows at Jess. “Sounds like I’ve got some competition.”

Jess smirked. He didn’t know half of it. “Sounds like it.” She slugged her drink back. “I’m going to the bar.”

Rowie watched Jess walk off and then turned back to Drew. “How’s your leg?”

“Good as new. Just weak from lack of use.” He gave a little hop to prove his point, but grimaced in pain. “Been aching a bit today.”

“It’s predicting rain.”

Drew shook his head in disbelief. He’d seen the forecast. “It won’t rain tonight.”

“Want to bet?”

Drew stalled. He didn’t know whether to feel guilty, or excited at the prospect of winning Jess’ wager. “I’m not really a betting man.”

“I bet it’s great to be home.”

“Hell yeah … although there’s a lot of maintenance to catch up on. I live on a boat,” Drew explained.

“Really?” Rowie was impressed. On TV he seemed more of a TriBeCa loft kind of guy. “I didn’t realize people could live on boats in Manhattan.”

“It’s rare. There’s another boat basin not far from me, near Riverside Park. There are quite a few permanent boaters there. The marina where I live is privately owned and quite small. There are twelve of us on six boats, living aboard year round. Over the summer there are seasonal boaters who come and go, a lot of regulars we’ve got to know over the years, a handful of newcomers each season. It’s a world of it’s own down there. I’m so grateful to be a part of it.”

“It sounds amazing,” said Rowie. “What are the boats like? Are they houseboats?”

“They’re all different. The marina owner and his wife live on a converted shrimp trawler. The way they’ve decked it out is amazing. Most of the others live on motor yachts … although I’m a bit of a sailboat-snob. I believe if it doesn’t have a sail then it’s not a proper yacht.”

Rowie didn’t know a great deal about boats, but was enjoying the conversation … and the excited gleam in his eyes. He obviously loved his lifestyle. “So you live on a yacht … one with sails.”

“I sure do. She’s a beauty too. An Alpha … that’s the builder. I bought her in New Zealand.”

“Wow! Why?”

“It just worked out that way. I decided to take three months off and travel before I started with USBC. I went to Auckland for the America’s cup, and while I was there I looked at a couple of boats that were for sale. The Kiwis build great yachts, and because of the exchange rate they’re a lot cheaper than over here.” Drew grinned. “It was love at first sight. I just knew I had to have her. So I bought her, had a few things altered, canceled my flights, and sailed her back home.”

The surprises didn’t stop coming. The guy was amazing. Rowie was riveted. “By yourself?”

“No, I had my father with me. He’s an ole sailor too. It wasn’t long after my mother died, so it did us the world of good.” Drew looked wistful for a moment. “It was an amazing trip. We sailed across the Pacific, through the Panama Canal and up the East Coast to New York.”

Rowie was dumbfounded. She had no idea what to say so just stared at him. He picked his beer off the table, fumbling it slightly.

“God, I’m sorry. I must be boring you.” He looked genuinely embarrassed.

“On the contrary. I’m impressed,” Rowie assured him. “I feel completely ordinary by comparison.”

“Yeah … completely ordinary,” Drew chuckled. “Gorgeous red headed psychics are a dime a dozen.”

“They are in my family,” Rowie laughed.

“So, are you actually related to the Shakespeare?”

“I’m descended from his great aunt. It’s a matriarchal line. The women pass on the family name.”

“And the men?”

“What about them?”

“What do the men pass on?”

Rowie grinned mischievously. “Genes.”

“Ouch,” Drew laughed.

“We also need them to take out the garbage,” Rowie continued teasing.

“Cute! What if your future husband really wants you take his name?”

“Oh please! Do guys like that still exist?”

Drew smiled. She was quite delightful. “Obviously not in your world. Have you ever lived up to your name and written a play?”

Rowie cocked an eyebrow. “Ever lived up to yours and sketched a picture?”

“Huh?”

Rowie groaned. “Oh, Drew, pick up the pace.”

Jess leant against the bar and watched as Rowie and Drew got along like a house on fire. It was annoying, but she’d cope. As long as her plan worked and no one—namely her—got burnt.

“He’ll never change.”

Jess jumped at the sound of Eva Sanchez’s syrup-smooth voice. “Eva! I haven’t seen you for ages. How was Florida?” Her smile was as fake as a Canal Street watch.

Eva gave a sexy shrug. She didn’t care what Jess thought of her. “Hot and wild. And I’m not just talking about Hurricane Hilda.”

They both watched Drew for a moment, Eva in amused silence, Jess in abject misery.

