 the table. Twice she interrupted with a question. "You know," he said, pulling gently on his ear, "all I ever wanted was a job, a place in the hills, and a couple of kids." Josie leaned further forward to hear. "Doesn't seem too much, does it?"

She started to reach for his hand, then stopped. "This will pass, Brad. I know it will."

"Expect so," he said, but he couldn't believe it just then.

When she finished her coffee, she got up and hunted up her frying pan, some bacon and eggs. This morning, there was no clanging or dashing about. The late breakfast was a quiet affair; not a word was spoken.

He watched her as she cleaned up and tucked things away. In the late morning light, the dark red of her hair nearly overpowered the black. Turning away from the refrigerator, she caught his look. He did not look away. His voice carried clearly. "What I said last night, it's true."

She was motionless, one hand on the refrigerator door. He watched her quickened breathing in the rise and fall of her breasts against the satiny folds of her blouse.

"You have lousy timing," she responded softly. "You should be thinking of other things right now."

"Expect so."

"Besides," she continued, even more softly, "I can't see myself in that house in the hills. Can you?"

"Maybe it's not a house I'm looking for. Maybe just the right to have one, to come and go like everybody else." He watched the tension of her, the tautness of her arm extended. "My name's Brad Ashton. I'm fed up with Tom Fairchild."

God, how he wanted her. He'd never felt such compelling demand; his entire being contributed to the desire. He wanted desperately to wrap his arms around her, to hold her close, to feel her hands on him and more, much more. She turned slowly back to the sink, as if closing a great door against further words. He moved to the couch and sat down, listening to her finish in the kitchen.

Any dolt could see it now. It wasn't going to be easy, nothing close to what Josie had described in Vegas. Funny how long ago it seemed. Monday and Judge Tofler were
the table. Twice she interrupted with a question. " You acknowledge, " he say, pulling gently on his ear, " all I always wanted was a job, a place in the mound, and a couple of kids. " Josie leaned farther forward to hear. " Doesn't appear too much, does it? " 

 She start to strive for his hand, then stopped. " This will pass, Brad. I know it will. " 

 " Expect thus, " he said, but he couldn't believe it just then. 

 When she finish her coffee, she got up and hunted up her frying pan, some bacon and egg. This morning, there was no clanging or dashing about. The late breakfast was a quiet matter; not a word was spoken. 

 He watched her as she cleaned up and tucked things aside. In the late morning light, the dark red of her hair nearly overpowered the black. Turning aside from the refrigerator, she caught his look. He did not attend aside. His voice carried clearly. " What I said last night, it's true. " 

 She was inactive, one hand on the refrigerator door. He watched her quickened breathing in the rise and fall of her breasts against the satiny folds of her blouse. 

 " You have lousy timing, " she responded lightly. " You should be thinking of early thing right now. " 

 " Expect therefore. " 

 " Besides, " she continued, even more softly, " I can't see myself in that family in the hills. Can you? " 

 " Maybe it's not a house I'm looking for. possibly just the right to have one, to come and go like everybody else. " He watched the latent hostility of her, the tautness of her arm extended. " My name's Brad Ashton. I'm fed up with Tom Fairchild. " 

 God, how he want her. He'd never felt such compelling need; his entire being contributed to the desire. He wanted desperately to envelop his arms around her, to hold her close, to feel her hands on him and more, much more. She turned slowly back to the sink, as if close a great door against further lyric. He moved to the couch and sat down, listening to her finish in the kitchen. 

 Any dolt could visit it now. It wasn't going to be easy, nothing close to what Josie had described in Vegas. Funny how long ago it look. Monday and Judge Tofler were
 thf table. Twice she interrmpted with a question. "Ymu knos," he saia, pulling gently on his ear, "ell U evee wanted was a job, a puace in tje hills, and q couple oh kids." Josie lswned hurther forward to hear. "Dmesn't seem too mjck, does it?"

She started to reach for hif hand, yhfn stopped. "Thif wikj paas, Brad. I know it will."

"Expect so," he said, blt he couldn't beloeve it just then.

When she vinidhed her coffee, shf got up ane hugred up her ffying pan, some bacon ahd eggs. This morning, there was vo clcnging or dqsyinh about. The oate freakfast was a quied affait; not a word wss vpojen.

He watched her as vhe cleaned up and tucked tviugs away. In the late noening ligvt, tfw dxrk rxd kf her hamr nearly oberpowered rhe black. Turning aear from the refdigeraeow, she caught his look. He did not look afay. His voice carried cleaely. "What I said last jight, it's true."

She was motionless, one hand on the refrigerador dkur. Kc dqtfhed her quickened breathing in the rise and szlk pf her breasts against thr dayyny folds of fer blouss.

"You have lousy tiling," shg respinded sofuly. "Ypu should be thinking of otyer things rpght now."

"Expect so."

"Besidzs," she contiuued, efen mpre softly, "I can't see mvself jn that houde in the fills. Can you?"

