Page 4 of A Girl Like Janet

“It seems to me,” Stewart Montgomery said, rubbing his chin with his index finger and thumb, “that there’s a verse someplace

that says, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’”

“Honestly, Dad”—Janet glared across the living room at her father—“sometimes I think having you know the Bible so well is

the worst thing about being a preacher’s kid.”

“I’m a PK,” Joel added proudly.

“Joel, why not give your sister the picture you made for her yesterday.”

Her father’s smile produced a heavy sigh from within Janet. No one seemed to understand her anxiety over having to face a

computer Monday morning. Her family apparently had enough faith in her to believe she was capable of mastering anything. Unfortunately,

Janet was more of a realist. She recognized her limitations, and lack of computer skills was one of them.

Joel appeared a minute later and handed her a piece of paper with meticulously drawn letters, decorated with flowers. The

paper said: THE LORD NEVER PANICS.

“See, Janny, see what I made for you?” Joel handed it to her, pulling her face to the side so she would concentrate on him

alone.

Janet accepted the paper and read over the message. Each time the truth of her father’s assurances became more real. The tension

seemed to ease from her. Her thirteen-year-old brother was right. Again Joel’s uncomplicated faith had touched her.

Janet brought the sign to work with her Monday morning. Pausing in the doorway of her office she noted that her trusted typewriter

had been moved to a side table at the right of her desk. The computer, with its small screen, rested prominently on the desktop.

A large printer sat beside it. Already her hands felt clammy and her heart hammered like she’d just completed a six-mile run.

“Don’t look so frightened.” Reese’s voice came out of nowhere and Janet looked up, startled.

“I’m not,” she said and could have kicked herself for the telltale tremble in her voice.

A thick brow was raised in mockery. “I promise it won’t bite.”

“Wonderful,” she murmured sarcastically. “Am I supposed to applaud?”

“No,” he said without emotion. “That comes later.”

Ignoring Reese as best she could, Janet pulled out the bottom desk drawer and somehow managed to keep her hands from shaking.

“I’ve enrolled you in computer classes beginning tonight,” Reese told her, planting his hands against her desk. “I’ll be attending

with you. That way, if you have any problems I should be able to help you.”

Reese’s thoughtfulness surprised her. “I appreciate that.” Her blue eyes lifted to his face and her gaze was held by his.

Something she couldn’t decipher flickered from the depth of his eyes and he glanced away.

“How... how long will the classes be?” Her voice sounded strange, weak, as if she had tried to swallow and speak at the

same time.

“Every night this week. Is that going to be a problem?”

She shook her head. “No, except for Thursday. I have plans Thursday night.” It would be easy enough to find a replacement

for her Wednesday night class at church, but she wouldn’t disappoint Joel. She’d promised to take him to a Walt Disney movie

and keeping her promise to her younger brother had priority.

“I’ll see about arrangements to make up that one class then,” Reese said and turned. Halfway into his office, he paused and

came back. “How long have you been working for me, Janet?”

Again she looked up, surprised. “Two years.”

“Really?” He arched both brows expressively. “You’re not due for a raise, are you?”

“No, you gave me one three months ago.”

“Yes, I remember that now,” he replied smoothly and retreated into his office.

Janet watched him go with confused emotions. She had the strangest sensation that for some unknown reason Reese had noticed

her for the first time. For two years she had blended into the background so completely that he was barely aware she was around.

Shrugging lightly, she put on a pot of coffee. She had no complaints regarding the lack of attention he gave her. It was a

good secretary’s job to blend into the background.

Bunny Jacobs phoned for Reese late that morning. Her voice was soft and purring and Janet had to squelch the unreasonable

rise of impatience she felt at having to deal with another of Reese’s women. He had asked her to hold all calls, but this

usually didn’t include his consorts. Rather than risk his ire, she said, “If you’ll hold the line I’ll see if he’s in. Bunny’s

on line one,” she spoke into the intercom.

“I thought I said to hold all calls.”

Janet expelled an unsteady breath. “I wasn’t sure if—”

“I’ll take the call.” The communication was cut off abruptly.

Janet heard him pick up the receiver. The tone of his voice altered to a more caressing sound. “I can’t tonight.”

With the connecting door partially ajar, Janet was an unwilling eavesdropper. She stood, retreating to the far side of the

room in an effort to avoid hearing the conversation. It always troubled her when she was forced to listen to the soft caressing

tone of Reese’s voice when he spoke to one of his dates. She knew she was being unreasonable, but logic seemed beyond her

lately, especially where Reese was concerned.

