Читать книгу Just Friends To . . . Just Married - Renee Roszel - Страница 11

THE next morning at the office, Tracy made it clear that Jax had seen better days. She was right. He hadn’t slept much last night, either. And as was Tracy’s way, she dragged every bit of information out of him that he was willing to share. The part about the kiss and his urge to debauch a defenseless, sleeping woman remained his guilty secret.

“So Kim’s a professional meeting planner, you say?” Tracy asked, drawing him back from his reverie.

In Jax’s office, where they often ate, the pair lunched on veggie subs, at Tracy-the-health-nut’s insistence. She didn’t consider lunchtime off-limits for strategy planning meetings. At least his office made these business lunches endurable, due to their bird’s-eye view of Lake Michigan.

“Yes, she’s a meeting planner,” he said.

“That could work for us.” Tracy sipped her herb tea.

He didn’t understand. “What could work for us?”

“I’m saying we could put your troubling little houseguest to work. Have her be the official hostess for the Japanese CEOs coming to your country place.”

Jax didn’t like the sound of this, and shook his head. “I don’t think—”

“You don’t have to think, Jax Man, because since you mentioned it this morning, I’ve done all the thinking that’s necessary on the subject.” She laid aside the last bit of her sandwich. “I’ve been stewing about this meeting ever since we decided to do it, and I believe Kim fell right into your lap at the perfect time.”

“Stewing?” That wasn’t a word he associated with his take-no-prisoners partner. “What have you been stewing about? Why haven’t I heard about it?”

“Well…” She looked uncharacteristically embarrassed. “It probably seems petty to you, but remember that function last summer when we met with business owners from around the country?”

He nodded. “Sure.”

“Do you remember my complaining about how several of them handed me coats and snapped their fingers at me when they wanted coffee refills. Remember how questions were directed to you and how I was pretty much ignored?”

He frowned. “I think you must be exaggerating.”

“Not really.” She shook her head adamantly. “I’d say a good third of them treated me more like a waitress, a coat-check girl, a secretary, even once a freakin’ babysitter—and you know how I feel about kids—than your partner.” She exhaled loudly, rolling her eyes. “I don’t plan to let that happen again.”

“The Japanese are a very progressive people. I’m sure—”

“You’re probably right, but I’m not willing to take chances.” She eyed him unblinking, her stare deadly. “Have you ever changed the diaper of a baby with the runs? It’s no picnic, Jax. I don’t intend to be thought of as anything this time but your partner. Comprende? Some cultures don’t look at women the way ours does. They have more conservative notions about male vs. female roles and family values. Our Japanese guests may not have the slightest problem thinking of me, and treating me, as their equal. But at that thing last summer, with those good-old-boys snapping their fingers at me like I was a trained dog, well, it was humiliating, So even if there’s only a one-percent chance I’d end up waitressing or holding coats next week, it’s too chancy for me to cope with. I’ve been so worried I’ll be relegated to hostess status, it’s giving me an ulcer.” She banged the table with a fist. “Damn it, Jax, I’m not a waitress or a coat-check girl or a babysitter, and I don’t want those businessmen to assume I’m there for no other reason than to babysit their wives.”

She paused, grim-faced. “I do not intend to stand around serving tea and petit fours, talking about child rearing or husbands, neither of which I know squat about. Nor do I care to know anything. I will not babysit those wives. It’s not in my job description.” She sat back, lolled her head on the chair-back as though spent. “There I’ve said it.” She let out a long, weary exhale, then lifted her head to look him in the eye. “Do not tell me I’m being silly, because if you do, I’ll—I’ll…” She sat forward, aggressively. “I’ll quit. ”

Jax could hardly believe Tracy’s emotional torrent. Poor woman. Obviously Tracy’s summer experience hadn’t been good. She was truly frightened of being minimized at their upcoming conclave of Japanese CEO’s. He laid aside his sandwich and leaned across the corner of the table to touch her fisted hand. “I can’t believe I was so preoccupied with work I didn’t even notice.”

She smiled wanly. “I was a little hurt that you didn’t.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

With his reassuring touch, she visibly relaxed and placed her free hand on his. “You know me. Never admit fear or defeat.”

He grinned. “Yeah, well, from now on make an exception if it involves our partnership. Understood? I’ll have no more talk about quitting.”

