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He sounded hoarse Raw Not polished, not perfect "You’re still wearing it"

I was But then, he’d always possessed a sharper than average sense of sipani Absolute after my shower, just a whisper at throat and wrists, becauselow, and I didn’t look likely to take a trip to London to replenish anytime soon

In his eyes I saw his memory of that vacation I was blond then and we’d run across Old Bond Street in Mayfair, laughing in the rain Well, I laughed; he was annoyed at ruining a perfectly good overcoat But he was beautiful with the droplets beading on his skin I’d wanted to lick them up, one by one Still did, really, but I’d learned Chance wasn’t good for me, like too many sweets

Of course that didn’t stopstruck

The idea of tasting Chance made o into the perfuirls looked posh I swore they’d see the red Georgia dirt ground into auche and out of place, he wanted soht me a ridiculously expensive scent that made him close his eyes in bliss

When he opened them, he’d said simply, "It s it

My tongue felt thick as I tried to work out what to say I finally settled on: "Yes"

What he would have said, I’ll never know because his cell rang Looking apologetic, he answered (he’d once taken a call while receiving a particularly artful blow job) That too was vintage Chance, and I scurried like a nervous gerbil back to the kitchen, where I occupiedup the few dishes I’d dirtied

A few h to touch That would raise goose bu officer in Laredo," he said in a tone so neutral I heard the pain bleed through "They found o to hi the coin, and I knehat that cost him Just five feet, the distance fro to the parlor, but it was too far I couldn’t take the steps that would put me within arm’s reach; I didn’t trust him, and more important, I didn’t trust myself

"Will they let me handle it?"

That was a touchy subject Cops alant to put everything in clear plastic bags with neat labels Once it’s been sent to a lab, personal iteeneral rule, they don’t let weirdos like me near their stuff

"If I have to, I can bribe the evidence roo the dish towel up to dry, taking a last look at ht "So we’re going to Laredo tomorrow?"

Expressionless, he nodded "I’d leave tonight, but I honestly don’t think I could handle the drive"

Since it was full dark and the four hundred plusbetween Mexico City and Monterrey spanned some pretty desolate country, that made sense, but he never admitted weakness in the old days He could’ve proposed we catch a flight out, but I’m sure he knew I didn’t have a valid passport The irony of living in Mexico as an illegal alien doesn’t escape me

"I’ll make some calls"

First I needed someone to watchsales in the next feeeks and it was crucial the shop was open I didn’t want to come back to find my life in tatters because I’d left it unattended

I dialed Señor Alvarez up; I’d given him a cheap BenQ phone on the prepaid plan so we could stay in touch easier His success ratio was so good, I’d taken hied the side streets and fleain on his cell phone to consult with me about job lots of merchandise

"Bueno," he said as I connected

That was an interesting thing Bueno ood or well, and people answer the phone that way here I’d deured it out I’m still not sure e answer the phone like this, but there you have it

I explained my proposition I needed to take a business trip, but I’d offer him two hundred pesos a day and thirty percent co the store for me Yes, of course I trusted him, and he was honored by the opportunity We stroked each other verbally for a few more minutes, a practice I deplore, before we sealed the deal Could he turn up in an hour to receive the key?

When I disconnected, I found Chance watching me "You picked up Spanish fast"

It was es--who knew? I’ll get the spare bedroom made up for you"

"Can we not do that?" he asked quietly "I don’t even know if my mother is alive, and I don’t want to lie across the hall all night, listening to you breathe"