Chapter Fifteen

Alice slept with Jasper half the night, she awoke in the early, early morning with mega cramps, and had to peel his arm from around her. Even in sleep he had her trapped, with one arm round her waist and one leg thrown over hers. After a lot of pushing and heaving she managed to get out from under him. She tip-toed out the door and after using the bathroom she returned to the bedroom. She was trying to sneak out of there without waking Jasper, so she picked up her clothes and shoes and took them to the living room to get dressed. She had just finished putting on her silver-grey bra and panties and was reaching for her dress when a totally naked Jasper burst into the sitting area.

"What do you think you're doing, Alice?"

"I'm going to my room…

"No, you're not. I told you, you're staying with me, all fucking night." Before she could say anything else, he hoisted her over his shoulder and carried her back to bed.

Seconds after he dropped her on it, she tried to scramble off, but he held her down. "Jasper," she gasped out quickly "I have to go to my room to get a tampon, I'm starting my period."

"Oh."

"Yeah, oh." She pushed him off her and quickly walked back to the sitting room. Jasper followed close behind, pulling on his robe.

"You're coming back to sleep with me, right?

"No I don't think so. Remember? Period? No more sex."

"Alice, when will you get it through your head that it's not all about sex." He walked over to her and grabbed her arms to forestall her from reaching for her dress.

"Well that's all you talk about, Jasper." She raised her brow, challenging him to argue that point.

"I talk about it because I do want it, and because between us it's so perfect, but that's not all I want from you. I want so much more. I want to take more and to give more…"

"No." Alice was getting frightened at the thought of falling into another relationship with Jasper and started to struggle out of his hold.

He held her fast, "Alice, I want you to stop running away and take a chance on me, on us."

In exasperation she gave up the struggle and snapped out, "Take a chance on what, Jasper? Another nasty little affair? I don't think so. I've already told you I don't want to do that."

"No. That's not what I'm asking for. Didn't you hear what I just said? I want more. I want it all, I want to sleep with you and wake with you. Have breakfast and lunch and dinner with you. I want to just be with you. I want us to enjoy everything about each other."

Alice was reeling, this conversation was way too reminiscent of the one she'd had with Mike. He was sounding way too much like him. She had to stop him before things got out of control. "Well, I don't want that Jasper. I just don't think you under…"

"I know I've got nerve to ask. And before you say anything I want to tell you that I know I was a selfish, self centered jerk before, but that doesn't mean I didn't care about you…"

Alice pulled her dress on, zipped it up and then turned to face Jasper. "I know you care about me Jasper. You were there for me after Mike died, and I'm sincerely grateful for that. I remember how you sat with me and fed me and put me to bed. When I could have curled up into a ball to died, you were always there to make sure I didn't sink into a deep depression. Believe me I'm grateful, and I care about you too. That's why I don't want to go there with you anymore. I love you. You're an awesome friend, someone I truly, truly value in my life. And I just don't want to lose that." Alice's eyes clouded with tears.

He reached for her and gently hugged her, "I promise you we won't. I want to cherish that friendship too; I don't want you to ever be out of my life again. I'm not asking to change our friendship; I'm asking you to change your mind. Let's deepen our friendship into something better. I want us to be together. I want to take care of you, and laugh with you and, yes, make love to you. But I also want to cry with you and fight with you and grow old with you." He held her hands in his. "Alice, I love you."

Her tears were falling freely now, spattering onto their clasped hands. "Jasper, please don't, please don't say that. You don't seem to get it, I'm still in love with Mike. I can't ever..."

"Shhh." He sat and pulled her down onto his lap and leaned against her heart. "Please, please don't say you can't love me. Don't hurt me like that. I think you can love me in time. But for now all I want is for you to open up to the possibility of it."

"Fuck, Jasper. Do you realize what you're saying? You sound like me, two years ago."

"I know. I was an idiot. But now I know what a mistake I made. I need you."

"Jasper, I'm not in that same mental space anymore."

"At least take some time to think about it, at least pretend to think about it."

She shook her head and got to her feet and he got up too. "I'm not going to think about it because I'm not going to change my mind. I don't want this, this emotional upheaval. I want to drift through my days, Jasper. And find pleasure in doing good things for other people, creating buildings and homes, and keeping busy. I don't want any more than that."

"What you're saying is that you don't want to live, Alice. You want to exist but not really live. You're turning your back on your life. You're being a coward."

