"I'll catch up," she hollered.We were sitting down to dinner at the club at seven-thirty. Mrs. Sorensen and her unmarried daughters were aloof ... I w...s hired help ... until Niels set that straight in the introductions.Three point five million dollars was a lot of money in 1955 and they say money talks and bullshit walks. Things at the table were proceeding when a ravishing young lady stepped to the door.The Maitre'D did his normal bustle and scrape. She spoke to his ear.He raised an eyebrow. Sorry." Denise look crest fallen. It was hard enough to take such a risk, harder still to be let down. Helen took pity on the child, "I'm bi."By the look on her face, Denise did not seem sure she had heard clearly, "Bi?" Bi." Oh." Which, by the way, you would already know if you were standing here," Helen pointed directly in front of herself. "instead of over there."Denise regained some composure. By the time she was beside Helen, her naturally beatific smile had reappeared and her bright eyes. No single thing. In the spur of the moment it felt appropriate to him to lean in and give her what he told himself could be a merely friendly kiss. As soon as their lips met it was clear it was not going to be as brief a kiss as he thought. He could feel her kissing back. Maybe as reflex at first. It was so very soft and slow. She felt as if she were tingling and she knew she had never had another kiss like it. As he pulled away she felt herself following his lips until they weren’t touching. ‘Boring, uncomfortable. Blissfully short. I’m glad to be home.’ He looked down his own length, then back up at her face. ‘So, what’s the story?’ ‘How do you mean?’ ‘Shirt.’ He motioned his chin her way. Liesel blushed, and he grinned. ‘It’s just more comfortable than the pajamas you got me,’ she bluffed. ‘You’re kidding. It’s freezing in here, those pajamas are warm. And they’re like 900-thread count. That’s luxury.’ Liesel laughed despite herself. ‘That’s just sheets!’ ‘Says who?’ Cole worked.