Whenever they had ventured out, including the evening spent with Clem and Mary Alice, Janice had worn her frumpy uniform. It wasn’t until she was alone with Taylor that she freed her hair and wore a teeny bikini, or shorts and a form-fitting top.
Taylor never questioned the ritual, nor urged Janice to dress differently when they were in public. She was Janice, and that was all that mattered.
When the deep-seated fears about being in love assaulted Taylor during the day, he picked up the telephone and called Janice, the mere sound of her voice chasing away the inner chill consuming him.
Just as his father had said, Taylor woke often in the night to reach over and touch Janice where she slept peacefully beside him, rejoicing in the fact that she was there, she was his.
He’d totally conquer his fears in time, he silently vowed. And in time, Janice would learn to trust him completely, share her innermost secrets with him.
The construction of the specialty shops in Hamilton House was progressing rapidly. Andrea and Brandon drove down the mountain so Andrea could meet with Janice to map out an advertising campaign for the Sleeping Beauty outlet in Prescott. They worked together at the boutique between customers while Taylor and Brandon played golf.
One evening they all met for dinner at a small Italian restaurant.
It was three weeks to the day since Janice and Taylor had declared their love for each other. Taylor lifted his glass of wine in a silent toast to Janice. She knew, she just somehow knew, what he was acknowledging, and clinked her glass to his, smiling at him warmly.
As the foursome waited for dessert to be served, Janice and Andrea headed for the ladies’ room.
“Okay,” Brandon said, looking at Taylor. “I held myself back during all those hours on the golf course, didn’t say a word, didn’t ask any questions. But now that I’ve seen you and Janice together during dinner—hell, Sinclair, you’re in love with that woman and she loves you.”
Taylor nodded. “Yep.”
“That’s it?” Brandon said, his eyes widening. “Just ‘yep?’ You’re not going to deny it, argue the point, tell me I’m out of my mind?”
“Nope.”
“I’ll be damned,” Brandon said, grinning. He sobered in the next instant. “So when are you going to do it? Wake up Sleeping Beauty, mighty prince?”
“What do you mean?” Taylor said, frowning.
Brandon folded his arms on the top of the table and leaned toward Taylor.
“Come on, buddy,” Brandon said. “Janice has all the makings of a beautiful woman, but she’s still hiding behind those ridiculous clothes. You’re in love, for crying out loud. Isn’t it time for her to be true to herself? Be who she really is?”
“She steps from behind those protective walls when we’re alone, Brandon,” Taylor said quietly. “She’s even more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. She’s absolutely sensational.”
Brandon narrowed his eyes. “Why aren’t you encouraging her, helping to give her the confidence, to show her true self in public?”
Taylor lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “That choice is up to Janice. We never discuss it.”
“Taylor, I can’t believe you’re actually doing this,” Brandon said, shaking his head.
“Doing what?” Taylor said, obviously confused.
“Man, oh, man, who are you kidding? Have you honestly convinced yourself that you’re not touching the subject of Janice’s appearance in public out of love and respect for her wishes?”
“Well, yeah, that’s exactly it.”
“Bull,” Brandon said, smacking the table with the palm of one hand. “You like the status quo because it’s safe. No man is going to look twice at Janice now, the way she presents herself. As far as the male populace goes, she’s an invisible woman.
“Hell, no, you’re not going to wake up Sleeping Beauty, encourage her to be the woman she really is for public scrutiny. Why run the risk of having another man catch her attention while he’s appreciating the view?”
“Now wait just a damn minute, Hamilton,” Taylor said none too quietly. He quickly glanced around the restaurant and lowered his voice when he spoke again. “I don’t like what you’re implying here.”
“If the shoe fits, Sinclair. I think you’re afraid of losing Janice, so you’re taking the ugly duckling out in public and keeping the beautiful swam all for yourself. Janice deserves better than that from you.”