She wiped her hands over her cheeks and dried her tears. "I know you think that. But I can't just jump back to being the old Alice just because you want me to. I need to be who I am now. My experiences have led me here. And I need to do what I need to do, for me."

"Alice, you said you love me, didn't you?" Jasper reached for her hands again and held them, she squeezed them tight, hoping to get her meaning across.

"I do Jasper. I love you as a friend, nothing more."

"Yes, it is more, and you know it. You enjoy having sex with me, don't you? How many friends do you enjoy that with? Huh? Only me."

"I know what you're about to say…"

"Well, let's just start simple. Sleep with me. I won't pressure you for love or even for sex. Just sleep in the bed with me. When you decide you want sex, we'll do it. If you don't, we won't. I need you to be there for me, like I was there for you. Please, be there for me, please?"

"Jasper, listen please. I can't be there for you in the way you want." she cried, the tears starting again.

He used his thumbs to dry her tears. "Well, be there in the way YOU want. Just be there. Give me time, baby, your time. Remember, I was there for you.

"This is emotional blackmail, you know." she cried.

"I know. But I'm being honest, I need you so much. I've missed you, more than the sex, I've missed being close to you. Please stay."

She thought about it for a minute and nodded. "I'll just go get my girlie stuff…"

"I'll come with you. We'll get all your stuff, Alice. Your suitcases, everything. We're sleeping together. We'll be a couple. I'm not hiding any more."

Whoa, what was he on? She came to a stop and whirled on him. "Jasper wait. I didn't say that we're a couple. I just said that I would sleep here tonight. No sex, not even second base."

"I want us to be more, Alice."

"You keep saying that Jasper, but everything isn't about what you want."

"Okay, I'll tell you what we'll do. Let's get your stuff and we'll finish sleeping tonight and then we'll talk about it tomorrow. How's that sound?"

"Like a bad idea. I'm an employee, what if someone found out. This could turn out badly…"

"Who gives a fuck. I want everyone to know that I love you..."

"No Jasper, we're not talking about love, here. That's not even on the table."

He ran his palms impatiently over his face. "You're a hard nut, Alice. Please stop arguing and just let's go get your stuff." He pulled on his jeans and a t-shirt, while she put on her shoes.

When they got to her room on the fifth floor, Alice dashed into the bathroom and took a quick shower. After the tampon and fresh underwear she felt better able to deal with Jasper and the brewing problem. As she walked into the bedroom, she saw him reach for her suitcase, and Alice freaked. "Jasper I meant it. I just came to get my toiletry bag, that's all. I'm not shacking up with you."

"For chrissakes Alice! Why can't you just give a little?"

"Because you don't want a little, you'll take it all and give nothing back. I'm not stupid. Frankly, I don't even know why I even agreed to go back to your room, I must have been temporarily insane."

"You agreed because you want to, you know you do."

"Whatever, I'll just get a change of clothes and we can go."

Alice grabbed another change of underwear, a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and shoved them into her toiletry bag. She grabbed her cosmetics case and turned to him "Ready, let's go."

"Alice, this is stupid. You'll just have to come back again..."

She held up a hand to stop him. "Like you said, we'll talk about it tomorrow. Right now it's three o'clock in the morning and I'm tired."

Jasper carried her bag and they trooped back to his room. As they lay in bed together he drew her into his arms. "Alice, why won't you give me a little bit more of you?"

"Why should I, Jasper? You give me none of you."

"It's not easy for me to talk about myself, Alice. You have no idea."

"Why? Why can't you just open up to me? You're so cold and hard."

He snorted, and pulled her hand down to his cock. "I thought you liked it hard."

She pulled her hand away. "You're also a sex-crazed idiot."

"I never was before I met you. You bring it out in me."

"Well, maybe that's the problem. I'm bad for you, Jasper."

"No, Alice you're the best thing that's ever come into my screwed up life."

"Really? Then why don't I know anything about your screwed up life?"

"It's hard for me, I told you. Very hard. I wouldn't even know where to begin."

"Begin at the beginning, and we'll see how far you get."

"Well to begin with, my name is not Jasper Whitlock Hale. It's my name now, but not the name I was born with. I was born Jasper Hale Whitlock. My father now, Nick Hale, is actually my great uncle, my mother's uncle." He paused and rubbed her shoulder.

"Hmm. Go on. I'm listening."

"My birth father, Royce King Whitlock and Nick Hale met in law school. Two Texas boys up there at Stanford, well they got on like a house on fire. Nick Hale was from a poor family in El Paso, he had nothing much to return to, so he stayed in San Francisco, worked as a district attorney and then settled down and got married. Royce Whitlock was from a wealthy family in Houston, so he returned to Texas and joined his father's practice and continued to raise cane. But the two friends kept in touch.

