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Shari and Jim. They won’t mind.“
    „Of course we won’t mind,“ Jim Devore said gallantly. „We’ll take you home, Fil.“
    But Trent was already on his feet. „Amery’s right. It’s time for the rest of us to leave, and that includes the potential troublemaker in the crowd. Come along, Filomena. I’ll drive you back to the lodge.“
    „Thanks, but no thanks.“ Filomena made no move to get to her feet along with everyone else. „I think I’d like to dance some more.“
    „Is that right?“ Trent put a hand on her shoulder as she sat firmly in her chair. „Just who are you planning to dance with?“
    „Oh, there’s a whole roomful of people here tonight, see?“ She waved a blithe hand at the crowd around them. „I’m sure there must be someone my height in here. What about Derek Overton, Shari? He was only about five-six or seven.
    The perfect size for me. Is he still in town?“
    Shari grinned. „Afraid not. Derek announced he was gay, became a lawyer and moved to Portland a few years ago.“
    „Ah, well, there must be someone else.“ Filomena wriggled her fingers in a goodbye gesture at Trent. „Run along, Trent. I’ll be just fine. I’m very good at taking care of myself these days, in spite of what my family thinks.“
    Trent responded by putting both of his large, strong hands on her shoulders. He lifted her to her feet as easily as if she were made of feathers. „I’m not so fortunate. I have the distinct feeling I might get lost on the way back to the lodge tonight if I don’t have you along as a navigator. Say good night, Filomena.“
    Aware that her family was watching anxiously and that several people at nearby tables were displaying an open, avid curiosity, Filomena decided to give in gracefully. She really had no desire to cause a scene that would embarrass everyone concerned.
    „Good night, Shari, Jim. Enjoy yourselves. Wish I could do the same.“ Filomena knew Shari and Jim could barely contain their amusement as she was led away.
    „Don’t try to sound so pathetic and woebegone,“ Trent advised as he prodded her toward the door. Amery was already shepherding the rest of the family through the crowd. „It doesn’t work. Somehow it’s tough to summon up a lot of sympathy for you tonight. You’ve been having a great time terrorizing everyone, haven’t you?“
    „I don’t know why everyone insists on thinking I’m here to make trouble,“ Filomena complained. „I’m in town for a well-earned vacation and my sister’s wedding. That’s all.“
    „Uh-huh. You’re swimming through these waters like a sleek, little barracuda, trying to look harmless and innocent.“
    „I am harmless and innocent.“
    „The hell you are. I saw that gleam in your eye when the Paxtons came over to the table.“
    „You said yourself that trying for revenge against those two would be like shooting fish in a barrel. You were right.
    And if you’re fair, you’ll admit I behaved myself very well tonight.“
    Trent’s mouth curved faintly. „Okay, I’ll admit you managed to resist a few of the obvious temptations that were put in your path. You didn’t flirt with Paxton and you didn’t get too nasty with his wife, although it was close there for a while.“
    „I was provoked.“
    „True.“ He pushed open the glass doors and ushered her outside into the velvet darkness of an Oregon summer night. „But I can’t help wondering how far things would have gone if the rest of us hadn’t been around to pull on the reins.“
    „Not far.“ Filomena waved to her father who had just finished helping her mother into the family car. „Baiting Paxton would have gotten very boring very quickly, I think. Who wants to be bored?“
    „I’ll try not to bore you, Filomena,“ Trent said coolly as he opened the door of his gray Mercedes and put her into the front seat. He shut the door deliberately on her answering comment.
    Filomena glared at him through the windshield as he came around the front