CHAPTER FIVE
“NOT so fast,” Lacey blurted, interposing herself between him and the front door. She’d never been so angry in her entire life, and the way he was watching her chest heave only added fuel to the flames.
“You’ve had your say, now it’s my turn.” With her hands braced against the wood behind her back for support, she called in a clear voice, “George? Open the bathroom door and come in the living room, please.”
There were a couple of answering hoots.
Max frowned, suddenly alert. “What was that?”
Clenching her jaw, she said, “That’s George, of course. Since you know so much about me and my wicked life, I’m surprised you had to ask.”
“He sounds more animal than human.”
“Well, George is quite a specimen, but he’s also more loving and giving than any man I’ve ever met. I trust him completely. The problem is, can I trust you?”
He sent her a half-angry, half-puzzled glance. As far as she was concerned, Max Jarvis deserved everything coming to him.
“I must warn you. He loves me and is very sensitive. Some people get nervous around him. Please don’t do anything to upset him.”
“Why would I do that when I’m leaving?” he muttered coldly.
“You can’t go yet. He wants to meet you. For one thing, you’re my next-door neighbor. For another, he’s been very curious about you. I think it’s time you two became acquainted. Come on in, George.”
Before Max could put her physically aside, George ambled into the room and made a dash for Lacey. His hooting sounds stopped Max, who pivoted around, his stunned gaze fastening on the monkey who scuttled around him and grabbed Lacey around the legs.
“Mr. Jarvis. This is George.”
Max muttered something unintelligible beneath his breath. Lacey started to laugh and couldn’t stop. When she finally quieted down, she said, “George is a very special capuchin monkey trained by my friend, Lorraine, to aid other-abled victims. In a few weeks, he’ll be going to his very first case.
“She wants him to be totally accepting and trusting of human contact so he’ll bond with his patient, so please don’t do anything to startle him.”
“You think I’m the hysterical type?” he demanded fiercely.
“No. But I just wanted to give you warning.”
His brow furrowed once more. “Consider me warned.”
“Then put out your hand.”
Max did as she said and the short little monkey crossed the distance to grasp his fingers. To Max’s credit, he didn’t hesitate or back away. After examining him, his brilliant blue eyes fastened on Lacey.
“He’s the one you put out in the storeroom with the TV?” Lacey nodded. “The one who cavorted with you in the bathtub?”
“Yes.” She chuckled all over again. “You won’t tell the management, will you? Lorraine’s coming for him on Tuesday. I’ve been tending him while she’s been recovering from a short-term illness.”
He stared at her for an overly long time, obviously having to make a few readjustments in his thinking. Since she doubted she would ever catch him in such a vulnerable moment again, she took advantage of the situation by encouraging George to run through his repertoire of tricks.
Max watched in fascination. “He’s incredible.”
“I think so, too. But please don’t tell Brad when he and Valerie get back from Japan. Though he doesn’t like animals, Valerie said I could keep him here if I promised Brad never found out.”
“I won’t divulge your secret. Perhaps one day Lorraine could be a guest on the show and tell the listening audience about this little guy.”
Lacey’s green eyes lit up. “Lorraine would be indebted to you.”
“Does that mean you’d be able to find the time to come with her?”
“That depends on whether or not you still think I’m a liar.”
His eyes were half veiled. “Let’s just say that you’ve given me cause for reflection.”
She had the feeling it was a huge concession for him to make. “I—I’d do anything to help Lorraine’s project. She’s in the process of starting a rehabilitation center here in Salt Lake.
“When these monkeys are born, they need foster homes to learn how to live with humans before they can be trained to help quadriplegics. There might be people listening to the show who’d be willing to foster a monkey like George.”
He stood there with a lopsided smile, letting George do all his tricks again. “To my recollection, we’ve never had someone in Lorraine’s line of work on the show before. It ought to be a hit with everyone.” He raised his head. “Even you...”
Their gazes locked.
“You’re an intelligent man, Mr. Jarvis. I only meant that when you’re talking about local issues, you lack the understanding someone has developed who’s lived in Utah all his life.”
He eyed her critically. “My name is Max. Has it ever occurred to you that an unbiased outsider can discuss issues without becoming emotionally involved? That way, I can remain objective and listen to both points of view.”
