Page 24 of A Girl Like Janet

The roast beef, peas, mashed potatoes and gravy were dished into serving bowls and steaming when Reese and Janet’s father

entered the house.

Brushing the hair away from her face, Leonora Montgomery extended a hand to Reese. “Welcome to our home.”

Janet stood awkwardly in the background as the greetings were exchanged. She hovered uncertainly for a minute until she saw

where her mother was seating Reese, hoping she could avoid sitting beside him. Luckily Joel was appointed the privilege.

As always, the family joined hands for grace. Her hands linked with her mother’s and father’s, Janet bowed her head for the

short prayer, but when she raised her eyes she found them captured by Reese’s. Quickly her lashes fluttered downward as she

struggled to conceal the effect his look had upon her senses.

Janet didn’t speak unless a question was directed to her. She wasn’t uncomfortable with Reese in her family home—not like

she’d been the first time—but her feelings were jumbled and confused.

Afterward she stayed in the kitchen, helping her mother with the dishes. Snatches of the conversation between Reese and her

father drifted into the room where the two women were working. Her father seemed to be giving Reese some reading material.

At one point she heard him comment, “You’ll have to get that book from Janet.”

Deliberately she left before Reese did, claiming she had some things that needed to be finished at home. Her father eyed her

suspiciously as she made her excuses.

“Childish.” She spoke the word out loud. There wasn’t another word to describe her behavior. Her car was parked in the church

parking lot and Janet paused, wrapping her coat more securely around her as she looked at the church building.

Releasing a long, uneven breath, Janet walked toward the back door. It remained unlocked. Without conscious direction she

walked past the Sunday school classrooms, through the foyer to the sanctuary. For a minute she stood at the back of the church,

her wildly beating heart sounding in her ears. Why was she here? What had driven her back into the building? Without self-directing

thought she took a step forward, then another until she stood before the altar. Slowly she went to her knees.

“Oh, Father,” she prayed silently, “I love him.” Janet wasn’t sure how long she had knelt and prayed, pouring out her heart

and her love. She offered up Reese and the love she had concealed from her boss all these months. The words seemed to pour

out of her, all the hurt, the doubts, the questions.

When she stood her knees felt shaky. A soft smile lifted the corners of her mouth as she took a step in retreat, her heart

and mind cleansed.

Gail was with Ben at his parents’ house for the day, and Janet unlocked the apartment door feeling a little lost, and a little

lonely. Placing her Bible on the end table, she slipped off her pumps and walked with bare feet into the kitchen to put on

hot water. Once the teakettle was filled and on the burner, she unbuttoned her coat and took out a hanger from the hall closet.

When the doorbell rang, her pulse jerked in her throat. She didn’t need to open the door to know it was Reese. Somehow she

had known he would follow her home. She hurried and hung up her coat and slipped on her shoes. Even with shoes she was at

a disadvantage. The doorbell chimed again before she opened the door.

“Hello, Janet.”

“Reese.” She stepped aside, letting him in. Hands behind her back, she leaned against the door as it closed. The door made

a loud clicking sound as it shut, gently rocking her shoulders.

“I imagine you’re here to collect that book Dad was telling you about,” she said, striving to sound informal. “If you tell

me which one it is I’ll be glad to get it for you.”

His gaze was disturbing and intense as it swept over her. “It was C. S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity .”

Swiftly she lowered her gaze. “It’s in my room. I’ll only be a minute.” It didn’t take her long to retrieve it from the small

bookcase on the headboard of her bed.

Reese was standing in the same place when she returned. His shoulders were hunched forward slightly and he looked uncomfortable,

uneasy.

The teakettle whistled and Janet handed him the book before swiftly walking past him and into the kitchen. Reese followed

her.

“Would you like a cup?” she asked, her back to him.

“You know what I want.” The words were issued in a husky whisper as his hands closed over her shoulders and turned her around.

Pliantly Janet slipped her arms around his neck and tilted her head back, inviting the exploration of her mouth.

Like a hawk swooping down upon its prey, Reese captured her mouth, kissing her until she was breathless and weak with longing.

“Oh, Reese,” she whispered, burying her face in the thick of his sweater.

His hands molded her against the length of his body as he inhaled deep, uneven breaths, as if to gain control of himself.

