by Rachel James
“Well, I’ll be fucked!”
Adrian glanced up, surprised by Todd’s vehement curse. He found Todd staring at him, a curious light in his eyes.
“This one’s from Aspen,” he announced. He raised a small envelope and Adrian saw him take a quick sniff of the edges. “Definitely feminine.”
Adrian’s heart began a wild foot race with his stomach and he chided himself for reacting like a lovesick fool. Janice wouldn’t write him. She hated him with a passion. No, there were loads of people living in Aspen who considered themselves his fans. This letter was from one of them.
“Guess we can toss this one,” Todd said briskly. He pitched the envelope into the garbage can alongside the table.
Adrian came out of his chair with a fevered curse.
“God dammit, Todd, what the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
“Oh, did you want to read that one?” he remarked casually. Adrian bolted around the table and fished the envelope from the trash. “Sorry, thought any correspondence from Aspen was garbage.”
“You’ve shit for brains,” Adrian mumbled. He studied the handwriting and return address. What had prompted her to write to him after all these months? Hadn’t everything been said that day on the pier? Was she having second thoughts about that day? Sending him an apology? No, he couldn’t be that lucky. The stars would fall out of the sky before an apology would be issued from her lips. She hated him. He sank back in his chair, ignoring Todd’s piercing stare. Slashing the envelope open, he read the colorful missive enclosed once, then reread it a second time.
“Sweet Jesus!”
Todd leaned in, closing the gap between them.
“What is it, Adrian?”
Adrian passed the card to Todd, not at all surprised to hear an astonished whistle leave his lips a second later. The card fluttered to the table in front of him and Adrian plucked at it absently. What did he do now? Beside him, Todd leaned back in his chair, blowing through his cheeks.
“Jesus, Adrian, I’m sorry.”
“Are you?”
Stunned by the question, Todd shot upright in the chair. He exchanged a quick glance with Adrian and then, all of a sudden, both began to laugh uproariously.
Chapter 32
SIX MONTHS LATER — ASPEN, COLORADO
The sound of doorbells chiming filtered through Janice’s consciousness and she stopped painting. Beyond the doorway, she heard the patter of tiny footsteps on the hall carpet. She lifted her head in expectation, her eyes glued to the doorway. As she thought, a flash of blue jeans streaked by at a reckless pace, heading for the staircase. Janice’s mouth tilted upward as she listened to the tiny thumps on the carpeted steps. Sarah was off to answer the front door again, the little minx. She supposed she should stop her. Over the last several months, she had grown impossible about answering the door. When the chimes sounded, she responded. If she was upstairs, she ran down. If she was outside, she ran in.
Janice frowned suddenly. Should she be worried about her behavior? Her actions were amusing, and so far she had chalked the behavior up to just that. But now her habit seemed off-kilter. Was Sarah’s preoccupation with answering the front door a delayed reaction to Jimmy’s non-presence?
Looking back at the recent months in her mind’s eye, it dawned on Janice that Sarah was answering the door as if she was expecting someone. Why hadn’t she seen it before? Sarah was obviously sure someone was coming to visit. But whom? Janice tossed her paintbrush into the fresh jar of water beside her easel, grimacing at the resulting blue-green tint. Sarah couldn’t be expecting her father. She had said as much.
“Are you still painting?”
Janice jumped, startled by the question. Her glance slid to the doorway once more. Seeing her sister’s plump form, she hid a smile. Nine months pregnant and all stomach, she surmised. If Bibi didn’t have the baby soon, they’d have to take to calling her the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Janice’s smile snaked its way out.
“All finished.” She dropped her palette onto the makeshift worktable by the easel and sighed. “It’s finally done. Come see.”
Bibi sped to the easel, her eagerness showing in her hurried waddle. Coming to a halt in front of the finished portrait, she drew in a sharp breath.
“It’s the best thing you’ve ever done, Jan,” she said sincerely.