“I understand what you’re saying, but Utah isn’t like a lot of other places. The only way I can describe it is, an enigma within an enigma.”
“On that point, I tend to agree with you.”
The inflection in his voice led her to believe he was talking about something, or someone else. The blood pounded in her ears.
“Excuse me while I put George down for the night.”
While she escorted him to the kitchen, the phone started ringing. She reached for it as Max followed George over to his basket.
It was Greg, wanting to find out if he was still in the doghouse with her. She told him she’d have to call him back and hung up the receiver.
“You shouldn’t have cut him off on my account,” Max drawled quietly from the doorway linking the kitchen to the living room. “I can let myself out.” The tension was back.
It had been so wonderful to feel natural around Max for a few minutes, she wasn’t prepared to let him go. “Would you like a cup of cocoa with me before you leave? It might help you to sleep.”
“I doubt it,” he muttered, “but I won’t say no to the offer.”
Her heart thudded with excitement as she motioned for him to sit at the kitchen table. “Tell me about your trip.”
He stretched his long legs in front of him and folded his arms across his chest. “Which part? The hundred degree heat and humidity, the mosquitos, the native guide party which deserted us halfway through the forest, or the accident that broke Jeff’s camera?”
Lacey’s eyes widened. “No wonder you’re feeling under the weather. Does this mean you didn’t get your documentary made after all?”
He let out a deep sigh. “We managed to put it together, but I don’t think any of us is too eager to leave on our next project right away.”
“Where will that take you?” she asked as she put their cocoa on the table and sat down opposite him.
“I haven’t decided yet. The Amazon trip concluded our Native series.” He put the cup to his lips and drank.
“At least you’re in a position to come and go as you please.”
His lancing eyes riveted her to the chair. “Unlike you who has an adoring public and would be sorely missed.” He was back to that again.
She drained her cocoa, then got up from the table. Meeting George hadn’t helped the situation after all. “Since your mind is made up about me, there’s no point in prolonging this discussion.”
Her pain had come back, worse than before. She washed out her cup in the sink, then trembled when she felt him come to stand behind her. He rested his hands against the counter on either side of her so she was trapped. Her heart started to run away with her.
“Why don’t you try to change it?” he murmured, his mouth achingly close to her ear.
“Because it would be futile.” Her voice shook.
“That’s not an answer. Turn around, Lacey.”
She shook her head.
“Shall I tell you why you can’t?” he questioned suggestively.
Lacey couldn’t take any more and spun around, her eyes beseeching him to be kind to her. It was a mistake. Before she could catch her breath, his mouth closed over hers and he pulled her forcefully into his arms, as if he were starving for her.
His actions took her so much by surprise, she wasn’t able to hide the hunger of her initial response. Her mouth opened to him, giving him access.
He groaned as her hands slid around his neck of their own volition. Slowly, the texture of their kiss began to change, to become more charged, more heated and passionate.
Lacey was aware of his hard body molded to the softness of her own, and realized with a shock that she was approaching the point of no return.
“You taste of cocoa,” he whispered all too soon, reluctantly putting her away from him, but he still kept his hands on her shoulders, caressing them. To her shame, a moan of protest escaped her throat and she averted her eyes.
“In fact, you taste of so many delectable things guaranteed to drive a man to distraction, it’s no wonder they’re over here day and night. I concede that I was wrong about George, but you seem to have all the men you can handle right now.” His voice had an edge to it. “And I refuse to be part of a collection, no matter how greatly I’m tempted.”
He grasped her chin and lifted it so she’d have to look at him. “And believe me, lady. I’m tempted.”
Before her eyes could focus, he was out her back door. For a few minutes she had to cling to the counter so she wouldn’t fall down.
She wanted to scream at him that there was no collection! Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact both Valerie and Lorraine despaired of her ever having another date again because of her awful experience with Perry:
Yet how could she explain kissing Max Jarvis as if he were her whole world and everything in it? And more, why did he bother to kiss her if he found her supposedly wild lifestyle so objectionable?
With her thoughts and emotions in turmoil, she turned on the TV, hoping to get her mind off the sensuous encounter in the kitchen. But nothing could erase the taste of his mouth, or the feel of his arms around her. Never at any time had Perry’s amorous advances made her feel on fire.
