“You’re a natural competitor on the playing field and in business, and you always play fair. You actually enjoy the challenge. But your love life is one arena where you can’t stand competition. A beautiful or famous or talented or successful woman poses a threat to your ego, especially when you’re losing football games… or suffering from a shoulder injury that might end your career.” Tom came nearer and spoke softly, almost compassionately. “Ana Ramsey poses no such threat, does she, Trent?”

Trent spun around, his jaw grinding with anger, but Tom wasn’t intimidated. He went on undaunted. “She’s not as good-looking as you. She certainly doesn’t outdress you. She doesn’t outrank you in the finance department. I’m sure she’s talented, but you’re the unqualified star this time, aren’t you?”

He drew a deep sigh and laid his hand on Trent ‘s shoulder. “She was just what you needed a couple of weeks ago, a woman who adored you and who accepted your every word as gospel, who thought you could do no wrong. You represented Prince Charming to her. Let’s face facts, Trent. When you came here, you were on a losing streak. You’ve used Ana to pump up your deflated ego.”

Trent ’s anger had dissipated, because some of what Tom had said was right. He liked and respected Tom Tandy both as an athlete and as a human being. Their friendship went back for years, and he supposed that fact gave Tom the freedom to speak candidly.

“On some points you’re right, Tom. But you’re wrong about what I feel for Ana. Initially it was just as you say; I was out for a lark. She was convenient. So why not take advantage? I had nothing better to do.” He peered straight into his friend’s eyes. “But for the first time in my life, I came to really know a woman. It sounds sappy, but I love her. I know she’s different. That’s what I love about her.”

Tom searched Trent ’s face for a long while, weighing his sincerity. Then his ugly features stretched into an embarrassed smile. “Then I’ve been way out of line. I hope it all works out. Friends?” he asked, sticking out his hand.

Trent grasped it warmly and slapped Tom’s shoulder. “Friends.”

Tom left shortly after that. Trent bounded up the stairs shouting Ana’s name. “Where’s the fire?” she asked, poking her head out the door.

“Right here.” He backed her into the room, shut the door with a tap of his foot, wrapped her in his arms, and branded her mouth with a kiss. “I want to make love.”

“ Trent,” she said with a light laugh, and tried to wiggle out of his embrace.

“Now.”

“I’m right in the middle of-”

He kissed her again and touched her knowingly. They were so familiar with each other by now that he knew what she responded to. The fire he spoke of spread into her, and was fueled by her never-ending desire for him.

Clothes were discarded hastily. They knelt together on the floor. His mouth kissed its way down her throat to her breasts. Her back arched over his supporting arms and her heavy hair swung free. Undisciplined, his tongue caressed her nipples until they were taut and dewy. Then he eased her back, positioned her for maximum sensation, and entered her.

Even after it was over, he lay nestled inside her, breathing the floral scent of her hair. It was already growing dusky outside, but he could see her well enough to wonder why Tom didn’t find her as beautiful as he did. Her hair was thick and silky as it spread out behind her head on the floor. Her skin, bathed with a sheen of perspiration from their vigorous lovemaking, seemed to glow in the diminishing light.

He stayed sheathed inside her until he was ready to love her again. This time he went slowly, savoring each precious moment, each delicious sound she made in response to his stroking.

No other woman had ever pleased him so well. All through the evening, he proved his delight in her repeatedly and denied everything that Tom had said. Especially to himself.

Nine

First Rana couldn’t remember why she didn’t want to wake up. Then it came to her, and she squeezed her eyes shut again.

Trent was leaving today.

Rolling onto her back, she stared at the ceiling over her bed and wondered if she would be able to handle his departure with dignity. Before she could think about it long, however, there was a discreet knock on her door. She scrambled from the bed and rushed across the room to open the door a crack.

“I wouldn’t have to come tiptoeing across the hail at six A.M.if you’d let me spend the night in your bed. But I love you anyway.” Trent leaned forward and kissed her gently. Ruby knew about their affair, but Rana had remained steadfast about their need for some privacy from each other. She had stubbornly refused to sleep with him for the entire night. “Why aren’t you dressed to run?”

“I didn’t know you’d want to,” she whispered back.

“I do. This is our last morning to jog together on the Galveston beach. At least for a while.” He reached behind her and patted her bottom. “Hurry. I’ll be warming up on the front lawn.”

So he was going to pretend that today was just like any other… at least for a few hours.

When they returned from an exhilarating workout, they drank fruit juice and ate a light breakfast in the kitchen, as had become their habit. But when they were climbing the stairs, he took her hand and pulled her into his room, closing and locking the door behind them.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Locking you in. Today we shower together.”

That had been another intimacy she had refused him. “ Trent, you know how-”

He laid a finger over her lips. “No arguments. Consider this your send-off to a soldier on his way to the front.”

“But-”

“Do you love me?”

He asked the question with such intensity that she dared not make light of it. “Yes,” she said truthfully. “I love you, Trent.”

“And I love you. We’ve been as intimate as a man and woman can be. I’ve touched you, kissed you, everywhere. But I want to see you in the light. Do this for me. Please.”

He was the first-and probably would be the last- person ever to love her just as she was. Could she deny him anything on their final day together? She didn’t protest when he began removing her ugly gray sweat suit. She let him peel away one shapeless garment after another until she stood before him naked.

Several minutes ticked by before he said anything. His eyes traveled from the crown of her head to her feet, back up, then down again with more leisure. Bewildered, he hissed a soft curse.

“Why do you dress the way you do? You’ve got one of the most spectacular bodies I’ve ever seen. I don’t understand,” he said hoarsely, shaking his head in confusion.

Rana wanted to weep with happiness. His compliment meant more to her than any she had ever received. Words to the same effect had been repeated to her so often that they had lost their meaning. But Trent ’s speaking of them gave those words new significance.

If she let herself dwell on it, she would cry, and if she began, she was afraid she would never stop. This was too precious a day to waste on tears. So she closed the distance between them and, standing on tiptoe, murmured against his lips. “You’re wearing too many clothes, Mr. Gamblin.” She began working his shorts down his hips.

Before they stepped into the shower stall, he snatched off her glasses. She reached for them reflexively, but he held them far above her head. She turned her face aside.

“Ana, look at me.”

She loved him, didn’t she? If he did recognize her, would it matter so much now? He would leave her in a few hours anyway. Gradually her head came around, until she was staring up at him.

He seemed to lose himself in the swirling depths of her eyes. “Such an unusual color,” he remarked distantly, as though talking to himself. “It’s a crime for you to hide such beautiful eyes behind these tinted lenses.”