from the tremor in her hand alone she was really frightened. “I’ll drive. You watch for anyone that looks remotely like he’s following us, how’s that? We’re both smart people and we’re aware now of what’s going on. If there’s anything suspicious, we’ll just call it in.”
“Okay, that’s probably not a bad idea.” She stood and
smoothed her skirt, giving him the semblance of a smile. Her incredible long-lashed eyes looked a deeper blue than usual. “I’ve always thought of myself capable of handling anything. Even when Brian first got his diagnosis, I was devastated, but strong enough to deal with it. This, however…”
Watcher
87
“I know,” Jake said grimly. “This is pretty out of the realm of my experience, too.”
“I’m so glad you’re here.” There was a poignant huskiness in her voice.
“Of course, I’m here. I love you.”
He hadn’t really meant to say that way the first time. To just blurt it out in what was really a very unromantic moment, but the words just tumbled from his lips before he could stop them.
Jana stared at him, her soft mouth parted.
Quickly, he added, “You don’t have to say anything. Maybe we can talk about this down the road, whenever you’re ready.
Right now, why don’t you go upstairs and pack an overnight bag.”
He wasn’t sure if he was disappointed or relieved when she nodded and headed for the stairs. A few minutes later she emerged, a small leather case in hand. Jana gave him a wry look as she locked the door, but punched in the security code anyway, and the little red light flashed on.
Jake drove slowly out of the neighborhood, looking for anything that remotely touched off a spark of warning, but the street was deserted, all the houses lit against the cold, blustery October evening, not a blue truck in sight. He headed toward downtown, where it would be nearly impossible for anyone following to be missed, the series of one way streets and stoplights a maze for anyone who didn’t know exactly what they were doing.
He chose a noisy popular steak place, and as soon as they were seated, ordered a beer.
Jana had ordered a martini and raised her perfect ebony brows when he chuckled as the waitress hurried off. “It seems appropriate.”
“By all means,” he agreed, his mouth twitching, glad she didn’t seem quite as tense with all the lights, noise and people around them. “Have three. Maybe I’ll get lucky.”
88
Kate Watterson
“On the contrary, I.Q., I am coming to the gradual conclusion I’m the lucky one.” Her lashes lowered a fraction as she spoke and she looked away for a moment. “This was a good idea.” She changed the subject abruptly. “Usually I’d rather stay home more than anything. I change into something comfortable, maybe have a glass of wine in front of the fire, and as you know, I really do like to cook. It relaxes me. But tonight, this is better.”
Anything was better than to see the apprehension and tension in her face over what was happening, and Jake was still a little knocked off kilter by her initial sentence. Their drinks arrived, saving him from having to form a reply.
He took a few frothy sips of beer and listened as Jana ordered a rib-eye, medium rare, baked potato with sour cream and butter, and a salad with blue cheese dressing. He nodded at the young waitress and said, “Same thing exactly.”
They ate, carefully not discussing the man who had turned their lives into something that resembled a television police drama, and afterwards drove toward the interstate, where they chose a generic motel and registered. He used his parent’s address in Michigan and paid cash, despite the fact he was sure they were not followed.
Once they were in the room, he watched as Jana swiftly bolted the door.
“No one knows where we are,” he assured her gently.
“I know. It isn’t that.” She kicked off her shoes and unfastened her skirt. “I really, really want to make love with you. And by
“Okay, that’s probably not a bad idea.” She stood and
smoothed her skirt, giving him the semblance of a smile. Her incredible long-lashed eyes looked a deeper blue than usual. “I’ve always thought of myself capable of handling anything. Even when Brian first got his diagnosis, I was devastated, but strong enough to deal with it. This, however…”
Watcher
87
“I know,” Jake said grimly. “This is pretty out of the realm of my experience, too.”
“I’m so glad you’re here.” There was a poignant huskiness in her voice.
“Of course, I’m here. I love you.”
He hadn’t really meant to say that way the first time. To just blurt it out in what was really a very unromantic moment, but the words just tumbled from his lips before he could stop them.
Jana stared at him, her soft mouth parted.
Quickly, he added, “You don’t have to say anything. Maybe we can talk about this down the road, whenever you’re ready.
Right now, why don’t you go upstairs and pack an overnight bag.”
He wasn’t sure if he was disappointed or relieved when she nodded and headed for the stairs. A few minutes later she emerged, a small leather case in hand. Jana gave him a wry look as she locked the door, but punched in the security code anyway, and the little red light flashed on.
Jake drove slowly out of the neighborhood, looking for anything that remotely touched off a spark of warning, but the street was deserted, all the houses lit against the cold, blustery October evening, not a blue truck in sight. He headed toward downtown, where it would be nearly impossible for anyone following to be missed, the series of one way streets and stoplights a maze for anyone who didn’t know exactly what they were doing.
He chose a noisy popular steak place, and as soon as they were seated, ordered a beer.
Jana had ordered a martini and raised her perfect ebony brows when he chuckled as the waitress hurried off. “It seems appropriate.”
“By all means,” he agreed, his mouth twitching, glad she didn’t seem quite as tense with all the lights, noise and people around them. “Have three. Maybe I’ll get lucky.”
88
Kate Watterson
“On the contrary, I.Q., I am coming to the gradual conclusion I’m the lucky one.” Her lashes lowered a fraction as she spoke and she looked away for a moment. “This was a good idea.” She changed the subject abruptly. “Usually I’d rather stay home more than anything. I change into something comfortable, maybe have a glass of wine in front of the fire, and as you know, I really do like to cook. It relaxes me. But tonight, this is better.”
Anything was better than to see the apprehension and tension in her face over what was happening, and Jake was still a little knocked off kilter by her initial sentence. Their drinks arrived, saving him from having to form a reply.
He took a few frothy sips of beer and listened as Jana ordered a rib-eye, medium rare, baked potato with sour cream and butter, and a salad with blue cheese dressing. He nodded at the young waitress and said, “Same thing exactly.”
They ate, carefully not discussing the man who had turned their lives into something that resembled a television police drama, and afterwards drove toward the interstate, where they chose a generic motel and registered. He used his parent’s address in Michigan and paid cash, despite the fact he was sure they were not followed.
Once they were in the room, he watched as Jana swiftly bolted the door.
“No one knows where we are,” he assured her gently.
“I know. It isn’t that.” She kicked off her shoes and unfastened her skirt. “I really, really want to make love with you. And by
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