Page 14 of A Girl Like Janet

Reese kissed her again and again, parting her mouth, his lips a seductive weapon.

“No.” She pulled away and buried her face in his sweater. Her eager and immediate response to his touch rippled over her like

shock waves. “No,” she repeated with less conviction.

Reese’s hands were in her hair, extracting the pins that held it neatly in place and tossing them carelessly aside as his

fingers weaved through the chestnut-colored length.

As soon as her hair was free, Janet could feel Reese’s breath stirring the hair at the top of her head as if drinking in the

fresh fragrance.

“Your lips are saying no.” The voice was low and rasping as he pulled away slightly to study her. “But I’m getting very different

signals from your body.” His lips brushed a kiss against the sensitive skin at the hollow of her throat. “Did anyone ever

tell you, you had a passionate mouth?”

Janet squeezed her eyes shut and jerked herself free. Passionate mouth indeed. No doubt that was another line he tossed out

to every one of his blonde dates.

“Please.” She backed up, extending her arms out in front of her to keep him away. “Why are you here?”

Reese was silently laughing at her, his amusement causing crinkling crows-feet at his eyes. “I came to take you to dinner.”

He took a step toward her. “I didn’t say anything at the office this afternoon because you would have said no.”

Janet’s head snapped up and her eyes widened. Could Reese read her thoughts as well?

It wouldn’t do any good to argue with him. Reese Edwards wouldn’t accept it from her.

“But the pizza...” She gestured weakly toward the kitchen.

“Save it for your lunch tomorrow. Now go change, something casual.”

Janet could almost hate him for the high-handed, authoritarian attitude, but she knew exchanging words would be useless.

She took her time deciding what to wear, finally choosing a soft pair of jeans and a light pink sweater.

Reese was sitting on the sofa, leafing through some religious magazines her father had given her. He stood when he saw her,

his face looking puzzled. “Are these yours?” he questioned as he glanced over at her sharply.

A gentle smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “No, they belong to my dad. He’s letting me read them.”

Reese turned over the magazine and Janet watched as the color seemed to wash out of his face. “Your father is a pastor?”

“Minister, pastor, man of God. Yes.”

Reese sat down and the sofa dipped as it accepted his weight. “And is his daughter a—”

“A woman of God?” She finished the question for him.

Reese nodded.

“Yes, I am.”

Janet watched as Reese breathed in deeply, as if to gain control of himself. “Why didn’t you say something last night? You

must think me a heel.”

“No more than usual,” she replied with a crooked smile.

Reese’s gaze locked with hers. “I always knew there was something different about you. No,” he corrected himself, “not different,

special.”

A rush of pleasure cast her gaze downward. She picked an imaginary piece of lint off her jeans. “Thank you,” she said and

moved across the room to withdraw a jacket from the closet.

“Is there anyplace special you’d like to eat?” Reese asked as he tucked a guiding hand beneath her elbow.

“After all those Thursday night outings with Joel, I’d settle for anyplace that doesn’t serve hamburgers.”

Reese opened the car door for her and came around to the other side of the car to climb into the driver’s seat. “After dinner

I thought we might catch a movie at the International Film Festival.”

“I’d like that.”

They ate enchiladas in a Mexican restaurant that had atmosphere and wonderful food. Reese teasingly insisted on large pieces

of apple pie for dessert. Their conversation was friendly and relaxed, as if they were old friends. It surprised Janet that

they could act so naturally with each other. Only a few days earlier it had seemed an impossibility. Janet had always had

respect and admiration for Reese, but she had never really known him as a person. It didn’t take her long to decide she appreciated

his wit and sense of humor.

There were several films showing, and Janet was pleased when Reese suggested the French film. They were standing in line outside

the theater when Reese asked, “If you don’t mind subtitles.”

“I speak French,” she announced casually. “My parents were missionaries in Guadeloupe, a small French island in the Caribbean.

I was born there. Until I was five I spoke better French than English.”

Reese glanced down at her, his mouth quirked upward. “You’re full of surprises, aren’t you? Are you fluent in any other languages?”

“I speak a smidgen of Spanish. At least enough to get me through two summers working with missionaries building a church in

central Mexico.”

Their hands were entwined and Janet enjoyed the sensation of being tied to Reese, even if it was only for the moment.

“Did you consider becoming a missionary?” His gaze narrowed fractionally.

