“Why are you still so damned protective of me?:“You have to ask?”“I do.”Mick came closer still, until his face hung an inch from mine. “If you have to ask, then you wouldn’t believe my answer.” He drew away and continued wiping my hands.”

“I pulled the phone toward me and punched in the number of the sheriff's office in Flat Mesa. The deputy at the desk put me straight through. The phone made a couple of clicks, and then the sheriff's voice sounded in my ear."Jones," he said. Dark, biting, laconic."Hey, Nash. It's Janet."There was a long silence."Fuck," Nash Jones said clearly, and he hung up on me.”

“Demitri sent for a tray of hot, fresh coffee with four cups. the waiter who brought it tried to look into the room to see what they were doing but Demitri grabbed the tray and slammed the door."He probably thinks we're having an orgy," Demitri said as he set down the tray."An orgy with coffee?" Andreas asked."He has a vivid imagination.”

“I couldn't help smiling back. Maya had decided opinions and didn't keep them to herself. "Jones had his chance, and he blew it. There's an old Navajosaying that I think applies here: 'You snooze, you lose.' ”

“Hey, senorita, want to throw back some margaritas with me?"Maya gave him a scornful look as only Maya could. "Who the hell are you?""Your dream come true, sweetheart.""I might puke." Maya shoved past him, her toolbox just missing his groin. "It's too early in the morning for assholes.”

“And do I still have that look?" he asked."Yes just there," she kissed his eye. "The desire to love me is still there. If you look closely you can see mine for you, my tears never washed it away.”

“He shrugged one shouler, looked away. "It's not so bad,not really.""Why do you stay?" I asked quietly. "Is it because your mother mentioned me?""I knew I shouldn't have told you that," he muttered."What did she say, Colin?"He didn't answer right away. "Colin?"He sighed, raked a hand through his hair. "She spoke of a girl with violet eyes.That's all.""Do you still miss her?""Aye." He came closer."Is that why you stay? To honor her memory? Even though my mother is horrid?"His eyes locked onto mine. "I stay for you, Violet."I suddenly felt warm all over. "For me?”