See Jane Fall (13 page)

“Who’s on the team?”

“Oh, um…Ray. Ray Cartier.” She chuckled
again, but it was a warm, affectionate sound this time. “He’s
fabulous. Does makeup. Sebastian. He’s Samara’s agent. He’s a
pretty good guy. Sort of a worrywart, but I guess that’s what she
pays him for. Shanelle does hair. Margot handles wardrobe. And on
this trip? I think Franco is coming too. He’s sort of her
trainer-slash-nutritionist.”

“Five people to tend to one person?”

“Six. Don’t forget Jane.”

“Aw, Minx…I couldn’t forget Jane.” Lars
reached for her hand again and felt his heart lift when she didn’t
pull away.

***

They made their way into the town park, where
a small bandstand was roped with red, white and blue bunting and a
band played jazzy Americana as families and older couples sat on
blankets and in lawn chairs waiting for the sun to disappear so
that the fireworks could begin. Children ran around with glow
necklaces and little American flags, visiting the ice cream truck
or the hot dog stand. Jane loved it that small towns in America
still had old-timey celebrations on national holidays; she just
didn’t have much of a chance to take part in them anymore.

The sun was already starting to set as Lars
spread out a blanket toward the back of the crowd and invited her
to sit down. He took two wine glasses out of the backpack and
poured some wine, handing Jane a glass.

“What’re we drinking to?” she asked, sitting
down with her legs straight out in front of her, crossed at the
ankles.

He shrugged, sitting across from her, his
long legs brushing up against hers. “I don’t know, um—”

“Oh, wait, wait—wait!” she said, grinning.
“I know a toast. It’s good; I’ve never been able to use it,
but—wait. Let me think of how it goes. Okay. Okay. Here we go…”

Jane cleared her throat, but knew from
experience it wouldn’t help her always-raspy voice, so she leaned
into the rasp, and lowered it just a touch more.

Minx, right? Try this out, Lars
Lindstrom.

She caught his eyes and let her lashes lower
a little, murmuring slowly:

“When I want it,

I want it
awful
bad.

When I don’t get it,

It makes me
awful
mad.

When I do get it,

Then life’s
sublime
.

I’m talking about…”

She leaned forward toward him, but at the
last minute, she started to giggle.

“…a glass of wine.”

Oh, well.
She blew it. She couldn’t
pull off the last line. She shrugged, looking up at Lars.

He was staring at her, eyes wide, slight
smile on his face, glass raised. Just staring.

“Lars?”

“I’ll drink to that,” he said quickly,
shaking his head. “
Damn
, Jane.”

“Wow. Yeah?”

“Yeah, a little,” he admitted, hefting the
backpack meaningfully onto his lap.

She looked at his lap and her eyes widened.
“Because of a toast?”

“A toast is ‘Cheers’ or ‘Bottoms up.’ That
was…Marilyn Monroe singing ‘Happy Birthday, Mr. President.’”

She smiled at him, feeling delighted. Since
when did Jane Mays turn on someone hotter than hot with a
toast?

“I can see you’re very pleased with
yourself.”

Jane shrugged, taking a big sip of wine, and
decided not to tease him about it. “Hey, I like this. What is
it?”

“I’m not sure. Some film crew gave me the
bottle a few months ago in thanks for giving them a hand.”

“That’s cool. What movie?”

“A TV show, I think. I don’t remember. I
don’t watch much TV.”

“Well, whatever it is, it’s good.” She
offered her glass to him for a refill.

“Slow down, missy…”

“You
sure
you want me to slow down?
You know what Dorothy Parker said?”

“I have no idea who Dorothy Parker is, but I
have a feeling I’m about to be a big fan.”

“She said…Wait. Are you ready for this?” She
glanced at his lap. “Can you handle this, Lars?”

He was lying on his side now, his head
propped on one hand staring up at her. He set down his wineglass on
the blanket and reached out to run a finger from her ankle to just
above her knee, stopping at the hem of her skirt. It sent shivers
all the way up the rest of her leg, and she felt her heartbeat kick
in, fast and loud. He licked his lips and smiled at her, lazy,
confident.

“Yeah, Minx. I think I can handle it.”

