The Biggest Part of Me (6 page)

              Outside the restaurant, Jane took a couple of deep breaths before turning to Ed.  “I’m sorry, Ed.  I hope I didn’t ruin your evening.  I just needed some fresh air.”

             
“No worries.  I really didn’t like the way he was looking at you anyway.”

             
The two began to walk at a leisurely pace.  Curious Jane asked, “How did he look at me?”

             
“Like he could eat you with a fork and a spoon.”

             
Jane wasn’t sure of her reaction.  Did she feel irritation, fear, or excitement?  None of these emotions were acceptable to her way of thinking.  Besides, Jason just didn’t feel that way about her, anymore, maybe ever.  “I’m sure you’re wrong.”

             
“Darling, I know when a man is hungry.  Although I don’t know why he would be, with that beautiful specimen hanging all over him.”

Clearly out of self-confidence at this point, eyes beginning to swell with tears, Jane said, “Well, why don’t you just go back inside and fight Jason for her like the cavemen you two are!”  Jane walked briskly away from Ed.

Not able to conceal his laughter, Ed caught up with Jane and wrapped an arm around her waist.  Snuggling his lips on her neck, he whispered, “How about we go back to my apartment and I’ll show you just how much of a caveman I can be.”

Amazed by the public display of affection that Ed normally did not show, Jane turned in his arms and answered, “Ed, the truth.  How do you feel about me?”

He took both her hands in his.  “Jane, I am absolutely crazy about you.  Why you would think that you’d have to compete with Miss Pleshette is beyond me.  You’re beautiful and smart and kind.  Now really, where’s this coming from?”

“I guess I’m just on edge with everything.  It’s really not your fault.”

They began a lingering walk with his arm around her shoulder.  “I’m sure everything will be fine, Jane.  But I want you to let me know if that Collins fellow starts to bother you.  I hope I set up a few boundaries tonight, but if it didn’t get through to him, I can set more.”  Ed gently massaged her shoulder while they walked.  “Now, what about going back to my apartment?”

“Ed, I really do have a headache.”

He sighed loudly and then hailed a cab.

The next morning, Jason could not concentrate.  How could Jane still get under his skin after so many years?  Working was a lost endeavor.  He had to get out.  Putting on his work out clothes he headed for the elevator.

“Shelly, I’m going for a jog in Central Park.  I’ve got my cell in case any emergencies come up.”
              “Anything wrong, Boss?”  Shelly Williams, Jason’s assistant, knew her boss.  He never took off when there was work to be done unless something was really bothering him.

“No, I’m good.”  He lied.

She knew he lied.  “Okay, we’ll try to function without you for a while.”

Snow covered the foliage of Central Park.  The barren trees etched black lines against the gray sky.  The air was cold and invigorating.  Just the thing to get Jane Kendall out of his system, Jason thought. 

He started with an easy pace getting his body used to jogging in the cold temperature.

How could she have just brushed him aside at the restaurant?  She was in an awful hurry to get away from him.  Was it to be with her “intended?”  A small knot was forming in his stomach. 
She’s not mine
, he reminded himself. 
She’s free to do whatever she wants.  Argh!  Stop thinking about her
, he commanded himself.

He continued jogging, enjoying the quiet sound of his feet brushing the path and his breath misting in front of him.  Very few people were out this morning, which suited Jason just fine.  He wanted to be alone.  He didn’t need anyone around him. 

He thought about his life.  He was successful, running the company that he had always dreamed of.  He certainly didn’t need Jane Kendall complicating his life.  It had been so long but it felt like just yesterday.  Before he could stop himself, his mind was transported back to the last time he had been with Jane seven years before, the last time he had held her, kissed her, showed her how much he loved her.

The cold wind wrapped around the couple as they looked out over the ocean.  Little Talbot Island, Florida, was empty except for the few birds that had flown from the north seeking a warmer climate.  Jason put his arms around Jane as she shivered, pulling her close and rubbing her arms to provide warmth.  When she looked up into his eyes with tears pooling he embraced her, his own eyes starting to fill.

“Thank you for bringing me here, Jay,” Jane softly said to the young man.  “I wanted to see it before I left.”

“You know I’d do anything for you, Janie.”  Jason leaned down and kissed her lightly, but it wasn’t enough.  Parting her lips with his tongue, he deepened the kiss as she melted against him.  Even though the wind had a biting chill, the two grew nice and warm.  Finally, they broke apart and started walking hand in hand.

The second semester of their junior year of college was coming.  Jane was flying to Oxford, England, to study marketing for the semester then returning to Princeton University to finish her degree.  After that, she was hitting New York.  She already had an internship in mind and if her plans succeeded, she would be offered a position following completion.  Jason would be returning to the University of Florida to complete his degree in engineering.  From there he didn’t know.  Jason was always busy with his prototypes, his dream being to have his own company.

This could be the last time that they walked the beaches of Little Talbot Island together.  Each knew that, and it saddened them.  They had been best friends for years.  Living in the same neighborhood, they had grown up together. 

Jason knew he was in love with Jane when he was thirteen.  It had taken Jane longer.  She was fourteen when she let Jason steal that first kiss.  They had dated others in high school until the end of their junior year when Jason had flown into a jealous rage over the debate captain that took Jane to the junior prom.  Jane had been equally mad about the cheerleader that Jason attended with.  After that, they were always together.  Through summer jobs, through study sessions—that inevitably turned into make out sessions—through graduation.  Then came college.  They had talked frequently during the first two years, sharing all the details of their separate lives.  Now things were different.  Each knew things would never be the same.

Jane grew colder and colder as they walked, in part because of the weather but also because of the emptiness she was already feeling.  “Jay, I’m really cold,” she said letting a few tears slip down her cheeks.

