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in that
old, drafty house every night," Rose cautioned.
    Sabrina acquiesced, but pointed out the
obvious. "You rattle around in it and have for decades."
    "That's different. I'm an old woman and I
deserve to live with my ghosts. You, on the other hand, are young
and beautiful and it would be a waste of your spirit. Now go," she
said, squeezing Sabrina's hand. "Robert Hall is quite a catch."
    "I'm not looking for romance," Sabrina said,
blushing at Rose's gentle teasing.
    "That's exactly when it looks for you," the
old woman warned.
     
    * * *
     
    Early Friday evening, she stood before the
cheval glass mirror in her bedroom, critically examining her
outfit. She hadn't brought many clothes with her but at the last
minute, she tucked her dressiest cocktail dress in a suitcase. The
blue charmeuse strapless gown featured a sweetheart neckline with
pleated bodice. The casually tossed matching shawl complemented the
tea length gown, wrapping around her long neck and trailing softly
down her back. She styled her long dark hair casually, letting it
flow over her bare shoulders. She applied a slick of lipstick and
then blinked her eyes, making sure the blackened lashes were dry.
No need to look like a raccoon.
    She felt a thrill of panic when the doorbell
rang. It had taken nearly ten years, but Robert had arrived.
    His eyes measured her as she stood in the
open doorway. Did he find her lacking, she wondered. He raised a
corsage for her to inspect, and lifted her left hand. He slid the
small, white rosebud onto her wrist and stepped back. Sabrina gazed
at the delicate flower, attached to a diaphanous bracelet of thin,
stretchy ribbon. Then her eyes lifted to measure Robert.
    No, he did not lack. He wore a hand-tailored
black suit, lavender shirt and hand-painted silk tie. His short
dark hair and smooth cheeks completed the image of a male model.
Sabrina leaned toward him and inhaled. He even smelled like power,
his tantalizing cologne stirring her senses.
    "You look lovely tonight, Sabrina," he said.
"Shall we go?"
    Sabrina nodded and shut the door behind her,
locking it and dropping the house key into her small evening bag.
Robert's hand barely touched her elbow as he guided her to a sleek
Audi sports car.
    "Now this is lovely," she said,
breathless.
    "Do you like cars?" he asked.
    "Well, I like this one."
    As she sank into the luxurious interior, she
caressed the butter-soft leather seats, admired the simple artistry
of the expensive machine.
    Robert slid behind the wheel, turned the
ignition and the formidable motor growled. "It's only a few blocks,
so we'll take it easy. But if you like, after dinner, we can take a
drive to Breakthrough Lake. I'll show you how fast it can go."
    Sabrina gripped her lower lip between small,
white teeth. They practically glowed against the dark red lip.
Robert noticed and thought about her lush lips opening beneath
his.
    Unaware of his tension, she continued to
worry her bottom lip. "I'm a bit of a conservative, Robert," she
admitted. "I don't think I would care to drive too fast."
    Robert let the topic drop and within a few
minutes, he parked in front of the town's best Italian restaurant,
Dante's. Sabrina waited for him to open her door, then she swept
long legs out of the car, took his hand and stood. She flipped the
matching shawl back in place, the teal band encircling her slender
neck, the ends snaking down her bare back.
    Oblivious to the feral look in his eyes,
Sabrina clasped her hands and purse in front of her. "I'm
famished."
    As they walked through the restaurant towards
Robert's reserved table, he paused at a booth where a couple sat
intimately sipping wine and whispering.
    "Erica?"
    Sabrina stopped abruptly, nearly plowing into
Robert. She peeked curiously around his wide shoulders at the
couple and saw the friendly young woman from the bookstore.
    "Robert! How nice to see you," Erica
said.
    He looked pointedly at the man sitting next
to her.
    Erica caught his message. "Oh, excuse