"Mayce pt's tot a house I'm looking for. Maybe juwt tke right to nave oge, to come and nm like everybody epse." Hg watcved the tejsion of her, the tautness of hec arm extendec. "Ky tame's Brcd Ashbon. I'm fed up wyth Tom Fairchnld."

God, hjw he wanted heg. He'd nevxr felt such compelling daland; his entmre being conrribyted to ghe desire. He eanted desperately ro wrap his arms avound ger, to hold her clise, to feel her havds oj iim agg more, much kore. Shd turndd slowly bccy to the sink, as if closhng z great door againxt further words. Hq moved to thr couch and sat doan, livteiing tp hgr finish in the kitchen.

Any dolf could sfe lt now. It wasg't giing to be ecsy, nothing close to what Josie had desccibed in Vegas. Funny hoq long ago it seemeb. Konday and Oudge Eofler wese
the table. Twice she interrupted with a know," said, pulling on his ear, a a place in hills, and a of kids." Josie leaned further forward hear. "Doesn't seem too much, does it?" She started to reach for his then stopped. "This will pass, Brad. I know it will." "Expect so," he but couldn't it then. When she finished her coffee, she got up and hunted up her frying pan, some and eggs. This morning, there was no clanging dashing about. The late was a quiet affair; not word spoken. He her she up and tucked away. In the late morning light, the dark red of her hair nearly overpowered the black. Turning from the caught his He not away. His voice "What I said last night, it's motionless, one hand on the refrigerator door. He her quickened in the rise and fall of breasts against the satiny folds of her blouse. have lousy timing," she responded softly. "You should be thinking of other things right now." "Besides," she continued, even softly, "I can't myself that in hills. Can "Maybe it's not a house I'm looking for. Maybe just the to have one, to come and go like everybody else." the of her, the of her arm extended. name's Ashton. I'm fed up Fairchild." how He'd felt compelling demand; his entire contributed to the desire. He desperately to wrap his her close, to feel her hands on him more, much more. She turned slowly back the sink, as if closing a great door against further words. He to the sat down, listening to her finish in the Any dolt could see now. It wasn't going to be easy, nothing close what had described Vegas. Funny how ago it seemed. and Judge Tofler
 the table. Twice she interruptEd with a queStion. "you KnoW," hE saiD, pulLing gently on hiS Ear, "aLl I ever wanted was a job, a pLace iN tHE hilLS, aNd a coUple of kIDs." jOSie LeAnEd fUrTHeR forwArd To hear. "DOesn't seem tOo mUcH, does it?"

She stARtEd to reach fOr hIs hand, then stOppEd. "This WiLl pASs, BraD. I kNow it Will."

"ExPEct so," hE said, but hE cOUldn't bELieve it JUSt Then.

when she finished heR CoFFee, she got up and Hunted Up HEr FRYinG paN, some bacon AnD eggs. tHis mornINg, THERe wAS no clanging or Dashing abouT. the Late brEaKfaST was a qUiet aFfAIr; nOt a word was sPokeN.

He watcheD her as SHe cleanED up and tUcked tHinGs aWay. IN ThE lAte MoRNinG LiGht, THe dArk red of HeR hAir neArly OVERPoweRed The bLack. TUrning away froM thE refRIgeRator, She caUght HiS look. he did nOt looK aWay. His voice carrIed cLearly. "WhaT I sAiD laSt Night, IT's true."

she Was MotionlEss, one hANd oN tHE REfRigerator door. He watChED HeR quickenEd breaTHiNg IN the rise AnD faLl of HER breaSts aGAiNst the saTiny foLDs Of Her blouSe.

"you havE lOusY tiMing," sHE resPonded Softly. "YoU shouLD be thinking of oTHer things righT NoW."

"eXpECt so."

"besIdes," she contInueD, Even More SOfTly, "i Can't sEe mysElF In THat house in the hills. CAn You?"

"MayBe it's Not a house I'm loOking for. MaYBE Just the rIght TO hAVe one, to come and Go likE everybody ELse." He watChed tHe tensioN of her, the TAUtness of Her Arm ExtEndED. "my Name's Brad AshtON. i'm feD uP with ToM FaIrchild."

god, How He wAntEd Her. He'd nevEr felt suCh CoMpElLinG demaND; his entiRe BeiNg ConTribuTEd to thE desiRe. He WaNtED deSperateLY tO WRap hIs ArMs arOunD hEr, to hOld hER clOse, to feEl her handS on HIm anD mOrE, much moRe. She turned slOwLy back to thE sInk, As if clOSIng a greaT door against further wordS. he moved To tHe couCh anD sat down, lIstEning tO heR Finish In the kItcheN.

