Stolen, page 6
“Morning beautiful,” he wrote.
Janie did a doubletake. His message was odd timing and he probably confused Mrs. Wyler’s phone with hers. But she started to welcome the distraction.
“Are you sure you meant this for me?” she replied.
“Absolutely,” he replied.
Before she could write something back, he called.
“Hi,” she answered the phone.
Janie wasn’t sure if she wanted to talk to any man at the moment, but she made pleasant small talk anyway. It was still part of her job.
“How are you feeling?” she asked. “How is your head?”
“It hurts,” he answered. “I am embarrassed but I think I didn’t do anything too silly last night, thanks to you. I vaguely remember you helping me into a car or something like that. Thank you for that.”
“I helped yeah,” she said. “Looks like you and Mrs. Wyler came to an agreement.”
“To say that Lola and I got into it is putting it mildly,” he chuckled.
“Eww,” she moaned. “TMI.”
“Not like that, jeezus,” he protested. “We had a major conversation. And yes, we resolved our differences.”
“Good. I am glad for all involved,” Janie said. “Enjoy your day if you feel up to it.”
She was just about to end the call when he stopped her.
“Hey wait a minute,” he laughed again. “The reason why I called is I don’t know what you’re doing today but I have to get out of the house. And the only cures for a hangover I know of are either drinking or fresh air. How are you on motorcycles? I thought I’d take you for a thank you ride.”
Janie had the urge, but thought twice about telling him that Harry was really his good Samaritan, but she no longer wanted to be Harry Wyler’s champion, after finding the earrings.
“That’s considerate and really no harm done. I think I’ll pass,” she said. “I work for the Wylers and you – well, it might not be appropriate.”
“Appropriate? You’re too young to be appropriate. Honestly, I really do owe you an apology for being in the state I was in and I can’t think of a better way than to take you on a ride with me. I need to get out of the house and I was thinking maybe you do to, if you can spare the time. I’m not being weird. Just going for a ride around this gorgeous countryside of ours. You gotta experience it on a bike. And I won’t enjoy it as much by myself.”
Janie needed to get out herself, she decided, as she stared outside one of the mansion’s many picture windows with the bright blue sky showing through. The clear California sky was particularly brilliant. It filled her with enthusiasm.
“Okay,” she relented.
She could be back before Mrs. Wyler made it out of her bedroom, likely. It would be good tonic for her.
“Yeah it does sound like fun,” she relented. “As long as you don’t go as fast as you do on the bicycles, I think I’ll be fine.”
He laughed softly and slowly gained more appeal to her.
“Have you ever been on one?” he asked. “A motorcycle I mean?”
“No, I haven’t,” she said.
“I’ll take you for an easy ride then. We can work our way up to full-adventure,” he said. “It’s just really gorgeous out.”
“It’s always gorgeous out. This is California,” she said. “But yeah, you’ve sold me on the idea.”
“So, the prescribed attire is full length jeans and shoes with some kind of a heel, like boots if you have them,” he said. “Save the spike heels for album covers.”
“What?” she asked.
“It’s my lame attempt at humor,” he replied. “Wear boots.”
“I have boots,” she said.
“Perfect,” he said. “See you in a few.”
She had just enough time to change and eat a yogurt. There was no sign of Harry or Mrs. Wyler or any other form of life by the time Janie went out front to wait. Only for a split second did work cross her mind. First the earrings and then a mental note to check on Mr. Wyler’s class ring. She made a conscious decision to put all of that out of her mind so she could actually enjoy herself.
As she stood in the driveway her eyes wandered towards the end of the estate where Harry’s room was. She had a mild impulse to knock on his door and ask him the questions that were on her mind, but she didn’t. Colin Morrissey’s bike crested the hill and headed her way. The sight of him took her mind off of Harry completely.
Janie had to admit that the sight of the sexy professor or whatever he was, on a bike was good medicine. It certainly made it easy to forgive his drunken stupor of the night before. Now two ways about it, Colin was sexy. The universe was trying to tell her she needed to live more. One moment, she hadn’t really been thinking about guys, and the next, she was overloaded with them.
Janie beamed as the beast of a bike, black metal and chrome, eased up in front of her. It was a really a gorgeous machine. Colin had the total attire with the helmet and chrome glasses.
“Nice, hunh?” he asked proudly.
“Gotta admit,” she nodded.
“So,” he said, handing her a helmet. “Just hold on. Climb on behind me and hold on. Lean into me and with me. I’ll go slow.
She slipped on the helmet which he helped her to adjust, and swung her leg around, to take her place comfortably behind him. She pressed her palms timidly on his solid, broad back. He quickly corrected her hold, drawing her arms around him. She pressed her upper body up against his broad back, acutely aware of the intimacy of the position.
Janie wasn’t sure what she had gotten herself into but once the bike was engaged and rolled out on the clean, smooth asphalt coursing between the multimillion dollar homes, any mild stirrings she felt for Colin halted. In a cruel turn, her head replaced Colin with Harry. It was like she was haunted. In her imagination, it was Harry, not Colin, driving the motorcycle.
