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“Very well,” the woman agreed.
Agreed? Was she kidding him?
Alex grabbed her sleeve. Through clenched teeth he whispered, “I won’t stand for this! I want a room alone.”
“But there are no other accommodations, Dr. Myerson. It’s all right. I won’t be barging in on you. All you have to do is close the door to my room and lock it.”
She signed the charge card receipt and received the two keycards the clerk handed her. In turn, she handed one of them to Alex. Then she gave the bellhop a tip and her room number. “Ready to go up?”
“Yeah.” He glowered at her as he spoke.
Keeping a smile on her face, she moved to the elevators as if everything was hunky-dory. Which only irritated him more.
“This isn’t going to work,” he muttered under his breath in the elevator.
“It will be fine, Dr. Myerson,” she insisted, whispering also.
The elderly woman in front of them turned to face them. “Young man, if you’re having second thoughts, you shouldn’t go in that room with her. After all, you’re a married man, aren’t you?”
Suddenly Miss Tyler wasn’t as calm as she had been. Her voice held an icy tone that frosted the elevator car. “We don’t need your advice, ma’am.”
“When he’s already doubting the wisdom of spending the night with you, I should think you’d be too proud to go ahead with your plans.”
Luckily the elevator stopped then on their floor. Without even a glance to the older woman, Miss Tyler took Alex by the arm and started out.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Alex wrenched his arm from her hold. “I don’t like to be touched!”
She stared at him, opening her mouth as if she was going to say something impetuously. Then she closed it and went down the corridor to their rooms. When he joined her, she said coolly, “I’ll keep that in mind, Dr. Myerson.”
She slipped the keycard in the lock and opened his door, standing back for him to precede her into the room. The suite had a small living room with floor-to-ceiling windows that presented a glorious view of Fisherman’s Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge.
“Oh, my! I’ve always heard about the beauty of San Francisco, but this is even more beautiful than I imagined.”
She swung around, a broad smile on her face, as if she expected him to join her at the window.
He ignored her. He wasn’t going to talk about the view, or how much she reminded him of Jenny. Until he was alone, he couldn’t regain his composure.
After a sigh, she walked over to the door and opened it to another door. “Here’s the connecting door, Dr. Myerson.” She checked her watch. “You have two and a half hours before you have to appear for the interview. When you’re ready for a snack, knock and let me know.”
After he nodded, she walked out to the hall, closing the door behind her.
A pristine king-size bed, drew him and he flopped down on his back. Damn! One day on tour and the woman was driving him crazy!
Not that he was attracted to her. Of course not! But sometimes she reminded him of Jenny. Those feelings were painful. When she’d touched him, he’d wanted to shake off her hold at once. There was some kind of odd chemistry between them, he had to admit. One he intended to avoid from now on.
A knock on the door grabbed his attention. He was relieved to realize it was the hall door. He opened it and found the bellhop there with the luggage.
“Come in,” he said, swinging the door wide. Then he knocked on the connecting door. When Miss Tyler opened the door, he nodded in the direction of the bellhop, who entered her room.
Alex closed the door and lay back down on the bed, but he had to get up only a couple of minutes later when someone knocked on the connecting door. He assumed the bellhop had forgotten something. When he swung the door open, he found Tabitha Tyler standing there.
“Yes?”
“If you won’t need me for an hour, I’m going up to the gym to work out. It relieves my tension.”
If she’d had any tension, she’d hidden it, except for her reaction to the busybody in the elevator. But her solution to relieving taut muscles appealed to him. Since Mona had put him on a fitness regimen, he’d learned the value of exercise. “Mind if I go up with you? I’d like to work out, too.”
Though she looked surprised, she nodded. “Of course. I’ll be ready in about ten minutes. Just knock on the door when you’re ready.”
He nodded and shut the door again. Then he hurriedly opened his bag to take out some workout clothes. He’d be able to handle the interview better after working out.
When he knocked on the door and she opened it, he realized his mistake. Tabitha Tyler in workout clothes was quite different from the sleek young woman in a designer suit. That suit had hinted at curves in all the right places. Her leotard and tights left nothing to the imagination.
