The Hidden Truth
 
Author: Suz72350

Email: suzanne.moore8@verizon.net

Rating: PG-17

Summary: Nick and Sid, The Final Chapters. The story continues six
months after The Need To Know. Sid is selling her company and visits
Pittsburgh to negotiate the final sale.

Author's Notes: Author's Notes: My thanks to Romantique, a wonderful
mentor who has patiently guided me down the winding and sometimes
scary path of Nicfic writing.

The Western design store in this story does not exist; neither does
the Three Rivers Furniture Group. The Rivers Club, a private
business club, is real and is located on the 4th floor of the Oxford
Centre in downtown Pittsburgh.
______________________________________________________________________

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fallin," the club's concierge said, quickly
taking Nick's overcoat. "Everyone's already gathered in the Fort
Duquesne East Room. You're not really very late," she whispered with
a wink. "Everyone is still mingling and appetizers are just now being
served." She gave directions to the private dining room, pointing the
way down a long, narrow hall featuring turn-of-the-century
photographs of downtown Pittsburgh.

Nick hurried down the hall cursing to himself. He'd hoped to arrive
early to welcome Dr. Sidney Hunter when she arrived at Pittsburgh's
exclusive Rivers Club. But no. He'd had to depose an LSP client
across town and had gotten bogged down in traffic.

Three Rivers Furniture Group was officially finalizing the details to
buy Sid's company. Larry Barton's due diligence team had reviewed
every aspect of Triple Y, from the financials to how Sid actually
conducted the business day-to-day. Finally satisfied, bargaining for
the final purchase price was about to ensue - tomorrow. Today was
the first time all the players were in the same room together, and
Larry Barton was hosting a swanky private luncheon to kick things off
in style.

Nick stopped short and held his breath when he caught sight of Sid
through the dining room`s interior window. *She's here.* Perched on
the edge of her chair, posture ram-rod straight, Sid was listening
attentively to Larry Barton. Her dark red curls were woven into a
single, thick French braid, accenting her freckled cheekbones.

Nick hadn't seen Sid since last June, but he'd kept in contact with
her through phone calls and e-mails. She'd undergone yet another
surgery last July, her orthopedist re-breaking and re-setting her leg
with plates and screws. "Now I own a hardware store, too, Nick. It's
in my leg," she'd laughed, talking with him just two days after
surgery.

But the painful physical therapy she'd endured had been no laughing
matter. Six solid months of exercise machines, ice packs and
electrical muscle stimulation had eaten up much of the woman's time.
And resolving the Clayton Griffin and Nancy Harding mess took over
her remaining waking hours. Sid had made it through, and had landed
firmly on her feet.

*And now she's here. In Pittsburgh.*

Nick took a step closer to the window, still undetected by the group
inside, and stole another look at Sid. She seemed thin and pale, like
a person who'd suffered through a long illness. *Fragile* was the
word that immediately came to his mind. Although she was smiling, her
green eyes were serious. She watched the room like a hawk, observing
the real dynamics of the room.

*Who else is here?* Nick quickly scanned the room. Dad, Kenny
Barton, the three-member due diligence team, and some Native American
guy sitting beside Sid. Nick chuckled softly. *Sid's the only woman
in the room.*

And then, Larry said something that made Sid laugh the deep, rich
laugh that Nick remembered so well. Nick smiled, too. Then he
quickly wiped the smile from his face and entered the room.

"Dr. Hunter. . .Sid. . . welcome to Pittsburgh," Nick said seriously.
He extended his hand in a business-like manner, masking the
excitement he was feeling inside. He was looking forward to touching
her again, even if it was just to shake hands.

She grasped Nick's hand firmly, and shook it, also very
businesslike. "Nick," Sid said quietly, eyes twinkling. "I'm glad
to be here - at last." Her shy smile let Nick know she was pleased to
see him again.

She patted the arm of the athletic man with jet-black hair who sat to
her right. "Nick, this is Edmund Garza." Half-Hispanic, half-Native
American, and one-hundred percent shark, Ed Garza was Arizona's top
corporate attorney. He'd stepped in as part of Sid's advisement team
after Nancy Harding had admitted to keeping two sets of company
books. It had taken seven weeks for the forensic CPA to reconcile
those books and produce a true picture of Triple Y's financial
status. Edmund had been there every step of the way, making certain
everything got organized so the sale of Sid's company could go
forward.

Nick and Ed shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

"Hey, Nick," said a slurred voice. A tall, skeletal man with a gray
complexion joined Nick and clapped him on his back. It was Kenny
Barton - Ken, he preferred to be called now - Larry's son, and a
childhood friend of Nick's. He'd already started drinking his lunch,
stirring his gin and tonic with a tiny green straw.

"Kenny, have you met Sidney Hunter?" Nick asked, always the gentleman.

"It's *Ken*, Nick. And yes,I met the good doctor this morning when
she toured our facilities," he replied in a biting tone, glancing at
Sid with jealous eyes. Kenny was not at all happy that his father had
decided to hire Sidney Hunter. As president of the accessories
division of Three Rivers, he'd always drifted carefree at work. Kenny
knew that she was about to raise the bar on performance standards for
senior management.

"Had any *fun* lately?" Ken taunted Nick with an amused,knowing
expression. He knew that Nick's overscheduled life was racing full
throttle. He also knew, after watching Nick with Sid, that the young
lawyer had feelings for the good doctor. He wondered if Sidney Hunter
knew about Nick Fallin's love affair with cocaine, his arrest, and
subsequent community service sentence over at Legal Services of
Pittsburgh.

*It might be ammunition I could use later.*

Nick shrugged off Ken's question and watched unhappily as Ken threw
down another drink.

Sid was beginning to feel unsettled. Ken's rudeness toward her raised
some internal warning signals about going to work for Three Rivers.
She was just beginning to mull over this uneasy feeling when Larry
Barton interrupted her thoughts.

"Excuse me? Everyone? Lunch is about to be served. Please take your
seats." Larry sat at the head of the table, everyone else found a
chair, and lunch was served.

From the mandarin endive salad to the decadent chocolate torte
dessert, the meal was delectable. Nick enjoyed watching Sid play the
crowd, steering the conversation first to movies and then to sports.

"What's your favorite sport, Larry?" she asked. Nick noticed that she
barely touched her food, only taking tiny bites of each course.

*Nerves?*

"My favorite sport's watching the stock market," laughed
Larry. "What about you, Nick?"