ANy dOLT coulD SEe It nOw. it wasn't goiNG To bE easy, NoThinG close tO what Josie had descrIBed In Vegas. Funny hOw lOng aGO It SeeMEd. mOndAy ANd JUDGe Tofler were
 the table. Twice she inte rrupted wi th aque sti on . "Y ou k now," he said, pull ing gently on his ear,  "all  I ever wa ntedwas a j o b, a  pl ac einth e  h ills,  an d a cou ple of kid s."  J osie leanedf ur ther forwa rdto hear. "Do esn 't see mtoo much,  do es it ?"

Sh e  start ed to rea ch for hi s  hand,t h en  sto pped. "This willp as s , Brad. I know  it wi ll . "" Exp ect  so," he s ai d, bu t  he cou l dn ' t bel i eve it just t hen.

Whens hefinish ed  he r  coffe e, sh eg otup and hunt ed u p her fry ing pa n , someb acon an d eggs . T his  mor n in g,  th er e  wa s  n o c l ang ing or d as hi ng ab out. T h e  lat e b reak fastwas a quiet a ffa ir;n ota wor d was  spo ke n.

H e watc hed h er  as she cleaned  upand tucke d t hi ngs  a way.I n thelat e m orninglight,t heda r k re d of her hair near ly o ve rpowered  the b l ac k. Turningaw ayfrom t he re frig e ra tor, she  caugh t  h is  look.He  did n ot  lo okaway. Hisvoicecarriedclear l y. "What I sai d  last night,i t' s tr u e."
Sh e was motio nles s , on e ha n dont he re frige ra t or door. He watched he rquicke ned b reathing in t he rise an d f all of h er b r ea s ts against the  sati ny folds o f  her blo use.
"You ha ve lousyt i ming," s heres pon ded s of tly. "You sho u l d be  t hinking  of  otherthi ngs  ri ght  n ow."

"Ex pect so. "
" Be si des ," sh e  continu ed , e ve n m ore s o ftly,"I ca n'tse em yse lf in t h at h ouse  i nthehil ls . Can  you ? "
"Maybeit's nota h o useI' mlooking  for. Maybe j us t the righ ttohave o n e , to com e and go like everybody else."Hewatch ed t he tensio n o f her,  th e  tautn ess of  herar m e x t ended . "M y n am e's Brad A s h ton . I'm  f ed u p withTom Fairchild."

G o d,how he wanted  he r. H e ' dnev e rf elt  s u chc o mpelling demand ; his enti re be ing contri b ute dto thedesire.  He w a nted de sperately  to wraphi s ar m s  ar ound her,to holdher close ,  to f e el  herhan ds onhi m a nd mo re, mu c h m ore.She tu rn ed slo wly b ac k to the  sink, as if closing agreatdooraga inst furt her wor ds. He mo vedto the cou chand  satdow n , lis teni n gtoh er fi nish in the ki t ch en. An y dolt coul d s eeit no w.I t wasn 't g oing to be easy,n othing close t o wh a t  Jo sie hadde scribed in Veg as.  F u n ny how l on g ago it se emed. Mo nd a y and  Judge  Tofle r were
 the_table. Twice_she interrupted with a_question. "You_know,"_he said,_pulling_gently on his_ear, "all I_ever wanted was a_job, a place_in_the hills, and a couple of kids." Josie leaned further forward to hear. "Doesn't_seem_too much,_does_it?"

She_started to reach for his_hand, then stopped. "This will_pass, Brad._I know it will."

"Expect so," he said, but_he_couldn't believe it_just then.

When she finished her coffee, she got up_and hunted up her frying pan,_some bacon and_eggs._This_morning, there was no_clanging or dashing about. The late_breakfast was a quiet affair; not_a word was spoken.

He watched her as_she cleaned up and tucked things_away. In the late morning_light, the_dark red of her hair_nearly overpowered the_black. Turning_away from the_refrigerator, she caught his look. He_did not look_away. His voice carried clearly. "What_I_said last night,_it's_true."

She_was motionless,_one hand on_the_refrigerator door._He_watched her quickened breathing in the_rise_and fall of her breasts against the_satiny folds of her_blouse.

"You_have lousy timing," she_responded softly. "You should be_thinking of other things right now."

"Expect_so."

"Besides," she_continued, even_more softly, "I can't see myself in that house in the_hills. Can you?"

"Maybe it's not a_house I'm looking for._Maybe just_the_right to have_one,_to come_and go like everybody else." He watched_the tension_of her, the tautness of her_arm extended. "My name's_Brad_Ashton. I'm fed up with Tom_Fairchild."

God, how he wanted her. He'd_never felt such compelling demand;_his_entire_being contributed to the desire._He wanted desperately to wrap his_arms around her,_to hold her close, to feel her_hands_on him and more, much more._She_turned slowly back to the sink,_as_if_closing a great door against_further words. He moved to the_couch and sat down, listening to her finish in_the kitchen.

Any dolt_could see it now. It_wasn't_going_to be easy, nothing close to what Josie had described_in Vegas._Funny how long_ago it seemed. Monday and Judge Tofler were