Dancer in the Shadows (15 page)

"No, he's at his office," Valerie said cautiously. Was this another one of his girl friends? A new one, perhaps? After all, she hadn't seen Felicia for a while.

"You must be Valerie." The woman's tone was friendly. "Sean's written me about you."

"He has?" Now she felt completely confused.

"I'm Janine, his sister," she explained. "Didn't he ever tell you about me? Or am I the skeleton tucked away in the closet?" She gave an amused chuckle, her brown eyes dancing with mischief.

"Well, come on in," Val offered, relief evident in her eyes.

After carrying Janine's suitcases to her old room, the two women walked toward the kitchen. "How about something cold to drink?" Valerie asked.

"I'd love that. The air conditioning in my car hasn't been working all that well for the past hundred miles."

"Sean said you paint." Val opened the refrigerator door, bringing out a frosty pitcher.

"I guess you can call it that." Janine shrugged her shoulders.

"I saw some of your work at your house and it was beautiful," Valerie said sincerely, filling two glasses.

"Thank you. I need all the critical praise I can get." Janine gratefully accepted her glass. "And I understand you dance."

"Not seriously anymore." Val shook her head.

"But you were going to dance school when you and Sean were married."

"Michael changed all of my plans," Val replied softly.

"Michael?" Janine looked puzzled.

"My son." She looked up, surprised. "Didn't Sean let you know?"

Janine's face broke into a glowing smile, a feminine version of Sean's. "No, he didn't, that rat," she gurgled happily. "You mean I'm an aunt? Well, when was he born? Can I see him?"

"Michael will soon be entering the 'ferocious fours.' He's at-preschool right now. Sean picks him up on his way home from the office," Valerie explained.

"Then I take it that darling big brother learned about his son only recently, because I saw him a year and a half ago and he didn't even mention a son—and it's not something he'd keep a secret." Janine leaned forward in her chair, continuing bluntly: "Why did you leave Sean?"

"It's a long story," Valerie mumbled, keeping her eyes glued to the table.

"I know I shouldn't have asked, but the artist in me likes to probe below the surface. Look, Valerie, I hit thirty a few months ago, and the reason I'm not married is because there's only one man like my brother. Sean and I may fight like cats and dogs, even though we only see each other every few years, but I love that guy because he's all male. You won't find one better. That's why I'm so glad to see that the two of you are back together. Sean needs a very special woman, and I already feel that you're that woman."

Valerie squirmed uneasily in her chair, all too aware of the real reasons behind their reconciliation. "I guess I should start dinner."

"Oh, can I help?" Janine asked eagerly. "I may not be a gourmet cook, but I haven't poisoned anyone yet." The two women talked companionably as they worked in the kitchen.

"Chicken in wine sauce is my specialty." Janine delicately licked her fingertips. "But I can whip up a mean trifle, too." Valerie opened a cabinet and turned as the back door opened and Michael ran in. He stopped short, staring curiously at Janine.

"Oh, Val, he certainly is Sean's son," she breathed, squatting down on her heels. "Hello, Michael, I'm your Aunt Janine."

"Aunt Ja—" He stumbled over the name.

"Try Aunt Jay; it's much easier." She smiled. "I'm so pleased to meet you."

Sean walked in with his suit coat flung over one shoulder, his eyes narrowed as he saw his sister. "Well, Jay, to what do we owe the occasion?" he asked coolly.

"I came for a nice family visit, brother, dear." She was oblivious to his tones. "Don't worry, darling, I'll be a good girl. I promise. Cross my heart and hope to die." She smiled, full of impish charm. "After all, I am your baby sister."

"Little did my parents know," Sean growled, but his eyes were warm as they rested on her. "They might not have taken that vacation."

"Now you know why I see him only every few years." Janine turned to Valerie. "Well, I think I'll go change for dinner and wash off the rest of this road dust."

"I guess I'll go change, too," Valerie muttered, not wanting to be alone with Sean. "Come on, Michael."

She took her time choosing her outfit, but finally settled on a long, multi-colored cotton skirt and a white cotton peasant blouse that showed her figure to advantage.

She stopped by Michael's room and called to him. "Why don't you come help me set the table?"

