Tuesday, 06 Sept 05

TERRY

“Your message was a bit on the cryptic side. What did you mean by I missed a good one?”

“Man, so many things. Who knew actuarials could party? And the lovely Miranda showed up. I think she consolidated the business that she has with our clients – may have expanded it some. Reags and Max may be on the way to a kid.” I rolled my eyes. He didn’t know about that near miss last spring. He interpreted my eye roll from his own, incorrect point of view.

“Well, the way she was handling the rug rats, she’d be good at it. And, Buddy, I have met a woman. Sun-streaked blonde hair and a brain inside the head …and the brain thinks funny and organized. She had me laughing while we were moving earth …and the earth moved, I tell you. The organized part – her planning documents were probably better than yours.”

I’m amazed …Dino is able to describe a woman, aside from commenting simply on her physical attributes. What really impressed me is that he actually noticed more than her looks. Max has Reags, sounds like Dino has …perhaps I should ask her name. Since they were moving earth, it’s likely it is what’s-her-name, Reags’ friend. And I have …who? I have the lovely Miranda.

“Does this dream woman have a name?”

“She’s Reags’ friend, Diana Walker - Dee. She can cook, too; man, can she cook! She’s a little fussy about her oven, but after this weekend, she’s earned the right. At least she’s earned the right in my opinion.”

Dino’s smitten. I’ll be damned; Dino is smitten. Never thought I’d see the day. Well, if she’s Reags' best friend, chances are good that she’ll figure us out sooner or later so, if he is smitten, best it’s someone already headed toward the inner circle.

“The earth moved, huh? Sure that wasn’t just in your dreams, Mate?”

I’ve long suspected that Dino might be inclined to embroider his tales of conquest a bit beyond the realities. If this Diana Walker – and that’s a significant IF – is the Diana Walker I saw in Washington, that will be another chink in the armour of his amorous legend. Although, having seen him in action round the world, I know he can back up at least some of his tales. If this is MY Diana, he's lying through his teeth.

DINO

I finally got one up on Tio. It’s a good thing I’d rehearsed what I was going to tell him about Dee.

“Man, those legs of hers …they’re so long, legs that just suck you right in. And her rack! Man you should have seen it straining against that white t-shirt she had on when we were digging the pit out for the fire. Makes your mouth water. Well, it did mine …don’t think Max even noticed.”

“Is she as good looking as Reags?”

“Yeah, but in a different way, and there’s a big personality difference. Reags has an old-fashioned streak in her; she has to, to be with Max. Dee is all 21^st century. She even taught me how to dig a fire pit more efficiently.” Terry couldn’t mask the surprise and doubt on his face. Now he’s probably picturing a rugby player.

“Man, wipe that rugby player image out of your mind. This one is all woman. Digging trenches may be what keeps them so perky and up there. This was the first time I’ve enjoyed manual labor since I was a kid building forts. When it came time to light the fire, she sounded like you, with your fucking explicit instructions. However, the explicitness of her instructions didn’t bother me later.” I waggled my eyebrows at him for effect. I could just see where his mind had gone, and that was right where I wanted it to go. The fact that she hadn’t put out was none of his damned business. I couldn’t let a small thing like that tarnish my reputation.

“With Max about, I’m surprised you still have a pair swinging.” Terry moved us right along.

“Max wasn’t a problem. I was more worried about Reags, and that was two days before the party. You know, Reags may be a lady, but man, she’s got a mouth on her that made me blush. Max and I made a slight miscalculation on the set up that was not in accordance with her and Dee’s plans, and she laid into us for five minutes. I can tell she’s ex-Army. Oh, by the way …we did go slightly over budget on the set-up because of that miscalculation.”

“Not my problem, Mate. You’re the CFO; you have to explain it to the auditors. As I said, with Max there, I’m surprised you’ve still got two swinging. What did Reags say about your miscalculation?”

“She spent five minutes disparaging our abilities to read a map and called us fucking idiots …several times over.”

Terry laughed at me. “Actually, I was referring to your miscalculation of getting your leg over on Diana under Max’s roof.”

“It ain’t Max’s house, Buddy; it’s Reagan’s. Besides, we were in the back yard trying it on for size while we were supposedly tending the fire overnight.” I grinned for effect.

Terry’s face was unusually noncommittal. That was strange, given that it was just the two of us talking. He is normally right in there with locker room talk.