Nick Hale and his wife Edie were married six years and tried without success to have children. When his sister died, leaving her only daughter behind, Nick and Edie adopted her. She was only twelve when she came to live with Nick and his wife. Her name was Auralee Hale and she was, by all accounts, a beautiful little girl, who grew into an even more beautiful young woman. As it happens, a few years later Royce came out for a visit and you can figure it out."

"What?"

"Well, thirty-seven year old Royce got sixteen year old Auralee pregnant."

"Fuck! Sixteen?"

"Barely sixteen. Royce went back to Texas and three months later Nick Hale called him up. He did the right thing, he married her and took her back to Houston. But that severed the friendship between Nick Hale and Royce Whitlock forever."

"Mmmhmm. Then?"

"Then that's when I came into the picture. Auralee was in love with Royce and he was in love with himself. Turns out he was an alcoholic, who became a wife-beater and he surrounded himself with people who protected him from the law he had sworn to uphold."

"He routinely gave her black eyes and broken bones and nobody said a word. Not even Auralee. Her in-laws turned a blind eye to all her "injuries", referring to the young woman who had danced ballet since she was five years old, as "accident prone." Auralee was naiive and was told by everyone how lucky she was to have snared the big prize, the prince of the county. She was young and innocent, and, as he routinely reminded her, she was just poor white trash, who got just what she deserved. But he also reminded her that whatever happened in the house stayed in the house. The servants who saw her every day, the doctors who saw her every month, and the "friends" at the country club all pretended it was nothing, nothing at all."

"Oh my god."

"I grew up in this nightmare. By the time I was five, I was getting beaten too. Royce would drink once or twice a week and come and drag me out of bed by my hair. He would call me "a little mistake" he made when he let "his dick rule his head." And he would beat me, first with a belt, and later on with his fists. My teachers pretended not to see my bruises. And if they were particularly bad, Royce would tell Auralee to keep me home that day because I "looked too sick" to go to school. All the while Auralee would tell me how I should be a better boy for "papa" and then I wouldn't get beatings any more. So, I blamed myself and tried to be the best boy I could be. But always something I said or did would set him off and he would beat me and then when he was done, he'd beat Auralee."

"Oh Jasper, oh god." She squeezed him tight, wrapping both arms around him, tucking her face into the curve of his neck.

"Then, when I was nine, my sister Rosalie was born. It's a miracle Auralee survived to give birth. Royce beat her throughout the pregnancy. I heard him when he told her that he knew the baby wasn't his and that "if the bastard looks like the gardener, I'll kill you with my bare hands." She cried and swore to Royce that the baby was his and he called her a whore and a liar. I saw him punch her and throw her into the wall and when she fell down he kicked her in her side. She rolled up in a ball to protect her belly. That's the only time I ever saw her fight back, in any way, and it was to protect her baby."

Alice sat up and buried her face in her hands. "Stop, Jasper, I'm sorry, but I can't hear anymore." And she started to weep for her friend and his poor mother. "Oh Jasper, oh Jasper. I can't bear it." And she sobbed into her hands.

Jasper sat up and pulled her into his arms and held her until the tears subsided. "I'm sorry, Alice. I know it's horrible and disgusting, but you asked me to tell you."

"No, no. I'm glad you told me, it's just that it's so hard to hear."

"Believe me, it was harder to live through.

"You're right! Oh, god. I'm sorry, for being so such a wimp.""

"It's okay, I understand. I do. Let's get some rest. I feel like I've been beaten with a bat. I'm so tired." Jasper lay back on the pillows bringing Alice into his arms again. He kissed the top of her curls. "I love sleeping with you in my arms, do you know that? I feel like nothing will go wrong, when I smell your hair and feel your breath on my skin."

"Oh, Jasper. I'm glad I'm here with you too."

He rubbed her back and she stroked his arm and held him close to her as they drifted into sleep.

#

In the morning she awoke to the sound of Jasper's raised voice as he talked with someone on the phone in the other room. Alice quickly donned her t-shirt and jeansand walked into the living room to see what was wrong, when he saw her he frowned at her and held up his hand to prevent her from talking. "I understand exactly what you're saying, Glenn, and I apologize, but something very important came up. Yes, I did call your secretary and tell her that I would not be able to make it, I assumed that she got in touch with both of you before the end of the day."

