Make Your Move - By Samantha Hunter Page 0,8

womanizer. He bragged about using the popular image of science geeks in the media to get women into bed at conferences and bars. There were also rumors about him having affairs with lab assistants and his advisees—clearly unethical behavior, though nothing was ever proven.

“Uh, you two know each other?” Jodie asked.

“Yes,” they responded simultaneously, in the same monotone laced with dislike.

“We work in the same department at Northwestern, but manage different labs. Our offices are on the same floor,” Dan clarified. “What are you doing here, Jason?”

“Visiting with Jodie. We’ve been dating. I had no idea you knew each other. She never mentioned you,” Jason said casually, putting a hand on Jodie’s shoulder.

Dating? As in, more than Jodie’s usual one-night flings? Jodie had told him the guy she was with the night before wasn’t someone she was all that interested in, which was why she’d cut the date short to come see him. Jason certainly made it sound like they had more going on.

Dan didn’t have a good mantra for this particular situation. Never being inclined to violence, he’d never had to ask the monks how to avoid the urge to slam his fist into someone’s face.

“We’ve only been on one date,” Jodie corrected gently, smiling at them both. Dan hoped his relief wasn’t too evident.

Still, had they slept together? Was she so impressed she was agreeing to see Jason again? He was coming here, to her workplace, to flirt? To seduce her?

Dan saw all shades of red though he was hoping his exterior didn’t betray his thoughts. Thinking of Jodie with Jason made his highly developed mind turn caveman.

“We were out last night,” Jodie said, “but I didn’t feel well so we called it a night early.”

Her eyes met his, and Dan took it for the hint that it was. Don’t tell him about last night. It made him feel better—and worse. She’d blown Jason off for him, but she didn’t want Jason knowing that.

“We’re going to more than make up for it later,” Jason said, sticking the knife in a little deeper.

“Later?” Dan said without thinking.

“I wanted to make up my date with Jason, since I had to beg off last night,” she explained, her cheeks turning pink.

He’d stopped Jodie from sleeping with Jason. Maybe he was lucky. Or maybe not, since it sounded like she was intent on seeing him again.

Dan suddenly realized he hadn’t said a word, standing there like an idiot, and he caught the knowing glint in Jason’s eyes as he bent down and kissed Jodie—on the cheek.

“Well, I—I have to go, Jodie.” Jason stammered enough to sound shy and a little unsure. “See you later?”

The bastard, Dan thought, curling his fingers into fists as he observed Jason’s naive act. Women really fell for this?

Jodie sparked up. “Oh, wait! I can’t—I forgot I already have plans tonight.”

Dan’s relief was almost palpable.

“How about tomorrow night?” she said instead, and relief went out the window. He wasn’t used to this emotional roller coaster.

“Sure,” Jason agreed.

Dan ground his teeth. Jodie wasn’t inexperienced with men. Didn’t she see the predatory gleam in the guy’s eye? That he was only using her. That he was lying through his teeth? Dan then reminded himself that she probably didn’t care. As much as he loved Jodie, he knew she wasn’t much of a romantic. She was used to sex as sport, he thought sadly.

“I’ll see you then,” Jodie said with a friendly smile.

When Jason left, he slid Dan a covert glance that was completely galling.

Trouble was, there was no way to tell Jodie that Jason was a dog without sounding jealous, needy, or causing the same problem they’d had years ago when he’d tried to interfere. Jodie didn’t like anyone telling her what to do, not even him. She’d had enough of that from her father. She wouldn’t listen to Dan if he warned her off Jason; in fact, it might even make Jason more appealing.

“Dan, you okay? You look like you should sit down.”

He shook his head, smiling. “I’m fine. Tired. Lost in thought.”

“C’mon. Probably your blood sugar bottoming out, in which case, you are in the right place. Let’s get a snack and say hi to Ginger.”

She took his arm in hers and he found he wanted to pull her in, to gather her in close and protect her and make sure no man, certainly not a man like Jason Kravitz, laid one hand on her. Ever.

Instead, he walked with her to the kitchen, listening to her chatter about