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tissue and took me out to lunch.
    “Goodnight, Gwen,” says Joe. Looking over at
him I notice the rest of the gang are reaching for jackets and
purses, getting ready to leave. I glance over at Melanie, who is
happily chatting away with Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Handsome. Based on my
intel, I decide it looks like I’m going be here awhile longer.
    “Goodnight, Joe. I’ll see you in the
morning.” I wave at the rest of the group and tell them,
“Goodnight, all!” Looking down at my watch, I see it’s only 8 p.m.
Sighing, I get up, grab my purse and my glass, and head over to
join Kade at the bar.

Chapter 6

    Kade
    McClaren’s is a noisy little sports bar and
per usual it’s packed. Luckily management is nice enough to rope
off a few tables for us each month. I head for the corner barstool
as the rest of our group claims the reserved seating. Flagging down
the bartender, I snag a beer and pretend to watch baseball,
enjoying the anonymity the boisterous atmosphere affords me.
    The pitch of two loud, exuberant voices
shouting behind me draws my attention.
    “To our designated driver!” the girls
chant.
    Facing the music (so to speak) I turn
around, my face stoically schooled. Two deliriously happy girls,
drinks raised, stare back at me. Both are on the verge of
giggles.
    “Behave!” I bark at them, quickly turning
around to mask the deeply satisfied smile spreading across my face.
I love these women. Taking a long swig off my bottle, I return to
pretending to watch baseball.
    I fondly remember back to when I first
started monitoring Gwen. I’d had to use Melanie to help me
insinuate myself into Gwen’s personal life. I’d done a fairly good
job developing a working friendship with Gwen by enrolling in most
of her lab classes, but socially we didn’t hang out. Melanie, on
the other hand, was much more interested in me. Once I discovered
her physical attraction, I exploited the fact to secure invitations
to group dates, parties, and the like. After the first few events,
I became just one of the group, at which point I used a little
power to implant the conviction in Melanie’s head that we were just
friends.
    What I didn’t know at the time was how
difficult being with those women could be. The dynamic duo and
trouble seem to walk hand-in-hand. Both are too beautiful for their
own good, and once you add alcohol, music, or red-blooded males to
the mix, all hell can break loose. I don’t think even they are
aware of how many fights I’ve broken up or perverts I’ve hauled
outside and dumped in an alley over the years. Hell, the reason for
my aloof behavior anytime we go out is to give myself space to case
the joint looking for anything sinister. I’ve learned over the
years I can’t see trouble before it gets to the girls when I’m in
close vicinity to them. So I perch myself somewhere close when we
go out bar-hopping until I can get a good read on the place. The
hilarious part is how “just another assignment” grew into true
affection.
    My gaze follows the waitress who passes
close behind me until a movement in my peripheral vision catches my
attention. Gwen is waving me over to join the group for dinner; I
notice she’s even ordered me something.
    Relinquishing my stool I wander over,
thanking Gwen who doesn’t appear to notice as I grab my plate and
take the seat next to Christine. I half-heartedly listen to Mark
and Dan regale the group with stories from their most recent
conference while I eat. Finding a clean glass, I pour myself a
fresh beer from the nearly empty pitcher on the table. Glancing
down the length of the table I see Melanie with a familiar look on
her face stand up. Rolling my eyes I pick up my glass and head over
to claim the now vacant seat next to Gwen. I lean as close to her
ear as I can and whisper, “Care to make a wager?”
    “You’re on,” Gwen responds as I settle into
the chair. “Stakes?” she asks.
    Looking up at the ceiling I ponder her
question a moment before meeting her