See Jane Love - By Debby Conrad Page 0,6

know, but it’s late. Uncle Gabe will be up to tell you a story in a few minutes,” Sara went on.

Scowling, Travis slid his chair back and stood. “C’mon, Livvy.”

“I’ll go up with them,” Janie announced and went to stand. But, for some reason, she didn’t quite make it. Her legs turned to rubber, and her butt fell back into the chair with a soft whoosh. Then the hiccups came. Uh, oh.

It was kind of funny, really. She couldn’t stop the giggles erupting from her throat, so she threw a hand over her mouth to stifle the sound.

Sara stared at her open-mouthed. “Kids, go upstairs. Now!”

The kids left the room, looking curiously at Janie over their shoulders. Janie smiled guiltily and waved to them. Mustn’t let the kiddies see their drunken aunt. Even if it wasn’t her fault she’d gotten drunk.

“This is all his fault,” she said, pointing to Gabe. “Hiccup.” If he hadn’t been eavesdropping from the kitchen doorway . . . Not to mention all those looks he’d given her during dinner. No wonder her thoughts about him had turned sexual.

Gabe raised a brow. “Was it something I said, Jane?”

“Don’t call me that. Call me Janie, or Jasmine, or anything but Jane.” She’d always liked the name Jasmine. No one called her Jane anymore, except her mother.

“Janie,” Sara said, coming to her side. “Honey, let me help you.”

Janie hiccupped and pushed her hand away. “I don’t need any help. I’m not hurt. I’m just . . . drunk.” She giggled again, but didn’t bother to cover her mouth this time. Tugging her skirt down, she noticed she’d half slid under the table. “I’ve never been drunk before. I guess there’s a first time for everything.”

She caught sight of Gabe’s mouth as it quirked.

Sara looked helplessly at her husband. “Alex, do something. Before she embarrasses herself.”

Alex came forward, just as Gabe stood up and came around the other side of the table. “I’ll give you a hand,” Gabe said.

Janie looked at Gabe’s hands, then up at her sister. “Did you see how long his fingers are? You know what they say about a man’s fingers.” Then, she grinned sheepishly. Had she actually said that?

Sara glanced at Gabe’s hands, then back at Janie. Her eyes grew huge and her cheeks turned a bright shade of pink. “Janie Callahan!”

Alex and Gabe each placed a hand under Janie’s arms and lifted her to her feet.

“She should just stay here tonight,” Sara said. “I’ll go get the guest room ready.” With that, she quickly headed for the stairs.

“No,” Janie protested, shaking her head and flapping her curls against her cheeks as she stumbled. “I want to sleep in my own bed.” But it was too late; Sara was already gone.

If the guys hadn’t been holding onto her, Janie would be lying face down on the Oriental rug by now. And she’d probably be sporting a pug nose for the rest of her life. “I can drive her home,” Gabe offered. “The last thing she’ll want is to wake up in a strange bed with a hangover.”

“That would be great,” Alex said. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“I’m sure.”

“Let me tell Sara.” Alex pushed Janie toward Gabe and disappeared around the corner in search of his wife.

Janie looked up at Gabe. “Why are you being nice? I know! You think you’re going to get me to talk about my . . . little problem, don’t you?” she asked, waggling a finger at his nose.

“I wouldn’t dream of pressuring you to talk about anything you don’t want to talk about. Of course, if you do want to talk about it, I’m certainly willing to listen.”

“Uh, uh. Nothing doing, buster,” she said, trying to pull away from him. She almost fell backward, and would have, too, if Gabe hadn’t caught her and hauled her back into his arms. Then, before she realized what he was doing, he lifted her over his shoulder, like a sack of potatoes, so that her butt rested against his neck and cheek.

“Put me down,” she said, pummeling her fists against his back.

“Why? So you can knock yourself unconscious?”

He had a point. But still, being held in this position--upside down--she was afraid she’d be sick. Plus, there was the issue of her butt in the air. She reached around behind her and tugged at her skirt, making sure her panties weren’t on display.

Sara followed Alex into the dining room, carrying Janie’s purse. “Gabe, what are you doing?”

“It’s okay,” Alex answered. “I told