“I can download a refresher course off the internet. Give me two weeks, and you won’t be able to tell the difference between me and anyone on this island.”
George said nothing but the teeth flashed again in thestarlight.
“I’ll prove it to you. I’ll bet you anythingyou want.”
“That you’ll speak like anyone on the island?”
“In two weeks.”
“Then, we have a wager.” His eyes danced withmerriment.
Perhaps he wasn’t convinced, but she was. She would win this challenge even if she had to study all night every night fortwo weeks.
She didn’t run away from a challenge. He liked thatabout her.
George walked, listening to her lovely laugh. It sounded like a secret pleasure she wanted to share with him. He’d never laughed so much before tonight. His entire body resonated to her.
His body.
His body was a whole other problem.
Get a grip, George!
What was he doing? Normally he was very careful around women. Never allowed himself to get drawn in unless he’d already decided the relationship was agood idea.
Millie is off limits,his conscience chided.She works for you? You’re heremployer?
He’d been carried away earlier. Speaking ill-advised words bordering on flirtation. They rolled across his mind’s eye now like witnesses at a trial. Lies, all of them. Of course, he washer boss.
You’re a lawyer, for God’s sake. You know how this would be seen.His conscience lectured him like a prosecutor in a court.A power deferential equalscoercion.
What coercion?He tried to defend himself.
You all but bullied her yesterday. Demanded her attendance at this dinner.
I was suspicious. Had she proved dishonest, that meeting would have saved everyone a lot ofheadache.
Then you undressed her withyour eyes.
Not fair. She’s a beautiful woman, and I’m a manwith eyes.
Chatted her up over dinner. Plied her with wine and dessert. Softened her up.
They walked in the warm night. It was a blessing. Even in summer, nights on the island could sometimes turn chilly. Tonight, though, the air was warm. Crickets and frogs croaked and chirped up a racket in the stream as George and Millie’s feet took them over the stone bridge. She stopped to throw pebbles over the side into the river. He didn’t try to hold her hand again.
Just when you’d lulled her into dropping her guard, you dragged up her marriage until she wasin tears.
He hadn’t meant toupset her.
Oh yes you did. Made her cry so you could hold her inyour arms.
No.
His conscience would not back down.Yes, you pressed her head into your neck. What did you think? That you’d push her against afarm wall?
Of course not. She works for me.
Did you enjoy holding her?