Before Taylor could say more, Andrea and Janice approached the table and settled back onto their chairs. The waiter appeared with the sherbet they’d requested for dessert.
Andrea glanced at Brandon, Taylor, then back to Brandon.
“What’s going on?” she said. “You two look like grumpy bears.”
“What?” Brandon said. “Oh, it’s nothing, sweetheart. We got into a heavy discussion about baseball teams, that’s all.”
“Heavy,” Janice said merrily. “Are you two going to duke it out in the parking lot?”
“Don’t tempt me,” Taylor said, still glowering at Brandon.
“Some people need to come out of the ether,” Brandon said, matching Taylor’s expression.
“And some people need to mind their own business,” Taylor retorted.
“Fine,” Brandon said, raising both hands. “You just let what is sleeping stay asleep. You have to live with your conscience, not me.”
“You’ve got that straight, Hamilton,” Taylor said.
“Would you stop it?” Andrea said. “You sound like squabbling little boys. Besides that, you’re not making any sense. What baseball team is sleeping... or whatever?”
“Never mind,” Brandon said, sighing. “I give up.”
“Good,” Andrea said. “Eat your sherbet.”
“Men certainly take baseball seriously,” Janice said.
“Mmm,” Taylor said, then stuck his spoon into the dessert.
Hours later Taylor lay next to Janice in her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Janice murmured in her sleep and he reached over to stroke her hair gently until she stilled again. He glanced at the clock on the nightstand, then frowned as he slid his hands beneath his head.
It was after two-thirty in the morning, and he hadn’t slept a wink, nor did he expect to sleep the sleep of the innocent at all that night.
Because he was guilty as sin.
He’d replayed in his mind over and over the heated conversation he’d had with Brandon in the restaurant. His anger had flared anew at Brandon’s off-the-wall accusations.
But as the dark, solitary hours had passed, he’d examined his motives with stark honesty and faced the truth. Everything Brandon had accused him of was true.
He sighed, pulled his hands free and dragged them down his face, before dropping his arms heavily onto the bed.
He did not, he now knew, want Janice to display her beauty for anyone but him.
If she stayed hidden beneath her frumpy clothes while in public, no man would give her a second look. The world and all it could offer her would remain unknown to her. She would stay by his side, where she now was, where she belonged.
The risk of losing Janice was greatly diminished if her outward appearance continued as it was. It was so much safer this way, helped keep the chill of fear at bay.
He hadn’t said, or done, one thing to encourage Janice to step from behind her walls and embrace her feminine attributes beyond when she was alone with him.
He was rotten to the core.
But, damn it, he loved Janice so much, couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. Why couldn’t they just continue on the way they were? Janice was obviously happy and heaven knew he was.
Sure. They’d just keep on, keeping on, and Brandon Hamilton could take a flying leap.
Wrong, Taylor thought in the next instant. That wasn’t love as it was meant to be. That was control, manipulation.
Now that he’d faced the truth, there was nowhere to hide from it.
He had to love Janice enough to run the risk of losing her.
He had to allow her, encourage her, to blossom like a delicate, exquisite flower opening its petals to the beckoning sun. It would take every bit of inner strength and courage that he possessed as a man, but he had to do it. He had to.
“Ah, hell, ” Taylor said, then closed his eyes.
Sleep finally claimed him, but it was plagued with tormenting dreams of searching for Janice in a thick fog. Looking for her frantically, but not finding her.
Because she wasn’t there.
She was gone.
At breakfast the next morning in Janice’s kitchen, Taylor sipped from a mug of steaming coffee while sitting opposite Janice at the table.
“You don’t want anything to eat?” she said.
“No, just coffee,” he said. “I’m not hungry.”
“That’s unusual for you, Taylor.”
“Yeah, well.” He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Listen, the first day I came into the boutique I saw a brochure on your counter for an art exhibit at a classy gallery.”
