Predatory Game

CHAPTER 4

Saber opened her eyes slowly, reluctantly. Beside her, the bed was empty. She felt achy and sore, but the fever was gone. What in the world had happened to make her so sick? She was never sick-never-and it had been a shock. She hadn’t handled it very well either.

She rolled over and caught the sides of the pillow to inhale deeply Jess’s distinctive male scent. It flooded her lungs and made her stomach do a strange little flip. He had lain beside her, holding her in his arms, singing her to sleep. Her mouth curved at the thought. He said he couldn’t sing, but she loved his voice. The thought of it, of his song to her, had a warmth spreading quickly through her entire body.

She took another quick sniff of the pillow, wondering whether she should wash the pillowcase immediately before she became obsessive over it, or leave it forever, slip it into her emergency pack so if she had to run fast she would always have it. No one was around to see her, so she rolled like a cat over the spot where he’d slept.

Jess. He smelled so good all the time. He smelled safe and clean and so very male. With a little sigh she forced herself to get up. She had awoken earlier than usual. She tended to stay up all night and sleep in the mornings and early afternoon. Having no idea what she was going to do with herself, she forced her body into motion, taking her time in the shower, savoring the feeling of the hot water on her skin.

She couldn’t get Jess out of her mind. The feel of his hard muscles, his enormous strength, the tenderness in his voice. For a moment she closed her eyes, allowing hot water to cascade over her head and just dreaming. Letting herself believe, just for a moment, that she could have a life. A home. A man. She wanted to belong to Jess Calhoun. Her eyes flew open in shock. Oh God. She was in trouble. She had to get out before it was too late. How had she let this happen?

She pulled on her clothes as she tried to calm her wildly beating heart. Her mouth went dry. Jess Calhoun was not for her, no matter how much she wanted him. When had it happened? When had she allowed herself to believe her own fantasy? She stared at herself in the mirror while she blew her hair dry, trying to make her mind focus on what to do next. A sane woman would leave. Self-preservation would dictate that.

As she turned off the dryer she heard the soft murmur of Jess’s voice. Something-some note in it-caught at her, raising every alarm. He sounded stressed. Not a lot, but she knew him now, she paid attention to every detail, and Jess was upset.

Her heart slammed hard in her chest as she carefully set the blow-dryer aside and reached beneath her mattress for her knife. It wasn’t there. She swore under her breath and crossed to her pack, placing her feet with care so that she made no noise. Her mouth firmed and her hands were steady as she put on her belt, gun sliding into the holster smoothly and throwing knives slipping into each loop. If Jess was in trouble, she was going to be prepared.

She had promised herself she was through with killing, but…She couldn’t let herself think about that. It would only mess her up. Moving without sound, Saber kept her back to the wall, making the target small as she eased through the bedroom door to the upstairs balcony. There were two places where the boards squeaked. She avoided both, although the stairs would be more difficult. She should have fixed them, but she thought it was a good warning system if anyone tried to sneak up them while she slept.

“It’s so good to see you, darling,” a woman’s voice purred, followed by a telling silence. Saber stiffened in the doorway of her small sitting room, picturing Jess being soundly kissed. Her fingers curled around the gun.

“Chaleen. I have to admit you shocked me. You were the last person in the world I expected to hear from when I picked up the phone.” There was that note of stress again. Whoever Chaleen was, Jess wasn’t happy to see her.

Tinkling laughter pealed out. The sound grated on Saber.

“I knew you’d be pleased.”

“What in the world are you doing in Sheridan?”

Jess didn’t sound pleased at all. Chaleen had to be an idiot if she thought he was. Saber eased out into the hall. The alert was still pounding in her body, a warning that all was not right.

“Why, I came to see you, darling.” Chaleen’s heels clicked on the hardwood floor. “I’ve been on planes for simply days.”

Saber padded silently on bare feet to the balcony overlooking the living room. The woman was tall and slim, with breasts that were too good to be true. Her hair was sleek and sophisticated, her clothes elegant. Saber despised her on sight.

“So how did you find out where I was?” Jess asked. “I thought I’d covered my tracks.”

Saber leaned on the banister, unashamedly listening. Chaleen? Who was named Chaleen? She wrinkled her nose in disgust. And did Chaleen darling have to purr at Jess? Why couldn’t the witch talk like a normal woman? Even her perfume was drifting up the stairs. Saber sniffed in distaste and curled up out of sight but where, if they stayed in the living room, she could hear every disgusting, purring word. Or, if the woman wasn’t out for sheer sex like she sounded to be, then Saber could put a bullet in her head before she made a wrong move against Jess.

