Free Watcher by Kate Watterson

and considering her normal poise it was unusual enough there was no way in hell Gillian wouldn’t notice it.
    Quickly he dug in the pocket of his lab coat and produced the item in question, handing it over. “Thanks for letting me use it.”
    “Certainly.” There was a slight disconcerted note in her voice that indicated her physical reaction and lack of control over it embarrassed her. “Have a good afternoon. You too, Gillian.”
    A little too quickly, she turned left the room.
    He turned back to the slide he was preparing with studious attention, but he could feel Gillian’s avid stare. After a moment, she said, “Jesus Christ. Quinn, are you kidding me?”
    He glanced up, hopefully looking blank. “What?”

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    “What the hell was that all about?”
    “What was what all about?”
    “How about the way she just looked at you and the way you looked at her…oh my God, is that why your weekend was so nice ?
    You and Professor Johnson ?” Gillian’s expression was almost comically incredulous.
    “That’s an interesting conclusion to come to so quickly for someone who is supposed to be a scientist,” he said disparagingly.
    “The woman was in here for two seconds because I borrowed her key to the supply closet. There was no look.”
    “Bullshit, I was standing right here, remember? Don’t get me wrong, you pretty much always look at her that way—that unmistakable I-want-to-fuck-you-bad look—but this time she looked right back. She blushed like she was remembering something, and considering you admitted already that you spent your weekend in the sack with someone—”
    “I didn’t admit it at all,” Jake interrupted in exasperation, feeling uncertain whether to just tell the truth and swear Gillian to secrecy or keep denying it. The last thing he wanted was for any speculation to start circling through the department. Jana was leery enough of a relationship, and this might kill it before he even really got a chance.
    Gilliam tugged out a stool theatrically. “I’ve gotta sit down. No wonder you were being so damned evasive.” She looked at him in her direct way. “You lucky son of a bitch, you’re my hero now.
    How was it? No, don’t answer, I don’t need it. You’ve been walking around like you just won the lottery or something.”
    With a long resigned sigh, Jake rubbed his jaw. “Would you mind keeping quiet about this?”
    “Oh man, this is huge. Unapproachable Dr. Johnson and
    Incredible Jake Quinn doing the wild thing. I’m supposed to keep that to myself?”
    “I’d appreciate it.”

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    “Okay, I suppose I can somehow manage, but only because we’re friends.” Gillian gave him a mischievous look. “But there’s a price. Keeping in mind I completely agree with you one hundred percent when it comes to hot Jana J., give me a couple of details.
    Hey, you owe me that much.”
    Relieved and a little amused, Jake asked warily, “Like what?”
    “How many times, was there oral genital contact, are those her real tits, you know, things like that.”
    He laughed and shook his head. “Quite a few, yes, and yes. Is that enough?”
    “Quite a few?”
    “I don’t keep a scorecard, for God’s sake.”
    “You really are my hero.” Gillian grinned at him, looking a little wistful. “Dammit, I kept hoping Dr. Johnson was so standoffish toward the panting males around here because she was secretly gay.”
    With complete confidence, Jake said, “Believe me, she isn’t.”

    * * * *

    What was she, sixteen?
    Normally, Jana prided herself on being able to stay detached from her emotions. It had gotten her through Brian’s illness and limped her through the past two years.
    Taking her keys from her purse, she inwardly uttered some inventive profanity as she went down the stairs. Jake had appeared composed and neutral, and certainly done nothing to suggest anything had changed.
    On the other hand, she’d gotten all warm and flustered just being close to him.