“And you just had to rush right over here to rub my face in it.""Nope. I rushed right over here to slap your face in it.""A rude but effective wake-up call," Laura commented and earned a shocked stare."I expected better from you.""You shouldn't have." Hands brisk and competent, she affixed a shiny silver bow to the box. "If you don't want to tell us what happened between you and Josh,fine.But you can't expect us to sit around quietly while you mope.""I have not been moping.""We've been cleaning up the blood spilling out of your heart for weeks." Kate passed Laura her credit card. "Face it,pal, you're just no fun anymore.""And that's all this friendship is about?Fun? I thought I might get a little support,a little sympathy, a little compassion.""Sorry," Laura imprinted the card with a steady sweep. "Fresh out.”

“Laura had warned him not to expect much. It was a good thing. "Have you and Kate been smoking grass in here?""That's all she ever does on her lunch hour.We really have to get her into a program." Thrilled with herself, Margo spread her arms. "So,what do you think?""Uh-huh.It's a building, all right.""Josh.""Give me a minute." He walked past her into the adjoining room, came back, looked into the bath, gazed up the pretty, and potentially lethal, staircase. He wiggled the banister, winced. "Want a lawyer?”

“How are you holding up?""I'm good.And still untouched," she added. "Are you alone in that bed?""Except for the six members of the all-girl Swedish volleyball team.Helga's got a hell of a spike.Aren't you going to ask what I'm wearing?""Black Speedos,sweat,and a big smile.""How'd you guess?So,what are you wearing?"Slowly,she ran a tongue around her teeth. "Oh,just this little..very little..white lace teddy.""And stiletto heels.""Naturally.With a pair of sheer hose.They have little pink roses around the tops. It matches the one I'm tucking between my breasts right now. I should add I've just gotten out of the tub.I'm still a little..wet.""Jesus.You're too good at this.I'm hanging up."Her response was a long, throaty laugh."I'm going to love driving the Jag.let me know when to expect the shipment."When the phone clicked in her ear,she laughed again,turned, and found herself nearly face to face wth Kate. "how long have you been standing there?""Long enough to be confused.Were you just having [hone sex with Josh? Our Josh?"Carelessly,Margo brushed her hair behind her ear. "It was more foreplay really.”

“Imagine my surprise, my ditress, when one of our regular patrons raced screaming into camera range,her Templeton Spa robe flapping open, her eyes wild as she sputtered accusations about being attacked-bodily attacked-by Laura Templeton Ridgeway and her cohorts.""Oh,Josh,I'm so sorry." Laura turned her head away, hoping he'd take it for shame.It would never,never do to laugh. He showed his teeth. "One snicker,Laura. Just one.""I'm not snickering." Composed,she turned back."I'm terribly sorry.It must have been very embarrassing for you.""And don't it just be a laugh riot when they run that little scene?Of course, they'll beep out most of the dialogue to conform to Standards and Practices, but I think the viewing audience, the millions of people who tune into Informed each week will get the gist.""She started it," Kate said,then winced when he turned flinty eyes on her. "Well,she did.""I'm sure Mom and Dad will understand that completely." Even the stalwart Kate could be cowed."It was Margo's idea."Margo hissed through her teeth. "Traitor.She called Kate a lesbian."Shaking his head,Josh covered his face with his hands and rubbed hard."Oh, well,then, get the rope.""I suppose you'd have let her get away with it.She's been trying to damage the shop.She said nasty things to Laura," Margo went on,heating up. "And just the other day she came into the shop and called me a slut. A second-class slut.""And your answer was to gang up on her, three to one,smack her around, strip her naked,and shove her into a locker?""We never smacked her.Not once." Not, Margo thought,that she wouldn't have liked to. "As for the locker business, it was a matter of tradition.We did nothing more than embarrass her, which is no more than she deserved after the way she insulted us.And anyway, a real man would applaud our actions.”

“Well,the hell with you." She natched up her purse. "The hell with both of you.""We love you, Margo."That stopped her.She whirled back to glare at Kate. "That's a lousy thing to say.Bitch." When Kate grinned,she tried to grin back.Instead she dropped her purse back behind the counter and burst into tears."Oh,shit." Shocked,Kate leaped forward to gather her close. "Oh,hell.Oh, shit.Lock the door,Laura.I'm sorry, Margo.I'm sorry.Bad plan.I thought you'd just get mad and go tearing off to fix his butt.What did the bastard do to you,honey?I'll fix his butt for you.""He dumped me." Thoroughly ashamed, she sobbed wretchedly on Kate's shoulder. "He hates me.I wish he were dead.I wish I had slept with Claudio.""Wait.Whoa." Firmly, Kate drew he back,while Laura brought over a cup of tea. "Who's Claudio and when didn't you sleep with him?""He's a friend,just a friend.And I never slept with him." The tears were so hot it felt as though her eyes were on fire. "Especially not when Josh found us in the bedroom.""Uh-oh."Kate rolled her eyes at Laura. "Is it a French farce or a Greek tragedy?You be the judge.""Shut up,Kate.Come on Margo.Let's sit down.This time you tell us everything.”

