© Copyright 2003, Charlene Leonard. 
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CHAPTER ONE 
Lisa Harrold sat idly, with her small dainty feet dangling out the open door of her 
car not quite touching the ground. She sighed exasperatedly, thinking to herself she must 
have taken a wrong turn somewhere since she left the highway. Not only was she lost, 
now she was stranded as well. Lisa wasn't sure why her V.W. Rabbit wouldn't run 
anymore, never the less, she wasn't getting anywhere soon. It was proving to be down 
right frustrating. What did she know about cars? Not enough to figure out what was 
wrong with this one. She was a fairly successful short story writer, not a mechanic. 
Taking another quick glance down the long and dusty Arizona road, confirmed 
there wasn't another motorist in sight. Unfortunately for her there hadn't been any other 
traffic since she left the highway. 
Miserably Lisa sighed again, it was so darn hot. Any other sensible person would 
be indoors during the hottest part of the day. So what was her problem? The sweat was 
starting to trickle off her heated forehead and she just knew her face had to be beet red at 
this point. Although Lisa was raised in Arizona since she was a small child she still 
couldn't take much of the stifling dry heat. Today, the temperatures would reach the 
hundreds. 
The starkness of the barren landscape was not helping her edgy nerves any. It 
stretched endlessly in every direction. Miles of golden sand and dirt spotted generously 
with small bushes and blowing tumbleweeds were mute uncontested evidence to 
Arizona's arid climate. 
Not for the first time that day did Lisa wish she had worn an ordinary T-shirt and 
a pair of shorts instead of the red silk blouse and blue jeans she had decided on. Shorts 
would have been much more practical and much more cooler. Her long brown shoulder 
length hair was hot and sticky on the back of her neck making her even more irritable. 
Somehow she could imagine it would be just her luck to sit out here in this outdoor oven, 
wilting in the hot sun for another two hours before anyone came along to help her. 
At least she could be thankful for the thermos of iced tea she had brought along 
with her as she sipped at the spout leisurely. The cool liquid slid down her parched throat 
refreshingly. Dehydration wouldn't be added to her list of problems for a while at least. 
Surely her parents would have someone looking for her soon. She thought that they 
would have expected her hours ago. Thank goodness for the foresight to have called them 
before she left her apartment. All she had to do was sit tight and wait for them to find her 
or some kind benevolent person to take pity on her. 
Presumably it was only going to take her an hour to get from Phoenix to their 
new home, the home they so proudly bought six months ago when her father retired 
early. They'd spent all this time remodeling it, today would have been their open house. 
They gave her complete instructions on how to get there, yet like usual, Lisa had gotten 
turned around and lost somehow. She admitted to herself that she was the only person she 
knew who could step out of their own front door and get lost almost immediately without 
even trying. North, south, east, west, meant nothing to her. She couldn't tell them apart, 
even if she was pointing in the right direction. 
Like always, Lisa thought fondly of her adoptive parents. It couldn't have been an 
easy chore for them to take on a six month old baby, they were already into middle age. 
Yet not once in all the years she was growing up did she hear them complain. Instead, 
they had always made it a point to tell her and show her how much she was wanted and 
loved. Their unselfish love was returned ten fold by Lisa, the respect she had for the 
aging pair was enormous. In her heart she always thought it such a shame that after years 
of trying for children of their own that they didn't have any. Perhaps that was why she 
loved them so much and tried to be the best possible daughter for them she knew how to 
be. Now, she was just as anxious to see their new home as they were to show it to her. 
Her father had looked forward to his retirement eagerly for years and this new home was 
the crux of all of his plans. 
Lost in her tender thoughts, Lisa hadn't been paying attention to things going on 
around her. She bolted straight up in her seat and brushed a recalcitrant strand of hair out 
of her eyes. Did she hear a car? Was that her imagination? Her big brown eyes popped 
open wider. No she wasn't imagining it, she did hear the sound of a motor and it wasn't 
that far off in the distance. Help at last, she thought, scrambling ungracefully out of the 
little V. W. Lisa stood on the dirt road and once again felt the sun draining her already 
taxed reserves of energy. The sun burned down on her bare head mercilessly and she 
wished she had a hat to protect it, the last thing she needed was sun stroke to add to the 
heat stroke she felt coming on. Oh quit being so wimpy and melodramatic she scolded 
herself. 