Janice’s gaze traveled to the finished colors. Yes, she thought so, too. It was the best thing she had ever painted. But then, she thought, why shouldn’t it be? The painting had come from the depths of her soul.
“Jasper will love it,” Bibi said quietly.
Janice studied the faces and figures depicted.
“I’m going to call it Across Time. What do you think?”
Bibi cocked her head left, then right.
“Yes, I see that.” She turned from the painting and gave Janice a knowing smile. “You’re not quite over that experience yet, are you?”
Janice hid a smile. You’re not quite over Adrian yet, are you? That’s what her sister really meant. Grinning suddenly, Janice stroked her protruding stomach.
“Ask me that again after the baby’s born.”
Bibi gave a stuttered groan and sought a resting place along the edge of the bed.
“Honestly, Jan, I hate you. I’m as big as a house. And you’re simply rounded.”
Janice caressed her protruding stomach.
“He may be small, but he’s an active little thing. For the last two days, he’s done nothing but kick at me. I think he wants out.”
Bibi tossed her a reassuring smile.
“You’re sure he’s a he?”
Janice chewed on that thought for a moment. Yes, she was sure. She had had a brief flash in the early days. Not enough to see clearly. But she had sensed that the life growing within her was definitely a male child. She grimaced at the direction of her thoughts. What was wrong with her? She had the urge to blame Adrian for wishing a boy on her, when she would’ve liked her next child to be a carbon copy of Sarah. As always, Adrian had had the last joke on her. If he wasn’t going to be around to provoke her, he was going to annoy the hell out of her with a Mini Me of himself. A perfect mirror image that she would have to look at every day. Year in and year out.
Pulling her thoughts back sharply, Janice realized she was being stupid. Adrian didn’t even know about the baby, much less determine its gender. Meeting Bibi’s curious stare, she realized her sister was still waiting for an answer.
“He’s a he,” she stressed confidently.
Her sister grinned.
“Boys are nice.”
Janice started to agree, but lost her train of thought as Sarah raced into the room, screeching her name.
“Mama! Look! I knew it would come. I knew it wasn’t lost forever.”
What is it, sweetie? What’s come?”
Sarah barreled into her knees, stretching her tiny hand up to Janice.
“See, Mama, your compass.”
Staring at the plastic circle cupped in the tiny palm, Janice’s heart did a rapid flip-flop and the air in her lungs seemed to evaporate as if sucked out through a straw. Her compass! Reluctantly, she took the round circle from Sarah’s proffered hand, trying to keep her voice steady as she did so.
“Sarah, sweetie, where did you find this?”
“The magician found it.” She began a light hopscotch from one foot to the other and Janice’s pulse skittered in alarm. Her hand flew to her throat and for a second she thought she was going to pass out. She studied Sarah’s nimble hopping and then found herself stuttering stupidly.
“Magician? Here?!”
“Uh-huh. He’s downstairs with Uncle Roddy. He’s very handsome, Mama.”
Janice’s hands flew to her mouth. Adrian here! But how and why? A flash of white began to move across her l
ine of vision and spinning, Janice spotted Bibi edging her way to the door, a notorious crimson flush staining her cheeks.
“Don’t you dare move another step!” she commanded. Quickly, she returned her attention to Sarah and lightened her tone. “Sarah, sweetie, you know how when guests come to our house we’re good hosts? How we offer them something to drink?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Well, I need you to be a good hostess right now and offer the magician some of your lemonade.”
She didn’t wait for Janice to finish the sentence. She exploded into a clumsy pirouette and bolted from the room, hollering for Peter as she ran. Sighing heavily, Janice gathered her strength and spun to confront Bibi. Her words were heated.
“You sent for him? After I expressly forbid you to?”
Bibi gave a mock shrug.
“I didn’t send for him,” she hedged, “I promised you I wouldn’t.”
