Queen of Hearts (3 page)

"I'll pick you up at seven," Adam called out as she strode away. She didn't bother to turn around.

By the time Janna had reached the entrance to the Library she had cooled down sufficiently to begin to see the humorous side of the situation. There was no telling how much of Adam's rudeness was due to naturally bad manners and how much resulted from his wish to keep his brother from marrying in the near future. But regardless of the reason she was in a unique position to pay him back. By the time she was seated on the stool behind the reference desk she was seriously reconsidering her decision not to have dinner with Adam Halleck. There would be an undeniable pleasure in having been instrumental in keeping him away from Lucy Dalton until the marriage had taken place.

Business was brisk all afternoon as Janna and a coworker, Sheila Randolph, dealt with the myriad questions which came across a college library reference desk. In addition to the normal routine of helping people utilize the vast amount of sophisticated reference tools, there was an added level of tension in the air as the last week of classes and exams began. Those poorly organized souls who had delayed writing papers all semester threw themselves on the mercy of the librarians, begging for help. And then there was always the classic reference desk question: Where is the restroom?

"Whenever I get that one," Janna chuckled to Sheila after having directed another individual to the facilities, "I realize I'm talking to someone who hasn't bothered to use the library all year! The first thing a regular customer usually discovers is the location of the restroom!"

Sheila laughed, her blue eyes reflecting her amusement. Short-cropped blond hair set off the delicate features of her face and petite figure. Like Janna, she was dressed in a skirt and blouse, but where Janna's clothes were tailored and decidedly business styled, Sheila wore a soft, lacy blouse and a brightly patterned skirt. Although opposites in looks, the two women got along well.

"I know what you mean. Still, it's an easier question to answer than that one earlier about the name of the insect used in ancient Egypt as a talisman," Sheila noted.

"Scarabaeus? True. Besides, it looks like Dr. Winthrop has handed out his usual assignment in Early American History. I've had five questions in a row on the reaction of Colonial merchants to the notion of a revolution."

"Same question every semester. You'd think Winthrop would get tired of reading fifty papers a session on the same subject."

"On the other hand, he's probably read so many by now that he doesn't even have to think while he grades!" Janna smiled.

Sheila hopped down off her stool at the other end of the desk and walked over to check a weekly schedule hanging on the wall behind them. "I almost forgot to double-check the evening assignments for this week. I think I'm supposed to cover the desk Wednesday and Friday night. How about you?"

"As far as I know I'm free this whole week. Miss Harley said that since I worked nights during the week before Spring break I wouldn't have to do it now."

"Oh no!" Sheila groaned, running a polished nail down the schedule. It's Tuesday and Thursday this week! I could have sworn I asked for Wednesday and Friday!"

"What's wrong with Tuesday and Thursday?" Janna inquired, glancing at her friend.

"Tuesday I'm supposed to go to that chamber music concert with Steve!"

"Well, if you really want to go I could cover for you. I'm sure it won't matter to Miss Harley," Janna offered helpfully.

"That would be fantastic! If you'll work my shift tomorrow night I'll be glad to return the favor some afternoon this week!" Sheila smiled thankfully. "I've been looking forward to the concert for quite a while."

"Fine with me. By the way, have you..."Janna broke off in midsentence as Nat Halleck hurried up to the desk looking distinctly worried.

"You wanted to see me?" he asked warily.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I did," she began ruthlessly and then relented at the signs of dismay in Nat's expressive features. "Oh, stop worrying. I've decided to go out with your brother tonight, after all. Tell him I'll be ready at seven. But you're going to owe me for this, Nat Halleck!" she added in mock threatening tones.

"Believe me, I'll repay you any way I can, but I didn't know you'd cancelled this evening in the first place!" Nat commented with a mixture of relief and puzzlement in his tones.

"Didn't Adam tell you? No, I don't suppose he did. Probably assumed that since he'd told me he'd pick me up at seven, I'd be ready, regardless of my feelings on the matter!" Janna grumbled in resignation. "I can see why you're so anxious to keep him away from Lucy. That brother of yours can be extremely annoying. I know I'm going to be in for an endless lecture on the subject of why I shouldn't marry you! Thank goodness he's due to leave tomorrow."

"I hope!" Nat agreed fervently. "At least he hasn't said anything about booking another night in the motel where he's staying."

"What makes you think he's going to take more kindly to Lucy after he finds out he's been tricked?" J anna asked in a low tone, not wanting Sheila to get curious about the whole mess.

"He won't blame her. How could he? She hasn't had anything to do with the plot. And after the marriage is a fact, he'll accept it. I know Adam well enough to know that he'll do what he can to prevent the marriage but once it's taken place, he'll respect it."

"I hope for Lucy's sake that you're right," Janna murmured feelingly. A very deep, very feminine instinct was telling her that one didn't lie to Adam Halleck with impunity. Still, he couldn't really blame Lucy and what, in reality, could he do to Janna? She would be safely here in La Paloma while Adam fumed in San Jose. Besides, the man deserved a lesson. His overbearing ways were inexcusable!

"Wasn't that your friend Nat?" Sheila asked curiously as he walked away a few minutes later having thanked Janna one last time. "He's the one who's going to marry Lucy in Cataloging, isn't he?"

"That's right. Saturday morning, in fact."

"Well, I must remember to wish him luck next time I see him."

"Yes. He may need it," Janna agreed quietly.

