Tarzan & Janine (12 page)

What would it hurt? It would get her name straightened out and give her more airtime. Maybe she wasn’t destined to be discovered in the theatre. Perhaps she could be discovered while doing commercials. They’d see how photogenic she was and offer her parts of greater distinction, something worthy of an Academy Award. A thrill of excitement winged through her veins.

Tanner cleared his throat. “Well?”

Janine came back to earth from the stage at the Academy Awards celebration in her mind. “I suppose it would be all right.”

Before she could protest, Tanner grabbed her shoulders, planted a kiss on her lips, and strode away.

Tanner Pesky was like one of those cartoon characters.
Which one was it? Oh yes, the Tasmanian Devil
. Whirl in, sweep a girl off her feet, and whirl out again. Janine had to take a few deep breaths to regain her balance before she could walk out through the showroom and into the car lot.

The talk show sounded interesting. She wondered what questions would be asked, wishing she could prepare her answers ahead of time. Oh well, whatever happened, happened. She just hoped the interview wouldn’t be any more career-limiting than chasing monkeys or getting choked by a snake.

* * *

“Welcome to Austin Live, I’m Lisa Grant. Today I’m pleased to introduce Tanner Peschke and Janine Davis, Austin’s own Tarzan and Jane.”

Tanner cringed behind his pasted-on smile. That wasn’t going to make Janine happy. She’d hoped to make this appearance count toward setting the record straight on her name and acting career. He didn’t mind being called Tarzan because the moniker was good for the business, but he knew how Janine felt about being called Jane.

When he stole a glance at her face, he was surprised to see her smiling, albeit a strained smile, but a smile nonetheless. Pride and admiration swelled in his chest. She was a born actress, not one to be swayed by insensitive hosts or car salesmen. Janine knew what she wanted and, dammit, she wasn’t going to stop until she got it.

Tanner shook his head and smiled wryly. He wished it could be so easy. If only he knew what he wanted to do. All his life he’d been raised with the understanding he would take over the car business from his father. But, the closer the reality came, the more he pushed it away. He’d made his first million shortly after graduating from college. With the help and encouragement from the Texas Billionaire’s Club, he’d stockpiled millions in stocks and real estate. But that was all play money. He still didn’t know what he wanted to do—what would make a difference. Selling used cars in the family business just wasn’t it. His promise to his mother kept him holding on.

No longer a kid to be told what to do, Tanner knew he could make his own decisions. The primary problem was he didn’t know what occupation would hold his interest. Day trading he could do anytime, anywhere. To him, the activity wasn’t a real job and having your destiny preordained by family obligation tended to limit your perception of options.

“Tanner, do you have a professional writer and choreographer stage all your commercials?” Lisa’s question shook Tanner from his internal reverie.

“No, Lisa, I write all the copy.” Tanner glanced at Janine’s frown and added, “with my partner, Janine.”

Lisa smiled briefly in Janine’s direction but returned her attention to Tanner. “That’s amazing. So you planned everything that has happened thus far on your commercials?”

“Not exactly,” Tanner hedged.

“You mean the monkey stealing Jane’s top was an accident?”

“Absolutely,” Janine answered quickly. “And the name’s Janine.”

“And the boa putting the squeeze on you wasn’t just to sensationalize the commercial?” Lisa continued with the microphone wavering between the two.

Tanner caught Janine’s gaze and recalled the fear lumped in his throat when he’d thought he couldn’t save her from that blasted snake. “No, that was not supposed to happen.”

“Surely, the kiss was planned,” Lisa stated.

His gaze held Janine’s. “No, it just...”

“...happened.” Janine’s breathy voice finished his sentence as naturally as if she could hear his thoughts.

Lisa looked from Tanner and back to Janine. “Helloooo.” The hostess waved her hand between them to get their attention. “Whose idea was it for the theme of the commercials and the costumes?”

“Mine.” With great effort, Tanner turned his attention to the host.

“The media has nicknamed you both Tarzan and Jane.” Lisa tipped her head, her gaze on Tanner. “You have Janine wearing a Jane outfit. Why aren’t you wearing a Tarzan loin cloth?”

Startled by the question, Tanner was at a loss for words.

“Because he’s a sexist chicken,” Janine answered, her eyebrows quirking upward.

What was she up to?

“Isn’t that a little degrading to be the only one in such a skimpy costume while doing the commercials?” Lisa’s attention moved to Janine.

“As a matter of fact, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.” Janine’s voice held a dangerous tone.

Tanner would have considered the tone sexy had it not been directed at him along with a narrow-eyed stare. He gave both women a winning smile. “Now, wait a minute, ladies. It’s not fair. There’s two of you against the one of me. This isn’t some battle of the sexes. Besides, the costume makes the commercial.” Tanner’s smile turned cajoling at Janine’s fierce glare. “Look, honey, you can’t
not
wear it. That would take away from the theme and ruin the feel.”

“Honey?” Her voice rose and she crossed her arms over her luscious breasts. “I’m not wearing it anymore.”

Tanner gulped. The image her statement generated certainly was not what she had intended. He envisioned her in nothing at all. His more attentive parts perked up. As casually as possible, he crossed his legs to hide the evidence. “Janine, be reasonable.” Tanner pasted on
his
most reasonable smile. He could kick himself now for suggesting they do the talk show. If Janine refused to wear the Jane outfit, who would watch the commercials?

Janine sniffed, and then gave him a look that made him worried.

“Look, honey, I’ll make a deal with you,” she said in her breathy voice, leaning close.

His gaze fixed on her lush mouth. “Something tells me I’m not gonna like it.”

The corners of her lips curved and her blue eyes glinted. “I’ll continue to wear the Jane outfit, if you wear a Tarzan loin cloth.”