“You know I’d rather be with you...”

Clenching her hands at her side, Janet swallowed tightly and walked out of the office.

When she returned five minutes later the connecting door was securely shut and a terse note was on her desk that read: HOLD

ALL CALLS.

To avoid looking at the computer, Janet worked the rest of the morning from her typewriter. Gail entered the office at noon

to remind Janet it was time for their lunch break.

“Gee,” she said, studying the top of Janet’s desk. “The computer doesn’t look like such a beast.”

Janet looked up and laughed sarcastically. “It can’t be much of a monster when I haven’t turned it on yet.”

Gail’s mouth dropped open. “You mean to say it’s been sitting here all morning and you haven’t even turned it on?”

Miserably Janet nodded.

“Why not?”

“I couldn’t find the switch.”

Her friend’s voice softened at the distress etched so clearly in Janet’s face.

Gail immediately plopped herself into the chair. “Well, it’s got to be here someplace.” Agile fingers ran over the top of

the keys, seeking some clue.

“Just look at all those keys,” Janet said with a rising sense of panic. “System controls, file controls, applications and

typestyles, and that’s just the top row. And I can’t even manage to figure out how to turn it on.”

“The switch is on the side of the power unit.”

Both girls jumped at the unexpected sound of Reese’s voice. A rush of hot color suffused Janet’s face as she turned around,

making her resemble a guilty child.

“I’d demonstrate how it works, but the disks need to be formatted,” he said, his voice laced with indulgent amusement. “I

wouldn’t want to take up any more of your lunch hour.”

Their eyes met across the short space of the office. Janet had missed countless lunches typing urgent reports, letters and

any number of things Reese needed in a rush. He hadn’t been concerned about her missing her lunch then. But now the look in

his eyes all but stopped her heartbeat.

“He’s right,” Gail interjected, “we’d better rush, or we won’t get a table.”

Janet lowered her gaze guiltily. She wished she could understand what was happening between Reese and her. In the space of

a few days everything was different. And yet there was no logical explanation for the change.

Janet wore a skirt that night with a cranberry-colored blouse that had ruffles at the yoke. Uncoiling her hair, she brushed

it until it shimmered and curled attractively around her soft shoulders. The rich chestnut-colored hair was a striking contrast

to her piercing blue eyes. A single strand of delicately laced gold graced her neck. It bothered Janet that she was taking

so much trouble to look her best for a computer class. Or was it for Reese?

Gail sauntered into the living room munching on an apple and paused in midstride. “Wow.” She gulped. “You look like dynamite.”

“Explosive or destructive?”

Gail shrugged. “I don’t know, but I have the distinct impression Mr. Edwards isn’t going to know who you are.”

“Oh, Gail, honestly.” Janet moved her hand expressively. “I’ve worked with him every day for two years; of course he’ll recognize

me.” She paused momentarily to wonder if Reese had ever seen her with her hair down, or when she wasn’t wearing her glasses.

Not that he’d notice. Maybe if she was blonde and six inches shorter, she mused.

Reese arrived promptly at six forty-five. Gail answered the front door as Janet took her beige blazer from the hall closet.

Although it was the first week of September there was already a chill to the evening air.

“Janet?” There was a questioning note in the low-pitched voice.

“What did I tell you?” Gail mumbled as she stepped aside.

“Hi.” Janet managed a smile as her hand tightened around the purse handle. Reese had dressed casually in a navy turtleneck

sweater and sport coat that openly reminded her of the leashed strength and power of the man. There could be no denying that

Reese Edwards was a dynamic man. His looks were so compelling that for a crazy moment Janet couldn’t take her eyes off him.

“Shall we go?”

The voice snapped her back into reality. “Yes... of course.”

He opened the car door for her and Janet climbed inside. “Once I know how to get to the classes I can meet you there,” she

said with an unsteady breath. “There’s no reason for you to come out of your way to pick me up.”

“I don’t mind.” He dismissed her suggestion and focused his concentration on the road ahead.

The class was specially designed for executive secretaries and their employers. Mostly smaller businesses were involved. From

the conversation exchanged between the instructor and another executive, Janet learned that the Simplex, the computer Reese

had purchased, was said to be the least complicated of all computers sold. She smiled at Reese gratefully.