The two men got their food and drinks and sat at a picnic table set up to the right of the bandstand, near the water. Millbrook's chief rock act, The Wicked Excellent Orchestra, played the beginning licks of Smoke on the Water .

Chase scanned the crowd, telling himself he wasn't looking for anyone in particular.

"Stop it."

Chase looked back at Mason. "Stop what?" he asked innocently.

"She's evil. All women are, but we're looking for the least evil ones who will put out."

"How did you get to be mayor, anyway?"

"It's a mystery, isn't it?" Mason smiled with his full campaigning charm, then took a bite of his roll.

Chase chuckled and took a swallow of his beer.

"Hi, boys," a voice purred from the vicinity of Chase's right ear.

Chase had to fight the urge to groan. "Hello, Summer-Ann," he said over his shoulder, without turning to look at her.

"What are two such fine-looking gentlemen doing here without dates?"

Mason masked his snort by taking a drink of beer.

"Where's Willy tonight?"

"Angie's babysitting. He was here earlier today with a friend. I needed a little adult time." She touched Chase's shoulder. Chase didn't react.

She sat down beside him on the picnic bench, facing out toward the crowd. "I've seen a lot of old classmates here," she said casually. "I even saw Abby Stepp." Chase didn't respond, except to take another drink of beer. "I was surprised she wasn't with you." Chase offered her an indifferent smile. "Well, she isn't." "You came to your senses?" Chase shifted to face her and pinned her with a hard look. "Is there any point to this conversation?" Summer-Ann shrugged with a goading little grin. "I guess not. I just wanted to stop and say hi."

"Hi."

Summer-Ann rose and tugged at the tight-fitting white T she wore. The movement exposed a wide vee of cleavage. "See you on Monday, Chase. Bye, boys."

She sauntered away.

Mason watched her go. "She looks great, but she's definitely evil."

"Definitely."

Abby was feeling a bit peculiar. Leslie and a few of her other co-workers kept buying rounds of the CrabFest Specials, and she'd long since lost track of the amount she had consumed. Four, maybe five. Definitely no more than six.

Leslie's husband's band had been on a break, but now they headed back onstage.

Abby liked them. She liked oldies.

"Yea!" she shouted as they took their places on the platform. She raised her tumbler along with Leslie

and the others.

She felt herself blush at her silly behavior, but she looked at her co-workers and figured if they were acting foolish then it was okay for her, too.

Even Dr. and Mrs. Keene had been cheering. No, not Dr. Keene... Cecil. Cecil and... Adele. They'd

been dancing all evening.

"It's too bad Nelson couldn't be here for this." Leslie's remark stopped her cold.

Abby lowered her cup, suddenly feeling very ridiculous and self-conscious. Nelson would never do this.

And he would think she was childish for acting this way.

And there was no way on earth that he would drink a beverage with a gelatinous lump of candy stuck to

the bottom of it. Abby took a gulp of her drink. "Nelson wouldn't enjoy this." Leslie nodded. "Well, then it'snot too bad that he isn't here." "No, it's not," Abby said with a huge grin. She didn't want to think about Nelson's reaction to her behavior. She wanted to dance. Suddenly the band stopped their tuning and started to play. Abby whooped and began to boogie.

Chase was relieved to have lost Mason's company. His friend had won the attention of the leggy redhead who had been runner-up for Crab Queen.

Did that make her the Crab Princess? Chase wondered. Or maybe the Crab in Waiting?

Chase chuckled to himself and ambled through the crowd, half watching the band, half searching the throng of dancers.

You 're not looking for her, he told himself even as a dark head caught his attention. It wasn't her, and

he continued to look.

A lively, dancing brunette captured his notice, but he nearly dismissed her. Never would conservative, rigid Abby be jigging about with such abandon.

Then the woman turned, and Chase stopped in his tracks. Not only was it Abby, but it was Abby with a

huge grin on her face. She danced and sang and laughed.

Chase could literally feel his heartbeat accelerate and his blood burn hot through his veins. She was the sexiest sight he'd ever seen. Like a wild nymph celebrating some pagan ritual.

And like the dance was designed to lure him to her, Chase helplessly went.

Abby was winded, and her vision was a bit fuzzy, but she could swear Chase Jordan was approaching

her. She blinked and there he stood, his lovely hands tucked in his jean pockets and a charming smile on his lips.

"I don't have your robe," she blurted out and fought the urge to cover her face with her hands. Why on earth had she said something so stupid? Of course she didn't have his robe. "Shucks, and that's exactly what I was coming to get." His charming smile widened into a completely captivating grin. "You did?" Stupid, stupid, stupid. Maybe she shouldn't talk. Instead, she stared at his dimple, wondering how something that likely started as a birth defect could be so amazingly sexy.

"Nooo." He stepped closer. "I came to tell you that you look beautiful."

Abby's heart stopped. Her head seemed to float off her shoulders and she could swear she felt her feet follow.

"Thank-thank you."

"Can I get you a drink?"

Abby knew she didn't need another CrabFest Special, but she nodded.

Chase pulled one of those marvelous hands from his pocket and laced his fingers through hers.

"Are you having fun?"

She tried to focus on his question, rather than his thumb rubbing back and forth over the sensitive flesh of her wrist.

Finally she gave up.

"What?"

"Fun? Are you having it?"

She beamed at him. "Oh, yes."

His eyes locked on her mouth for a moment, then he looked away.

Damn, she probably had gummy crab in her teem.

They were soon standing in a line at the beer stand. People roamed everywhere, some dancing, some just hanging out in clusters, all talking or singing loudly.

Abby imagined it was like being in the center of a beehive, the other bees busily buzzing away.

"Beer?"

Abby turned to Chase. Briefly there were two of him, and she had to clutch one of his four arms to steady herself. One of his other arms caught her from behind, and she found herself anchored against him. Their bodies touched from chest to knee, and Abby let out a small, pleased sigh.

"You feel wonderful," she breathed.

Chase grinned down at her. "Sweetheart," he said gently as he set her away from him, "I think we better get you a soda."

Abby swayed and had to concentrate on his nose to regain her balance. "Yes. That might be a good idea."

Chase turned to order, and Abby tried to watch the crowd again, but the drone and constant motion made her lightheaded. Without even pausing in his request for a beer and a soda, he reached out and pulled her back to him, tucking her against his side. Abby was grateful. He was the only thing solid in a sea of movement. She closed her eyes and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Can you hold this?" he asked, holding up the soda. She straightened. "Yes. But I think perhaps I should sit for a moment." "I think you're right." With his arm still around her, he led her to a group of oak trees away from the festivities. People still milled around, but by being out of the main swirl of activity, Abby's head felt much clearer and her equilibrium was at least partially back to normal.

"I'm sorry," she said, as Chase helped her get seated on the grass. "I don't usually drink."

"You'd never know," he said with a wink as he sat beside her.

For a moment, she wasn't sure if he was being sincere or not, then she decided he wasn't and elbowed him.

He let out an exaggerated grunt. With great show, he rubbed his side and offered her a wounded look.

A giggle escaped her.

And he grinned back. "It's okay to cut loose once in a while."

"This is the first time I've ever cut loose."

"Ever?"

"Ever," she admitted. "I was a nerd, remember? No keg parties or bar-hopping. Only study groups and

late nights in the library."

"There's nothing wrong with that."

Abby shrugged and watched the crowd dancing in a circle of light around the stage. She and Chase

were silent for a moment.

"So, why did you really come over to me?"

He took a drink of his beer before he answered, "I told you, I came over to tell you that you look