Page 36 of About Last Night

She fought her rising anger. Had he spent all night watching strippers when he wouldn't even spend onemeaningfulnight with her?

"But I knowyourparty was rather spirited," he teased.

Janine frowned. "How could you know?"

He hesitated for a split second, then said, "Since Marie organized it, I don't have to stretch my imagination."

She smiled in concession. "Well, it was innocent fun. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves."

"Janine," Steve said, lowering his voice. She could picture him turning his back to shield his voice from eavesdroppers. "What made you go to the resort in the first place?"

She bit into her lip and glanced toward the bathroom. Derek had turned on the shower. The moment of truth had come, because Steve would never buy the story of her simply wanting to talk. "I thought it was time, Steve."

"Time for what?" His voice rose even higher.

Allowing the silence to speak for her, she sat on the bed and waited for realization to dawn.

"To sleep together?" he hissed.

Janine closed her eyes, since his incredulity was not a good sign. "Yes."

"Janine, we've talked about this—you know how I feel. I want to wait until we're married, and I thought you did, too."

"But Steve, if we're getting married tomorrow, why would one or two nights make a difference?"

"It does," he insisted, sounding as if he was gritting his teeth. "I thought you were a good girl, Janine. Don't disappoint me now."

Warning bells sounded in her ears. "A good girl? What's that supposed to mean?"

He sighed, clearly agitated. "Youknowwhat I mean. Someone who will do the family name proud."

She was stunned into silence. Panic clawed at her.

"Janine?"

He hadn't said anything about love, respect or honor. Did he simply want a virgin to take on the good family name of Larsen? A lump lodged in her throat at her own gullibility.

"Janine?" Desperation laced his voice. "Janine, honey, you know I love you. By waiting until our honeymoon, I thought I was doing the honorable thing."

But she heard his words through a haze. The honorable thing—but for an honorable reason? Nausea rolled in her stomach. "Steve, I... I have to go."

"Dad will get you out of there soon," he said. "Then we can talk."

"Yes," she murmured. "We do need to talk, Steve."

"I'll call you after Dad makes the necessary phone calls," he said, back to his congenial self, their disagreement already smoothed over in his mind. "What room are you staying in?"

"Um, the health club has been turned into an infirmary," she replied truthfully, but evasively. "But it's a madhouse. If you need to talk to me, call and ask for the general manager, Manny Oliver. He knows how to reach me."

The shower in the next room shut off, and Derek's tuneless whistle reached her ears. She closed her eyes against the sexual pull leaking through the keyhole.Not now.

"Oh, and Janine, check in on Derek when you can," Steve said. "I feel better just knowing the two of you are there together."

Chapter 11

FRIDAY 1PM

Dad is still working his contacts at the CDC to get you out of there, but it might take some time. Looks like we'll have to postpone the wedding after all. Love, Steve

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