Nick shrugged. He was about to answer when Ken interrupted.

"What's *your* favorite sport, Dr. Hunter?" Ken slurred. He'd heard
all about Sid's leg injury and subsequent operations from his dad,
but Kenny Barton had an ulterior motive. He wanted - and needed - to
see Sidney Hunter squirm.

"Whatever's in season." Sid refused to let Ken intimidate her. After
all she'd been through, a drunk like Ken was hardly a threat. "I
love the snow, but I really enjoy warm weather sports, too. What
about you, Ken?"

"Surely you must ski, living in Telluride," Ken jabbered, ignoring
her question.

"I do, but not this year." Sid remained unruffled. "My leg is still
mending. But it doesn't stop me from snow tubing." She crinkled her
face into a knowing smile and glanced at Nick.

Nick cringed and shook his head, giving Sid a sly grin. The last
time he'd been on a snow tube had not a pleasant experience.

"How's the powder in Telluride right now? Tell us *all* about it,"
Ken demanded caustically.

Sid continued to take Ken's relentless questioning in stride. "The
powder's great. We had early snowfall this year. Snow pack's deep.
You should come out. See the store, enjoy the Rockies at their
finest. You should really plan to come." She was sincere about her
invitation, mentioning that she was always ready for company.

"Yeah, right," Ken replied in a sarcastic tone. "Now, if I come to
Telluride, will I get run off the road, too, or will someone try to
kill me?" He threw back another gin and tonic and waited for Sid's
reaction.

Sid stiffened. Ken's latest insensitive remark and pressures of the
day finally began closing in on the young woman. She opened her mouth
to speak, but her response stuck in her throat. Sid suddenly felt
smothered and needed space to breathe.

"You have no idea what you are talking about,Kenny," Nick bristled,
his voice low and threatening.

"Excuse me, I'll be right back," Sid said finally. She stood up,
smoothed down her long black wool skirt and slowly left the table. It
was a shock for Nick to see her walking with a limp.

*I thought her last operation fixed her leg. Why is she still
limping?*

He watched Sid shuffle down the hall toward the maitre`d stand.
*Ken's remarks could cause a negotiations disaster tomorrow.*

"Way to go, son," Larry commented acidly. "Put Sid at ease and make
her really eager to come to work for us."

Edmund pushed his chair back to retrieve Sid. "I'll go talk with
her."

Nick stopped him. "I'll go, Ed. After all, I was also pushed off the
road and held at gunpoint." His cold blue-gray eyes shot darts at
Ken as he left the table in search of Sid.

The maitre'd pointed him to the club's terrace. Sid stood in the
freezing cold, hugging herself, staring at downtown Pittsburgh and
the Monongahela River. Her moss-colored suede bolero, while
complementing her coloring beautifully, was no protection against
January's cold. She shivered as she realized that Ken Barton would
undermine her future position at Three Rivers.

"Sid," Nick called. He briskly walked over to her and placed his hand
at the small of her back. "Come inside. It's freezing out here." He
tried to steer her back into the warmth of the club.

Sid did not move. Yes, it was freezing outside, but she didn't care.
She needed that cold air to clear her head and calm her anger. She
sucked in the fresh oxygen deeply and glanced at Nick, wondering out
loud if going to work for Larry Barton was a good idea after all.

"Kenny Barton is an ass, Sid, but he's usually not like this. He's
just had too much to drink this afternoon and he shot off his
mouth."

"I`m not sure he's *that* drunk. And I'd have to work with *him*?"

"He's just jealous, Sid. He`s not a leader. You are."

Nick was right. Kenny Barton was a weakling. Sid shivered again.

*I can deal with a do-nothing like Kenny Barton. But do I want to?*

There was a pause in the conversation. Nick finally spoke, almost in
a whisper. "What's happened with your leg? You told me it was
alright."

"It *is* alright, Nick," Sid murmured, making eye contact with the
man who sent sparks flying through her just by standing this
close. "I knew I was going to be on my feet all day and just wore my
immobilizer for leg support, that's all. It really is okay."

Nick averted his eyes and stroked the back of his head with his
hand. "That's good," he whispered. He paused and then gazed at Sid
again. "Are you ready to come back inside yet? Because I'm really
getting cold. . ."

Sid smiled and took his arm. "What's the matter, Mr. Fallin? Can't
take a little cold weather? Even after being snowbound overnight in
Colorado?" she teased.

Nick shook his head and smiled. They returned inside.

When Nick and Sid returned to the table, their cheeks were bright red
from the cold. But Sid's were also red because of the anger burning
within her. She stared at Ken Barton with a steely-eyed gaze that
said, 'I've got your number, you pathetic jerk.' It was a non-verbal
challenge, a non-verbal threat to Ken, letting him know that she was
not to be messed with.

It was a challenge that Kenny Barton lost. He quickly looked away,
humiliated and embarrassed. He filed that humiliating experience
away in the revenge part of his brain.

*You might have won this round, Dr. Hunter, but I'll win the war.*



End Part One


 
The Hidden Truth - Part 2
 

"Howdy,I'm Sidney Hunter. I have an appointment with Nicholas
Fallin."

"Just one moment," said the perky receptionist sitting behind the
sleek desk at Fallin and Fallin. She picked up the phone and spoke
into it softly.

In a moment Jake Straka rounded the corner and saw a delicate woman
in deep conversation with a dark-haired man. She was telling her
companion something very surprising.

"Dr. Hunter? Mr. Garza?" Jake said cheerfully, interrupting their
discussion. "Nick sends his apologies. He's running late and would
like me to show you to the conference room. He should be here soon,
and then we'll get the negotiations under way."

He quickly pointed them down the hall and paused at the reception
desk. "Gretchen, call Nick and tell him to hurry. He's killing me
here." Jake rushed to catch up with the two visitors.

*Burton's already has Larry sequestered in his office. Well, at least
I get to finally meet Sidney Hunter face to face.*

Jake was perplexed. Sid was nothing like Jake had imagined. From the
information he'd pieced together from Nick and Burton, Sidney Hunter
was a go-getter, an energetic, savvy businesswoman who was
negotiating the sale of her company to Larry Barton and Three Rivers
Furniture Group. She was also considering joining Three Rivers as a
division president.

He'd heard all about how this quick-thinking red-head's winter
survival skills had saved the day when she and Nick were snowbound in
a wrecked car in the Rocky Mountains. How she'd almost been killed
along with Nick last June at that gravel pullout. And how her injured
leg had given her nothing but grief for almost a solid year.

