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4

    He drank a beer, and then popped open a second, trying to calm down.
    The television was on, but The Watcher had the sound muted, and he blankly watched the images dance across the screen.
    Who the fuck was the dark-haired guy?
    He didn’t recognize him, but then again, the man hadn’t gotten out of his car either. It wasn’t one of the other profs, he knew that parking lot like the back of his hand by now, and exactly who drove what car. The guy who dropped off the pretty professor drove a fairly generic mid-sized sedan, not new but not old, nothing at all like her expensive ride. They had some sort of small argument, too, though when she got out of the car, she was smiling.
    The bitch had stayed out all night.
    Order was what kept the world going. Things needed to be neat and tidy, and he hated it if his routine was pushed off track.
    He’d been convinced she was different, not just another friggin’ slut. That classy exterior was apparently just a front.
    This ruined everything.

    * * * *

    The sunshine held in an Indian summer record succession of days, which was nice.

    38
    Kate Watterson
    She had forgotten entirely about the soccer game, and as Jana hurried across the grass toward the bleachers, a quick excuse formed in her mind.
    Work was the usual and easy one, and certainly her sister would believe it. Of course, using it meant another lecture on her lack of a personal life and how much time she dedicated to her job.
    With an inner grimace at the dilemma, she climbed up the metal stairs and slid into place next to her older sibling. “Sorry I’m late.”
    Crystal said amiably enough, “I was sure it had slipped your mind, but it’s sweet of you to come in the first place, so no harm, no foul. Thank goodness it is almost over because we’re getting slaughtered, but Marcus did score a goal.”
    “Good for him.” Jana looked out over a sea of unruly seven-year olds running wild across the field, and wondered how anyone knew what exactly was going on, though several fathers acting as officials appeared to be trying. She finally picked out her nephew, running amuck with the rest of the children, trying to kick the errant ball.
    Her sister gave her a speculative look. “I stopped by last night to drop off some pictures. You weren’t home.”
    “I worked late.”
    “Really?” Dark-haired and petite, Crystal looked skeptical. “It was after nine because Ethan took me out for dinner finally for our anniversary about three months late. I had him make a detour on our way home.”
    She really wasn’t ready to tell anyone about her reckless sexual encounter with Jake Quinn, much less her inquisitive sister. “I must not have heard the bell. I think I was in bed.”
    Now that was true.
    “I also called your house phone and cell.” Crystal lifted her brows. “Guess what, no answer.”
    “Sometimes people are not in the mood to be social, Crys.”

    Watcher
    39
    “If you were avoiding me, I’m offended, by the way. I stopped by to make sure you weren’t all alone. When Ethan mentioned our forgotten anniversary, it reminded me of yours.”
    That had been thoughtful, and Jana felt a little guilty for lying.
    “I went out for a drink with someone from work,” she said with what she hoped was a composed expression. “One turned to three and that’s why I didn’t answer the door. You know I don’t drink much.”
    “Well, at least you weren’t sitting alone in that big house the entire evening.” Crystal looked a little mollified.
    “No, I wasn’t,” Jana confirmed, recalling Jake Quinn’s naked body over hers, and the strong feel of his embrace. He’d somehow managed to be both tender and wildly intense in bed and she felt that telltale flutter deep inside when she thought about it.
    Did she really think she could just have dinner with the Incredible Quinn—and he was pretty incredible in her opinion—
    and send him on his way?
    What was worse, he probably realized she couldn’t resist