page18 (1/2)

“There’s nothing to talk about, darlin’”

It was the truth There wasn’t a way in the world he was about to let anybody knohat had happened, not until he knew the details Not until he confronted Lara andher pretty little neck

“Slade?”

“I’ave her the old Los Lobos salute, to h Then he looped an arm around her shoulders, told her she owed hihts and the noise and the party

So and the next day, too He didn’t get much sleep but nobody seean with Grant Landon confirh it was the right thing to do, and ended with Natalie driving off with Landon’s wife and leaving Gage behind Travis seemed out of it, too He went into the oldas if he’d just seen a ghost

It was a hell of a thing, Slade thought, as he packed his suitcase Sunday afternoon, a hell of a thing to be relieved your brothers were too deep in their own probleone, to feel that way—but not so far gone that he’d forgotten what an intelligent e card, a telephone and a couple of discreet calls to people who could ht wheels turn

His airline ticket said Boston but he flew to Baltimore He’d phone Lara from the airport That way, she’d have little time to prepare for their confrontation And he wouldn’t see her at her home He wanted to meet her somewhere public, where she couldn’t resort to hysterics Not that he really thought she would; she was far too cool for that but she ht try it, when she heard what she’d have to do It was his decision, his alone And, he thought grimly, as the plane landed, it was irrevocable

Her phone rang several times before she picked up She sounded as if he’d awakened her and for just a second, his es of her in bed, all warm and sleepy If he closed his eyes, he knew he’d be able to feel the silk of her skin, breathe in the scent of her that was all lush, soman…

Warm and seren’t words a man could use, about Lara

The realization strengthened his reserve He spoke coldly, without any lead-up or niceties

“This is Slade,” he said “Name a place where we can meet”

She said it was too late She said she had no intention of seeing hi what he wanted She knew; he could feel it in his bones, and when, suddenly, her calave way and her voice tree sense of pleasure

“I’ you Naive a daet yourself a baby-sitter and h to make the next words count “Or I’ll show up at your office to publicly”

There was silence, and then he heard her take a breath

“There’s a diner,” she said Her voice treave him the address This time, she made no attempt to hide her distress, and that pleased him even more

“One hour,” he said, and hung up

Slade knew

Lara put down the telephone He knew God, he knew!

What was he going to do?

Nothing What could he do? He had no proof, just that one, quick look at Michael As long as she stood up to hi as she showed him that he couldn’t intimidate her, she’d be fine

But she had to deal with hiht If he came to her office and made a scene, her job would be history

She called Mrs Krauss The baby-sitter was gru new in that but she said yes, very well, she’d coht away, for double pay and cab fare

Lara went into the bedroo son She touched his back, smoothed her hand over his soft black curls He was hers, and there was nothing Slade could do to change that

She threw on jeans and a T-shirt and left her house the minute Mrs Krauss arrived

Slade aiting for her at a booth in the rear of the diner The place was half-eht The waitresses were standing at the coffeelittle looks in his direction Why wouldn’t they? He was a s they’d only fantasized

Lara knew that, better than anyone

He rose when she reached the booth A et no acts of courtesy froht He looked different, not just because of the taut set of his lips but because of the way he was dressed She’d only seen hiht black T-shirt His biceps were prominent, as were the muscles in his forearms, and there was a ripple ofjeans and scuffed cowboy boots

He looked hard and erous, an outlaw of the Old West reincarnated on a hot June night on the Maryland shore

Terror beat its heavy wings inside her breast as she slipped into the booth opposite hi Let Slade do all the talking It was her only plan

One of the waitressesand a pot of coffee