He wasn’t sure exercise would reduce his tension if Tabitha Tyler was in his line of vision.
Tabitha had taken one of her videos with her to the gym. After a quick warm-up, she put her tape in the video player and began her exercise program for aerobic training. Before she knew it, she’d drawn three or four other women who were following the video. When she finished the forty-five-minute tape, the ladies asked where they could get a copy.
Tabitha gave them the Web site where they could order the tape. Then she looked for her charge. Earlier he’d been working out on some of the machines, but now she spotted him jogging on the indoor track.
“Dr. Myerson?” she called and jogged onto the track to catch up with him.
“Yes?” he said, not stopping.
“I’ve finished working out. Are you ready to go back to the room?”
“No, I’ll be up in a minute.”
“What kind of snack would you like? I’ll order it before I get in the shower.”
“Surprise me,” he said abruptly.
She stopped jogging and stepped off the track, her hands on her hips. “Okay!” she muttered. The man was determined to be difficult. Fine, she’d please herself.
Once she’d reached her room, she checked the menu. They had a sampler tray of various hors d’oeuvres. Surely something on the tray would tempt Dr. Myerson, assuming he ever allowed anything to tempt him!
They promised delivery in fifteen to twenty minutes, so she hurried into the bathroom for a quick shower. With time to spare she was dressed in a blouse and tailored slacks, her hair already dried and curled with a curling iron. She’d learned to dress quickly when she was in college and constantly overslept.
The waiter delivered the sampler tray and several sodas. As soon as he’d left the room, she knocked on the connecting door. There was no answer.
“Great!” She didn’t know if he was there and in the shower, hadn’t come back yet or wouldn’t answer because he wanted to be left alone.
She walked over to the windows to stare at the city and bay. It was impressive.
Surprisingly, there was a knock on the connecting door. She spun around and hurried to it.
“Dr. Myerson, come in. Our snack is here.”
He too was already dressed, in a dark suit with a blue shirt. “I was dressing when you knocked on the door. Sorry to keep you waiting,” he said.
There was no smile, but at least he had developed some good manners. “No problem. I ordered a sampler tray to be sure I found something you’d like.”
“Thank you.” He helped himself to a drink and poured a diet soda for her.
She thanked him and sat on the sofa opposite his matching chair. They ate in complete silence. Finally, when Tabitha could stand it no longer, she asked, “Are you nervous about the interview, Dr. Myerson?”
“No.”
“Have you been to San Francisco before?”
“Yes.”
Tabitha sighed. Talk about hard work!
“When were you here?” she persisted, hoping to find some topic to talk about.
“I was here four years ago on my honeymoon.” This time his voice was steely, daring her to continue.
“I see. I didn’t realize how difficult this trip would be for you. We’ll need to leave in about half an hour. If you’ll excuse me, I need to do a little work before we go.”
She stood and moved to the table where she took out her files and thought about calling Mona. This tour was a disaster before his first interview!
Alex knew he’d been difficult. After she moved to the table, he stood and walked to the window, his hands in his pockets.
He needed to get himself under control. His behavior wasn’t going to bring Jenny back. Had he really thought if he didn’t share her death with anyone, it would be easier? If that was true, then he was worse than his patients.
If he kept his cool and did good interviews, more people might buy his book and understand about Jenny. He wanted people to know his wife, to appreciate the kind of person she was.
He didn’t want them to know how devastated he was.
After a quick glance at Miss Tyler, he went to his room. He needed to make sure his mind was organized.
And he needed to stop making Miss Tyler the enemy.
She’d done as Mona promised, made his trip more comfortable. And he hadn’t been very appreciative. For Jenny’s sake, he owed her an apology. But it was difficult. She was extremely attractive and he felt some kind of reaction when they touched. And when he watched her exercising.
So he didn’t want to touch her. But he could be more cooperative. He could use good manners, at least…couldn’t he?
Alex sat on the edge of his bed. He’d hidden away from the world since Jenny died. The only contact he’d had was with his publisher and then Mona, and a few patients he still had.
It wasn’t healthy. He knew that, but he’d shoved aside what he’d learned in his studies, as if none of it applied to him. But he’d been wrong.