“Never,” she denied vehemently. “I was in Mexico the summers between my junior and senior years in high school. My intentions

were terrible. The only reason I went was to get away from my parents. I was angry with them and with God.”

“Why?”

She shrugged, not wishing to go into the details. “It’s a long story.”

Reese’s hand pushed back a stray curl that the wind had whipped across Janet’s face. His touch lingered longer than necessary.

“I can’t picture you as a rebellious teenager.”

Janet’s laugh was short, almost sharp. “I was that and more. My mother claims I gave her every white hair she has.”

“But her hair’s completely white.”

Janet’s sigh was full of amusement. “See what I mean?”

His chuckle was low and pleasant-sounding. Dropping her hand, he tucked his arm around her waist and drew her close to his

side. “I’ll have you know I was a model child,” he informed her. “I never gave my parents a moment’s worry. While other kids

were into drugs, booze and wild parties, I stayed home and studied.”

For a second Janet was sure he was teasing, but one look at the sincerity in his face and she couldn’t doubt the truth. “You’re

making up for lost time now, is that it?”

His mouth moved into a mocking line. “I guess you could say that.”

Reese paid for their tickets and they moved into the theater. “Before we sit down, do you want any popcorn?”

Janet looked at him, feigning shock. “You don’t eat popcorn during a French film. This is serious stuff.”

Reese moved slowly to stand over her, shaking his head. “Do you want popcorn or not?”

“No, thanks.”

The film was excellent and they discussed the plot and theme all the way back to her apartment. Reese parked in front of the

building and they sat in the car discussing the film for another ten minutes.

“Do you want to come in?” Janet asked. “I can make some coffee, or cocoa, whatever you like.”

“Whatever I like?” he repeated mockingly. “I doubt that.” His look was full of suggestion and Janet’s stomach muscles tightened.

His hand reached out to caress the smooth cheek and gradually moved around the back of her neck, drawing her face to his.

Her resolve to make this a lighthearted time began to melt away, bit by bit, drop by drop as their lips drew closer and closer.

The pressure stopped when only a fraction of an inch separated their mouths. Reese’s eyes darkened as they studied first her

face and then her moist lips.

Unable to endure the sweet, tantalizing torture, Janet lowered her eyelids, afraid he could read what was there.

With a moan, his mouth settled over hers. Again he was gentle, so gentle. Her submission to him was complete as he wrapped

his arms around her, bringing her as close as humanly possible. The kiss deepened with demanding hunger, and Janet responded

with an eagerness she couldn’t disguise.

When the kiss ended, their breathing was labored, almost ragged. Arms wrapped around his neck, Janet gently laid her head

on his shoulder. “Is this real?” She was surprised to hear herself, unaware she had voiced the question.

“If it isn’t, I don’t want to wake up, unless it’s with you in my arms.”

Reason was forsaken, banished, gone. If he made the same invitation tonight, Janet didn’t know if she had the will to resist.

She didn’t know if this feeling for Reese was love, but it ran deep, intense, frightening and wonderful.

He kissed her again, but didn’t allow the passion to deepen. “I won’t accept your invitation to come in, but not because I

don’t want to.” His voice was low-pitched and his gaze swept her face, his eyes dark and vibrant.

Janet nodded. She closed her eyes, telling Reese she understood and was grateful. He escorted her to the apartment door, kissing

her again.

A half hour later Janet sat on top of her bed, her velour housecoat wrapped around her feet as she waited for Gail. This feeling,

this thing that was happening with Reese was too wonderful to keep to herself any longer. A gentle smile curved up the ends

of her mouth. Gail would be shocked. So would anyone from Dyna-Flow. Until now their relationship had been strictly business.

The phone rang and Janet flinched with surprise. Who would be phoning this late? Joel. Something had happened to Joel. She

flew off the bed and raced into the living room, jerking the phone off the hook.

“Yes?” she breathed.

“Janet?” It was Reese.

“Reese?” she said and expelled her breath forcefully. “You scared the living daylights out of me. I thought it must be my

parents and something had happened to Joel.”

“I apologize. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

Her heart had returned to a normal pace and she sank into the sofa, curling her bare feet beneath her. “That’s all right.

I’d rather talk to you.”

“Were you asleep?”

“No, not yet.”

“I want to see you tomorrow. I realized when I got home that I hadn’t said anything. There’s someplace I want to take you,

show you.”

Just the way he said it, the inflection in his voice, the husky intonation told Janet this “someplace” was special. “I’d like

that, I’d like it very much.”