It wasn't until that very moment that Alice realized she and Jasper had totally forgotten about the evening meeting with Glenn Burnett and Martin Woodward. Shit, shit, shit. They had fucked up big time. She sat down close to Jasper, to hear more of what was going on and he reached his free hand up to caress her cheek and he gave her a wink. Surprisingly, Jasper did not seem to be worried as he listened to the older man talk. "Yes, so we'll see you this afternoon at the barbecue then. Yes, Ms Swan will be there, I'll call and remind her as soon as I get off the phone with you, Glenn." Jasper reached his arm around Alice and hugged her tightly. "Mmmhmm, yes, one-thirty will be fine. See you then." And he pressed the key and disconnected the call.

"Oh, Jasper! We fucked up, didn't we? What did Mr Burnett say?"

"Well yes, we fucked up, but it isn't too bad. Burnett's granddaughter got thrown from her horse yesterday afternoon and he had to miss the meeting anyway, he was at the hospital until late last night. He called to apologize to me for not meeting with us, so I informed him that I had an emergency, too. The problem is that Martin Woodward and his son waited for both of us to show up. It wasn't until Woodward got in touch with Burnett's secretary that he realized the meeting was not going to happen. But Woodward is plenty mad; considering he waited two hours, I don't blame him."

"Oh, damn, Jasper. What were you thinking? What was I thinking? This shit is bad. We can't afford to screw this up. I told you I was bad for you."

He reached over and pulled her onto his lap. "You're good for me, you make me happy. But you're right, I totally lost my mind yesterday, I wasn't thinking straight. Fortunately, I did remember to call Burnett's office to cancel and I did tell his secretary to make sure he got the message. She did her best, but as I said Burnett's mind was elsewhere, on his granddaughter, and he wasn't returning any calls or listening to messages. If he had he probably would have asked her to call Woodward. As it turned out Woodward was stood up, but sometimes things happen, Alice. Fortunately, Woodward needs us more than we need him, so I'm not going to stress. But I will apologize when I see him today at the barbecue. Your job is to charm him and find out what he likes and we'll send him a big over the top gift, as an apology. That's the best we can do."

"Jasper, I'm going to have to go buy something to wear. I only brought office clothes, and two pairs of raggedy jeans and a couple t-shirts. Nothing that's appropriate for a barbecue."

"Why not? You're office clothes are just fine."

"Please, Jasper, don't be ridiculous. I have pencil skirts and blouses and pumps. In what universe is that appropriate for a barbecue?" She rolled her eyes.

"Sorry, what was I thinking?" He said sarcastically as he rolled his eyes back at her. "Pick up a bathing suit too, it's a poolside barbecue."

"I'm not going to swim. Are you?"

"No, but I do have swim shorts just in case."

"In case what?"

"Alice, don't be dense. In case everyone is dressed for the pool."

"Then he would have said "pool party" right? But he didn't, he said barbecue."

"What's with you?"

"I don't feel like giving everyone a little peep, you know? I have to work with these people for the next two years."

He look flabbergasted. "What the hell? This is coming from the woman who wore a leather jumpsuit to an interview? And, I might add, a barely there belly dancing outfit to an office party? Alice, reality check, you're not going to be nude. You'll have on appropriate attire. What's gotten in to you?

"I told you, I've changed. I'm not "Alice the party girl", not that I ever was. I'm a respected architect and a widow. No bathing suit, Jasper."

"Suit yourself."

"I'm going to my room to shower. After breakfast, I'm going to the mall for a sundress and maybe a straw hat."

"Don't forget the gloves, granny."

"Ha, ha, very funny."

As she walked out the door to go to her room he reminded her, "The temperature will probably reach ninety degrees today. I suggest that you check the forecast before going off on your little buying trip so you can get something weather appropriate. Something you won't get sunstroke in."

"I'll check with the concierge."

Before she could pull open the door he walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. "I didn't have a chance to say "good morning." And he bent down and gave her a long kiss. "Good morning, sweet Alice. Thank you for sleeping with me last night."

"You're welcome, Jasper. I'm happy that you were able to talk to me. Can we talk again tonight?"

"Only, if you sleep with me again."

"Are you Scheherezade? Am I the caliph?

"What?"

"Didn't you ever read One Thousand and One Nights?" He shook his head. "The lovely Scheherezade wooed the caliph by telling him a different story each night so he wouldn't kill her. After all the tales were told, he didn't kill her, instead he had fallen in love with her and they lived happily ever after."

