Queen of Hearts

by Jayne Castle

  "I guess there isn't anything else they could do if their work means more to them than their marriage," Janna said slowly.

  "Well, it only goes to show how difficult it is for two people with serious career interests to marry. Faculty people should take that kind of thing into consideration before tying the knot. Now I would never think of marrying another professor. When it comes time to marry and settle down I'll look for someone whose work allows her to be more flexible."

  Like a librarian? Janna wondered silently and then went on to the realization that she wasn't as excited by the prospect as she ought to be. She would make a perfect faculty wife...

  "Of course," Scott went on conversationally, "I wouldn't consider any kind of marriage at all without a trial..."

  "A trial marriage? You plan to live with a woman for some time while you test out the relationship? That sounds pretty coldblooded to me," Janna remarked, one regal brow lifting in an unconsciously quelling action.

  "It's the only logical approach," Scott insisted intently, blue eyes fixing hers across the table with a serious expression. "Surely you agree?"

  "Well," Janna hesitated, not wanting to ruin her chances completely, but not liking the suspicion which had blossomed in her mind. "I suppose I still retain a few of my youthful longings for a man who would lose his head over me and do anything to win me!" She smiled self-deprecatingly to show she understood the ridiculousness of her fancies and then remembered Adam's words at the wedding that morning. What was it he had said on such a whimsical note? Something about trading his car or buying her a ticket to the moon or even marriage...

  "Waiting for a tall knight on a white charger?" Scott smiled with a touch of sarcasm.

  The image of a tall man and a white Continental flashed across Janna's mind and she chuckled. The steed was the right color and the man was certainly tall enough, but nothing else was right about that situation! And besides, she'd blown any chance she might have had with Adam Halleck by lying to him. The only thing he wanted from her now was revenge. Janna shook her head with a touch of annoyance. What had started her off on that train of thought, anyway? She wanted nothing to do with Adam!

  "No," she said quite clearly. "I'm not waiting for a fantasy. Like you, I see marriage as a serious proposition. I'm not sure I'd go so far as a trial arrangement, though!"

  "Time enough to worry about that later," Scott told her pleasantly, pouring another glass of wine. "Neither one of us is anywhere near making a decision such as that, are we?"

  "No," she agreed easily, not wanting him to feel as if she were pushing for marriage on the first date. "I'm certainly not in any rush!"

  "Good. I just wanted to make certain you understood where I'm at. You'd be amazed at how many women get ideas about marrying rising young professors!"

  "When all the rising young professor really wants is a series of affairs?" Janna suggested kindly.

  Scott smiled suddenly, looking enormously relieved. "Exactly. You do catch on quickly. No strings, Janna? We simply let the mood carry us where it will?"

  "Agreed. No hard feelings if the mood doesn't carry me quite as far as it carries you?" she retorted drily.

  Scott frowned. "You're closing the door on the possibility of us having an affair?"

  "Not very nice of me, is it? I mean, especially after you went to all that trouble to hold out the carrot of a trial marriage!"

  "Was that what you thought I was doing?" he demanded, appearing genuinely hurt.

  "Wasn't it?" she challenged lightly, wondering why she wasn't more upset about the rapidly dissolving daydream of being the perfect faculty wife.

  "I was trying to be honest about the situation..." "And I appreciate your efforts. Now, do you want to take me home immediately or shall we go on to the party?" Janna asked briskly, not really caring any more. The evening had been flat from the beginning and the involved offer of an affair from Scott hadn't helped matters.

  "Oi course we'll go on to the party!" Scott frowned. "Hal is expecting me and I can't show up alone!"

  "Your image is at stake?" Janna said, smiling to take the sting out of her words.

