From the look on his face, he didn't agree. "One," he said, "it's not okay. And two…" His gaze flicked to Imogen. "She's my problem, not yours."
From behind me, Imogen gave a little huff. "Hey! I'm nobody'sproblem."
I almost scoffed out loud.Oh, she was a problem, all right.
And of course, everyone was staring, not that I could blame them. Cripes, I'd be staring, too, if only I weren't co-starring in this little drama.
I gave Jack a pleading look. "Seriously, will youpleaselet me do my job?"
His mouth tightened, but he made no reply.
Before he could change his mind, I turned back to Imogen and said, "If you're here for the signing, you'll have to wait in line like everyone else."
Okay, I knew darn well that she wasn't here for the signing, but I was looking to make a point.
From the look on Imogen's face, she'd gotten it loud and clear.
And shewasn'thappy.
Taking her sweet time, she looked me up and down before saying, "And who areyou?"
As if she didn't know.After all, this wasn't the first time we'd met.
I replied, "If you want to know, you'll have to wait in line, just like I said."
"Why?" Her lips formed a sneer. "I'm not here to seeyou."
"Good," I said. "Because I'm not either." I froze.What?Even to my own ears, that made absolutely no sense.
I was still trying to come up with something a whole lot smarter to say when Jack's voice cut across the short distance. "Forget it. She's leaving." His voice hardened."Now."
Imogen looked past me, toward Jack. In a low hiss, she replied, "You'd like that, wouldn't you?"
Jack said, "You know it."
She was glaring now. "Has anyone told you, you're a stone-cold bastard?"
"Hell yeah," he said. "I hear it all the time."
Not from me, he didn't, because it wasn't true.But that was hardly the point. I turned and gave him a pleading look. "Seriously, I've got this, okay?"
From behind me, Imogen said, "Oh, stay out of this. Nobody askedyou."
Once again, I whirled to face her. "Yeah? And nobody askedyouto show up today." I extended my arm and pointed to the rear of the line. "There's the line. Get in, or get out."
This was her cue to leave. But she didn't. Instead, she gave a loud sigh. "All right. Fine. IguessI'll wait."
I blinked. Nowthatwas unexpected.Was she joking?I felt my eyebrows furrow. She didn'tlooklike she was joking.
I turned to Jack and whispered, "Do you think she's serious?"
From behind me, Imogen said, "Ineverjoke about lines."
Huh. Go figure.Apparently, she was calling my bluff.
Even so, it beggared belief. The line was at least three hours long. And this latest delay hadn't helped.
How would this go, anyway?Would she stand around for three hours, glaring at me while I tried to do my job?
