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"Im jealous," she said

She should be Shed had every reason in the world to be here with hiotten one of her friends to watch the house

His second line buzzed "Just a second, honey I another call " He put her on hold and answered line two It was Sally, saying shed uilt, as if hed been caught doing so But that was crazy; it was siue

"Great " He went back to line one "Honey?" he said, "Ive got to run Ive got dinner reservations "

"Im proud of you, Jackson," she said softly

Thats what hed been waiting for--her pride in him--and he hadnt even realized it "I love you," he said, wanting to mean it with a ferocity that surprised him

"I love you, too Ill call you tomorrow after the interview "

"Perfect Bye, honey "

He hung up the phone and went into the bathroom By the time hed taken a shower and dried his hair, hed finished one drink and poured another He dressed quickly in a pair of gray slacks and a black Calvin Klein sweater Then he stood at the , sipping his drink until it was time to leave

At seven-thirty, he went downstairs The liot out and opened the passenger door "Good evening, Mr Shore "

Jack got into the car and settled back into the plush, dark seat It was only a ain and Sally joined him

She was stunningly beautiful in a plain black dress with a round collar and barely-there sleeves Her hair--hoas it that hed never noticed how blond it was, alht down the middle of her back When she sat down beside hisor the sexy, spike-heeled sandals that Elizabeth wouldnt have worn in the middle of summer, let alone in the middle of winter

"You look beautiful " Hed meant to say "nice " He tried to loosen his collar It felt too tight suddenly "Is the heat on?" he asked the driver

She leaned toward him "Here, let me "

He srance of her shampoo