a large manila envelope, she shoved the stacks of papers into it. She filled two, then sat back with a worried frown.
Whom was she kidding? She could read all of this, study it till the cows came home, and be no further ahead than she was right this minute. She simply had too little understanding of the business world to be able to make intelligent decisions. She needed help, but whom could she trust?
Her father was out of the question. He was too far away and too opinionated. She ruled out her Uncle Judson as well, for though she liked him, he had a tendency to make decisions for people and then expect them to follow without question. Kurt had been a little like that and she wasn’t certain she wanted to start up with another man who’d overpower her. Perhaps it would be best if she went outside the family for assistance.
Janice didn’t know the men who’d advised Kurt—his attorney and his accountant. They’d both been at the funeral, offering to help in any way they could. But she hadn’t particularly liked their somewhat condescending attitude toward her. Maybe she was being overly sensitive, but she’d rather have someone fresh on the scene.
Finally she zeroed in on the name that had been hovering in the back of her mind since her walk with Anna. Grabbing her leather bag, she rummaged around inside until she found what she was searching for. Leaning back in Kurt’s chair, she studied the card David Markus had given her.
Had he meant it when he’d said to call him if she needed anything, or had he just been trying to be polite? A financial adviser with years of business experience seemed the right person to ask. Still, she hesitated.
She’d never called on a man other than Kurt for help. Never. Of course, she shouldn’t think of David as a man, but rather as a business consultant. Janice smiled at her own silliness. Definitely difficult not to think of David Markus as a man first and foremost. However, she was certain he looked upon her as a friend’s wife and nothing more.
Although he had once, for a short time. One long-ago autumn when they’d dated. But that had been when they were both young and carefree. Now, Janice thought of David more as a trusted ally.
With that thought in mind, she dialed his office number. In moments, his secretary came on and told her that David wasn’t in, that he was working from home this afternoon. Before she lost her courage, Janice dialed his home number.
He answered on the third ring.
“David, this is Janice Eber,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound as nervous as she felt. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything important.”
Spooky, David thought. Downright spooky to have the woman he’d been thinking about call just then. “Janice, good to hear from you. How are you holding up?”
“I’m doing fine. Personally, that is. But with the business end of things, not so well.”
“How can I help?”
“I’m not sure. I’m sitting at Kurt’s desk in his office, and I have to admit I’m overwhelmed. I don’t understand the books, a second mortgage on our home, some investments. Kurt’s office manager, Tom Sikes, is more than willing to explain everything, but...”
He caught the pause, the hesitancy, and understood. “But you don’t know him and you’re not sure you can trust him.”
He’d about summed it up, though she hadn’t spoken those exact words aloud. “More or less.”
“Would you like me to meet with Tom Sikes, go over the papers and then explain everything to you?”
She felt relief flood her. That was exactly what she wanted. “If you’re sure you have the time. I know you’re some distance from here and I hate to ask. You must be busy.”
“It just so happens I’m visiting a client in Whitewater tomorrow morning. I could be in Tyler about one. Could you ask Tom to prepare for my visit, to have the latest audited reports and tax returns available, and give him permission to show me all the books?”
“Yes, certainly.”
“Leave the mortgage information and Kurt’s insurance policies on the desk also and I’ll check into those.”
She was feeling better by the minute. “Fine. Feel free to look through the entire desk and files. Anything else?”
Leaning back, David smiled. “Yes. Invite me to dinner tomorrow evening. I should have a pretty good idea of how you stand by then, unless I run into something out of the ordinary.”
Dinner. Janice hadn’t thought that far ahead. But it was the least she could do. “Consider yourself invited. But understand that I mean to pay you as would any other client.”
“We can discuss that over a glass of wine.”
Now they were drinking together. Janice felt her pulse quicken, something that hadn’t happened in a very long time. As the thought held, she felt herself flush with guilt. She was a widow, a woman newly widowed. She would do well to keep that in mind and keep this meeting businesslike. With no small effort, she put a touch of formality into her voice. “Then I’ll see you tomorrow evening.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Something had been bothering her since he’d answered. “David, what’s that noise I hear in the background?”
“Oh, that.” He laughed. “That’s water gurgling. I’m sitting in my hot tub. It’s a great way to unwind after a long day at a desk.”
She was caught off guard. “A hot tub,” she repeated.
“I’ll have to show it to you sometime.”
Her errant mind went wild. She pictured him sitting in the sunken tub, hot bubbling water swirling around his muscular chest. They’d gone sailing together one balmy afternoon, and Janice remembered that David’s chest was generously sprinkled with dark, curly hair. Was it still like that? she wondered.
Flushing, Janice stood up so quickly she nearly toppled Kurt’s chair. Whatever was the matter with her? Grateful that David couldn’t see her red face, she struggled for a nonchalant tone. “Tomorrow then, David. I appreciate your help.”
“It’s my pleasure. See you then, Sunshine.”
Sunshine. Talking with him had warmed her like a ray of sunshine. Hanging up, Janice shook her head to clear it. She would definitely need to get a grip on herself by tomorrow. Her emotions had been unstable since that fateful phone call about Kurt. That would explain why she was acting so peculiarly, thinking thoughts she’d long ago discarded.
Quickly, she put the things David had requested on top of Kurt’s desk. Fumbling through several drawers, she scooped up a couple of folders, notes and address books she thought she might look through at home later. She grabbed her coat, purse and manila envelopes and went to find Tom Sikes to set up David’s visit.
STANDING IN FRONT of her closet, Janice frowned as she stared at the clothes hanging there. Odd how it hadn’t occurred to her until recently that her wardrobe badly needed updating. Probably she hadn’t thought much about what she wore