She frowned, as though ashamed about her hesitance to reveal her apprehension. “Okay—well, now that you know my deepest, darkest fear, my thinking is, if we get Kim involved, we can kill two birds with one stone. She can get her Jax Fix, mend her fitful little heart and she can also make some money representing the traditional female role of hostess. That will leave me free to act as the equal partner I am. Is that an excellent idea or is it an excellent idea?”

Jax’s initial inclination was to say no, but with Tracy’s extreme anxiety, what could he do? “It isn’t as though the plan isn’t good,” he said, feeling his way. “Except—then Kim would be around that much longer.”

“True.” Tracy nodded. “But has she mentioned leaving anytime soon?”

Jax pursed his lips. Nothing Kim had done or said so far had the earmarks of an impending departure. “No,” he admitted.

“How long does she usually stay for these Jax Fixes?”

He shifted his gaze to stare unseeing out of the window, the view of Lake Michigan blocked by Kim’s face—the way she looked last night, asleep on his sofa. “A week—or two.” He flinched. Having Kim around, looking the way she did in the firelight—seemingly pliant and willing, yet in reality, oblivious and unsubmissive—would be like enduring two weeks crawling over broken glass.

“That’s perfect!” Tracy’s enthusiasm pulled him back in time to see her smile. “She’ll have almost a week to plan, which isn’t much, I’ll grant. But everything as far as food, location and accommodations is already taken care of. She’d really only have to be there to oversee things, watch after the spouses while we’re in meetings. That would be child’s play for a professional like your Kim.” She clapped her hands. “She’s made to order.”

He drummed his fingers, agitated. With this new wrinkle—the possibility of keeping Kim around to utilize her expertise—the burden of anxiety had clearly been passed from Tracy’s shoulders to his.

“Oh, don’t shake your head!” Tracy said.

He flicked his gaze to her. Had he been shaking his head?

“Look,” she added gently, understanding in her eyes. “I know it’s hard for you to be near her, but if she’s going to be around anyway, why not use her? She gets her fix, you get a meeting planner and I get to be the partner I deserve to be, not a coffee toting toadie.”

Though his mood was far from happy, he couldn’t help but grin at her imagery. “I’d like to see somebody treat you like a toadie.”

“Yeah?” she said. “Well, the next man who does will lose a favorite body part.”

Jax’s grin faded as he tried to get his mind around the whole Kim problem. He knew she would stay as long as she felt she needed to, but that didn’t mean he had to do all the giving. From the moment she arrived on his porch, he’d been frustrated and angry to find her back in his life, complicating things, shredding his peace of mind.

To balance the scales, maybe he could use her for a change. It wouldn’t be the kind of “using” that would break hearts, only the kind that would exploit her expertise. If he couldn’t have her as his life, he wanted her out, and that had to include shucking the title of “friend.” When all was said and done, he would have to lay it out for her, painful as it might be.

But for Tracy, for the present, he would bite the bullet. During the next ten days he would continue to play the role of friend and confidant to Kim, no matter how deeply it cut.

He refocused on his partner, decision made. “Okay,” he said. “For you, I’ll ask Kim to be our official hostess. Feel better?”

Tracy stood, walked around to him, took his face between her hands and kissed his forehead. “You, Jax Man, are a prince.”

After she left, he sat for a long time feeling like hell. “I’m sorry, Kim,” he muttered. “But your dear old Jax is about to use you—then lose you. It’s time.” He slumped back and closed his eyes. “You’ll hate me but…blast it, as hard as it will be for me to say goodbye, dealing with your anger, even your hatred, will be easier than living my life tortured by this unbearable, celibate intimacy we share now.”

Kim couldn’t believe her ears. Had Jax actually asked for her help? “Are you kidding?” she said, excited. “You want me to hostess your business meeting?”

He stood there looking so serious, as though he actually thought his request might be an imposition. “I would—that is my business partner and I would appreciate it.”

She hugged him. “I’d be thrilled. You’ve done so much for me to let me come here and stay with you. And since I’ve got some free time before my next job, it would be my pleasure, my honor!” She slid her hands down his arms to affectionately squeeze his fingers. “This is right up my alley.” She had a thought. “So what needs to be done? Set up catering? Arrange outings for the wives? Tell me and it’s done.”