Watcher (2 page)

“Very good,” he confirmed, “and resident tuition is always a plus. I went on a scholarship and it really helped my parents out.”

Mentioning his parents was an utterly stupid thing to do. How better to remind her he was over a decade younger? He said hastily, “I graduated in three and a half years and began working right away on my doctorate.”

Professor Johnson sipped her drink and narrowed those

incredibly lovely eyes. “Very impressive.”

What was impressive was how her composure had returned. If he hadn’t seen it himself he would never have believed she was in tears just a short while before. She looked like she always did, serene and totally unreadable. Only the slightly vulnerable set of her mouth betrayed that anything at all was wrong.

“I applied here because the program has a first class

reputation.” He gave her a small grin. “But then again, you know that as you’re part of it. I heard about your last paper.

Congratulations.”

Watcher

11

It was true, she had some notable credentials, and in addition to being published regularly, she taught two four hundred level biology courses, and was the only professor at the university to teach undergraduate genetics, which meant every pre-med and pre-veterinary student had to take her class.

In other words, the lady wasn’t only a knockout, but she was extraordinarily intelligent. Some men might find it intimidating, but Jake thought it was sexy as hell. Well, okay, it was a little intimidating, but still a turn-on.

“Thank you.” She sipped her drink with what looked like a determination to be true to her word and numb the anniversary memory. “What plans do you have after you defend your thesis and graduate? Teach at the college level or go into the private sector?”

“Research, probably,” Jake admitted. “I really like it.”

“Lawrence tells me you’re good at it, too.”

“I hope so.”

He had to speak up a little because the place had started to fill up and even though they sat at a small table in a corner, the volume of music and conversation had started to rise. Professor Johnson however, finished her drink well before he did and when the waitress came by, she ordered another.

By halfway through the second drink, her slender shoulders were not as tense, he noticed. She also actually laughed once or twice, and it lit her face attractively, which did not help his current state of sexual infatuation. When she excused herself to go to the restroom, without too much of a twinge from his conscience, Jake ordered her another martini.

It wasn’t exactly an elaborate or original plan, but he was pretty sure that he had to make an impression on this unofficial date. He had a feeling while she’d agreed to have a drink with him on a colleague-to-colleague basis, Jana Johnson would turn him down flat if he actually asked her out. Just for the drink she tried to 12

Kate Watterson

say no. If he hadn’t happened to walk into her office at just the right moment, he would be having a beer in his apartment all by himself. In the act of sliding back into her chair, she saw the replenished drink and lifted one ebony arched brow. “I doubt a third one is a good idea. I still have to drive home.”

“That argument doesn’t work, Professor, because if you were worried about that, you shouldn’t have had the second one. I’ll make sure you get home okay, so don’t worry about it. I’ve only had one beer.”

“I don’t want to inconvenience you.” She looked at him with sudden sharpened attention, as if some inner radar had finally turned on and warned her he just might be a predatory male.

He gave her what he hoped was his most disarming smile. “It’s a Friday night and I have no other plans. Believe me, it’s no inconvenience and I practically dragged you here anyway. You are saving me from working on an extremely dry and boring paper or grading today’s exams.”

“Grading exams.” She made a small face and reached for the frosted glass. “That will drive anyone to drink. My last test was a disaster and the average grade was less than sixty percent.”

You don’t exactly teach the easiest courses,” he pointed out, relieved she was not going to insist they leave.

“One student got a ninety-eight,” she argued, “and it never fails to amaze me that there can be such disparity. It isn’t how I’m teaching it, but how they are individually processing the information.”

“Maybe Mr. Ninety-eight is just exceptionally bright. There are star students in every class.”

Dr. Johnson pinned him with a very direct, accusatory look, but her mouth twitched a little. “It was a she, for your information.

That would be Ms. Ninety-eight.”