Lisa pulled a hanky out of her pocket and waved it heartily, hoping that it would 
be taken as a sign that the oncoming car was to stop and that she needed help. Belatedly, 
she saw that it wasn't a car approaching but a motorcycle, one lone rider. That's what she 
got for being prone to daydreaming and not paying attention. This was no time for being 
picky she chided herself silently, not unless she just enjoyed another couple of hours out 
here in the sun . 
As the cycle drew nearer into her range of vision she wished she hadn't attempted 
to flag it down after all. Perhaps in this case she was wise to be picky and cautious under 
the circumstances. 
Lisa instinctively tensed, this wasn't a clean cut normal looking type of person. It 
was an unkempt scraggly looking one, riding a humongous Harley Davidson. Now she 
knew why her mother had always called the large cycles "Demon Machines." She knew a 
sense of impending panic, noticing his angry looking face, and cold squinting eyes. He 
wore no sensible helmet. Her first impression was, dangerous, hard and unmerciful. A 
loner! 
The man shook his head almost violently and muttered something to himself that 
she couldn't hear over the droning sound of the motor. He brought the big black machine 
to an abrupt halt next to her before dismounting agilely. The strange man didn't even 
spare a glance her, Lisa noticed, he looked towards the stalled pathetic looking car 
instead. Lisa relaxed a little, that was a good sign even if she felt overly daunted and a 
whole lot squeamish. 
"What's the matter with your car?" He questioned her gruffly if not even sternly, 
over his shoulder. His voice sounded gravely as if he needed to use it more often, 
probably just the dry heat, she thought sensibly. Three fast ground-eating strides took him 
to the car. Lisa stood there hesitantly for a fraction of a second, undecided to trust him or 
not. What choice did she have? He was a stranger, one that didn't look at all trustworthy 
either. She knew she should be cautious of him, any stranger for that matter. They were 
isolated as far as the eye could tell. Maybe he was just going to help her, he didn't seem at 
all that interested in her, she noticed. Lisa shoved the feelings of uneasiness she was 
having to the back of her mind. She didn't want to sit here in the middle of nowhere 
forever. 
"I . . . ah don't know, it just sputtered and quit running. Now it won't start at all. I 
tried it." She told him seriously, her voice cracking, slightly because of her tension. The 
man shot her an odd puzzled look. 
"Pop the hood woman." He then demanded impatiently. What did he have to be 
upset about? She was the one stranded in the desert.
Lisa slid onto the seat gracefully to release the hood latch. Knowing what he 
would ask next she sought to avert the question. 
"I've got nearly a full tank of gas so I know it's not that." She informed him 
stiffly, sensing he would naturally assume because she was a  woman she wouldn't have 
the brains to check something as simple as that. 
Who did he think he was to treat her as if she was an annoyance. Lisa ended that 
line of thought, she was being an annoyance and further more he didn't have to stop and 
help her, yet he had. The man wasn't particularly paying her any mind so 'she wondered if 
he had even heard her. 
Lisa's natural curiosity came to the fore front. He was a strange man and he didn't 
look very nice. Suddenly she shivered, it made all the feelings of impending trouble wash 
over her. As a child, Lisa had always gotten those unbidden feelings to warn her when 
there was going to be trouble. It was just something that happened and she couldn't 
explain it. What ever it was she was feeling it had something to do with this man, she 
wasn't afraid for herself. 
Warily she watched as he jerked open the hood in one powerful swing. The 
whole car rocked. 
"I'll take a look." He told her in a deep husky voice. "We've got to get you out of 
here in a hurry ." She didn't contemplate his cryptic remark. He busied himself checking 
out the engine while Lisa secretly studied him. People watching, was a hobby of hers. 
She thought she heard him mumble' piece of junk car.' 
