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Jergens grabbed another tape. “Let’s get this.”
    â€œThat’s for jocks,” Kaziah complained. “This is not school work, believe me. It’s about experimenting with people’s dreams.”
    Karen took the box and studied the blurb. The movie’s title was Dreamscape . “This does look good. I vote for it.”
    The murder buffs won over the jocks. Easy checked out the movie and paid the rental fee. The skaters piled back into their cars and headed for Kaziah’s.
    The Coles lived in a posh subdivision high above the lake, and it didn’t take long to get there. Snuggled into the center of five acres, the house had been designed to complement mountain living. There were decks on all sides, big windows with views of the lake and the mountains beyond. Inside, centered in the huge living room, a standing fireplace burned with crackling, inviting flames.
    Shedding boots, the young people headed for the kitchen, ushered by Mrs. Cole, to load their plates with food. Then they sprawled on the carpeted floor around the fire. There were big pillows piled everywhere, encouraging guests to sit wherever they were comfortable.
    Karen and Jesse set their plates on the floor near a couch. Jesse stacked pillows so they could lean on the couch.
    â€œNot a bad layout, huh?” Jesse smiled at Karen and went to work on a fried chicken leg. Mrs. Cole had told them to forget the pizza, she’d treat.
    â€œI could live here,” Karen agreed.
    â€œWith me?” Jesse teased.
    â€œCan pro football players afford this kind of luxury?”
    â€œYou’d better believe it. And after the season, I’ll have lots of time off. Lots of time to snuggle.”
    â€œHey, when will I get my work done? I don’t know if I want a guy hanging around full time with nothing to do.”
    â€œMaybe I can find some hobbies. And I can cut wood and shovel snow off walks, chores like that.”
    â€œYou know, I’m really enjoying this psychology class,” Karen said, getting serious. “Maybe I’ll major in it in college. But I think I’d rather do research than counsel with people.”
    â€œYou don’t want to help people solve their problems?”
    â€œI don’t think so. Maybe I’ll study twins. The way they relate to each other—like communicating without talking, stuff like that. I find that people are fascinated with us.”
    â€œYou’re pretty fascinating. I don’t know about Kerr.” Jesse licked his fingers before he started on a mound of baked beans. “Can you get inside his mind?”
    â€œSometimes. It was easier when we were younger. He’s shut me out a lot lately. But then I’ve done the same thing to him. I needed the privacy.”
    â€œWhat kind of thoughts were you having?” Jesse’s grin suggested he hoped he was included.
    â€œOh, fantasies about tall, dark strangers. Older men, macho Aussies. The things women daydream about.”
    Jesse was tall and blond, so he wasn’t pleased. “You have no need to dream about other guys, lady. Tall, dark strangers? Not when you have a real, live, macho mountain man hanging around. I don’t dream about other women.”
    â€œOh, yeah, you expect me to believe that?” Karen kicked him. “Go get me a Coke. I forgot something to drink. And six more napkins.”
    Jesse got up to wait on her. “I needed seconds, anyway.”
    From across the room, Kerr caught her eye. He stared without smiling, then she looked away. She was going to have to talk to him, make him talk to her. He was still acting jealous.
    They moved into the rec room for the movie. Karen and Jesse sat in the back on a couch. Karen snuggled into the warmth of his arms and felt as happy as she had ever been in her life. She was pleased to see Kerr sitting beside Alysia. He needed to date someone. Then he’d stop giving her a hard time.
    â€œWell, what do you