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corner near Dan's tables, filled with ice and soft drinks and bottled water. I pulled a can of Diet Coke out for Chris and glanced at Dan.
    "You have any of that St. Clair cabernet that came in a little later?" I asked, hopeful, scanning the bottles on the table.
    He smiled beneath his big, bushy mustache and reached down underneath the tablecloth for a bottle from which he poured me almost a full glass. "Bottoms up," he said as he handed it to me. "Good stuff."
    I took the glass in my free hand and raised it appreciatively before taking a sip . I wandered back to the food and set my glass down so I could nibble on another strawberry.
    "Nice turn-out," Shoshana said.
    I hadn't heard her approach. I chewed and swallowed so I could address her. "Yeah, it is. Thanks for all your help." I set the top of the strawberry on a plate that seemed to be serving that purpose. I picked up my wine and took another sip, still holding the can of Diet Coke in my left hand.
    Shoshana inclined her head and reached past me for a strawberry. She bit into it seductively, keeping her eyes on mine.
    Whoa.
    "I'm sorry," Shoshana said as she set the inedible part of the berry down on the plate. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable earlier." She picked up another strawberry. "You're right. That was bad manners." She looked at me in a way that offered to take me out back and show me a few things that involved close physical contact, manners be damned.
    I shrugged and sipped the wine, thinking of the glass as a wall between us. "No problem." I didn't want to give her any sort of play.
    "So I guess I should assume you're exclusive."
    I stared at her but managed a response. "It's not an assumption. I am."
    She smiled, a little sad, maybe. "Too bad." She looked me over again. "If you change your mind--" she reached up and slid a business card that I hadn't noticed in her hand into my shirt pocket. I stood frozen.
    "Hey, Kase," Dayna said, smiling a greeting as she approached. She gave me a quick, careful hug so as not to disrupt my glass of wine.
    Thank God. "Hi," I said, exhaling in relief. "Thanks for coming."
    Dayna glanced at Shoshana like she was going to introduce herself but I gave her a "don't go there" look and fortunately, Shoshana turned to address a question from an older man recognized as a representative from one of the foundations that sponsored Sage's Baja trip. She flicked a glance at me as she moved off with him.
    "And thanks for coming to my rescue," I added.
    Dayna laughed. "She's...interesting," she said noncommittally as she reached for a strawberry.
    "And a little scary," I muttered.
    "No comment. By the way, nice shirt," Dayna said. "No wonder Miss Thing tried to put her swerve on you."
    "No, I think it's because I have this awesome glass of wine."
    "Oh, of course." Dayna nodded, pretending to believe me.
    Chris appeared and reached for a carrot. I handed her the Diet Coke.
    "Thanks." Chris finished the carrot then opened the can and took a swig. She smiled at Dayna and the look on her face made me feel that all was right with the world. "I figured you'd be over here with the strawberries," Chris said, raising her eyebrows at Dayna.
    "Not as good as the ones you always find for me." Dayna bumped her with her shoulder.
    I made gagging noises. Chris shot me a look and Dayna giggled.
    "Now you know what I had to put up with when you and Sage hooked up." Chris flashed me a "nanny boo boo" grin.
    "That bad, huh?" I pretended innocence.
    "Worse. But I wouldn't trade watching you fall for her for anything." She took Dayna's hand and caressed the back of it with her thumb.
    "You're too fuckin' cute." I started to move away then stopped. "Oh, here. In case you need an art rep." I took the card out of my pocket and handed it to Chris, who looked at it, confused. "Dayna'll explain," I said cryptically. Before either could say anything else, I navigated my way through the crowd in search of Sage.
    I found her near the image of Shiprock,