“I ran into your parents in Paris.” Chaleen settled herself on the plush sofa, crossing her silk-covered legs to show them to their best advantage. “I still can’t believe it, such a tragedy. Poor Jess had his wings clipped in such a brutal way.” A long red-tipped nail traced delicately through the fur of her coat.

“Cut the crap, Chaleen, you left the moment you found out.”

“I loved you too much to see your pain, Jess.”

Saber rolled her eyes. What rot. Jesse. Jess and Chaleen. How juvenile. It grated on her nerves the way darling Chaleen said it. Jess. Chaleen purred it. Tasted it. Saber’s fingers tightened around the gun until her knuckles turned white. Fuming, she missed Jess’s response, but not Chaleen’s tinkling laughter. The sound made her want to throw up-or shoot somebody. Little did Chaleen darling know she was seconds away from death.

“Oh, darling! You’re so funny! And so brave, to bear this horrendous burden so heroically. But why bury yourself in this backwater town? You’ll never be happy here. You need excitement, the hunt. You’ll wither here.” Chaleen fluttered her lashes, ran a restless hand along her silken leg.

“I’ve managed not to wither so far.” Jess sounded bored.

“Jess, I’m just so devastated to think that such a virile, sexy man could have been struck down so cruelly.”

Saber winced at that, and nearly bit a hole in her lower lip. How did the carcass wearer know that? Sexy. Virile. Good old Chaleen had better keep her red-tipped fingers to herself.

“You’ve always needed a real woman, one who could satisfy your appetites, and now…Oh, Jess. Can you…I mean…is it possible for you to…” Chaleen trailed off, a hand to her throat.

Furious, Saber jumped up and rushed to her bedroom. That-that disgusting hussy. She was throwing herself at Jess. And she was doing her best to make him squirm, make him feel less than a man. The viper. She was trying to strip him of his pride. Well, Saber would be damned if she’d stand by and let that happen.

She tossed clothes in all directions, searching for something sexy. She didn’t own anything sexy. And how was she going to compete with a five foot ten blonde with more cleavage than good manners?

She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror over her dresser. A slow, saucy smile curved her soft mouth. There was no competition. She drew on Jess’s shirt, the one she always wore to bed, the one that made her feel so close to him every time she put it on. The one that had his scent all over it.

Saber tossed her gun aside, the knives following, and kicked her jeans into the corner of the room, wishing she could be in two places at the same time. She wanted to hear every word that painted witch said to Jess.

On bare feet Saber padded down the stairs, clad only in lacy underwear and Jess’s shirt.

The vamp was wound around Jess, running her poisonous, bright red fingernails through his hair, bending low to murmur in his ear, clearly in danger of falling out of her dress.

“Jesse.” Saber wasn’t above using the Night Siren’s whispery voice. It worked on the airwaves, why not at home? “You didn’t tell me we were expecting company.” She smiled, syrupy sweet. “I take it this is the old friend you told me about.” Saber maliciously emphasized the word “old” and just for fun giggled as though Jess had given her an amusing tale.

Jess held out his hand to Saber, grinning in conspiracy. “Chaleen Jarvos, Saber Wynter. Chaleen happened to be traveling through Sheridan and was kind enough to look in on us, angel face.”

Chaleen straightened abruptly, glaring daggers at Saber, cold hazel eyes sweeping her up and down. “Who is this little urchin, Jess?” she demanded.

Jess brought Saber’s hand to the warmth of his mouth. “Is that what you are, love? My little urchin?”

Saber laughed and rubbed her cheek along his knuckles. “I’ll run in and grab your robe.” She glanced up at Chaleen guilelessly. “Would you care for coffee?”

Saber made herself look as innocent as possible, but deep inside she was as cold as ice. This woman might be Jess’s ex-girlfriend, but she was definitely far more than that-and she was a threat to Jess. Those eyes were flat and cold and filled with venom. Chaleen Jarvos was someone other than who she pretended to be.

“I doubt Chaleen will be staying that long,” Jess said.

“Jess!” Chaleen purred the name. “I’ve traveled all this way to see you, talk to you.” She made a gesture encompassing the house. “This isn’t you, you’re no family man. You were born for wild excitement, not this cutesy little home scene. You’re wasted here.”