Watcher

13

“Whoops.” Jake laughed and held his hands up in mock

surrender. “That was an arrogant assumption, I suppose, but don’t get me wrong, I am a very great fan of the opposite sex.”

Her lashes lowered slightly and she took another small drink before murmuring, “Is that so?”

“Oh, yes.” He lifted his beer glass and took the last sip.

14

Kate Watterson

She was late, but that happened often enough he hadn’t been
worried about it at first. If there was one thing he prided himself
on, it was his patience.

The pretty professor worked long hours, and he admired that.

So did he. It was often dark when she walked out to her car, and
that made the wait completely worthwhile.

In that darkness, there were possibilities.

It made him excited just to think about it. The slenderness of
her neck, so pale and vulnerable…

The Watcher checked his watch and frowned.

Where was she?

* * * *

She certainly hoped the slight wobble in her walk came from her heels and the uneven sidewalk, but Jana had a feeling that wasn’t the case.

Three martinis? Yes, she felt better about just about everything and her headache was gone, but three was a little over the top since she rarely drank more than the occasional glass of wine.

“My apartment is only a block or so away,” Jake Quinn

explained as he very casually took her arm. Obviously he’d noticed the little stumble for his long fingers curved supportively around her elbow. It was a clear autumn evening with just a slight breeze that ruffled his hair. It wasn’t fully dark yet, and the fading light
Watcher

15

slanted across the clean lines of his face; lean jaw, straight nose, high cheekbones, and those almost smoldering dark eyes.

“Your apartment?” Jana felt a flicker of confusion.

“I usually walk to campus because it is so hard to find a place to park.”

Well, that made sense. They would have to get his car so he could take her home. Tomorrow she’d have to find someone to drive her over to where she’d left her BMW in the faculty lot. In the meantime, it was nice of him to be the responsible one, since she was currently at least a little impaired.

Actually, he seemed very nice young man all around, besides being the hunk of all those co-ed fantasies. Pleasant, intelligent, and considerate enough to make an effort to cheer her up. Despite his claim to have nothing to do on a Friday night, someone who looked like him would have options for entertainment that did not involve discussing the biology department.

He was almost disturbingly attractive.

I’m a great fan of the opposite sex.
She believed that, for he fairly exuded a purely male aura that had nothing to do with the fact he was a good-looking guy. It was innate and she’d met a few other men who had it. Something about him made a woman think about sex, and it really wasn’t a subject she had dwelled on much in the past few years.

Her heel suddenly caught in the crack of the sidewalk and she might actually have fallen if he hadn’t had a firm grip on her arm.

Oh great, stumbling drunk. That was not exactly something to be proud of in front of someone she worked with. If there was one thing she worked hard to maintain, it was a professional, impeccable reputation.

“My heel got stuck,” she explained defensively, and then when she saw the slight glint of amusement in his dark eyes, she added ruefully, “And I suspect my reflexes are a bit off. Thanks.”

16

Kate Watterson

“No problem. This is it anyway.” He gestured at a large frame Victorian style house that had obviously been divided into apartments. “Watch your step. I need to get my car keys and they are inside.”

Before she could object, his arm slid around her waist. The gesture was familiar, disconcerting, and brought sharply into focus the muscled strength of his arm and warmth of his tall body.

He urged up her the front steps. A moment later they were inside, and he unlocked the first door on the left. His apartment had a big window facing the porch, which probably let in lots of light during the day, a mélange of mismatched furniture, and a small galley style kitchen at one end. It was surprisingly neat for bachelor quarters and managed to have a comfortable homey feel despite the fact it had obviously come furnished.

He hadn’t removed his arm. Jana could smell the faint hint of his cologne and the slight scent of the beer he’d drank. The feel of his lean body so close made her feel a vague panic. Though she was above average height for a woman, he was still a good six or seven inches taller, and she suddenly felt very vulnerable.

And irrationally excited in the way a woman reacts to an attractive man. It stirred in her stomach, a coil of sensation she hadn’t experienced in a very long time.

