"Janey, if it's okay with you, I'd like to kiss you goodnight. No tongue," he added with unexpected humor. I couldn't help but laugh.
"Okay, since you asked so nicely. But no tongue, like you agreed," I said. Then I winced, why had I thought it necessary to add that last sentence? Totally unnecessary, and it made me sound like a dweeb. He pulled me off the sidewalk and under the shelter of the now fully-leafed out tree and my heart raced. I'd always liked kissing Drew. Would it be the same?
His arms went around me and I tilted my head to meet his gaze. Then his warm lips found mine, and the weeks since our last kiss melted away in his familiar taste and feel. First a long kiss with his lips moving on mine, then he nuzzled my jaw line to the soft spot behind my ear that never failed to arouse me. I clutched at him, unable to stop myself.
Drew pulled his face back to search mine, and then covered my mouth again, this time pushing his tongue ever so slightly at the seam of my lips, until I opened, my resolve to avoid tongue forgotten in the moment. I met his tongue with mine, and then he deepened the kiss until I relaxed completely. His arms held me up, as my legs weren't capable of it. This moment was all there was. The kiss was perfect; it didn't need to lead anywhere or be or mean anything other than pure pleasure. I moaned.
After a while, Drew broke it off and gazed at me longingly. "Was that real, or was it the margaritas?" he asked.
"Drew, I don't want to mislead you. I don't know. I like kissing you."
"What else do you like?" he whispered, his blue eyes nearly black with desire.
"You know what I like," I whispered back. "But before it can happen again, I need to be sure how I feel. Give me some time, Drew, please. Maybe some space. I'm nineteen years old, and I need to learn about the world before I settle down with one man. Can you understand?" It was the most honest I'd ever been able to be with him, and even with myself.
Drew let me go and straightened. "I can understand. I don't like it, but I do understand. Janey, you need to know, you're the only girl for me. I've decided to stay for my senior year, and I hope we can hang out. Is that too much to ask?"
He'd delayed his NBA bid for me! But, I was planning not to return next semester. Now I felt confused and panicked. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt him again, but what about my own plans?
"Drew, I'm not sure I'm coming back next year. I'm sorry."
"I'm staying anyway. I hope you change your mind." With that curiously flat statement, Drew put his hand on my back to guide me onto the sidewalk and up the stairs to the dorm. "Good night, Janey."
Baffled at his abrupt change of mood, I bade him good night and went in. For the first time in weeks, I didn't fall into a deep sleep the moment my head hit the pillow. Instead, I lay awake for hours, trying without success to sort out my emotions, my plans and my life.
~~~
There were just three more weeks until classes ended, and then another week for finals in the courses that required them. Other classes had term papers due, and I was woefully behind. I went to each professor and pleaded temporary insanity. That is, I told them I'd been depressed and may have missed turning in homework assignments. Most were sympathetic, and allowed me to make up the assignments. The others told me the grade was largely dependent on the term paper anyway, and recommended I spend my time on that. Now, instead of sleeping all the time, I was frantically trying to catch up.
On the first weekend after my wake-up call, Ri insisted I get out of the room for at least one night of rest and relaxation, by which she meant drinking and dancing. I didn't have the heart to argue with her, figuring she was probably right anyway. Of course, she also had in mind throwing Drew and me together again, as she and Greg were getting on famously. I didn't mind, but I wondered how Drew would feel about it.
We'd had a good time at Club 90 the previous weekend, despite my near-disaster, so we went back. This time, Drew and I danced every dance until we needed to catch our breath, and then we sat and attempted to talk. Now our talk avoided sexual innuendo. Instead, we talked about his career and my family, my plans and his family.
His true desire to go pro had to do with the ability to get his family out of the slum they'd lived in all his life. His dad, a functioning alcoholic, had a job that didn't quite cover the basics for his large family, much less the extras. His mom, I learned, had abandoned the family for another man, sick of his dad’s shortcomings. He and his next younger sister had practically raised the other four by themselves.
Any money that Drew had, he worked hard for in the summers and saved for expenses during the school year. His tuition, room and board were covered by his basketball scholarship, which was why it would have been such a big deal for him to lose it. My respect for his work ethic grew, along with my shame that I'd accepted some overly indulgent spending on me. I had a generous allowance from Russ, and could have been paying my own way or even treating Drew, except for some old-fashioned ideas about men's and women's roles in relationships such as ours.
Drew also expressed interest in Russ's business ventures, and his eccentric decision to live rather simply on the Wyoming ranch he'd inherited from his godparents. Drew thought if he had that kind of money, he might flash it around in Los Angeles, or New York. When I expressed surprise, he said he was kidding, but I wondered what would happen if a lucrative NBA contract came his way at the end of his senior year. Would he be able to control himself, and save for the inevitable time he wouldn't be able to play anymore? It occurred to me that Drew could greatly benefit from a heart-to-heart talk with Russ, but I didn't know how to suggest it or how to make it happen.
