Married in Seattle (7 page)

“The sooner the better, don’t you think?”

The problem was, Janine hadn’t given much thought to what she was going to say. Yes, she intended to challenge Gramps but she’d planned to wait for the most opportune time. And she’d hoped to speak to him privately. “He might not even be home,” she argued, “and if he is, I’m not sure now would really be best.”

“I want this settled once and for all.”

“So do I,” she said vehemently. “But I think we should
choose when and how we do this more carefully, don’t you?”

“Perhaps…” His agreement seemed hesitant, even grudging. “All right, we’ll do it your way.”

“It isn’t my way. It just makes sense to organize our thoughts first. Trust me, Zach, I want this cleared up as badly as you do.”

His reply was little more than a grunt, but whether it was a comment on the weight of her suitcase or her tactics in dealing with Anton, she didn’t know.

“And furthermore,” she said, making a sweeping motion with her arm, “we’ve got to stop doubting each other. Nobody’s following anyone and neither of us is in any danger of falling in love just because we were foolish enough to kiss.”

“Fine,” Zach murmured. He set her suitcase down as a cab arrived and the driver jumped out.

“How is it that we always seem to agree and yet we constantly find ourselves at odds?” she asked.

“I wish I knew,” he said, looking weary in body and spirit. The cabdriver opened the trunk, storing her suitcases neatly inside. Zach threw his garment bag on top.

“We might as well still share this taxi,” he said, holding the door for her.

“But isn’t the Mt. Baker district out of your way?”

“I do need to talk to your grandfather. There’re some estimates I need to give him.”

“But can’t it wait until tomorrow? Honestly, Zach, you’re exhausted. One day isn’t going to make any difference. And like I said, Gramps might not even be at the house.”

Zach rubbed his eyes, then glanced irritably in her direction. “Honestly, Janine,” he mocked, “you sound like a wife.”

Biting her tongue to keep back her angry retort, Janine crossed her arms and glared out the side window. Indignation seeped through her with every breath she drew. Of its own accord, her foot started an impatient tapping. She could hardly wait to part company with this rude, unreasonable man.

Apparently Zach didn’t know when to quit, because he added, “Now you even act like one.”

She slowly turned to him and in a saccharine voice inquired, “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“Look at you, for heaven’s sake. First you start nagging me and then—”

“Nagging you!” she exploded. “Let’s get one thing straight, Zachary Thomas. I do
not
nag.”

Zach rolled his eyes, then turned his head to gaze out the window on his side.

“Sir, sir,” Janine said, sliding forward in the seat. She politely tapped the driver on the shoulder.

The middle-aged man glanced at her. “What is it, lady?”

“Sir,” she said, offering him her warmest, most sincere smile. “Tell me, do I look like the kind of woman who’d nag?”

“Ah…Look, lady, all I do is drive a cab. You can ask me where a street is and I can tell you. If you want to go uptown, I can take you uptown. But when it comes to answering personal-type questions, I prefer to mind my own business.”

“Are you satisfied?” Zach asked in a low voice.

“No, I’m not.” She crossed her arms again and stared straight ahead.

The cabdriver’s eyes met hers in the rearview mirror, and Janine tried to smile, but when she caught a glimpse of herself, she realized her effort looked more like a grimace.

“Me and the missus been married for near twenty years now,” the driver said suddenly, stopping at a red light just off the James Street exit. “Me and the missus managed to stay married through the good times and the bad ones. Can’t say that about a lot of folks.”

“I don’t suppose your wife is the type who nags, though, is she?” Zach made the question sound more like a statement, sending Janine a look that rankled.

“Betsy does her fair share. If you ask me, nagging’s just part of a woman’s nature.”

“That’s absurd,” Janine countered stiffly. She should’ve known better than to draw a complete stranger into the discussion, especially another male who was sure to take Zach’s side.

“I’ll tell you the real reason me and the missus stayed together all these years,” the cabbie continued in a confiding tone. “We never go to bed mad. I know I look like an easygoing guy, but I’ve got a temper on me. Over the years, me and Betsy have had our share of fights, but we always kiss and make up.”

