Page 89 of I'm Watching You

‘A girl can dream.’ She grinned. ‘Besides, it’s my birthday, remember? You have to humor me.’

‘I’m going to humor youonlybecause it’s your birthday.’

They rounded the corner and turned down her street. She’d loved this street since the first time she’d jogged down here with Tasha a couple of years ago. They camealmost weekly, though in the last few weeks, she’d been so absorbed with work that they’d had to cut their runs short before they reached this neighborhood.

As Lindsay approached her house, she noticed theFOR SALEsign was gone. For a moment she stopped. Her house had been sold. She didn’t realize until this moment how many dreams she’d pinned on this house. ‘Somebody bought my house.’

Tasha jogged in place. ‘Maybe it’s for the best.’

It didn’t feel like it was for the best. ‘I guess.’

Lindsay started to turn but spotted a Jeep in the driveway. The vehicle was black, had a soft top and a dented back right fender. It looked like Zack’s Jeep. And then she noticed the unmarked police Impala parked in front of it.

Zack.

‘What the devil are Zack’s cars doing in the driveway ofmyhouse?’ Lindsay said.

Tasha groaned when she saw the cars. ‘It’s not your house, Lindsay.’

Angrily, she swiped sweat from her brow. ‘Yeah, I know, but it’s nothiseither.’

‘He could be the person who bought it.’

Lindsay couldn’t imagine why Zack would have bought the house. He’d never really liked it. When they’d driven by it a few times, he’d always complained that the place would be a money pit for whoever bought it.

She clenched her fists. ‘He can’t buymyhouse. He knows how much I love this place.’

‘Lindsay, you’re sounding a little crazed and you’regetting worked up over a house that never belonged to you. Who cares what house Zack buys?’

‘Logically, I understand that what he chooses to do with his life now is none of my business. I should just walk away.’ Instead she marched up the driveway.

‘Where are you going?’ Tasha demanded.

‘To find out why Zack bought my house.’ Lindsay stomped up the front steps and knocked on the door. When there was no answer, she pounded on it.

Tasha hovered in the driveway, not sure if she should run or drag Lindsay off the porch. ‘This is insane. We don’t even know if that’s Zack’s car.’

‘It’s Zack’s.’ Footsteps sounded in the hallway inside. Just to irritate him more, she banged on the door again.

‘I’m coming!’ Zack’s voice boomed through the closed door. There was no mistaking that he was pissed. Good. She could use a good fight now.

The front door swung open. Zack wore suit pants, a dress shirt, and a tie not yet knotted. His shirt cuffs were rolled midway up his forearms and his gun holster and cuffs hung from his belt. He smelled faintly of soap and aftershave. He held a cup of coffee in his hand.

Zack’s gaze initially reflected annoyance, then confusion and then understanding. ‘What are you doing here, Lindsay?’

The softness in his voice caught her by surprise and for a moment she hesitated. God, she had lost her mind. Quickly, she regrouped. ‘Why did you buy my house?’

He didn’t smile, but his eyes sparked with amusement. ‘It wasn’t your house.’

She planted her hands on her hips. ‘But you know I wanted to buy it.’

He sipped his coffee as if savoring this moment. ‘As I remember, there were no other bidders on the house.’ He sounded so damn reasonable.

Sweat dripped into her eyes. She swiped it away. ‘But you knew I loved this house.’

His shoulders filled the doorjamb. ‘What do you want me to say, Lindsay?’

She was acting like a lunatic. Unreasonable. And she didn’t care. ‘Damn it, Zack. This is my house. You know how much it means to me. Of all the houses in Richmond, why would you buy this one?’

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