Jinxed- Chapter Two

Jinx wakes to realize she was drugged and kidnapped by her publicist. On her way to the conference and reacts badly, but has a change of heart once in the hotel room.

 

CHAPTER TWO

 

     The room was spinning. Jinx could tell this was going to be one doozy of  hangover. Just becauseit was her birthday, that was no excuse to get tanked and pass out. She really wasn’t much of a drinker and drinking alone, well that was just pathetic.The day was a bust, not that she had a reason to celebrate anyway. Now all she wanted was some aspirin for her throbbing headache and a good night’s rest. She’d have to finish the chapter she was writing tomorrow, when her mind was not so fuzzy.     
     
     Jinx gingerly opened one bleary eye and then the other, trying in vain to focus on anything. It was impossible. The scenery was passing by much too fast. It was all a blur. Dear God, this had to be a nightmare. Even in her groggy state, she could tell that she was no longer safe and secure in her home. Nothing was familiar.      

     She only knew that she was in a vehicle, headed for some unknown destination and all of this was happening against her will. She would never willingly leave the security of her home, not for anything. It could be burning down around her ears and she’d still have to give it serious consideration, before allowing the fireman to haul her from the flaming carnage.

     
     “Hello, sleepyhead.”           

     
      She knew that voice. The familiar Irish lilt. It was that attractive, if annoying

 publicist. She knew he was desperate to get her to that conference, but kidnapping? 

 Somehow he had managed to get her out of her house and into his car without protest,

 which was an impossible feat. If he had tried to force her, she would have screamed the

 place down, until security came and took him away. That only left one option, the jerk

 had drugged her. She was going to have his head on a platter.

 

     “What did you do to me?” Jinx demanded, giving him her most threatening glare. He

 didn’t even flinch.

 

     “I just gave you some sleeping pills.” He shrugged.

 
    “Some? How many is some?”     

     
    “I don’t know. I just crushed a bunch and spread them over the pizza, who would

 have thought such a dainty little thing could eat a whole pizza by herself?”

 

     “You could have killed me!” She was horrified.

           

     “You have been sleeping a long time.” Finn admitted. “I was starting to worry,

but you seem fine now.”

 

     “Fine? I am sooo not fine!” Jinx started to hyperventilate. “Oh God! I… can’t

…breathe.”

 

     “Don’t worry, I came prepared for this.” Finn pulled over to the side of the

highway and handed her a brown paper bag. “Cover your mouth with this and breathe in

and out slowly, until you calm down. You’re just having a panic attack.”

 

     Jinx closed her eyes and did as instructed, albeit resentfully, holding the bag over

her mouth until her breath steadied, then when she no longer had a use for it, she started

hitting Finn with the paper bag. She wished she had something harder, but one had to

make do with what one had. Maybe if she was lucky, he would get a nasty paper cut.

     “Are you out of your mind? You… are… not… a… doctor. You are not equipped to

handle my condition. You have to take me home. RIGHT NOW!”

 

     “I’m sorry Jinx, but at this point it would take longer to get you back home than to

the hotel. We are already in California.” He yanked the bag out of her hand and tossed it

in the back seat.

 

     “I can’t do this. Why can’t you understand that?”

 

     “I told you I would help. You’ll get through it just fine.”

 

     “This is kidnapping, you know. I could have you arrested.” Jinx insisted.

 

     “I prefer to think of it as an intervention. It’s past time you got over these phobias of

yours and started living your life. Wouldn’t you like to be able to do the things you write

about in your books?”

 

     “Since I write about people being murdered in my books, I’m gonna have to give

that question a big fat no.” She crossed her arms over her chest stubbornly.

 

     “That’s not all you write about. What about the romance?”

 

     Jinx glared at Finn as she read between the lines. “Are you telling me that I need

to get laid?”

 

     “It couldn’t hurt.” He muttered under his breath.

 

     “Excuse me? What did you just say?”

 

     “I said we’re here.” He lied, pointing to the Magenta hotel. “Once you are tucked

safe and sound inside your hotel room you’ll feel much better.”

 

     “I guess so.” She agreed, though making no move to get out of the car. The hotel

was really quite lovely. It had a certain southern old world charm; the view was

breathtaking, and the gardens well kept. Magnolias were her favorite. She would love to

stop and smell their intoxicating bouquet, but it wasn’t enough incentive to get out of the

car. There wasn’t enough incentive in the world, especially looking the way she did. She

couldn’t go into a fancy hotel wearing a tight t-shirt and well worn jeans. For God’s

sake, she didn’t even have on a lick of make- up and she was pretty sure she was having

a bad hair life.

