Tarzan & Janine (16 page)

So, they’d fallen into bed a couple of times. Bumbled their way through some hawt kisses. But you couldn’t really count those, could you?

Never mind his kisses turned her knees to butter and made her forget her own name. The chemistry didn’t mean a thing—at least to Tanner. He was a ladies’ man destined to break many hearts. But not Janine’s.

A little depressed by her thoughts, Janine rummaged through her dresser, searching for her most comfortable blue flannel pajamas with fluffy white sheep printed all over them. Once she had on the flannels, she fished her bunny slippers from the back of her closet and slid in her feet, immediately feeling better. Something about this outfit made her feel more at home, like she was a little girl again and her mamma had just kissed her goodnight. She wished she could talk to her mother about her confused emotions, but she might not want to hear what Mamma had to say. A friend to talk to would have been nice—someone who understood her struggles...

A knock sounded on the door.

“Now who could that be at this hour?” Someone not a friend, no doubt. Someone who might have a bone to pick with her about the prank she’d pulled. Still, her depression faded. A spark of excitement skittered through her, perking up her attitude. Lifting her chin high, she strode for the door.

Tanner was dog tired, but he wanted to get a few things off his chest before he called it a night. Raising his hand to knock again, he hesitated when he saw something move in front of the peephole. “Janine, it’s me Tanner. Let me in.”

Nothing like the straightforward approach. He was tired of the games and being laughed at. Hell, he was just plain worn out, beat, bushed, pooped...you name it. Shoveling elephant dung was a physically challenging task. One he hoped never to have to do again in his lifetime. But the job was done and the lot was clean of all evidence of Fifi.

Now, he had to clean up a little matter with Janine—then he could go home, get a shower, crawl in bed and sleep until next month...or tomorrow, whichever came first.

The door cracked open enough for Janine to peek around it. “What do you want? It’s late. Decent folks want to sleep.”

“Yeah, so do I. But I have a bone to pick with you, and I want to get it done tonight. Are you gonna let me in, or am I gonna have to shout through the door and wake up all your neighbors?”

“Shhh.” Janine opened the door a bit more and motioned him in. Once the door was shut behind him, her eyes widened and her nose wrinkled. “What is that smell?”

Tanner frowned. “Fifi.”

Janine’s eyes widened. “You brought the elephant with you?”

“Yeah, she’s waiting in my car.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder then shook his head. “Of course, I didn’t bring the elephant. I spent the last hour cleaning up elephant sh—poop.”

“Oooh, that doesn’t sound like very much fun.” Janine covered her nose. “Tanner, you really smell bad. Couldn’t we talk tomorrow? After you’ve been fumigated or something?”

“No, I want to talk now.”

“Would you like to use my shower first? Really, you’re making me gag.”

His flagging strength revived a bit, his libido kicking up a notch at the thought of Janine and a shower. And he really did smell bad. Tanner sighed. “Fine. But what will I do for clothes?”

“I have a bathrobe hanging on the back of the door. Leave your clothes outside the door, and I’ll stuff them in my washer.”

Too tired to argue, he followed her all ten steps through her tiny apartment to the bathroom. Once inside, he shed his jeans, shirt, and the offensive loincloth. Once naked, he slipped the clothes around the door and stepped under the warm spray of water in the shower.

Ahhhh. Heaven.
He searched for a bar of soap, finding only shower gels and liquid soaps smelling of flowers and herbs, just like Janine. Squirting a liberal amount of lavender-colored goo on his hand, he worked it into lather all over his body. Suddenly, the scent mixed with the hot water and he felt completely surrounded by Janine. With his eyes squeezed tightly shut to keep soap from entering them, he could clearly see Janine as she’d been the first day he’d met her. Sitting astride the mechanical bull, rocking to the motion of the machine. How he’d envied that bull... Tanner groaned.

“Are you all right in there?” Janine’s voice carried over the spray of the shower.

No, I’m rock hard with no sign of let-up.
“I’m fine,” Tanner said through clenched teeth. He rinsed soap from his face and turned off the hot water, the cold water dousing his red-hot reaction to Janine’s scent. It helped, but not much. As soon as the frigid water was off, his desire reasserted itself.
I’m stepping out of this bathroom to chew out Janine while sporting a hard-on in her fuzzy pink bathrobe. Tanner Peschke, my man, you’ve indeed sunk to a new all-time low.

Why was he there? Oh yes, he was mad about the writing on his back. Checking in the mirror, he reaffirmed it was still there. Somehow, the anger he’d felt earlier had washed away with the soap. So, he should just put on his clothes and leave. But that’s not what he really wanted to do. He wanted to be around Janine. She made him laugh at the things she said, the way she said them and most of all, at himself.

She was everything he wasn’t. Her motivation to succeed in something she loved doing was inspirational. But what he admired most was that she knew exactly what she wanted. Somehow, Tanner knew she would get it. That would mean leaving Texas for either California or New York, but she deserved to live her dream.

So where would that leave him? In Austin, selling cars for Peschke Motors. The thought took the starch out of his sail to the point he felt he could walk out of the bathroom in the pink fuzzy robe and not embarrass himself.

He sucked in a deep breath and opened the door, stepping through the bedroom where Janine would later lay sleeping. He tried not to look, but the thick floral comforter and piles of pillows drew his gaze.

He remembered every moment he’d spent there, reclining, propped against the headboard, completely naked, Janine’s full breasts beckoning him with hardened peaks.

His ship set sail again and his mast jutted out before he reached the living room. Conducting a sharp about-face, he almost escaped unnoticed. Almost.

“Feel better?” Janine stood in front of the couch, holding a mug. Her hair spilled down over her shoulders, still damp and curling softly. The lack of makeup only made her look younger, softer, even more appealing. Her flannel pajamas fully covered her body except where they crisscrossed at the opening of the lapel, exposing a tantalizing glimpse of her bountiful boobs.

