Ill Take Forever

returned by the time she went to bed. It was after midnight before the headlights swept across her wall, and the sound of the SUV crunching the gravel heard. She held her breath when he came in the house, tensed and straining to hear him. He climbed the stairs, seemed to pause near her door, then proceeded to his room. The door closed with a soft click and Jenny sighed, turning over to finally go to sleep.

    ***
    Kyle was gone when she awoke the next morning. The car was in the garage, and she used it to drive into town and get the next batch of work. It was a pleasant morning, warm and still. She was finished visiting her clients by noon and went to see if April was free for lunch.
    She was and soon both were seated around the table at the small coffee shop. April was curious about Kyle and had a hundred questions. Jenny smiled and tried to answer all her questions as if Kyle was actually a professor.
    'Wasn't the party at George's super? I think most of the town was there. What did you think of Miss Naomi appropriating Kyle?' she asked unexpectedly.
    Jenny hadn’t expected others to notice. At least it minimized the possibility Nate had spread the tale of their picnic.
    'He’s free to see whomever he wants. Naomi’s very attractive and Kyle is used to the city. He teaches at San Francisco State. There’s a good chance they can hook up once both are back home.'
    'I so don’t see Naomi falling for some professor. You have to admit, however, that Kyle doesn’t look like a professor. I always thought they were kind of reserved. He’s too hot to be reserved.' April looked at her friend and grinned. ‘Maybe you and I have witnessed the beginning of a passionate love affair started right here!’
    Jenny didn't like the idea at all. She was being silly, of course. Kyle wasn't really a professor at the State University, it was only his front, his cover. Still, the thought of his seeing Naomi rankled. She didn't want to think about it. It was work, he'd said, but what did that really mean? Moonlight and kisses to lull her into confiding in him? Surely government agents had other ways to question people.
    Changing the subject, Jenny soon had April talking again about her upcoming vacation to Hawaii.
    Kyle had not returned when Jenny arrived home in the late afternoon. She hadn’t told him she was going out with George. Once showered and dressed, she wrote Kyle a note, just in case he came home and wondered where she was.
    It was the least she could do. Maybe spark him to show her the same courtesy–where was he and with whom?
    She felt vaguely guilty as she wrote the note. She really didn't want to go out with George, she wasn't excited about going out at all. A quiet evening at home would suit her better. But she’d never let George know that. She had accepted his invitation and should make the most of it. It wasn't his fault she felt as she did. He was being kind. The least she could do was make an effort to enjoy the evening.
    She wore a soft rose-colored silk dress and high heels, brushing her hair until the gold highlights showed in the late afternoon sun. A light application of make-up, a dab of Joy and she was ready. Taking a light shawl in case the evening turned cool, she left to wait for George downstairs.
    'Going out?' Kyle's voice stopped her at the top of the steps. She turned; he was standing in the doorway to his room, clad only in his jeans. She hadn't heard his return.
    She swallowed, nodded. 'Yes. George is taking me to dinner. I didn't fix you anything, I didn't know if you'd be home or not.' She held out the note. ‘I was going to leave you a note.’
    'Where are you going?'
    'Lake Tahoe, I think.'
    'That's a long drive.' Kyle moved to come up to Jenny, causing her to tilt her head back to see him. His eyes traveled over her body, coming back to rest on her eyes. Taking a deep breath, he smiled sardonically.
    'The whole bit, eh?'
    Jenny turned to go down the stairs, his hand shot out to grasp her arm and turn her back.
    'Don't go, Jenny. Tell him you can't make it tonight. Make it some other time.' Kyle's voice was low, hurried.
    'No, I can’t do that. I’m free to go out with whomever I wish. Please let me go.'
    'I don't want you to go with George Carlisle,' he said again.
    'Oh, come on, Kyle, you don't own me. I can see whomever I wish!'
    'Not George.' He moved his hand to her shoulder, the thumb gently caressing her collarbone. Jenny felt her resolution dissolving. His hand burned through