“You've a sentimental streak along with that iron,Keeley.""Yes,I do.And a latent romantic one.""Is that so?" he murmured, a little surprised when she turned and ran her hands up his chest."Apparently.I didn't think you for riding to my rescue last night.""I don't recall riding anywhere." His lips twitched as she backed him out of the box."In a manner of speaking.You cut a bully down to size for me.I was upset and worried about the gelding, so I didn't really think about it at the time.But I did later,and I wanted to thank you.""Well, you're welcome.""I haven't finished thanking you." She bit lightly on his bottom lip, heard his quick indrawn breath."If that's what you have in mind, you could finish thanking me up in my bedroom.""Why don't I just show you what I have in mind? Right here."She had his shirt unbuttoned before he realized they were standing in an empty stall, freshly bedded with hay. "Here?" He laughed, taking both her hands to tug her out again. "I don't think so.""Here." She countered his move by ramming his back against the side wall. "I know so.""Don't be ridiculous." His lungs were clogged, and his mind insisted on following suit. "Anyone could come along?""Live dangerously." She pulled the stall door shut behind them."I have been,since I first set eyes on you.”

“But you must admit,it's taking up an inordinate amount of your time. Why it's taken us six months to have dinner together.""Is that all?"He misinterpreted the quiet response, and the gleam in her eyes.And leaned toward her.She slapped a hand on his chest. "Don't even think about it.Let me tell you something,pal.I do more in one day with my school than you do in a week of pushing papers in that office your grandfather gave you between your manicures and amaretto lattes and soirees. Men like you hold no interest for me whatsoever,which is why it's taken six months for this tedious little date.And the next time I have dinner with you,we'll be slurping Popsicles in hell.So take your French tie and your Italian shoes and stuff them."Utter shock had him speechless as she shoved open her door.As insult trickled in,his lips thinned. "Obviously spending so much time in the stables has eroded your manners, and your outlook.""That's right, Chad." She leaned back in the door. "You're too good for me. I'm about to go up and weep into my pillow over it.""Rumor is you're cold," he said in a quiet, stabbing voice. "But I had to find out for myself."It stung,but she wasn't about to let it show. "Rumor is you're a moron. Now we've both confirmed the local gossip."He gunned the engine once,and she would have sworn she saw him vibrate. "And it's a British tie."She slammed the car door, then watched narrow-eyed as he drove away. "A British tie." A laugh gurgled up,deep from the belly and up into the throat so she had to stand, hugging herself, all but howling at the moon. "That sure told me."Indulging herself in a long sigh, she tipped her head back,looked up at the sweep of stars. "Moron," she murmured. "And that goes for both of us."She heard a faint click, spun around and saw Brian lighting up a slim cigar. "Lover's spat?""Why yes." The temper Chad had roused stirred again. "He wants to take me to Antigua and I simply have my heart set on Mozambique.Antigua's been done to death."Brian took a contemplative puff of his cigar.She looked so damn beautiful standing there in the moonlight in that little excuse of a black dress, her hair spilling down her back like fire on silk.Hearing her long, gorgeous roll of laughter had been like discovering a treasure.Now the temper was back in her eyes,and spitting at him.It was almost as good.He took another lazy puff, blew out a cloud of smoke. "You're winding me up, Keeley.""I'd like to wind you up, then twist you into small pieces and ship them all back to Ireland.""I figured as much." He disposed of the cigar and walked to her. Unlike Chad, he didn't misinterpret the glint in her eyes. "You want to have a pop at someone." He closed his hand over the one she'd balled into a fist, lifted it to tap on his own chin. "Go ahead.""As delightful as I find that invitation, I don't solve my disputes that way." When she started to walk away, he tightened his grip. "But," she said slowly, "I could make an exception.""I don't like apologizing, and I wouldn't have to-again-of you'd set me straight right off."She lifted an eyebrow.Trying to free herself from that big, hard hand would only be undignified.”