I worry about the poor man. He seems to live his sex life – apparently vicariously, these days - through me. This time he did not seem too eager for the details.

TERRY

Diana Walker. That was the name of the woman at the briefing in DC a few of years back. Wonder how many Diana Walker’s there are about?

“Mate, did you two manage to actually do any talking? Or was your tongue otherwise occupied?”

“We talked a little, but I had other things on my mind.” I heard footsteps coming down the hall, and Max stopped at the door.

“Max, come in. Dino’s debriefing me on the party. Do you consider it a success for the firm?” He sank into the other chair.

“I would call it an unparalleled success.”

“I take it our caterers/party planners acquitted themselves well?”

“Admirably, Terry. We could not have wished for a better team to have taken responsibility.” I phrased my next question carefully.

“So how much of it did Reagan do? And what of her friend …Diana Walker, I believe Dino said was her name.” I saw the shift on Dino’s face.

Was I tipping my hand regarding my interest in this woman? I may be, but if she is the woman from DC, I need to make my move soon, else let Dino have open slather. If it was the Diana I should have made it a point to meet at that earlier time, I would simply have to apologize for having a go at her now and take any punishment he wanted to mete out if I was successful.

It may have been three years ago, but she was still on my mind. If she is the woman from DC, everything Dino has said about her is suspect, as I cannot imagine a woman of that calibre opting for a quick test of the mattress unless she leads a complete double life. Max was speaking, and I forced my mind back to the present.

“She is very competent, as attractive as she is capable.”

“Is she an academic, like Reagan?”

“She has experience in the defence industry, in the human resources area.” Spot on! It’s the same woman …it has to be. I turned back to Dino.

“So, when are you seeing her again, Dino?”

“Depends on when she gets back from DC. She’d put off a couple of things to be sure this gig went smoothly and said she’d be in and out of town for the next couple of weeks.”

Max put in his two cents worth, telling me more than I wanted to know. “You will be seeing her on the 15^th, Dino. You do recall that the four of us are going to the opera that night?”

I saw a possible opening. “Miranda and I aren’t invited?”

Max shook his head. “Regrettably, no. You and Miranda were Reagan’s first thought, but Miranda indicated that she will be out of the city all that week. Our season tickets are for four, and I fear we would be unable to obtain another pair at this point in time should you truly wish to attend.”

That was apparently too good an opening for Dino to let pass. “Besides, Tio, with Miranda unavailable, I doubt you could hustle up a date with only ten day’s notice, let alone an appropriate one.” My own words came back to haunt me. I had used them often enough to slag him off.

“Thanks very much. Now, when I arrived this morning, I found this on my desk.” I held up an invitation. “We’re invited to the ball in honour of the new Australian Ambassador to the States. It’s on the 15^th of October. Mark your calendars. Max, if Reagan needs to cancel a class in order to attend, I’d much appreciate her doing so. I’ve already checked with Miranda, and she’s good to go. Dino, given you’ve met Reagan’s friend, you at last have a socially acceptable date for a proper function. I’m happy the party was a success. Now, let’s pay for this shivo …we have work to do.” After they left my office, I annotated the 15^th of this month on my computer’s calendar.

REAGAN

Dee sat on her couch, feet propped on the coffee table and blew a perfect smoke ring. “So, did Max think it was a pretty successful party? Any reports of ptomaine?”

“No, but the hangover quotient among the actuarials was probably pretty high.”

“Yeah, every time I looked up there was a mob around the bar. Think the kids are down from their sugar highs yet?”

“Probably not, and I’m sure half the mothers who were at the party have you and me at the top of their hit lists. I wonder how long Stephanie kept her mom up that night …that kid was gulping apple juice for all she was worth, and that crap is pure sugar.”

“Oh, crap …and I was feeding her Cokes!” Dee laughed.

“Caffeine and sugar …poor mom. She’s never going to forgive us.”

“I hope everyone who told me they were going to call TEO does. I must have had half-a-dozen people talking to me about their services. Geeze! I hope they can deliver on at least half of what I promised.” I knew Dee was kidding because she always understates what she thinks someone else can do.

I was confident as I answered. “They can. No wurries.” I could see what she was thinking … 'Well, of course she thinks that …she’s living with one of the principals, and I believe she may have a slightly skewed perception of his abilities.'

“Think they’d give me a percentage for business development?”

“Well, all three of them should be in the office when we go to the opera …take it up with them then.”

