Queen of Hearts

by Jayne Castle

  Adam shrugged. "Just that I know it will be hard for you to face him, even though it's obvious the two of you couldn't really be in love. I will explain the whole matter to him..."

  "There's nothing for you to explain! What makes you so certain I'm not in love with your brother, anyway?"

  "Whatever you felt for him is nothing to what I can and will make you feel for me. No woman who was deeply in love would be able to dominate her lover the way you do Nat. He didn't even blink today after lunch when you ordered him to meet you in the library. Anyone seeing the two of you together would have no doubts about who was in control. Therefore, it doesn't bother me in the least to come between you and Nat."

  "If you're so convinced Nat and I don't belong together and aren't really in love, why not let things be? If you're right, we'll discover our 'mistake' soon enough!" Janna said, infuriated by his description of her treatment of his brother.

  "I'm not willing to wait until nature takes it's course. There's always the chance the two of you will go ahead and do something stupid like getting married before you realize your error." Adam shook his head once in a short, adamant negative. "About tomorrow night, Janna..."

  "I can't go out with you and I wouldn't if I could!" she informed him triumphantly, blue-green eyes glittering with satisfaction.

  "Why can't you?"

  "I'm working. Very late. Now will you open this door and let me out?"

  There was a long silence as Adam studied her consideringly.

  "Working, are you?" he finally asked.

  "Yes!"

  He moved, opening the door on his side of the car and unlocking hers in the process. Janna thought about jumping out before he could get around to her side of the vehicle, but decided against it. She had just scored a tiny point by being unavailable tomorrow night. Why risk further punishment?

  Adam walked her up the sidewalk to her door in silence. In spite of herself, Janna wondered what he was thinking. As she unlocked her door and turned to face him from the other side of the threshold, he told her.

  "It's going to be alright, you know, little queen," he said softly, surprising her with the conversational tone of his voice. She blinked at him, uncertain of his meaning.

  "Oh, things will be a little rocky in the beginning, but sooner or later you'll realize you can't fight me and win. Then matters between us should settle down satisfactorily." He sounded so pompous, J anna thought, astounded. So sure of himself and of her!

  "Adam Halleck you are an unrefined, uneducated, male chauvinist and I never, ever want to see you again!" Janna slammed the door in his face, locking it immediately. At least she'd had the last word, she thought, storming along the hall toward her bedroom. It was little enough to have salvaged from an otherwise disastrous evening!

  CHAPTER 3

  Never had Janna been so happy to work an evening shift as she was on Tuesday. True, she was furious at the lack of personal courage which had driven her into leaving her apartment early that morning on the pretext of running several errands, but she had to admit she felt a good deal safer. There was no telling what Adam Halleck might take into his head to do, she told herself as she perched on the stool at the reference desk and awaited her first patrons of the evening. It had seemed prudent to stay away from the apartment most of the day until she left for work. The dramatic events of the previous evening were finally beginning to appear in a more realistic perspective, though, and when Nat Halleck happened by the desk, she was able to tell the tale with a touch of humor.

  "At any rate," she concluded, "he's convinced you and I would make a lousy marriage and had the nerve to try a pass. Not a very subtle one, either, I might add. Tell me, does Adam have many women friends?" she added wryly.

  "When he wants one, there always seems to be one available," Nat grinned, "but I don't think he treats them the way he's treating you. I always had the impression he was generous, even kind, to his female acquaintances. I've never known one to complain about his, er, passes!"

  Janna winced. "Did he tell you anything about last night?" she demanded, half afraid to hear the truth.

  "Oh yes," Nat assured her cheerfully. "I got the whole story, I think."

  "What, exactly did that man tell you!"

  "Well, I was led to believe that, although you hadn't fully realized it yet, it was only a matter of time before you belonged to him, lock, stock and degree!"

  "Degree?"

  "Yes, I gather you made a few unflattering references to his lack of formal education?" Nat didn't seem upset that she might have insulted his brother. In fact, he looked as if he were having a tough time keeping himself from outright laughter. "Something about turning your 'royal little nose' up at the car and concluding the evening by calling him, 'unrefined, uneducated and a male chauvinist'."

