Susan slept remarkably well that night, for all that Alan had left her fuming. Around ten in the morning she came out onto the terrace overlooking the garden, sat down in a wicker chair, and set her glass of fresh juice on the floor beside her. She closed her eyes for a moment, turning her face up to the warm sun. When she opened them again, her gaze fell on — Alan! He smiled at her.

"Ready for a walk, Sue?"

"I—" She glanced around quickly, but there was no one besides Alan. "Where did you spring from?"

"Your grandfather let me in! You look wonderful!" he observed, taking in the white beach dress that hugged her body. "Come on — let's go!"

Susan stood up to face him.

"Alan, I know I promised last night, but..."

His dark eyes narrowed, and a bitter line formed around his mouth.

"Sue — don't refuse me today!"

She avoided his pleading gaze, then sighed and gave in with a shake of her head.

"I'll have to change first."

"No! You're wonderful as you are! You'd look great even in a sack!" He was admiring her slender figure. Her stomach fluttered nervously. But there wasn't really any choice: he would insist and insist, until he ruined everything.

"All right. Where are we going?"

He took her hand between his warm palms and stroked her fingers.

"I promise to make this a wonderful day for you!"

Susan nodded and let herself be led out of her grandfather's house. But at the sight of his car by the gate, she stopped.

"Alan, what exactly do you have in mind?"

"Trust me!" He smiled innocently.

She frowned, but got into the car. While Alan rounded to the driver's side, she ordered herself to relax. If she didn't calm down now, the day would be endless for her nerves. She settled into the seat, determined to enjoy the outing.

Alan drove confidently through the town's narrow streets. Susan gazed absently out through the windscreen. The silence stretched on, but once they left town it stopped feeling oppressive. The road crossed the long plain south of Medea and vanished into the slopes on the far side. Before long a junction appeared, and Alan turned left. Now the road narrowed, winding through turn after turn.

Susan glanced at the man beside her. His clean profile betrayed nothing; his eyes stayed on the road. Alan was driving toward the lake. Soon the water began to glitter between the branches. He turned onto a dirt track through sparse trees; they rounded a massive rock and came out onto a secluded beach. Alan pulled up in the shade and cut the engine. Before them stretched the smooth, bright surface of the lake. It was beautiful.

He looked at her.

"Nothing more relaxing than a lazy afternoon at the beach — but first, we eat," he said quietly.

Susan shook her head reproachfully.

"You might at least have let me bring my swimsuit!"

Alan gave her a frankly undressing look.

"I assure you, there's no one here to see you but me — and we know each other far too well for you to be shy!"

"I am not undressing, Alan! We're out in the open!"

"Of course. Someone on the far shore might have binoculars!" he added drily.

Susan settled for a single annihilating look in his direction and slipped quickly out of the car. She kicked off her sandals and stepped with pleasure onto the soft ground, crossed the short distance to the water, and knelt to dip her hand in. It was deliciously cool and clean. Susan sighed and stood up.

"Hey, Sue! Look what I found in the basket!" Alan called. She turned, shielding her eyes with her hand. From his thumb dangled a peach-colored bikini.

"Let me guess — it got there by pure chance!"

He smiled, the picture of innocence. Susan walked back and took the swimsuit from his hand. It was brand new, tag still attached. The temptation was too great to refuse. While she changed on the back seat, Alan busied himself on the beach, spreading out a huge blanket and producing a large hamper. Susan came to stand beside him, mouth open.

"What is this?"

Wearing nothing but black swim trunks, he was laying out an incredible quantity of food on an inflatable mat.

"Lunch, and a little... um..." He looked up — up her bare legs to the high cut of the bikini — and swallowed. His eyes traveled over her stomach, over the little triangles of cloth doing their best to contain her full breasts, and she watched him lose his train of thought entirely. Her puzzled look brought him partway back to the present.

"Fish, potatoes, salad, dessert... Where did you get all this?" she marveled.

"Seek and you shall find, dear! And ice-cream truffles to finish!" His black eyes gleamed merrily. "Hungry? Come to the table!"

She sank down beside him on the blanket and nodded. She was, in fact, starving. The delicious food, the beautiful lake, and the warm sun eased Susan into comfort in his company. When they had eaten, she looked over at Alan. Her eyes wandered of their own accord along his strong legs, his narrow hips, his smooth chest. His skin gleamed with an even tan across broad shoulders; his short black hair shone in the bright sun, and his dark eyes radiated contentment. She bit her lower lip. For the first time she let herself simply look at him and saw what a handsome man Alan was. He gave off a quiet, unforced sensuality that was exceptionally attractive. Embarrassed, she looked away.

