She nodded. "I don't knowwhat's going to happen tonight. So I just wanted you to know that."
"Christ, Marli, nothing's goingto happen tonight. And now I have to sit in that bar all night with a hard-on,just waiting to get you back here so I can have you."
Her knees went so soft she thoughtshe might fall. That aching need between her legs was back. Her fresh pantieswere damp already.
"Me, too." Her eyes madehim promises he seemed to understand and reciprocate.
"Let's go."
They ate in the restaurant in theinn, a family-type place full of parents and their kids on holidays. Marlipicked at a club sandwich and fries, while Trey devoured another huge meal, asteak sandwich, fries and a big piece of apple pie with ice cream.
When they finished, they looked ateach other.
"Showtime," Trey saidquietly. He paid the bill and they went out to his car in the dusky parkinglot.
Trey drove around and around untilhe found a spot on the street not far from Marli's car. When they left, hewanted to be close to her. He parked and they started toward Cactus Jack's. Hestopped her on the sidewalk around the corner from the bar.
"We can't go in together,"he said quietly. "We want it to look like you're there alone again. Justgo sit at the bar. Try to find two chairs so I can join you."
She looked up at him with wide eyes.Christ, he hated sending her in there alone after everything that had happened."I'll be right behind you," he said roughly. "Even if I don'tsit down right away. Okay?"
She nodded.
"Remember. Don't look at justthe guys with blond hair. You have to look at everyone."
"Yes."
He stared at her for a long moment,eyes moving over her face, then bent and kissed her hard on the mouth. Then heturned her by the shoulders and gave her a little push. With a glance over hershoulder, she went around the corner and entered the bar. He watched her go inand waited for the longest moments of his life. Then he, too, strolled casuallyin.
He spotted her at the bar with hisperipheral vision. Good girl. Empty chair beside her, at the end wherehe liked.
Instead of heading directly to thebar, he pushed through the crowd toward the two pool tables at the back. Hestood and watched people play, smiling as if he were enjoying the game, buteyeballing everyone around. Hands in his jeans pockets, he leaned against arough-hewn post and turned to survey the bar.
The music twanged loudly, peopledanced with abandon and a burst of laughter came from a nearby table where twogirls shrieked with hilarity over something. He smiled. Casually, he strolledthe length of the bar, then said to Marli, "Anyone sitting here?"
She shook her head and turned awayfrom him to watch the dance floor. The bartender slid a glass of Coke acrossthe bar to her and she gave him a quick smile of thanks.
"I'll have a Surf Coast PaleAle," he said, before the bartender disappeared with a scowl.
He shrugged and looked at Marli, andshe met his eyes and gave him a faint smile.
"So what's new?" he asked.
"Nothing."
They both searched the room."We might have to dance," he said. "Otherwise, it's too dark tosee everyone over there."
She nodded. "If we must."
He grinned. His beer arrived and hedrank thirstily. One. Just one. No way was he screwing up again whenMarli's life was on the line.
"Did you know that if you danceon the bar here you win a free thong?" she asked conversationally.
He choked on his beer and shesmacked him on the back, laughing.
"Really."
"Don't worry. I won't do ittonight," she assured him. "I've already got my thong."
He groaned.
"I did that the night Kristawas killed," she continued, a bit sadly. "That was another thing thatmade her mad. She thought I was trying to attract Rob's attention."
"God, I am so out of my leaguewith you."
She laughed.
They danced to Tim McGraw singing"When The Stars Go Blue," dragging their eyes away from each other'sfaces to search the dance floor for anyone who might be Sheldon Barnes. After,they sipped their drinks and talked at the bar.
"Tell me about yourfamily," he asked her.
"I have a very normal, boringfamily. My dad is a doctor and my mom is an interior designer. She wanted to bean artist, but decided a career as a designer was more practical. I have twobrothers, both younger than me. Brett is twenty-six and Jason is twenty-three.They were both extremely annoying pests when we were little, but now they'reokay." She grinned. "Brett is almost finished medical school. Jasonworks for IBM."
"Very solid upper middleclass."
"Absolutely. I'm very lucky. Wehave a lot of fun when we get together." She peered at him. "Whywon't you tell me about your family?"
He looked at the beer glass with theinch of warm beer he was nursing. "We're kind of estranged," he saidfinally. "My parents and my sister felt sorry for me after what happened,and I just couldn't handle their pity. So I just stay away from them. Fornow."
"But someday you'll reconcilewith them. Right?"
He shrugged. "I guess so."
"Family's important."
"Hey, I know it," he said."Especially now, I know it. But shit happens."
"Are you waiting for one ofthem to make the first move?" Her voice was warm with curiosity.
He thought about that. Did he wanthis mom or his sister to hunt him down, force him to see them? Not really."No."
"Then you're going tomake the first move."
He glared at her. "You don'tknow what you're talking about."
He saw the hurt in her eyes theminute the words left his lips and regretted it. "I'm sorry," heapologized immediately. "I didn't mean to snap at you."
"I don't know what I'm talkingabout because you won't tell me," she snapped back at him. "You'retoo macho to talk about your feelings, to tell me what happened to splityour family up."
"I'm not macho," heprotested.
