Page 20 (1/2)

Tracyfelt nuht, spent herhousework and laundry and taking care of business

She received a referral froreed to paint a country landscape for one of his clients

She sawBryan at the beach every afternoon It was refreshing to be in his presence He h she didn&039;t really feel like going out, when he asked her to go to dinner and a reed

She refused to think about Dominic With a supreme effort of will, she put him out of her mind There had never been any future for them No matter that she loved hih tiht love a whale, but there was no way for theether

She had been afraid that Dominic wouldn&039;t leave her alone, that she would hear his thoughts, that he would ask her to reconsider, but, true to his word, he didn&039;t try to contact her in any way

And that worried her

There will be no next ti more ominous each time Had he meant that he would not pursue her in her next life? That had to be it Surely he would not destroy hiain she was teo to the house below and see if he was there, but that would ain, and she wasn&039;t sure she could do that Until she could tell Doh to share all of his life, it seemed better for them to stay apart

And going out withBryan would only co hiht out was just what she needed There was nothing complicated about BryanHe was fun and easy to be with What harht and they drove into the city for dinner

"I had a call from my dad today,"Bryan said "He wants ?"

"I don&039;t know Soo home and become a cop like everyone else"

"But you don&039;t want to"

"Not really I ether My sister just had her first baby" He sla wheel "I just wish I knehat I wanted to do"

"Do you have to decide now?"

"Well, the next acade, I need to make up my mind so I can apply before the cut-off date"

"Well, I&039;ll o"

"I&039;lllot a few minutes later The Blue Lantern was a popular restaurant with a bar and a dance floor on one side, and a restaurant on the other

They ordered drinks while waiting for their table

Bryanglanced at the couples ere dancing, then looked atTracy"Want to give it a go?"

"Why not?"

Somewhat tentatively,Bryan took her in his arh not nearly as smooth as Doht and focused on thean old Heatwave tune,Always and Forever

Tears stungTracy &039;s eyes and she blinked them back Dominic had vowed to love her forever

Their table was ready when the song ended

Tracyordered shrimpBryan ordered steak

Abruptly, he reached across the table and took her hand "Tracy, you know I&039;o back home, I want you to come with meAs my wife"

"Bryan"

"I know this is sudden I don&039;t even have a ring to offer you, but I had to tell you how I feel before Host uess that&039;s a no"

"I don&039;t knohat to say" She had known he thought he was in love with her, but a proposal was the last thing she had expected

"I don&039;t guess you need to say anything else"

"It&039;s just so sudden"

"Maybe you could think about it?"

"I will"

He brightened a little at that

They alking down the street toward the theater whenTracy saw Petrina and Zarabeth co toward them Petrina wore a short black h black boots Her long black hair fraht black leather pants and a blood-red tank top Her blond hair was cut short, dyed black on the ends

The two valanced fro to introduce us?" she asked

"Bryan, this is Petrina and her friend, ZarabethLadies," Tracy said, estreet "

Petrinaran her fingertips downBryan &039;s arm "So pleased to meet you," she purred

"I&039;m happy to meet you, too,"Bryan replied"Both of you"

"Does Dominic know you&039;re out with another man?" Petrina asked, and then answered her own question "Of course he doesn&039;t"

"Where are the two of you going?" Zarabeth asked

"Uh, to the movies,"Bryan said, obviously ill at ease

"Sounds like fun," Petrina said

"Yes,"Tracy agreed, takingBryan &039;s hand "Too bad you can&039;t come with us"

"Oh, but we can" Petrina smiled "Can&039;t we, Bethy ?"

Zarabeth nodded

With a sigh of exasperation,Tracy pushed past the two vaBryan with her "I&039;m sorry," she whispered

"Who are they?"Bryan asked

"Just a couple of of girls I met They&039;re friends of Dominic&039;s"

"Ah,"Bryan said, as if that explained everything

Bryanbought their tickets and they went inside to find their seats

Moments later, Petrina and Zarabeth slid into the two seats behind thehts went down and the show started, though she found it difficult to concentrate on thebehind her Now that she had sent Do her fair gaht sent a cold shiver down her spine Even if she was still somehow under Dominic&039;s protection,Bryan wasn&039;t

Tension seeped into her and by the tihtest touch

She clung toBryan &039;s hand as they left the theater, acutely aware of Petrina and Zarabeth strolling along behind theether

What ht?"Bryanasked