She left them be.

{ 201 }.

Instead of barging in, she went out the front door and waited by that old- fashioned convertible. The temperature was still eighty degrees in spite of the fact that the sun had started to go down, and there was a mugginess in the air" or maybe that was her nerves. To get some shade, she kept herself in the lee of one of the big magnolias that grew up close to the house.

As she stared at the car, she remembered the times she had been in the thing with Samuel T., the night wind in her hair, his hand between her legs as he drove them along the winding roads to his farm.

The convertible had been purchased by Samuel T., Sr., on the day of the birth of what had turned out to be the mans one and only living offspring.

And it had been given to young Samuel T. on his eighteenth birthday with strict instructions that he was not to kill himself in the damn thing.

And funny, the instruction had found home: It was only when he was behind the wheel of a car that Samuel T. was careful. Gin had long suspected it was because he knew that if anything happened to him, his family tree was over.

He was the only member of his generation who had survived.

Lot of tragedy.

For which, until this very moment, she had had little appreciation.

While she waited, her heart beat fast, but not hard, the fluttering in her chest making her light- headed. Or perhaps it was the heat"

Samuel T. pulled open the front door and strode out of Easterly, crystal glass of bourbon in his hand. He cut quite the dashing figure with that perfectly beautiful seersucker suit, and his astonishing face, and his monogrammed briefcase. He had put on a pair of gold- rimmed sunglasses, and his thick, dark hair was brushed back off his high fore- head, that cowlick in the front making it seemed styled when in fact that had never been necessary.

He stopped as he saw her. Then drawled, Come to thank me for saving you?

I need to talk to you.

Oh? Trying to negotiate a retainer using something other than cash? He tossed back the liquor and put the glass on the front step" as { 202 }.

only someone who had lived with help all his life could. I am amenable to all suggestions.

She measured every step he made toward her and his car. She knew so well that body of his, that hard, muscular body that belied him for the farmer he was in his soul under all his fancy, barrister trappings.

Amelia was going to be tall like he was. And she was smart like he was.

Unfortunately, the girl was also stupid like her mother, although maybe she would grow out of that.

Well? he said as he put his briefcase in the jump seat. Do I get to pick the way you pay your bill?

Even through his sunglasses, she could feel his eyes on her. He wanted her, he always wanted her, and at times, he hated her for that: He was not a man who appreciated constraints, even of his own making.

She was the same way.

Samuel T. shook his head. Do not tell me the cat has that luscious tongue of yours. It would be such a pity to lose that particular piece of your anatomy"

Samuel.

The instant he heard the tone in her voice, he frowned and took his sunglasses off. Whats wrong?

I . . .

Did anyone mistreat you in that jail? Because I will go down there personally and"

Marry me.

He froze, everything stopping" his expression, his breathing, maybe even his heart. Then he punched out a laugh. Right, right, right. Sure you do"

Im serious.

The car door opened silently, a testament to the meticulous care that was paid to the vehicle. The day you settle down with any man is the eve of the Second Coming.

Samuel, I love you.

He shot her a sardonic look. Oh, please"

I need you.

{ 203 }.

Jail really bothered you, didnt it. He lowered himself into the bucket seat and stared out over the hood of the car for a moment. Look, Gin, dont feel bad about having gone in there, okay? Ive managed to scrub everything down at HQ so that it wont even get on the blotter. No ones going to know.

Thats not why. I just . . . lets get married. Please.

Looking across at her, he frowned so deeply, his eyebrows came all the way together. You actually sound serious.

I am. And she was no fool. Shed tell him about Amelia afterward, when it was harder for him to run, when there was paperwork in place to hold them together until he got over what shed done. You and I were meant to be together. You know it. I know it. Weve been skirting around this relationship for a lifetime, maybe longer. You date wait- resses and hairdressers and masseuses because theyre not me. You hold every woman up to my standard and they all fail. Youre obsessed with me just like I am with you. Lets stop the lie and do it right.

He shifted his eyes back out to the hood and ran his beautiful hands around that wooden steering wheel. Let me ask you something.

Anything.

How many men have you said that to? He glanced back at her.

Huh? How many, Gin? How many times have you used those lines?

Its the truth, she said in a voice that cracked.

Did you try out the pleading tone with them, too, Gin? Give them those eyes?

Dont be cruel.

After a long silence, he shook his head. Do you remember my thir- tieth birthday party? The one we had out at my farm?

That has nothing to do with"

It was a good surprise. I had no idea that yall were waiting for me.

I walked into my house" surprise! All those people cheering, and I looked for you"

She threw her hands up. That was five years ago, Samuel! It was"

Actually, its been the whole story of our relationship, Gin. I looked for you" I went through the crowd, searching for"

{ 204 }.

