Page 13 (1/2)

"Some people say that about my blue eyes"

"No," she protested, "they’re exquisite and very real" And then, she leaned forward for the kiss that he had craved, for what had felt like a lifeti Her lips were no surrender and his response was no clairound, and to see if the desire that each had could fit into the equation of the ruins that both faced

"Lydia!" Her grandmother’s voice snapped them apart "You need to come see this"

"Grandma, no, I’m talk--"

"Now"

The old woman’s demeanor and the way that she looked at Mike as if she wished her eyes were lasers and could burn him into a tiny, little pile of soot, if that were possible The sound of the television screen voice cah from the bedroom; it cut in mid-statement: "…Producer Jonah Moore says that the viral sex tape of Michael Bournha woman from the office was part of the reality TV show’s production all along"

Lydia practically ran away frorand, suddenly, Jonah’s voice "Oh, yeah," he said, in rapid-fire speech, "this was all part of Meet the Hidden Boss’s plan Michael Bournhaer in his own corporation so he could understand how everything worked, and then he added, ‘And by the way, I have this great idea for hoe can really randmother pointed the re as eyes were pointed at him

"Get out," Lydia spat

"No, no, Lydia…" He closed his eyes, turning away fro he could do Stripped powerless, he simply walked, one foot in front of the other, further and further away from the love of his life, the woman who had taken him to places so far from the constructed life of Michael Bournhaotten their siet out

Chapter Four

A phone call would have been a waste, so Lydia had invited Krysta to just hop in the car and drive the four hours north, both of theh--for the next day Her decision ned and agreed to the pronals She did this for two reasons; one, time was of the essences and the very nervous HR wonize had asked her, before any other question, "Do you have a passport?"

Lydia had laughed "You know, I couldn’t have said yes to that even sixcaet one Otherwise, I wouldn’t have"

"Oh…oh, I see," said the woman, whose name was Joanie "I see" She sounded like she was about sixteen and her voice was shaky as she asked, "And have you spoken uh with--uh…with umm…your boss, Matt Jones, about the transfer?"

"No, he was out sick today"

"Oh…oh yes, that’s right, uh…he informed me of that"

If Lydia had been a little less happy, a little less excited and a little less gobs toward a stratospheric trajectory to awesoht have wondered why this fellow adotten off the phone, had cleared her schedule, filled the gas tank, and she and Krysta, each with a s, were about to surprise Sandy

Lydia needed the element of surprise on her side because the joy that her mother would feel at the last-h to the h when she dropped this bo to Boston was bad, Mo to kill you," Krysta said

"I know"

"She hates to fly"