By the end of the evening, I had a newfound respect for Drew's intelligence and character aside from his talent, and he had a sobering glimpse of my life, the ugly early part as well as my desire to make my own way in the world instead of staying dependent on Russ all my life. He said he understood why I was going back to the ranch for the summer and maybe staying there for another couple of years before finishing my college degree.
When he walked me to the dorm, he gave me a circumspect kiss on the cheek and left me standing there wondering why I longed for more. We had established some emotional distance that was going to allow us to be good friends. Why did I want to rock the boat? Did I just crave a physical connection to someone, anyone? Or, were my feelings genuinely about Drew? I no longer trusted my ability to judge.
I couldn't wait to see Charity, confess my confusion, and get her take on it. Before that happened, I was blindsided by a force of nature: my roommate. Ri was watching me closely for a return of the depression that had gripped me before. As soon as I started thinking about my dilemma, she spotted the change in my demeanor and called me on it.
"What is it now, chica?" she asked, not unkindly. I thought about refusing to talk about it, but that would have only made her more determined. I sighed.
"I'm feeling things for Drew again, Ri, and I don't know if they're real."
Exasperated, she blew air out of her lips forcefully. "I don't know either, bi-otch, but you better figure it out. I'm not gonna let you stomp on my boy again. Because, I can tell you, he has feelings for you, and they are definitely real. You need to get your shit together and decide, quit blowin' in the wind like a damn weather vane."
"He does? He's not showing them to me. Besides, should you be telling me this? Aren't you betraying a confidence?"
"I don't care if I am. I'm so fucking sick of the two of you going back and forth. It's like Romeo and Juliet or something. One of you's going to end up dead. I've got half a mind to tell him you're interested, too, just to get you on the same page for once."
"Ri! Don't you dare," I gasped. She promised she wouldn't, and I relaxed. Surely, she wouldn't risk Drew's heart again. The next weekend was bittersweet as we all were aware it was our last together until fall semester. Maybe my last one with them forever, since I still didn't plan to come back next fall. Drew seemed to have accepted that we wouldn't get together this spring.
I did
n't know what had gotten into him; he was laughing and joking with the rest of them, as if nothing had happened between us. Though it gave me a twinge of regret, I was glad for him. He didn't even try to take me home to the dorm, so I caught a ride with Ri and counted myself lucky that there wouldn't be another awkward good night.
I had turned in three term papers, and had only two finals for the following week. Thanks to my last minute push, I was ready for them. I would be through by Wednesday, packed and on my way to the ranch by Thursday afternoon. I couldn't wait to see Gracie.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Ever since Easter, I'd been telling myself that I couldn't wait for summer at the ranch, but at the end of April, summer was just a concept in Wyoming. Late spring snow and high winds kept the high country gripped in winter until the end of spring, most years. This year was no exception. Fortunately, however, the weather as I drove east eagerly cooperated and I made good time, reaching home in time for dinner.
No one expected me so early, so I was able to get into the kitchen through the back door with no fanfare. Janet looked up, startled at my entrance, and gave me a welcoming smile. It was the best I could expect, since Janet was well known not to be demonstrative. Still, I stepped over and gave her a hug, which she returned. I always suspected she was fonder of us than she let on.
"It's good to see you, Janet. I'm home for a while, now. After I've seen Gracie, is there anything I can do in here to help you?"
Janet threw me a horrified look. "Have you learned to cook since you've been away?"
"No, I was just being polite," I laughed. Janet picked up a nearby dishtowel and flicked it at me.
"Get out of my kitchen and go see your daughter," she laughed back at me.
I found Gracie with Amber and Ethan in the playroom, as I'd expected. Amber flew up to hug me, but Gracie got between us and held up her chubby arms for me to pick her up. "Mommy, mommy, mommy!" she was squealing. The commotion frightened Ethan, who let out a wail of distress. Amber picked him up, and then we just looked at each other both of us burdened by toddlers who were far too heavy for us. We were both smiling ear to ear.
"Welcome home, Janey," Amber said. "It’ll be so good to have you here for the summer."
"Maybe for longer than that," I reminded her.
"I'll bet you ten dollars that you end up going back," she said, a mischievous grin on her face. I wondered for just a few seconds what she was up to, but then Gracie was pulling my face toward hers for a kiss, and I forgot all about it.
"Amber, do you need to help Janet in the kitchen?" I asked. "I can watch the kids, if you do. Janet threw me out," I said, pretending to pull a rueful face.
"Oh, no. You know Janet, you have to force her to accept help, and I'm just not up for it."
"Where's Charity? I would've thought should be here with you guys," I said.
"Usually Katy would be, at least. But, they all went into town for Jack's eight-week checkup."
"Aren't they a week late?" I asked.
"Yes, but Russ was out of town last week, so they waited. Russ always goes with Charity to the kids’ checkups."
I'd known that, and thought it was wonderful. Where I grew up, the men paid virtually no attention to the children, until the girls were old enough for their notice.
"So, you're going to work for Russ while you're here?" Amber asked.
"That's the plan," I said. "I need to earn my keep around here, Russ's obligation to me ended over a year ago, when I turned eighteen."