It didnt matter! They dont matter"

" you because, like you said, Im a sap, and you were the only per- son I truly wanted there. And I found you, all right. Fucking that Ar- gentinean polo player who was a guest of Edwards on my bed.

Samuel"

On my bed! he thundered, slamming his fist into the dashboard.

My fucking bed, Gin!

Fine, and what did you do? She jerked forward on her hips and jabbed her finger at him. What did you do then? You took my college roommate and her sister and had sex with them in the pool"

He cursed out loud. What was I supposed to do? Let you walk all over me? Im a man, not one of your pathetic little fuck buddies! Im not going to"

I was with the polo player because the week before you went out of your way to sleep with Catherine! Ive been friends with her since I was two, Samuel. I had to sit through her going on and on about how youd given her the orgasms of her life in the back of this very car. After youd been with me the night before! So dont talk about how you were the one who was"

Stop. Abruptly, he pushed a hand through his hair. Stop it, stop all of" were not going to do this anymore, Gin. Were fighting over the same dynamic we had when we were teenagers"

We fight because we care and were too proud to admit it. As he fell silent again, she had a bourgeoning hope that he was thinking things over. Samuel, youre the only man Ive ever loved. And Im the same for you. Thats just the way it is. If we need to stop anything, its the fighting and the hurting. Were both too proud and stubborn for our own good.

There was a long silence. Why now, Gin.

Its just . . . its time.

All because you were strip searched at ten a.m. this morning?

Must you.

Samuel T. shook his head. I dont know if youre serious or not, but that is not my problem. Allow me to be perfectly clear"

Samuel, she broke in. I love you.

And she meant it. Meant it down to her soul: The terrifying convic- { 205 }.

tion that things were going to go badly for her family had taken root and spread, bringing with it a kind of clarity that she had never had before.

Or maybe that was more . . . a courage she had been lacking. For all their years together, she had never told him how she truly felt. It had been all about posturing and one- upping. Well, and his daughters birth" not that he knew about that yet.

I love you, she whispered.

No. He dropped his head and squeezed that wheel as if looking for some kind of strength inside of himself. No . . . you cant do this, Gin. Not with me. Dont try to take the pretend down this deep. Its not healthy for you . . . and I dont think Ill survive it, okay? I need to function" my family needs me. I wont let you fuck with my head this much"

Samuel"

No! he shouted.

Then he looked over at her, and his pale eyes were cold and narrow, as if he were staring down an enemy. First of all, I dont believe you, okay? I think youre lying to manipulate me. And secondly? I will not ever allow a wife of mine to disrespect me the way you will your husband. You are constitutionally incapable of monogamy, and more to the point, youre too bored to value a sustainable relationship. You and I can have a roll or two from time to time, but I will never honor a whore like you with my last name. You disparage waitresses? Thats fine. But I would so much rather someone like that have my ring on her finger than a spoiled, disloyal brat like you.

He started the engine, the sweet smell of oil and gasoline briefly flaring on the hot breeze. Ill see you the next time I have an itch I cant scratch myself. Until then, have fun with the rest of the population.

Gin had to put both hands over her mouth as he backed up and took off, the old- fashioned car disappearing along the long drive down the hill.

In his wake, tears fell from her eyes, melting her mascara off"and for once she didnt care.

She had taken her one shot with him.

And failed.

It was her worst nightmare come true.

{ 206 }.

T W ENT Y- THR EE.

O h, Lisa?As soon as Lizzie heard the Southern drawl percolate through the conservatory, she froze" which was awkward because she was breaking down the bouquet- making tables, and had one balanced on its side.

Lisa?

Looking over, she found Lanes wife standing in the doorway like she was posing for a camera, one hand on her hip, the other pushing her hair back. She was wearing pink silk Mary Tyler Moore pants from the Laura Petrie era and a low- cut loose blouse that was sunset orange. The shoes were pointed hard in front and had little tiny heels, and topping it off? A dramatic, filmy scarf in acid yellow and green that was wrapped around her shoulders and tied over her perfect breasts.

All in all, the whole thing created an impression of Fresh, Lovely, and Tempting" and made someone who was Tired, Anxious, and Stressed feel deficient not just on a hair and wardrobe level, but down to molecular genetics.

{ 207 }.

Yes? Lizzie said as she went back to pounding on one of the legs to collapse it.

Could you please stop that? Its very loud.

My pleasure, Lizzie gritted out.

For some reason, as that woman played with her goldilocks, the flashing of the big diamond on her left hand was like somebody drop- ping the F- bomb repeatedly.

Chantal smiled. I need your help for a party.

Can we just get through tomorrow first? My pleasure.

Its a party for two. Chantal smiled as she loosened that scarf and came in further. Oh, my, its hot in here. Can you do anything about that?

The plants do better in the warmth.

Oh. She swept her wrap off and put it down beside some of the bou- quets that were going to be placed in the public rooms of the house. Well.

You were saying?