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  “Look,” Tess said. “It’s just that—”

  “It’s just that you don’t respect me enough to respect what I want,” Gina said. “I have to want what you want or it doesn’t count or it’s no good. And so does Nick and so does Park. Well, we don’t want what you want. And I don’t see why we have to. I mean, as long as we respect what you want and let you live your life, why do you care?”

  “Because you’re changing,” Tess said. “I watch you when you’re with Park. You’re quieter and you don’t talk as much and you dress—”

  “I dress to fit in,” Gina said. “And I’ll tell you something. I like it.”

  “But you used to wear those…those…” Tess fumbled for the words. “You know, those dancer things. You were darling and avant garde and sexy. And now you look…I don’t know. Adult.”

  “I dressed like a dancer because I was a dancer,” Gina said. “Now I want to be an adult so I’m dressing like one. And when Park and I are alone, I talk. We talk all the time.”

  “But not in public.” Tess seized on the point. “When you’re out with Park—”

  “I never have talked much in public,” Gina said. “I’d rather listen. I’ve always been that way.”

  “You have? Then why haven’t I noticed?”

  “Because you were always talking,” Gina said. “You talk. I don’t.”

  “I still think you’re changing because of Park,” Tess said stubbornly.

  “Okay, say you’re right,” Gina said. “So what?”

  “Well, that’s wrong. You’ve got to be yourself.”

  “I am myself. I’m just trying to be more like someone I care about. I’m adjusting. And why not? He’s adjusting to me. He came over the other night and I made canned ravioli and he liked it. And last weekend I took him to the midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and he threw toast.”

  “Park threw toast?”

  “Change doesn’t have to be bad, Tess. People write books about it all the time. Only they call it ‘personal growth.”’

  “I suppose,” Tess said reluctantly. “I just think I could handle your personal growth better if it wasn’t being inspired by Park.”

  “Tess, I love Park.” Tess closed her eyes in pain, but Gina went on. “I know you don’t like him, but I don’t care. You don’t know him. Underneath he’s really sweet and kind and understanding, and I’ve never felt so taken care of in my life, and I want to give him the world and I’m going to, so just butt out.”

  Tess swallowed everything she knew about Park and smiled. Tightly. “All right. All right. I’m happy if you’re happy.”

  “Really?”

  “Really,” Tess lied.

  Gina sighed. “Well, then, to tell you the truth, I don’t know if I’m happy or not. Park’s wonderful, and when it’s just us, everything is great, but sooner or later I’m going to have to meet his family, and I don’t think I fit the profile of a Patterson wife.”

  “Me, either,” Tess said. “But I’ve met them and I’m faking it. No reason why you can’t, too.” She shifted uncomfortably in her chair, knowing that she should be telling Gina the truth—that there was no way in hell that Park was ever going to introduce her to his family, that she was never going to have to fake it, that Park was two-timing her with a social X ray his father was already calling the mother of his grandchildren. Then she looked at Gina, serene and lovely and glowing, and she thought of Nick telling her to stay out of other people’s lives, and she stifled herself. It might still work. Maybe. Maybe Park would fall in love, find a backbone, defy his father, and marry Gina.

  Fat chance.

  “Look, is there anything I can do for you here?” Tess asked, desperate to help with something small since she was obviously no help to Gina at all with the big stuff.

  Gina looked at her sternly. “Yeah. Don’t get Nick arrested for public indecency on a piano. It’s bad for the firm.”

  “Oh, come on, Gina, it’s not that big a deal.”

  “You know, you don’t have to change completely in order to stay with Nick. You just have to understand his point of view.”

  “He had a very good time on that piano.”

  “Forget it,” Gina said. “You’ll never understand. Maybe you’re right. Maybe you’d better move out. What with Nick trying to put you on the best-dressed list and you trying to put him in the Guinness Book of Records under Sex in the Dumbest Places, maybe you really are bad for each other.”

  Tess felt a chill. “Do you think so?” She bit her lip, feeling more miserable than before.

  “If you’re going to make his life hell, yes.”

  “So what you’re saying is no more risky sex. What’s the point in living if you can’t take risks?”

  “Work. Love. Children.”

  “Sounds boring.”

  “Then move out,” Gina said. “You’re just leading him on if you don’t.”

  “I probably should,” Tess said. “I’ve been there almost a month now. It’s time.”

  Gina nodded. “Definitely.”

  “It’s not like we’re in love or planning a commitment or anything.”

  Gina shook her head. “Of course not.”

  “So I really should move out.”

  Gina nodded. “Absolutely.”

  “I don’t want to,” Tess said.

  “I didn’t think you did,” Gina said.

  “SO HOW IS LIVING with Tess working out?” Park asked Nick at lunch at The Levee the next day.

  “Great.” Nick looked at him across the spotless linen warily. “Why do you ask?”

  “Just curious,” Park seemed distracted as he talked, absentmindedly crumbling a bread roll into dust. “I suppose there’ve been a few changes at your place.”

  “A few.” Nick sat back from his empty plate. “But they’re all good changes. Tess’s clothes, for example. She dresses like Annie Hall on welfare, but I’ve been having Christine buy her new things and she looks great.” He smiled, remembering how good Tess had looked in a midnight blue jersey the night before. “And the next thing that’s going is that damn navy blazer,” he added, his voice thick with satisfaction.

  “She’s been sort of…odd at dinner,” Park said. “Quiet. Dignified. Is she sick?”

  “No,” Nick said, patient to the end. “She’s trying to help me with my career.”

  “Oh.” Park considered Nick’s comment and shrugged. “Well, it’s working. I think the only reason Welch is paying any attention to us at all is Tess. He never takes his eyes off her.”

  “I know.” Nick frowned, remembering. “The old goat.”

  “What?”

  “I know we want the account,” Nick said. “I just don’t like him leering at Tess.”

  “He’s not,” Park said.

  Nick frowned again. “Sure he is. He—”

  “No. I don’t know what it is he sees in Tess, but it’s not sex.”

  “Oh?” Nick sat back and surveyed his friend. “And how do you know this?”

  “Because he never looks at her body,” Park said. “Face it, most guys are either breast or leg men, and Tess does pretty well in both categories, but he never looks at anything but her face.” He frowned, considering. “It’s like he’s looking for something or waiting for something.”

  Nick blinked. “You’re right. I hadn’t thought about it, but you’re right. What is it?”

  “I don’t know,” Park said. “And I don’t care as long as it gets us the account.” He shifted in his chair and started mutilating another roll. “Did I tell you about that new paralegal I interviewed? Very hot. I think I may ask her out.”

  Nick folded his arms and stared at Park with exasperation. “Park, what the hell are you doing?”

  Park started and dropped his roll. “What?”

  “This thing with Corinne at seven and Gina at eleven. And now a new paralegal.” Nick looked at him sternly. “This is not good.”

  “How’d you know?” Park said, stunned.