Page 21 (1/2)

"Well," Ryu said, "how do you feel about a picnic at the beach?"

"That sounds a--and very, very dangerous I knew dahtti and one thing only: skinny-dipping

Even if the water was too cold to go into all the way, any excuse for getting your partner naked was a good excuse If she just happened to get so cold you just had to warentleht?

For a split second I wished I hadn’t told Ryu I didn’t feel the cold

I was being very naughty But at leastafter a ain, she was apparently a seal

You should also warn him about who you really are, my brain cut in He says he knows your history, but you can’t assume you knohat that et it over with Rather than have hihts dampened my excitement, and we drove in silence out to the public beach by the cottage Ryu was renting He pulled a blanket and a large basket out of the trunk, and I shot hiized, his eyes anything but apologetic

We walked together down to the beach and I helped hi, as hean apple out of the sky and there suddenly appeared one of those glowing orbs of light This one changed color froently revolved it in his cupped hand

"We call the just above where our heads would be e sat down

The picnic he had packed--or rather purchased from a very fancy deli in Eastport, I noticed--was absolutely marvelous My dad and I are pretty dedicated foodies,better to do but also because we both love to eat And as Ryu unpacked his treats, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven

Lobster rolls were the htly mayonnaised lobster were nestled into the uiltily about the talking lobster fro panzanella--a colorful Italian salad made with toasted bread--and a Thai-style noodle salad with shrietables, and crunchy peanuts There was also fruit salad and a soat’s cheese For dessert, there were strawberries, both plain and chocolate covered, as well as two small tartes aux citrons To drink, there was another bottle of chane as well as a bottle of rich red Shiraz, "for after dinner," Ryu explained, with a toothy grin

His expression, and his exposed canines, spoke voluht, and I didn’t knohether to run away or cover hiht then and there

But first, I had so I needed to do

"Um, yeah About after dinner… well, I just want to make sure you know the truth about me You said you knew my history, but I wanted to make sure you really knew it I , but you need to know the truth about s had retracted Misreading these signs, I was unprepared for what he said next

"Jane, honey, stop I know everything I need to know I know bits of your history, yes And I know you’ve had a shitty life, in a lot of ways But I also know you’re brave, and funny, and that you’ve impressed some pretty impressive people with the way you’ve survived"