“Well, hell. Then I may have to revise what I’m wearing, considering that it will be the first time I’ll meet Terry.” She laughed at herself.

“Unlike Dino – who won’t get past your décolletage, Terry will give your brain the benefit of the doubt, whatever you are wearing.”

She finally got serious on me. “I’m scared shitless of meeting Terry …though I probably shouldn’t be, because it seems like Miranda has a lock on him.”

“No one has a lock on Terry Thorne at this point in time …not even Miranda, regardless of what she may think.” That got me a look somewhere between angst and hope, something I’d rarely seen from Dee. She chose her words carefully.

“Knowing that Terry is actually in this world, I honestly had hope, but after talking to Miranda, that went out the window. I can’t compete with her …I’ve never been able to compete for a man. Dino seems interested in me, so between him and Maximus, at least I get to be around Terry somewhat. I remember reading a short – I guess you’d call it an aphorism – about two windshield wipers who are in love with each other. I’ve forgotten the majority of it at this point, but the last line is ‘I like it better when it’s not raining because I can just lie there next to him and watch.’ I think I'll be hoping for lots of sunny days around Terry.” I looked at her. It was pretty clear that we had vastly different perceptions of Miranda and her relationship with Terry.

“I wouldn’t put all my eggs in the Dino basket if I were you. My take is that Miranda isn’t – and never will be – the type of woman who gives Terrence Thorne what he really needs.”

She looked at me. “How could she NOT be what he needs? She’s beautiful, she’s accomplished, she’s smart, ….”

“Yes, she is all those things, but Terry isn’t looking for that. Those qualities are a dime a dozen in the circles the five of us occupy. Terry is looking for a woman who will focus on him, not on what he can do for her professionally, and who will make a place for him in her life …not just on her calendar and in her bed periodically.”

She sighed. “But if Bigelow starts farming me out more, my schedule could get real tight, and I have my life pretty well established. I like my life now. I don’t know that I’m willing to rearrange it for some man at this point in time. I will not EVER be mistaken for the little woman. Nor do I want to be. I don't know how to do that.”

“Terrence Thorne is not ‘some man.’ And yes, your life could get hectic, but when you’re HERE, in Dallas, you likely would focus on Terry. Miranda has never even considered that as an option. It’s all about her career and her profession and what Terry can do for her. And for him, she’s arm candy. Yes, they are fond of each other, but that’s as deep as it goes. There’s no underlying passion there.”

“How the hell do you know? You’ve only talked to him on the phone and on that awful weekend …both of them really bad situations.”

“First off, forget the disastrous weekend. Second, you haven’t been around him at the office …I have. I’ve also had lunch with him and Maximus on several occasions, and Terry’s not that difficult a read. Let me tell you something, Kiddo. If Terry Thorne were serious about Miranda at any level, he would have already had a protocol in place for vetting women with whom any of these men became involved at more than a superficial level. The fact that he didn’t have that in place tells me loud and clear that he’s never let her further into himself than skin deep. If he had, she’d have figured him out in a month.” Dee always looks down whenever anyone speaks sharply to her; she was looking at her hands stroking Okie's head. I have just trampled on her fragile self-confidence. If her bastard father was still alive, I would kill him.

Holly read her mood change and stopped to offer a Labrador kiss on her way to the door. The canine security system alerted someone was about to knock. Dee does not need an electronic system; the dogs are plenty. Holly finds them, and Okie is the muscle.

“I haven't ordered anything. Who the hell could that be? Grab Okie; I'll get Holly.”

Dee had the door open before the deliveryman could knock. “Advanced warning system,” she joked with him. “But you'll have to ...oh, my God!”

“I have deliveries for Diana Walker and Reagan Kavanagh.” The guy had a vase of fall flowers in each hand.

Dee waved at him to put them on the dining room table while she was hustling Holly to the bedroom. I followed her carrying the growling Okie; excited dogs and glass vases do not go well together. Besides, Texas has a “One Bite” rule on dogs, and Okie had hit his limit with me last year.

“I'll be right back to get your signatures,” the delivery guy added as he left the front door open.

We exchanged puzzled looks. “Yours can't be from Dino; they aren't roses. He would have sent roses the day after.”

“But we didn't do anything!” Dee defended herself. “So no need for roses. Has to be from Max. He's the only one who knew you would be here this afternoon.”

We dove for the cards. They were from Maximus thanking us for the work on the party.

“How sweet. You need to be extra nice to him tonight.”