His hair was a deep shade of dark brown, so dark in fact that it could easily pass 
for black if one didn't look closely, it hung long over his neck and stopped at his vest 
collar. The sun hadn't even begun to affect the darkness of his thick hair. The same color 
of dark hair made up his untrimmed beard. He had startlingly vivid blue eyes, she would 
have described them as royal blue, as they stood out in the extremely dark tan of his face, 
Which was definitely rugged yet appealing Those unusual eyes were the only vulnerable 
looking thing about him, they had a gentle watchful quality to them that could not be 
detracted from. His face was long and slender shaped with prominent cheekbones. The 
beard seemed to be hiding the rest of his interesting face. 
Lisa watched his long, corded, very muscular arms at work. The expanse of them 
showed as he wasn't wearing a shirt underneath his denim vest. She didn't blame him in 
this heat. The open vest exposed to her intent eyes a chest full of glistening dark hairs. 
His skin shown like burnished copper with each movement he made. 
Tight faded denim jeans clung to his long muscular legs like a second skin. His 
cowboy boots were covered with dirt and mud as were the cuffs of his jeans. Cowboy 
boots on a biker? How odd she thought. 
One more look over and Lisa decided he might not be all that bad looking if he 
was ever cleaned up. She wouldn't have been a women if she hadn't noticed that he was a 
very well built man and in such good shape. As a matter of fact, he could have been 
classed as one hell of a male specimen she decided if not for the awful life style he 
seemed to have chosen for himself. 
His body and stance spoke of power, now leashed, and self confidence. He was a 
little over six feet tall it seemed and yes, there was some Indian blood in him, barely 
noticeable yet there. 
Lisa didn't realize she had been staring quite so intently until he spoke breaking 
the silence with his deep taunting voice. Her body jerked upon hearing him. 
"Didn't anyone ever teach you that it's not polite to stare?" He sounded gruff yet 
there was an underlying hint of amusement in the tone of his voice. Lisa was too 
embarrassed to say anything so she didn't even try, let him think what he wanted. 
Then Lisa noticed he was standing dead still and tensed like a statue, yet listing 
for something. Looking far off into the distance herself she could see why. There was a 
group of motorcycles coming and she could hear the low roar of the many motors. They 
approached leaving a trail of dust behind them. Once more Lisa shivered violently, her 
body suddenly covered in chill bumps. Her chest ached, seeming to be in pain yet she 
was all right. Was this man with them? 
"Damn," the man said. "There isn't going to be enough time." He slammed the 
hood shut on her car. Then to Lisa's chagrin, he took his first real hard look at her. She 
didn't like it one bit. He ran his suddenly insolent cold blue eyes arrogantly over her body 
and then to her face again. She must have blushed because she could feel heat rising to 
the hollow of her cheeks. He shook his head from side to side in puzzled annoyance. 
"You'd better get back in your car and stay there for the time being. There's no place for 
you to hide, the country's too open out here." 
Hide? Why did he want her to hide? Looking at the ever approaching group, she 
did want to hide like a rabbit in a hole. "I'll see what I can do." 
Lisa obeyed instinctively, quickly and quietly, to fearful to do otherwise. The 
man didn't continue to work on her car though as she expected, he moved in a lazy stroll 
to his bike instead. He wasn't going to just leave her here was he? 
Opening a canvas carrier he had strapped to the back of his bike seat, she saw 
him slipping something into his back pocket and something else into his boot. Lisa 
wished she could see what it was. Turning in her seat to look over her shoulder, she 
shuddered again, they were very close now. These bikers looked even worse than this 
man, she thought. She supposed there were about a dozen of them, including two girls 
she could see who were riding behind on the back of the two bikes. Again that feeling of 
dread washed over her and she was powerless in its grip. 
Noisily they came to a dusty halt around her car and the man who had stopped to 
help her. She glanced warily in his direction, he wasn't watching her, instead he was 
lazily surveying the group as he leaned against his bike, and his legs crossed using his 
arms behind him for balance. 