Jane put her glass down too and maneuvered
so she was lying on her side next to him, mirroring him, right down
to the hand propping up her head. She cleared her voice again to
amplify the rasp then met his eyes, trying not to smile or giggle
and ruin the punch line again.

“Okay…Here goes…Dorothy Parker on the
subject of the second drink…

“I like to have a drink,

Two at the very most.

After three I’m under the table,” Jane
licked her lips, smiling, then finished,

“After four I’m under the host.”

Lars stared at her lips then flicked his
glance back to her eyes.

“I
love
Dorothy Parker.”

Jane started giggling and pushed herself
back up into a sitting position, taking another sip of her
wine.

“You’re fun,” she said.

He sat up too.

“So are you.” He swallowed. “I want to kiss
you, Jane.”

“So kiss me, Lars.”

So he did.

***

“You know, public lewdness isn’t allowed in
Gardiner parks, per section five of the Parks and Recreation
manual. As a local tour purveyor, you should know that, Lars.”

He’d know that voice anywhere. Lars leaned
back from Jane, annoyed by the interruption from his best friend,
Paul. “Great timing, pal.”

“You’ve been busy,
Midten
. I haven’t
seen you in days.” He winked at Jane. “Hey, Janie.”

“Hey, Paul.” She sat back with flushed
cheeks, picking up her wineglass.

Hey, Janie? Hey, Paul?
Say
what?

Lars looked back and forth between his
friend and Jane. “Do you two know each other?”

Paul sat down on the blanket beside Jane, a
touch too close for Lars’s comfort.

“Please. Join us.” Lars couldn’t possibly
make his voice sound more unwelcoming.

“I would love to.” Paul smiled askance at
Jane. “Having fun? He bothering you?”

“Yes and….we’ll see.”

“What’s going on here? You two are acting
like long-lost best friends. How do you—”

“Jane here’s our fourth for euchre while
you’re tied up with the tour.”

“And getting pretty good,” she added,
winking at Paul.

Lars clenched his jaw and threw back the
rest of his wine, pouring himself another glass. Lots of smiles and
winks and teasing here. A little too much. He didn’t like it.

He turned to Jane. “So, you’ve been in town
for a day and you’re the fourth at Prairie Dawn euchre? Wait…you’ve
been hanging out with my brother?”

Jane smiled at him and nodded. “Mm-hm. Big
fan of Nils.”

Big fan of
—“How come I didn’t know
this?”

Jane shrugged. “It never came up.”

“Betting you didn’t ask, Lars.” Paul reached
into his own backpack and took out a beer, cracking it open.
“Probably going on and on about the park. Am I right, Janie?”

“Yes. But, I like hearing about the park.
Lars found wolves today.”

Lars gave him a look.
Get the bleep out
of here, Paul. Now. I mean it.

“Wolves, huh? Imagine that.” Paul smirked
back at him, leaning back comfortably on his hands. “Well, Lars, I
think Jane’s the best thing that’s happened to Gardiner in a long
time.”

Lars gave him another look.
I know we’re
friends, but I’m about to put my foot up your ass.

Paul beamed. “She is simply a delight.”

Jane tilted her head to the side, smiling at
Paul. “That is so nice! You are too.”

Lars moved a little closer to Jane, his knee
grazing hers. “We’re sort of on a date, Paul.” He tried not to
growl.

Paul gasped. “Oh, really? My bad!”

“It’s no big deal. You can join us.” Jane
said, turning to Lars. “He should join us. He’s your friend.”

Lars smiled at her, nodding, while Paul’s
shoulders shook beside her, Paul obviously enjoying every second of
Lars’s consternation.

Paul stood up, finally throwing Lars a bone.
“Nah, I gotta go. A few of my students were caught drinking beer
back in the grove beyond the bandstand last year. Thought I’d go
take a look and make sure no one’s getting pregnant.”

Paul downed the rest of his beer, swinging
his backpack up on his shoulder. “Don’t let him get fresh, Janie.
I’ll see you on Thursday, right?” He winked at Lars as he sauntered
away. “See ya, Lars. Be good, now.”

They sat cross-legged across from each
other, knees to knees, as Lars stared at Jane. He didn’t like it.
Man, he didn’t like it one bit.

“So…
Janie
.”

