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JP h the rooeons, trial lawyers, politicians rose from their tables to shake his hand JP introduced Erainya, though it was clear none of them cared about her JP’s arm around her waist, his complete deference toward her, seemed to irritate his acquaintances

JP politely cut short each conversation, declining their offers for a drink

"You must excuse me," he told them "When I am with Miss Manos, my time becomes very valuable"

Erainya loved hi open, the way their wives stared after her as they wrung their diaed to reserve the restaurant’s best table--a corner spot s overlooking the golf course and, across Basse, the man-made canyon that had once been the Alamo Cement Quarry She could just make out JP’s house, there on the far riht

Erainya wondered if this was a subtle invitation, eating dinner within sight of his bedrooht he had co in return He had completely understood when she wanted to sleep next to Je roos on his plush carpet, bowls of popcorn, flashlights, Yu-Gi-Oh! DVDs instead of ghost stories Al night, Erainya lay awake, listening to the easy breathing of her child and her lover, and pondering how she would kil Wil Stirman

JP ordered dinner--shrimp Paesano, Parmesan salad, fettuccine Alfredo He waved aside the wine list and ordered adeal out of it, but Erainya knew the vintage would costabout wine since she’d started dating JP

The bottle arrived He declined a taste test, sent away the waiter, and poured Erainya a generous glass as if it were Kool-Aid or Strawberry Ripple "So did you get Jem settled?"

"I suppose He loves this ladyMaia Lee"

"Tres’ girlfriend"

"Yeah"

JP placed his hand on hers "If I had to pick one eight-year-old to watch ed a s in her throat Jeht away from her--at least not since he was very small , before she’d taken permanent custody of him Baby- sitters, sleepoversshe couldn’t deal with them She’d never been able to shake the fear that he would disappear somehow, leave her life as suddenly as he’d entered it

JP seeency it would take for her to send Jem out of town But stil he had asked no questions He just made himself available, in case she needed him

She realized that hy he’d shown up on her doorstep tonight, despite her refusal He knew she shouldn’t be alone

"Hey," he said gently "I thought you liked shrimp"

She looked down Appetizers had appeared and she hadn’t even noticed

"I haven’t been fair to you," she said "I’ve haven’t explained anything"

"We agreed not to talk about our jobs I’m sure you don’t want to hear about the sinuses I cleared today"

"Sinuses won’t kil you"

"I don’t know There was this big nasty one--"

"I’," he said "I trust you If you don’t tel ood reason"

She wanted to cry She knew so ht actual y love this round check She knew al about his school days, his career, his wife, who had died in childbirth twenty years ago and whose name he had never so much as mentioned JP had never rehter, who had just recently graduated froedy of his wife’s death, the man had no secrets, no enemies, no skeletons in the closet

Erainya’s closet, on the other hand, was loaded There was so much she couldn’t tel him

It was easier to concentrate on the wine and the shrimp Paesano

The sky darkened Traffic on Basse subsided to an occasional streak of headlights, the rattlesnake sizzle of tires on wet asphalt

JP twirled his fork in the fettuccine "Have you told Tres our plans?"

Their plans

"I haven’t said anything," she admitted "Not yet"

He kept his attention careful y focused on achieving the perfect bite-sized forkful of pasta

"I’l tel him soon," she said

"Only if it’s stil what you want"

He tried to sound casual, but she heard the fragility in his voice He had opened himself up for emotional hurt, for the first time since his wife’s death The fact that Erainya had so et ency He would provide for her and Jem He had more money than they would ever need

Did she real y want this?

She only had to look at JP to know the ansas yes No one had ever loved her so ned herself to a life of celibacy until JP ca The sex was fantastic

At first, she had resisted the idea of quitting work She told herself she needed the job It was part of her identity But she believed that less and less