  "He told you all that?" janna groaned, feeling a complete fool.

  "Somewhere after he'd finished telling me that I couldn't possibly handle you and he, himself, was going to have his hands full accomplishing the feat!"

  "Oh, my God!" Janna's head sank down onto her fist and the brilliant blue-green eyes closed tightly in mortification.

  "Don't feel bad, janna! It's working beautifully. Adam is completely off the scent. His full attention is on you and he isn't even bothering to wonder if you might be a decoy!"

  "I'm glad you're so pleased," she snapped, irritated. "I don't think I could take any more of this particular line of employment, however! He is still intending to leave in the morning, isn't he?"

  "Bright and early," Nat confirmed lightly. "He has no choice, I gather. He has some business obligation to take care of tomorrow afternoon."

  "I wonder why he didn't leave today," Janna mused.

  "I think he spent the day calling your apartment. Told me this afternoon he hadn't been able to reach you."

  Janna thanked her lucky stars she had been safely away from home all day.

  "How did you react when he gave you the speech about not being able to, uh, handle me?" she asked curiously, eyeing her friend.

  "Oh, I made a production about how he just didn't understand you the way I did. That drama class I took last semester stood me in good stead, I can tell you. I just acted as if I had no doubts about you at all." Nat looked inordinately pleased with himself and for the first time Janna thought she could see some of his brother in him. Or was it just that all men looked like that when they thought they'd scored a coup? It was disgusting.

  "Was he very angry at your failure to get upset?" she inquired curiously.

  "Nope. He was extremely casual about the whole thing. Seemed quite sure of himself. Typical Adam Halleck approach to life." Nat glanced at his watch. "Listen, I've got to run. Lucy and I are going to make a few last minute arrangements tonight and then I've got to get in some more studying. Thanks again, Janna. I really appreciate what you've done for me and I think it's about over. Adam leaves town early tomorrow and Lucy and I will be safely married by Saturday. Try not to worry, okay?" With a cheerful wave, Nat hurried off toward the door.

  Janna watched him go with a mixture of amusement and apprehension. She hoped very much that he was right.

  It was nine o'clock, an hour before she got off work, when J anna looked up to see Scott Barrett striding toward the desk. Her spirits brightened instantly. Perhaps she would be able to assist him in a particularly difficult research task and he would be grateful...

  "Good evening, Janna," Scott smiled, coming to a halt in front of the desk. She felt quite pleased he had stopped again to greet her. This made the third time in eight days!

  "Hi," she greeted him cheerily. "Working late tonight?"

  "I have a few papers to correct. Thought I'd get more done here than at home. I see they've got you on the late shift this evening."

  Janna nodded. "I'll be here another hour. I'm just glad they don't make a librarian stay on duty until the library closes at two!"

  "You're lucky. I'll probably be here until midnight, at least. Say, I thought I saw you l
ast night..." he began, blue eyes studying her.

  "At the Lamplighter? I thought I caught a glimpse of you, but there wasn't an opportunity to say hello," she admitted tactfully.

  "Is the man you were with a good friend of yours?" Scott asked delicately.

  "Oh, no!" Janna hastened to assure him. "He was the brother of a friend and I was assigned to entertain him for the evening. Nothing serious," she added breezily in ease Scott had gotten the wrong idea.

  "Ummm, I was rather in the same boat myself. A friend of mine, a graduate student at another campus, was in town. The Lamplighter is a but the only nice place to take visitors, isn't it?"

  This comment led into an easy discussion about the various social amenities available in La Paloma. Janna was feeling very positive about the future prospects of her budding relationship with Scott Barrett when he suddenly surprised her by leaning a little closer, one hand sliding near hers on the counter.

  "I was wondering if you were going to be busy Saturday night?" he said in a low tone.

  "Well, no, I'm not," Janna returned, delighted. "I'm going to be taking part in a wedding Saturday morning, but the evening is free..."

