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“She’s not Well, okay, she is The thing is, she’s more than a mistress”

“Then tell her so,” Slade said, trying to curb his impatience His brother was tied up in knots because he had a wo with him but dammit, she wasn’t his wife She hadn’t walked out the door because he was too dumb or maybe too proud to tell her how he really felt, that he—that he—

“Yeah,” Travis said, “ht ‘Princess,’ I could say, ‘Alex, I just want you to know that you’re more than a mistress to me…’”

The line went dead Slade looked at the phone, thought about calling Travis back, then thought better of it His brother, asking hiood one He didn’t know a thing about the species Just look at what he’d been thinking, afor Lara

Okay, sowith her Talking to her about stuff, nothing special, just things he’d never discussed with another woman He’d told her about the redtail hawks that nested in the old oak near the cabin About how he’d built that cabin hi He’d even told her about that first week tending bar years ago, when he’d put hied to spill a Scotch and soda in the lap of the head of his department

And Lara had listened as if every onderful and exciting, and he’d listened to her the sa when she told hih school as a waitress and dumped tomato soup all over her first customer

Slade groaned and ran his hands through his hair

Who was he trying to kid? Yes, hehis soul He’d see his son again, s him, kiss him, share his life, but Lara was lost to hihter The way she looked, first thing in the athered her into his arms and kissed her…

The telephone rang again Slade grabbed it, his heart racing Maybe it was Lara…

But it wasn’t It was Travis, calling back

“Listen, kid,” he said abruptly, “Gage just phoned He’s having a bad time”

“Yeah,” Slade said “There’s a lot of that going around lately”

“Just call hiive you his number”

“I know his number”

“He isn’t hoot this from my caller ID box Take it down”

Slade scribbled the numerals on a pad, then rubbed his forehead “Listen, man, actually—actually, this isn’t the best—”

“Tell hiruffly “No et away from him”

“Love,” Slade said, and laughed again “Who even knohat the word means?”

“You’ll know, kid Believe me, when it happens, you’ll know”

Travis hung up Slade sighed and dialed the nuht for the Baron brothers

Gage answered immediately “Slade? How’d you—”

“Travis called me”

“How? I didn’t give him this number”

“Welcoe of the chip,” Slade said dryly “His caller ID box gave it to him Where are you, anyway?”

“Pal story”

“Listen, ht Whatever you do, don’t let Natalie get away from you”

Gage sighed “You know, for a couple of freewheeling bachelors, you guys sure are full of advice for the lovelorn”

“You love a wohly, “you’re a fool if you ever let her walk out of your life Understand?”

“Aren’t you the guy who’s watched legions of broads march into the sunset?”

“Legions don’t count for a damn,” Slade said “It’s just one woman, the woman, who matters A man finds her, he should have his head exaot that?”

“I’ve got it But you’re the last one I’d expect—”

“Tellup the phone Slowly he walked to theand looked out at the dark street Lara would be at the airport by noaiting for the plane that would take her back to Baltimore

The plane that would take her out of his life, forever

“Hell,” he whispered