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well.
    â€œOh, Rain. My necklace!” Annie’s hands shot to her mouth.
    â€œ Why does Rain have your communion sapphire?” Lily asked.
    â€œThe tribesmen took it. They seized it in Sivu. Oh, Rain, you are amazing!” Annie leaned in to peck his cheek, genuinely grateful and not groping for his body or a reaction for once.
    A lilting Gershwin piece filled the Guastavino’s space as Rain slid the chain around her neck. Annie felt her heart hammering and renewed energy blazing through her body. It felt like a part of her had been returned. “Thank you.”
    â€œNo probs.”
    She stared wordlessly into his eyes, feeling perspective return. She was a fool for worrying about Rain’s opinion of her, or trying to gauge his interest all the time. He was a man devoted to his work: a writer and adventurer. He cared enough about her to honor his word about practical stuff–like her necklace–and that was all she really needed.
    I’ve got to stop ruining everything with my stupid insecurities. “How was Sivu after I left?”
    Rain paused. Annie saw a softening in his eyes as he registered the Gershwin.
    He loves it too. Crap, why did they have to have everything in common? Right down to their shared regrets that Annie was fast. “It really does set the tone for the way a man feels about you,” he had said a couple of years ago, the first time Annie jumped into bed with him. She’d reasoned after that that there was no going back so she may as well just enjoy his body when she felt like it.
    â€œGood,” Rain said, answering her question. “It got even hotter after you left. And I made, shall we say…” He stuffed his hands territorially in his pockets.“…an interesting discovery.”
    â€œOh?” Annie was intrigued.
    Rain smiled as Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue hit a crescendo, drowning out the chatter of the anthropologists. She tried to read his face but got nowhere.
    Annie glanced around. The rest of the chatterers had dropped back, talking among themselves. Women swayed softly to Gershwin and men took occasional looks at her and Rain. A few ogled Lily, too, in her tight dress. “No one is listening,” Annie said. She grabbed Lily’s arm, pulling them all in together. “Tell us.”
    Rain locked his thumb and index finger together and zipped them across his mouth.
    â€œRain Mistern, you are telling me! We did all our journalling together. It was basically a joint study.”
    â€œI considered telling you for that reason. I do appreciate working with you.” Rain rocked back and forth, hands still in his pocket, lips amused and eyes sparkling. It was infuriating, especially when he let the silence linger on.
    â€œTell me!”
    â€œI am tempted.” He scratched his chin. “I only made my mysterious discovery…” He winked. “…because I snuck in during a Kaamo ritual. To try to get your necklace.”
    â€œWow.”
    â€œThe Kaamo themselves would say that is a sign. That this is actually your discovery.”
    â€œThey certainly would!”
    â€œI’m glad you agree.”
    â€œI think you should definitely listen to them.”
    Rain threw his head back and laughed, so gorgeously and heartily the Gershwin shufflers turned to stare. Annie felt Lily’s arm tighten as she processed the lovely spectacle.
    â€œThat is rich coming from you, Annie Childs,” Rain said, a new dimple popping up next to his happy lips. “You are the one who chides me for writing from the tribal point of view.”
    â€œDo I?”
    â€œYou have an amazingly selective memory.”
    Annie knew what he meant. She was always calling him on his style. “Oh, that non-scientific tone in your work has got to go. But when it comes to cosmic issues, you should listen to the Kaamo. Listen to the experts.”
    Rain raised an eyebrow. “Cosmic issues?”
    Annie paused,