Anything For Love

by Janelle Taylor

  “I certainly do,” Cliff said with enthusiasm, “and I’ve enjoyed watching you play over the years. It’s a pleasure to meet you, and I hope you enjoyed our high school reunion.”

  “Yes, I did, and it’s a pleasure to meet you, too.”

  “Is playing with a ball your only job?” Janet asked.

  “Practice, games, and public appearances take up most of my year.” Quentin’s tone was curt. He remained standing, but hoped their visit would be brief. Already he disliked this woman who had addressed Rachel in such an impolite manner and who craftily insulted him and his career.

  Janet dismissed the hostess after telling the woman they would take their seats soon. “What are you doing in Augusta, Mr. Rawls?”

  Quentin was surprised at the bold question but it didn’t show as he smiled. “Vacationing. This is a lovely and quiet town, very historical.”

  “We saw you on the news last night,” Cliff said. “That was a nice thing you did for the children here. I’m sure you’ll raise lots of money on Sunday.”

  Rachel noted that Janet did not give Quentin time to reply, just as she noted Quentin’s manners and restraint.

  “You were at our class reunion with Carrie Simmons, wasn’t it?”

  “Yes, she’s the sister of an old and close friend.”

  Their appetizers arrived and Quentin sat down, but Janet lingered despite Cliff’s urging to leave and allow the couple privacy to eat.

  “We remember Donnie, don’t we, Cliff? He left Augusta right after graduation, so did Carrie. I suppose she prefers living in another town.”

  “Larger cites have more to offer in her line of work.”

  “What line of…work is that, Mr. Rawls?”

  Quentin sipped wine as he studied the obnoxious woman. “Fashion merchandising, I believe it’s called. She lives in New York City and works in the apparel industry, if I remember correctly.”

  “Oh, I didn’t realize she was into high fashion.”

  Quentin’s voice was icy as he said, “She’s quite successful at it. Perhaps we can chat another time when our food isn’t getting cold. It was nice to meet you two. Good night.”

  All three noticed that Janet looked stunned at being dismissed like an errant child or a nobody.

  Janet refused to take the cue. “How long do you plan to…vacation here, Mr. Rawls?”

  “It depends on how much I like the town and its people. So far, most of the folks I’ve met have been cordial and gracious.”

  “That’s nice, but I hope you don’t take up too much of Rachel’s time; she’s a very busy woman. Isn’t that right, Rachel dear?”

  “I always take time off for friends,” Rachel said with a sly smile.

  “Friends? Are you old friends or did you meet at the reunion?”

  Quentin’s patience was ebbing. “I hope you don’t mind if we start on our appetizers before they chill, Mrs. Hollis.”

  Cliff grasped Janet’s elbow. “Let’s go, honey, so they can eat. It was nice to meet you, Quentin, and good to see you, Rachel.”

  Quentin thanked him, then placed a crab stuffed-mushroom in his mouth. He said, ignoring Janet’s continued presence, “Taste yours, Rachel; the chef has cooked them to perfection. They won’t be good cold. They’re delicious, Cliff; you should order them, too.”

  An embarrassed Cliff insisted, “Come along, Janet. Our table and waiter are ready. Nice seeing you, Rachel; you, too, Quentin,” he repeated almost apologetically.

  “Same here,” Quentin replied pleasantly, then sipped his wine.

  “Thanks for stopping by to chat; I’ll see you later,” Rachel added.

  Janet turned and departed without saying good-bye and Cliff followed like an obedient puppy, his discomfiture obvious to all of them.

  With her back to the Hollises, Rachel whispered, “I’m sorry about that, Quentin; she can be most difficult at times.”

  “I hope I didn’t embarrass you with my behavior. I’ve seen her type before: snoopy, arrogant, insolent.”

  Rachel explained who Janet was and why she got away with her actions, and related the meaning behind Janet’s remarks to her. “At least she won’t be at Becky’s party; they’re going out of town in the morning.”