Jake wondered if her fragile appearance was a result of those
horrible experiences. This woman seemed too tired and frail to be a
business dynamo, like a thin piece of glass that would shatter if the
slightest breeze blew.

Sid looked tired because she *was* tired. She'd had a busy day
yesterday, and very little sleep last night. The uneasy feelings
she'd had about working at Three Rivers had multiplied exponentially
over the past six months. Kenny Barton's behavior yesterday had
forced Sid into some serious soul-searching. After a sleepless night,
she had finally made a heart-wrenching decision.

********
"Conference Room, twenty-eight minutes ago," Gretchen announced to
Nick Fallin as he rushed through the front doors of his firm. He
always hated being late, but especially today. He pulled off his coat
and bounded around the corner to find Sid standing in the hall alone.
Jake was sitting in the conference room talking shop with Ed Garza.

*Why isn't Jake looking after Sid? She's the seller, not Ed.*

"Sid," Nick said smoothly, pointing toward Jake and Ed. "Why don't
you sit in the conference room? I'll be there in just a moment."

"I've *been* sitting in the conference room, Nick. I needed to
stretch my leg. It was cramping."

"Okay." He glanced at the two lawyers trading stories in the
conference room. "Sid, may I have a moment with you," he said
quietly, "in private?"

She nodded with a slight smile. He took her by the elbow and walked
her down the hall out of ear-shot of Jake and Edmund Garza.

The young attorney put his briefcase on a chair and shuffled through
the files in his briefcase. He grabbed the one labeled Three Rivers
and opened it, a last minute review before negotiations began.

Keeping his eyes on the file, he spoke quietly. "I left you a message
at your hotel after lunch yesterday, but you didn't return my call.
I. . . wanted to take you out last night."

"I didn't get your message until late. I had two other appointments
after lunch yesterday, as well as a dinner engagement." Sid shrugged
apologetically. "I'm sorry, I didn't know we had plans."

Nick raised his eyebrows. His eyes were still on the file, but his
mind was on what Sid had just said. *Two other appointments? A dinner
date? Who could she be seeing in Pittsburgh? And why?*

When Sid reached out and squeezed Nick's arm, her unexpected touch
sent a jagged bolt of electricity through him. He looked up from the
file into the warmth of her twinkling moss-colored eyes.

"Remember, I've been living a Cowboy's and *Indian's* existence."
Her quiet Southern drawl was calm and soothing.

*Ahhh, that's it. She had archeology appointments.*

Nick nodded with understanding. "So, how about tonight?" He wanted -
needed - to spend time alone with Sid. It was frustrating to be this
close, to smell the lemony scent of her skin and not take her into
his arms.

"Actually, I have another dinner scheduled. . ."

Nick shifted his gaze to the floor, hoping to hide his
disappointment. *I can`t believe this!*

". . .that I'll cancel right now," she said gently. "Can you point me
to a phone?"

Nick led her to an empty office. "Just dial 9 for an outside line,"
he said. "I'll be right back. I need to hang up my coat."

When Nick excused himself, Sid picked up the phone and left a message
for a Dr. Forbes, canceling their dinner meeting.

Nick caught up with Sid as she walked back down the hall toward the
conference room.

"I am now free this evening, Mr. Fallin," she announced with a
meaningful tilt of her head. "Just tell me when and where. Now, do
you think we can get these negotiations underway?"

Nick smiled and walked down the hall his guest. He was very glad Sid
was in Pittsburgh, pleased that she'd cancelled her dinner date, and
very hopeful that negotiations would be over quickly.

Larry Barton stopped Sid and Nick in the hall just outside the
conference room. "Before we get started, Dr. Hunter, I want to
apologize for my son's behavior at lunch yesterday. It was appalling.
Believe me, I had it out with him last night. I hope that it won't
influence any upcoming business decisions."

Sid nodded slowly. She finally spoke, looking the man straight in the
eye. "I'm going to accept your apology on behalf of your son, because
I know you mean well. Your company is in trouble. You're anxious to
acquire Triple Y to boost your earnings. That's a good business
decision, Larry. I'll have to admit, though, that Kenny's behavior -
and yours - *has* influenced some of my decisions. But I'll let
Edmund tell you all about that after we get inside."

She raised her eyebrows and left Larry and Nick standing together in
the hall - stunned.

********
Edmund was a top-notch shark who had done his homework well. He
started the negotiations with a bang, announcing that Sid was no
longer available to work for Three Rivers Furniture Group.

Larry's mouth dropped open in surprise. He had not expected
*this*.

Nick's stomach lurched. *Why didn't she tell me? I thought she
wouldn't sell her company to strangers. What happened?* While he hid
his disappointment behind his lawyerly mask, his heart sank. He'd
been looking forward to spending more time with Sid, but now...what?
He looked at Sid in disbelief.

Sid calmly returned his stare, her face smoothed into a solemn mask.

While she would not go to work for Three Rivers, Sid was still very
willing to sell them her company. Nick and Ed got down to serious
bargaining, settling on Triple Y's final purchase price. The cost of
the inventory was fair and easily agreed upon. A little more dicey
was the overall payment structure, the amount of cash to be paid up
front, and the amount of future unexpected earnings she'd receive.

Although she thought it would be stressful, Sid found herself
enjoying the way the two attorneys fought for their clients' best
interests. She was impressed with Nick's negotiation tactics and was
grateful that she'd retained a pro like Edmund Garza.

Things got a little nasty when Ed demanded that Sid retain ownership
of the buildings; they were not for sale. Nick and Larry bristled.

"My client's *stores* are for sale, not the buildings themselves," Ed
shrugged. "If you're uncomfortable with Dr. Hunter as your landlord,
you can always find other retail space."

"That's cost prohibitive!" Larry sputtered.

In the end, Nick conceded. Ed Garza was right. It was Sid's company
they were negotiating, not the buildings they were housed in.

They closed that afternoon. Everyone seemed satisfied. Sid believed
that she had received an accurate valuation for her company and
inventory. In particular, she liked the potential to receive cash
from future unexpected earnings. And in a very strange twist of
events, Sid became Three Rivers' landlord in Telluride, Scottsdale,
Sedona, and Santa Fe.

Larry Barton was also pleased, yet disappointed. Sid was not
available for employment. *And she is now my landlord!* Yet he
wasn't going to have to borrow very much money up-front to buy Triple
Y. All in all, he was pleased to be the new owner of Yippee-Yi-Yo.