“Oh, yes, I remember that,” Janice said, then took a swallow of tea. “I thought I might find something for one of my walls. You have wonderful pieces of art in your apartment.”
“Collecting fine art is one of my hobbies. I received that same invitation in the mail. The showing is Saturday night. Would you like to go?”
“I’d love to,” she said, smiling.
“It starts at eight o’clock. We could have a late supper after we’ve been to the gallery.”
“Perfect.” Janice glanced at her watch. “I must dash. I have a couple of boxes to unpack before I open the store.” She got to her feet. “Enjoy your coffee and say hello to the hummingbirds for me if you see them.”
Taylor rose to stand in front of her and framed her face in his hands.
“Janice, you know that I love you, don’t you?” he said, looking directly into her eyes.
“Yes, I believe you love me, Taylor.” She paused and frowned. “Is something wrong? You’re not hungry and now you seem so tense, so serious.”
“I... Well, I’m behind on my work at the office because I took the day off to play golf with Brandon. I think I’d better stay late there tonight and attempt to catch up. I’ll call you, but I won’t see you this evening.”
“Oh.” Janice laughed. “I’m tempted to pout. You’ve spoiled me during these weeks and I’ll miss you terribly, Taylor.”
“That’s because I’m such a terrific guy, an exemplary human being,” he said, a slight edge to his voice.
“Taylor? What is it? You just don’t seem like yourself this morning.”
He brushed his lips over hers, then dropped his hands to smooth the lapels of her oversize suit jacket.
“There’s just something I need to...correct. And I will.” He nodded. “Yes, I’m overdue to set things to rights.”
“I’m totally confused.”
“Go to work, my Sleeping Beauty,” he said, managing to produce a passable smile. “I’ll call you later.”
After they’d shared a long, desire-evoking kiss, Janice left the house. Taylor wandered over to look out the rear doors of the kitchen, but the hummingbirds were nowhere to be seen.
“It’s time to wake up, Sleeping Beauty,” he said quietly, feeling as though the weight of his words was crushing him. “The problem is, there are a helluva lot of princes in this world. Oh, God, Janice, don’t pick one of them instead of me. Please.”
By Saturday morning, Janice was restless and edgy, her nerves frayed.
She had not seen Taylor since breakfast on Thursday morning. He’d telephoned several times, but the conversations had been brief. During one call yesterday, he’d announced that an out-of-town client was coming into Phoenix, and Taylor needed to take the man to dinner that night to discuss business.
He would pick Janice up just before eight o’clock the following evening, he said, and they would go to the gallery showing.
Janice roamed aimlessly around the house, unable to concentrate, or sit still.
Something was wrong with Taylor, she thought for the umpteenth time. He was acting so strangely, so distant. There was a strain, a weariness in his voice when they spoke on the telephone, heightening her sense of gloom. Something just wasn’t right between them.
“Oh, Taylor,” Janice said, pressing trembling fingertips to her temples. “What is it? What’s wrong, my love?”
In the beginning of their relationship she’d been resigned to the fact that she was on borrowed time with Taylor, that he would soon tire of her and leave, go back to the world where he had always belonged.
But increasingly she no longer felt that way, wasn’t waiting for the inevitable goodbye. No, oh, no, not since Taylor had declared his love for her. Not since the glorious days and nights they’d spent together.
She’d begun to dream, hope, pray, of a future, a forever, with Taylor Sinclair.
But now? Oh, saints above, what on earth was wrong with Taylor?
Janice sank onto the sofa in the living room and sighed deeply.
Her lack of sophistication was rearing its unsophisticated head. She was acting like a child, a Nervous Nelly, unable to cope with the slightest change in routine in her relationship with the man she loved.
Taylor was a human being, for mercy’s sake, with a demanding career, a life beyond just focusing his undivided attention on her. He was busy at the moment, that’s all, was tending to work.
She had to move past her insecurities and doubts. That she was lacking in experience in man and woman matters wasn’t Taylor’s fault, and he mustn’t be made to pay the price for it.
