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“Aimed at his backyard? Why?”
“I don’t know. He saw me and went right back inside. And it’s weird how you can never see inside that house. Every window’s covered up tight now, even during the day. And you hardly ever seeher. It’s like she’s hiding in there. Or she’s not allowed to come out.”
I look down at the Scrabble board, at my word,killer, and suddenly feel a fluttering in my stomach. I rise to my feet. “I think I’ll open Jonas’s wine now.”
Jonas follows me as I walk into the kitchen. “Here, let me do it,” he says. “I’m an old hand at opening bottles.”
“Like I’m not?”
“You’re not an old anything, sweetie.”
I reach into the drawer for the corkscrew and suddenly feel his hand land on my ass. “Hey.Hey.”
“Oh, Angie. It’s just a little love pat.”
I spin around to face him and get a big whiff of his aftershave. The scent of pine is so overwhelming I feel like I’m about to tackle a Christmas tree. Jonas is a fine-looking man, no doubt about it, tanned with straight teeth and a thick mane of silver hair. And those muscles. But this is way over the line.
“You do know I have a boyfriend,” I say.
“You mean that Korsak fella? Haven’t seen him around lately.”
“He’s visiting his sister in California. Soon as she recovers from her hip operation, he’ll be back.”
“Meanwhile I’m right here. Right now.” He moves in for a smooch.
I snatch up the corkscrew and wave it between us. “Okay,youopen the wine.”
He looks at the corkscrew, looks at me, and sighs in disappointment. “Oh, Angie. Such a gorgeous woman, and you live right across the street. So close and yet so far.”
“Soveryfar.”
To my relief, he gives a good-humored laugh. “Can’t blame a fella for trying,” he says with a wink and opens the bottle. “C’mon, babe, let’s go get clobbered again by Larry.”
—
Long after everyone leaves thatnight, I’m still flustered by Jonas’s pass at me. I have to admit, I’m also feeling pretty darn flattered. Jonas is a few years older than Vince, but he’s both trimmer and fitter and I have to admit, there’s something about a navy man that can turn a gal’s head. I load dirty wineglasses into the dishwasher, turn off the kitchen lights, and head to my bedroom. There I glimpse myself in the mirror, my face flushed, my hair a little out of control. That’s exactly how I’m feeling: A little out of control. On the verge of…what? A flirtation? An affair?
The doorbell rings. I freeze in front of my mirror thinking: Jonas is back. He knows he’s got me off-balance and he thinks I just might tip right over for him.
My face is tingling, nerves buzzing, as I go to the front door. But it’s not Jonas standing on my porch; it’s Rick Talley, and helooks exhausted. He sees me through the foyer window so I can’t pretend I’m not home. Nor can I gracefully refuse to open the door. We women are too damn polite; we hate to hurt anyone’s feelings, even if it means getting strangled.
“Angie,” he says when I open the door. “I was on my way home and saw your lights were still on. I thought I’d stop and just tell you in person.”
“Tell me what?”
“I got a text message a while ago, from Tricia. She says she’s staying with a friend for a while. So you can tell Jane she doesn’t need to get involved.”
“Does Jackie know this?”
“Of course she does! I called her as soon as I got the text. We’re both relieved, naturally.”
“She texted you but not her mom?” I can’t keep the skepticism out of my voice.
He pulls out his phone and holds it in front of my face, shoving it so close that I flinch. “See?”
What I see are words that anyone could have typed on Tricia’s phone.Sux at home, staying with a friend. Will tell u everything when I’m ready. Luv U.
“So there’s nothing to worry about,” he says.