“Well, then, why is he here? He wouldn’t come without a reason.” That there was a reason was clear by Bibi’s awkward rocking. “You called him?” Janice asked in disbelief.
“No. I didn’t call him.”
Janice’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“Just what did you do, Bibi?”
This time her sister had the good sense to cringe and Janice was glad she did because otherwise she was sure she would have launched her entire set of paintbrushes at her.
“I sent him an invitation to the baby shower,” Bibi murmured softly.
Janice let out an astonished screech, surprising herself as much as startling Bibi, who shied away quickly.
“You told him about the baby! After I said you were not to?!”
“He has a right to know he’s going to be a father.”
“I was going to tell him,” Janice snapped, “but in my own way.”
“When? When the kid’s going off to college?”
“That’s a rotten thing to say and you know it! I had every intention of telling Adrian about the baby.”
“Is this a private fight or can anyone join?”
“Adrian!”
The words were stuttered in panic as Janice swung about. His tall figure lounged against the doorframe and Janice found herself magnetized by the sight of him. Lord, he was gorgeous.
Thin, but still gorgeous. With the lift of his eyebrow, he scanned her stricken features. Immediately, Janice felt a rush of color to her cheeks.
“Well, at least saying my name no longer makes you sick,” he said quietly. “I would hate to think I made a pregnant woman nauseous.” Janice flushed again, stung by his sarcasm. What a memory he had. He was throwing her last words to him up in her face. “You look good, Janice. Very good.” Janice felt herself coloring up even more furiously. He wasn’t going to make this reunion easy. His gaze darted quickly left and Janice saw him study her sister intently. “You must be Bibi. I gather I have you to thank for the invitation?” She didn’t reply or nod, speechless by the turn of events. If the whole situation weren’t so preposterous, Janice thought she would laugh. She regretted the thought in the next instant as Adrian signaled to Bibi politely. “I’m sure there’s something you want to do downstairs.” Janice heard the emphasis on “downstairs” and knew the words weren’t a request.
A flash of relief crossed Bibi’s face at the edict and, seizing the opportunity, she bustled forward. As she reached the doorway, Adrian stepped aside, giving way to her stoutness. His lips curled up derisively as she sped out onto the landing.
Her departure left a void of silence behind that neither seemed to know how to fill. Flustered, Janice tried to think of something appropriate to say besides the obvious Hello. In the next second, Adrian had saved her the trouble and worry.
“Aren’t you going to ask me how I am?”
Though his caustic reminder shook her up, Janice managed to look him directly in the eye.
“How are you, Adrian? You look thin.”
“I’ve been sick,” was his instant answer and Janice immediately regretted the question. He made it sound as if his illness was her fault. Was that true? Janice began to twist her fingers nervously. The gesture made her even more self-conscious.
“Are you getting better?” she managed to ask, then wondered how she could be firing off such inane questions when her only urge was to fling herself into his arms and beg his forgiveness. He made no comment, just stared.
Biting her lower lip to keep it from quivering, Janice wondered how she had ever thought she would forget him so easily. Even for all his thinness, he was devastatingly handsome. The sight of him was slowly draining the air from her lungs and causing her heart to flutter nervously in her breast. And now he was lifting an eyebrow curiously at her. Was that nervousness she sensed? His next words confirmed it.
“My health depends on you, Janice.” She didn’t like the sound of that. “Rather, it depends on whether I can convince you in the next minute to let me kiss you.”
Janice’s mouth dropped open in surprise. God, he wasn’t going to start this foolishness all over again about kissing, was he? She couldn’t bear it if he did. She had to distract his mind. But how? Out of the corner of her eye, she spied the standing easel and spun toward it. She knew instantly she had guessed right. He sprang from the doorframe and followed close on her heels.
Halting before the painting, Janice could only hope that the beauty of the portrait and its subjects would catch his fancy. It did. He came to a halt beside her, his gaze riveted to the figures depicted.
