“And why should I?” he said belligerently.“It is one thing to peek at a woman’s privates and appreciate them. It is entirely another to be cru...e and loud and use foul language.”“You knew?” he croaked.“How could I miss it? Your jaw was about to hit the floor. It was too good a target to pass up.”“But ... if you knew I was ... peeking, why didn’t you...”“Close my legs?” she finished. He nodded. “As I recall, not only did I get to see your lily white buttocks that day, I believe you rolled over. ”“Please, just Karen,” she said. “I’d be delighted to have a discussion, though I, too, doubt my level of influence. Especially lately.”“Ah, Karen, that is not what my friends say. Though they seem to believe you could have accomplished such things with a little less panache, they all agree that you are the person responsible for helping a very dear old friend of mine.”“Really, Mr. Savage?”“Please, if you are Karen, I am Pàl. The difference between the English and Scottish pronunciations are so. And I'm sure there are other peoplenamed Exner in the area so she may not have even thought about that.So, let's not make this into a giant problem. It's probably nothing."When Wednesday came I told mom I didn't feel good but she wouldn't hearit. "Let's go. I want you dressed and ready in 15 minutes or else."I knew what the or else meant so I got up and put on my leotard, tightsand tutu and headed off to class. I didn't do nearly as good this timesince I was so distracted. I was praying mom. There she delighted in curly hair and pectorals with more than enough definition to make them apparent. The superb capital V of his torso reminded her of the Kouros of Volomandra or brought to mind an echo of some lost work by Polyclitus or Pheidias. Each of Carlo’s muscles announced their presence quietly but surely, as he walked in the water admiring the view beyond the tiny beach. His visible skin was tanned; kissed by the Mediterranean sun and Claudia wanted to see more of it.“Ho detto.