But much later, as she dressed for her dinner date with Adam Halleck, it occurred to Janna that she was the one who might need the luck. Determined to arm herself to the fullest, she deliberately chose her highest heeled sandals even though she knew they wouldn't be capable of putting her at eye level with her escort, and selected a severely cut, long-sleeved black dinner dress. She brushed her shining dark hair, parted it in the middle and pulled it into a tailored bun at the nape of her neck in a style similar to the way she had worn it earlier in the day. A touch of discreet gold in the shape of small earrings and a matching necklace completed the outfit. Surveying herself in the mirror Janna was satisfied that she had created an aloof, austere appearance. She applied a minimal amount of makeup and had just finished the task when the doorbell rang.

Making her way through the small, cozy apartment, she opened the door with what she hoped was a cool, disinterested smile. Adam Halleck stood there filling the entire doorway with his overwhelming presence. A suit as dark and tailored as her own dress fitted him with handmade perfection. The gleam of pure white silk at collar and cuff was all that alleviated the overall darkness of his attire. From his glistening jet black hair to the toes of his polished black leather shoes Adam presented a formidable appearance. Very large, very sure of himself.

"Impressive," was his first comment as he ran a lazy, almost hooded gaze over Janna and then crossed her threshold.

Automatically she stepped back as he entered the cheerfully decorated living room. "Please come in," she remarked drily, attempting to make it clear that he had entered without waiting for the proper invitation. Adam Halleck undoubtedly went through life doing exactly as he wished without waiting for properly worded invitations!

"I'll be ready in a minute," she added as he glanced around at the framed batik wall hangings.

"Take your time," he instructed, smiling briefly at her before walking across the room to examine one of the hangings more closely. "Did you do these?" he added as she disappeared into the bedroom to fetch a tiny black purse.

"Yes," she called back, checking her attire one more time in the full-length mirror before going back out into the living room.

When she reentered, prepared to depart, it was to find Adam standing beside the bookcase, flipping through a copy of a new science fiction thriller she had just bought. He looked up at once, a curious little smile playing at the corner of his hard mouth.

"I see you read science fiction, too," he remarked, closing the paperback and replacing it.

J anna nodded once, unencouragingly. The last thing she wanted was to have Adam start discovering things they might have in common. Why this bothered her, she wasn't certain, but it did.

"And you seem to prefer the adventure oriented style rather than the stuff that uses science fiction to make a social comment," he continued, moving across the room with his deceptively long stride.

"Definitely," she agreed, realizing her resolve not to discuss such things with him was weakening. She loved science fiction. She could quite happily discuss it for hours, in fact. "When I was younger I used to think that the ultimate joy in life would be to have a ticket on the first passenger ship to the moon!"

"You've changed your mind since then?" he asked, taking her arm to guide her toward the door.

"Not really," she admitted, glancing up at him and then away. Something in the intent way he was regarding her was disturbing. "I've just accepted the fact that I probably won't have the chance."

"Who knows? Things are happening so rapidly these days. It will be expensive, though!" Adam pointed out as she turned to lock the door behind them. "I doubt that my brother would ever be able to afford it, even if the opportunity arises! I, on the other hand, probably could."

Janna froze. What was he really saying? Money! He was talking about money. Surely he wasn't going to be so crude as to... Janna deliberately finished turning the key in the lock and dropped it into her small bag before lifting cold, blue-green eyes to his in angry challenge.

"Are you by any chance offering to buy me off, Adam Halleck?" she bit out. Something flickered in the depths of greyish eyes and Janna knew she had guessed correctly. He was telling her that there would be money from him if she left his brother alone! Of all the base, underhanded, rude...

"Haven't you realized yet, Janna Courtney, that I'll do anything I have to in order to keep you from marrying my brother?" he asked deliberately, steel in his eyes and in every line of his body. It even threaded through every word he spoke.

He meant every word, Janna reflected grimly. And she would laugh, laugh when he finally learned he'd been tricked!

Janna allowed herself to be settled into the white Continental, pretending complete obliviousness to the luxury of white leather seats and a dash that contained everything from a stereo to a small computer which calculated mileage left in the present tank of gas. The late Spring evenings were beginning to grow longer and it was still light as Adam pulled away from the curb in front of the apartment.

"Something wrong with the car?" he asked, sounding amused. "That charming way you have of looking down your elegant nose is very much in evidence."

Janna shrugged with elaborate unconcern. "What you drive is your own affair. And I believe Continentals and Cadillacs are the usual cars chosen by people who have made money the hard way." There! How snobbish could one get, she thought, feeling better. She would teach him to try and bribe her!

"Implying, I suppose that people with fancy educations and proper backgrounds select other styles of transportation?" He didn't sound offended, she thought, merely interested.

"Usually something foreign," she smiled sweetly, thinking of the Mercedes' and BMW's which were parked in the driveways of the more successful faculty. Those still on the way up, such as Scott Barrett, generally chose a less expensive but still foreign car. The thought of Scott made Janna relax a little more. The sandy-haired, bearded assistant professor of English had been making more and more casual stops by the reference desk this past week. And while he certainly wasn't built along Adam's massive lines, he was almost six feet. She could wear low-heeled shoes if he asked her out...

"Perhaps, having made my money the, er, hard way, I have a slightly greater sensitivity to the current balance of payments in this country," Adam said, breaking into her small reverie about Scott.

Surprised, Janna glanced across at him and then smiled in spite of herself. She knew when she was beaten.

"Okay. You win. I'm not about to get into an argument on international economics with you. I admit I was being a bit of a snob about the car, but you deserved it for the crack you made about being able to buy me a ticket on the first trip to the moon! Just how much would you give me if I agreed to leave your precious brother alone?" She deliberately kept the bitterness out of her voice, allowing only plain, greedy curiosity to show. It might be rather fun to lead him on, make him think he could bribe her and then throw the money in his face. No, that wouldn't work. She probably wouldn't see him again so how could she throw the filthy green stuff at him?