    

     Finn climbed out of his side of the car and crossed around to hers, doing the

gentlemanly thing and opening the door for her, but she did the unexpected, which of

course he should have expected and slammed the door shut, then locked it. He hurried

around to his side of the car, but it was too late. She had already locked his door as well.

    

     “Open the door, Jezebel.” His accent got stronger as his hold on his temper loosened.

    

     “No! Don’t call me Jezebel either. My name is Jinx.” She crossed her arms over her

chest stubbornly, staring straight ahead.

    

     “Don’t you think you’re acting a bit childish?” He chided.

    

     “I don’t care. I’m not unlocking these doors. You are a criminal. You kidnapped me

against my will.”           

 

     “I didn’t kidnap you. I forced you to honor your agreement in the only way I knew

how. I was perfectly within the boundaries of my job description. Julie Grace told me to

take extreme measures if necessary.”

 

     “We’ll see if the police agree with that assessment.”

    

     “That’s it. I’ve had enough.” Finn pulled the keys out of his pocket and unlocked the

door, climbing back into the driver’s seat.

    

     “What are you going to do to me?” Jinx asked fearfully, edging as far away from him

as possible, her back against the passenger door. 

    

     “I think you’ve been reading too many of your own books. I’m not going to hurt you. 

I’m going to loosen you up a little. You’re wound tighter than a spring. Here.”

 

     He reached into the console and removed a handful of tiny liquor bottles. “I snagged

these from the flight attendant’s cart. I had a feeling they might come in handy and I was

right..”

 

     Jinx giggled for the first time   Her smile was radiant.  Finn was enchanted.. “I

bet you steal the towels and mini shampoos from the hotel rooms too.”

    

     “Only in an absolute emergency.” He assured her solemnly, before removing the cap

and handing her a bottle of whisky. “Drink up.”

 

     “Isn’t this false courage?”

    

     “At this point I’ll take any kind of courage I can get. We just need to get you from the

car to the room and then everything will be okay.”

 

    “What about after that? I can’t face all those people.” Jinx bit her lip in trepidation. 

Just the thought of those crowded rooms full of fans gave her the willies.

She was more than the tiniest bit claustrophobic.

 

     “Let’s just deal with one thing at a time, shall we? Drink up. Quickly now.”

Jinx tipped the bottle and drank it in one swallow, gasping as it burned down her throat. 

    

     “Here’s another.” He handed her another bottle.

    

     “I don’t think…”     

    

     “Drink up.” He held the bottle to her lips and she drank.

    

     “One more.”

    

     “Are you trying to get me drunk?” She asked suspiciously.

    

     “Absolutely.” Finn smiled that engaging smile of his and she was entranced. He

really was good looking. Beyond good looking. He was stripper hot. It truly was a

shame he hadn’t turned out to be Jules’ gift. She would really love to see his…

    

     “Thank you.” Finn blushed. “I think you’ve had enough.”

    

     “Did I say that out loud?” She smiled seductively, not in the least embarrassed. She

should have taken up vices sooner, they  really loosened the inhibitions.   She was tired of

being uptight and afraid of trying anything new. Maybe it was time for a fling with some

hot guy. It would probably do her a world of good.

    

     “One more for the road.” She slammed the third bottle.

    

     “Are you ready to go in?” 

    

     “Absholutely.” She slurred happily.

 

    “Wonderful.” He hurried out of the BMW, before she changed her mind and

 locked him out again and opened her door. She stumbled a little, as he assisted her from

 the vehicle and gripped his arm tightly. The valet was waiting patiently, dressed

 immaculately in his burgundy jacket, pretending not to notice. He probably saw all kinds

 of craziness every day and pretended not to notice in return for a generous tip.

  

     “May I park your car, sir?”

    

     “Yes, please.” Finn held Jinx against him with one arm, while he reached into his

pocket with the other, pulling out the keys and a hundred dollar bill. Hopefully, that was

enough of a tip to keep him from gossiping with the other employees about Jinx, but he

doubted it. She was a high profile writer. Her picture was on the back of every book she

wrote and now she was leaving seclusion to stumble into a writer’s convention drunk. It

would probably be all over the papers tomorrow. He was sure it wasn’t the kind of

publicity Julie Grace had hired him to get, but they’d have to do damage control later. 

She was here and that was the main objective.

    

     “Thank you, Sir. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

    

     “Yes, could you have someone bring the bags up to my suite? Finn Mackenzie is the

name.”

    

     “Certainly, sir.” The valet nodded.

    

     “Very good.” Finn half walked, half dragged Jinx into the spacious hotel with as

much dignity as possible. For such a tiny thing, she was dead weight and it was a long

way to the reception desk. After what seemed an eternity, they finally made it through

the lobby without incident. 