Janine smiled and nodded, sorry she’d ever gotten involved in this conversation.

“Go on,” the cabbie urged.

Janine’s puzzled gaze briefly met Zach’s.

“Go on and do what?” Zach wanted to know.

“Kiss and make up.” The cabbie turned for a moment
to smile at them and wink at Janine. “If my wife was as pretty as yours, mister, I wouldn’t be hesitating.”

Janine nearly swallowed her tongue. “We are
not
married.”

“And have no intention whatsoever of marrying,” Zach added quickly.

The driver chuckled. “That’s what they all say. The harder they deny it, the more in love they are.”

He turned off Broadway and a few minutes later pulled into the circular driveway that led to Janine’s house. As the talkative cabbie leapt from the car and dashed for the trunk, Janine opened her door and climbed out.

Apparently, Zach had no intention of taking her advice, because he, too, got out of the cab. It was while they were tussling with the luggage that the front door opened and Mrs. McCormick hurried outside.

“Janine,” she cried, her blue eyes lighting up with surprise. “What are you doing back so soon? We weren’t expecting you for another two days.”

“I missed your cooking so much, I couldn’t bear to stay away any longer,” Janine said, throwing her arms around the older woman in a warm hug. “Has Gramps been giving you any trouble?”

“Not a bit.”

Zach paid the driver, who got back in his cab, but not before he’d winked at Janine again. “Remember what I told you,” he yelled, speeding off.

“How much was the fare?” Janine asked, automatically opening her purse.

“I took care of it,” Zach said, reaching for his garment
bag and the heavier of Janine’s two suitcases. He said it as though he expected an argument from her, but if that was the case, Janine didn’t plan to give him one.

“Is Gramps home?” Janine curved her arm affectionately around the housekeeper’s waist as she spoke.

“He went out early this morning, but he should be back soon.”

“Good,” Zach mumbled, following them into the house.

“I imagine you’re both starved,” Mrs. McCormick said, heading toward the kitchen. “Let me whip up something for you that’ll make you both glad you’re home.”

Left alone with Zach, Janine wasn’t sure what to say to him. They’d spent almost twenty-four hours in each other’s company. They’d argued. They’d talked. They’d laughed. They’d kissed.

“Janine—”

“Zach—”

They spoke simultaneously, then exchanged nervous smiles.

“You first,” Zach said, gesturing toward her.

“I…I just wanted to say thanks for everything. I’ll be in touch,” she said. “By phone,” she assured him. “So you don’t need to worry about me dropping the office unannounced.”

He grinned sheepishly. “Remember, communication is the key.”

“I agree one hundred percent.”

They stood facing each other in the foyer. “You wanted to say something?” she prompted after a moment.

“Yes.” Zach exhaled sharply, then drew a hand along the side of his jaw. “What that cabbie said is true—even for us. I don’t want us to part with any bad feelings. I shouldn’t have said what I did back there, about nagging. You don’t nag, and I had no right to say you did.”

“I overreacted.” The last thing she’d expected from Zach was an apology. His eyes, dark and tender, held hers, and without even realizing what she was doing, Janine took a step forward. Zach met her and she was about to slip into his arms when the sound of the front door opening drove them apart.

“Janine,” Anton cried, delighted. “Zach. My, my, this is a pleasant surprise.” He chuckled softly as he removed his coat. “Tell me, was your tryst on the moors as romantic as I hoped?”

“O
ur best bet is to present a united front,” Janine said to Zach four days later. They’d met at her house early in the afternoon to outline their strategy. Gramps was gone for the day, but by the time he returned, Zach and Janine planned to be ready to talk him out of this marriage idea. The sooner Anton understood that his ploy wasn’t working, the better. Then they could both get on with their lives and forget this unfortunate episode.

“It’s important that we stand up to him together,” Janine said when Zach didn’t comment. From the moment he’d arrived, he’d given her the impression that he’d rather not be doing this. Well, she wasn’t overjoyed about plotting against her grandfather, either, but in this instance it was necessary. “If we don’t, I’m afraid Gramps will continue to play us against each other.”

