Читать книгу The Texan's Suite Romance - Judy Christenberry, Judy Christenberry - Страница 10

Tabitha stared at him. “What? What did I do?”

“I thought I was doing the right thing, but it was a sell-out!”

She could see anger in his eyes. The man was in pain. Without thinking, she reached out to touch his hand, forgetting that he’d said he didn’t want to be touched.

He withdrew at once.

“Sorry.” Tabitha pulled her hand back, but she couldn’t let him sit there without trying to find out what his problem was. “Alex, please tell me what’s wrong. I can’t help you until you do.”

“I had promised myself I’d stop being difficult. I did the interview, trying to sell books. Then I realized I’d betrayed Jenny! I was using her to sell books!”

Tabitha drew a deep breath. There was no doubt that his anguish was real. After reading the book herself, she knew he and his wife had shared a deep love. Slowly, she said, “I thought you wanted people to know Jenny, to appreciate her.”

“I did! But—but the longer the interview went on, the more I—” He buried his head in his hands again.

“Alex, the reason you wrote the book is because you thought you had learned something that would help other people, right?”

He nodded.

“Well, if they don’t read the book, they won’t understand what you have to say. You didn’t betray Jenny. She would want your book to be a success even if she didn’t believe in what you wrote. But she did. It’s obvious in the book. She believed in you and loved you.”

“But—”

“Am I right?”

“Yes.”

“Then you did exactly what Jenny would want you to do.”

“I didn’t think of it like that.” Alex straightened his shoulders. “Maybe you’re right.”

“I assure you I am. Now, eat your cake and drink the coffee.” She did the same, but she kept an eye on Alex. It appeared to her he’d panicked because he hadn’t discussed his wife or their marriage with anyone before. Today, he’d been forced to open up a little. And it bothered him.

Slowly, he calmed down, thanks to the coffee and cake. She hoped he’d be in shape for his signing, which would start in less than an hour.

When he’d almost finished, she said, “How would you feel about returning to the station to tell Helen the truth?”

His head snapped up. “Why would I do that?”

“People are going to find out that Jenny is dead. When Helen finds out, she’s going to feel that you lied to her. She did a really good job with the interview. If you take her into your confidence, she won’t be angry. She’ll be flattered.”

She thought he wasn’t going to answer. He merely sat there, staring over his coffee cup at an unseen spot on the wall behind her.

Finally, he said, “I suppose you’re right.”

He stood, looking down at her. “You’re going with me, aren’t you?”

“Of course.” She rose at once, but cast a longing look at the rest of her carrot cake.

They walked the half block back to the studio. Just as they reached it, Helen Wilson walked out.

“Helen,” Alex called.

She turned around and came over to them. “Alex, I thought you left long ago.”

“We did, but I—”

“I thought you were going to get something to eat.”

Alex frowned at Tabitha, as if suddenly debating the wisdom of her advice. “We were, but we decided to wait until after the signing.”

“I see. Then what—”

“I need to tell you something.” Alex was concentrating on what he had to say so much, Tabitha didn’t think he even realized he’d interrupted Helen.

“Yes, of course,” she said, moving closer.

“My wife is dead.”

“Dead? Jenny is dead?” Helen responded, sounding a bit alarmed.

Tabitha, sensing the woman’s train of thought, stepped forward when it appeared Alex wasn’t going to explain. “Jenny died a year ago, in a car accident.” She could see the alarm on Helen’s face slowly dissipate, to be replaced by confusion. Tabitha continued, “Alex had started the book while she was alive and finished it as a tribute to their love. He was afraid if he let people know she’d died, they might buy the book out of sympathy. And he also has difficulty talking about Jenny.”

“Well, of course, I understand.”

“You were so kind today, Alex didn’t want you to think he’d lied to you.”

“Oh, Alex,” Helen cooed, moving closer and taking his hand in hers. “You are so wonderful. Let me buy you dinner after the book-signing. We have so much in common. I’m a widow, you know.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “I have to run now, but I’ll see you at the bookstore.”

Before either Alex or Tabitha could speak, she was gone.

Alex turned slowly around to stare at her. “That’s the last time I’ll take your advice!” he exclaimed.

“I didn’t expect her to—to immediately see you as a potential mate,” Tabitha protested.

“What? A potential mate? She’s at least ten years older than me!”

“Age doesn’t matter much these days.”

“It matters to me. Besides, I’m not looking for a woman.”

