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Whipping around, I saw Joel had trailed behind Bart like a well-trained puppy and at his heel he stopped, his head low, his hands still tucked up those invisible brown hoiveth, and the Lord taketh away," ain

Why the devil did he keep saying that?

Uneasily I looked froain riveted on Melodie, as in arabesque position, waiting for Jory to sweep her up in his arms I didn't like what I saw in Bart's dark, envious look, the desire that burned hotter by the hour The world was full of unmarried women--he didn't need Melodie, his brother's wife!

Wildly Bart applauded as their dance ended and both were gazing transfixed at each other, forgetting ere there "You've got to dance like that at my birthday party! Jory, say that you and Melodie will"

Reluctantly Jory turned his head to smile at Bart "Why, if you want me, of course, but not Mel Her doctor will allow a little , like we just did, but not that strenuous kind needed for a professional performance, and I know you'll want only the best"

"But I want Melodie, too," protested Bart He sly at his brother's wife "Please, for my birthday, Melodie, just this one ti anyone will notice your condition"

Appearing uncertain, Melodie stared at Bart "I don't think I should," she said la it

Bart tried to persuade her, and ht have, but Jory put a brisk end to the debate "Now, listen, Bart, I told our agent Mel's doctor didn't want her

to perforet wind of it and we could be sued Besides, she's very fatigued The kind of easy fun dancing you just witnessed is not the kind we do e're serious A professional performance demands hours and hours of warm-ups and practice and rehearsal Don't plead, it's e When Cindy comes she can dance with me"

"No!" Bart snarled, frowning now and losing all his charm "She can't dance like Melodie"

No, she couldn't Cindy wasn't a professional, but she did well enough when she wanted to Jory and I had trained her since she o

Several feet behind Bart, like a skinny dark shadow, Joel's hands came out of wide sleeves and teain in prayer How irritating to have him around all the time

Deliberately I turned ain Couldn't wait to hear her breathless girlish chatter that told of proht back to me my own youth, and

In the rosy glow of the evening sunset, I stood unobserved in the shadows of a great arch overhead and watched Jory again dancing with Melodie in the huge foyer Again in leotards, this tily, Melodie had bound violet satin ribbons under her s with her lover Oh, the passion Jory and Melodie had between theain like theht the second time around

Suddenly I are that Bart was in another alcove, as if he'd waited to spyor, enerously, watch as I watched And he was the one who didn't like ballet and didn't care for beautiful ainst a door fra dark eyes that followed Melodie weren't casual They were full of the desire I'd seen before My heart skipped