  "You've got a sharp tongue, haven't you?" he muttered, paying the check and getting to his feet. Janna couldn't help thinking that Adam would have handled her snide remark with a retaliatory one of his own. He never backed down from a fight, she thought grudgingly. It didn't take much to see that if she gave full vent to her temper with Scott Barrett she'd never be invited out by him again. He obviously wanted an adoring woman on his arm who wouldn't think of putting him in his place or balk at the coldblooded offer of an affair. Adam might not be offering her marriage, but there was no doubt about the passion he would bring to an affair. Not that she would consider having one with him, in spite of his threats!

  The drive to Hal Ferguson's expensive bachelor establishment on the edge of town was completed in silence and once inside the party Janna found herself on her own. Fortunately she knew enough people to be able to socialize fairly easily but by nine o'clock she was bored with the serious lecture in Russian history she was receiving from a young, long-haired graduate student seated on the large pillow beside her. She still had to face the problem of going home and the possibility that Adam might be waiting for her. How would she handle that? The idea of spending the night in a motel occurred to her again. She could get her escort to drop her off at one on the main street in La Paloma. That notion caused her to glance idly around in an attempt to locate Scott, whom she hadn't seen since they had arrived. She caught sight of his blond head bent intently over the equally blond one of a young secretary who worked in the English Department. Was she now receiving the line about how faculty members should marry women with flexible careers? Secretaries had extremely flexible careers, Janna told herself. Next would come the discussion of trial marriages and finally Scott would get around to suggesting very delicately that an affair was in order. Men!

  "Of course, the seeds of the Russian revolution were planted long before the twentieth century," the graduate student intoned, beginning another phase of his one-sided discussion.

  Janna listened with half an ear, her gaze flicking idly over the other guests who sat or sprawled or stood sipping drinks and talking in the darkened room. She was supposed to report back to Lucy on what a Ferguson party was really like, she remembered with a flash of amusement. Well, let's see. There were some rather tipsy professors here tonight. Lots of intense graduate students and not a few women in surprisingly low-cut dresses. Faculty wives, for the most part, Janna reflected, taking a second look at the women. That was the group she had planned to join. Why had she never noticed how patently false many of the smiles were? There was almost an air of desperation about some of them. There was a certain amount of stress involved in being married to a member of the faculty, Janna knew. One had to remember that no opportunity of advancing the husband's career must be lost. Did that mean attending these boring parties all the time? Chatting with senior members of the faculty so that they would be disposed to look with favor on one's mate? Janna began to wonder what else was expected of a faculty wife. From her vantage point she witnessed enough intimate glances between men and women who were married but not to each other to indicate that some wives were prepared to relieve their feelings of stress with a casual affair. Or perhaps they were simply bored with the lifestyle of the faculty wife. Janna knew she was being unfair. Many of these wives had careers of their own. Just as she would have, she vowed determinedly, if she eventually married a member of the staff. Still, all in all, there was no denying the fact that the longed-for evening out with Scott Barrett was a crashing failure. Well, sooner or later he would have to drive her back into town. Janna wondered if she would be sharing the front seat with the blond secretary.

  "By the time Lenin was moving into power..." the graduate student was saying when Janna heard a slight commotion at the far end of the room near the front door. She saw several heads turn in that direction as the door was opened to reveal a
man standing very tall and very solid on the step. Janna did a doubletake as she realized who it was. There was no one else that tall, that powerful-looking and with hair as black as the night around him. "Adam!" she breathed half under her breath as Hal Ferguson stepped forward to greet the stranger. Stunned, she watched, wide-eyed as Adam said something she was too far away to hear and Hal nodded agreeably, waving his uninvited guest casually into the room. The curious silence ended as people resumed their conversation, but Janna saw more than one glance follow Adam's pantherlike stride through the room. His height alone would have normally attracted some looks, coupled as it was with the aura of physical power. But tonight he was wearing a black, long-sleeved shirt, the sleeves rolled up to reveal the well-muscled arms and snug-fitting jeans which emphasized the flat stomach and narrow hips. He looked hard and ruthless and there was a determination in his progress across the living room which was frightening.