  Quentin grinned. “Good; that means we’ll have fun.”

  “You handled her with great skill. Thanks for being so understanding and patient. She’s a pain in the rear, but we endure her for everybody’s sake and to keep the peace in our social circle.”

  “That’s because you and others have real class. You’re right about it being best to ignore her, unless she gets too nasty. I know from experience, if you’re forced to get tough with certain people, you can come off appearing the heavy, make yourself look bad instead of them.”

  Their empty dishes were collected and the main course was served.

  As they ate and chatted, Quentin said, “If you want to come with me on Sunday, I’ll take you, but it could be a rough ordeal with the media there, especially if you aren’t used to dealing with them. If they see us together, they’ll start asking you questions about me and about us, and some can be real clever and persistent, like Janet. On top of that, they often misquote you. A few have been calling my room and pestering me for extra interviews. Ever hear of or meet Todd Hardy from a local magazine?”

  “Yes, but I rarely read his articles; he seems too cold and biased.”

  “That’s the same opinion I got of him. He phoned the other night and was at the center and shelter. He’s about as pushy as Janet. To put him off, I promised him a long interview before I leave town if he gets off my back while I’m resting and having fun. I’ve gotten prettygood at thwarting and eluding his kind, but my methods don’t always work. Sometimes they shadow you, sneak pictures, and eavesdrop. I just don’t like for them to intrude on private moments or lie about them in the press, which they will without giving their actions a second thought.”

  “I have church that morning and lunch afterward at the club with friends; you’re welcome to go to either or both with me. As for the charity event, it will be crowded and hectic and you’ll be busy, so I think it’s best if I wait for you at home, if you want to come by afterward for dinner.”

  “Sounds perfect to me.”

  Quentin wondered if he should risk subjecting Rachel to close and perhaps vicious scrutiny; he wasn’t “old news” yet and some reporters were certain to begin following, digging, and writing about them as a couple. Bringing down the famous or infamous was like a bloodthirsty sport to them. He recalled how his brother, Frank, had been chewed up by the cruel media after troubles with drugs, jail, and a bad marriage, all of which had also created embarrassing moments and bad publicity for Quentin. He wanted and needed to learn if Rachel Gaines was the right woman for him and, if so, he had to win her. His goal could be hard or impossible to obtain if her privacy was invaded. Somehow he must prevent that from happening.

  Later as she was leaving the ladies’ room, Rachel was vexed to find Janet waiting outside the door. She suspected the woman had followed her just to pry and be spiteful. She smiled and attempted to escape, but an unmoving Janet blocked her exit.

  “You seem to be having fun with your famous guest, Rachel.”

  “Quentin is good company and an interesting conversationalist.”

  “How long have you known him?”

  “Twelve years. I have to get back to the table. See you later.” Get out of the way, you hateful bitch.

  “Twelve years? So, you didn’t meet at the reunion?”

  “No, as I said, we’ve known each other for a long time. Quentin is from Georgia.” Don’t you dare ask when, where, and how we met!

  “Why on earth did he go to the reunion with that Carrie Simmons creature instead of with a socially acceptable person? You came alone, but I saw you dancing and chatting with him for a long time.”

  “He told you earlier that he’s a friend of her brother’s, so he escorted Carrie as a favor to Donnie so she wouldn’t have
to come alone.” And face vultures like you.

  “Did he know you were going to be present?”

  “No, we haven’t seen each other in years, and I’m not a classmate. He lives in Texas now. If you’ll excuse me, Janet, I really need to get back to our table.”

  “Surely you aren’t interested in somebody like him?”

  Rachel was miffed. “What do you mean by ‘somebody like him’?”

  “Surely you’ve heard and read the awful gossip about him.”

  Rachel knew Janet was about to fill her ears with garbage if she didn’t silence her. “It’s my belief that vicious gossip can’t be trusted, so I avoid listening to it; and I certainly don’t spread malicious rumors.”