Yet one devastating kiss from Max caused her to lose control to the point that she didn’t want him to stop.
A wave of embarrassment washed over her as she recalled her incredible response. At best it was wanton and would have verified his opinion of her as a loose woman.
Did he honestly believe she had affairs with every man she knew? What could have caused him to think that?
Giving up the TV as a lost cause, she turned everything off and got ready for bed, rehearsing in her mind the number of times Max had seen her with the men he’d mentioned. He had it all wrong.
Plumping her pillows for the dozenth time, she willed herself to forget him and go to sleep. But the awful feeling persisted that he’d be the cause of her insomnia indefinitely.
On impulse she decided to phone Valerie in Tokyo. They always talked to each other if there was a problem, and right now the problem of Max Jarvis loomed large on her horizon.
Forty-five minutes later, Lacey hung up the receiver, mulling .over her sister’s advice. According to Valerie, Lacey needed to find a way to get him to open up to her and tell her why he persisted in seeing her in the worst light. Otherwise how could she ever hope to explore what might be the most important relationship of her life!
For the next few days she thought of several possible ways to approach him, but none of them seemed right. She went about her work in a total funk, aware that he had taken pains to stay out of her way.
The only high point in her week was Tuesday when Lorraine came for George. His joy at seeing his trainer moved Lacey to tears. Lorraine spent the better part of the evening talking about her plans for a rehab center. Her project needed help getting off the ground and that meant obtaining donations and free advertising from the private sector.
For a kickoff, Lorraine was having an open house at the university. Important public officials would be invited to learn about the simian aide program through materials sent from Florida. They’d also be able to observe George working with a quadriplegic. When Lorraine invited Lacey to come and bring her most important contacts with her, Lacey immediately thought of Max and assured Lorraine of her support.
Finally it grew late, but saying good-bye to George wasn’t as easy as Lacey had supposed. She decided that she understood what a mother goes through who has to send her only child away to college.
George had been her constant companion for the past few weeks. Now total quiet reigned. For the next week Lacey hardly knew what to do with her newfound freedom.
Since there was no one to hurry home to, she worked later and later hours away from the condo, and fell into bed every night exhausted. But no matter how hard she immersed herself in accounts, the memory of Max’s kiss haunted her.
Finally the day came for her to be on his radio show, but she awakened like someone on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She couldn’t eat, couldn’t concentrate on work.
On impulse, she’d bought a new outfit for the event earlier in the week. It was a dusky pink suede suit with a silky underblouse of the same hue. Feminine and sophisticated, she wanted to look her best for Max. When she finally walked into the radio station reception area, she was feverish with anticipation.
If everything went as she planned, he’d accept her invitation to supper at her apartment after the show. Hopefully she’d be able to induce him to be honest with her and tell her what was wrong, why he jumped to so many erroneous conclusions about her.
Instead of Max, however, Rob was the one who came out to greet her. She hoped her disappointment didn’t show as he gushed over her appearance, then introduced her to Dr. Ryder, the phony doctor of psychology.
“How do you do, Lorraine?” The ex-preacher, on the far side of forty, bestowed one of those revivalist-type smiles on Lacey and held her hand longer than necessary, making her cringe.
“I had no idea a woman who looks like you was slated to be on the show with me.”
“Don’t be too dazzled by her looks.” Max suddenly materialized from the corridor. Not one minute too soon as far as Lacey was concerned. “She makes a pretty formidable adversary, as you’re about to find out.”
Evidently Max’s gaze had zeroed in on that little piece of hand-holding byplay before he darted her a private glance. It seemed to reiterate his opinion that there was a surfeit of men in her life already, causing her spirits to plunge drastically. Something told her the candlelight supper she’d been planning wasn’t going to take place tonight, if ever.
Seconds before he’d appeared, Lacey had debated whether or not to pull her hand away and make a scene. But she’d thought the better of it because they were going on the air in a few minutes. Surely Max could see that the other man repulsed her. For some strange reason, he acted as if he wanted to find any excuse not to get close to her.
His less than cordial welcome sent a cold chill through her body. Where before he’d mocked, even been teasingly abrasive, now he was merely civil and polite. The other night she’d wanted to attribute his behavior to the fact that he’d just returned from an arduous trip to South America and still hadn’t recovered.
