Part 25 (1/2)

worse things, he mused, since Emma hadn't been made out of anything

remotely resembling love. It was his other child, he thought as he laid

a gentle hand on Bev's stomach again, who had been made of love. ”I

need you with me on this.”

Hating it, she climbed out of bed and began to dress.

twenty minutes later, she answered a knock on the door.

”Johnno.”

He gave Bev a quick grin. ”I knew you couldn't stay away from me.”

Swooping her into an exaggerated dip, he kissed her. As she laughed, he

looked over her head to where Brian was coming through the doorway. ”Ah

well, he's found us out. We'd better come clean.”

”Where'd you get that ridiculous hat?” was all Brian said.

After setting Bev back on her feet, Johnno straightened the floppy white

fedora. ”Like it? It's a happening.”

”Makes you look like a pimp,” Brian commented before he walked to the

bar.

”There. I knew I'd made the right choice. Nearly cost me my life, but

I managed to break out of here and do some shopping on Fifth

Avenue. I'll have one of those, luy.” He nodded to the whiskey Brian

was pouring.

”You went out?” Brian stood with the bottle in one hand and a gla.s.s in

the other.

”Sungla.s.ses, a flowered tunic He wrinkled his nose. ”And love beads.

Worked nicely as far as disguises go, until I tried to get back in. Lost

the love beads.” He helped himself to the gla.s.s Brian held. With a

pleased sigh, he flopped on the couch. ”This is the place for me,