********
Sid excused herself and found the ladies room. Now that she was
alone, she drew in a deep breath, sighed, and willed herself not to
cry. She'd just sold her baby - Triple Y - to a stranger.

Yippee-Yi-Yo had been a lot of fun to own. But it had also brought a
lot of heartache, stealing her time, making it easy for her to ignore
her personal life. And in the last year Triple Y had become the
center of her nightmare existence, and the cause of her nagging leg
injury.

She splashed cold water on her face and gave herself a pep talk. She
had made a lot of decisions over the past six months.

*And last night at dinner, too.*

A great deal of money was about to fall into her lap. And all her
retail worries had just been bought by Larry Barton. Sid suddenly
felt completely free for the first time in eleven years. She smoothed
her hair behind her ears, looked at her freckled face in the mirror,
and smiled.

Then Dr. Sidney Hunter walked out the door to face the future - and
Nick.



End Part Two
 
 
 
The Hidden Truth - Part 3
 

Nick did not wait for Sid to emerge from the ladies' room. He rushed
to his office and grabbed his coat and briefcase. He only had one
more thing to take care of at LSoP and then meet with his probation
officer. After that he could take Sid to dinner and find out why she
was suddenly unavailable for the job at Three Rivers.

"I'll pick you up at your hotel tonight at 7:00, Dr. Hunter," he said
quietly as he scurried past her in the hall. He didn't give the red-
head a chance to respond.

********
It was 7:45, and Nick was only forty-five minutes late to pick Sid.
As he dashed down the hall toward her hotel suite, two men emerged
from her room. They were laughing with Sid, donning coats and hats,
and preparing to say goodbye.

"Carl, Frank. This is Nick Fallin," Sid said cheerfully. "Nick's one
of the lawyers responsible for our big celebration today."

As each man eagerly shook Nick's hand,Sid explained. "I've known
these two knuckleheads since grad school. Now they're both wreaking
havoc over at the Carnegie Museum."

Sid bid farewell to her colleagues and invited Nick inside with a
smile. The lights were turned low, and the scent of chocolate filled
the air. He took off his overcoat, looked for a spot to hang it, and
finally draped it across the back of a blue wing-back chair.

"Carl and Frank threw a little celebration for me," she said, nodding
at a half-empty magnum of champagne and a small silver tray piled
high with chocolate-covered strawberries. "Would you like some
champagne?" she asked as she refilled her glass. "Or a strawberry?"

"No, no thank you." An uncomfortable silence filled the room. Nick
slipped his hands in his pockets and studied the floor.

"I thought you meant to work for Three Rivers," he finally said. Nick
glanced up and locked his gaze on Sid, a hint of disappointment
showing in his guarded eyes.

Sid slowly sipped her champagne and considered her reply, wondering
just how much she should tell him right now. He was so handsome
standing over there, brooding. She thought about how he'd rescued her
from that awful ledge and held her close when she was cold and
hurting, and how he'd kissed her later. Even though she'd only spent
a short time with Nick Fallin over the past year, she'd felt a primal
attraction to him from the very beginning. Tonight the combination of
her new-found freedom and the effects of the champagne made her feel
effervescent, bubbly. . .and forward. Very forward.

Nick stood very still, his brow furrowed, his pained gaze boring into
her intently. While he had successfully negotiated the Three Rivers
deal, he felt dissatisfied --- *personally* dissatisfied. Sid had
refused to consider Larry Barton's job offer and would not be
visiting Pittsburgh now. That decision hit him hard.

*Doesn't she know I want her?*

He waited patiently for her response. He was fascinated at the way
her soft lips brushed against the rim of her glass and how she
moistened them with the tip of her tongue.

Finally Sid put down her champagne flute and closed the space between
them.

"All I've wanted to do since last year is sell Triple Y," she
murmured, squeezing his arm. Sid lifted her face and looked into
Nick's vulnerable eyes. "That's why you came to Telluride last year,
remember? My life has been pure hell since then - as you well know -
all because of Yippee-Yi-Yo. After Kenny shot his mouth off and Larry
didn't reel him in. . .well, that was the ultimate danger signal. I
just couldn't do it."

Nick slowly shook his head. Kenny had blown it. *Damn that Kenny
Barton!*

She continued in a silky, low voice, dropping her gaze from his blue-
gray eyes to his soft, full lips. "The only exciting thing about
working for Three Rivers was that I'd have to come to Pittsburgh,
which meant I could see *you*."

A slight smile crossed Nick Fallin's face. In a flash he pulled her
into his arms and kissed her hungrily, as if her lips provided the
nourishment he needed to survive. She tasted of fruity champagne and
dark chocolate as he explored her mouth with his tongue.

Sid responded urgently. Her arms tightened around him as a sharp, hot
pleasure expanded within her.

As he began to unbutton her blouse, Sid's breath quickened.

"I've been wondering what you might look like under here," Nick
whispered. He single-handedly unfastened her bra, a move that
suggested to Sid that he might be very, *very* good. When her full,
lush breasts were bared, Nick moaned appreciatively. She knew he
liked what he saw.

He cupped her breast with his hand, teasing her nipple with his
thumb. Then he leaned over and slowly brushed his lips across her
cleavage. She threw back her head and arched her body toward him.
Sid enjoyed every nibble, every soft kiss this polished young man
offered, gasping with pleasure and wanting more.

Nick's pulse was beating wildly now. He quickly removed his jacket.
When he loosened his tie, Sid stopped him, a sly look in her eye. At
first he didn't understand, but then realized she wanted the pleasure
of undressing *him*. She slowly removed his light blue tie, his crisp
white shirt, and finally his tee-shirt. When she ran her tongue
across each nubbin, Nick was unable to suppress a groan. His strong,
lean body shuddered repeatedly under her butterfly-like kisses.

Nick quickly stepped out of his pants and continued to kiss Sid
ravenously. When he unzipped her trousers and began sliding them down
her hips, she stiffened.

"Wait," she said gently, stopping the downward movement of his hands.
She looked at him with unsure eyes.

"Why?" he whispered, anxious for the heated moment to continue,
concerned that it might not.

"It's just that - well, the sight of my leg kind of freaks people
out. It's still really swollen. And you can see all the scars and
welts. They're still red. The pucker where the fibula poked through
the skin is especially ugly. It's not a pretty sight, Nick." She
winced, afraid that her confession might spoil his desire for her.

