Queen of Hearts (2 page)

"Women's Liberation aside, Janna, no man should put himself in the position of having to be supported by his wife. Especially not at the beginning of a marriage!" Adam snapped, brows lowering threateningly.

"That's ridiculous!" she shot back, goaded. Light gleamed from her shining, deep brown hair as she leaned forward intently to make a point. "If two people are in love and are adults they should be allowed to make their own decisions on matters like marriage!"

"Or make their own mistakes!" Adam retorted, one heavy black brow lifting quizzically.

"Yes!"

"Surely you'll agree that as his older brother, I have an obligation to try and keep Nat from making serious mistakes with his life?" Adam's eyes were all steel grey now, the green in them washed out by the metallic glint.

"Nat is over twenty-one and quite capable of coming to his own decisions! I fail to see how you could offer him sound advice on marriage, anyway. He tells me you've never been married, yourself!" Janna smiled challengingly. She was dimly aware that Nat was beginning to look distinctly uncomfortable as her argument with Adam escalated. Well, too bad. He had asked her to put his brother off the scent of the impending marriage to Lucy and he would just have to be satisfied with Janna's methods!

"A man doesn't have to put his fingers into the flames to realize such an action would be unwise. I'm rather surprised Nat doesn't recognize fire when he sees it! Thought I'd raised him with more sense."

"Are you referring to me or the institution of marriage as the fire, Mr. Halleck?" janna asked dangerously, wondering how he had survived so long. There must surely be a great many people in this world who would like to do Adam Halleck an injury. His rude manners probably reflected his lack of formal education and polish, she decided, trying to be fair. Nat had told her his brother had dropped out of college during the first year in order to go to work to support himself and his younger brother.

"With the divorce rate as high as it is these days I should think it was obvious that marriage is a highly flammable matter," Adam elaborated, shrugging casually out of his expensive looking suede jacket. Underneath he wore an open-necked long sleeved shirt which snugly fitted the strong, solid outline of his body. Even through the material, janna thought, there was no doubt that Nat's description of his brother's physique was accurate. The man was built like a chunk of stone from the granite hard planes of his face to the smoothly muscles contours of his broad shoulders and tapering waist. There wouldn't be an ounce of fat on him, she decided. Then she realized abruptly that he had neatly sidestepped her question. Discretion, however, seemed the better part of valor at the moment. She wisely decided not to pursue Adam Halleck's opinions of herself.

Before she could gather herself for another line of attack, the waitress appeared, ready to take their luncheon orders. Adam gave his as if he had been involved in a mild discussion of the weather. Nat managed in somewhat worried tones to request a cheese sandwich and Janna, not hungry in the least, requested a salad in a reasonably polite voice.

"Now," Adam continued as the waitress withdrew, "Where were we? Oh yes. The risks of marriage." He sounded positively enthusiastic about continuing the attack, Janna thought furiously.

"As I said, a highly volatile institution, especially in these days of the emancipated woman. A man who enters into it should take extreme care to be sure he is clearly the one in charge. To allow himself to be supported by his woman would be to hand over an important masculine right and duty. One which might be very difficult to regain later."

"Pardon me, but your male chauvinism is showing," janna gritted with mock sweetness. "And don't you think you're putting far too much emphasis on the financial aspects of marriage? If two people love each other, it shouldn't matter if they take turns being breadwinners in the family."

"I would never allow my wife to support me," Adam declared flatly, pinning Janna with his hard eyes.

"A decision to which you are quite entitled," she agreed readily. "Although you don't seem to have had any luck finding, a woman who will tolerate your rather old-fashioned, domineering ways," she smiled loftily. "Regardless of your own, personal views on the matter, however, you should have the fair mindedness to allow Nat to come to his own decision!"

"Perhaps you're right," Adam said, a grin slashing suddenly across his rugged features. "Nat should be allowed to make up his own mind. But with me pulling one way and you pulling the other, the poor boy doesn't stand much of a chance, does he?"

"The 'poor boy'," Nat interrupted forcefully, "has had enough of being discussed as if he weren't present. Do you two think you could manage to stop going for each other's throats long enough to eat lunch?" He glanced up apologetically at the hovering waitress who was trying to set plates down without calling attention to herself. The atmosphere at the table had become charged with a tension that was plainly noticeable by others, Janna thought. How had she let herself be dragged into the argument in the first place? What good were five years of college and a well-developed professional poise if it didn't enable one to avoid sparring matches with ex-construction workers, she chided herself angrily.

"Don't misunderstand, Nat," Adam said easily, picking up the roast beef sandwich he had ordered, "Janna and I aren't quite at each other's throats. We're merely testing each other, aren't we, Janna?" He took a large bite of the sandwich, chewing with obvious pleasure as he awaited her response.

But Janna had herself back under control now. She would not allow this creature to bait her into an undignified response again.

"Your brother and I have quite different opinions on marriage and, I suspect, several other subjects, Nat," she smiled warmly across at the younger man. "But it's no cause for alarm. After all, it's not him I'm going to marry, is it?"

"True," Nat agreed quickly, eyeing his brother cautiously. But Adam seemed content to continue with his meal, not bothering to comment on Janna's observation. "I was thinking," the younger man added, apparently feeling his way carefully, "that you could have dinner with Janna tonight, Adam. I'll be studying until after midnight in the library and she doesn't have anything to do. It would give you two a chance to know each other..."

Janna nearly choked on a piece of lettuce. She reached quickly for her water glass just as Adam's large hand landed heavily against her back. The blow sent such a jolt through her that she upset the glass, sending water across the table.

"Look what you made me do," she snapped, regaining her breath and trying to blot up the water with her napkin. "I was alright. There was no need to...to pound on me like that!" She sent a speaking glance toward her rescuer who merely smiled blandly in return, preferring his napkin by way of assistance.

