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fresh, full of energy, not at all tired. He's left the fatigue to you, eh?"
    "He's been busy. ''s a fool.' 44 swung to his. ' do you say thatv use he's got a good thing in you, but I doubt he -sees it. You're loyal. You stand up for him he deserves it or not. Does he deserve it?' his wife. Loyalty is a .. a given.' he appreciate it?' shifted a defensive shoulder. ' doesn't make eches of praise, but I don't expect that." spe at do you expect?' didn't answer. Is a fool, because he'll lose you/
    Derek said. ling swiftly and smoothly, he dropped his s to his thighs. Page 14
    Barbara Delinsky - Commitments
    For the first time he faced her His voice was low, tautly controlled. His eyes . ' you were mine, I'd appreciate you. But '@'Ire not mine. You're his. And, goddamn it' - his fell to a thick, dark rumble - '
    don't know why Ire here. Is it to torment me? You do, you know. It weeks until I was able to get you out of my mind time. And it sure as hell won't be any easier now.' rina was stunned. She hadn't thought ... it It occurred to her ... perhaps she'd misunderstood surely she'd misunderstood. With nervous fingers, gathered her coat to her, possibly in a prelude to ing, more probably for the gense of security, howfalse, it gave. ''m sorry/ she whispered. is voice was nearly as low, but much, much more eful. ''t be sorry. just tell me why you're here.' R
    :'I don't know. I wanted.. '?' ' wanted ... I want .. ' could a visit with me possibly offer?' His face was close. His features filled her vision - '-set eyes now the color of charcoal, ruggedly ed nose, firm-set mouth, tight jaw. She saw the 45 scowl lines on his brow, the sootiness of his eyelashes, the tiny mole at his temple, the way his lower lip was fuller than its mate. But his eyes drew her back. In them, hidden behind defiance and anger and pride, she saw despair, and she wanted to cry. ' ...'he prompted in a low, guttural command.
    "You understood, Derek. That day. You understood. I don't know why I'm here now. I didn't plan it ahead, but it seemed the only thing to do when I knew I would be so close, and after visiting the center I felt so devastated that I was hoping ... hoping ...' She ran her thumb under her eye. ' for sympathy? ' - I ' I'm plumb out.' ' don't want sympathy.' ' what? I ' don't know!' she cried. Startled by the sound of her own voice, she shot a damp-eyed glance around the room. Several of its occupants and nearly all of the guards were looking at her. Embarrassed, she quickly lowered both her eyes and her voice. '
    don't know/ she whispered. ' I was hoping for something ... a fragment ... that warmth I felt when we met and you understood how it was.' Her fingers bit into her coat as she struggled for composure.
    "Strength. I thought maybe you'd have some. it was foolish, selfish of me, I guess.' Slowly, Derek straightened. ' strength I have now is earmarked for survival; and as for warmth, it's gone, Sabrina. It just isn't there anymore.' The words had barely left his lips when he stood, Sabrina looked up and caught her breath, but before 46 ing, he'd turned on his heel and was fingers were tight around his jacket. ulders were stiff. He paused once at the door ked back, forever etching in her mind the image scraping for dignity, a man ultimately alone. be passed through and disappeared. ents later, Sabrina sat behind the wheel of her g. It wasn't the cold air that disturbed her; comed that. It was what she'd seen and felt ed the quiver. was angry. He was bitter, at times hostile. He proverbial caged animal, wounded and lashing th a look, a tone, a word. probably he'd been right when he said that he have strength to spare, and she'd been wrong to ""Jt. But he lied about the warmth. She'd seen it those few moments when he questioned her t Nicky. And she'd felt it after that. ,,don't know why you're here. Is it to torment me? ', you know. It was weeks until I was able to . out of my mind last time. And it sure as hell be any easier now. e'd felt the