He wrapped one arm around her waist and pinned her to his chest,
enjoying the feeling of her breasts against his bare skin. "I don't
care about that," he murmured, as he gently stroked her
shoulder. "It's not important. It doesn't matter."

She lifted her face and searched Nick's eyes. They were pained eyes,
eyes filled with hurt, eyes filled with secrets. But his blue-gray
eyes also revealed his aching desire, his lust, his need for her. His
eyes seemed to promise --- everything.

It was easy for the man to dismiss her scars. Because they *were*
truly unimportant to him. He softly showered her face with kisses and
then gently grazed her lips with his.

Sid felt her body and mind relax. She was now ready. In one smooth
movement, she stepped out of her trousers and led Nick to her
bedroom.

Soon the two were skin to skin, only separated by a condom, flying on
the wings of their passion.

********
"I need a drink of water," Nick said softly. "I'll be right back."
Sid was laying on her side, nestled next to Nick spoon-fashion. He
slowly extracted his arm from beneath her neck.

"Mmmm.. . ." she replied. Sid was dozing, enjoying the sweet dream-
world that comes after prolonged love-making and multiple orgasms.

He kissed her shoulder and then slipped out of bed. Making love to
Sid had been all he'd hoped for - and more. He'd used techniques that
he hadn't tried in a long time, not since his cocaine days. And she'd
taught *him* a thing or two, too. All in all, it was one of the most
satisfying sexual encounters he'd had in quite a while.

After filling a glass with water, he left the bathroom light on and
padded back to Sid. The light cast shadows across the king-sized bed,
illuminating the room with a serene glow. He sat on the edge of the
bed, sipping his water and eyeing her appreciatively.

Sid had rolled over on her back. Her curls formed a spiraled red halo
around her freckled face. Her eyes were still closed and her
expression, relaxed.

He noticed that her right leg was sticking out of the covers. She was
correct, it was still really swollen. He hadn't noticed earlier in
the evening, and it certainly hadn't influenced her sexual
athleticism.

He quietly studied the scars. Clayton Griffin's greed had caused Sid
to endure a lot of pain. How she'd survived it, Nick could only
guess. He reached out and began to gently trace the longest scar with
his index finger, planning to follow it from her knee to her ankle.

"Don`t do that," Sid groaned, quickly sliding her leg under the
covers. She looked at him with a sleepy, embarrassed
expression. "It's still very sensitive. The scar tissue is still very
tender." She rubbed her face with the heels of her hands in an
attempt to wake up.

"I'm sorry, I didn`t mean to. . ." He was not able to complete the
sentence and instead, cast his eyes around the room, suddenly feeling
awkward. He didn't mean anything by touching her scars, he was just
exploring her body. He stole a quick look at Sid, and was surprised
to find her smiling at him.

"You know, Mr. Fallin, we never ate dinner," she deadpanned. "I'm
really hungry. Shall we just order room service?"

Nick agreed and immediately took charge. He picked up the phone and
ordered two light meals and a special dessert. Then he slipped back
into bed, telling her that dinner would arrive in about an hour. She
looked at Nick with mischievous eyes and welcomed him back into her
arms.

********
Thirty minutes later there was a knock on Sid's door. She threw on
her robe, thinking that room service was certainly quicker than
they'd anticipated.

She opened the door and was surprised to find a drunken Kenny Barton
hovering in her doorway.

"Doctor Hunter, good evening," he slurred loudly, pushing Sid aside
and bullying his way into her room. "It's a good evening for you,
anyway. Not good for me. I don't have a job anymore, all because of
you. . ."

"Get out," Sid said forcefully. "You are not welcome here."

She rushed to the phone and was able to squeak "Security!" into the
mouthpiece before Kenny yanked the receiver from her hand.

Nick heard the ruckus. He threw on his boxer shorts and practically
sprinted into the living room.

"Nick," Kenny leered, "I *thought* you had the hots for the good
doctor." He laughed at the sight: Nicholas Fallin standing there in
his underwear. "Is she as good as you thought she'd be?"

"Go home, Kenny, you're drunk," Nick said coldly.

"My dad fired me today. Said Dr. Hunter wouldn't work for Three
Rivers because of *me*. Well, now *I* don't have a job because of
you, Dr. Hunter."

Kenny was a mean drunk and shoved Sid into the wall. Nick closed the
distance between them and stepped in front of her, blocking Kenny
from touching her further.

"Feeling protective, Nick? Or are you gonna share?"

"Go away!" Sid gasped, surprised at Kenny Barton's insinuation. She
stayed behind Nick, placing her hands on his shoulders.

"Leave her alone, Kenny, just leave. . ." Nick shook his head and
pointed Kenny toward the open door.

Kenny decided to tell Sidney Hunter all about Nick Fallin. "You know
all about your *boyfriend*, don't you? How he got arrested for
possession, how he's on probation . . ."

Nick's stomach twisted into a knot. He didn't want Sid to know about
his arrest. She didn't *need* to know. "Leave now, Kenny, leave
before security. . ."

". . .how he has to go to AA meetings all the time . . ."

Kenny's tirade ended when hotel security bounded onto the scene. Nick
quickly explained the situation and asked that Kenny be removed,
forcibly if need be. As two beefy security guards drug him away,
Kenny Barton yelled something about Nick and community service hours.

"Are you alright?" Nick wrapped his arm around a wide-eyed, trembling
Sid and steered her to the sofa.

"He didn't hurt me. I`m fine. It was scary, though." He sat beside
her as she caught her breath.

"So, Kenny got fired today?" she asked nervously. She ran her hands
through her curls and then held her face in her hands.

"I don't know," Nick shrugged. He had no idea what Larry Barton had
done after the negotiations. He did know that Larry should have fired
Kenny long ago.

Neither spoke for a few moments. Sid didn't want to bring up what
Kenny had said, and Nick didn't want her to. But he knew she would.
Nick was waiting for her to shoot him down.

Sid finally asked. "Is it true? What Kenny said about you?" She eyed
Nick, hoping it wasn't, hoping that the drunk had made it all up.

Nick pointed his face to the floor, his eyes seeming to burn holes in
the carpet. He clenched his jaw in a silent response.

"Is it *true*?" she asked again softly, placing her hand on his leg.

Nick sighed and seemed to shrink away from her. "Yes," he shuttered,
owning up to what he'd done.