One day spent in the real world was an awakening he didn’t welcome. But if he continued on the tour, he had no choice.
He had to come to terms with the reality that Jenny would never come back.
With her makeup applied and her jacket on, Tabitha drew a deep breath, prepared to face the dragon in the next room. Every time he spoke, she saw an imaginary flame come out of his mouth, warning her not to approach him. If he continued to behave in such a manner, she didn’t think his interviews would go well.
When she knocked on the door, Dr. Myerson opened it at once.
“We need to leave now to be sure we get there a little early.” She smiled, even though she expected no smile in return. Turning on her heel, she led the way to the door.
When they reached the elevator, she kept her distance, remembering his remark that he didn’t like to be touched. It still amazed her that he could’ve written that inspired book. She intended to reread it after the tour.
When they got in the taxi, she looked at her notes once more. “The interviewer is Helen Wilson, a life-styles reporter. I’ll give her the questions we worked on and talk to her about the limitations you want her to follow.”
“Thank you. I want to apologize for my behavior, Tabitha. And I hope you’ll call me Alex. It’s…unfriendly to remain so formal.”
Tabitha turned to her companion. He was staring straight ahead, his features devoid of emotion. She wondered if she’d imagined his words. “That will be fine…Alex.”
“I appreciate the patience you’ve shown.”
He was like a ventriloquist, speaking without moving his lips. She blinked several times. Then she said, “Perhaps you’ll tell my sisters that. Though I doubt they’d believe you.”
That response actually made him turn his head to look at her. “Your sisters? The other two of the triplets?”
“Yes. I’m the most impatient of the three of us.”
“I’ve thought about doing a study of multiple births,” he said slowly. “But most people don’t like to be studied.”
Tabitha smiled. “That’s because they’ve been stared at too often. We enjoy each other’s company, but when the three of us appear together, we have to deal with a lot of surprise and questions.”
“Do you resent it?” he asked, showing interest for the first time.
“No, not exactly. We just get tired of feeling like circus freaks.”
“Did your mother dress you alike?”
“When we were little, she did. But when we got old enough to make our own decisions, that ended. Our closet was a free-for-all.” She smiled as she reminisced.
“I was an only child,” he said, frowning.
“I’m sorry. That must’ve been—” She caught herself and took a different approach. “Some people like that, though, because they’re the center of their parents’ attention.”
He didn’t respond.
She didn’t know why he changed back to his silent mode, but she regretted whatever she’d said that offended him. The taxi pulled to a stop and she mentally promised she’d apologize later.
Once they were in the television studio, she met Helen Wilson, an effervescent woman who swept everyone along in her wake.
“I’m so excited to meet Dr. Myerson. His book is so wonderful. It’s like falling in love all over again when I read it.”
“That’s a wonderful way to describe it, Helen,” Tabitha said, feeling better about the interview. “However, Dr. Myerson wants to focus on the applications people can find in his book rather than on the—the personal aspects.”
“Well, of course, he wants his readers to benefit from his wisdom. By the way, did his wife accompany him? I’d love to meet her.”
Tabitha carefully controlled her expression. “No, she didn’t.”
“That’s too bad, but Dr. Myerson will be quite enough for our audience. I’m sure he’s charming.”
Tabitha smiled, not showing her doubts about his charm. “Yes, of course. Shall I introduce you now?”
Mentally crossing her fingers, Tabitha led Helen over to Dr. Myerson. Alex, she reminded herself.
“Alex, allow me to present Helen Wilson, your interviewer. She loved your book.” She hoped her bright smile might induce him to warm up a little.
To her surprise, he took Helen’s hand and smiled at her, as if he were delighted to be there. Tabitha blinked, wondering if she was seeing clearly.
“I’m pleased to meet you, Helen. I love your beautiful city.”
“I know. I feel privileged to live here. Have you visited us before?”
“Yes, but it’s been awhile.”
“We’re glad you came back.” Helen tucked her arm into Alex’s and drew him with her to the set in front of the television cameras.
Tabitha had sucked in a sharp breath when Helen reached out and touched Alex, afraid his reaction would be unfriendly. Instead, one would think he escorted women around the town all the time.
