ng trouble with the idea that I might be
reluctant."
Nibbling her lip, Mandi regarded Cade for a moment, then looked around,
apparently to be sure nobody else could hear.
In a low tone, she said, "You might find sex with me... ah... well, it could
be somewhat... ah... unsatisfying."
Matching her soft, confidential tone, Cade stated, "You're trying to say
that I couldn't get in, aren't you?"
Reddening slightly, Mandi nodded.
Cade shrugged. "Oh, well. There are other ways to please a woman."
Peering at Cade as if to determine the truth of his words, Mandi asked,
"That wouldn't bother you?"
With a small smile, Cade sipped his beer again and softly said, "It wouldn't
bother me anywhere near as much as knowing I missed an opportunity to taste a
woman like you intimately." After a brief pause, he grinningly added the
respectful afterthought, "Ma'am."
Again eyeing him as if to decide whether he'd told the truth, Mandi sipped
her beer and laid her stick across the pool table. Picking up the menu from the
small table, Cade looked it over and opted for another burger basket rather than
some of the other items available, most of which seemed to contain pasta.
"Would you like anything?" he asked, showing Mandi the menu. "I'm getting
the burger basket."
Mandi scanned the menu and said, "Same for me," as she reached into her
purse for quarters she hadn't expected to need.
"I'm buying," said Cade, waving the menu.
"Thanks," said Mandi, "But I'm looking for quarters. I lost the last game,
remember?"
Looking startled, Cade exclaimed, "Oh, yeah! So you did! Wowsers! Thanks for
reminding me!"
"Just treasure the moment," said Mandi drily. "It may not happen again.
Ever."
"Oh, yes'm!" said Cade with a nod and a tiny salute. "As you say, ma'am.
Treasuring it now, ma'am. Back in a minute."
As he headed for the bar, Cade heard Mandi mutter, "Smartass," then she
called, "Extra mustard, okay?"

Chapter Twelve

Allowing a little extra time to get back to the hotel and fight the crowd in
the auditorium, Cade suggested that he and Mandi head back at eleven-fifteen.
"Besides," he added, "I've only won one game tonight. That's wearing rather
heavily on me, you know."
"Poor baby," said Mandi, snapping in her last two balls and the eight. "If
it's any consolation, nobody else has won against me in something like six
months."
"Well, in that case