Page 13 of Sapphire Storm

This was all his fault. His crazy behavior at Sapphire Covehad left him seeing dirty motives everywhere he looked. The world was full ofnormal, boring people who didn’t speak in double meanings. Not everyone wasSharon Stone’s character fromBasic Instinct, a movie he and Rachelhad watched together many times, howling at its deranged plot twists andrampant queer phobia.

Their server brought a basket of bread, which neither one ofthem touched. Even though he knew the menu by heart, Roman tried to lose himselfin it like it was a good book. Anything to pass the time until Diana showed up.He’d practically memorized all the salads when Scott snapped his menu shut loudenough to make Roman jump.

“Order a drink,” Scott said. “I’ll drive back.”

“Why don’t you ride back with Diana and Hank and then youcan drink whatever you want?”

Scott studied him with an expression caught somewherebetween angry and frustrated.

One of the runners delivered their water with a smile. Hewas an angel-faced, curly headed blond who looked like he was either still incollege or fresh out of it. He gave Roman the kind of long look Roman was usedto getting from interested guys. Searching and curious, but also wary. Likethey thought Roman might punch them for looking too long. He usually tried torelax them with a smile. The truth was, he liked being looked at. Got off onit, even.

But when he remembered the way Ethan Blake had looked at himearlier that night, with all that sympathy in his eyes, his stomach felt coldand his face felt tight, the same grating sensations that used to afflict himwhen he was a young boy fighting an unwanted attraction to a male classmate.

The water-bearing cherub departed.

Scott stared after him.

When he got caught looking, he gave Roman a thousand-wattsmile. “Your type?”

“Nah, I like ’em older.”

“Good. Guys like me can take you to Pound Town way fasterthan some kid.” Scott turned and leaned in to Roman until there was almost nospace left between them. “I mean, no offense. When it comes to Pound Town, Ihear you like to see the sights on your back.”

Roman closed his menu and slammed it to the table. “What thehell are you doing, Scott?”

At first, Roman assumed the pressure on his thigh was thenight’s cumulative tension finally causing muscle aches. Then the man’spowerful, kneading fingers slid up the inside of his thigh. “Here’s some advicefrom someone older, Freestyle,” Scott said in a husky whisper. “People can’tgive you what you want unless you tell them what you like.”

Roman shot to his feet. His chair went over backward with aloud clang. The next thing he knew, Scott Bryant was soaked and blinking andholding his hands out in front of him as if he’d tried to block the contents ofRoman’s water glass a second too late.

“Don’t fucking touch me, asshole!”Roman staggeredbackward away from the table.

A familiar voice cried out behind him.“Roman!”

He spun and saw how the terrible confluence of events hadplayed out. Barely a foot separated him from Diana. Most of the other dinershad recognized her the second she’d entered the garden, then Roman’s outbursthad drawn their attention to their near collision. In an instant, he and hisfamous boss had become the centerpiece of a jarring, ugly little scene.Humiliation replaced his anger.

She was dressed casually in a denim shirt and designerjeans. It was far too warm out for the light pink cashmere sweater she’d tiedaround her waist. She’d probably added it for color. Her blonde hair was blownout in waves highlighted with platinum gray. It wasn’t the mile-high eightiesstyle she’d sported every Thursday night on ABC until 1996, but it was closeenough to make her easily recognizable in public to most who’d lived throughthat era.

“Are you all right, sugar?” Her voice was warm but her eyeswere blue steel. She gripped him by his elbows, maybe to hold him in place.

“No, I’m…uh…I’m not feeling well.”

“All right, darling, well, why don’t you sit and we’ll getyou something to eat and we’ll all calm down and—”

“No, I should go. I’m just going to head back to the houseand get some rest if that’s okay.”

Her expression suggested it wasn’t okay, but she wouldpretend it was—for now. Gently, she rubbed his shoulders, something he’d alwaysfound welcomingly maternal before. Now it felt like she was trying to hold himin place.

The awful repercussions of what had just happened wererippling out on all sides of him. Even though it didn’t seem possible, hewanted to draw those dangerous waters back to him with the power of speechalone. It was worth a try. “I tried this new supplement, and it’s making mereally moody. I shouldn’t inflict myself on people rightnow. My bad.”

A complete lie, but Diana seemed to buy it.

“Okay, well, whatever it is, let’s get you off it because Iwant my sweet, darling boy back.” She patted him gently on the cheek. “Maybe intime for dinner tomorrow night.”

Roman nodded, which was a mistake. The simple motionthreatened to set loose more of the tears he thought he’d exhausted earlier.

She kissed him on the cheek. Her affection was a comfort,and this relieved him. Now that he’d been exposed to a brazen come-on like Scott’s,it was clear no hidden sexual motives lurked inside Diana’s gentle affection.His nerves were so raw he was sure he’d be able to feel any desire that mightbe in her touch.

“You go on ahead. Have Hank drive you back.”

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