Page 7 (2/2)

Silence reigned He could hear the dogs cli of a bird in a tree, the low buzzing of insects

The air vibrated with growing tension, and when he felt breath on his face, he ht there, scowling at him "Chris is farover hiht "How much more?"

Theher look like she’d just been caught doing so she shouldn’t

Slowly, she retreated

Matt calance at his chest and abs, and then stared at hiard "Isamiss

Suddenly the dock rocked and they all three turned to see…Chris

So that’s why the dogs had given up swi He should have realized

Chris wore unlaced sneakers and baggy shorts that looked like they’d been in the lake earlier and had dried in the sun The logo on his T-shirt was so faded that Matt had no idea what it ht breeze ruffled Chris’s dark, ht-blue eyes Both dogs stuck close to him, one at either side of him Given the lack of a smile, Chris wasn’t pleased with the visit

Matt didn’t care Still on one elbow, dis Molly and Priss frolasses, and Matt sort of wished that he hadn’t Displeasure didn’t begin to cover it Chris was pissed

Molly scao help Dare with dinner" She fled the scene

Priss, ballsier than Molly, rose with less haste She stared down at Matt, and said, "Consider yourself invited to dinner"

Matt looked back at Chris He still said nothing

"Uh, sure Thanks, hon"

Still, she didn’t leave "For the record, I did want to talk to you about Alani With the baby and all, she’s due so"

"Consider it done" Matt had a hard tiaze off Chris "Just let ave him a smile that all but reeked of pity "Thank you"

Few things got to Chris Being relaxed was as etting riled, or causing a scene, or raging over things he couldn’t change He adjusted to circumstances He made the best of all situations

Those traits contributed to his value as a personal assistant to Dare

But right now… He worked his back teeth together while Matt watched hiuarded uncertainty

And that infuriated hi else

He kicked off his shoes "Fuck it" On his way past Matt, he peeled out of his shirt and dropped it, with his sunglasses, wallet and cell phone, near Matt’s clothes Hewater