"My office," he said abashedly.
Incredulity caused her jaw to drop open. "You actually run a business out of this trash heap?"
"I wouldn't go so far as to call it that."
"Cage, if Dante were alive, this is how he would describe Hell."
"That bad?"
"That bad." Jenny ambled toward the desk and picked up a half inch of dust on her finger when she dragged it over the marred surface. "Have you ever had this place cleaned?"
"I think so. Oh, yeah, once I hired a janitor service. The guy they sent over was a real cutup. We got to drinking and—"
"Never mind, I get the picture." She edged around an overflowing waste paper basket and went toward a door she assumed belonged to a closet.
"Uh, Jenny…" Cage lifted his hand and tried to forestall her, but it was too late.
As the door opened a giant wall calendar swung outward and tipped her on the shoulder. She jumped back, startled. But not nearly as startled as she was when the calendar seesawed back and forth until it came to rest on its nail and she saw the glossy photograph.
The pouting redhead was sporting a strategically placed shiny blue star that had "Deep in the Heart of Texas" inscribed on it. Pillow-sized breasts with nipples as large and red as strawberries took up a good portion of the picture.
Cage cleared his throat uncomfortably. "A crew of roughnecks gave me that last Christmas."
Jenny shut the closet door firmly and turned to face him. "Why did you bring me here?"
He pushed his hands into the back pockets of his jeans, withdrew them, then lightly slapped his thighs nervously. "Here, Jenny, sit down," he said, suddenly lunging forward to clear off a place on the sofa for her.
"I don't want to sit down. I want to get out of here so I can breathe some fresh air. Tell me why you brought me here."
"Well, you said you wanted a job and I was thinking—"
"You can't be serious," she interrupted him, gleaning his thought.
"Now, Jenny, hear me out. I need someone to—"
"You need a demolition squad, then a bulldozer. After they're done, I suggest you start from scratch." She headed toward the door.
He blocked her escape and clasped her shoulders. "I'm not talking about someone to clean it up. I'll get it straightened up. I thought you could answer the telephone, do general office work, you know."
"You've survived without someone all these years. Who's been taking your calls?"
"An answering service."
"Why change now?"
"It's damned inconvenient to check in every hour."
"Wear a beeper."
"I tried that."
"And?"
"I had it hooked to my belt, but I, uh, lost it."
Her eyes flew up to his. He looked away guiltily. "Hm, I can see how having it hooked to your belt could get inconvenient." She tried to move around him again. He held her forcibly.
"Jenny, please, listen. You need and want a job. I'm offering you one."