All the color drained from Sid's face. "But why. . ."

His face turned into an impregnable mask. "I'm on probation.
I. . .I'm working off my sentence at Legal Services of Pittsburgh.
Community service."

"But you're so together, Nick, it's hard for me to imagine that
you. . ."

He offered the woman no excuses. "I've taken responsibility for what
I did," he replied dispassionately.

Sid sat thinking, her heart racing, trying to sort out this new
information.

"Are you still using?" she asked apprehensively. Her slender fingers
began to twirl a red ringlet at the nape of her neck.

"What? No! No, I'm clean," he said, head still down. It was an
insulting question, but one Sid was entitled to ask. He would never
admit to the continuing lure of the white powder. It made him feel so
much more alive and gave him boundless energy. But he knew he
couldn't - and wouldn't - start using again.

Moments ticked by. Nick shifted uncomfortably and continued to stare
at the floor. He peeked at her out of the corner of his eye, unsure
of what this unpredictable woman might say next.

"It's not up to me to judge you," Sid finally said. "Everyone makes
mistakes, everyone has problems."

He slowly shook his head, because he didn't have a problem with what
he'd done. He just had a problem getting caught.


End Part 3
 
 
 
The Hidden Truth - Part 4
 


An awkward silence stretched between Nick and Sid as they sat on the
sofa. It seemed to Nick that she was waiting for him to explain why
he'd used cocaine, what happened when he was arrested - all the gory
details. Nick would not do that. Not offering an explanation might
seem harsh to someone like Sid, someone who thought the world of him,
someone who thought he was "so together". But he would never explain,
because he wasn't sure that he could.

Nick shook his head again and stood. He scooped his tee-shirt off the
floor and put it on.

"You're not leaving," Sid exclaimed. Her face shifted to a confused
expression.

"Uh, I need to go. I`ve got work to do," he said, dismissing her. He
grabbed his clothing and headed for the bedroom.

"But dinner's being delivered any minute." Sid didn't want the man to
leave now. Not like this.

"When are you flying back to Telluride? Tomorrow?" Nick asked flatly,
emerging from the bedroom fully clothed. He quickly lifted his
overcoat off the wing-back chair and put it on, being careful not to
make eye contact.

"I`m leaving day after tomorrow," Sid said dejectedly. She wasn't
about to tell him that she was flying to Tucson, not Telluride, to
sign a contract for a new job. Not now.

As she watched him prepare to leave, a million questions ran through
her mind. *What happened? Nick's behavior had changed so rapidly.
From shark to lover, to protector, to. . .what, Ice Man?*

"Well. . .I'll call you. Good night."

As Nick opened the door to leave, room service arrived and delivered
the meal that he had ordered. Chinese for two, light and healthy. It
was the dessert that stabbed Sid in the heart: one serving of Death
by Chocolate - and two dessert spoons.

********
The next day was a whirlwind of activity for Nick. He had three LSP
hearings before lunch, plus all the support work that went with them.
Lunch was taken up by an unexpected meeting. He was able to get to
Fallin and Fallin mid-afternoon. And when he finally had a moment
alone, the thought of Sid washed over him like a massive tidal wave.

*She was great last night. Adventurous, provocative, tender. . .*

Nick grimaced when he remembered walking out on her. *Why did I push
Sid away? Why did I leave? She seemed so open and accepting.*

He leaned back in his chair and toyed with his pen. *She told me she
was leaving tomorrow. I might not ever see her again. Not since she
refused Larry's job offer.*

He owed that woman an apology. And dinner. A nice dinner. Besides,he
wanted to see her - and needed to be with her - one more time before
she flew out of his life.

He picked up the phone and called Sid's suite, hoping she would
answer. The phone rang several times and then rolled over to voice
mail. Nick left her an urgent message, asking her to return his call
at her earliest convenience.

He hung up, disappointed. *If she doesn't call me back, then that's
it. I'll know she's not interested.*

He dismissed any more thoughts of the red-head, pulled a file from
his briefcase, and immediately lost himself in work.

********
That day was also a whirlwind of activity for Sid. She spent the bulk
of the day with Carl and Frank, helping them rethink their archeology
exhibits at the Carnegie. They dropped her off at her hotel at dusk.
She'd passed on their dinner invitation, wanting to just sink into
the Jacuzzi and rest her leg. She'd been on her feet most of the day,
and had not worn her immobilizer. Her leg was swollen big-time and
she needed to elevate it ASAP.

As Sid made her way into the hotel, alone and unprotected, she failed
to notice a shadowy figure sitting in a parked car across the street.
The lone man watched her movements, talked on his cell phone, and
then trailed her inside.

She waved at the desk clerk as she limped onto the elevator. *Damn
this leg! It's really bothering me tonight.*

Sid sighed and leaned against the elevator's wall to take the weight
off her leg. Now that she was alone, memories of last night bounced
around her brain, pushing her other thoughts - important thoughts -
aside. Everything had gone so well until Kenny Barton had interrupted
them.

*We were amazing together, and I feel so comfortable with Nick. Why
did he leave like that? Did I say something wrong?*

She began to analyze her so-called 'relationship' with Nick as she
lurched off the elevator. The time they'd spent together in Colorado
had been so intense and stressful. His behavior had been steadfast
and logical. Maybe that was just the lawyer in him.

A horrible thought crept into her soul and shook Sid to the core. *He
certainly knew his way around the bedroom. Was I just another of Nick
Fallin's conquests?* She caught a ragged breath at the implications
swirling around that idea as she slowly hobbled down the hall.

Sid slipped the key card from the lock and closed the door to the
suite behind her, making sure to chain the door. She immediately got
undressed and threw on her faded, blue chenille robe.

*What a day.* Sid grabbed a towel, the half-full champagne bottle and
the ice packs from the mini-fridge and wilted into the wing-back
chair. She'd taken several scary steps toward a new life over the
past few days, and planned to make more important decisions about her
professional life tonight.

She wrapped the towel and then the ice packs around her leg and
propped it on the coffee table. Her mind was such a jumble of
thoughts, she decided to just drift for a while and drink champagne,
and swigged some straight from the bottle. While her mind boiled over
with things she needed to do, her thoughts kept boomeranging back to
Nick.

She readily admitted that she didn't know the real Nick Fallin.
*Maybe I don't want to know the real Nick. Maybe I want a passionate,
no-strings-attached encounter, too. After all, I'm a rational adult.
I'm free to do whatever I want, with whomever I choose.*

Her heart and body ached in response: *Yeah, but you want to
do `whatever' with Nick Fallin.* She smiled to herself mischievously
as she imagined what 'whatever' could entail.