"Shall we go in? It's getting terribly hot," Susan suggested. Alan laughed.

"After all that food you'll sink like a paving stone!"

"Wrong! I happen to swim very well," she retorted, and headed for the water. She waded in slowly until she was submerged to the waist. The cool water was wonderfully refreshing.

"In need of a lifeguard yet, my dear?" came Alan's voice behind her. Cold splashes landed on her shoulders. Susan sucked in a quick breath, dodging the spray, then stretched out her arms and dove.

"Fantastic!" she cried, surfacing. Alan smiled and swam over.

"Do you remember coming to the lake when we were younger?"

"Do I! We cycled three miles every single day to get to this beach. Though I usually rode on the back of Dani's motorbike."

"And I was wildly jealous!"

Susan looked at him, serious and amazed.

"Jealous? Why?"

"Because you liked Dani — and I was only the trusted friend."

"But I was only fourteen then! We were teenagers!"

Alan smiled, as if she had said something surprisingly innocent.

"Don't forget I was already seventeen. And I had no motorbike to sweep you off on and impress you. What I could do was fight — and now and then, I made use of it."

"You fought over me?"

"Yes!" Alan avoided her eyes, rolling onto his back in the water. "It happened once or twice!"

Susan found her footing on the bottom and stood there a long minute, deep in thought. Alan swam over and circled her waist with his arms.

"Dear — are you all right?"

She raised her head and met his black eyes. She looked shaken.

"Why did you never tell me?"

He raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Tell you what?"

"How you felt, Alan! You should have told me. I never even imagined that you... liked me all that time."

"You saw me as a friend, Sue! Even if I'd told you, nothing would have come of it!"

"But you—" Alan silenced her with a resounding kiss.

"Things are different now!" he said softly, drawing her closer. "Let's leave the past where it is." She frowned a little.

"I'm not so sure! So much has happened in seven years!"

"Don't you see I'm mad about you?" He lifted her in the water and swam with her toward the deep.

"You really are mad!" Susan shrieked, trying to swim and wriggle free of him at the same time.

"Do I have to drown you to make you marry me?" Alan asked, only half joking.

"No! I don't want to talk about that now!"

"Why does marriage frighten you so, Sue? What's so terrifying about a ceremony and a signature?"

"I don't know. It's a change of one's whole life — it needs preparation, and certainty!"

Alan sighed and became serious.

"What exactly do you have against me? I'm simply the perfect man! Young, handsome, clever, with a steady profession. And on top of it all — a magnificent lover!"

"And so terribly modest!" she added tartly, and swam for the shore. Cross — more with herself than with him, though she couldn't have said why — she climbed out of the water and lay down on the beach towel.

"I'll bet you're missing me already!" His voice drifted over a few minutes later. Susan opened her eyes. Why did he have to be so insufferable?

"You know what? The last thing I need is a man more annoying than a horsefly who thinks he's Casanova and Don Juan rolled into one!"

"Forgive me, but may I ask you something?" His voice turned gentle and soft. "What's making you so edgy — the pregnancy, or the lack of sex lately?"

Susan rose to her knees and sat back on her heels.

"That is the limit!" she cried.

"See? A bundle of nerves!"

She raised her hand to slap him. Alan caught her wrist with ease, held it firmly, and looked her steadily in the eye.

"Don't glare at me like that, Sue. Where has your sense of humor gone? I asked you something perfectly natural, because you—"

"I don't want to hear another word!"

His grip tightened when she tried to pull her hand free.

"I don't understand why you keep fighting this! I've been in love with you for a long, long time! Why do you think I came to your apartment? Maybe you don't realize it yet, but you love me too! You just need more time to get used to the good news, apparently!"

"That's enough!" she exclaimed, springing to her feet. "Alan, I'm leaving! You're impossible, and you're talking pure fiction!"

Faster than she had ever moved in her life, she ran for the car, threw herself behind the wheel, and had the engine running before Alan could catch her.

"Sue, what are you doing?" he shouted at the car reversing away from him.

She pressed the pedal harder, backing down the barely visible track. When Alan was out of sight she swung the car around between the trees and, eyes blurred with tears, sped toward Medea. That was the end of it! She loved him? What utter nonsense! And he'd been in love with her all this time? As if! Was he spouting all that rubbish out of fear of losing the child — or was he simply after sex again? Even a blind man could see how much he wanted her. Well, wanting wasn't enough for her. Best if no one ever learned whose child it was — better for everyone's peace of mind! Yes. That would be best!