“I’m here, aren’t I?” Zach grumbled. He certainly wasn’t in one of his more charming moods.

“Listen, if you’re going to act like this—”

“Like what?” he demanded, standing up. He walked over to the polished oak sideboard and poured himself a cup of coffee. When he’d finished, he ambled toward the fireplace and leaned against the mantel.

“Like you’re doing me a big favor,” Janine elaborated.

“You’re the one who’s left
me
dangling for three days. Do you realize what I’ve been forced to endure? Anton kept giving me these smug smiles, looking so pleased with himself and the way things worked out in Scotland. Yesterday he went so far as to mention the name of a good jeweler.”

Before Janine could stop herself, she was on her feet, arms akimbo, glaring at Zach. “I thought you were going to call me! Weren’t you the one who said communication is the key? Then it’s as if you’d dropped off the face of the earth! And for your information, it hasn’t exactly been a Sunday school picnic around here, either.”

“It may surprise you to learn that I have other things on my mind besides dealing with you and your grandfather.”

“Implying I don’t have anything to do with
my
time?”

“No,” he said slowly. “Damn it, Janine, we’re arguing again.”

She sighed regretfully. “I know. We’ve got to stop this squabbling. It’s counterproductive.”

Zach’s nod was curt and she saw that he was frowning. “What bothers me most is the way your grandfather found us the other day. We were standing so close and you were staring up at me, practically begging me to kiss you.”

“I most certainly was not,” she denied, knowing Zach
was right. Her cheeks grew pink. She
had
wanted him to kiss her, but she hated having to admit that she would’ve walked into his arms without a second’s hesitation. She decided to blame that unexpected longing on the exhausting flight home.

Zach shook his head and set his coffee cup carefully on the mantel. He thrust both hands into his pockets, still slouching against the fireplace wall. “The problem is, I was ready to do it. If your grandfather hadn’t walked in when he did, I would’ve kissed you.”

“You would?” she asked softly, feeling almost light-headed at his words.

Zach straightened, and a nerve in his jaw pulsed, calling her attention to the strong chiseled lines of his face. “I’m only human,” he said drly. “I’m as susceptible to a beautiful woman as the next man, especially when she all but asks me to take her in my arms.”

That was too much. Janine pinched her lips together to keep from crying out in anger. Taking a moment to compose herself, she closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. “Instead of blaming each other for something that
didn’t
happen, could we please return to the subject at hand, which is my grandfather?”

“All right,” Zach agreed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.” He went to the leather wingback chair and sat down. Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees. “What are you going to say to him?”

“Me? I thought…I’d hoped…you’d want to do the talking.”

Zach shook his head. “Tact doesn’t seem to be my strong point lately.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll do it, if that’s what you really want.” She gazed silently down at the richly patterned carpet, collecting her thoughts. “I think we should tell him how much we both love and respect him and that we realize his actions have been motivated by his concern for us both and his desire for our happiness. We might even go so far as to thank him—” She stopped abruptly when Zach gave a snort of laughter. “All right, if you think you can do better, you do the talking.”

“If it was up to me, I’d just tell that meddling old fool to stay out of our lives.”

“Your sensitivity is really heartwarming,” she muttered. “At first, this whole thing was one big joke to you and you really enjoyed tormenting me.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

“As I recall, you played that cow-and-ten-chickens business for all it was worth, but I notice you’re singing a different tune now and frankly—”

The library door opened, interrupting her tirade. Her grandfather and his longtime friend, veterinarian Dr. Burt Coleman, walked into the room.

“Zach. Janine,” Gramps said, grinning broadly.

“Gramps,” Janine burst out, rushing to her feet. They weren’t prepared for this, and Zach was being impossible, so she said the first thing that came to mind. Pointing at Zach, she cried, “I don’t know how you could possibly expect me to marry that man. He’s stubborn and rude and
we’re completely wrong for each other.” She was trembling by the time she finished, and collapsed gracelessly into the nearest chair.