"Never read it. But that's an idea. I'll tell you a little bit each night, until you fall in love with me."

"Fat chance, bub. You just told me your secret plan; you don't think I'm fool enough to fall for it now do you?"

He snapped his fingers. "How about if you forget what I just said, and pretend that you never heard of my secret plan?"

"No can do. You just have to come up with a different plan."

"I've got a better idea. Why don't we just skip the secret plans altogether, cut to the chase, and you fall in love with me."

"Too easy. So what are you doing for the rest of the day?"

"I'm meeting you for breakfast downstairs and driving you to the mall."

"You will?"

"Yep."

"A man who wants to shop? You're a … Oh my God Jasper. I totally forgot! I left my rental car at the job site, and my wallet is in it. You have to drive me there to pick it up."

"Fine, after breakfast, we'll pick up your car and bring it back here. Then off to the mall."

#

After a breakfast of Texas-sized portions they went to get her car. Thankfully, the parking area was not locked on the weekend and she retrieved her wallet. She remembered to call Riley Biers and tell him that she had to attend a function with his boss and hers. She apologized for the short notice, but told him that she had just found out. On the drive back to the hotel, Alice marveled at how completely she and Jasper had forgotten all other responsibilities in the heat of passion. She made a mental note to keep it together and stay out of that kind of situation in the future.

Alice and Jasper made it to the barbecue on time, but for a while it looked doubtful that they would make it at all. It was easy enough for her to find a straw sun hat and sandals, the hard part was finding a demure sundress. She finally found one at a vintage store near the campus. It was a simple white cotton dress, the vintage print had large red roses with black and white leaves. The fitted bodice was held up by spaghetti straps and the wide skirt was cut on the bias. A wide black belt completed the look, Alice felt like modern day Donna Reed.

Glenn Burnett greeted Jasper with a handshake and gave Alice a big hug. He then introduced them to his family, his two sons, and their wives and children and then to his daughter, Claire, and her two daughters. It was a Burnett family affair more cousins were constantly being introduced until Alice became confused by who was who; the only outsiders being Jasper and herself and Martin Woodward and his son, Tony.

As Jasper had predicted, it was a poolside party, everyone was in varying states of dress, the men wearing swim shorts and shirts and the women wearing bathing suits and cover ups. As the day wore on and the temperature threatened to climb into the upper eighties, almost everyone took turns urging Alice to put on a swimsuit. She refused, telling them that she had come unprepared, but Claire Burnett offered to lend her one, explaining that they had many extras.

Once or twice Alice caught Jasper's little I-told-you-so-smirk, and she wanted to punch him. Claire was more than a little taken with Jasper and found many reasons to engage him in conversation. In retaliation, Alice ditched Jasper and mingled. She had lost sight of Jasper for more than an hour and she and Tony Woodward were laughing and flirting when she saw Jasper making his way over to them with a wide scowl on his face.

"Oh look, here comes Jasper now," she said loudly to her companion, "he looks hot and bothered, maybe we should encourage him to go for a swim."

Jasper heard her and his scowl became thunderous. "Alice, may I speak to you for a minute. Will you please excuse us, Woodward? I need to speak to Alice privately." Tony Woodward nodded and Jasper took Alice by the arm and walked over to a gazebo. "Alice, why did you leave me alone with that woman? She's husband hunting, and I just spent the last hour trying to escape from her. And here I find you pulling your usual little stunt, flirting with anything in pants."

"What do you mean, Jasper? What was I supposed to do? I'm not your protection from unwanted female advances. And I can flirt with anyone I want to flirt with, you don't own me."

His eyes narrowed. "You are here with me, as my employee. You do exactly as I say, understand? If I say 'jump' you ask 'how high', got it?" He hissed at her.

Alice was about to tear him a new hole, but she counted backwards from ten, and decided to be a lady. "I'm sorry, Mr. Hale. I thought I was following your earlier request that I speak to Mr. Woodward and try to find out what would make the best fence-mending gift. Was I wrong, sir?" she asked with exaggerated politeness.

"Look, Alice, I'm sorry."

"Think nothing of it, Mr. Hale. Please excuse me while I go speak with Mr. Woodward, if I may?"

"Stop it, Alice. I already said I was sorry." She stared up at him in stony silence, until he asked her, "So, you're not going to forgive me?"

"Sir, as I previously said, there is nothing to forgive. I'm at your service. I am, after all, your employee. By the way, Mr. Hale, according to his son, Martin Woodward is quite the golfer, he may appreciate a set of clubs."