Saber’s arms circled his neck. She pressed against the back of his chair. Jess could feel the heat of her body, the warmth of her breath. She smelled fresh and clean in contrast to the heavy, cloying perfume Chaleen had poured over herself. A part of him wanted to send Saber far away, where Chaleen couldn’t sink her claws into her, and another part of him desperately wanted her there.

Saber gave a husky, intimate laugh. “Don’t worry, umm, Carlene, is it? Jess is definitely not wasted here. And we provide each other with more than enough-how did you put it?-wild excitement.” She exchanged an intimate, bedroom smile with Jess, bending her head slightly to brush the side of his shadowed jaw with her soft, satin lips. “Let me just run and get the robe.”

“It’s Chaleen.” The blonde glared furiously, tapping her high heel on the hardwood floor. Miffed that Saber sailed right out of the room without so much as acknowledging the correction, she paced back and forth. “I cannot believe that a man of your caliber, of your education, Jess, would team up with a little…”

“Urchin,” Jess mocked.

“Exactly!” Chaleen pounced on that. “We have a past, we know each other. We’ve shared danger, excitement.” She placed her hand on Jess’s thigh. “We’ve shared each other.”

“That was a lifetime ago, Chaleen. Another world.”

“A world you belong in. Losing your legs can’t change that.” Chaleen loomed over the wheelchair. “You need to come back, be part of it all again. Maybe you are already. I can’t imagine that you’d give up your work for that silly little kid. She has to be just out of high school. You need a woman, not a child.” She flashed a smile. “You are working for the navy, aren’t you, Jess?”

Saber cinched the belt of the terry cloth robe tighter around her small waist, wishing for one moment the tie was around Chaleen’s scrawny neck.

Jess leaned forward, circling Chaleen’s wrist with his hand. Saber’s heart dropped right down to her toes. What if she had guessed wrong? What if this vampish viper was the mystery woman from the other night? What if she was making a fool of herself, leaping to Jess’s defense when he really didn’t need or want it? She held her breath as Jess lifted Chaleen’s hand.

Everything in her stilled. The world narrowed, tunneled. She was suddenly focused and in complete control. Because if he kissed Chaleen’s fingers, Saber knew with certainty that Chaleen Jarvos was a dead woman.

Jess dropped her hand as if it were distasteful. “I’m exactly where I want to be, Chaleen.”

Saber slumped against the wall with relief, closing her eyes briefly, distaste of her first, most primal reaction to an enemy beating at her. That wasn’t a normal reaction. Had she waited too long to leave? Had she already become the very thing she’d always feared she was? She pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead even as she strained to listen to the conversation.

“This is my world. Sheridan, Wyoming. And Saber is everything I need. Go back to your boss and tell him I put in my time and I want to be left alone.”

“But there’s so much more you can still do. All your people, they’re still loyal, they still trust you. Your name could open doors.”

“Who are you looking to contact?”

“I need some answers, Jess. You know who I work for. Whatever you’re doing is pissing off some powerful people.” Chaleen pinned him with a cold gaze. “They know you’re involved in something big. No one is buying your legless charade. I’m trying to keep you out of trouble, and watching you pretend to be an idiot for your little teenybopper is making me want to throw up.”

“Sorry, I don’t do that kind of work. And my injuries are fully documented. Whatever you’re looking for isn’t here.”

“Damn it, Jess, you don’t want to mess around with me.” Shifting suddenly from purring, Chaleen sounded as hard as nails, bringing out a protective streak in Saber she didn’t even know she had. “I’m trying to save your hide here. You’ve got some investigation going and it’s raising flags all over the place. The FBI. The CIA. I’m hearing your name everywhere. For God’s sake, something like that will get you killed.”

Saber held very still. There was actual fear in Chaleen’s voice. She might have come for information on whatever Jess was investigating, but she was genuinely concerned for his safety. Was Chaleen an assassin? Saber moved into a better position to get her away from Jess if she tried anything. Just what was Jess doing, anyway?

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Damn you, Jess. You were always so fucking closemouthed. This isn’t a game. You always think you’re playing chess instead of living real life. You’re making enemies and they’ll be coming after you.”

Chaleen definitely sounded threatening. Saber forgot about trying to get information and moved into the room. She circled Jess’s neck with her arms. “Sorry I took so long, love,” she murmured.

