Tarzan & Janine (11 page)

Janine managed to put off dealing with the messages while she showered and put on a soft pink babydoll nightie and her favorite bunny slippers. Fortified in comfortable clothing, she stepped out into the living room, squaring her shoulders for the onslaught of messages she’d have to wade through.

As quickly as possible, she blew through them, some from friends, wishing her well on her career as a commercial actress. Some of the calls were from men she’d met or dated in the past, asking her out. The last message was from her mother.

“Janine, it’s your mother. Honey, are you all right? Call me.”

Janine erased all the messages, put away the few groceries she’d grabbed on the way home, and then settled in a chair, before she picked up her home phone and dialed her mother.

“Janine, honey. Thank God, you’re okay.”

“Hi, Mom.”

“Tell me that was all for show. That snake didn’t nearly kill my baby, did it?”

Janine didn’t like to worry her mother. The woman had worked hard all her life, worrying about where the next meal came from, and if her cancer would return. Janine didn’t have the heart to reveal that her only daughter had almost bit the big one on set. “No, Mom, it wasn’t for real. I’m fine.”

“That Tanner Peschke is a good looking man, don’t you think? Is he married?”

“Mom, I’m not looking for a husband. I’m not giving up my dreams for any man.”

“Baby, I don’t want you to give up your dreams.” Her mother sighed. “I also don’t want you to give up on love. It can be a very beautiful thing between a man and a woman.”

“Yeah, but love doesn’t always pay the rent.” Janine regretted her outburst as soon as it left her lips. “Look, Mom, we’ve been over this before. You gave up your dreams to marry my father. I’m not giving up mine.”

“I didn’t give up my dreams, sweetheart. I chose a different dream.”

Janine sighed. She’d heard it all before—and still didn’t believe her mother’s words. “Okay. Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?”

“I’m just worried about you, baby. This is the second job you’ve started in the past two weeks. Is there anything going on you need to talk about?”

Besides being fired from one job after being tossed off a bucking bull and hired into the circus of commercials with one hot used car salesman cowboy...no. “I’m good, Mom. At the rate I’m saving, I should have enough to get out to L.A. soon.”

“Oh.” Her mother sighed, her voice going quiet. “I know that you need to do what you need to do, but it will be lonely without you here in Austin.”

“I don’t even know when it’ll be, but you can bet I’ll send for you as soon as I land a paying position.”

“I love you, sweetheart.”

“I love you, too. Gotta go. I have an audition in the morning I want to get there early.”

“Break a leg, honey,” her mother said. “And remember, I wouldn’t change a thing about my life and my choices.”

As soon as she clicked the off button, her phone rang, and Tanner Peschke’s name appeared in the caller ID display.

Her pulse quickening, Janine hesitated. Her conversation with her mother was still fresh in her mind.

Five rings later, her thumb remained hovering over the talk button, and she still hadn’t answered. Finally, she set the phone in its cradle and strode for her bedroom. If he wanted to get in touch with her, he could leave a message.

The ringing ceased and the answering machine picked up.

“Janine, answer your phone. I know you’re at home.”

Tanner’s voice over the telephone had the same effect it had in person.

Her footsteps faltered, her body flushed with heat, and her heart banged against her ribs. Damn the man. Why couldn’t she ignore him like all the other men who’d come and gone in her life?

“Janine.” The way he said her name sounded like creamy chocolate dripping over her skin.

Keep walking, girl
. She took another step. Instead of taking her to her bedroom and a cool shower, she backtracked to the kitchen. A cup of hot tea would help.

As she passed the phone it beeped, indicating the end of the message on the answering machine.

Janine let out the breath she’d been holding and entered her kitchen, yanking a mug from the cabinet, and filling it with water.

Halfway to the microwave, the phone rang again, and Janine nearly dropped the cup.

Five more rings and the answering machine picked up.

“Janine, I just want to talk to you. I need to know you’re okay. Answer your phone. Please.”

Ignore it. Forget how he makes you feel when his hands skim across your naked skin. You don’t need a man. He’d just slow you down in the pursuit of your dreams.
As though her hand had a mind of its own, it reached out and snatched the phone from the cradle.

The answering machine beeped the end.

“Janine? Are you there?”

For a moment, her voice lodged in her throat. She swallowed hard, her body awash with need. “I told you I quit.”

“Will you go out with me for a drink? We can go somewhere neutral.”

“No.”

“I promise not to touch you unless you want me to.”

Oh, dear God, she wanted him to touch her. That was the problem. “I can’t. I’m too tired.”

“Then let me come by. I’ll only stay a minute. I’m worried about you, after the snake and all.”

“I’m fine.”

“Prove it to me. Let me come visit.”

“No. I’m about to go to bed.” Wrong thing to say. The images the word
bed
ignited in her imagination, and her breathing grew more ragged.

A knock on the door made Janine jump. “I can’t talk anymore. Someone’s at my door.”

She should have pressed the end button right then, instead she walked toward the door, hoping Tanner would end the call.

“Don’t hang up on me, Janine.”

Another knock at the door.

“I have to.” Janine stopped and leaned her forehead against the cool wood of the front door. She swallowed hard against a dry throat. “I’m not coming back to work for you. Look, Tanner, I need to answer the door. I don’t want to see you anymore. I’m done.”

“Please, Janine. Open your door.” The voice came through the receiver pressed to her ear, an echo coming from the other side of the door.

Janine pressed her free hand against the wood, moisture pooling between her thighs. Holy hell, he was on the other side of the door, and she wanted to open it so badly, her hands shook.

“Please, open the door,” Tanner whispered in her ear.

