It took a moment to sink in, but June gave the idea a smile. “So, you guys are security for Jack Melendez now?” she asked.
“Let’s just call it a one-off,” Jerome said. “I’m sure you understand the need for fresh blood after the fiasco from earlier this year.”
“Intimately,” June said back. She looked at her face in the mirror, wondering how much longer the bodyguard was going to remain in the restroom with her. She still had things to do, preferably without a three-hundred-pound giant watching over her shoulder. She sighed. “I was told we’d have some privacy this weekend.”
“You will,” said Jerome. “As much as we can provide. But there will be times when that just won’t be possible.”
“Yeah, as in from the time I met you until the time I go home again,” June said. A weekend that was supposed to include some romance was turning out to be just another expensive trip to see a guy that just didn’t have time for her.
“We’re able to work out those details, Doctor, if we have some advanced notice,” Jerome said. “That’s a problem Mister Melendez wants us to resolve.”
“I talked to someone in Jack’s office yesterday and was assured it would be taken care of already.”
“I’m sorry, but we didn’t get that notification.”
“Well, consider yourselves notified.” June’s face turned red. She was beyond modesty. “I have plans for after dinner, and it includes more than coffee and a handshake.” She looked at him wondering if there was more. Jerome didn’t reply. She put her hands on her hips. “Do you mind? I’d like to do a touch up.”
With a smile, Jerome excused himself. Once he was gone, June looked closely at her face in the mirror, and didn’t like what she saw. She washed her hands, splashed some cold water on her face. Patted it dry with a paper towel. Two other women came in and went into stalls, still chatting. Something about a boyfriend, but June didn’t care enough to eavesdrop.
Carefully, she applied eyeliner and lipstick, and fluffed her hair. She adjusted her bra one last time and laid the pearl pendant on the outside of her blouse. The two women finished in the stalls and approached the sink.
“I wonder if he likes perfume?” June said out loud.
“Can’t hurt, right?” one of the women said.
June looked over.
“Big weekend?” the other woman said, running the faucet.
June nodded. “That was the plan.” She took a tiny bottle of perfume from her purse and dabbed a speck of it on her chest, before dropping the bottle back. It was a gardenia aroma, her favorite any time of the year. The scent of it reminded her of the cheerful white blossoms she had in old Mexican crockery pots on her patio at home.
“We sure go to a lot of trouble to make a good impression, don’t we, honey?” the first woman said to June with a smile.
“Yeah, and how long are we expected to keep it up until they notice?” June said back.
“And how long until they actually do something about it? We’re with you on this one.” The two women finished up and left. June finished up with her final adjustments, a little happier with her appearance. She found Jerome waiting patiently in the lobby. He was alone.
“Are we sitting together for dinner?” June asked. “All four of us?”
“The two of you will dine alone. We’ll be at a nearby table. Your meal selections have already been decided, along with your wine. Please don’t request something different, not this time around anyway.”
June opened her mouth to speak but Jerome cut her off.
“Don’t worry. You’re having a meatless chef’s salad, along with a central coast wine,” he said.
They’ve done their research, June thought. “Thanks,” she said, “but maybe you should update my profile. I don’t drink wine anymore.”
“About that matter that you brought up earlier.”
“About after dinner?”
“Right. I talked to Leopold.”
“Let me guess,” June said. “A warm handshake and a deep longing look in the eyes?”
Jerome smiled. “No. After dinner, you’ll return to your room first, and then I’ll collect you a few minutes later and take you through to Mr. Melendez’s suite. Whatever happens behind closed doors is up to you. But it needs to stay there, and only there. Understood?”
“And you’ll leave us alone?”
“One of us has to be in the suite at all times, but at least in another room. That’s the best we can do.”
June leaned her back against the wall and crossed her arms over her chest. She had a view of the hotel’s restaurant door and hoped she would be eating soon.