But that wasn’t the case, and the knowledge hurt her more than anything Perry had ever done to her.
“If you’ll both follow me into the broadcast booth, we’ll get started.”
When she felt the older man’s hand go to the back of her waist as if it were his divine right to touch her, Lacey jerked away from him. She couldn’t stand men like that.
Disgusted by his familiarity, she hurried ahead and almost bumped into Max in her need to make certain her stool was placed as far away from that lecherous fool as possible.
She put on her headphones and kept her attention focused on their host, hoping he’d soften a little and flash her his heart-stopping smile, but no such miracle occurred. On the contrary, her pain intensified when Max’s fleeting glance in her direction registered no special recognition.
Stung once more, she didn’t try to make small talk. No one in the world, certainly not the idiot sitting with them, would have any idea that she and Max were next-door neighbors, that she’d been a guest at his dinner party, that they’d kissed each other with a hunger that still made her blush.
“I don’t see a wedding ring on your finger. Tell me what a lovely woman like you does for a living, Lorraine.”
Avoiding the older man’s leering appraisal, she muttered, “I’m a CPA.”
“Says—I’m in the market for a good accountant. After we’re off the air, I’ll take you out to dinner and we’ll talk about it.”
“You’d be wasting your time, Dr. Ryder. Ms. West is all booked up, and we’re due to go on the air in five seconds.”
Lacey didn’t know if Max had intervened on her account, or if he’d seen another opportunity to plunge the dagger a little deeper. In any event, she was grateful for the interference and turned on the stool so she wouldn’t have to look at Dr. Hormone, as she’d renamed him.
“Good evening, Radio Talk listeners. It’s another beautiful fall weekend, and you’re tuned to the Max Jarvis Saturday guest show.
“The long-awaited program featuring Dr. Ryder and Lorraine, a member of our listening audience whom hundreds of you over the last few weeks have asked that she come on my show again, are here in studio.
“Because of you listeners, we’ve brought them together as a follow-up to a former program when Dr. Ryder was here talking about his book, Living Together. A solution for the technological age.
“Lorraine, here, doesn’t believe that living together is the answer for today’s soaring divorce rate. Have I stated your views correctly, Lorraine?”
For once he sounded straightforward, without any mocking undertones thrown her way to injure her. It made breathing a little easier. “I couldn’t have said it any better, Mr. Jarvis. What Dr. Ryder is advocating parallels a society where everyone wants to take the easy way out. No one wants to give, to sacrifice, to commit.
“His way provides instant gratification and an instant bolt-hole when the going gets tough. Unlike the line from Macbeth, he can say, ‘Out damn spot,’ and it’s out. Finished. Kaput. Of course, no one’s worried about the child of this fleeting relationship whose world is instantly shattered by this practical arrangement...”
“Mr. Jarvis—If I may break in,” Dr. Ryder interrupted. “I believe our charming guest has missed the point of my book entirely. I, too, advocate marriage, but only after a couple has learned everything possible about each other first, before taking sacred vows.
“In some island societies, a couple spends time in the Big House before the marriage to find out if they are truly compatible. It is an age-old method of discovery.”
Lacey shook her dark, curly head. “It’s a bunch of bull, probably propagated by a bunch of sex-starved men who will find any excuse under the sun to stay single as long as possible and still enjoy everything a woman has to offer. Give me a break, Dr. Ryder.
“None of those men out for discovery ever had the raising of a child on the brain while they tested the many waters available to them. Do you honestly think that if a man went to the ‘Big House’ with his favorite female of the moment, and she suddenly had a stroke that paralyzed one side of her body, that he’d even stick out the prescribed two weeks, let alone the rest of his life with his suddenly blemished beloved? I’ve seen that movie, too, and the answer is no. He’d walk away from her and never look back. So much for your test before marriage bologna.”
Lacey had gotten so carried away, she’d almost forgotten where she was. When she looked up, she could see Max’s shoulders shaking. In fact he was having difficulty suppressing his laughter while he talked into the mike.
“My producer says the switchboard is lit up like a Christmas tree.” More laughter rumbled out of him, warming her heart. “I think it’s time to take a few calls. You’re on the air, Donna.”