“In case you haven’t figured it out yet, you’re no angel yourself,” Zach said, scowling at Janine.

“Children, please,” Gramps implored, advancing into the library, hands held out in supplication. “What seems to be the problem?”

“I want this settled,” Zach said forcefully. “I’m not about to be saddled with Janine for a wife.”

“As if I want to be
your
wife? In your dreams, Zachary Thomas!”

“We realize you mean well,” Zach added, his face looking pinched. He completely ignored Janine. “But neither of us appreciates your matchmaking efforts.”

Gramps walked over to the leather chair recently occupied by Zach and sat down. He smiled weakly at each of them, his shoulders sagging. “I thought…I’d hoped you two would grow fond of each other.”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Gramps, I really am,” Janine said, feeling guilty. “But Zach and I don’t even like each other. We can barely carry on a civil conversation. He’s argumentative and unreasonable—”

“And she’s illogical and stubborn.”

“I don’t think we need to trade insults to get our message across,” Janine said. Her face was so hot, she felt as if her cheeks were on fire.

“There’s no hope?” Anton asked quietly.

“None whatsoever,” Zach said. “Janine will make some
man a wonderful wife one day, but unfortunately, he won’t be me.”

Her grandfather slumped against the back of his chair. “You’re sure?”

“Positive,” Zach said, loudly enough to convince Mrs. McCormick who was working in the kitchen.

“I love you, Gramps,” said Janine, “and I’d do almost anything you wanted, but I can’t and won’t marry Zach. We know you have our best interests at heart, but neither of us is romantically interested in the other.”

Burt Coleman, who stood by the library doors, looked as if he’d rather be anyplace else. His discomfort at witnessing this family scene was obvious. “I think it’d be best if I came back another time,” he murmured as he turned to leave.

“No,” Anton said, gesturing his friend back. “Come in. You’ve met Zachary Thomas, haven’t you?”

The two men nodded at each other, but Janine noticed how rigidly Zach held himself. This meeting with Gramps hadn’t gone the way she’d planned. She’d wanted everything to be calm and rational, a discussion uncluttered by messy emotions. Instead they’d ended up practically attacking each other, and worse, Janine had been the one to throw the first punch.

Without asking, she walked over to the sideboard and poured Gramps and his friend a cup of coffee. Burt sat across from her grandfather, clearly ill at ease.

“I should be going,” Zach said starkly. “Good to see you again, Dr. Coleman.”

“You, too,” Gramps’s friend said, glancing briefly at Zach. His puzzled gaze quickly returned to Anton.

“I’ll walk you to the front door,” Janine offered, eager to make her own escape. She closed the library door behind her.

Both she and Zach paused in the entryway. Janine tried to smile, but Zach was studying her intently, and her heart clenched like a fist inside her chest. They’d done what they had to do; she should be experiencing relief that the confrontation she’d dreaded for days was finally over. Instead she felt a strange sadness, one she couldn’t fully understand or explain.

“Do you think we convinced him?”

“I don’t know,” Zach answered, keeping his tone low. “Your grandfather’s a difficult man to read. Maybe he’ll never bring up the subject of our marrying again and we’re home free. I’d like to believe that’s the case. It’s just as likely, though, that he’ll give us a few days’ peace while he regroups. I don’t expect him to back off quite so easily.”

“No, I don’t suppose he will.”

Zach looked at his watch. “I should be going,” he said again.

Janine was reluctant to see him leave, but there was no reason to detain him. Her hand was on the doorknob when she suddenly hesitated and turned around. “I didn’t mean what I said in there,” she blurted in a frenzy of regret.

“You mean you do want us to get married?”

“No,” she cried, aghast. “I’m talking about when I said you were stubborn and rude. That isn’t really true, but I had
to come up with some reason for finding you objectionable. I don’t really believe it, though.”

“It was the same with me. I don’t think you’re so intolerable, either. I was trusting that you knew it was all an act for your grandfather’s sake.”

“I did,” she assured him, but her pride
had
been dented, although that wasn’t anything new.