Chaleen glanced at her diamond-studded watch. “Did you run?” she snapped.

Saber ran her fingers through Jess’s thick, dark hair. “Pardon me?” she asked, her voice dripping with sweetness.

Chaleen gathered up her fur coat and Gucci purse. “You’re making a big mistake, Jess.” The purr was completely gone from her voice, leaving it cold and disdainful.

Jess’s eyebrows shot up. “Don’t threaten me, Chaleen. Take that back to your people: you don’t want to threaten me.”

For a moment the hazel eyes glowed yellow, the unblinking stare of a dangerous cat, and then Chaleen was smiling. “You misunderstand me, I wouldn’t presume to threaten you. So nice to meet you.” She didn’t bother to look at Saber, some battle still being waged between hazel and dark brown eyes.

Saber, frightened for Jess for no reason she could think of, clutched convulsively at his biceps. Without taking his eyes from Chaleen, he reached up to cover Saber’s hand in reassurance.

“Okay,” Chaleen capitulated. “You’re out of it.”

“I hope so,” Jess replied ominously. “Saber, make some fresh coffee for us, baby. And drink a glass of orange juice.”

Reluctantly Saber allowed him to move away from her, across the room, escorting the blonde toward the front door. Jess never ordered Saber to do things like make coffee or drink orange juice. The juice, she was certain, was because of her fever. The coffee was a ploy to get her out of the way. She hesitated, worried about leaving him vulnerable to Chaleen, although he seemed to feel the issue was closed.

And she did feel lousy. Her head hurt, her body ached, and there was no doubt she needed aspirin. Muttering to herself, she ground fresh beans and obediently put on a pot of coffee.

Jess found her slumped in a chair, elbows on the table, head cradled in her hands. He glided up beside her on silent wheels. “Are you sure you should be out of bed, angel face?” he asked gently.

“Of course not,” she retorted, without looking up. “The place is being overrun by your women. Someone had to do something.”

His mouth twitched but he remained silent as he poured her a glass of orange juice and set it next to her elbow. “Drink.”

She lifted her head. “Chaleen? Is someone really named Chaleen?” Her voice held a wealth of scorn.

He tactfully refrained from pointing out she had an unusual name too.

Saber drank half the glass in a gulp. “How many more should I expect?”

“Now, honey,” he soothed, deliberately feeding the fire. “She’s very nice.”

“Some people probably thought Jack the Ripper was nice too. For heaven’s sake, Jesse, she wears dead animals.” She glared at him as if he’d slain and slaughtered the poor creatures with his own blood-soaked hands to make Chaleen darling’s coat. “You were actually the lover of a woman who wears dead animals. That’s so disgusting.”

He tugged at one of her wild curls. “She’s not that bad.”

Blue eyes shot violet sparks. “Oh yes, she was-is. Who should I expect next? Attila the Hun’s wife? You owe me for this, hot shot. I’ve probably saved you from a fate worse than death. That vamp had designs on your virtue.” She had designs on more than that, but Saber was going to have to take a little time to figure out what.

He nudged the juice a little closer to her, silently urging her to drink more. “I don’t know, Saber, it might have been fun.”

“Don’t give me that, Calhoun.” Saber raked a hand through her hair in total exasperation. “You were terrified she was going to throw herself at you and you know it. I could see it in your eyes.”

He grinned at her. “Hallucinations again. I’d better call the doc in after all.”

She rolled her eyes. “The last time your doctor was here, he insisted I get a flu shot right along with you, and look what happened. I’ve never been sick until now and what do I have-the flu.”

“Drink your juice.” This time he shoved the glass into her hand.

She sent him a smoldering glare, but when he didn’t wither, she took a sip. “Actually, I don’t blame you a bit for wanting to change the subject. If I had such poor taste in my youth, I wouldn’t want to dwell on it either,” she sniffed.

“So did you? Have bad taste I mean? In your youth?”

Instantly a shutter slammed down, laughter fading from her dancing eyes and leaving them veiled, shadowed, even haunted. Saber shrugged the question away casually, too casually. “Good juice, Jesse. Is this fresh squeezed?”

“Of course. What else would I do with you ill?” He ran his knuckles along her cheek in a rough caress. “How are you feeling this morning? I was worried last night.”

“Better. I’ll go to work tonight,” she assured him.