"I know what you mean. I often think that just watching Katy for a few hours a day is nowhere near enough to thank Russ and Charity for all they've done."
"You might as well put that out of your head; none of us are ever going to be able to repay them."
~~~
Russ insisted that I take Friday and the weekend off to relax before starting work. I was so entranced with my daughter and her development since the last time I'd seen her, that I didn't argue. It was wonderful just watching her and having her come to tell me about everything she was doing. Amber plied me with questions about college, but all I told her was about how classes went, and how much I enjoyed learning in that environment.
On Monday, after breakfast, I presented myself at Russ's doorway to begin my training. He had me take a seat in a comfortable chair of the seating arrangement at the side of the room, and joined me there.
"How much do you know about my business, Janey?" He asked.
"Well, Charity has told us you're called an angel investor, but I'm not sure what that means."
"Let me start from the beginning, then. I started my first business while I was still at Harvard," he explained. "I had a bit of luck, and the business made enough money that someone wanted to buy it from me. That gave me enough cash to invest in another business, and to be able to come out here where I was raised to live on this ranch. You knew I inherited it from my godparents?" Seeing my nod, he went on.
"A couple of years later, I was able to sell the new business, again for a nice profit. I wanted to invest in another, but the one that was most attractive would have required me to move away and manage it myself. So, I asked the owner if he would be willing to stay, but I would become his partner. All the business needed was some capital to make some improvements. That was my first foray into capital investment. After that, somehow I got the reputation of having cash to invest and being willing to invest it in companies that banks wouldn't touch. I now own varying shares of about thirty-five businesses, and just the paperwork to track how they're all doing has become more than a full-time job for me. However, I'm more valuable to the businesses as a consultant to the folks who are running them. That's where you come in."
Before I decided to take Russ up on his offer of college tuition, I had studied business computer skills, along with the rest of my sisters. So I knew a bit about what kind of paperwork he meant. "You need me to update your spreadsheets and maybe run summary reports, is that right?"
"Something like that. We’ll start there, but as soon as you're comfortable with the data, I'm also going to want you to run analytical reports and alert me to anything that will need my personal attention soon."
I was beyond excited. Call me a nerd, but the chance to peek inside Russ’s business pursuits was a tremendous opportunity. If I ever came into enough money to start, I would love to follow his example, building a fortune that would help my entire family. After all, Russ used his good fortune to do a great deal of good in the world.
He had not only taken in my sisters and me and all our kids, but every season brought in two or three new hands who needed a boost out of their former lives. Though we girls had been pampered while the hands were required to work for their keep, we all got much more out of it than Russ did, unless he did it for the sheer joy of being able to help. For all his commanding and demanding ways, Russ was a softy and we all knew it.
I threw myself happily into my work, and who wouldn't? My commute was from the breakfast table to the small office that Russ converted from a bedroom for me. Anytime I missed my daughter, I could take a break, run to the playroom and give her a hug or watch her while I enjoyed a cup of coffee. Lunch was provided, and there wasn't enough work to keep me busy for more than five or six hours a day. It was the perfect job.
Russ professed amazement that I could handle all of it so quickly, but then, he was a two-finger typist. I was much faster at data entry, for one thing. Within a few weeks, Russ began to show me what all those numbers meant, what it meant when they trended up, what it meant when they trended down. The diversity in the types of businesses into which he had invested was amazing to me. How did he know about everything that went into each of them?
Russ let me in on the secret. He didn't have to know all of that, because he always retained the previous owners as his partners, or, if the business was already a corporation, he took a place on the board, but didn't take the CEO position. Instead, he coached each of the people who were ultimately responsible for profitable
business practices in sound fiduciary theory.
Once he was convinced that their shortcomings in that area were corrected, he simply asked them to make regular reports, and left them to run the business themselves. Only if he couldn't develop them into well informed business people, did he take steps to replace them with others who could run the business profitably. Then he would begin searching for the next business to salvage with his capital input.
Russ had the touch of gold, just like King Midas. The more money he invested, the more he made. I was awestruck when I finally understood that I was working for one of the wealthiest men in the world. Down-to-earth Russ White, Wyoming rancher, husband to Charity, father to Katy and Jack and father-figure to countless kids who needed a break, was a multibillionaire. I’d known he was well to do, but I had no real understanding of the extent of it. No wonder he was so bossy, he really did know everything.
~~~
All through May and most of June, though I was busy learning the ins and outs of Russ's businesses, there was plenty of time to stay in touch with Ri through texts and social media. Occasionally, Drew showed up in a picture she posted, among others of her friends. He looked good. Ri didn't talk about him much, only in passing, and only with reference to something funny he'd said or done while out with the group. I missed the scene; I had to admit. I hadn't yet changed my mind about postponing my sophomore year, though.
As much as I'd loved reading, which had informed my choice of my college major, I found Russ's business activities even more fascinating. By now, he was having me compose business letters, simply telling me what he wanted to get across, and leaving me to word it in my own way, just checking it over before he signed it to be sure I had captured his intent. One day I asked him if he thought I should change my major to business.
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