Mary Baxter - Tempting Janey

Robin had told her that called for a celebration. Ignoring the fact that she was dead on her feet, Janey had agreed. Now, however, she was regretting Robin’s choice of restaurant, although this one was the most upscale in Hunter—the place to be seen, Robin had said with a grin.

They had barely been seated and ordered their drinks when Robin said in an excited voice, “Mom, did you see who’s here?”

“Lots of people,” she responded with wide-eyed innocence.

Robin’s mouth curved downward. “Oh, Mom, I know you saw him. It’s Dillon.”

“Mr. Reed to you, my dear,” Janey said sternly.

“Well, it used to be just Dillon.” Robin’s tone was a bit petulant.

“That was a long time ago. Now he’s your principal, which sets new ground rules.”

“I know.”

“Smile when you say that.”

“Who would ever have thought he’d be my principal? It’s awesome.” Robin’s eyes twinkled. “He’s awesome, actually.”

Janey barely curbed her impatience with the turn this conversation had taken. “Oh, really?”

“So cool, too. All the kids like him lots.”

“I’m glad.”

“You don’t sound like it.”

“That’s not true.”

“You should see your face, Mom. When I mention him, you look like you’ve just bitten into something sour.”

Clearly flustered by her daughter’s astuteness, Janey cleared her throat and peered at the menu. “You’re imagining things.”

“I don’t think so. After all, he and Elaine used to be your and Dad’s best friends. Why don’t you like him anymore?”

Janey tempered a sigh before she raised her eyes back to Robin. “I like him just fine, okay?”

“Whatever you say.” Robin grabbed her cola, which the waiter had just set down, and took a sip. “But I still don’t get it,” she added.

“You don’t have to get it, okay?” Janey’s tone was testy, but she couldn’t help it. Enough was enough. She was glad that Robin was happy at school—delighted, in fact—but that didn’t mean she wanted her evening inundated with Dillon’s praises.

To Janey’s relief, her daughter’s eyes dropped to the menu.

“Good evening, ladies.”

Janey groaned inwardly. His deep voice and his up-close-and-personal nearness could no longer be avoided. At least he hadn’t brought his woman friend with him. Janey forced herself to look up and say in a pleasant tone, “Hello, Dillon.”

His gaze settled on her a tad longer before switching to Robin. “So how’s it going?”

“Uh, great.”

Dillon smiled warmly at Robin. “I’m glad. I hope you two enjoy your dinner.”

“We plan on it,” Robin said, giving him a huge smile in return.

His gaze included both of them briefly before he turned and walked back to his table.

“That’s the first time he’s actually spoken to me since we’ve been back,” Robin said, her voice filled with amazement.

“Unfortunately, the good students like you get lost in the shuffle. While that’s too bad, it’s the truth.”

Robin glanced at Dillon. “I know. You can bet he knows the jerks on campus.” She paused. “I wonder if he’s in love with that woman.”

“I haven’t the foggiest idea, nor do I care.”

“I still don’t know why you don’t like him anymore. Did he do something to piss you off?”

“Robin, don’t push it.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Janey cleared her throat and smiled at the waiter, who had reappeared to take their orders. Once he was gone, she turned that smile on Robin, thinking again what a smart and lovely young woman she was and how proud she was of her—although at times she could certainly try a mother’s patience. This evening was one of those times. Janey knew she’d made a mountain out of a molehill when it came to Dillon. In her own defense, she had been caught off guard, first by his appearance, then by Robin’s enthusiastic response to him.

But she shouldn’t have been surprised. After all, Robin was right: they had been neighbors and friends for years before she and Keith had broken up and she and Robin had moved away. And Robin didn’t have a clue….

“Mom.”

“What, darling?”

“Are you all right?”

Janey gave her a bright and reassuring smile. “Of course. How could I not be? I had a great day at the shop, and I’m having dinner with my most favorite person in the whole world.”

“You don’t miss Dad at all, do you?”

Janey clamped down on another sigh. “No, I don’t. I have to be honest.”

“That’s too bad, because I do.”

“I know, darling, and I’m sorry, for your sake.”

And she was, though she had to admit that Robin’s strong tie to Keith was a nagging worry. While she realized she had no choice but to share her daughter with her ex-husband, she wasn’t thrilled about it.

The two men she least wanted to discuss or have anything to do with—Dillon and Keith—seemed suddenly to have become the dominant topics of conversation.

“Speaking of Dad, he wants me to spend next weekend with him.”

Janey’s chest tightened. “But, darling, that’s the first home game. I thought we could celebrate together.”

“But what about Dad?” Robin asked, a stubborn look on her face. “He feels the same way you do.”

Janey tried to hide her hurt. “If that’s what you want to do.”

“I just wish I wasn’t pulled between the two of you all the time.”

Janey’s heart wrenched. “I know, and I’m sorry about that, too. But that’s the way it is.”

Their food chose that moment to arrive, for which Janey was grateful. She wished things could be different, but they weren’t. Sooner or later, Robin was going to have to accept that, as painful as it was.

They ate in silence for a moment, then Robin looked at her with another grin on her lips. Relieved, Janey answered with one of her own. “So what’s up?”

Robin giggled. “What makes you think there’s anything up?”

“I know you, especially when you get that certain look on your face.”

“I met someone—or, at least, I saw him again.”

“Ah, a him.”

“Come on, Mom, give me a break.”

Janey forced a straight face. “Sorry, I’ll be good.”

“His name is Chad Burnette. And talk about a side of beef…”

“Robin!”

“Well, that’s what he is. He’s to die for, and he paid attention to me.”

“Tell me something about him.”

“I met him at Beverly’s. He’s a friend of her older brother. And he’s our team quarterback.”

“My, my, that is a coup.”

Robin squirmed in her chair. “Oh, my gosh, Mom, you have no idea how many girls would give one of their boobs to date him.”

“I doubt that,” Janey said, trying to hide her dismay at her daughter’s choice of words. Would her own child never cease to amaze her? Or shock her?

“I’m assuming he hasn’t called yet?”

“No.” Robin’s face lost some of its animation. “But I’m praying he will.”

Janey smiled, reached over and squeezed Robin’s hand. “Stop fretting. He’ll call. After all, you’re drop-dead gorgeous. How could he not go for you?”

“You’re just biased.”

“Who, me?”

They both laughed, then went back to eating. After finishing a bite, Robin said, “Look, Mom, Mr. Reed and his squeeze are leaving.”

Janey forced herself not to react, though her gaze did unwittingly drift in that direction. For a split second her eyes and Dillon’s met and held. Dillon’s appraisal of her seemed deliberate, she thought. What was he trying to prove?

Then he nodded, breaking the link. She flushed before turning away.

“I can’t wait to tell Bev I saw Mr. Reed.” Robin made a face. “I hate calling him that. It sounds too funky.”