  He hadn't spotted her yet, Janna thought, wondering if there would be any chance of slipping out through the kitchen. Escape was the first thing she considered. One didn't hang around to reason with Adam in this mood. She knew it with great certainty. He had come for her and there was going to be hell to pay. She waited tensely, watching the way his completely grey eyes raked the crowd, searching for her. If he found her she would be leaving with him and what happened after that didn't bear thinking about. Slowly she tucked her feet under her, preparing to spring for the doorway behind the graduate student on the pillow before Adam found her. His height gave him every advantage in the crowd, she thought grimly. The only reason he hadn't seen her instantly was because she was seated behind a large clump of chatting people. But soon...

  "Excuse me," she said quietly to the long-haired young man as she made to slip away. He broke off his conversation to frown.

  "Where are you going? I haven't finished telling you about the Russian experience with tyrants..."

  "I've got my own experience with them to worry about," she told him pointedly, waiting until Adam's head turned in the opposite direction before getting to her feet and running. Now...

  But she had only risen half way when the steel eyes found her and pinned her with easy power. Janna felt her muscles turn to jelly as she met his glance and sank helplessly back onto the cushion of her chair. Unable to break the hold he was exerting with such ruthlessness, she watched as he made his way to stand, towering, in front of her. The graduate student at her side and several of the people nearby were watching with poorly disguised interest now and Janna remembered bitterly what Adam had said about not caring if he embarrassed her.

  "Say goodnight, Janna," he ordered softly in a voice that mirrored the steel in his eyes. The line of his mouth was hard and menacing as he looked down at her, hands resting lightly on his hips. "You're leaving now."

  She took a steadying breath, blue-green eyes never leaving his face. It was safer to remain seated, she decided distantly. "I'm...I'm not ready to go yet," she began carefully, keeping her words very low. The graduate student glanced curiously at both of them, appearing perplexed.

  "But we've already established that what you want, or what you think you want doesn't really count, haven't we?" he smiled thinly. "Get up, Janna!"

  Gathering her total store of courage, she shook her head in a vaguely negative gesture, refusing his command. Her only safety lay in remaining at the party, she told herself sternly.

  "What's the matter, little queen?" he questioned with mocking concern. "Haven't you learned anything about me yet? Well, don't worry, your education is about to be intensified!"

  Before she fully realized his intention, Adam moved with lightning speed. The fingers of one hand reached out to clamp shut around her wrist and haul Janna to her feet with a swift jerk which left her off balance. She had no time to regain her equilibrium then as he shifted quickly, lowered one shoulder, tossed her over it and straightened instantly as if her weight were nothing. The impact took away Janna's breath and dislodged the clip in her hair, freeing several strands.

  "Adam!" she snarled when she could speak. He was already striding toward the door as the crowd parted eagerly for him. She pounded on his back in a fury. "Put me down! Instantly!"

  He ignored her until, apparently growing tired of the pounding he was receiving, he anchored her legs with one hand and slapped her smartly across the rear with the other. The blow stung and Janna halted her struggles for a few seconds. Humiliation began to replace the initial anger she had experienced as she felt the blood rushing to her head and knew every eye in the room was on her upside down figure slung like a sack of grain over Adam's broad back.

  "How dare you do this to me! " she hissed, feeling more strands of hair loosen to hang below her face. "I swear to God I'll..."

  "Janna?" From somewhere to her right she heard Scott's hesitant voice. "What's going on here? Who is this man?"

  Adam stopped and glanced curiously over his unburdened shoulder.

  "Ah. The Bearded Delight. I wondered where you'd got to. Now you can say goodnight to your escort for the evening, honey," he informed Janna with such mockery that she balled one hand into a small fist and almost struck him again. Remembering the slap, however, she refrained.

  "Adam, please!" she begged, trying a new tactic. "You're embarrassing me! Don't you have any consideration at all?" It was hard to plead with a man when you were hanging over his shoulder, Janna discovered with disgust.

