ring of truth. "I have an early appointment in the morning. You all go on if you want to."
She stood and began folding the blanket. With an exchange of puzzled looks, Austin joined Paula and Gordon in assisting her.
Damn the woman, Austin thought as they crossed the park. She even made it a point to walk beside Paula, as far away from him as possible. What was her problem?
He hadn't made love by himself. She'd been a willing participant. More than willing, if memory served him correctly. Surely it wasn't possible the supremely confident Bailey Russell was suffering from embarrassment at her actions.
Whatever the problem, he supposed he had no choice but to back off for the moment.
"We got company," Gordon suddenly announced, and Austin looked up to see two tall figures leaning against Gordon's BMW.
"Excuse me," Gordon said, brushing past the one in front and reaching for the passenger door. Alcohol fumes hung thickly on the night air.
"The nice man said excuse me,'' the youth slurred, looking at his friend and laughing. "The nice man with the pretty car." He tipped his glass and poured the remaining liquid over the gleaming hood.
Austin lunged toward the creature, intent on taking him down, but Gordon held his arm out in front of him, blocking his attack.
Austin hesitated. It was Gordon’s car and so he supposed any action taken was up to Gordon. He clenched his fists and stepped back.
"This nice car has a wonderful feature, doors on both sides," Gordon said evenly as he took Paula's arm to steer her around the automobile.
Austin reminded himself again that it was Gordon’s car and Gordon’s call. He could be the peacemaker if that’s what he wanted.
"Isn't that cute? A little girl to go with the little car." The drunk stretched out a hand and touched Paula's face as she started past him.
Gordon's fist shot out, made a dull whump as it connected with the boy's jaw and tumbled him to the ground.
Gordon reached over him and jerked the door open, slamming it against the second drunk's shoulder as he lunged forward, reaching for Gordon.
"And all the doors work just fine." He offered his arm to Paula.
Daintily Paula took Gordon's arm, stepped around the youth, and slid into the front car seat.
"You hit him," Austin marveled as both drunks made a hurried retreat. "You hit him and knocked him down. I’ve never seen you do anything physical before."
"I've been saving my strength," Gordon drawled, closing Paula's door and moving around to the driver's side. "You two get out and exercise and use it all up, but me, I've been saving it for a lot of years."
With a big, dopey smile, he slid into the car next to Paula.
*~*~*
Bailey tapped gently on Paula's bedroom door. "What is it?" Paula's reply was muffled but notably irritated as it came through the heavy wood.
"I need to talk to you, Paula."
The door opened and Paula stood there frowning but still cute and darling even in the middle of the night in her short nightgown with her hair tousled. Beside her Bailey felt tall, gaunt, and awkward.
"Bailey, this is the third time you've awakened me to talk about nothing. What is the problem? I thought you were tired and wanted to go to bed."
"I am. I do. But I just have to talk to you. Let's go out to the living room."
Paula followed with a sigh. "So far tonight we've settled the questions of whether or not to have premium cable TV and where I can buy an air cleaner for Morris' cigar smoke. What is it this time?"
Bailey picked up Samantha and cuddled her. "If you went to the doctor and he discovered you were dying, would you want to know?"
"Sure I'd want to know. Am I dying?" She rubbed her eyes with both hands and yawned, then sat up straight, alert. "You're not sick, are you?"
"No, no," Bailey denied. At least not physically, she added silently. Paula's obvious concern made her feel even worse. She had to tell the truth, no matter what the consequences.
"Okay," she began again, "if you were married and your husband was cheating on you and I found out, would you want me to tell you?"
"I know for a fact I'm not married, and if you're going to tell me that Chuck cheated on me, you're a few years late."
"Paula, I have to tell you something."
"Bailey, you have exactly ten seconds to tell me before I go to bed with earplugs."
Bailey cleared her