ooded as any male and you're the best looking woman I've had in this house ever! But you just don't need to be doing that. Please, just call the studio in the morning and make an a

rang and broke the impasse. I re

you run over and help you

drew a slow breath.

ething

's wrong. Mo

he can see the str

op by in the morning

you,

welcom

et somethi

the house. "I've

Is something

l call y

ort pause. "Is

he morning, M

Arrogant and pompous. I spoke gently. "Think about what you're doing, Ashleigh. You're extremely beautiful, sexy as

aled sharply, and began fasten

ng. As I propped it by the coffee pot, Ashleigh drifted toward me jamming her shirttail back into her jeans. Her eyes were downcast and her shoulders slumped. I lifted h

rieved a flashlight from a drawer next to the

her breath on my neck brought back long-forgotten feelings. I should have pushed her away. Instead, my arms folded around her and my lips brushed her

kered her lips. I hesitated, then as my lips touched hers, my heart stopped and I relived my entire lif

y, " she

gs in this world that frighten me too." I drew a breath. "You ready?" She nodded and I opened the

ng the light about the room. The place smelled of perfume and potpourri and reminded me of a weekend cottage with a breakfast

aker panel. I shined the light on the switches as Ash

" she whispere

s. A second later, an ancient console television fizzled to life showing an old black and white Greta Garbo movie. Ashleigh lean

" I said scanning the

inutes? I'd like to t

pounding the roof ca

cotch, " she said. "Wo

turned off the flashlight

promise I won't keep you long." She broke the seal on the bottle of scotch, screwed the cap off, and held it poised over the ice. "Please?" Her smile was soft. Her eyes had that sparkle children get

okay. J

all square napkin, and handed it to me. "Just m

e scurried through the living room into the bedroom. There was a

I lifted a framed 5x7 photograph off a buffet behind the front door and studied it. It w

k cat stood up on the couch and stretched. It had blended so well with the pillows I hadn't even noticed it, but when I reached out to stroke it, it vaulted to the floor.

ished through, leaned against the doorframe,

gh?" I

. Just a

f childish game. It was delightful, even s

alled. "You ca