“Listen, I don’t care if you’re the President and First Lady! After a concert, Badger always wants an hour to himself. No exceptions. Not even his manager talks to him.”
The huge bodyguard looked like a wrestler with powerful arms and a wide girth. He spoke rudely to a middle-aged man in a western suit and a young woman in a lavender dress.
Roland had put his hand in front of Jessie so they could stop and watch from around the corner. The nervous lump in her throat had pinballed down to her stomach.
When Jessie heard the bodyguard tell the beautiful woman and her debonair companion to “get lost,” she knew the direct approach wasn’t going to work. Clasping her hands together as if in prayer, she stared at Roland and shook her head. When he nodded, she sighed. What could they do now?
A sharp clicking sound made Jessie look over her shoulder.
Down the hall, a maid dressed in a maroon uniform jiggled the silver doorknob to be sure the door had closed properly.
Jessie watched the maid with a slender body and a long black braid hanging down her back. The woman looked no older than twenty-five.
Suddenly, a new idea appeared. Turning away from Roland, Jessie started to chase the maid, who had walked away.
“No! Please wait!” Jessie called, trotting after her. “Wait a minute. Can I talk to you?”
She heard Roland whisper her name, but she didn’t stop, and eventually his heavy footsteps followed her path.
The maid paused and waited for Jessie. Her bronze face looked tired. Almond-shaped brown eyes carefully studied Jessie’s approach.
“Could you help me, please?” Jessie asked her breathlessly.
The woman shrugged as she pocketed her keys.
Jessie gave her a friendly smile. “I wonder if you would help me. We want to talk to the man in the guest room at the end of the hall.”
The woman gave her a cat-like smile. “A famous singer in that room tonight,” she replied, her voice thick with an accent.
“Yes, that’s right.” Jessie glanced over her shoulder at Roland, but kept talking. “We really need to talk to him. I represent a school, and we want the singer to do a concert for us. If we don’t get any money, the school will close.” She heard Roland catching his breath behind her, and prayed he wouldn’t interfere. “Could you help me get inside his room?”
The maid raised her brown eyes above Jessie to gaze at Roland, and then looked back again at Jessie.
“Could I borrow your uniform?” Jessie asked. “I can tell the man at the door that I need to put fresh towels in the bathroom. Then I can talk to the singer, and I’ll bring back your uniform. I promise.”
The woman took a step back, as if Jessie’s request surprised her, but suddenly her black eyebrows gathered in a contemplative frown. “I get fired for helping you.”
Jessie paused, then nodded. “I understand.” She felt ashamed of her impulsive request, and prepared to apologize.
“If I help you, will you give me your earrings?” The maid’s voice changed completely, both in tone and clarity.
Instinctively, Jessie fingered the gold clusters set with two diamonds. They were an expensive set and her favorites. “My earrings?”
“No way!” Roland’s voice was a fierce growl.
Jessie stepped in front of Roland, fearing he would frighten the woman away. She had told Roland the alumni needed to think beyond themselves in order to save St. Joe’s. Was she willing to make a sacrifice to save it, too?
“Yes,” Jessie told the maid. “I’ll give you my earrings.”
The woman grinned, then flashed a triumphant look in Roland’s direction.
Roland’s fingers wrapped around Jessie’s arm. Anger singed his features. “You can’t do this! This woman is taking advantage of you.” His eyes flashed in the maid’s direction.
Jessie appreciated Roland’s concern, but she had made her choice. She reached up and stroked his cheek.
“I have to do this, Roland.” She spoke quietly, trying to soothe his outrage. “It’s our best chance.” She couldn’t let this opportunity slip through her fingers, and wanted Roland’s support.
“Jessie, it’s not worth it.”
“It’s worth everything.” She pulled away from him, disappointed he still didn’t understand her dedication. “The concert was my idea. I’m going to do everything I can to make it happen.” She turned back to the maid and said, “Show me where we can change clothes with each other.”
“Wait, Jessie!” Roland’s urgent voice made her turn. “I want to go with you. I won’t let you go in there alone.”
Before Jessie could inform him she was a big girl and able to take care of herself, the maid spoke up. “My husband’s waiter uniform would fit you, señor.”
Jessie saw Roland fold his arms across his chest. The tone in his voice should have turned her into ice. “And what do you want from me? I don’t wear earrings.”
The maid raised her narrow chin and never blinked at Roland’s icy stare. “Sir, you must pay me two hundred dollars.”
Roland’s jaw dropped. Jessie gasped.
Knowing the final decision had to be Roland’s alone, Jessie silently watched him. She thought he might strangle the maid, but Roland surprised Jessie. Despite the murderous gleam in his eyes, he spoke very quietly. “Get the uniforms. We’ll both go into the singer’s room.”
“Come with me. You’ll need more than clothes to get past the big man standing by the door.”