The naughty combination of all that stirred her about him, was only heightened by the sensuality of the bike ride. The weightlessness of the ride felt like a magic carpet. It was so tough not to pretend she had her arms wrapped around Harry instead; she cursed him for he, it seemed, cursed her first. She absent-mindedly squeezed Colin so tight that he had to tap her hand. He pulled over.
Now I’ve done it, she thought.
“Sorry,” she apologized.
“Are you afraid?” he asked sympathetically.
“I am fine,” she lied.
Little did Colin know that he had an extra passenger. He started up again. The bike sped down to the bottom of the hill before turning around. The ride made her stomach drop like a roller coaster would, the exhilaration coiling tight, tickling at her core. The thrill of the curves created such a force in her that she released with a full, sensual sigh.
“Goodness,” he remarked. “What was that?”
Janie had to lie again to cover her tracks that the motorcycle and thoughts of Harry were threatening her control.
“I guess I am a little afraid after all,” she said.
“I am a safe driver,” he promised.
Despite was Colin saying this was a gratitude ride, she sensed that he liked her. She might have entertained the idea of the two of them on the cusp of her sexy burglar encounter, but their age difference was a little more than she was interested in for now. She would let the ride go on for so long before she requested to turn around.
The trees blurred past as the street became a road, leaving behind the neighborhood and cut deep into the redwoods. The scene was majestic and sensual. All of this was so close to where Janie lived. Colin pulled over to the side of the road again. They each lifted the masks of their helmets to speak.
“Is something wrong?” asked Janie.
“No I just thought it would be nice to stop for a sec and enjoy the scenery,” he said. “You enjoying yourselfAre you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah I am good but I have this nagging feeling that I should head back to be there when Lola wakes,” she replied.
“I think she’s fine. We came to an agreement,” he shared.
She laughed.
“So, you said,” she smiled. “We got that impression when you two rolled into the front door.”
“Ouch,” he winced. “So, I had a full audience.”
“Sorry,” she said.
“No, I deserve it,” he said.
“Just curious, what was the agreement? An offer of cash?” she kidded
“Along those lines. You would think after I let her son off the hook that he would have the good sense to stay away,” said Colin.
“What do you mean?” she asked, startled.
“Allegra said he was at the house last night and I am pretty sure I saw him there this morning,” said Colin. “He’s pushing it. I can change my mind. It’s not like anyone signed anything. We will, but we haven’t.”
“Nice of you to let it roll off your back,” asked Janie feeling ridiculously wounded.
She had wanted to sexually maul Harry the night before and now she was very clear why he put the brakes on kissing her. Despite all that he said about Allegra Morrissey being the aggressor, it was probably all a story and Janie fell for it, hook, line and sinker. She let her feelings get hurt that he didn’t follow through; now she was glad for it. She was smart enough to get him out of trouble but not smart enough to not be played by him.
“You don’t look so good,” Colin noted.
She didn’t feel so good. She would be okay to ride but she definitely felt ill.
“To tell you the truth, I might be a little motion sick,” she said.
“Let’s get you back,” he said.
Janie squeezed Colin tight as the bike pulled out onto the road. She just wanted to be home without the Wylers in it. Harry and Allegra and Lola Wyler and Colin Morrissey all had a world and she was really just a piece of furniture in it.
Colin only needed her because he didn’t want to ride alone. Well she wasn’t going to be at anyone’s service anymore. Janie could not wait till she off the bike and in her space, to make some real plans for a real life.
Much to Janie’s annoyance, Colin rolled up into the Wylers’ driveway instead of hers, by mistake. She barely let the bike come to a safe stop before dismounting. Harry sauntered out the front door as though he were waiting for her. The sight of his long, legs which even in the jeans he wore, looked powerful might have her insides flutter but now they made her mad. He approached and lifted her mask. She should have smacked his hand away but she didn’t.
“Oh my,” he said. “Someone looks hot in a helmet.”
His voice was like silk, so sensual that it irked her even more. She lowered the masked and removed the helmet. Her hair cascaded all around her as she did.
“You shouldn’t really touch someone unless you asked,” she snipped.
“Noted,” he replied crisply, connecting with her gaze with narrow, sharp eyes. “Colin.”
She turned to avoid him, secretly hoping that the dramatic reveal of her hair turned him on.
“Harry,” Colin returned coldly. “Well thanks for the ride, Jane.”
He let the bike roll backwards before starting and riding off, leaving Janie and Harry in a moment of awkwardness.
“That’s an interesting date,” said Harry with quiet sarcasm. “Is this what grown up Janie does?”
He was definitely taunting her and she took the bait.
“Excuse me?” she challenged.
She was white hot. She scowled with all the ugly that she had. He laughed at her.
“Oh my,” he said again. “Someone is riled.”
She fought hard not to let him push her buttons but she was in a game that was harder not to play than to play.
“Is someone?” she said in a sarcastic tone. “Do you have somewhere to be or are just going to wait around for your parents to die?”
She froze, not really believing those harsh words came out of her mouth. It was a good line but she might have gone a bit too far.
“What the hell did you just say?” he demanded. “I could fire you for that.”