Taking a seat behind the cameras so she could watch the interview, Tabitha prayed Helen kept the discussion away from Alex’s wife. In spite of the wonderful behavior he’d shown the interviewer, she wasn’t sure it would continue.
Half an hour later, she stood and applauded as did everyone on the set. Helen had asked the right kind of questions, and Alex had been more relaxed, more charming, than Tabitha had ever seen him. She walked over to shake Helen’s hand and commend her for the wonderful job she’d done.
When she turned to Alex, intending to repeat her compliments, he leaned close to her and growled, “Get me the hell out of here!”
Again, his facial features didn’t match his words. She was beginning to think she was dealing with a ventriloquist. Facing Helen again, she said, “I hope you’ll excuse us. We didn’t have time to get anything to eat beforehand, so we’re going to fit in a quick meal before the book-signing. But it was wonderful working with you this afternoon.”
“Of course, I understand. Have a great book-signing, Alex.”
He smiled and waved, but he was already on his way out of the studio.
“Are you all right?” Tabitha demanded when she caught up with him, fearing he might be feeling sick.
“Yes, but can we stop for coffee or something?” He continued to sprint forward.
“Yes, of course,” she said, frantically trying to remember if they’d seen any coffee shops in the area. And wondering why he was acting as he was.
When they exited the studio, they saw a coffee shop down the street and walked half a block to it.
“Why don’t you sit down and I’ll get the coffee? Do you want decaf?”
“No, I need the caffeine,” he said roughly, avoiding looking at her.
Were they returning to their earlier cold war? Tabitha hoped not. She wasn’t sure she could handle six weeks of battle with Alex Myerson.
She ordered two coffees and two pieces of carrot cake. A little sugar might make it easier to get through the signing.
Carrying everything on a tray, she reached the table where Alex sat with his head in his hands. Again, she wondered what was wrong. The interview had been spectacular. She couldn’t imagine what had happened that would draw the devastation she saw in his body language.
Tabitha transferred the dishes to the table. Then she returned the tray to the counter and came back to sit down in the chair across from Alex.
He hadn’t raised his head. In fact, she didn’t think he’d moved at all since he’d sat down. “Alex, is there anything else I can get you?”
Finally, he looked up and said no, but his gaze didn’t meet hers.
She shoved his coffee and cake closer to him. “Do you like carrot cake? It’s one of my favorites.”
Instead of answering, he picked up the cup and took a sip of coffee.
Tabitha gave it another try. “The interview went really well. I think it—”
Alex raised his gaze to meet hers, fire in his eyes. With outrage in his voice, he shouted, “Stop!”
Chapter Three
Tabitha stared at him. “What? What did I do?”
“I thought I was doing the right thing, but it was a sell-out!”
She could see anger in his eyes. The man was in pain. Without thinking, she reached out to touch his hand, forgetting that he’d said he didn’t want to be touched.
He withdrew at once.
“Sorry.” Tabitha pulled her hand back, but she couldn’t let him sit there without trying to find out what his problem was. “Alex, please tell me what’s wrong. I can’t help you until you do.”
“I had promised myself I’d stop being difficult. I did the interview, trying to sell books. Then I realized I’d betrayed Jenny! I was using her to sell books!”
Tabitha drew a deep breath. There was no doubt that his anguish was real. After reading the book herself, she knew he and his wife had shared a deep love. Slowly, she said, “I thought you wanted people to know Jenny, to appreciate her.”
“I did! But—but the longer the interview went on, the more I—” He buried his head in his hands again.
“Alex, the reason you wrote the book is because you thought you had learned something that would help other people, right?”
He nodded.
“Well, if they don’t read the book, they won’t understand what you have to say. You didn’t betray Jenny. She would want your book to be a success even if she didn’t believe in what you wrote. But she did. It’s obvious in the book. She believed in you and loved you.”
“But—”
“Am I right?”
“Yes.”
“Then you did exactly what Jenny would want you to do.”
“I didn’t think of it like that.” Alex straightened his shoulders. “Maybe you’re right.”