“Are you
jealous
?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Her smile grew wider. “Pea green.”

“And you’re enjoying every second,
Minx.”

“It’s never happened to me before!”

“Seriously. What’s up with you two?”

“Me and Paul?”

“No. You and the man in the moon.
Yeah
, you and Paul…
Janie
.”

“We play euchre.”

“What’s Thursday?”

“Umm…euchre.”

“Just euchre.”

She nodded. “I’m getting good.”

“Oh, are you?”

He didn’t feel reassured. She didn’t exactly
clarify their status by saying “we’re just friends” or something
like that, which would have been reassuring. Euchre. He didn’t like
her playing euchre with Paul. He didn’t want her playing anything
with any man except him.

“Aye, that I am, as Maggie would say.” She
grinned at him so openly, his shoulders relaxed.
Maybe there was
nothing between them, after all.

“
Janie
.”

“Mmm?”

“Come sit with me.” He moved his knees up
and put his arm around her waist as she backed into him. He pulled
her up against his chest, between his legs, then wrapped his arms
around her in the twilight, leaning down to nuzzle her curls. The
fireworks would be starting any minute.

“You cold?”

Jane shook her head no, leaning back against
him, and he tightened his arms around her. His heart was
pounding.

As far as he was concerned, the fireworks
had already started.

***

The walk back to her motel room was too
quick. She listened to the faraway howl of wolves, thinking of them
as Lars’s Wolves now, and looked at the millions of stars in the
clear night sky. The air smelled of burning wood from bonfires,
campfires and barbeques marking the final night of summer. The end
of summer. How Jane hated endings.

She much preferred beginnings, she mused, as
she looked up at Lars’s handsome face. She couldn’t remember the
last time she felt like this. Frankly, she questioned if she had
ever
felt like this.

During the finale of the fireworks she had
twisted her neck to look at him, catching his face illuminated in
blues and greens. His eyes seized hers, one palm moving from her
waist to cup her jaw, gently nudging her face toward him. His lips
claimed hers, strong and soft, warm and purposeful. His tongue had
touched hers tentatively at first, but as she stroked his in
welcome, he turned her in his arms until she was kneeling, facing
him, her breasts pressed up against his chest, his hands splayed
across her lower back. She laced her hands around his neck and
lightly grazed the shell of his ear with her thumbs, stroking his
tongue with hers, her skin electric under his touch, totally at his
mercy. When the explosive booming stopped, she ended the kiss by
turning her head and resting her cheek on his shoulder as the crowd
around them clapped with appreciation. The noise gradually subsided
to the low hum of people packing up, heading home. He ran his hands
distractedly up and down her back, finally resting them, holding
her close.

Through the low din of activity, she’d heard
him whisper,
I’m falling for you, Jane
. But she pretended
she didn’t, and he didn’t say it again.

And now it was almost time to say
good-night.

Face it, Jane. To say
good-bye
.
Tomorrow at this time, there’s a good chance he’ll be in Samara’s
bed. Don’t fool yourself. Remember Ben Abaz…

They didn’t say anything as they neared her
motel, and Jane sensed he was as sorry to see their evening end as
she was. But she shouldn’t have made those suggestive toasts and
let him kiss her again, not when her intention was to say
“good-night” at her door and put an end to their flirtation.
Spending any more time with him now was just going to end up
hurting her later. She dropped his hand as they approached the
motel.

“Thanks for tonight,” she said politely.

“My pleasure.”

“All part of the service, eh?”

He shook his head. “Nope.”

“Well, it was really great getting to know
you—”

“Getting to
know
me?” He chuckled as
if she was making a joke, then stopped, realizing she wasn’t. “That
sounds like good-bye.”

“Samara’s coming tomorrow. She’ll…she’ll
need you.”

“Of course. And I’ll do whatever I can for
her.
Trend
made it clear to keep her happy.”

Jane nodded.

“What does that have to do with us?”

Us.
She felt her heart break a
little.

“You don’t understand. Samara’s going to
need
you.
Want
you.”

“Want me for what?

Jane stared at his eyes, then winced and
looked away.

“She’ll
want
me? Like…
want
me,
want me?”

Jane looked down, jerking her head up and
down once.

“She doesn’t even know me. And besides,
I’m
into
you
.”