She fired back, “And I was going to apologize, until you just said what you said. Go ahead. Tell your mother.”
“I am not going to but I will if I have to. They worked out an agreement, you know. If things reverse and he changes his mind, I am going to put it all on you,” he said.
Harry was showing his true Wyler colors. Just when she though he might be a little different, she learned the hard way, he was just the same. She swallowed hard.
“Your mother introduced him so I could fix things for you,” she reminded him.
“There’s fixing and then there’s fixing,” he replied acidly. “Which kind did you do?”
“I don’t answer to you, Harry Wyler,” she snapped.
She recoiled. Her plan was to turn her back to him and march to the guest house. She didn’t want to stick around for an experience of his brutal Wyler tongue. If he was like his mother, he could dish it out and he was right on the verge of being ugly.
She wanted to move but she couldn’t. They both froze, seemingly waiting for their next move.
Chapter Nine
When the fog in her mind cleared, Janie imagined she could feel an apology coming on. He reached for her but she raised her hand and signaled him to stop.
“Whatever,” she declared, storming away from him. “We’re even.”
On automatic pilot, she put one foot in front of the other to make it to her cottage so she could cry. Her bad life choices were more obvious to her by the minute. Looking back on it, joining up with Colin was a big mistake. After Harry insinuated that it was more than just a ride in the country, the whole thing made her feel dirty.
For the first time since working for the Wylers, the thought of quitting on the spot took hold of her. It crossed her mind before mildly but now it was planted, agonizing her. It was the only thing that would make her feel better.
She heard Harry’s footsteps as he tried to catch up with her.
“Hey!” he called. “Hey wait up.”
She made it to the cottage when he called again.
“Janie,” he insisted. “Hey!”
She faced him.
“Harry,” she practically begged. “Now I am telling you to leave it. You and I - I think it is better if you and I keep our distance. I don’t know any other way to say. We have a thing – I mean – please – “
“Come on, we can’t avoid each other, that’s ridiculous. I gotta remind you that I am going to live here now that I am not at San Jose State anymore.
“Yes, I know,” she said. “You’re going to Stanford. You still haven’t asked me to help you with the paper work for all of that but whatever.”
“I can handle all of that myself,” he said. “My point is, we have to figure out how to co-exist. All I want to do is talk to you.”
“No,” she said, her voice cracking. “Not for now at least. I can’t be anywhere around you.”
“Is this attitude because I didn’t kiss you?” he asked throwing his hands up.
Janie gawked.
“I didn’t give you attitude, you gave me attitude,” she said.
Harry gave one of his best mournful gazes.
“That won’t work,” she warned him, trying not to look at him directly.
She would only weaken if she did.
“Okay,” he replied, holding his hands up in truce. “Whatever you want. This is me, backing off now.”
And with that, he stepped back, letting her go into her residence. She sat on her bed, counting to ten, trying to calm down from the drama. She was saddened that she had only felt alive for a fleeting moment when a stranger kissed her, or even more so when she thought that stranger was Harry Wyler. She couldn’t even allow herself fantasies.
Janie fell into a deep, cat nap and woke to the sound of a police car radio. She darted to the widow and spied. The sight of cop cars in the Wyler driveway was tiresome. She quietly stepped out the front of her door like a nosey neighbor.
From what she could tell, they weren’t the same police that were out the day before. All the way down to her cottage, she could hear Mrs. Wyler’s droning on and on as she marched through the thick of cops.
Tall, sexy, disheveled-hair Harry appeared from the house. Involuntarily she sucked in her breath at how good looking found him. He cut his glance to her right as if he could read her mind. He caught her staring.
She could have fainted. From the distance between the main house and hers, he had the power to stir her attraction into overload with a simple look. Half of her wanted to go see what was going on but unless the Wylers summoned her, she was going to say out of it. But helping out was still her job. She slipped on her Louis Vuitton sunglasses and padded up to join them.
The cops milled in behind Mrs. Wyler as she led them in through the door when Janie entered the main house. They headed to the vault where she had been taking inventory earlier. Mrs. Wyler’s eyes swept her before laying on a nasty scowl.
“It’s nice of you to show,” Mrs. Wyler remarked acidly, in her loud, brassy voice.
“I saw the police cars,” said Janie in a passive tone.
There was no reason for Mrs. Wyler to be upset with her. She could only guess Harry complained to his mother about her, or it was the hangover talking.
“We’ve had some complaints we’re following up on,” said the officer to Janie. “Your mother filed a complaint about a break-in here a couple of days ago and we think some other local incidences might be related.”
“Officers, we can discuss all that later. As I said, I am on my way out to travel abroad,” she said and then cut her eyes darkly to Janie to add, “plans which I had to make myself and she’s not my daughter.”
Now that Mrs. Wyler mentioned travel, Janie saw the bags stacked up at the door. Half of her was overjoyed that her boss was leaving but most of her was embarrassed in front of the cops. Mrs. Wyler taking her foul mood out on Janie.
“I see you did the inventory of the jewelry cabinet,” said Mrs. Wyler primly to her. “Was anything missing?”
