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found his way home, or the way Rose watched Denton looking at Eve. There was so much voltage zapping between Eve and Denton, Max thought the restaurant lights should be popping and snapping.
    Was this Denton an adversary? A future friend? He sure as hell wished he knew because the situation was getting more strained by the second.
    An awkward silence landed on the foursome once more. Eve didn’t understand Rose’s smug smile. Max squeezed Eve’s fingers tighter and glared at Denton as the silence stretched. Denton glanced between Max and Eve’s joined hands and their faces, seeming to come to some decision. He came forward and took Eve’s other hand in his.
    “Eve, I need to talk to you,” he said, pressing her fingers in his.
    Max’s hold on her hand increased as he gently eased her away from Denton.
    Denton grasped her hand tighter.
    “Please, Eve. I need to explain.”
    She tried to turn and face him, but Max’s grip forced her back to face him. She was beginning to feel like a piece of taffy, being stretched and tugged to the maker’s satisfaction. A glance at Rose’s smiling face told her she wasn’t going to get any help from Denton’s mother. Max and Denton acted like gladiators in a coliseum ready to fight for their lives. She only wanted to leave. People were starting to stare at the foursome still standing beside the table.
    As she tried to extract her hands from both men, their grips became equally stronger. Her fingers began to tingle from lack of circulation. She tugged again and finally faced Denton.
    “Please let go of my hand. I have nothing to say to you,” she said in a low voice.
    Denton stared down at their hands, his tight grip surprising him. He placed her white fingers across his palm, resisting the temptation to kiss color back into them.
    “I’m sorry, Eve. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
    Eve showed him her back as she faced Rose. “Nice seeing you again, Rose. Let’s get together for lunch before the rush starts.”
    Rose gave Eve a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll call you.” She stepped back and nodded at her bewildered son. “Come on, Dent. Let these two finish their evening together.”
    Denton reached for Eve again. “Please, Eve. I need to talk to you. I won’t take up much of your time.”
    Instead of answering, she sat down, took her napkin, placed it on her lap, and picked up her glass of wine. “I don’t think so, Denton.” She motioned to Max. “Please sit down. Our meal is here.”
    How foolish could a person be? He knew a retreat was the best, but wanted to grab her, throw her over his shoulder, run out the door, toss her in his car, and kiss her until she was ready to listen. People still stared. His mother touched his arm. It was time to back off, for now. A restaurant was not the place for a confrontation. He’d think of something else.
    “This isn’t over, Eve. Good night, Max. Nice meeting you.”
    Taking his mother’s elbow, he turned toward a table waiting for them across the room. He seated his mother, wishing their table were situated elsewhere so he wouldn’t see the other couple.
    “Well, what a pleasant surprise,” Rose said after the waiter took their drink orders.
    Denton grunted. “I certainly wouldn’t call it pleasant.” He tipped his head toward their table. “Who is he, anyway? Are they an item? Are they close?”
    “Let’s see. His name is Maxwell Phillip.” She stopped when Denton snorted. “What?”
    “Maxwell.” He took a sip of the wine the waiter delivered. “What the hell kind of name is Maxwell? Sounds like a cup of coffee or something.”
    “Well, right now, you’re behaving just like a teenager,” Rose chastised. “Better yet, you sound like a child who can’t think of any other way to put down a person, so he attacks their name.”
    “Yeah, well. I don’t know the guy, so his name is all I can put down. Tell me about him so I have something else to complain about.” He’d need more ammunition so he would