“Saber, don’t be ridiculous. You’re not well.” He laid a cool hand on her forehead. “You’re still running a fever.”

“I’m better,” she insisted.

“Uh-huh, I can tell.” He couldn’t help smiling. Sitting curled up in the oak chair, clad in his robe, black hair tousled, long lashes sweeping the curve of her cheek, Saber was irresistible. Jess had to touch her, wanted to hold her. His finger traced the back of her hand, just to keep the contact. “I am your boss, baby, and I say you don’t go to work tonight.”

She tilted her chin. “Do I get it off with pay?”

“You drive a hard bargain.”

“I’ll get your coffee,” Saber volunteered.

“Sit. I’ll get the coffee. You finish that juice and get back to bed.” Jess easily reached the coffeemaker sitting on the low counter.

“So, all right, I’ll admit I’m hooked. Does Chaleen work for the CIA, or is she some agent for another government?”

Jess concentrated his entire attention on pouring himself a cup of coffee.

Saber ruffled his hair. “Never mind, dragon king. I don’t want you to have to lie to me.”

His hand reached up to cover hers, fingers sliding sensuously between hers. Before she could pull away, he captured her hand, brought it to his chest. “I’m willing to trade, baby.”

Saber could feel the steady beat of his heart. For some odd reason she had the urge to lay her head on his chest. She couldn’t look into his probing eyes. “I don’t have anything to trade.”

His eyebrow shot up, but before he could respond, the shrill ringing of the telephone interrupted them. He grinned, white teeth flashing. “You have a guardian angel.” Jess reached a lazy hand out for the receiver. “Yes?”

Saber rolled her eyes at his unconventional greeting. A faint scowl flitted across his features, and for a brief moment his dark gaze rested on her small face.

“She’s ill, Les, she’s not coming in tonight.” Deliberately, he ignored Saber’s frantic signals, holding the receiver away from her, fending her off with one hand.

“I can go in if they need me,” she hissed. Her gaze slid over his rough good looks and narrowed speculatively. Was that a smear of bright red lipstick along the bluish shadow of his jaw? Her fist clenched. Had he allowed that witch to kiss him?

“What kind of calls? Threats? What the hell does ‘not exactly’ mean?” Jess sounded impatient. “If someone is harassing the station, or Saber in particular, call the police.”

“No.” Saber made another grab at the telephone, her face pale. “Jesse,” she wailed when he whirled his chair around, keeping his back to her, preventing her from getting to the receiver.

“What exactly is he saying? Yes, that’s right. Call the security company, have them double the guard around the station. Brady’s security tonight? Have him give me a call. Sure, Les, thanks for calling.” He dropped the receiver in its cradle and turned his chair to face her.

“That was my phone call, Jesse,” Saber protested, her heart slamming in alarm, “you had no right to keep me from it.”

As usual, he didn’t seem to be the least bit intimidated or upset by her outburst. “Sit down before you fall down,” he suggested calmly. “You’re trembling.”

“With anger,” she exploded, but she did sit, afraid her shaking legs wouldn’t support her.

“With fear. Tell me about it, Saber. Who are you expecting? Just how dangerous is he?”

Stubbornly her chin went up. “It is not my fault some crackpot is calling the station. It happens. It doesn’t have a thing to do with me. Triple the guard at the station for all I care.”

“Don’t worry,” Jess said, “I will. Les says the man has called nine times, last night and this morning. Brian recorded a couple of the calls on his shift as well. He hasn’t threatened you, but he wants to meet you.”

“Everyone wants to meet me. I’m cute.”

“Your voice is sexy as hell and these creeps get all sorts of ideas.”

“Will you please wipe that disgusting stuff off your face? I can barely stand to look at you,” she snapped.

His eyebrow shot up. “What disgusting stuff?”

“You know very well. You just had to let her kiss you, and you’ve got her lipstick all over you.”

His eyes burned black velvet. “You’ll have to do it, honey. I can’t see it.”

Saber shook her head. “No way. You let her put it there, you can just get it off yourself.”

Jess shrugged. “I guess it will just have to stay.”

She glared at him. “You know where she kissed you.”

“I don’t remember.” He had to work to keep the grin from his face.

Furious, Saber jumped up, wet a cloth, and bent over him, scrubbing at the offensive smear of lipstick along his jaw. “I could just smack you one, Jesse.”

