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the marina where her car was parked. At her car, Gina gave him a kiss on the cheek, the same as she had done the last time. It was sweet; Shane took her chin in his hand and kissed her fully on the mouth. She returned his kiss gently but with some reserve. They both realized the orchestra had started playing and the dance had begun.
    As Gina cranked her car, she rolled down the window, smiled and offered, “If you’re ever in Newport, I’m usually around.” Without waiting for his response, she backed out of the parking spot, waving as she pulled away. Shane watched her until she turned the corner. It was only the second time in his life that his soul had ever centered on a woman.
    ***
    As usual, Shane closed his practice at noon on Wednesday. When he pulled out of his parking spot at the office, the car seemed to head in its own direction, down the streets around the office and out to the Pacific Coast Highway, heading in a northerly direction, straight to Newport. It had been two weeks since he saw her, a long two weeks of daily phone calls, but he wanted to see her.  When he was about two miles from Newport, he dialed her number.
    “Hello,” she answered in a somewhat singsong voice.
    “Hi,” Shane replied.
    He could hear her smiling, “How are you?”
    “I’m great. Actually, I’m really great. Can I buy you a beer?”
    “Sure. Will that be arriving by UPS or the unreliable postal service?” she chided.
    “How about by car?”
    “Are you here? In Newport? Now?”
    “Yep, almost that is. I’m about a mile from the Center. Are you still at work?”
    “Yes, but I’ll be finished in about fifteen minutes. Can you meet me at the Bluewater Grill? Do you know where that is?” she offered.
    “I do, on Lido Park, right?”
    “Yes, that’s it. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes at the most.”
    “See you then,” Shane said, his heart as anxious as his eyes to see her.
    She was waiting by her car when he pulled into the lot ten minutes later. As he came around the back of her Nissan, she stepped toward him. Their quick embrace confirmed their thoughts and their happiness at this impromptu meeting. It was a little clumsy, but the meaning of the hug was there. Gina jabbered nonstop as they walked into the quiet bar and ordered their beers. He marked it as a sign of nervousness; she felt it as the thrill of seeing him again and of his caring enough to come to Newport. They sat at the table, nursing beer and sharing a sandwich until it was past dark. “Well, I need to head back South, I guess,” he said, looking into her huge brown eyes. She stared back at him, wondering if that was a hint or if she were testing her own reluctance to let him leave.
    “I don’t live but two blocks from here,” she said softly. “If you want to crash at my place, I mean. You can drive back early in the morning. Sober. I mean, you will be totally sober then. It’s a hilly, curvy and dangerous road at night, especially after drinking.” Shane watched her try to qualify her offer, but each of them knew it wasn’t about safe driving; it was about a mutual want and need. “Follow me,” she ordered as she got into her car. “I won’t drive too fast for that Porsche.” Shane smiled at her jibe, cranked his car and pulled into the street behind her.
    If the contrast in the two cars and his reluctance at giving her his fancy business card were contradictions of their lives, her upstairs, outside-entry apartment was even more so. The steps were rickety from being subjected to years of salt-air and moisture; the inside was so small that Shane could almost reach the sofa by stretching his arms from the back door. But, it was neat as a pin and homey, simply furnished with the basics one would need to live, nothing more. Gina offered no apologies, either. Rather, she spread her arm to let him pass in a gesture of welcome. He pinched her cheek as he passed so close to her body that he could feel the warm breath of her smile.