His mouth opened, ready to tell her just how ridiculous the idea was.

“That’s perfect.” Lisa whooped and clapped her hands.” I could just see it now. Tarzan and Jane take Austin by storm.”

Tanner glared at Lisa. “No way.”

Janine’s eyebrows rose. “What’s the matter, Tanner...you chicken?”

“No, but what self-respecting man would be caught dead in a loin cloth in public?”

“And it’s alright for a woman to be seen in the outfit you have me wearing? Tsk, tsk, Tanner.” Her blonde hair swayed as she shook her head. “Haven’t you heard of equality?”

Outnumbered and outmaneuvered, Tanner knew he wouldn’t win this argument. Come Friday, he’d be wearing a damned loin cloth.

* * *

“Here’s one,” Janine called over the racks of costumes crisscrossing the floor of the costume shop.

An answering mumble alerted her to Tanner’s location. She found him hiding behind the Henry VIII costumes, a frown permanently etched between his brows. “Oh come on, quit crying. A deal’s a deal.”

“Look, I’ll let you choose the next animal for the commercial if you forget all about this cockamamie idea,” he said, his gaze pleading with her.

Janine shook her head and crooked her finger, indicating he should follow her to the changing room.

But, he stood fast.

She dangled the scrap of fabric pinned to the clothes hanger. It was the size of a handkerchief. A folded one, at that.

“No way, you can’t really expect me to wear that?” he said, horror jamming his eyebrows halfway up his forehead.

“Why not? It’s as presentable as the Jane ensemble.”

Tanner lowered his voice and bent toward her. “Not to be bragging or anything, but it’s not big enough.”

Well, Tanner had that right. The man was well equipped as he’d proved the night before in her apartment. Still, she wanted to see him in the loin cloth. Her pulse pounded in anticipation “Prove it.” She held out the scrap of fabric. “Come on. Don’t be a baby.”

“I certainly don’t need to prove anything to you.”

“Well, then stop your belly-aching and get in there.”

When he still didn’t budge, she gave him a stern look. “You’re not going to go back on your promise, are you? You gave your word in front of God and everybody on public television. If you don’t show up in a loincloth, the entire city of Austin will know you can’t keep your promises. Then who would buy cars from you or your business?”

Tanner sagged, his willpower crumbling.

She could see by the disgruntled look on his face.

“I’m swearin’ off all women,” he muttered. “They’re nothing but trouble.”

She held back a grin.“Come on Romeo, try this on.”

Tanner looked like a little boy being forced to stand in a corner for some infraction.

“It won’t bite, you know.” She dangled the loincloth.

“That’s where you’re wrong. It does bite. It bites big time.”

Janine found a chair and pulled it over in front of the dressing room. This was a show she didn’t want to miss. Her mouth was already watering. Tanner was a handsome man with a body any girl would enjoy watching.

Tanner ducked into the changing room, a scowl making him look fierce and even cuter.

“So Tanner, how long have you been doing commercials for the dealership?” Talking to a door was somewhat easier than talking to his face. She didn’t get quite as distracted.

“For the last year or so.” His voice was muffled by the door and possibly a shirt going over his head.

“Have you thought of doing them for a living?”

A loud thump rattled the wall and shook the door. Tanner let loose a muttered curse. “Not really. Why should I?”

“Well for one, you’re pretty good at being in front of the camera.”

“Naw, it’s just for fun. When you grow up in a family-owned business, you have to find your fun somewhere. This is mine. What about you? What made you want to be an actress?”

“I guess I spent so many years watching all the oldies on the television and the actresses seemed larger than life. I always wanted to be as good as a Carol Lombard or Joan Crawford.”

“Or Marilyn Monroe?”

Janine sighed. “Yes. They were great, weren’t they?”

“Don’t you ever want to settle down and raise a family?”

“No.” She couldn’t afford to let emotions get in the way of attaining her career goals.

“Excuse me for asking,” came the voice from the other side of the door. “Damn. Which end is up on this thing? What did you do, find the smallest one in the store?”

“No, actually it was the biggest.” She smiled at his obvious discomfort with the whole dress-up thing.

“Why are you so set against raising a family? I thought every woman’s dream was to have children and a house with a picket fence.”

Janine shook her head, even though he couldn’t see her through the door. “You’ve been watching too many old movies too.”

“So you want a career and no family?”

“I didn’t say that, you did,” she said.

“Then humor me, what is it you want?”

What was it she wanted? “For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be an actress, and I plan to be successful at it if it kills me. I won’t sacrifice my dreams for a family.”

“Sounds like some history behind that comment.”

For a few moments, Janine didn’t reply. Somehow talking to a door was easier than to Tanner in person. “My mother was nineteen when she got married. All her life, she’d wanted to be a commercial pilot, but when she got married, she gave up her dreams. And what did that choice get her? A divorce and one little girl to raise on her own, making barely more than minimum wage.”

“Was it her choice to leave him or his?”

“What does it matter? She lost her dreams when she married.” Her hands tightened in her lap. “I will attain my dreams before I decide on anything else. Otherwise, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”

“Did your mother regret it?”

Funny, but Janine had never asked her. “I don’t know,” she answered in all honesty. “She says she doesn’t, but what are you gonna tell your kid? Sweetie, I gave up everything for you, but now I take it back? ”

“Perhaps you should talk to her about it. Ask her if she really doesn’t regret it.”

“I will, next time we talk.” Had her mother regretted her life? She’d worked very hard to take care of her little girl.

Janine remembered when her mother had been battling breast cancer. She’d been so sick with the chemo treatments and thought she was dying. Lillian Davis had gripped her daughter’s hands and stared up from the pillow. “Promise me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, but intense enough to resonate like a scream.