  “These are undeniable facts, Rachel dear. His brother has been in all kinds of trouble with the authorities. Surely you know that Quentin has been through two wives and countless other women.”

  “Plenty of men are divorced these days, including your brother several times.” You did it now, Rachel; she looks as if you slapped her face.

  “Rachel Gaines, you know my brother is nothing like Quentin Rawls and his kind; shame on you for even putting them in the same sentence.”

  You’re right for a change; that was an awful insult to Quentin.

  “Lordy, he came to our reunion with that lowclass tramp, so no one of quality and good breeding could have a high opinion of him. Surely a woman of your standing doesn’t want to socialize with a man like that.”

  “You’re a smart woman, Janet, so I’m certain your opinion of him would be different if you knew him. Quentin is kind, well mannered, and generous. He frequently donates his time, efforts, and money to worthy causes; he even did so this week while he’s on’ vacation. As to those other matters you mentioned, I prefer to do as the Bible and our pastor say, not to judge people by past mistakes. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must rejoin Quentin. I’ll see you next week. I hope you enjoy your weekend trip,” she said, and wiggled past Janet. She mentally dared the woman to pause at their table again.

  After he assisted with Rachel’s chair, Quentin asked, “Did she corner you in the bathroom? She was on your tail in a flash the moment you left.”

  “She was nervy and annoying, but I brushed her off and escaped. Maybe I should take evasion lessons from you.”

  They laughed, then refused dessert and coffee so they could leave before the Hollises finished their meal and approached them again.

  At Rachel’s house, they sat in the casual area of the living room and chatted for a while as they sipped amaretto. Each was positioned slightly sideways and only a short distance apart, their gazes often meeting and lingering as they spoke. Quentin’s right arm rested along the back of the sofa and his left hand held his glass. His fingers brushed the silky material of her dress as he told her how lovely she looked.

  Rachel knew why she felt warm and quivery, and nervous. “Thank you, a woman my age needs all the compliments she can get.”

  Quentin chuckled; he wanted to touch her, feel her, taste her. “Forty-seven isn’t old, Rachel; you’re an attractive and vital woman. I feel happy around you, and optimistic about almost everything.”

  You’re so tempting, Quentin Rawls; you drive me wild with need. “Thanks. I enjoy your company, too, more than any man’s.”

  Quentin’s blue gaze roamed her face and savored the appreciative glow on it. “We seem much alike in many ways; that’s good. I think friendship and respect for the other person are important to a lasting relationship. Maybe that’s why my first two marriages failed; we didn’t have those things. Frankly, I don’t know why Casey and I got married. I suppose it was because so many people—and the press—shoved us together. It seems as if the world functions around couples and families; loners stand out like sore thumbs. Southern boys are usually hitched by twenty-eight, so I figured I should settle down and Casey was an all right girl. But she cared more about herself, modeling, fame, and money than about me or our marriage; and I admit I cared more about myself and my football career. After two years, we called it quits; rather, she did and I agreed. It was about the same with Belinda; we married for the wrong reasons. At thirty-two, I figured I’d better make another try before I got too old for children, and the choices were slimming down fast. She was there, the relationship was going pretty well, so we drifted into a marriage. It didn’t take long, a year to be exact, for us to realize it wasn’t going to work. Fortunately, both Casey and Belinda married again and are happy this time. As for me, I realized I wouldn’t seek a third marriage until I had my priorities straight and the right woman came along; it isn’t worth changing your life if you’re going to be miserable.”

  “I know what you mean; that’s why I’m still single after so many years of widowhood. My friends are determined to get me remarried and some of the men I’ve dated are eager to settle down, but—as in your case—too often it’s for the wrong reasons. When it comes time to make a commitment, it has to be done carefully. Life is too short to be unhappy.”

  “Were you and Daniel happy, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “We had a good marriage, but I’m not grieving over his loss anymore. His family gave me a hard time and still do, but I’d rather tell you about that another time. I don’t want to spoil a pleasant evening.”

