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reason I was laughing was

because I was thinking that you're rather like Frankenstein."

"Frankenstein?" Tyber hit the brakes.

"Oh, don't be offended; I mean the doctor, not the monster."

He eyed her strangely. "Gee, thanks," he said drily. "For a minute there, I

thought I was being insulted. I can't tell you what a relief it is to know you

think of me as a deranged scientist with delusions of godhood instead of an

ordinary old monster."

Blooey let out a bark of laughter. "T'weren't nowhere to go but down on that

one, Captain!"

Tyber lifted one eyebrow. "Indeed."

"Have faith, Captain. Women are difficult creatures at best."

"So I've been told, Blooey." Tyber peered down at Zanita menacingly, then he

spoiled the effect by winking at her.

Zanita grinned back at him, thinking Blooey was right; he did resemble a pirate

captain.

Big Red swung into the lot and up to the order window.

Tyber turned to his passengers. "Okay, who wants what?"

Zanita licked her lips. "I'll have Extra Crispy."

"That spice is a fine blend, Captain."

Zanita agreed. "On the other hand I've been meaning to try the rotisserie

style."

"So you want me to get Rotisserie Gold?" Tyber asked.

"No, fried is the Colonel's specialty, Captain."

"Yes, that's right." Zanita agreed with Blooey. "Original Recipe. Wait—"

"Don't forget the biscuits."

"—white meat."

"Ach, the dark is best, lass."

Tyber dropped his forehead against the steering wheel.

"Potato wedges, too," Zanita added.

"Nay, the mashed potatoes!" The car behind them honked. "Don't forget Hambone

loves the gravy, Captain. Though he's not deservin' it, is he?"

"That does it!" Tyber rolled down his window. "Give me the largest bucket you

have and throw some of everything in it!"

Zanita and Blooey gave each other secret smiles on the drive back to the house.

It seemed the two of them knew exactly how to get to Tyber. And did it right

well together, too.

They ate outside on a wicker table by the pool, Hambone licking a little saucer

of gravy at their feet. After they had cleaned up, Blooey decided to return to

his "cabin" to finish a mystery he'd been reading. Zanita and Tyber elected to

stay outside to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather. They plunked down on

side-by-side lounge chairs, both of them kicking off their shoes.

Tyber absently watched the water rippling in the pool. "Do you want to go

swimming?"

"I didn't bring a swimsuit."

A slow, wicked smile creased his handsome face as he continued to stare at the

water.

"Forget what you're thinking, Dr. Evans."

His eyes flicked to her. "Would you go in if I told you I would give you an

interview?"

"Certainly not!"

"Don't be offended; I'm just checking your moral fiber, Ms. Masterson." His gaze

ran the length of her, from her sleeveless shirt to her shorts, lingering over

her bare legs and feet. "It seems to be a tight weave."

Shameless. Absolutely shameless. Zanita shook her head and sighed. A small chair

cushion sailed by Tyber's head. He grinned at her.

"You'll never make the majors, Ms. Masterson."

"Oh, I don't know." She flexed her fingers. "If I hang around you long enough,

I'm sure I'll get in plenty of practice."

He turned on his side to face her. "I'll have to see to it then, won't I?"

The intimacy of the situation did not escape her. They were lying side by side,

practically touching each other. It wouldn't be so bad if Zanita didn't know for

a fact that Tyber was purposely baiting her for a reason known only to him. That

he might be seriously interested in her did not occur to her for one minute.

She ignored him to turn on her side away from him. So far, he had not budged an

inch on the subject of the interview. It was time to face the fact that he was

not a man to be easily swayed. She had given it her best shot. He was not going

to relent.

Zanita lay on her back again, watching the sun sink in the western sky. She was

not going to get the interview; Tyber was teasing her; and she had eaten way too

much for dinner. She yawned sleepily as she stretched in the wide lounge chair.

"I really should be going soon, Tyber."

"You can't go yet, Zanita. Blooey's made a great dessert, and The Curse Of The

Mummy's Finger is on TV later." Tyber stopped because she had fallen fast

asleep. If it were anyone else but Zanita, he might have been insulted. This was

the second time the woman had fallen asleep on him! Shaking his head, he padded

into the house to get her a blanket. With the sun going down, it was getting

chilly.

Chapter Four

« ^ »

Zanita opened her eyes to a full moon in the night sky.

"Good evening."

Tyber was sitting on the edge of her lounge chair, one corner of his sensuous

mouth lifted in a faint smile. A light breeze caressed the free-flowing strands

of his long chestnut hair, moonlight silvering the golden highlights.

What a sight to wake up to.

The dreamy thought flitted through her sleep-clogged brain. She smiled back,

cuddling deeper into the lightweight blanket, still too hazy to wonder how she

had come to be covered.

She bunched the blanket up under her chin with her fists, while her luminous

eyes continued to drink in the sight of him leaning over her, barefoot and now

shirtless in the night wind. Against the darkness of his skin, his washed-out

denims looked white in the night light.

Realizing she must be staring, she hastily lowered her eyes, suddenly

embarrassed. What was she thinking of—staring at the man like that?

"I fell asleep." Her voice came out a thin sound.

"Yes." His clear eyes wandered over her features, lingering for a moment on the

baby-fine curls framing her face. Without thinking, he reached out, fingering a

downy lock.

As he did, his scent tickled her senses; a tantalizing mixture of after-shave

and something else that was uniquely Tyber— an elusive, heady, sizzling thing,

which made her briefly close her eyes to delicately inhale more. The man could

make a woman his captive with that scent.

She could feel the heat emanating from his bare skin as the cool night breeze

washed over them both. For a moment, a strand of his silk hair feathered her

cheek as the wind wafted through the evergreens surrounding the pool area. The

scent of pine trailed behind like night incense.

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