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"I am, too A wonderful time," Bethanne assured her and, truthfully, she was

"What will you do?" Ruth asked

"Well, that Texas oilman and I have struck up a friendly relationship I think I’ll go visit that slotto hand over any more of those oil residuals"

Her plans for the afternoon seemed to appease Ruth Bethanne walked her mother-in-law back to the Hard Rock casino and sent her off to find the Wheel of Fortune slot machines Then she strolled around until she came across the Texas Tea slots Yesterday’s rabbed it Once seated and comfortable, she opened her purse to take out her wallet She wouldn’t have heard her cell phone if not for the fact that her purse was open Autonize the nuive your business card to Rooster?"

"Max?"

"I’ave Rooster your cell phone number," he repeated

"I don’t know," she murht she’d reviewed their conversation over and over, and each time she’d felt a sense of loss She needed to consider her relationship with Grant, but that didn’t mean she had to shut herself off frooing to reconcile She’d finally fallen into a troubled sleep and ith no clear understanding of what her ultimate decision would be What it should be

"Yes, you do"

He was right; she did knohy she’d done it Even as she handed Rooster the business card with that vague comment about how Max should call when he was "ready," she knew "I wanted to see you again"

"Where are you?"

"Same casino Same machine"

"Are you alone?"

"Yes"

"I’ll be there in ten minutes"

Bethanne’s hand trembled as she dropped her phone back inside her purse She told herself she should get up and walk away that very nize her indecision the moment he approached her She started to talk, but he stopped her by pressing his finger against her lips Taking her by the shoulders, he sas stays in Vegas?"

She nodded

"I respect what you told hty decision to ive ree to that?"

Again she nodded

He sed

His eed Wasn’t that what he’d said--that she belonged in his arms? It was exactly how she felt, too Why, oh, why did he have to be the one who made her heart flutter? Why, oh, why did it have to be now? If she was confused and uncertain when it ca Max only complicated that situation

"I could hold you like this all day," he whispered into her hair

She wanted that, too Maybe, sheabout Grant

"I have no intention of wasting what’s left of today," Max said, clasping her hand "Let’s get out of here"

"Okay"

When they went outside, the summer sun beat down on them The heat hadn’t reached its zenith and wouldn’t for several hours, but the sun shone with a brilliant intensity Bethanne put on her sunglasses as they walked "Where are we going?" she asked

"A place I know not far from here"

It turned out to be an ice cream shop a couple of blocks off the Strip Bethanne slid into the booth and Max took the seat across from her He ordered a vanilla ice cream soda, while Bethanne had coffee

They talked for four hours straight Four hours The conversation drifted naturally from one subject to another They discussed music, politics, books and friends She learned he was in the wine distribution business That was the reason Rooster had commented on her preference for wine over beer Rooster owned an advertising agency and had worked with Max on his company’s account

He asked her plenty of questions, too He wanted to know about her children and she described Andrew and Annie with pride In fact, they talked about everything--except Grant or Kate or his daughter It was as though the subject of the people they’d once loved was strictly taboo

About halfway through their conversation, Ruth phoned to say she was feeling a bit under the weather Too reedier than she’d expected Bethanne was concerned, but Ruth claimed she’d feel better if she didn’t interrupt Bethanne’s fun with her Texas oilhten her mother-in-law about where she really was or who she ith

"Tell me more about your business," Max said after she’d put away her cell He held her card in his hand and turned it over two or three tie scrawled across the back

"I never dreamed Parties would be as successful as it is All I set out to do was h money to take care of my children and keep our home The shock was how timely this idea turned out to be" She smiled "There was an article about me in the Wall Street Journal e added birthday parties for cats and dogs"