“I’ve got you, baby,” Jason whispered as he swung her up into his arms.  He took her back to the car and gently set her in the front seat of his old brown Thunderbird.  Turning on the heat, he pulled her close to him and kissed her with his whole heart.  They continued kissing until the cold was forgotten.  In fact, everything was forgotten except for the touch of their lips and the sound of their hearts beating together.

Jason was no longer jogging.  He was in a full run.  His breathing was fast and furious as the sweat poured from his brow.  Exhausted, he headed back to his office to take a shower in his executive suite, feeling, if not more relaxed, at least more decisive.

There would be no personal contact with Jane.  He couldn’t risk it.  CARL was the biggest goal of his toy making career. If they decided to go with Patterson, he would simply make sure his meetings with her would always be at an office, preferably with a dozen or so people.  For goodness sakes, he almost kissed her the first time he was alone with her!  He didn’t want the opportunity to repeat his past mistakes, kissing her, holding her, feeling her soft body against his . . .

Damn!  Now I’m going to have to forgo my hot shower for a cold one!

The call came one week later.  Jane was busy working in her office when Terry called asking her to step into the conference room along with her marketing team.  Although not an unusual request, somehow Jane knew that this was about CARL.  By Terry’s tone on the phone she really couldn’t gauge if the news was good or bad.

With butterflies flittering around her stomach, Jane stepped into the conference room.   She was met with the sound of corks popping, champagne flowing, and people laughing.

“There she is,” Terry said laughing.  “We got the deal, Jane.  It’s your project now.  Congratulations.  Good job.”

Jane was dumbfounded.  Everyone gathered around her shaking her hand, patting her shoulder, expressing encouragement.  All Jane could do was smile and murmur, “Thank you,” as she enjoyed the champagne and the excited chatter of her co-workers.

Sally stuck her head into the conference room later and said, “Jane, you’ve got an important call.”  Jane hurried back to her office, glass of champagne in her hand.  Still smiling she answered the phone.

“I wanted to call and congratulate you, Miss Kendall.  No other agency was even close in the running.  Well done.”

Jane felt a mixture of excitement, pride, and warmth as she listened to Jason’s praise.  Noticing his business-like use of her last name, she decided to reciprocate.  “Thank you, Mr. Collins. You won’t be disappointed.  We’ve got the best people working here.  By this time next year CARL will be a household name.”

“I’m counting on it.  By the way, it took you long enough to get to the phone.  I don’t know that I like that.  I want to be able to reach my marketing specialist quickly if I need to.” 

Jane was dumbfounded.  “Sorry, Mr. Collins,” Jane said as if addressing her old high school history teacher instead of her former boyfriend.  “We were just having a little celebration over your decision.  It won’t happen again.”

“Good.  I don’t have to tell you how important this project is to me.  Now, I’d like to have a meeting next week with our assistants to review strategy.  We can tentatively begin scheduling our calendars, making deadlines.”

Who is this man
? Jane thought.  Well, he wanted tough, then he’ll get tough.  “Of course.  Monday afternoon, two o’clock work for you?”

“It should.  Let me check with my people.  I’ll have my assistant call to confirm.”

“Fine.  And you don’t have to tell me how important it is, Mr. Collins.  I’m clearing my desk and getting to work immediately.”

“That’s what I’m paying you for.  I hope you like a challenge.” 

“Absolutely.  I look forward to the challenge.”

Jason’s mind immediately went back to a foot race he and Jane had had on the beach years ago when she had uttered those same words.  Recalling how that race had ended, his heartbeat started increasing, his breathing becoming shallow.  He couldn’t help replying, “As I recall, you can be a challenge yourself.”

“I’ve grown up.”  How dare he refer to the past.  She was trying so hard to keep all those memories totally separate and totally forgotten.

“You don’t have to tell me that,” Jason murmured before he could stop himself.  Jane couldn’t decide if that was a compliment, an insult, or a pass.  She was so confused.  “Well, I’ll let you get back to work,” Jason continued.  “I’m having my company plan a little celebration to kick things off.  We’ll be in touch.”

Great.  Just what she needed.  More socializing with Jason.  She took a big gulp of champagne, wondering how she was going to get through the next few months.

CHAPTER THREE

In the midst of the busy workday, Sally buzzed Jane about an incoming phone call.  “Jane, the caller said you knew her—a Julie Beaumont, Esquire from Orlando, Florida.”

              Jane whooped with joy into the phone then calmed down enough to say, “Please put her on the line, Sally.”  After the click assuring her the call was transferred, Jane exclaimed, “Julie, how’s my best friend in the whole wide, wide world?”  She remembered a little girl with black braids and skinny legs that she had played dolls and shared secrets with growing up.  Julie had grown up in the same neighborhood as Jane and Jason but after high school graduation had moved to Orlando with her family.  Always the smart one of the group, Julie had her law degree from Harvard and was practicing with her father’s agency in central Florida.

             
Laughing, Julie returned, “You remember our third grade friendship pledge, huh?  How’s it going, ace?”  Nothing like Julie’s husky, excitable voice could have put such a big smile on Jane’s face.

             
“Not bad. How’s the world of criminal law in sunny Florida?  And please don’t tell me the temperature down there right now.  You don’t want to hear me cry.”

“Hey, we have marketing specialists here in Florida, too.  No reason you can’t just pack up and head south.”  And she added in a thick Southern accent.  “We’re mighty friendly down here, ya’ll.”

              “Well, it is tempting.  Especially since our weather has been cold lately.  I do miss Florida winters.  So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this call?”

             
“I just had you on my mind.  Thought I’d catch up with you during a lull in the action down here.  Tell me what you’re working on.”