*Bam! Bam!* The sudden, loud knock at the door startled Sid enough to
made her jump.

"Who is it?" she called forcefully, not leaving her chair. After last
night's episode, she was planning not to open her door at all. *It
might be Kenny Barton.*

"Room service."

"Uh, wrong room. I didn't order room service."

There was a pause. Then the male voice responded. "A friend has sent
you dinner, Dr. Hunter."

"Who ordered it?" Sid yelled. She was beginning to feel frightened.
Was Kenny Barton banging on her door again? Was he trying to trick
her into letting him back in her room?

She walked to the door gingerly, icepacks held in place by their
Velcro straps, and peered through the security peep-hole. The same
waiter who had delivered last night's meal was smiling on the other
side of the door. She didn't realize there was a second man standing
beyond the peep hole's view.

Sid felt somewhat relieved when she recognized the waiter. She
cracked open the door, chain still in place. Instead of the waiter
she saw - Nick.

"N-Nick. What`s going on?" Sid asked incredulously, dividing her
attention between Nick and the smiling waiter.

"I ordered dinner for two," he said. His eyes were smoky and were
already making sensual suggestions. "May we come in?" he asked in a
low, smooth voice.

"Uh - I guess so," Sid responded, quickly fumbling with the chain on
the door.

The waiter rolled the dinner cart into Sid's living area as Nick
quickly peeled a fifty dollar bill from his wallet. "Thanks for
helping me, Ramón," he said, handing the tip over.

"Anytime, Mr. Fallin, anytime," Ramón grinned, and left the room,
closing the door behind him.

Sid leaned against the door, supporting herself on her good leg. Her
heart was racing, her nerves jumpy and raw after being caught off-
guard by her handsome, unexpected guest. She used the moment to catch
her breath, and figure out how to protect her heart from this man
who`d walked out on her the night before.

Nick looked at her intensely, drinking in the sight of her. She
seemed to intoxicate all of his senses. His eyes wandered from her
lustrous, dark red curls to her moss-green eyes, her soft raspberry-
colored lips, and then beyond, toward her robe. *That robe!* He
wondered what she was - or wasn't - wearing underneath. He winced
when his eyes finally spied the ice packs wrapped around her leg.

Sid easily picked up Nick's reaction. "The latest in ladies'
couture," she joked quietly. "Ice pack chic." As she walked toward
him, her leg gave way, buckling under her. Nick was right there to
catch her, wrapping his arms around her waist to steady her.

"I've been on my feet all day. My leg is just swollen and worn out,"
she murmured, stunned at the sparks his touch ignited inside her. As
she tilted her face to Nick's, her lips parted.

The vulnerable expression on her face was one that Nick could not
resist. Before she could collect herself to ask him what happened
last night, he kissed her roughly, his lips bruising hers. He fought
the urge to rip her robe off right then and there and explore every
aspect of her body, every soft place and curve, with his hands and
lips.

Finally pulling away from their embrace, Sid stared at her visitor,
confused and overwhelmed. She'd been frightened, thinking that it was
Kenny Barton banging on her door. Instead she discovered a sexually
supercharged Nick Fallin. The same Nick Fallin who'd left her alone
with two dinners and a Death By Chocolate last night.

"Nick, what is all this about? Why are you here?"

Nick took one look at her astounded face and tried to explain. "I - I
needed to see you before you left," he said quietly, his eyes meeting
hers and darkening with desire.

Sid furrowed her brow and nodded her head. "Okay. But how did you
know I was here? I`ve been gone all day."

"I called the hotel this afternoon and told them I wanted to surprise
you with dinner, but they didn't know when you'd return. I've been in
my car outside the hotel waiting, watching for you. I called room
service when you arrived. I. . .hope you don`t have other plans
tonight."

"I - no," Sid said hesitantly, trying to wrap her mind around this
unexpected surprise, trying to quash her spiking desire for this man.
After last night, she didn't think she'd ever see Nick Fallin
again. "I was just planning to soak in the Jacuzzi. . ."

"That might be something we can do together later," Nick suggested in
a husky voice. It was the look in his eye - and the way that he
kissed her again - that melted Sid straight away.


End Part 4
 
 
The Hidden Truth - Part 5
 


"So, why *did* you leave last night?" Sid asked, extracting herself
from Nick's sexy grasp. She needed to put some space between them to
ask this troublesome question. Turning and slowly limping to the
sofa, she eased herself down and then gingerly elevated her swollen
leg on the coffee table.

Nick didn't answer. He didn't want to have this conversation at all,
but he knew he'd have to say something palatable for Sid to digest
before they could enjoy the rest of the evening.

She regarded him cautiously. "Okay, then, what did I do wrong?" Her
tone of her voice was carefree, but the pained look in her eyes
revealed her true feelings.

Nick shook his head and averted his eyes, pressing his lips
together. "Nothing," he quickly murmured, still studying the
floor. "You didn't do anything wrong. You're amazing. . ."

Sid interrupted the young man. "Then why did you leave?"

He turned away. *Why did I leave?* He shook his head and tried to
explain. After a false start, he finally began. "Sid, I'm - I'm sorry
about last night." He looked at the ceiling and blinked rapidly. "I
was just angry at Kenny because I - I hadn't planned on telling you
about that part of my past." *There. I said it.*

Sid nodded slowly. *At least Nick's being honest about why he left.*
Feeling embarrassed and humiliated by others was something Sid
certainly knew about. After the embezzlement of her company was
discovered, she'd felt like a fool. She'd trusted her management team
and had lost a lot of money, not to mention almost loosing her life -
twice. She didn't plan on telling anyone about that part of her past
if she could help it.

Nick took a seat next to the red-head and turned his body toward
her. "Sid, I - I still have impulses I have to control, but I'm *not*
using. And I won't ever again."

Sid didn't respond. Should she believe him? She'd already been
through so much in the past year: Clayton Griffin, Nancy Harding, and
the embezzlement of her company - all because of her trusting nature.
Should she take a chance on Nick? She studied him silently, wondering.

He waited for Sid to say something - anything. *What on earth she
could be thinking?* She seemed so pale and fragile, as if she could
break into a million pieces any minute, bundled up in that old robe
with those huge ice packs wrapped around her leg. It looked like the
weight of the world was on her shoulders. Nick just wanted to wrap
his arms around her and hold her. This whole situation was damned
awkward.