“The last four days have been difficult,” Zach went on. “Not only was Anton gloating about Scotland, but like I told you, he’s been giving me these amused looks and odd little smiles. A couple of times I heard him saying something in his native tongue—I’m afraid to guess what.”

“Well, I know what he was saying, because he’s been doing the same thing to me. He’s talking about babies.”

“Babies?” Zach echoed, his eyes startled.

“Ours in particular.”

One corner of Zach’s mouth lifted, as if he found the thought of them as parents amusing. Or unlikely.

“That was my reaction, too. Every time I’ve seen Gramps in the last few days, he’s started talking about…well, you know.”

Zach nodded. “I do know. The situation hasn’t been pleasant for either of us.”

“Setting Gramps straight was for the best.” But if that was the case, why did she feel this terrible letdown? “If he accepts us at our word—and he just might—then I guess this is goodbye.”

“Yes, I suppose it is,” Zach responded, but he made no effort to leave.

Janine was glad, because these few moments gave her the opportunity to memorize his features. She stored them for the future, when there’d be no reason for her to have anything but the most infrequent and perfunctory contact with Zach.

“Unless, of course, your grandfather continues to throw us together.”

“Of course,” Janine added quickly, hating the way her heart soared at the prospect. “Naturally, we’d have to confront him again. We can’t allow ourselves to be his pawns.”

Zach was about to say something else when the library door flew open and Burt Coleman hurried out, the urgency on his face unmistakable. “Janine, I think we should call a doctor for your grandfather.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m not sure. He’s very pale and he seems to be having trouble breathing. It might be his heart.”

With Zach following, Janine ran into the library, her own heart in jeopardy. Dr. Coleman was right—she’d never seen her grandfather look worse. His breath came noisily and his eyes were closed as he rested his head against the back of the chair. He looked old, far older than she could ever remember seeing him. She felt a sense of panic as she raced across the room to the desk where there was a phone.

“I’m fine,” Gramps said hoarsely, opening his eyes and slowly straightening. He raised his hand in an effort to stop Janine. “There’s no need for everyone to go into a tizzy just because an old man wants to rest his eyes for a few minutes.” His smile was weak, his complexion still
pale. “Now don’t go calling any doctor. I was in last week for a checkup and I’m fit as a fiddle.”

“You don’t look so fit,” Zach countered and Janine noticed that his face seemed almost as ashen as her grandfather’s. Kneeling beside him, Zach grasped his wrist and began to check his pulse.

“I’m fine,” Gramps insisted again.

“Are you in any pain?”

Gramps’s gaze moved from Zach to Janine. “None,” he answered, dismissing their concern with a shake of his head.

“Dr. Coleman?” Janine turned to her grandfather’s longtime friend. “Should I phone his doctor?”

“What does Burt know about an old man and his heart?” Gramps objected. “Burt’s expertise is with horses.”

“Call the doctor. Having him checked over isn’t going to hurt,” Burt said after a moment.

“Fiddlesticks,” Gramps roared. “I’m in perfect health.”

“Good,” Janine said brightly. “But I’ll just let Dr. Madison reassure me.” She punched out the phone number and had to speak loudly in order to be heard over her grandfather’s protests. A couple of minutes later, she replaced the receiver and told Zach, “Dr. Madison says we can bring him in now.”

“I’m not going to waste valuable time traipsing downtown. Burt and I were going to play a few hands of cribbage.”

“We can play tomorrow,” Dr. Coleman said gruffly. “You keep forgetting, Anton, we’re both retiring.”

“I’ve got things to do at the office.”

“No, you don’t,” Zach said firmly. “You’ve got a
doctor’s appointment. Janine and I are going to escort you there and we’re not going to listen to a single argument. Do you understand?”

Gramps’s eyes narrowed as if he were preparing a loud rebuttal. But he apparently changed his mind, because he relaxed and nodded sluggishly, reluctantly. “All right, if it’ll make you feel better. But I’m telling you right now, you’re going to look like a fine pair of fools.”