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the bus.”
    “I know what you can do.” He smiled. “And I know what I want you to do. But what are you going to do, Eve? Why should you take a bus when we’re both going to the same place?”
    Because she didn’t know if she wanted to get in a car with him. Just standing here a few feet away, she was too physically aware of him. “I’m not sugar. I won’t melt in a little rain.”
    He chuckled. “No, you’re not sugar sweet. That’s what I like about you. You strike sparks. I can’t forget how you tackled Larazo.” His smile faded. “But you should have had a weapon. You weren’t strong enough to handle him.”
    “Maybe I should ask your uncle to give me lessons.”
    “That’s a thought. Or maybe I can teach you.” Then he shook his head. “No, lots of body contact. It wouldn’t work. I’d forget what I was doing.”
    And so might she. Why did every reference come back to the physical? No, she shouldn’t let him take her home.
    He was studying her face. “Take a chance. I’m not going to do anything you don’t want me to do. We’ll talk.” He thought about it. “Maybe.” Then he grinned. “It’s hard to be honest when I’m trying my best to convince you I’m no threat.”
    He couldn’t convince her. He was a threat to her. No, it was her own emotions that were the threat.
    “You have to leave. I have to finish my shift.”
    He didn’t speak for a moment. “I’ll wait for you outside. I’m parked across the street. Old beat-up tan Chevy. It’s not pretty, but it’s transportation.” He didn’t wait for her to answer as he strode toward the door. “And it will keep the rain off you.”
    He was gone before she could reply.
    She stared after him, her hand clenched on the cloth.
    “Who is that ?” Teresa Maddel had come out of the kitchen and was standing, gazing out the window at John Gallo as he ran across the street. “Hot, very hot, Eve.” She made a mocking gesture of fanning herself. “I don’t think you can handle him. You should leave him to me.”
    Eve didn’t think she could handle him, either. Just those few minutes had made her feel uncertain.
    “His name is John Gallo.” She began to fill up the saltshaker. “And you’re welcome to him.”
    “I’ll take him.” Teresa was only half-kidding. “You don’t run across sexy guys like that every day of the week. Introduce me the next time he comes in.” She wandered back toward the kitchen. “And I’ll do the rest.”
    Yes, Teresa would give him anything he wanted and ask for more. She was almost twenty, and some of the stories she told Eve were very graphic. Eve had a mental image of a naked Teresa moving beneath him and Gallo driving hard, fast, and—
    Only the naked girl had suddenly become Eve, not Teresa. And the muscles of her stomach were tensing as he entered her and—
    Don’t think of it.
    Ready to perform.
    She had thought that about John Gallo at the hospital. Tight, sensual, ready to perform.
    She had spilled the salt. Her hand was shaking.
    Stupid. She wasn’t this weak. It was only a crazy physical yen. She should be able to control it.
    But Teresa had evidently experienced that same reaction and she was not going to control it. Maybe she had the right idea. Take any pleasure that came your way.
    But she wasn’t like Teresa. She knew that sex had consequences that eventually caught up with you. Look at her mother, look at Rosa. She wouldn’t be caught in that trap.
    She wasn’t that weak.
    *   *   *
    IT HAD STARTED TO RAIN when she left the restaurant.
    The tan Chevy was parked across the street.
    She stopped, staring at it.
    John Gallo got out of the car and stood in the rain, holding the passenger door open for her. “Come on. Hurry.”
    The rain was pouring down his face, and his shirt was already starting to cling to his body. He didn’t look as if he even felt it.
    He smiled and repeated softly, “Hurry. I can’t wait.”
    Neither could she. She was running across the street.