Jessie and Roland followed the maid without further comment, but as she took them down five floors on the service elevator into a secluded storage area, Jessie wondered if the maid had helped others masquerade before tonight. In a narrow room, there were clean towels piled on one shelf and several metal carts on wheels. She handed Roland a silver bucket.
“A machine for ice is that way. Take this.”
Roland eyed Jessie, who shrugged. He sighed, then took the ice bucket in his hands and left.
The woman spoke quietly. “When you talk to the guard, speak Spanish. They usually ignore a maid, because they think we can’t do anything but clean rooms.” She moved to a small closet, opened it, and took out a white waiter’s jacket and black pants.
Jessie had to admire the maid’s resourcefulness. Obviously, this woman had talents beyond cleaning rooms. But this masquerade also depended on Jessie to be clever in the given circumstances, too.
“Tell your boyfriend not to look so angry. Waiters must always look eager to please.” She handed Jessie the coat hangers with the clothes.
Jessie nodded, although she wondered how she could phrase the advice without Roland getting angrier. He appeared around the corner just then.
The maid spread a white cloth on one silver cart, and placed the bucket of ice on it. She pulled glass tumblers from a shelf and set six of them in two neat rows behind the bucket. Then she unlocked a white refrigerator door, and pulled a six-pack of beer from it, then quickly arranged the cans in the bucket of ice.
“Come with me,” the maid said, and led them to a hotel room across the hall.
She opened the door, slid her palm across the wall flipping on a dim light. She entered the small hallway, then turned on another small lamp by a desk.
The room basked in shadows, with only the faint outlines of a bed, chair, and balcony curtains. The maid pointed behind her. “Dress there, señor.”
Jessie handed Roland the clothes, but avoided looking at him. She started to doubt her methods to this madness, and wondered if they would even be able to fool the bodyguard. He probably knew every trick ingenious fans might try. She would sacrifice her favorite earrings because of her impulsive behavior, and Roland would lose two hundred dollars.
By the time Roland came out of the bathroom dressed like a hotel waiter, Jessie stood by a shadowy wall, hugging her arms around her. She was dressed like a maid in a snug maroon uniform.
The maid wore Jessie’s denim outfit, taking the time to admire herself in the borrowed clothes.
“Let’s go!” Roland barked, and Jessie knew he felt as distressed as she did about everything they were doing.
“I’ll wait here.” The maid brushed her hands over the arms of Jessie’s jacket.
Back in the service area, Jessie picked up a handful of towels. She finally got to inspect Roland’s appearance.
The black pants were two inches short, but luckily he wore black boots. The shirt was easily a size too small. The clothes only emphasized Roland’s muscular build. The maid was wrong about the size, but she was right about Roland’s manner. He looked as formidable as the bodyguard standing outside Badger’s door.
Their eyes met across the serving cart.
“I’m glad you’re coming with me,” she told him, hoping to reach his protective, gallant instincts. “I’m scared of the bodyguard.”
His expression relaxed. His eyes shone concern, and his mouth softened into a slight smile. “I wouldn’t be much of a St. Joe’s man if I let you approach him by yourself.”
“Shall we go?” she asked, and he nodded.
In a tense silence they rode the elevator. As the door swished open on the floor of Badger’s suite, Jessie whispered. “The maid suggested we both speak Spanish, but I don’t know if it will be enough to get us past the bodyguard.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll think of something. You always do.”
When she looked at him, he gave her a wink and a smile. His friendly tone boosted her sagging confidence. She wondered again if they would succeed as she waited for Roland while he pushed the cart off the elevator.
The muscular bodyguard stood in front of the door, and frowned when they stopped. “What do you two want?”
Jessie held up the towels. “Necesito poner estas toallas en el cuarto de baño.”
The man’s eyes narrowed as his big pale hands reached for the towels. “Dámelas. Yo las llevo.”
“No!” Jessie clutched the towels to her. She tried not to reveal her shock that the man spoke Spanish. Lowering her eyes, she improvised quickly, trying to keep things in a maid’s perspective. Her Spanish words flowed urgently. She spoke about bad customers who stole towels and the hotel making her pay for them. And she couldn’t afford it because she cared for three little sisters who had no mother. She begged him to understand that she was just following orders, and she had to be sure there was the right number of towels, and to please, please let her do her job. She rounded her eyes sadly, and gave him her best attempt at looking forlorn.
A disgruntled snort came from the bodyguard. He looked at Roland. “Did Badger order that?”
“Sí, señor.”
Jessie’s eyes darted in Roland’s direction. He had grabbed a cotton cloth off the cart and draped it over one arm. His face was void of expression, his eyes downcast.
The guard grunted again, then stepped back and opened the door. “Just room service, Badger!” he called.