    

     “Finn Mackenzie and Jezebel Jinx to check in please.”

    

     The stern looking woman behind the counter studied Jinx with disapproval.

    

     “Is there something wrong with the young lady?”

    

     “Jet lag.” Finn lied. “She’ll be fine after a shower and change of clothes.”

    

     “I certainly hope so.” The well coiffed woman sniffed in disdain, as she eyed Jinx’s

ratty clothing. Finn suspected that might be a problem, but as much as the idea appealed

to him personally he didn’t think Jinx would approve of him taking her clothes off while

she was unconscious and redressing her as he saw fit. 

    

     The woman looked up from the computer in feigned apology. “There seems to be a

problem with your reservations, sir. The rooms originally assigned to you were double

booked and are already occupied. We have a big writer’s convention in attendance, you

know. Perhaps we could give you coupons for a free stay during a less busy time to

make up for the inconvenience of having to locate another hotel.”

    

     “Told you. Jinxed.” Jinx mumbled into his shoulder.      

     “I’m afraid that is unacceptable.” Finn shook his head.. “Perhaps you are unfamiliar with the name Jezebel Jinx, but I guarantee you her fans are. I am fairly certain that if you send their best selling author away from the first conference she has ever attended, her debut, if you will, a fact that has been widely publicized, I might add, you will never again have the opportunity to do business with Eternity publishing. How do you think your employers will feel about that?” 

     He paused to study the sickly shade of green her face had become.   “Don’t answer that question. I can tell just by looking that you know exactly what the consequences for your failure will be. I suggest you find us suitable accommodations immediately.”        

     “I do have one deluxe hotel room left, complete with Jacuzzi hot tub and fireplace, but it is the only room left. I could give you this room and notify you as soon as another is available. I sincerely apologize for the misunderstanding.” The woman lost her haughty tone, now sounding quite humble.

     "Get on with it then.” Finn stated rudely, his eyes like hard chips of ice. He could forgive a sincere mistake, but what he would not tolerate was this woman judging Jinx as inferior simply because of the way she was dressed.      

     The woman typed furiously at her keyboard for a few moments, before handing Finn a keycard and a manila envelope.     

     “Here is the key to your room and a map of the hotel, along with the convention information, complimentary coupons and so on. Please don’t hesitate to call if you need anything at all. We are here to serve.”     

     “I trust you’ll remember that.” Finn led Jinx to the elevators, effectively turning his back to the rude woman.     

     “My hero.” Jinx mumbled into his neck, her hot breath tickling his throat and causing him to shiver. He was going to have to be careful around this one if he wanted to keep his vow, because she was so very tempting when her guards were down. It would be best for both of them when she went back to hating him again, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to resist her for long and that would be his undoing.    

     “Can you stand up?” He propped her against the wall, while he slid the card key into the door slot for room 302. Just as the door opened, she started to slide and he caught her up in his arms like a husband carrying his bride over the threshold. Once inside, Finn kicked the door shut and dropped her on the bed.    

     “Nice digs. I’m impressed.” Fin gazed around the suite. The bathroom had his and hers sinks, blow dryer and even plastic wrapped toothbrushes, along with assorted bath oils, shampoos, soaps and lotions. The Jacuzzi tub was rose colored and big enough for two with an assortment of candles on the edge for a romantic rendezvous. He tried valiantly not to imagine he and Jinx entwined in that tub together.      

     The room itself was large with plush carpeting, solid oak dresser with plasma television, a small Queen Anne table and chairs for two, with a large gift basket of fruit and champagne in the center, a lovely balcony view of the gardens and huge four poster bed. He couldn’t take his eyes off the bed. Jinx was on her knees on top of the satin comforter crawling toward him in only a black bra and panties. He groaned in pain at the sight off her.  It was like every male fantasy come true, until she pulled the bow off the gift basket and stuck it to his forehead.    

     “What are you doing?”     

     “Opening my birthday present?” She smiled, as she began undoing his shirt buttons and kissing each bare patch of skin.     

     “I’m sorry to tell you this, but I’m not your birthday present.” He shook his head reluctantly.    

     “Sure you are. Jules gave you to me.” She pulled him onto the bed with her, pressing her lips to his.      

     What the Hell, Finn began to kiss her back passionately, until he realized she wasn’t responding to his advances.      

     “Jezebel?” He pulled back, reluctantly letting her go, as she fell back onto the bed, sound asleep.  

     “Happy Birthday, Jezebel.” He kissed her forehead gently and then rose to head for the luxurious bathroom that he would be using alone. “Time for that cold shower.”

     There was no response to his words, beyond another of her soft, steady snores.

 

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[Susan M]

*fans self* Moving on ...