The total affect was excruciating.

“Yes, I feel better,” he lied through his teeth.

“You smell infinitely better.” Janine smiled. “Would you like a cup of tea?”

“I’d prefer a beer.”

“I just so happen to have one.” She rose and headed for the kitchen.

Tanner took a seat on the couch, pulling and tugging on the bathrobe, determined not to draw attention to his heightened awareness of her.

The television was on, the sound down low. While Janine worked in the kitchen behind him, he concentrated on the late-late news. Maybe a good dose of robberies and drive-by shootings would lessen his leaping libido. But concentration was at a minimum with the object of his desire only a few steps away.

“Oh, my gosh,” Janine said from behind him.

Tanner stared down at his tented lap and covered himself with a throw pillow, his face burning. He glanced up and behind him with a sheepish grin on his face.

Janine wasn’t looking at him but at the television.

While he had been lusting over Janine, the late news was showing clips of their earlier attempt at a commercial. “Can you turn it up?” Tanner stood.

Janine grabbed for the remote, increasing the volume.

“Tanner Peschke and Janine Davis have set the city of Austin on fire with their crazy commercials and hilarious antics. Tonight’s fiasco with the errant elephant is only one example of the unique commercials produced by Peschke Motors. Each commercial leads the entire city to the question, ‘What will they do next?’ We will keep you posted with news clips and interviews with the talented Tarzan and Jane of Peschke Motors in Austin, Texas.”

The news droned on, but Tanner and Janine remained in awed silence for a few seconds. Gazing into each other’s eyes, they both burst out laughing at the same time.

“Can you believe it?” Janine’s eyes sparkled.

“I counted two mentions of Peschke Motors. Wow, that should boost sales. If it doesn’t, I don’t know what to think.”

“Did you hear? They got our names right.” Janine bounced on the balls of her bare feet, hugging herself around the middle.

“We did it.” Tanner grinned. “We killed two birds with one stone.”

“What’s that?”

“We got your name and face on television, and more free advertising for the dealership.”

“Not bad for a day’s work, huh?” Janine gave Tanner a high five.

Instead of a brief contact, Tanner entwined his fingers with hers and tugged her closer. “You’re amazing, Janine Davis.”

“I am?” She blinked up at him, her voice breathy.

“Yes.” Tanner’s gaze dropped to her lips, his head descending to claim them.

“Are you going to kiss me?” she breathed.

“Yes.” He pressed his lips to hers, pulling her hand close to his chest, and wrapping the other around her lower back to pull her hips against his.

What started as a light exploration of touch, quickly graduated into a flaming tangle of thrusting tongues and groping hands.

Janine’s fingers pushed inside the loose ends of the pink robe, finding his chest, and feathering through the damp hairs.

Tanner’s pulse thundered, pushing blood south as his hands moved lower, cupping her cute little derriere, pressing her closer to his hardened arousal.

He fingered the buttons on her pajamas, loosening them to let her shirt hang open so he could drink in her naked beauty. His head dipped and took one glorious rosy nipple fully into his mouth.

A loud buzzing sound filled the room.

He freed her breast. “What was that?”

Janine struggled to answer, her swollen, very kissed, lips working to form words. “The dryer. Your clothes...they’re done.”

“To hell with the clothes. I want you, Janine. All of you.”

The dryer’s buzzer seemed to have ruined the moment for Janine. From soft and pliant, she stiffened and pushed him away, pulling the sides of her shirt together.

“Please, you should go.”

“But why?”

“Just go, will you?”

What was going on? “Will I see you again?”

“Yes—no—oh, I don’t know.” She pressed her fisted hand against her mouth, her eyes pooling with unshed tears.

Not wanting to upset her further, Tanner grabbed his clothes from the small, stacked dryer, and beat a hasty retreat to the bathroom. Once dressed, he emerged to find Janine waiting by the door.

“We need to talk,” he said.

Janine’s face was clear of emotion. “Not now. I want to be alone.”

“Okay, this time. But we will talk.”

She pulled open the door. “Goodbye, Tanner.”

Tanner winced at the tone of finality. “Not goodbye. Goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Chapter Eleven

What was she thinking? Kissing Tanner like they had a future was totally and completely insane. What about her dreams, her goals, her career?

The same thoughts plagued her, destroying her sleep. The hollows under her eyes looked like sunken half-craters on the moon. Tugging the Jane outfit into place, Janine kept a furtive eye out for Tanner. The sale was going well, and he was busy meeting the customers, media and all the curious people of Austin who’d stopped by to see if he was all right after the elephant incident. She couldn’t have gotten close to him if she’d wanted.

Which was just as well. What would she say?
Sorry, Tanner, but last night’s kiss was a mistake
—or—
Don’t get any ideas, I have a plan and you’re not in it
. This was all assuming Tanner was interested in more than a brief kiss.

Janine noted the flock of women bent on getting his autograph.

He smiled at each of them, the smile that curled her toes the first time they’d met. Face it, Tanner loved women and they loved him.

She would end up as just another notch on his bedpost.

So? What would it hurt to have an affair with him? Would doing so change her plans? No. Would the sex keep her from realizing all her dreams? No. Then what was the problem?

Janine shook her head and looked at Tanner. He picked that moment to glance up and grin her way. Was he thinking of last night? Janine felt her cheeks burn with the memory. They had been so close and she could have fallen into bed with him so easily. A stab of regret hit her like a punch in the gut. Maybe skipping breakfast was all that was wrong with her. A bagel would fix that right up.

What would having an affair with Tanner get her? A few days of magic, some fond memories to carry with her to L.A. So what was she afraid of?