  "I warned you that I wouldn't particularly care about embarrassing you," he reminded her. "Say your farewells and we'll be on our way." He hesitated briefly and then added with appalling politeness to a thoroughly confused Scott, "Unless you'd like to try taking her away from me?"

  "Oh, lord!" Janna groaned in despair. That would be the ultimate social disaster. To have two men fighting over her would be more than she could tolerate. She'd have to leave town! But she should have known Scott wouldn't allow himself to be dragged down to Adam's level!

  "Janna's free to go with anyone she wishes," he managed, sounding nervous as he eyes Adam's size.

  That was overdoing it, Janna thought furiously. Flinging her head back as far as possible she sent a scorching glance in Scott's direction. "Does it look as though I want to go with him, you idiot?" she choked, painfully aware of the smiling and amused faces forming a circle around the three players in the drama. This was going to provide faculty tea gossip for weeks!

  "But, Janna, you obviously know him and..." Scott began prudently. Out of the corner of her eye she could see the red creeping into his face as he searched frantically for a way out of the mess.

  "We're wasting time," Adam announced. "I take it you're not going to try and stop me, Barrett?"

  "As I said," Scott began again, beginning to sweat,

  "Janna's free to make her own decisions..."

  "That's where you're wrong," Adam corrected him kindly as if Scott were severely lacking in brains. "It's a mistake to let a woman like Janna have her head, you know. She'd turn into a complete shrew and that would be a great waste. If you ever get a chance with someone like her again I suggest you take my advice and make sure she knows who's boss before giving her any leeway to make decisions!" Adam started toward the door and then halted to add cuttingly, "On second thought, forget the advice. You didn't realize what you were dealing with this time and you probably won't appreciate your luck if you're fortunate enough to find another woman like Janna!" He yanked open the front door, stepped outside and slammed it shut behind him. Then he was striding toward the white Continental parked in the street.

  "Alright, Adam Halleck, you've had your big macho scene," Janna clipped hotly as he carried her along, "You've lost your audience so why don't you put me down?"

  "If I were you, Janna Courtney," he answered with chilling calm, "I'd shut up and refrain from pushing me any further!"

  There was that in his voice which told her it would be better to heed his suggestion. Biting her lip in silent fury, Janna kept quiet until he had opened the car door
and tossed her down into the leather seat where she sat feeling horribly rumpled and unkempt. He returned her blazing glare with a coolly interested look of his own, daring her to defy him any further. Janna experienced that strange tremor of fear he seemed capable of inspiring in her when he chose and covered it by flouncing back into the depths of the seat, her arms crossed tightly in anger. Satisfied that he had quelled any more signs of immediate rebellion, Adam closed the door, walked swiftly around the car and climbed into the driver's side. Without a word he started the engine, flicked on the lights and pulled away from the curb.

  "I suggest you fasten your seatbelt," he instructed mildly, glancing briefly at her and then returning his attention to his driving. "We've got a long way to go tonight."

  "What are you talking about?" Janna ground out. "My apartment is only a few miles from here."

  "Yes, I know," he returned calmly, "but we're not going to your apartment."

  "Then where are you taking me?" she gasped, the touch of fear she had been so bitterly aware of beginning to grow.

  "You and I are going to spend a few days at my house near Carmel. That means a three hour drive." He glanced at his watch. "We should be there shortly before one o'clock this morning, I think. Hence the advice about the seatbelt," he explained drily.

  "Carmel!" Janna gasped. "Near Monterey Bay? You can'- be serious! I won't go with you!" What awful punishment had he created for her?

  "No? How do you propose to avoid it?"

  "Adam, be reasonable! You can't simply carry me off into the night like this. People will miss me!" A thought occurred to her. "Monday morning when I don't show up for work they'll call the police or something!"

  "When are you going to stop lying to me, Janna?" he asked on a sigh. "I already know you're not working all of next week. The library is closed until the summer session begins. Nat told me."

  "I see," Janna muttered, trying desperately to keep cool in the unreal situation. "And who told you where I was tonight?"