“You still like him, huh!” Eva’s sympathy was genuine. Unlike Jess, she’d thankfully escaped the Henderson love-bug, although he’d been great fun and incredible in the sack.

Jess nodded. Whether it was Eva’s concern, or the six strong vodkas she’d had, Jess felt like sharing. “We were good together.”

Eva laughed at the joke … but stopped when she realized Jess was serious. “Hell, if you want him that much, fight for him.”

“I am.” Jess’ mouth set in a determined line. “By the end of tonight he’ll want me back. He’s just got to kiss her first.”

“She must be a really bad kisser,” Eva chuckled.

“Rowie’s psychic,” Jess pointed out. “One kiss and she’ll see his future … and me in it.”

“What if you’re not?”

Jess looked genuinely astounded. “But I am.”

“If you’re so psychic, what do you need her for?”

They watched as Rowie said something to Drew and then headed towards the bathroom. His eyes followed her like a boy who’d just lost his puppy.

“Wow, he never looked at me like that,” said Eva.

“I’ve got to powder my nose,” said Jess.

Eva grabbed Jess’ arm. “You know the difference between us, Jess?”

Three bra sizes and a full set of acrylic nails?
“Enlighten me, Eva.”

“I never wanted more than he could give.”

Jess stalked off to the bathroom, more determined than ever to win Drew back, just to prove Eva wrong. Rowie was washing her hands when she entered and gave Jess a smile. Jess was once again reminded how genuinely nice she was. She didn’t want to go shopping with her, or have pedicures together, but Jess liked Rowie. Hiring her had worked out well, and she wasn’t a threat—on any level. It was a perfect combination.

“Hey, Rowie, having fun?”

“Sure am. You?”

“Fabby. Drew seems to be holding up well.”

“His leg healed quickly,” Rowie agreed. “Surprisingly so actually.”

“Dreadful that he had to go through this so soon after that other disaster.” Jess shook her head, and then pretended to realize, “Oh, of course, you wouldn’t know.” She lowered her voice slightly. “A bit over a year ago, he was married, his wife was pregnant, life was grand. Then she ran off with his best friend. Turns out the baby wasn’t Drew’s.”

As planned, Rowie was appalled. “That’s awful.”

Jess had Rowie hooked. Now she reeled her in. “It took him ages to get over.”

“It would. What a betrayal.”

“Trust
is
an issue.” Jess checked her appearance in the mirror. Not bad. She took a comb out of her bag and tidied her hair. “He’d like to meet someone else, but … he’s scared.”

“Naturally,” Rowie sympathized.

“I don’t think he wants to get involved unless she’s The One. But how can you tell?”

They fell silent, both pondering the enormity of Drew’s heartbreak.

“Oh my god.” Jess had a great idea! “You could kiss him.”

Rowie was thrown. “What?”

“You told me you see a movie reel of someone’s life when you kiss them.”

“Yes, but …”

“You could get a description of who he’s meant to be with,” Jess enthused. “And then he could keep an eye out for her.”

“I can’t just walk up to him and kiss him.” As much as I’d like to, thought Rowie.

“So flirt with him a bit first. Then whack one on him as you say good night.”

“I don’t want to lead him on.”

Jess cocked her head to one side. “He’s a big boy, Rowie. He’s not going to be hurt over one kiss.”

Rowie was uncomfortable with where this conversation was heading. “I really couldn’t.”

“Why not? It’s not like he’s Quasimodo. “

“True.” No actually, he was leg-meltingly hot, thought Rowie.

“Think of it as … charity work.”

“Can I declare it on my taxes?” Rowie joked.

Jess was determined now. “I’m serious. You’ll be doing a good man a great favor. What if he already knows the woman he’s meant to be with?”

Rowie stared at Jess and couldn’t help but be swept along by her enthusiasm. It was actually starting to sound like a good idea. The woman could sell Amway.

“One kiss, Rowie.”

Rowie caved. Jess had a point. Drew was a nice person, and if she could help him move on, then she should do it. “Okay. I’ll see.”

Jess looked elated. “Thank you!”

“I’m not promising.” Rowie laid down the conditions. “And I’m not kissing him if he has bad breath.”

“Deal,” Jess grinned.

*

Jess pushed her way through the crowd, back to Drew. The bar was packed now, and Drew was—surprise, surprise—surrounded by women.

“I’m going home, Drew,” she shouted in his ear. “Remember, no cheating. Got to be on the lips and more than ten seconds.”