"Boys don't set tables," Michael said scornfully.

"Then you can help me." Sean's voice sounded behind her. "We'll both set the table for your mom."

"But Dad, we don't have to do it. That's for mommies to do."

"Michael, your mom's done two jobs for quite a while." Sean's eyes met Valerie's over their son's head. "And now it's our turn to help her out. That way she won't get her pretty clothes dirty."

Valerie was surprised that he noticed her outfit, especially when she compared it to Janine's. Janine wore deep purple cotton knit trousers and a simple light lavender top with spaghetti straps. Her hair was twisted on top of her head in a simple knot and large silver hoop earrings completed the ensemble.

"You still haven't told us the reason for honoring us with your presence," Sean said drily as he poured the wine into three glasses.

"None for me," Valerie murmured, flushing as she remembered the last time she had drunk wine. The glint in Sean's eyes showed that he read her thoughts.

"I told you, a friendly family visit to meet my new sister-in-law and, it seems, my nephew. Now, why don't you tell me about this new firm of yours? I'm still surprised that you left the army. And tell me all the local gossip."

Valerie felt left out as Sean and Janine discussed mutual friends. The discussion continued through dinner until Janine suddenly changed the subject. "Sean, I'd like to see this sister-in-law of mine in some of the newer fashions. Val has great style, a good figure, and is very attractive; she just needs to show it off more."

"I don't need any clothes," Val protested, not wanting Sean to pay for anything of hers.

"As long as you promise to leave something for the other women," he said drily, "go ahead and shop. Just give me the bills."

"No problem there." Janine smiled sweetly at him.

"I can't possibly wear all of these clothes," Valerie said, surveying all her boxes with dismay as they walked out of the store the next day.

"That's why I told Sean to take my car and we'd take his." Janine grinned mischievously. "His has much more room, and I was almost out of gas. Bet he loved that."

"But we spent too much money," Val said ruefully. "He's going to be furious. He's just starting a new business, and he can't afford all of this."

Janine stopped dead in her tracks, shocked, then burst out laughing. "Oh, Val, you really don't know, do you?" She giggled, shaking her head in amusement.

"Know what?" Val felt bewildered.

"Sean has no money problems at all," Janine said gently. "Our grandfather was a real estate speculator and, to put it bluntly, died filthy rich. Our father increased the investments and everything was left in trust to us until we each turned twenty-five."

"But Sean was in the army," Valerie persisted, feeling confusion set it.

"Brother Sean is a graduate of West Point. Didn't he ever tell you?" Janine opened the trunk of the car, piling packages inside. "He stayed in the service only because he enjoyed it; it's only been recently that he's wanted to settle down in one place. I use my money to pay for my trips and the expenses for my house; Sean uses his for his business. He's been friends with this other engineer for a long time, and they just decided to start their own firm." Janine slammed the trunk lid shut. "Now, I suggest we run by the office of our object of discussion and coerce him into taking us to lunch. Then we can finish our shopping this afternoon."

"I still think Sean is going to kill me," Valerie said slowly, starting up the engine of the large car. She knew where Sean's office was located but had never been there. It was in a modern business complex in the middle of town. A discreet gold plaque hung on the door:
H
UNTER &
E
ASTMAN
E
NGINEERING,
I
NC.

A well dressed young woman in her early twenties sat at the reception desk. She greeted them with a warm smile.

"Would you please tell Mr. Hunter that his wife and sister are here to see him?" Janine informed her.

The receptionist pressed a button on the intercom, speaking softly into it. "Mr. Hunter's secretary, will be out in a moment." She smiled at them.

Valerie wandered around the reception area, nervously studying the paintings on the walls.

"Mrs. Hunter?" A voice sounded from behind.

Valerie turned to face a tall, dark-haired woman in her late twenties. A simple skirt and print silk shirt of a deep rose shade accented her coloring. "I'm Barbara, Mr. Hunter's secretary." She smiled. "Mr. Hunter will be in a meeting for a few more moments, but he would like you and his sister to wait for him in his office. Would you come this way, please?"

She led them down a paneled hallway to an outer office. A desk, file cabinets, and typewriter showed that it was obviously her own. She opened the door to an inner office, gesturing toward a tweed sofa along one wall and two easy chairs.