She reached for the handle, turning it slowly, realizing what the action meant and helpless to stop herself.

The door swung open as if in slow motion.

On the other side, Tanner leaned in the doorframe, a sexy smile sliding up his cheeks.

“Oh, you!” Janine pushed the door closed in his face. “You
knew
I’d open the door.”

“No, Janine, really. “ The smile wiped clean, Tanner stuck his foot in the door to keep her from locking him out. The door bounced hard against Tanner’s foot. “Holy Jesus, Mother of God.”

She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Tanner? Oh, sweetie, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Janine dropped to her haunches beside him, her brows V’d. “Are you okay? Did I break it?”

Tanner rubbed the injured foot. “I’ll live.” He reached out to grab her hand. “And for the record, I didn’t think you’d open the door.”

She stared hard into his face and damned if she didn’t believe him. “Then why were you smiling like the cat that ate the can of berries?”

“Canaries,” he corrected. “And I was smiling because I got to see you again. Outside of work. And you’re even more lovely now than in your Jane outfit.”

She glance down at her breasts, clearly visible through the sheer pink fabric. The nipples puckered under Tanner’s scrutiny.  Janine crossed her arms and frowned. “Some gentleman. You should have called before you came.”

Eyebrow quirked, he grinned. “Technically, I did.”

* * *

“I can’t believe I let him talk me back into this cheesy outfit, especially after that snake tried to kill me.” Janine paced in the bathroom at Peschke Motors Saturday morning, berating herself for her Tanner weakness.

That was all she could figure. Every time he came near her, she totally lost all focus and sense of reason. If he had a mind to, he could talk her into walking off a cliff. As crazy stupid as she had been lately, she’d probably do it. What was it about him that made her absolutely addlepated?

A tap on the door was followed by a familiar voice. “Janine?”

She fumbled with the canister of hairspray she’d been holding. As if thinking about Tanner conjured him. Geez, she needed to put some distance between them. She had to tell him she couldn’t do any more commercials. If she kept doing them, she might never land a real acting role in the theatre or movies.

This was it. She was going to tell him. She sucked in a deep breath and opened the door. “Tanner, I need to talk to you.”

“These are for you.” Tanner handed her a gorgeous bouquet of brilliant red roses. “What is it you wanted to talk about?”

With velvety soft blooms in her face and their heavenly scent wafting beneath her nose, Janine did what most red-blooded American woman would do in just such a situation. “I don’t remember.”

“Did I tell you how glad I am you decided to come today?” His warm gaze met hers.

“No, you didn’t.”

“Well, I am, and you look fantastic.” His glance skimmed the length of her body.

Heat sang through her blood, reminding her of just how Tanner had persuaded her to perform in the next commercial. Her lungs squeezed as tightly as if the boa constrictor was still wrapped around her middle. Not again would she fall victim to the Peschke charm. She absolutely refused to settle for less than her dream.

Pushing her lusty thoughts to the back of her mind, she clutched the bouquet to her chest like a shield, glad it kept her fingers otherwise occupied.
Keep it impersonal. Don’t touch the sexy cowboy
. “You’ve seen me in this outfit before.”

“I know, but you look better every time.”

Call it woman’s intuition, déjà vu, whatever, she knew he was up to something. “What do you want, Tanner?”

Tanner stepped closer, removing the bouquet from her grip, setting it on a table in the hallway. With her hands free, she could have blocked his advance, but they moved of their own accord. When Tanner’s arms wrapped around her waist, her own wound around his neck.

What was wrong with this picture? Janine couldn’t recall exactly what she was supposed to tell Tanner. Somehow she knew it wasn’t how wonderful his lips felt against hers or how his hands roaming across her bare back would feel even better in more...intimate places. “What are you doing to me?”

“It’s got to be that outfit,” he said. “Does it make you feel as sexy as you look?”

It isn’t the outfit, it’s you
. Janine’s eyes widened. Did she say those words or were her thoughts that loud?

“I do have something to tell you.” He nuzzled her neck.

“No snakes,” she breathed, her knees going weak.

“No snakes,” he agreed. “I have a question.” He bent close, his lips an inch away from hers.

“Yes,” she breathed.

“Yes?” Easing back his head, Tanner grinned. “I haven’t asked the question, yet.”

Janine had to physically shake herself out of her Tanner-stupor. The only way to do that was to put space between them. She forced her arms to drop from around his neck and stepped away from the spellbinding man. There. That ought to do it. But her errant body still swayed in his direction. The traitor. “What’s the question?”

“A local talk show host called and asked if we’d like to be on her show this morning?”

Janine’s heart leaped into her throat. “What did you say?”

“I said a local talk show—-”

“I heard what you said.” She grabbed the front of his shirt. “I asked the wrong question. I meant what did you say to him?”

“Her. Apparently we’ve gotten so much coverage on the news, we’re becomin’ local celebrities.” Tanner grinned. “Can you believe it? She wants to bring us on her show and ask us questions. You know, an interview about our life histories.”

“That won’t fill a show. Mine is incredibly boring.” She circled a hand in the air. “I haven’t even made it past the Austin city limits, yet.”

“Mine too, but I’m sure she’ll manage. And what will it hurt? It’s free advertisin’ for the dealership.”

“It may be advertising for the dealership, but what does it buy me?”

“You’re gettin’ your face out there. People walkin’ down the streets of Austin will know you by name.”

Janine snorted. “Yeah, like they already do? Since last weekend, I’ve been called Jane more times than I can remember.”

“Think of it as gettin’ the chance to set the record straight.” When she didn’t respond, he went on. “You could tell the world—well, the greater Austin area in this case—about your desire to be a serious actress.”