The delivery guy nervously brought in a third arrangement – yellow roses. “This one is for Diana Walker.” He may have thought a jealous catfight would break out over the additional arrangement. I signed for all three giving Diana some time to read the card accompanying the roses, get a deep sniff of the faint aroma, and admire the color. They are absolutely gorgeous.

“Now, you want to tell me what really happened out back while you two were tending the fire?”

“A bit of kissing; that is all, I swear. These are from Terry. I bet he had yours delivered to your house.” He already had a nice fall arrangement delivered to my university office that morning. He had to have ordered them while he was stuck in London for me to get them that early. I love the Internet.

Dee left Maximus' perfectly fine arrangement on the dining room table and carried Terry's roses to the coffee table. She picked up the ashtrays, confiscated our cigarettes and lighter, and turned down the air conditioner. I think she wanted those roses to last the rest of her life. I couldn't blame her. Poor Okie. If she keeps it this cold in the house until the roses die, he will freeze to death or think he is. Holly will think they are the best days of her life.

“Want to hear the card, or do you want to be surprised when yours arrive?” Dee reluctantly offered. At least she was talking again.

“Of course, I want to hear.”

She exhaled before she read. “Sorry I missed seeing all your hard work. Thank you for making the party such a big success. It was above and beyond the call of duty. I’m told I need to make you Director of Business Development. Terry Thorne”

I leaned over to check the handwriting …Terry's. And to read the part Dee had left out. “Sorry I missed meeting you and seeing all your hard work. Thank you for making the party such a big success. It was above and beyond the call of duty for a bloke you don't know. We must remedy that soon. I’m told I need to make you Director of Business Development. Terry Thorne”

Oh, yeah. My “Thanks. Terry” card TYPED by the florist sure holds up well to Dee's handwritten note on his personal stationery. Methinks there is more to this than meets the eye. He must have a very accommodating florist. I can see his order. “Hold the Walker delivery until I can get the note to you.” Oh yes, a very accommodating florist. I managed not to smile at my musings.

“You can breathe now, Dee. Put down the note and lean away from the flowers.” That shocked her back into reality.

“I feel like the unpopular girl in high school just got roses from the star quarterback for helping him pass government.”

“We are a long way from high school. Don't let this star struck woman get overwhelmed by a bloke who puts his pants on one leg at a time. Trust me; I know these guys. They are just guys.”

Dee looked at me like I had green hair but decided to go with the flow. “Has Maximus said any more to you about when he’s going to spring me on them since we couldn't have the conversation Labor Day?”

“I have the feeling that it will be pretty soon after the opera. I think he’s waiting to see how you and Dino work out before he moves ahead with his agenda; he’s probably hoping for an ally in Dino before he talks to Terry. And that concerns me …don’t give up on Terry too soon, Dee, particularly since you’ve not yet met the man. You only know movie Terry Thorne. I’ve met the real deal. I also think Maximus is hoping that you and Terry will become friends because if that happens, 90% of the obstacles go away.”

“Yeahbut …how are Dino and Terry going to react to the reality that I’ve known about them for upwards of two months, and Max hasn’t told them? How pissed is Dino going to be that I made no mention of it when he was spilling his guts to me Labor Day weekend? He's going to think I had unfair advantage.”

“Once they get over the initial shock that will only prove to them that you can keep your mouth shut. What a concept! TWO women who know when to talk and when to listen! And Dino likes you …he’ll get over being pissed. Terry will have to put Maximus into covert ops because this will be the second time that Maximus has run one on him.”

“Well, yeah …Dino likes me well enough that he’s actually agreed to go to the opera with us. By the way, what are we wearing? Oh, shit. You have to go shopping again, don’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“See why I buy things on spec? I have black dresses – long and short, one of each – and these guys have never seen them.”

DINO

The bitch coughed and sputtered all the way into the office this morning, which means I have to put her back in the shop. If I put her in at noon, I’ll have to get Max or Terry to follow me to the dealership …unless I can get a ride back in with a much nicer set of legs. If I work it right, I may not get back to the office at all. I may spend a perfectly lovely afternoon, establishing myself more solidly with the owner of that set of legs before she meets Terry. He may decide to make a run at her once he sees her, no matter what he promised.

I pulled my cell from my pocket and called Dee. She answered on the second ring.

“Dee, it’s Dino.”

“Well, hey there.”

“Honey, you did me a big favor with the party on Labor Day …think I could talk you into another one?”

