I battled with the calculus of what I wanted, and what Hollis might want from me. He really had been a perfect gentleman while we were together. Oh, I...��d seen him upset a few times, to be sure. He’d walked around one of the ranch’s trucks, straight into a board hanging off the back of the bed. He’d said a few choice words, but that was all. Then, there was the feed vendor who’d shorted us and the oil speculator who was pushy about buying some of the leases.I had also contributed to his woes by. She held the cordless phone up and pressed the auto dial button."Hi it me Sally," she said her voice sounding quite normal."Tell him you're naked," I ordered."Pat says for me to tell you that I'm naked," she said.I knew it was Ben who was on the other end of the line, one of my oldest friends and Bestman at our wedding."Turn the speaker on," I ordered. "Hi Ben," I said when she had complied with my demand."Hi Pat, Sally's all nice and naked then," he said."Can you hear this," I said and pulled. But I felt the same urgency to be pressed up against him, to kiss him, to feel his cheek against mine, to feel the rise and fall of his chest as I snuggled against him on the couch.If I only had the time for one or the other tonight, this pleased me just fine. Tomorrow, my comings and goings would be an afterthought to my parents.I got up early to reach Jennifer before she left for work. She was going to try to arrange for me to see her working with the children. She was excited about her job. Wait here and I'll talk to Becky ." She left the room,leaving Paul no choice but to wait and see what she offered him to wear.He couldn't risk going down to his mother, as she'd be bound to blame himfor embarrassing her in front of this family she thought were so perfect.He wished he had never even come with her now, and he just resolved to getthrough the day without bringing any shame on himself or his mother. If Ibehave with dignity, they'll have to show me some respect, he thought.Next door.