“Wow, that’s socking it to him, Lorraine. You said it like it really is. You know what’s the trouble with this generation? The world is now the ‘Big House.’ You know exactly what you’re talking about, honey, and don’t you let anyone tell you any different. Hang in there, girl. We love ya.”
“Thanks for the vote of approval, Donna.”
“Let’s go to the next caller. Hi, Ron. You’re on Radio Talk.”
“I think it’s time somebody got Lorraine in the ‘Big House’ before she goes shooting off her mouth about stuff she doesn’t know anything about.”
Max flicked her an enigmatic glance. “Is that right, Lorraine?”
“I’m glad I don’t know anything about it,” she asserted proudly. “It’s going to be a lot more fun learning everything there is to know with my lawfully wedded husband. I happen to think it’s pretty exciting to be the only girl who hasn’t been around the block yet.”
“If that’s true, young woman, then you’re a true anachronism of our age,” Dr. Ryder spoke up, his eyes assessingly candid.
“Spare me the rhetoric, Dr. Ryder. There are still lots of women like me out there, and men, too. We think in terms of the lifetime experience, not in increments of seconds, hours, or days.”
Her gaze focused on Max, who’d turned his head to the side and was staring at her. “There are some of us out there,” she continued, hoping she was reaching him, “who actually plan to go the whole nine yards with the spouse we originally marry. That includes imperfections, old age, flat feet, heart attacks and all.”
After a palpable pause he shifted in the chair and murmured, “We have a Utah county caller on the line. Hello, Mark.”
“Say, Max, you’ve got yourself quite a show. I happen to agree completely with everything Lorraine has to say. With the governorship up for grabs next election, I think I’ll write in Lorraine’s name.”
To Lacey’s satisfaction, calls like that kept pouring in. Only one more person voted for Dr. Ryder. It was a woman, probably the one he was living with at the moment.
Max didn’t look at her again. In fact, those few moments where she’d felt a rapport with him seemed to have gone as if they’d never happened. The second he started winding up his program, she slipped past Dr. Ryder like a shot and hurried out of the building to her car.
After the little speech she’d given to Max over the airwaves, if he still had problems believing she was a good, worthy person, then he wasn’t the man for her and the sooner she stopped thinking about him, the better.
Deep in thought over the mysterious reason why he didn’t seem to approve of her, she hadn’t realized that a blue Saab had been following her home. To her shock, Max pulled into his stall and got out of his car at the same time she did.
“Where’s the fire?”
Maybe she’d gotten to him after all. With this suffocating feeling in her chest, she turned to him. “I didn’t want to have to talk to Dr. Ryder.”
“You ruined his plans running out on him like that.”
With those cruel words, her hopes for a little understanding were irrevocably dashed.
“I thought we were through and I needed to get homes.”
“Though the poll was meant in fun, I have a feeling you could run for governor and probably win.”
“I already have a job I like. Thank you for allowing me to express my opinions over the air.”
“You handled Dr. Ryder like a pro. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the owner of Radio Talk asks you to do a permanent guest spot.”
“I’m much too busy and am afraid I’d have to turn him down.”
“Because your friend Greg still requires your nursing services?”
She should have expected a remark like that, but it didn’t stop her from bleeding profusely.
Eyeing him one last time she said, “Why ask me when you have all the answers, Mr. Jarvis? That’s the reason why you’re the most popular host on Radio Talk.”
So saying, she started to close the door, but he was too quick for her and inserted himself in the aperture.
With their faces inches apart, she could hardly breathe. His eyes were like hot blue coals. For endless moments they played over her upturned features, burning her alive.
“Maybe you see Greg as an old family friend, but he sees you as something much more. Do the kind thing and let him go.”
He kissed her hard on the mouth, then disappeared into his own condo, leaving her in a state of shock.
Though she knew he was wrong about Greg, he had just said that he believed her. It was a beginning of sorts.
She could hardly take it in, and wished she had the nerve to go over to his condo and ask him to spend the rest of the evening with her.
The next four days were pure torture while she vacillated about contacting him. Finally, when she couldn’t stand it any longer, desire drove her to the phone and she called in on his program.
Her heart was beating so fast, she was almost sick to her stomach with fear, excitement and longing all rolled into one knot.