His chin moved back and forth on top of her head in a slow sensuous movement, mussing her hair.

“I think we’re both crazy,” Janet stammered.

Reese didn’t speak immediately and when he did, his voice was husky and tight. “You’ve been driving me crazy for months.”

“You shouldn’t have come here today.” She drew in a shaky breath.

Gently Reese kissed her temple. “I couldn’t stay away any longer. I don’t want to rush you. I want everything to be right

between us.”

Janet nodded, her hands roaming over his back, enjoying the feel of his sweater and the taut muscles beneath her palms.

“I want you to come up to the cabin with me,” he whispered in her ear, lifting the soft curls away from her shoulder so he

could kiss the slim column of her neck.

Janet felt the blood drain out of her face. Roughly she pulled herself free of his embrace and backed away.

A puzzled look marred his features. “What’s wrong? What’d I say?” His expression softened and his bewilderment was replaced

with a knowing look. “Janet, nothing’s going to happen. I won’t let it, I promise.”

Her arms hugging her middle, she shook her head. “The day you didn’t show up for work, I... I thought you might be at the

cabin...”

Reese jerked his fingers through his hair. “I was.”

The acid burn of forming tears stung her eyes and she swiveled around and moved into the living room.

“Janet, what is it?”

To keep the humiliating tears from falling, Janet lifted her face and stared at the ceiling. “I... I was worried sick.

I didn’t know where you could be and when I spoke to your father and suggested that you could be there, he told me you didn’t

have a cabin.” She swung around, angry. “That whole beautiful day we spent there was a lie, a farce, and you’re doing it again.”

She lifted balled fists from her sides as if to strike him. “For once, just once, be honest with me.”

“Janet, listen.” He moved in front of her and placed both hands over her shoulders, but when she jerked herself free he dropped

his arms to his side. “I didn’t lie to you. As far as I know, I’ve never lied to you. The cabin is mine. I’ve owned it for

two years. I’ve considered it my private escape from the pressures of my job. I’ve never told anyone about it, or taken anyone

there but you and your brother.” The lack of emotion in his voice made everything all the more believable.

“No one?” Janet questioned softly, desperately needing assurance.

“Only you,” he repeated.

Long brown curls fell forward as she buried her chin in her shoulder. “I’ve been such a fool,” she mumbled.

A hand gently caressed her cheek before sliding beneath her hair and drawing her into his arms.

Willingly Janet complied, cupping his head with her hands so she could rain kisses over every part of his face. Gently her

lips pressed fleeting kisses over his eyes, his cheek, his chin, his throat until, with a deep groan, Reese took command,

burying his fingers in her hair and directing her mouth to his.

She had battled this attraction for so long that she was devoid of the willpower to deny it any longer. She moaned softly

in surrender as his mouth parted hers. Every sense was filled with Reese, lost in a vortex of undeniable longing.

It was Reese who pulled away, taking deep ragged breaths as he buried his face in her neck. “I think you’d better fix me some

coffee.”

Weakly Janet nodded, delaying as long as possible leaving his arms. Her hands slid from his back to his chest, reveling in

the feel of the steel-hard muscles beneath the thick sweater. Tilting her head back, she smiled into his sea blue eyes. The

temptation was to slip her arms around his neck and bring his mouth back to hers, but she resisted. It was chilly outside

the protective circle of his arms.

“You have a wonderful family,” Reese commented as he lowered his six-foot frame onto a kitchen chair.

“I think your dad is great myself.”

Janet caught his expression before he could disguise it. Suddenly her stomach lurched sickeningly as a new thought dawned

on her. Reese didn’t want her; this was all an act to satisfy his father. Hadn’t she heard Samuel Edwards pleading with Reese

to date a girl like herself?

“You’d do anything for Sam, wouldn’t you?”

Reese glanced at her curiously. “Just about.”

Steeling herself, Janet backed against the kitchen counter for support. “Including ditching Bunny and dating a nice girl,”

she swallowed tightly. “A nice girl like Janet.”

The chair made a hard sound against the floor as he stood. “It’s not what you’re thinking.”

Janet closed her eyes as the waves of agony washed over her. “I thought you said you’ve never lied to me.”