  "There's a party at the house of a friend of mine. Would you like to come with me?" Scott absently stroked his trim beard, awaiting her answer.

  "That would be lovely," Janna agreed, trying not to sound too enthusiastic. "I'll look forward to it."

  "Great. I'll come by for you around six. We can have dinner first."

  "I'll be ready," she smiled sunnily, thinking how right Scott was. Good looking, well educated, on his way up in the world and with the right touch of academic urbanity. Such a pleasant contrast to Adam's rough and ready manners!

  The remaining hour of work passed quickly. The only bad part about working late like this was that she would have to return to her regular schedule tomorrow morning, which meant getting up early. She puttered around, setting the desk to rights so that all would be neat and tidy in the morning and had just taken her lightweight, short leather coat from the hanger when a chillingly familiar voice greeted her from the other side of the desk.

  "Hello, Janna. I've come to walk you home."

  "Adam!" Stunned, she met his eyes across the row of reference books on the shelf between herself and the desk. "What are you doing here?"

  "I've come to walk you home," he repeated patiently,

  "Didn't you hear me?" Janna stared at him, not caring for the gleam in his eyes.

  Angry at her momentary confusion, Janna made a valiant effort to pull herself together.

  "Well, that's very nice of you," she began stiffly, "but I don't need an escort. My apartment is only a couple of blocks away and the streets are well lit..."

  "No woman should walk alone after dark," he interrupted as if she weren't terribly bright. "I told Nat I'd see you home tonight."

  "You told Nat!" she exclaimed. And that character hadn't even bothered to warn her! Nat was so pleased to have Adam barking up the wrong tree that he wasn't about to interfere! Janna decided she'd had about enough of the Halleck brothers. If it wasn't for Lucy...! One look at Adam's implacable face was enough to tell Janna that she wasn't going to be able to ditch the escort service, however, and she finished shrugging into her coat, grumbling under her breath.

  She emerged from behind the counter, fastening the belt, and then halted at the apparition which was entering the library.

  "What the hell's that?" Adam demanded, looking startled.

  "Can't you tell? Anyone can see it's a mummy venturing forth from its crypt," Janna explained as if he were now the one showing a distressing lack of brain power. She surveyed the bandage-swathed figure as it made a stately progress into the lobby of the library, moaning realistically with ever step. Students and faculty laughed delightedly, applauding with vigor as the creature made a slow circuit of the room and then disappeared out the door and into the night.

  "This is final exam week," Janna told Adam, taking pity on his obvious bewilderment. "Students tend to go a little crazy during finals!"

  "All the more reason for not allowing you to walk home alone!" Adam proclaimed forcefully, taking her arm.

  "They're all quite harmless," Janna said soothingly. Nothing could have persuaded her to admit it aloud, but the truth was she felt in far greater danger from Adam Halleck than the members of the student body! Adam ignored her response, guiding her down the steps and into the cool California Spring night. It wouldn't be much longer before it would be too warm for jackets, Janna reflected, noticing that Adam wore his suede coat unbuttoned.

  "I tried to phone you today," he said after a short silence. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, but Adam was looking straight ahead, a frown drawing the heavy brows together over the grey-green eyes.

  "I was out most of the day," she said shortly.

  "I know. It occurred to me you might be acting childishly and refusing to answer the phone so I drove by and knocked on your door."

  More than ever Janna was glad she'd had the sense not to be home!

  "Nat told me you'd been trying to reach me."

  "He did?" Adam seemed surprised. "Was he angry about last night?" Janna could have sworn there was a touch of honest concern in his words.

  "He wasn't in the least upset," she retorted loftily and then added spitefully, "No thanks to you! I understand you had the sheer gall to.. .to brag about the pass you made last night! If there had been any doubt in my mind about your so-called gentlemanly instincts, the information would have cleared away the confusion for good! I thought men, adult men, didn't do that sort of thing!"

  "Kiss and tell?" Adam grinned slightly, glancing down at her as they walked. "Normally, I don't. But I had to see how much you meant to him, Janna. He is my brother."