“I guess you could develop a headache when she arrives,” Tabitha suggested with a grin.

“I have a better idea,” Alex said, glaring at her.

“Uh-oh, I don’t think I’m going to like it.”

“Probably not. But you’re going with us.”

“No! I wasn’t invited!”

“I assumed she meant both of us.” He smiled at her, and then he pointed out that they needed to get to the bookstore.

Tabitha checked her watch and realized they only had twenty minutes before they were supposed to be there. The bookstore people had asked them to arrive half an hour early.

Once they were in the taxi, she tried again. “Alex, I can’t go with you. She didn’t invite me!”

“Either you go with me or I tell Helen I refuse to go with her, which will upset her.”

“It’s going to upset her even more if I play chaperone.”

“What would Mona do?”

“That’s unfair, Alex!”

“I think Mona would protect me from a man-hungry woman.”

“I think you’re a fraud, Alex Myerson. You handled Helen just fine in the interview. You can survive dinner with her.” She held her breath, hoping her challenge would convince him.

He looked at her and shook his head, a grin slowly forming on his lips. A very charming grin. No wonder Helen was after him.

“Fine! I’ll go with you. But you owe me, Alex. No more being difficult.”

“Agreed.” Then he drew a deep breath. “I really appreciate your getting me through this evening. I won’t fall apart again.”

“Just doing my job,” she said with a smile. “Though I’ll admit I was thinking about resigning earlier.”

He suddenly turned serious. “I’m glad you didn’t.”

When the taxi pulled up in front of the bookstore, Tabitha hurriedly paid the driver. Alex got out of the taxi and stood there, holding the door open for her. She scooted across the seat and stepped out.

“We’re right on time,” she announced. Taking his arm, she started toward the store. Then she remembered that he didn’t want to be touched and jerked her arm back. “Sorry.”

But Alex didn’t say anything.

In the store, Tabitha quickly found the manager and introduced herself as Mona’s replacement. “And this is my client, Dr. Alex Myerson.”

Alex shook the man’s hand.

“Welcome, Dr. Myerson. Your books are set up over here, near the door. We have a pitcher of water and glasses and black-inked pens, as you requested. Is there anything else we can get you?”

“No, I don’t think so. However, this is my first signing, so if I think of anything, may I have a rain check?”

“Absolutely. By the way, I saw your interview on the afternoon show. It was wonderful. We’ve been getting phone calls ever since the interview.”

“Really?” Alex asked, his eyebrows going up in surprise.

“Absolutely. We’re expecting a wonderful turnout.”

Alex looked at Tabitha, and she smiled encouragingly. She wasn’t sure he was happy about a large crowd.

Fifteen minutes before the signing was to begin, the store began to fill with women who surrounded the table where Alex’s books were piled high. Tabitha and Alex were sitting in the coffee shop that was part of the bookstore.

“You feel like starting early?” she asked. “You already have a crowd.”

“Not really. But I guess I could.”

She went to the manager, offering to start the signing early.

“That would be wonderful. We’ll get them in line if Dr. Myerson will do that.”

Tabitha waved Alex on. When he walked toward her, several women saw him and screamed out his name. Alex came to an abrupt halt, staring at the women in shock.

Tabitha crossed to his side. “Come on, I’ll protect you,” she whispered.

Careful not to touch him, and not to let any of the crowd touch him either, she ushered him to the table.

Once he was ensconced behind the wooden barrier, Alex seemed to relax. He greeted each woman and signed a book to her. There were even a few men in the line. He spent more time with them.

The signing was supposed to last an hour and a half, but Alex continued to sign as long as there were people there. Then the bookstore people asked him to sign a few extra copies for them to put on the shelves with an autographed-copy sticker on them.

Tabitha had seen Helen come in a while ago and she saw her check her watch every five minutes, seeming to grow impatient.

Tabitha grinned. Helen thought she was unhappy now, but wait till she heard her evening would include Tabitha as a chaperone.

Alex saw Helen as soon as she came in the bookstore. He could hardly miss her since she waved to him, calling his name while he was signing a book. Until then, he’d had his doubts about Tabitha’s interpretation of Helen’s intent.

Dressed in a silver lamé dress that dropped low in front, ensuring that he got a good glimpse of her décolletage, Helen was hunting. No doubt about it. Now he was grateful he’d convinced Tabitha to come along with them. After all it had been awhile since he’d dealt with an aggressive female.

In fact, it was only since he’d begun to work out, at Mona’s behest, that he’d had the form that attracted women. Jenny had loved him as he’d been.