“Do you like it?” she asked hesitantly. She stole a peek at him, realizing his answer meant the difference between pain and pleasure.
“Very much,” he replied, no trace of sarcasm lacing his voice. Janice breathed a sigh of relief. “Are you planning on selling it?” The question was so unexpected, it overwhelmed Janice. Was he thinking of buying it?
“No, it’s a present for Jasper. He’s coming to visit next month with the twins.”
At her pronouncement, Adrian’s head snapped around and studied her face, as if memorizing it. For one thrilling moment, Janice felt her heart stop. He was going to kiss her and she was going to let him. He knew it and she knew it. Disturbed by the smoldering desire rising in his eyes, Janice found herself spinning around. Dear God, she couldn’t kiss Adrian. If she did it would be all over. She’d end up married to him.
The feel of warm arms encircling her waist from behind startled her, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she looked down at the long slim fingers lightly resting on the top of her stomach. A warm breath tickled her ear as he muttered hoarsely.
“Don’t send me away, Janice. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. I can’t work. I can’t even concentrate. Your image haunts me more than it ever did when I was a boy. Please tell me you didn’t mind what happened between us. Tell me you’ll love this baby because I’m its father.” He paused to catch his breath and Janice took a moment to interrupt.
“Adrian … ”
He cut her off immediately.
“No, don’t say it. Don’t say it can’t work out. It can. I know it can. If it’s Sarah, I’ll win her over. I’m not so hard to take, am I? No, don’t answer that … ” He must’ve realized he might get an answer he didn’t want to hear because he released Janice’s waist and spun her around so fast she had to clutch onto his shoulders to keep from falling. Again, their gazes met and held. This time Janice saw him grin sheepishly. “At least, let me kiss you. I know if you let me kiss you, I can prove to you how crazy I am about you. I have great lips.”
Janice’s lips twitched with a will of their own at his arrogant bragging. He was being boyishly charming, and a charming Adrian was a deadly Adrian. She shook her head.
“Every time you kiss me, Adrian, some part of my anatomy seems to swell up.”
He caught the sly reference at once, and chu
ckling, hauled her into his arms. His lips swooped down and devoured hers swiftly. It was a long, drugging kiss and the assault sent a shockwave clear to the tips of Janice’s toes. Her knees suddenly gave way, turning to jelly, and she found herself collapsing into his chest. He absorbed her weight easily with his own and all lucid thought fled from her brain as his tongue swept the roof of her mouth. And then, just as if it seemed the kiss would never end, he let go her mouth. Janice managed a breathless choke. He raised her chin upward and then his fingers found their way to her mouth. Suggestively, he outlined the curve of her moist lower lip.
“Told you I could prove it,” he whispered arrogantly.
Before she could object, his mouth covered hers again hungrily. Swept away, Janice’s arms automatically wound around his neck. He was right, damn him. He did have great lips.
A sudden screech split the air.
“Aunt Bibi! Come look! Mama’s kissing the magician!”
Adrian twisted free of Janice’s lips and turned toward the door. A flash of blue jean streaked from the room at a breakneck pace.
“She’s a lively chatterbox.”
Janice dropped her forehead onto Adrian’s chest, sighing pleasurably.
“She’s a notorious tattletale. We’ll have no secrets.” She lifted her chin and nuzzled into his throat. His knuckles found the side of her cheekbone and caressed it affectionately. Her sigh resembled a delighted purr and Adrian chuckled again, taking hold of her chin. With a ragged breath, he planted a kiss on each side of her lips and then along her cheekbones.
“I have dreamed this moment a thousand times in my head. How I would kiss you … make love to you … ” His lips found her earlobe. “Say you forgive me, Janice. I’d give everything I own to go back and relive that night. Change things. Keep Muriel alive. You’ve got to believe me.”
Janice pulled away, meeting his tortured gaze. Did he still think she blamed him for Muriel’s death? Standing on tiptoe, she brushed her lips lightly across his.