Part 117 (1/2)

face go totally blank.

”I beg your pardon?”

”Well, I always thought, when I grew up, when you saw me as a woman.”

She stood up, spreading her arms out, then down her sides. ”I'd come to

visit you here, fix you a meal by candlelight, put on the music, then

seduce you.” She pulled a chain from under her blouse. On it hung a

little plastic ring with a gaudy red stone. ”I always thought you'd b.e

my first.”

Speechless, he stared at the ring, then looked up and into her eyes.

There was love there, the kind that lasted lifetimes. And there was

understanding without blame. Stepping forward, he took her hands. His

voice was thick when he found it. ”Very rarely have I regretted being

gay.” He brought her hands to his lips to kiss them. ”This is one of

those very rare times.”

”I love you, Johnno.”

He held her against him. ”I love you, Emma. G.o.d knows why, since

you're such an ugly b.i.t.c.h.” When she laughed, he drew her back for a

kiss. ”Come on then, not only is Luke good to look at, but he's a h.e.l.l

of a cook.”

EmmA AWOKE URLY and followed the scent of coffee and the muted sounds of

the television to the kitchen. It wasn't jet lag she felt now, but the

restless disorientation of waking up in a strange bed after only

s.n.a.t.c.hes of sleep. There was an awkward moment as she stood in the

kitchen doorway watching Luke b.u.t.ter toast across from the television

set where David Hartman interviewed Harrison Ford.

She'd almost been able to relax around Luke the night before as they'd