"Alice, please..."

"Mr. Hale, I would like your permission to go speak to Mr. Woodward about business concerning the start of construction."

He turned on his heel and walked away.

Good. Alice thought to herself. That's just the beginning of the end you fucking freak.

The next couple hours were long. Alice continued to call Jasper "Mr. Hale" or "sir" until other people looked at them oddly and he got red in the face, however, she was not going to back down. After they ate, the barbecue party was coming to a close and Jasper approached Burnett and Woodward to reschedule the meeting. Alice said a polite good-bye to everyone and they made their way to his SUV. As soon as he was on the road he told her, "You are a royal pain in the ass, do you know that, Alice?"

"I'm sorry, sir, I did my best to..."

"Stop with the fucking "sir" okay? A guy can't make a fucking mistake with you, can he? I'm starting to feel sorry for your actor ex-boyfriend…"

"Pardon me Mr. Hale, but I don't believe that's any of your business. I gave you that information when we were friends, but since we no longer enjoy that status, I would prefer if you would refrain from commenting on my private life."

"So, we're no longer friends. Just because I showed a little temper and said you were my employee?"

"That is correct, Mr. Hale."

"Well fuck you too."

"I don't believe that's the proper way to speak to an employee."

"I. Don't. Give. A. Flying. Fuck."

They pulled up to the hotel and she got out and waited by the entrance, until he had given the key to the valet. "Will that be all for today, Mr. Hale?"

"Yes, Ms. Swan."

"Will you need me tomorrow, sir?"

"No, Ms. Swan."

"Goodnight, sir."

"Goodnight, Ms Swan."

Alice went to her room and paced. "That mother fucking wretch. I hate him so much." She muttered. She called Riley Biers. "Riley, I'm sorry that I had to cancel our afternoon, but maybe we can hang tomorrow. If you want."

"Sure, but what are you doing tonight?"

"Nothing, but to be perfectly honest, I am a little tired." She responded. "All day in the hot sun takes a toll on you, you know."

"I know. But maybe we can just meet up in the hotel bar for a drink. If that's okay?"

"Sure. Give me an hour to rest up, okay?"

"Okay. So I'll meet you in an hour. Bye."

"See you then, bye."

Alice had no energy, but she really felt like drinking, a lot. She showered off the grime of the day and slathered herself with scented body lotion. With little choice in terms of her wardrobe selection, she decided to wear the sundress again that night, but paired it with shiny black stiletto heels.

At seven o'clock on the dot she wandered into the bar and stopped short when she saw Riley and Jasper chatting at the bar. "Hey, Riley." she smiled at him and then she turned to Jasper, "Good evening, Mr. Hale."

Jasper laughed. "Good evening Ms. Swan. Riley here was just telling me that you called him for a date when you got back from the barbecue." He smiled at her. "Well, have a good time, you two. I better get back to my date." And he got up and sauntered over to small table, where a tall beautiful blonde was sitting.

"Well, that was odd." Riley said.

"What was odd?" She asked as she slid onto the stool beside Riley.

"He came over to talk to me, he said he was mighty sorry that you had to cancel your day with me because of work. Then he offered to cover our drinks, told the bartender to put it on his tab."

"Oh he did? That was nice of him." She said as they both turned to look over at the table.

"Go figure, I thought he was annoyed with me for talkin' to you yesterday, seems I was wrong."

"Yep, you were wrong." she lied smoothly. "Who's the chick?"

"Her name's Heidi, she's Woodward's niece."

"Oh, really? I guess you must know her, then."

"I've seen her 'round. I think she got divorced a lil' while back."

"Well, let's forget about them. What say you that we run up Mr. Hale's tab, huh?"

"Sounds like a plan, darlin'. What're you havin'?"

"Oh, I don't know. I think I'll have a night of drunken rowdiness, followed by a morning of sweet regrets." And she bubbled with laughter as Riley gave her an odd look.

"What was that?" he asked.

"Sorry. Not a lot of people get my humor." she smiled to get the bartender's attention. "Maybe because it's not funny."

"I think you're funny, but off the wall funny. You're always surprisin' me." Riley replied.

"I come from Berzerkley, you know. That's what us natives call Berkeley." She explained. "I'm socially obligated to be off the wall."

The bartender came over and Alice ordered, "Mr. Bartender, sir, I'll have a magnum of your most expensive champagne and give everyone in the bar a free round." The laughter bubbled up again, when she saw Riley do a double take. "Surprised you again, didn't I?"