A river of apprehension coursed through Jessie as she stepped inside the spacious suite. As she heard the squeak of the cart wheels behind her, she tried to remember she wasn’t alone in this crazy venture. She regained her confidence in the shadow of the handsome waiter behind her.
She barely took notice of the lavish furnishings, an ocean of sable brown carpet and crystal light fixtures. She zeroed all her attention on the wide back of the man who sat on a brocade sofa, as he stared out the picture window. Sandy brown hair brushed the collar of his blue shirt. His black hat balanced on one wing of the L-shaped sofa.
The city of Austin twinkled in the distance, flickers of lights blinking in the darkness. Jessie might have enjoyed staring at the night view of her state capital, but she was here to convince Badger to come to San Antonio, not stay in Austin.
Jessie looked over her shoulder at Roland. He grabbed a beer, and wiped it with the towel. With a slight jerk of his chin, he gave her an indication to proceed.
Jessie stepped down and walked over to the sofa. “Mr. McCloud?” She laid the towels near his hat.
She paused, noticing his tinted glasses lay on the coffee table. She stood in front of Badger, her legs trembling.
He raised his bearded jaw. His hazel eyes regarded her in a surprised stare. When she saw the gentleness reflected there, though, she knew she had a chance.
“My name is Jessie Medina. I represent St. Joseph High School in San Antonio. Brother William Daniels wanted me to speak to you about doing a benefit concert for the school. The school is hurting financially, and we need your help.” The words came out in a rush. She was afraid if she stopped talking, the man would say “Get out!”
“I know this is a bit out of the ordinary, Mr. McCloud. But if someone like you would lend his support for the school, we could attract more interest from the community. Could you—will you—help us?”
Slowly, one hand, diamond rings on two fingers, raised to scratch his head. “I thought you were room service.”
Roland stepped forward. “Would you like a beer?”
Jessie almost laughed. Only a man would use such a direct approach. She watched Roland flip back the beer tab and extend the open can to Badger.
“Okay, thanks.” He frowned, but took the can. “Who are you?”
“I’m Roland Tovías. I’m president of the St. Joe’s—uh, St. Joseph High School Alumni Association. I came with Jessie—uh, Ms. Medina—to talk to you about doing a benefit concert for the school.”
“Sorry. I don’t do benefits.” He set the beer can on the coffee table. “Now, leave.”
Roland’s hand circled her arm, but Jessie shook it off. She stepped closer, determined to try again. “Badger, please think about doing a benefit for us. For many of the boys, St. Joe’s is their only semblance of family. Many come from single-parent homes—the brothers and coaches are the only positive male role models in their lives. I know you shared a special relationship with Brother William Daniels when you attended the school. Although he’s retired, there are other teachers just like him who make a big difference for the boys.”
Roland’s hands rested gently on Jessie’s shoulders. “Badger, the school has made many improvements since you went there. We’ve got a fine baseball field, a new sprinkler system for the football field, two computer labs, and a fully equipped band room.” His voice rang with a genuine pride in the school. “I think if you came back to St. Joe’s, you’d see why we believe in the school and why we took such drastic measures to talk to you.”
Badger reclined into the sofa and lifted his legs onto the coffee table, crossing one booted foot over the other. He folded his hands upon his stomach, his eyes moving from Roland to Jessie. “I have to give you two credit for getting past Wade. You look like a maid and waiter to me, too.”
Jessie glanced down, a little embarrassed by his scrutiny. The hand-tooled copper-colored boots he wore were easily worth one month’s salary for her. Then she remembered that her expensive earrings were destined to leave this hotel on the ears of the maid. She became more determined that she wouldn’t sacrifice her prized possessions in vain. Before she could speak up, though, Badger cleared his throat.
“Look, I’ve never forgotten what St. Joe’s did for me. And Brother William’s a good old guy. I’ll have my people send you guys a check next week for a couple of hundred, okay? Now, you two need to go. I’m expecting company.”
The token gesture and dismissive attitude made Jessie angry. She refused to accept his check when her earrings and Roland’s money were worth twice that amount.
“Look, Badger, we don’t need your check for two hundred dollars!” She ignored Roland’s short intake of breath and the shock in the singer’s eyes. “We need a man who once attended St. Joe’s to come forward and show his support for the school. The concert would help the school financially, but it would also unite the students, parents, and the community at large in the efforts to keep the school open. Your presence would make a big difference to a lot of people who think St. Joseph’s is nothing more than an old boys’ school in a run-down part of town. If a big singer showed he cared, maybe others would take a second look at St. Joe’s, too.”
Badger’s thin lips pursed together. He stroked his chin, his fingers scratching through his beard. “Okay, okay. I’ll give this benefit idea some thought. Turns out I’ll be in San Antonio on Monday and Tuesday for some R & R before the band heads out west. Maybe I’ll drop by the school.”