He looked to be sure Tabitha saw Helen. Of course, her appearance wouldn’t surprise Tabitha. But he thought the dress Helen was wearing would be a lot more interesting on Tabitha’s svelte body. Thanks to her exercise regimen, she didn’t have an ounce of fat on her.

When he’d finally finished the signing, Helen appeared at his side.

“I didn’t think you’d ever get done.” A satisfied smile lit up her made-up eyes.

“Thanks to your wonderful interview, we had a crowd waiting,” he told her with a grin. “To show our appreciation, Tabitha is going to host our little dinner party tonight. The three of us have a lot to celebrate.” He hadn’t mentioned that to Tabitha, but he’d promise to reimburse her if she’d go along.

“Oh, but I—”

“Here’s Tabitha now. Tabitha, I was just telling Helen we owe this wonderful signing to her, so you wanted to take both of us out to dinner to celebrate.” He stared intently at her, hoping to quell any resistance.

“He’s absolutely right,” Tabitha assured Helen, relieving Alex’s concerns at once. “I made reservations for us at a lovely restaurant in our hotel.” She looked at her watch. “We’re going to have to dash. I’ll go flag down a taxi.”

Tabitha scooted off before Alex could stop her. He didn’t want to spend any time alone with Helen. Of course, Helen immediately began to complain, but Alex merely led her to the door, stopping only to thank the store manager, who was ecstatic.

Outside, he discovered Tabitha had already gotten a taxi and was holding open the door to the back seat. Alex assumed she’d follow them into the back, but she shut the door and got in the front seat with the driver.

Helen snuggled up to him and Alex had the vision of her leaving makeup tracks on his suit. He sought desperately for a subject of conversation, fearing she’d try to kiss him if he didn’t divert her.

“Uh, Helen, how long have you been a widow?”

“Several years. It’s hard to get back out there, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. What did your husband do for a living?”

“Not much. I was always the breadwinner. But I managed.”

He was getting no help from Tabitha, who was chatting with the driver as if she had no interest in the back-seat conversation.

“I love the cable cars,” he said as one passed by. “They’re so interesting.”

“Yes, they’re one of the perks of living in San Francisco. That and the view. Everywhere you look, you see the blue of the water. It’s magnificent. If you lived here, Alex, you’d be inspired to write all the time.”

“I think I’d be inspired to play hooky,” he returned.

“Oh, Alex, I’m sure—”

She never finished her remark, because as soon as the taxi pulled up in front of their hotel, Alex opened his door and got out. He breathed a sigh of relief…until Helen, now beside him, shot him a fluttery smile telling him he hadn’t discouraged her.

Tabitha came to his aid.

“Have you eaten at this restaurant before, Helen?” she asked, trying to distract the woman’s attentions.

“Of course. It’s part of my job to try the restaurants.”

Her tone was rather standoffish toward Tabitha, whom she clearly hadn’t forgiven for horning in on their date. But Alex smiled in gratitude.

“What do you recommend?” Tabitha asked her.

“They do fish well. Their crème brûlée is fabulous.” Then she shrugged her shoulders. “Actually, anything they serve is wonderful.”

“Good. I’m glad I chose well.”

When they reached the elevator to the penthouse restaurant, Alex held the door for both women. Then he moved to stand by Tabitha, leaving Helen on the other side of his chaperone.

“Do they have any decent restaurants in Fort Worth?” Helen asked, amusement in her voice.

“Why yes, we have a few.” Tabitha turned to smile at Helen. “Come for a visit and we’ll be glad to show you around.”

“Yeah, we can take her to Joe T. Garcia’s,” Alex offered. “It’s quite famous.”

“What do they serve there?”

“It’s a Mexican restaurant,” Tabitha explained.

“I think my palate might be a little too sophisticated for that kind of meal. That’s another of the perks of living here. Dining out is a unique experience.”

“Joe T.’s is pretty unique,” Alex assured Helen, a grin on his face. The lady was just a little too full of herself, he thought. “Or if you come in January, we’ll take you to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. The hot dogs are pretty good there, too.”

Helen looked at him as if he’d said something shocking. Still, it was better than the melting looks she’d been sending him earlier.

“Alex is teasing, Helen. There are several nice restaurants there.”

“Here, there are thousands!” she snapped.

The elevator doors opened and they entered the restaurant. All along the perimeter were walls of windows overlooking the beauty of San Francisco.