"You were saying, Nat?" Adam prompted, watching approvingly as Janna quickly and efficiently dealt with the mess.

"Well, it was only a suggestion," Nat began uncertainly, glancing at Janna a little nervously.

"I'm afraid I have a great deal to do tonight," she informed them both aloofly, tucking the soaked napkins beneath the plate. She knew very well why Nat wanted her to keep Adam occupied this evening. He and Lucy were scheduled to talk to the college chaplain who was to perform the service on Saturday. It was true, she had agreed to try and keep Adam from asking too many awkward questions during his visit, but that was before she had realized what a difficult man he would turn out to be!

Nat was proving to be a bit annoying, too, however.

"Now, Janna, you know I want you to get to know my brother. After all, he's the only family I've got. I hate having him come all this way and not be able to spend some time with you..."

"It's an excellent suggestion, Nat," Adam interrupted cheerfully, taking another bite out of his sandwich. "I shall be happy to entertain Janna this evening. I'm sure you'll be able to suggest a good restaurant."

As if encouraged by his brother's enthusiasm Nat launched into a lively account of the nightlife available in La Paloma, all the while sending little pleading messages to Janna who felt her resolve weaken. The last thing in the world she wanted to do was spend the evening with Adam Halleck but there was no denying she had promised to help Nat. Adam was only supposed to be in town a day or so and tonight would probably be the only night she would be called upon to accompany him to dinner. Lucy and Nat were good friends of hers...

"Alright," she interrupted quietly. "I think I can put off some of my chores until tomorrow. If you really want my company for dinner tonight, Mr. Halleck, I can manage it." Janna winced inwardly at the lack of warmth in her acceptance of the invitation but she didn't, in all honesty, see how anyone could have expected more from her under the circumstances. It was painfully obvious she and Adam Halleck were bound to clash.

"I shall look forward to the evening, Janna, but I insist you call me Adam. If you promise to call me by my first name I promise not to bring up the subject of who should support who in a marriage. Deal?" Adam grinned his lazy grin, which had the affect of making Janna more nervous than ever.

"It's a deal, Adam," she responded formally.

"Great!" Nat beamed happily, wolfing down the rest of his meal. "I know the two of you will have a fine time!"

Janna merely stared at him.

The rest of the meal was concluded in a reasonably friendly atmosphere, leaving Janna with the impression that Adam had won an important concession without even having to exert himself. There was no doubt at all in her mind that he intended to use the evening to his advantage. He would probably try to browbeat her into giving up any notion of marrying Nat. Perhaps it was a good thing Nat was keeping away from Lucy. The other girl would have been no match for a determined Adam Halleck. Janna had visions of gentle Lucy crushed and in tears and knew she had no choice but to keep her friend away from Adam until the marriage had taken place.

"I'll take care of the tab," Adam said as the waitress brought the bill. He scooped up the slip of paper and threw a generous tip onto the table without even bothering to count it. Then he got to his feet in a smooth, fluid movement that left Janna thinking he was in complete control of every muscle in that large body. An instant later he was behind her, casually pulling out her chair.

"Thank you," she said automatically, rising to her full height beside him and experiencing the rare sensation of having a man tower over her. Not only was he taller than she, but the sense of massive strength in his hard frame left her feeling small and fragile. The thought brought a tiny quirk to her lips which she turned away too slowly to hide.

"Something amuses you, Janna?" Adam asked politely, pushing her with what he probably assumed was a gentle touch in the direction of the door. Nat was already weaving a path through the tables, smiling casually at friends as he passed. Friends, Janna knew, whom he didn't plan to introduce to his brother.

She shook her head, smiling in response to Adam's query. "I was just thinking that it's nice to know there are other people in the world who probably have the same trouble buying clothes as I have!" she lied. That hadn't been exactly what she was thinking at all. Her thoughts had been much more personal. Something along the lines of how nice it was to know there were potential dance partners around for women her size! Too bad this particular representative was all wrong in other respects.

"Funny," he replied, pausing by the cashier's desk to pay the bill, "I was just thinking that it was nice to find a full sized woman. Far too many of the shorter variety around. You know, the kind who were designed for men like my brother."

A sensation of pure outrage swept over Janna at his words, but with an act of will she held her tongue until

Adam had finished paying the cashier. As he turned to follow her toward the door where Nat waited she shot him a furious glance out of the corner of her eye.

"If you are going to make nasty personal cracks you can find yourself another dinner partner!"

"Now why would I want to hunt up someone else to spend the evening with? I've just said you're the right size for me," he grinned back, grey-green eyes alight with humor.

"You implied I was too tall for your brother and you know it!"

"Well, you are," Adam told her agreeably. "He's only about an inch taller than you and he hasn't got the strength to give you the weekly beating it's going to take to keep you in line."

"That does it!" Janna ground out bitterly. "Amuse yourself tonight. Our dinner engagement is off." She stormed through the door and out into the bright, sunlit street, nearly colliding with a startled bicyclist on the sidewalk.

"Watch where you're going," she growled at the unfortunate cyclist.

"Sorry," he apologized instantly, even though the near collision hadn't been his fault at all. He pedaled quickly away as the door opened again and Adam and a puzzled Nat emerged.

"Quite a sight when she's angry, isn't she?" Adam inquired of his brother while casting an admiring glance over Janna, who had drawn herself up to her full height and was regarding both men as if they were beneath contempt. It was Nat who received the royal edge of her tongue, however.

"I'll be working the Reference desk this afternoon," she informed him. "Drop by and see me. We have things to discuss!" Without waiting for an acknowledgement of the command she swung away toward the campus, even in anger moving with an unconscious grace and dignity.