He pulled her onto his lap, exactly where he had planned to have her from the moment she had come downstairs. “Thank you, baby, I appreciate it. I wouldn’t have liked going around all day with Chaleen’s brand on me.”

“But you would have.” Saber wasn’t ready to forgive him. “All day, just to make me crazy.”

“Would it have?”

“Of course.”

“Well, since we’re talking.” He pulled the military issue knife from his pack and held it up in front of her. “I thought I’d return this to you.”

She went absolutely still. “Where did you find that?” She didn’t touch it.

“You had a nightmare. Before you woke up, you tried to protect yourself.”

Saber jumped off his lap, careful to avoid the knife, and stared at him, a look of horror stamped on her pale face. “I did what? I attacked you, Jesse?”

Tears swam in her eyes, and when he moved toward her, she backed away, putting one hand on his arm to keep him at a distance. “No. No. If I did that, it’s not safe for you anymore. I have to leave. I can’t believe I did that.”

It wasn’t the reaction he wanted or expected. If she was an actress, she was the best he’d ever seen. He could feel her distress, waves of it rolling off of her, distress and fear. Both emotions were broadcast so strong they swamped him. His body reacted with signs of stress, heart rate increasing so dramatically that he pressed his hand to his chest.

Her eyes widened even more and she snatched her hand away from him, rubbing her palm on her thigh, fear in her eyes. “What’s wrong? Is it your heart? Jesse, answer me right now.”

He felt instant relief, the heaviness in his chest easing, his heart slowing to normal. “I’m fine, baby, just sit down and stop getting upset over nothing.”

“Pulling a knife on you is not ‘nothing,’ Jesse.”

“I pulled a gun on you. We’re a violent couple.”

“That’s not funny. None of this is funny. I keep the knife in my bedroom for protection, but I never thought I’d ever have a nightmare and try to use it on someone. I can’t stay here.”

Saber took a deep calming breath and forced air through her lungs, trying to remain calm. Oh God, had she almost killed him? First with her touch and then with a knife? She wanted to run fast and far away from herself.

The faint humor left his face, leaving his expression bleak and cold. “Don’t be ridiculous, Saber. You can throw the knife away if you’re afraid, but leaving doesn’t solve anything.”

If only it were so easy as throwing away a knife.

“Leaving keeps you safe.”

“Does it? Does it really?”

She was so upset. She’d never been sick before-not once in her entire life. And she’d never made such a mistake before, yet was Jess in danger? Did Chaleen present a danger to him? And there was the uneasiness she couldn’t shake, that feeling of being watched. She’d even gone out the night before around four in the morning and patrolled the parameters of the property, but she hadn’t seen anyone. She intended to do the same tonight, because she was going to make absolutely certain she wasn’t bringing her hell down on Jesse.

She hopped up, needing to put distance between them. “I don’t want to talk to you anymore. I’m going upstairs.”

A muscle twitched along his jaw. “Go on, Saber, run like a little rabbit, stick your head under the covers.”

Saber fled without a backward glance, racing for the sanctuary of her room. She’d pulled a knife on Jess and he’d been able to disarm her. It had to have been because she was still asleep. He couldn’t use his legs. He was helpless, really. Burying her head in the pillow, she tried to make her mind blank, tried to block out the image of hurting the one person in the world she cared about.

But he was helpless. And he had enemies, maybe as many as she did. Someone had to take care of him. He didn’t realize how vulnerable he really was in that chair. He needed her. Needed her to watch over him. She lay awake staring at the ceiling, trying to figure out the right thing to do without having to give him up.

Subject Wynter. Something happened tonight while I was away. Subject left the residence, which leads me to believe the virus had little effect on her. She nearly caught me. I was about to turn on the road when she pulled in before me. In order to keep from giving myself away I continued on away from the residence. I believe she is beginning to suspect she’s under surveillance. I believe we’re going to need another pair of eyes and ears to maintain adequate…

He stopped dictating abruptly.

He didn’t want anyone else around to witness any fun he might have while gathering information-after all, that was his business. He erased the entire tape. It wasn’t his night for surveillance. If she’d left the residence and hadn’t been caught, that wasn’t on him. No one would be the wiser that he’d wanted another glimpse of her window, that sometimes he just sat listening to her voice on tape and staring at her bedroom in the hopes he’d catch a glimpse of her. He found it exhilarating to sit just down the road from her, in plain sight, creating his plans for the sexy little siren-he had so many.