  “I don’t either, and I’m finished talking about my mistakes. I just wanted you to know I have no hangups about my ex-wives. But I do want to explain something else: I used ‘James Rawlings’ on the cruise to guard my privacy. Reporters were hounding me like crazy after my injury, so I had to escape them for a while; that was one kind of intrusion I wasn’t familiar with and it frightened me. I had worked my way to the top, then suddenly I realize I might not be able to ever play again. It was scary and frustrating, and it made me angry. Spending time with you was like a dose of good medicine. I’ll always be grateful to you for helping me get through that rough period.”

  He smiled and caressed her cheek. “My full name is Quentin James Rawls, so I just doctored it a little to mislead people. I was living in San Francisco when we met, but I was in the process of purchasing the ranch so that claim about Texas being my home wasn’t a total fib. I didn’t tell you the truth during our relationship because I wanted you to get to know me as a regular person, not as a celebrity; I was afraid that revelation might color your opinion of me. I did plan to confess my deceit on the last day of the cruise.”

  “But I never gave you the opportunity, right?” He nodded. “I’m sorry; it was cowardly of me to just take off like I did.”

  “Maybe it was for the best. Maybe we both had to get our lives straight.” He cleared his throat abruptly. “Well, I best be going. We have a busy weekend ahead.”

  Heavens, what a change! “Would you like to watch the eleven o’clock news before you go to see if they mention your appearance on Sunday?”

  “No thanks.” I should leave while I can still keep my promise not to rush you into my bed. You’re far too tempting tonight and my blood is boiling to spillover level. “You said the Hollises live close by. After meeting Janet, it wouldn’t surprise me if she rode or walked by just to see how long I stay.” Or if some nosy reporter like Todd Hardy did the same. “We have to protect your reputation.” He set his glass on a coaster and stood up to go. “I’ll pick you up at one-thirty for the party.”

  Rachel put hers aside and rose to walk him to the door. Before she opened it, she allowed him to pull her into his arms and kiss her. She had been thinking about kissing him all evening; no, since she saw him again. The kiss was long and enticing, but his hands did not rove her body. There was no arguing that she desired him and would—if she lost her wits—guide him upstairs to her bedroom and surrender to rapturous passion. If she did so, it would alter things too fast, and she had to be sure about him this time. It required all of her willpower not to entice him to kiss her again or stay.

  As his fingers stroked her rosy cheek and he looked into her softened green gaze, Quentin grasped her
warring emotions and was pleased. He murmured, “You excite me now even more than you did years ago, woman, and that was plenty.” He took a deep breath to restore his lagging control. “I couldn’t get you off my mind after we parted. It’s amazing we spent so much time together but learned so little about each other. I guess we were denying how strongly we were attracted to each other. We were too damn cautious and kept our feelings hidden.” Maybe that cost us twelve good years together. “I care a lot about you, Rachel Gaines, and I’d like for our relationship to work. Please give it a chance.”

  She flattened her palms against his broad chest and detected his swift heartbeat. “We’ll see how it goes. I don’t think either of us was prepared for what happened between us years ago. It was wonderful and unforgettable, but—as you said earlier—we both had living and changing to do; a commitment just wasn’t possible back then, not one that would have worked. I believe we both knew that fact on some level and that’s why we didn’t press each other. I had two preteen children to raise; you had troubling injuries and a skyrocketing career and were traveling back and forth across the country. I was thirty-five and you were twenty-six. Our lives were so different, and our priorities didn’t match. We became deeply and intimately involved so fast that it was scary, at least for me. You’re the only man I’ve…been with except my husband. I guess I’m still trapped by my upbringing and old-fashioned values; I can’t just carry on a casual affair, and I can hardly believe I did such a thing with a stranger. I suppose we caught each other at vulnerable moments. I don’t want it to be that casual way again: I want us to really know each other first this time. I do care a great deal about you, Quentin, but I want to make certain I think with my head as well as my heart and body.” She couldn’t stop herself from asking how long he would be in town.