“I assure you I am. Now, eat your cake and drink the coffee.” She did the same, but she kept an eye on Alex. It appeared to her he’d panicked because he hadn’t discussed his wife or their marriage with anyone before. Today, he’d been forced to open up a little. And it bothered him.
Slowly, he calmed down, thanks to the coffee and cake. She hoped he’d be in shape for his signing, which would start in less than an hour.
When he’d almost finished, she said, “How would you feel about returning to the station to tell Helen the truth?”
His head snapped up. “Why would I do that?”
“People are going to find out that Jenny is dead. When Helen finds out, she’s going to feel that you lied to her. She did a really good job with the interview. If you take her into your confidence, she won’t be angry. She’ll be flattered.”
She thought he wasn’t going to answer. He merely sat there, staring over his coffee cup at an unseen spot on the wall behind her.
Finally, he said, “I suppose you’re right.”
He stood, looking down at her. “You’re going with me, aren’t you?”
“Of course.” She rose at once, but cast a longing look at the rest of her carrot cake.
They walked the half block back to the studio. Just as they reached it, Helen Wilson walked out.
“Helen,” Alex called.
She turned around and came over to them. “Alex, I thought you left long ago.”
“We did, but I—”
“I thought you were going to get something to eat.”
Alex frowned at Tabitha, as if suddenly debating the wisdom of her advice. “We were, but we decided to wait until after the signing.”
“I see. Then what—”
“I need to tell you something.” Alex was concentrating on what he had to say so much, Tabitha didn’t think he even realized he’d interrupted Helen.
“Yes, of course,” she said, moving closer.
“My wife is dead.”
“Dead? Jenny is dead?” Helen responded, sounding a bit alarmed.
Tabitha, sensing the woman’s train of thought, stepped forward when it appeared Alex wasn’t going to explain. “Jenny died a year ago, in a car accident.” She could see the alarm on Helen’s face slowly dissipate, to be replaced by confusion. Tabitha continued, “Alex had started the book while she was alive and finished it as a tribute to their love. He was afraid if he let people know she’d died, they might buy the book out of sympathy. And he also has difficulty talking about Jenny.”
“Well, of course, I understand.”
“You were so kind today, Alex didn’t want you to think he’d lied to you.”
“Oh, Alex,” Helen cooed, moving closer and taking his hand in hers. “You are so wonderful. Let me buy you dinner after the book-signing. We have so much in common. I’m a widow, you know.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “I have to run now, but I’ll see you at the bookstore.”
Before either Alex or Tabitha could speak, she was gone.
Alex turned slowly around to stare at her. “That’s the last time I’ll take your advice!” he exclaimed.
“I didn’t expect her to—to immediately see you as a potential mate,” Tabitha protested.
“What? A potential mate? She’s at least ten years older than me!”
“Age doesn’t matter much these days.”
“It matters to me. Besides, I’m not looking for a woman.”
“I guess you could develop a headache when she arrives,” Tabitha suggested with a grin.
“I have a better idea,” Alex said, glaring at her.
“Uh-oh, I don’t think I’m going to like it.”
“Probably not. But you’re going with us.”
“No! I wasn’t invited!”
“I assumed she meant both of us.” He smiled at her, and then he pointed out that they needed to get to the bookstore.
Tabitha checked her watch and realized they only had twenty minutes before they were supposed to be there. The bookstore people had asked them to arrive half an hour early.
Once they were in the taxi, she tried again. “Alex, I can’t go with you. She didn’t invite me!”
“Either you go with me or I tell Helen I refuse to go with her, which will upset her.”
“It’s going to upset her even more if I play chaperone.”
“What would Mona do?”
“That’s unfair, Alex!”
“I think Mona would protect me from a man-hungry woman.”
“I think you’re a fraud, Alex Myerson. You handled Helen just fine in the interview. You can survive dinner with her.” She held her breath, hoping her challenge would convince him.
He looked at her and shook his head, a grin slowly forming on his lips. A very charming grin. No wonder Helen was after him.
“Fine! I’ll go with you. But you owe me, Alex. No more being difficult.”
“Agreed.” Then he drew a deep breath. “I really appreciate your getting me through this evening. I won’t fall apart again.”