"Would either of you like coffee?" she asked, receiving negative shakes of the head from both women. "Mr. Hunter will be here soon." She closed the door behind her.

"I guess Sean doesn't believe in hiring little old ladies," Janine commented drily.

"She has the right image for the office," Valerie replied, feeling unhappy after seeing Sean's secretary. They must be more than employer-employee. She walked across the office toward a large walnut desk with a black leather chair behind it, curious to see the view; but her attention was arrested by a gold double picture frame sitting on a corner of the desk. She picked up the frame, studying the two photographs: the one of Michael that she had given him, and one of Val herself, taken on the day she and Sean were married. Looking at the picture, she was surprised to see how young she looked, so carefree and happy.

She turned, hastily putting the frame down, when the door opened and Sean walked in. His eyes seemed to light up when he saw her. "This is a surprise." He nodded toward Janine. "You two run out of money?"

"We thought you would enjoy taking two beautiful women out to lunch," Janine said brightly.

Sean's eyes met Valerie's, the dancing lights in them telling her that he knew whose idea it really was. "Nothing I'd enjoy more"," he said smoothly. "I hope you realize we'll have to take my car instead of your two-seater—if there's any room left, that is."

"Enough," Janine said airily.

Sean stopped at his secretary's desk long enough to tell her that he'd be gone for lunch. "Those specs are ready to be delivered to Thayer's. I should be back around one-thirty."

As they walked down the hallway, Valerie was very aware of Sean, walking close behind her. "Barbara is very happily married to a county sheriff and has three

daughters," he murmured in her ear, "and don't try to act the dim-witted female. I'm sure you wondered about her."

She held her head higher, ignoring the fact that, once again, he had read her mind. Sean's low chuckle told her that he knew exactly what she was thinking.

"What about that good barbecue place?" Janine suggested.

Sean looked questioningly at Valerie, who nodded in agreement.

"I love the barbecued beef here," Janine told Valerie later as they were seated in a booth. "That and their corn on the cob and their apple pie."

"Then she complains she's getting fat," Sean said. "Well, how much did you spend this morning?"

Valerie blushed as she drew the receipts out of her purse and slowly handed them to him. He barely glanced at them and stuffed them in his shirt pocket before turning to her. "I meant what I said, Val—get what you need," he said softly.

"If you two will excuse me, I'm going to freshen up." Janine rose hastily.

"I told Janine that I shouldn't spend so much money," Valerie said in a low voice, "and she told me about your grandfather. I never knew; I feel like such a fool."

Sean covered her hand with his, sighing. "I was going to tell you, but I didn't know how. You seemed to enjoy working out budgets at the time, and I didn't have the heart to tell you that you didn't have to worry about it. But then there was no need to."

"Oh, Sean, we're so different. Don't you see that it will never work out?"

Sean's eyes narrowed at her thoughts. "Perhaps because you won't give yourself any credit for your own talents," he said roughly. "You're still acting like a child, not a woman."

''I wish I had never come out here," she declared hotly. "If you'd ever told me anything about yourself, I would have known that you lived here and you can bet I would have ended up as far away as possible!"

"I would have found you, Val, and I wouldn't think of trying it now if I were you." Uncannily, he had read her thoughts. "The consequences would not be nice."

She felt miserable throughout the rest of the meal. Sean ignored her, talking exclusively to Janine, who looked surprised but said nothing. After lunch, they dropped him off at his office and drove back to the shops.

By mid-afternoon Valerie called a halt, saying she couldn't walk another step. "We spent more this afternoon than we did this morning," she sighed wearily. "All I want to do is go home and have something cold to drink." She stopped short, realizing that this was the first time she had referred to Sean's house as home. That's the way it seemed to her now: home, something she hadn't had since her parents died.

They picked Michael up at the preschool and he shrieked with delight at the new baseball, mitt and bat they had gotten for him. He begged them to play with him as soon as they arrived home.

"Never sure who's the child," Sara mumbled, setting a pitcher of iced tea, two empty glasses and a third filled with juice on a table outside. Michael happily swung his bat at the careful pitches Valerie threw to him. Janine stood behind him as catcher.