*I`ll throttle Kenny Barton if I ever set eyes on him again.*

"I`m fulfilling all the requirements of my probation, and I lead a
different life now," Nick continued earnestly.

Sid remained silent. She tilted her head to one side, nodded, and
considered what he was saying. *I'm on the cusp of leading a
different life, too. One that just might include you, Nick Fallin.*

The atmosphere was heavily charged. Nick was sick of talking about
this. Half of him wanted to leave, to just walk out the door. The
other half wanted to get past this conversation and continue with the
amazing evening he'd planned.

Sid continued to think. Nick had played a major role in all the
brightest - and darkest - moments of her past year. The man she'd
seen in action had been courageous, resourceful, intelligent, tender.
She recognized those qualities as part of Nick's true self.

Finally, she broke her silence. "How long have you been clean?" she
asked gently.

"A little over a year," he whispered, locking his eyes on hers.

The haunting pain behind those blue-gray eyes screamed for her trust.
Those same eyes reminded her that Nick had faith in her, that he'd
trusted her enough to open up . . . a little. Despite the insistent
doubts that were protecting her heart, everything clicked into place.
*Perhaps we can learn to trust, together.*

"Congratulations," Sid said with sweet admiration in her eyes.

"Thanks." Nick gave her a shy smile and a curt nod.

Sid slowly shifted her moss-colored eyes to the dome-covered dinner
trays. "Nick, do you think we can eat now? All I've had to eat today
is a stale pimento cheese sandwich and a few swigs of this
champagne," she said with a small chuckle.

Nick heaved an internal sigh of relief and grinned, glad that this
portion of the conversation was over. "Let's see what room service
and Ramón did for us."

********
The conversation drifted easily through dinner. Sid entertained Nick
with tales of her archeological digs and petroglyph surveys sponsored
by the Heritage Center.

*The Heritage Center.* Sid had taken Nick on a short tour of the
Anasazi Cultural Heritage Center and he knew that archeology was her
true passion. But he simply couldn't imagine that the part time job
at the Center could keep Sid's life busy enough now that she`d sold
Triple Y. So he asked the question that had been on his mind ever
since she'd turned down the Three Rivers job.

"Sid, What are you going to do now - just work at the Heritage
Center?"

"Oh, I've been sifting through some job offers," she said lazily,
waiting for a reaction from the man sitting close beside her.

"Really." It didn't surprise Nick that Sid already had job prospects.

She drew back to look him in the eye. "I'm accepting two of them."

Nick's eyebrows shot skyward. "*Two* of them? Already? What are they?
Where?"

Sid held up her hand to stop the barrage of questions she knew was
coming her way. "Let me talk without interruption, please, and I'll
tell you," she requested with a wry expression.

Nick nodded and took a deep breath. He stared at her expectantly,
knowing that Sidney Hunter was full of surprises.

"I'm accepting a job with the Arizona State Museum Pottery Project,
creating displays for their Native American ceramics collection.
I`m flying to Tucson tomorrow to sign the contract."

*Tucson?* Nick was in shock. "You're *moving*? What about your work
at the Heritage Center?"

"It's time to start something new. I`m giving the Center sixty days
notice next week."

Nick never thought Sid would choose to leave the Heritage Center or
Telluride. "But your house. . ."

". . .will be kept as rental property. I'm also keeping my cabin in
Delores. It's only a day's drive from Tucson." She eyed Nick
playfully. "You haven't been there - yet," she winked.

Nick shook his head in disbelief. Sid was amazingly unpredictable.
And now she was moving on with her life. *She won't be coming to
Pittsburgh again.* Nick looked wistfully at the red-head, wishing
with all his heart that she'd taken the Three Rivers position.

"Then it's my turn to offer congratulations," he murmured. He took
her into his embrace, tilted her face to meet his and kissed her,
trying to dismiss the feeling of emptiness already filling his aching
heart.

********

Nick wrapped his arms around Sid's waist and nuzzled her curved neck
as they lay nestled together in the bubbling Jacuzzi. Dinner had been
delicious, and so had their after-dinner love-making session.

"I wish you'd taken the job at Three Rivers," he said softly, missing
her already. He moved over just a bit to allow the jet of water
beating against his back to attack another muscle group. Sid
followed, easily in concert with his movement.

She didn't respond at first. Sid pulled his arms tighter around her
waist and snuggled her body closer to his. "No, Nick," she sighed,
laying the back of her head against his shoulder, "I wouldn't have
been happy there. Anyway, I like the new path I'm taking."

That statement was a low blow for Nick. Moving to Tucson meant he
would not see her on a regular basis. *Doesn't she realize that?* His
spirit sagged, but he kept up a good front and forced the
disappointment from his voice. "How? How so?"

Sid extracted herself from Nick's wonderful grip and turned around in
the water, facing the young man she enjoyed so much. "Maybe it
concerns the other job I've accepted," she hinted merrily.

Nick just shook his head and shrugged. "What other job? I thought you
were going to Tucson."

"Yes, but remember, I said *two* jobs."

His eyes searched her face. She *had* said that. He'd been so shocked
about Tucson that he'd forgotten all about the other job. "Oh, yeah.
One job's in Tucson. The other one. . ." He let his sentence drift,
waiting for Sid to complete it.

"Oh, the other one will bring me to Pittsburgh - every once in a
while," she smiled, eyes glittering, face flushed with the pleasure
of finally spilling the beans.

"What?!"

Sid laughed that deep, vibrant laugh that had been missing tonight -
until now. "Last year Carl and Frank started their own part-time
archeological consulting firm. Every now and then they need an extra
hand to do site surveys, assessments, that sort of thing. Looks like
I'm their part-time 'man'. They offered me the job, and I've
accepted."

A slow smile flickered across his face. "You're their 'man'?"

He then heard the softest, sexiest, most satisfying answer he could
ever imagine. She smiled and whispered the words, "Yeah. I'm
their 'man'."

His face flashed with pleasure. "We should really celebrate. What
would you like to do?"

"I`d love to go dancing, but I really have to stay off my leg. You
think we could find something else to do?" Sid asked with a
suggestive sparkle in her eyes.

"Sure, I imagine we could," he responded mischeviously. As he pulled
her back into his embrace, Sid made new waves in the bubbling water -
and new waves in Nick Fallin's life.



The End