Jessie’s excitement shot through her like fireworks celebrating a moment in history. “That would be wonderful, Badger.”
“I’m not making you any promises, but I’d like to talk to Brother William awhile. Maybe see the school.” His eyes sharpened on Jessie. “But I don’t want no press. No one’s to know I’m coming. Is that clear?”
“You have our word, Mr. McCloud. No one will know of your visit,” Roland said, his voice as solemn as his promise. “I—”
The door to the suite suddenly popped open. The bodyguard appeared, his face red with anger. “I thought you two were just room service!”
Roland grabbed Jessie’s hand, and seeing the angry giant coming around the sofa, she was more than willing to let Roland take the lead as he pulled her in the other direction.
“Thank you, Badger. I’ll see you at the school!” she called quickly, before she sped up her steps and ran with Roland out of the suite as a string of Spanish curses from the bodyguard bombarded their departure.
They didn’t stop running until they reached the elevator.
Jessie’s heart raced from the sprint and her excitement that she had succeeded in her quest. “Roland, we did it!”
Roland pressed the elevator button, then sighed, relaxing his back against the wall. “He didn’t really say yes, Jessie.”
“But he didn’t say no, either.” She faced him squarely. “Once we get him to the school, Brother William can take over. Come on! Could you say no to that sweet old man?”
“That ‘sweet old man’ once threatened to break a ruler over my head if I didn’t pass his next biology test.”
Jessie laughed happily, suddenly feeling as if a huge weight had been lifted off her heart and mind. Free to laugh again, she truly enjoyed being with Roland for the first time all night. Impulsively, she leaned forward and kissed Roland’s lips. “I’m glad you came with me after all.”
Then Roland’s strong arms encircled her. He pulled her to him and gave her a long, deliberate kiss. Suddenly, she was safe and protected in the arms of a man whose code of honor appreciated the differences between male and female. Unexpected sensations boomeranged through her body until she realized if she didn’t recapture her senses, she’d make a complete fool of herself. Pressing her hands against him, she broke off their kiss.
Roland’s eyes glided over her with a gentleness she had never seen before. “You’re a very special woman, Ms. Medina.”
Jessie’s look caressed his handsome features. She wondered if the kiss was merely a reaction to the emotional impact of their evening, or if he felt as she did. She thought there was an energy between them. They were two strong individuals, but together, they commanded an even greater power. Did he sense it, too?
The door to the elevator whizzed apart, but they stood there, lost in their own thoughts.
Roland blinked, breaking the spell. “Uh—so, let’s go.” He suddenly laughed. “We need to get you home before those little sisters get hungry! Do you want to count any more towels?”
The silliness broke the mood into something Jessie could handle. She smiled, too. “You should get an Oscar for your performance, too. And I can’t believe you gave Badger a beer like that!”
The elevator door closed upon their teasing and laughter.
Dressed in their own clothes again, Roland slowly walked Jessie to the elevator. He reached out to take her hand, and her cold fingers trembled in his. When she didn’t pull away, he laced his fingers through hers. Her eyes were on the carpet, and her lips pressed together tightly. He respected her too much to comment on the scene with the maid. He just wanted her to know he cared about her sacrifice.
Roland struggled with his own emotions as he pressed the elevator button. He wasn’t so angry with the maid—after all, they had made a bargain—but he wished he had more money to give the woman so she wouldn’t have taken Jessie’s earrings.
He admired Jessie’s politeness towards the maid as she gave up the earrings and explained how grateful she was for the help. Not wanting to appear ungallant, he followed Jessie’s example and gave up all but ten dollars of his money. He doubted if the maid cared about anything beyond her own rewards.
The elevator door slid open, and they stepped inside.
Jessie sighed. “I guess we can go home now.”
“Don’t you want to get something to eat, Jessie?” He pressed the elevator button for the first floor. “I can still afford two hamburgers.”
“After all this, you think I’d let you take me to dinner? I’m the one who should be treating you!” Jessie’s eyes raised, and he was relieved to see the tiny glimmer of fire burning in them again.
He shook his head. “Sorry. My treat. Even if it’s only a hamburger. The last time a woman bought me a meal, I had to eat in a school cafeteria.”
Her expression brightened. “It wasn’t so bad, was it?”
Roland exchanged a smile with her. “No, Jessie, it wasn’t so bad.” Actually, he wasn’t referring to the cafeteria food, but everything that had happened in his life since the moment they met. After tonight, he would never doubt her loyalty to the school. He would always be the first in line to help her with any development project she planned.
He raised their clasped hands to his lips and kissed her fingers. “Tonight, we’ll eat hamburgers. When Badger agrees to the concert, I’ll take you some place very special for dinner.”
Jessie smiled at him. “You’ve got yourself a deal!”