A different kind of fun than she was used to, but fun nonetheless. Part of it was seeing her boss, a man she’d long had a crush on, in the environme...t he loved. Part of it was cutting loose a little — swearing, drinking, hanging out with co-workers like they were ‘the gang’. It was day two of the retreat, a Tuesday morning. The company, an importer of Indian and African decorative art, shut down for the three day event every summer during the second week of July. The owner of the company, a. “Little Miss Astronomer there had other plans.” I said.“Yes...” He skewered her with his eye, “Abby ... I’m proud of you. The Meade was a tremendous bargain. Good girl. And congratulations on making the Dean’s List.” “Close your mouth ... we have bug zappers and don’t need your help.”“Dean’s List? The grades don’t come out for a month!” Abby said.“You’ll be surprised, won’t you.” Not a question ... a command.“Yes, Sir.”“Time for the Auction.” He clapped his hands twice and the people who were. There wasn’t a lot of traffic on I-90 here, but it was all traveling fast, 70 MPH or better, and I didn’t want to play matador to some farmer’s broken down pick-up truck. As I pulled in Helen looked over at me desperately. Her husband was almost apoplectic. The man was ranting at her, shouting over the noise of the traffic streaking by on our left. HE had wanted to take the Cadillac, not that antique thing SHE drove. IF he HAD his cell phone they would already have help on the way. Then he. Then it just kind of got really complicated. And it happened. And it was.."The man looked completely drained. Emotionally wiped out. He wasn't the same person he had been when I had last spoken to him a few days ago. He had changed and it was obvious the reason why."Are you in love with her?" I asked him.Our eyes met and I could see the confusion and surprise in them. For Mike Sloane, it had finally happened. He had reached the end of his little amorous adventures in Pussy land because love had.