That was the plan, but Jamie needed a contingency.
“I know I said I didn’t need you to work until tomorrow, but I’m going to miss check-in, and I need you to do it for me, or we’re nothing but spectators instead of participants.”
“No problem,” Jeremy said. “Do I just need to sign your name or something?”
Not only would Jamie need to get this car situation taken care of—and fast—but he’d also need to forward Jeremy his registration documents and hope the guy would be able to oversee the tent setup and sign for the product delivery this afternoon, all things Jamie had planned on doing by getting an early start today.
“It’s a little more complicated than that,” Jamie said. “But, Jer, if you can do what I need you to do today, your Christmas bonus is going to be huge.”
Jeremy laughed. “Kingston, you know I’m your guy. But I’m holding you to that bonus thing now that you said it out loud.”
“Deal,” Jamie said, and he spent the next half hour prepping Jeremy for today’s duties.
When he made it back to Phil, the man told him Mickey already had a tow truck on the way. He breathed a sigh of relief. At least things were moving in the right direction. But there was one more thing he had to take care of.
“Phil, is there a bus or a train or something nearby that goes to L.A.?”
Phil glanced at the large analog clock on the wall behind Jamie’s head.
“Real nice coach bus service runs from Holbrook to L.A. every day at nine. Leaves right from that parking lot across the street.” Phil pointed out the Wigwam Motel’s front office window. “I can call and see if they still have tickets. Add it to your tab and print it right here?”
Jamie nodded. “The ticketholder’s name will be Brynn Chandler. You’re a lifesaver, Phil.”
He might be stuck in Holbrook for the day, but he’d still get Brynn to her destination on time. He couldn’t be her choice by default. Not again.
Jamie was out the door and back to his wigwam in seconds, bursting into their room just before remembering that he’d left Brynn asleep less than an hour ago.
She was awake and dressed in the Cubs T-shirt and jeans, but Jamie didn’t have the time or energy to give her shit about wearing the shirt. At least this time there was a bra underneath it. Not that he was thinking about her bra. Well, now he was. Dammit. He had to focus. When he did he saw that Brynn’s eyes weren’t puffy and red from last night’s tears. Her brown eyes spat lasers at him through her glasses, despite how goofy her angry face looked with the addition of the bandage on the right half of her forehead, and he guessed he was in for a world of hurt.
“Where the hell were you, Jamie?”
Maybe he should have left a note.
…
First she’d opened the door to make sure his truck was still there. It was one thing to wake up with Jamie no longer in bed with her. But then to find the room entirely empty save for her and her suitcase? She’d thought he’d actually bailed. Why were things so royally messed up between them now?
Her heart had settled back into her chest when she threw open the door and found his truck still parked, but then she texted him and got no response. She texted again—still nothing. In a ten-minute time span she went from hurt to furious to downright terrified, and here he was all awake and dressed and not looking at all like he’d been mugged by some wigwam-trolling hooligan.
“I texted you,” she said when he didn’t answer her question. “Jamie, I thought you left me, and then I thought something happened to you.”
He was still standing in the open doorway, handle in his hand. With the other he pulled his phone from his pocket and drew in a hissed breath when he saw the text notifications.
“B, I’m sorry. It’s been a hell of a morning. I was going to get coffee, but the truck wouldn’t start. Battery’s dead, tow truck is on the way, and I had to make a call, which is probably why I missed your texts. I’m sorry. I should have left a note, but right now we have to get you all packed and on the bus.”
She opened her mouth to speak and then closed it again, letting the entirety of Jamie’s verbal vomit register. It took a second for her brain to catch up to the velocity at which his words came at her, and the last bit finally registered.
“Bus? We’re taking a bus? I thought you said the tow truck was on the way.”
He shook his head. “I’m not taking the bus.”
She cocked her head to the side, brows furrowed. Then it clicked, and she was suddenly nauseous.
“You’re putting me on a bus?”