No. He was a student. He was too young. She barely knew him other than in a strictly professional sense.

She must be intoxicated, or the wayward notion wouldn’t even have popped in to her head.

It was prudent to try to edge away and put some distance between them. “This isn’t bad for being so close to campus. In fact, nice.”

“Thanks.” His hold tightened, just a fraction, keeping her close.

“The couch is about to fall apart, but the bed is comfortable at least.”

Why in the hell had he said that?

Watcher

17

Her gaze collided with his when she looked upward. There was a mesmerizing intensity in his eyes that literally made her speechless for a moment. He said softly, “I’d really like it if you stayed for a little while. I could make some coffee.”

Considering her sudden heightened awareness of him, that really wasn’t a good idea. She shook her head. “I’d better get home and make myself something to eat or else I’ll feel those three drinks in the morning.”

“I could make us something. Or we could order in.”

He still hadn’t let her go. His mouth, curved in a small very attractive smile, was all too close. For a moment, Jana stared his lips and wondered what it would feel like if he kissed her.

Wonderful probably, and she had the unsettling feeling he was thinking the exact same thing. In fact, considering the expression on his face at the moment, he was thinking about much more than a simple kiss.

She was used to men hitting on her, but she certainly was not used to reciprocating the interest and it shook her normal poise.

When he very lightly caressed her waist, she felt an almost dizzying flash of reaction.

The Incredible Quinn was definitely trying to get her into bed.

“Chinese or pizza?” he asked, and there was the smallest flicker of triumph in the question that told her he knew just how he affected her.

It made common sense come back, even if it was temporary.

“I don’t do things like that,” she said flatly, proud of the fact her voice only cracked slightly.

“Eat take out?” His voice held a hint of laughter, but the focused expression on his face didn’t change.

Jana took a deep shuddering breath, still locked in the circle of his arm. “Come on, you know exactly what I meant, Jake. I don’t date students, and I certainly don’t go to their apartments. I had a 18

Kate Watterson

feeling that third drink was for a purpose and I think I’ve just figured it out.”

“Cut me some slack. I’ve been trying for months to figure out just exactly how to approach you.” He leaned down so his breath fanned her temple and turned a little to press her close against him.

They were now front to front, her breasts touching his chest. “Can you blame me that now that you are here, I don’t want you to go?

Help me out, please, and give me a hint at what would work. If honesty stands a chance, I’ll be happy to tell you bluntly that I get a hard on every time I even look at you.”

That was apparently not just a line. She could tell he had the start of what seemed to be an impressive erection, the prominent bulge in his jeans unmistakable. Her head tilted back, she stared up at him, and somehow
still
made no move to pull away.

Oh God
.

It was warm enough neither of them had fastened their coats, and through her thin sweater and his tee-shirt, she wondered if he knew her nipples had hardened.

No, she wasn’t tempted…was she? “This is crazy,” she

whispered, shaking her head. “I’m not—”

“That kind of girl?” he supplied with that very subtle sexy smile. “No, you aren’t a girl at all, Professor, and I can’t tell you just exactly what that does for me.”

He hardly had to tell her, the growing evidence of his arousal was at the moment hard and long against the plane of her stomach since he held her so close. More than that, her body had responded in the same way, and she could feel the dampness between her legs start to grow, moistening her panties.

That fast.

But then again, it had been a long time. Three years. Had it really been three years since she’d had sex?

Watcher

19

His hand lifted and long fingers stroked her cheek and traced the line of her lower lip. He lowered his head and whispered, “I’ve fantasized about kissing you.”

His mouth was warm, persuasive, and it felt like heaven. Jana closed her eyes, felt the light seductive brush of his tongue against hers, and reflexively slid her arms around his neck. Chaotic emotion held her prisoner as her mind screamed no, but her body traitorously demanded yes. He tasted and felt wonderfully male, and when they finally broke apart, she was breathing quickly.