“Have you got that, Janice?” she said aloud. “Get your act together. Right now.”
She would see Taylor tonight and they would have a fabulous time. Everything was fine, just fine.
The sound of a vehicle turning into the driveway pulled Janice from her thoughts. She got to her feet and went to the window to see a van from a private delivery service come to a halt.
A man in a uniform soon crossed the yard, carrying a large, flat silver-colored box adorned with an enormous silver bow.
“Goodness,” she said, heading toward the door. “Whatever can this be?”
After signing for the delivery, Janice closed the door and carried the box to the sofa. She slipped a small white envelope from beneath the bow and took out a silver-edged card.
“I’ll see you tonight,’ ” she read aloud. “ ‘Looking forward to it. Love, Taylor.’ ”
A soft smile formed on her lips. Taylor had missed her these past couple of days as much as she had missed him. He was even sending her a special gift to let her know that he was anticipating being with her once again.
This was so special, so caring. She’d gotten herself all in a dither over nothing.
“Oh, Taylor,” she said, gazing at the card, “I love you so very much.” She paused. “Well, let’s see what my surprise is.”
She set the card on the coffee table and began to lift the lid off the glittering box.
Taylor drove just above the speed limit, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel along with a peppy tune playing on the radio.
He was so eager to see Janice that he felt like a kid who was about to pick up his prom date. Well, hell, he didn’t care how ridiculous he was acting, he was on top of the world.
He nodded decisively.
He’d done it. He’d gathered his courage, shoved aside his own chilling fears and done it. Once he’d stopped shaking in his shorts, he’d begun to feel good, calm, having a greater sense of understanding of the depths and intensity of his love for Janice.
His Sleeping Beauty.
Sure, what he’d set in motion was risky, but anything of the magnitude of what he and Janice shared was worth laying it all on the line for. He had to believe in her, in himself, and what they had together.
He was crumbling into dust his philosophy that to love was to lose, and sending it scattering into the wind, never to haunt him again.
He and Janice would have it all. Nothing, nothing , could tear them apart.
Taylor turned into Janice’s driveway, shut off the ignition and got out of the car. He strode quickly across the stepping stones as he counted down the seconds until he would take Janice, the woman he loved with every breath in his body, into his arms and kiss her.
He pressed the doorbell and waited for his beloved to appear.
Chapter Fourteen
Even though Janice had heard the familiar rumble of Taylor’s car as it arrived at the house, she still jerked when the doorbell chimed. On trembling legs that threatened to give way beneath her, she crossed the room.
In the first second after she opened the door, she registered the fact that Taylor looked magnificent in a dark suit, crisp white shirt and dark tie. In the next instant she watched the broad smile on his face change into a deep frown.
“Janice?” he said. “What—”
“Come in,” she said quietly, stepping back to allow him to enter.
After she closed the door, they faced each other, Taylor’s gaze sweeping over her in a quick, but thorough perusal.
She knew what he was seeing, Janice thought dismally. She was wearing a black, baggy suit, gray blouse and black oxfords. Her hair was in a severe bun. Her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy from having cried long and hard.
“I don’t understand,” Taylor said, still frowning. “You look like you’ve been crying. Are you ill, not feeling well? No, that doesn’t make sense. If you were sick, you’d be in a robe or something, but you’re dressed to go out except... Didn’t you receive the surprise I sent you?”
Janice lifted her chin and wrapped her hands around her elbows.
“Oh, yes, Taylor,” she said, “I certainly did receive your surprise.”
She moved around him and hurried to sink onto one of the chairs. Taylor followed, then hesitated when he saw the open silver box on the coffee table. He sat on the sofa.
“Talk to me,” he said. “Didn’t you like the dress? I spent a great deal of time picking it out, because I wanted it to be perfect for you.”
The Irresistible Mr. Sinclair Page 16