“How many do I have to feed this time?”

“If I’m lucky, only me, for breakfast in the morning. Because I’ll take you out for dinner tonight.”

“What’s on your mind?”

“That Spyder you’re so fond of ….”

“Yeah?”

“I’m not so fond of her right now. She needs some work, and I’d like to put her in the shop at noon. Wondering if I could talk you into picking me up at the dealership.”

“Which one?”

“Park Place on Oak Lawn.”

“I have to drive all the way into uptown Dallas to pick you up?”

“I’m worth it, and I promise, I’ll make it so worth your while.” She laughed.

“Buddy, you should be glad that you’re cute as a speckled pup. What time?”

“Why don’t we just call it one?”

“See you then.” She hung up before I could thank her.

I tapped on the frame of Terry’s door on my way out of the office.

“I’ve got to put the bitch in the shop. May not be back this afternoon.” He looked up at me.

“You planning on handing them the spanner, Mate?”

“Dee’s picking me up. I may be late coming in tomorrow.” I took off before he had time for that to soak in, but I heard his shout follow me.

“We have an oh-seven-hundred staff meeting tomorrow.” I walked back to his office.

“When did that happen?”

“Just now!” I whistled “Afternoon Delight” all the way down the hall just to annoy him.

Steve, my gay service writer …excuse me, my gay service advisor, had a smile on his face when I drove in. Of course he did. He saw more of my baby than I did.

I spoke as I got out of the bitch. “Write me up quick, Steve. I have a gorgeous lady picking me up. The Spyder is sluggish, no pick-up, and she chugged all the way into the office this morning.”

“Of course she chugged all the way to the office. Didn’t you hear how slow 635 was into town?”

“Above and beyond the slow traffic, she chugged.”

“I’ll get your information off the computer. Just sign right here, Mr. O’Reilly. We wouldn’t want to keep your gorgeous lady waiting. You know where the lounge is; make yourself comfortable.”

I was on my second cappuccino when Dee arrived. Just what I need; more caffeine. One of the receptionists walked into the lounge to tell me my ride had arrived. I followed her back to the showroom and laughed when I saw Dee. No wonder the receptionist had stopped her at the desk; the lounge wasn't for hired help. She was wearing navy slacks, a white pullover top, navy blue blazer, and a ball cap with the seal of the United States on it. I hugged her and kissed her proffered cheek.

“Do you always greet your chauffeurs this way?”

“Only the good looking ones.”

“Good …I can take this cap off now, unless it adds to your fantasy.”

“A ball cap with the seal of the United States on it does not quite fit my chauffeur fantasy. Now a smaller billed....” She elbowed me in the ribs. We walked out the door, and she turned left.

“I’m parked down the street. They wouldn’t let me park my Tahoe in their lot. Well, actually, I didn’t try to park in the lot here. God forbid I scratch one of these babies. I hadn't realized that Park Place had consolidated down all their lines on this block.”

“I need the walk. Two cappuccinos.” I held up two fingers. Dee grabbed and held them as we walked around the corner. Nice to know she is willing to take the lead.

“How late am I? Not late at all. It's only one-fifteen,” checking her own watch. I gather she doesn't want to let go of my hand. Life is looking up. Maybe not tonight, but the opera for sure.

We got to the Tahoe, and as soon as I opened the door for her, the smell hit me.

“Whew! Dee, what have you been hauling in this thing?”

“Since I had to come down here anyway, I thought I’d get the jump on getting horse blankets mended for the winter; there are some seam rips that won’t hold up under hand-mending again. I’ll drop you at the office and then drop them off. Should be dinner time by then. Which way to the office?”

“Well, because I talked you into picking me up, I took the afternoon off.” That got me a look.

“Don’t you guys ever work?”

“That’s one of the nice things about being a partner. You can take off when you choose unless there’s a crisis brewing, and then it’s 24/7.”

“Well, if you aren't going back to work, you get to tag along with me while I run errands. Where is your office anyway?”

“Renaissance Tower. Did you bring a change of clothes?”

“For what?”

“I said I was taking you to dinner.”

“I’m dressed well enough for Steak and Ale. You planning on taking me to the Green Room or The Palms?”

“Well, yeah, actually I was.”

