HE TURNED HIS HEAD AND LOOKED AT ME.A CUTE GRIN SPREAD ACROSS HIS
         
         ADORABLE FACE.A DIMPLE APPEARED AT HI~ CHEEK.I KNEW HE WAS TODD.
         
         I HAD SEEN SEVERAL SNAPSHOTS OF HIM.HIS GRAY EYES LOCKED AT MINE AND
         
         I RELEASED HIS ARM.I LOOKED INTO HIS EYES AS IF I WAS IN A TRANCE.
         
         I BROKE EYECONTACT GENTLY AND WALKED OVER TO ~HE BAR.
         
           “GIMME A BUD.” I SAID.HE ANSWERED WITH A GRUNT AND THE BAR TENDER
         HANDED ME A BEER.I POPPED THE TOP OFF THE SIDE OF THE BAR AND TOOK
         A SIP.I WALKED OVER TO THE TABLE WHERE SKYE SAT AND PLACED MYSELF
         
         INA CHAIR,CROSSING MY LONG LEGS,SKYE SIGHED.
         
           “YOU’RE NOT TRYING TO BE OBVIOUS ARE YOU?” SHE CAJOLED PLAYFULLY.
         “WHO ME?” I QUESTIONED.SKYE’S VIOLET EYES SWEPT AROUND THE SMOKY
         ROOM.SHE TOOK A LONG SIP OF MY BEER.I HATE BEER.IT’S TOTASLLY GRcSS.
         
           TODD CAME OVER TO OUR TABLE AND STRADDLED A CHAIR.
         
           “MAKE ME AN OFFER.” HE SAID LOOKING AT ME.I LAUGHED LIGHTLY AND
         FELT SKYE DELIVER A KICK TO MY BUTT.
         
           “ON WHAT?” I ASKED INNOCENTLY.OUCH.ANOTHER KICK,SKYE SMILED
         SWEETLY.
         
           “WHAT’S YA NAME?” SKYE ASKED IN A HEAVY NEW YORK ACCENT.
         “TODD.” SKYE NODDED.HE LOOKED AT ME.
         
           “WHAT’S YOURS?” SKYE’S SMIOE BRIGHTENED.
         
         “I’M SKYE WAKEFIELD,AND THIS IS JESSICA TANDY.” SHE INTRODUCED.
         
           “NICE TO MEET YOU JESSICA TANDY.” HE KISSED MY KNUCKLES.
         “WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE?” SKYE ASKED LIKE AN IDIOT.I RETURNED THE
         FAVOR BY KICKIENG HER.
         
           “FUN.THE FRESH AIR,THE CHICKS.” HE SAID.OH,BOY MY FAVO!ITE REASONS
         TOO.
         
           “HOW ABOUT YOU GALS?” HE SAID AS AN AFTERKHOUGHT.I LEANED
         CLOSE TO HIM AND STROKED HIS ARM WITH MY FINGER.
         
           “ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A GOOD TIME.” I SAID MEANINGFULLY.
         
         “BET YOU HAVE PLENTY.” HE SAID.I LAUFGHED LIGHTLY.I TOOK A SIP
         OF BEER.I LOOKED AT THE WATCH ON MY WRIST.IT WAS LATER THAN I THOUGHT.
         I STOOD UP AND STRETCHED CAT—LIKE.SKYE GOT UP TOO.WE STARTED FOR THE
         
         DOOR.TODD BEAT US THERE.HE LOKKEIJ AT ME. “WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN?”
         
           “THAT DEPENDS.” AND I LEFT