  "So you baited him deliberately? Tried to see if he would go into a jealous rage? Some brother you are!"

  "I got my answer," Adam said unconcernedly.

  "Oh? And how did you interpret it?" she demanded, thinking of how Nat thought he'd handled the incident beautifully by pretending to a superior understanding and trust of Janna.

  "He's not in love with you, Janna." Adam halted, pulling her around to face him.

  "You don't know that!" she muttered, glaring up at him.

  "I know it. I also know you're not in love with him. So there's no reason for the three of us to pretend anymore, is there?"

  Janna stared at him, perplexed. He couldn't know about Lucy and the forthcoming wedding or he would be making a scene about it. So what was he talking about now?

  "You're impossible!" she told him, freeing herself and resuming her pace. Beside her Adam sighed and then said unexpectedly: "I have to return to San Jose tomorrow. A business matter that can't wait. I've also got to visit a job-site over the weekend. But I'll be free by Sunday morning. I thought perhaps you could fly up to San Jose. I'll pay for your ticket, of course, and..."

  "Not a chance!" Janna blazed. "Nat and I will be out celebrating the end of final exams!"

  "Janna! Don't push me too far," he warned her, steel menace suddenly thick in his deep voice. Again he halted, forcing Janna to do likewise. The anger drained out of her to be replaced by a small, nameless fear.

  "Damn!" Adam rasped and hauled her close, his hard mouth taking hers captive in a quick, punishing little kiss that was over almost as soon as it began. For a long, timeless moment he stared down at her, a variety of expressions Janna couldn't begin to name flashing in the depths of his eyes and then, surprisingly, his mouth twisted in a small smile.

  "You are the only woman I know who can make me want to beat you one minute and make violent love to you the next!"

  Shocked, Janna simply looked at him, uncertain of his mood and heeding an inner voice which was telling her to tread carefully. Make violent love to her? There was no doubt that Adam was frustrated and angry at the way in which she battled him. Any desire he might have to make love to her was merely the reaction of a primitive, uncivilized male who
knew no other way to deal with an obstinate woman!

  "Come to San Jose, Janna," he whispered, amazing her with the note of pleading in his words.

  Mutely, she shook her head and found herself waiting with a curious trepidation for him to tell her she had no choice. He couldn't force her to fall in with his wishes, she told herself over and over. Then Adam broke the spell as the familiar highwayman's grin emerged.

  "What a stubborn female you are, Janna Courtney! If we weren't so much alike I'd never be able to understand you! Come on. Let's get you home before I decide to do something drastic!"

  A few minutes later Janna was deposited, relatively unscathed, on her own doorstep. Adam bid her a polite goodnight, making no attempt to take her into his arms. Then he was gone, striding rapidly off into the darkness.

  She stood watching him until he was out of sight, wondering at the fate that had gotten her involved with such a man. He was as different from the other men she had dated as night from day. Thank goodness, Janna told herself firmly as she shut and locked the door, that he was now out of her life. She should be quite safe. Adam would be gone in the morning and Nat would be safely married by Saturday. Saturday night she, herself, would be beginning a promising association with the kind of man she had always wanted. If Adam was angry at the way he had been tricked, he would just have to confront his brother over the matter. It had been Nat's plot in the first place! She hoped, for the younger man's sake, that Adam reacted with resigned acceptance of the marriage. She, for one, would not like to be in Nat's shoes when the truth came out!

  The rest of the week floated by quickly, or so it seemed to Janna. She attended the wedding rehearsal one evening, where a nervous Lucy and a confident Nat went through the motions of the wedding. As a bridesmaid, Janna practiced her part, looking forward to wearing the lovely yellow gown Lucy had chosen. Afterward everyone went out to dinner and by the time the third glass of champagne had been drunk, Janna knew she would have gone through the masquerade again if it had been the only way to keep Adam from separating Nat and Lucy. She looked affectionately at the younger girl with her soft blue eyes and gently rounded figure. The adoration in Lucy's glance as she smiled at her future husband shown as brightly as the ring on her finger.