“I'll calibrate my wardrobe accordingly and put a pop-up reminder on my computer calendar; invitations from TEO principals require dress consultation. All I thought I was doing was giving you a lift from the dealership, and that certainly does not warrant a swanky dinner. Oh, I forgot …it’s the Ferrari dealership. Not to fear. There is a little place over in Arlington – not far from you. I bet you haven't found it yet. You're overdressed for it, but great Mexican food.”

“You aren't planning on taking me to Baby Doll's, are you?” That could be distinctly uncomfortable if Barbie was working tonight.

“No, it's on the south side of town. The Candlelite.”

She was right. I hadn't found the Candlelite Inn. I hadn't been that far down 360. It was past Six Flags, past the Ballpark, past the GM plant. The parking lot was full of beat-up, aging Toyotas, farm pickups, and a smattering of luxury cars; it must have good food to have this eclectic a group of cars and owners.

The building itself was real adobe brick and had seen better days. Dee warned me to watch the first step; the bricks on the left side had been loose for years.

I bit. “How did you find this place?”

“I used to work over here before a project got scrapped. This was our Wednesday lunch place. Great guacamole; cheese enchiladas to die for; and the beans are homemade. Oh, and the beer is the coldest in this neck of the woods.”

It took a couple of minutes for our eyes to adjust to the dark, and I do mean dark. Movie theaters have more light. I have been in joints all around the world. The Candlelite looked like it was right down there with the worst of them, though it looked family run where no nonsense would be allowed because a high school aged girl came to seat us. She must be older than she looks, because school starts before Labor Day around here. The main dining room was filled with long tables where multiple diners would be seated together. Around the outside were the 'date rooms' behind brick arches. The speakers were blasting Buddy Holly and the Crickets.

The hostess took us to one of the date rooms. I lagged behind the two females watching how comfortably Dee engaged the young woman in conversation as they walked to our table.

Dee was already seated in the middle of the wooden bench on one side of the table as I came up; she extended her hand to me, which I gladly grasped as I slid in on the other side of the table. I might have to sit on the far side from her, but, after all, it was our first date.

“They used to have curtains across the front of these tables so you could have complete privacy,” she volunteered as I banged my head on the high bench back. The fucker must be 7 feet high. “Are you OK?” she asked solicitously. “I did that the first few times I came here. Hurts, doesn't it?”

“Until I feel a blood trickle, I'm fine.”

“Do you have any favorites from the 50's?” Dee asked, nodding to the old-fashioned individual juke box mounted on the wall at our table. Just above it was a tacky wrought iron torch illuminating our little bit of heaven. Definitely not the romantic ideal I had in mind for tonight, but Dee had chosen it.

We spent the time until our waitress arrived perusing the early rock and roll selections on the juke box. Fats Domino, The Diamonds, Jimmy Clanton, The Imperials, early Elvis, Hank Williams, Faron Young, Ray Price and a whole page of Willie. All classics and no heavy metal. With my head cocked towards the juke box, Dee surprised me by stroking my head where I had banged it. Her touch was light, stroking my hair. She took her hand away far too soon for my taste, held her fingers under the light, and studied them.

“Nope, no blood. Now I'll believe you that you're OK.” There wasn't a hint of the cheeky tone in her voice that I have always heard. She had an opportunity to check for herself and took it. I believe there was some concern for me; I hope a tender gesture, or maybe it was just wishful thinking on my part.

She put her hand on my cheek; I took the opportunity to kiss her palm. I answered with the same amount of earnestness that she had used with me. “I appreciate your concern.”

Our waitress, Betty according to her name tag, announced her arrival. “I liked it better when we had curtains across these tables. Seems like all I have done today is interrupt romantic moments.” She dropped the menus on the table. “What can I get you to drink?”

“Betty, they got rid of the curtains in the 90's.” Dee's knowledge about this place amazed me. “How many romantic moments have you interrupted?”

“All depends on how you define romantic. At least you two are across the table. Lordy, the stories I could tell you! At least with the curtains, if they were open, I knew it was safe. Any more I take my chances.”

I held up the Boy Scout salute. “I promise, Betty, I will be doing nothing tonight to embarrass you. At least not here.”

“Sorry, Honey. With your red hair, I don't buy all the Boy Scout routine. Now I bet if I checked your wallet, the Be Prepared part would hold true.” Dee was having way too good a time with Betty’s efforts to embarrass me. “One of my exes was a red head.” Betty seemed to be lost in a very good place. “Mmmm, mmmm, mmmmmh. Always had me a fondness for red heads. Now, what can I get you to drink?”

