Chapter 53

She was in bed hours later, reading a magazine when she heard Collins coming up the stairs, knowing he must have seen the light on in her room, her windows facing the front of the house. Her face was a polite mask as his knock sounded on her bedroom door, and he entered immediately afterwards. He looked even more tired than he had earlier tonight, sharpening Jasmine's suspicion as to the reason for the tiredness, although she didn't ever remember lovemaking tiring him in the past.

He didn't make the curt goodnight at the door as he usually did, and Jasmine stiffened as he came in to sit on the side of her bed. 'How is your foot now?' he inquired softly.

She put her magazine down, her hands clasping together to stop their trembling.

'It's fine,' she dismissed, just wanting him to leave.

'Sure?' he frowned, looking all of his forty years.

'Yes!' Her tone was sharp with tension.

His eyes took on the look of a storm-tossed sea as he continued to l