With drink orders in, I took the time to watch Dee squinting in the low light, trying to make sure the menu had not changed since she had been here last. Satisfied that it hadn't, she sat back on the hard bench.

“Guacamole and a Number 3 dinner. And extra salsa for me.”

“I am a stranger in a strange land here. I'll go with your recommendation then.”

“Ah, then we will need the soup bowl of guacamole. I'd hate to have to hurt you to get the last scoop.” The playfulness was back in Dee's voice.

Dee has such a stillness at her core. I noticed that I hadn't bounced my leg at all while we were together. That was hard for me to believe. Maybe I have met the woman who could settle me down. I reached across to caress her cheek. She leaned into it.

Betty arrived with the food once again breaking our spell.

“Thanks, Betty. If she turns me down tonight, think I have a shot with you? I'll make you forget all those other redheads.”

“Honey, you are young enough to be my son. The other redhead gave me enough good memories to last me. I'm full up on redheads this lifetime. That was a nice offer, but not real smart in front of your girl. I wouldn't expect you will be too successful tonight. I'll just assume that the curtain is closed on you two for a while. I won't be back until you flag me down.”

“How are you getting in to work tomorrow?” Dee was back to practicalities and the guacamole. It was as good as she said.

“I was hoping you could take me in. I haven't seen the ranch yet. Besides, you promised me breakfast.”

“You assumed breakfast. Dino, listen. I like you. I like you a lot. Even if you flirt in front of me.” Her voice continued teasing me.

She leaned across the table to take my hand as if her touch could soften her words or let me down easily. Her eyes softened, and I had to lean forward to hear what she was going to say. “If the mad pash at Labor Day gave you the wrong impression, I'm sorry. I was really hoping something would spark inside me, but it didn't.”

I had hoped she was going to tell me where we were going, as in my place or hers. She did; she was telling me “No way, José.”

“Besides, right now, I don't think I have enough time in my life for a real relationship. I don't think I have it in me to give anyone else what they need.” She seemed so sad to have to admit that.

“All depends on what a man is looking for. I'm not looking for ties that bind. I don't want connections. I do want soft conversation, some tenderness, and a soft hand to hold.”

“I can do two out of the three. My hands are probably never going to be soft again. The calluses ....”

“Are fine. Your hands are soft to me.” I may never have a grand passion with Dee, but she would be a soft place for me to fall and a damned fine friend. One day I might be able to talk her into a friends-with-benefits relationship, but I would have to take my time. Until then, I always had the Barbies of the world.

I needed to ask. “Does that mean that a glamorous trip to DC with me is out? A new Australian Ambassador to the States is being installed, and the firm has been invited. I was hoping you would accompany me.”

“Dino, I'm not saying 'I never want to see you again; get out of my life, scumbag.' I just don't want you to have any false hopes. I would love to see you as often as you want. Who knows? We might end up with the kind of relationship Terry and Miranda seem to have. She feels accepted enough to attend TEO functions even without Terry being there. If that doesn't work for you, we WILL have to find a way to be socially correct. Since you work with Max, I am bound to run into you at least occasionally. I want that to be comfortable for both of us. And, yes, I would love to go with you to DC. It has been years since I went to a formal diplomatic affair.” She held up her hand. “I already have an inauguration suit that will do nicely for a reception.”

“It's more upscale than that. A formal ball as only the Empire can throw. October 15^th.”

“No problem; I'll block out the weekend. I even have a dress, but I want to warn you, this is not the way I normally travel. I will have more than my go bag.” Dee was in planning mode again; I was surprised she hadn't whipped out a Blackberry with a stripped down version of Project on it. “You have to promise me one thing.”

Sleeping arrangements. Goddammit. How will I work that? I will be so busted.

“What's that?”

“If I am going to buy new shoes for this, you damned well better dance with me.”

“I can do that.” I'll book us into a separate hotel. My secret and reputation can remain safe.

Sure it will. No way in hell Terry won't have all of us in the same hotel. He probably already has us booked in some Presidential suite, and the bedrooms assigned.

I strolled into Terry's office at oh seven hundred on the dot, coffee cup in hand.

“Rough night, Mate?” Terry greeted me.

“You don't know the half of it. And Dee woke me up at six.” All of that was true. I did have a rough night. The neighbors had a party, and Dee had called me at six to tell me she had finished feeding the horses and was on her way.

Terry cut me off. His jaw was awfully tight. “Right then. Over night I got some information ….”