Lisa longed to roll up her car windows and lock the doors. She wasn't sure a sign 
of fear would be a good idea though and she dreaded the thought of giving them ideas 
that perhaps they didn't already have. Besides, she told herself, what good would that 
amount of flimsy protection do for her, out here in the boonies like she was, against this 
crowd? If they really wanted and had a mind to, they would have no trouble getting to her 
eventually. 
She sat very still and listened to the mob around her. She kept her wide fearful 
eyes riveted to the man who had stopped to help. Lisa didn't even try to make eye contact 
with anyone else. She didn't even know his name, this stranger. Could she count on him 
for help? He didn't appear to be upset, leaning against his bike carelessly as if he didn't 
have a care in the world. Indeed, he probably didn't.
 A very large man who was slightly overweight and dirty looking with shoulder 
length greasy brown hair was the first to dismount. He spoke to the man that had stopped 
to help her, he called him Joe, so at least now she knew his name. It was little comfort. 
"Whatcha got here Joe? Leave it to you to find us some entertainment on a hot 
boring day like today." Joe didn't so much as raise an eyebrow. 
The unpleasant man wasn't looking at Joe though, he was looking at her and she 
swallowed convulsively. She did not like the evil glint to his eyes or the grayish cast to 
his skin. He stumbled over to the car and opened her door quickly, before she knew what 
he was going to do. He jerked her out of it by the arm. The grip he was using on her arm 
was too tight for her to get away, it hurt and she knew it would leave a nasty bruise. 
Lisa wanted to scream in outrage and frustration. She looked to the man called 
Joe, she only saw a cold uncaring look on his stern placid face. This really couldn't be 
happening to her, could it? Perhaps she had been out in the hot sun for far to long. Joe 
still ignored her silent appeal for help. So much for chivalry, she thought, no wonder it 
was considered dead. 
Lisa felt her knees begin to shake from fear over what might happen to her. She'd 
never been this scared in her life before, in her seemingly about to be short life. If they 
didn't hurt and kill her then she would drop dead of a heart attack all on her own, she 
thought hysterically. Nothing had ever prepared her for something like this. The man 
shook her and made her look up at him. What a time to discover she'd lived a very 
sheltered life. Hadn't she always heard how terrible these lawless motorcycle gangs could 
be? Especially to a woman alone with no protection. Lisa could smell the awful stench of 
the man who held her arm captive, leering at her with his wicked green eyes. She tried to 
stare him down and couldn't do it, it was a pathetic attempt on her part. She felt not even 
a flicker of bravado. The others were getting off their bikes now, seeming to be expecting 
a show. 
Lisa looked around at the people, surely someone would care about her plight. 
No one did, her stomach twisted into an instant knot. Even Joe had an unfathomable look 
on his face so she couldn't tell what he was thinking. The others stood around and leaned 
on their motorcycles as Joe was doing. Lisa knew in her heart of hearts they just weren't 
going to go away. 
In that instant Lisa knew this must be the 'Big Man' himself, their leader. Why 
else would no one help her? Funny, she thought inconsequently, if anything she would 
have assumed that Joe looked more the part. He was much more powerful looking, his 
personality showed through as forceful even when he wasn't doing a thing. Instinctively 
Lisa started to struggle again as the man's grip on her arm tightened making her wince in 
pain. She had to get away. 
"Let go of me." She jerked her arm uselessly. "Let go of me you overgrown 
lout." Struggling against this hideous man did no good he just laughed at her and jerked 
her closer to him, knocking the breath out of her when she hit the wall of chest. He stunk 
so bad she was actually forced to hold her breath. 
"So the little darlings got spirit eh?" He sneered so only she could hear. "I'm 
surprised the half-breed didn't want you for himself. Just the kind of girl for a party." He 
murmured drawing her even closer. "I haven't had a party in a long time sister and I do 
like my women to have spirit." He chuckled harshly in her ear. In one quick movement 
he pulled her arm up behind her back and held her in a mock embrace as he towered over 
her. His cold eyes raked over her insultingly. Lisa involuntarily whimpered from the pain 
in her arm without even being conscious of it. "Yes I do believe a party is well in order." 
At first she thought he was just taunting her to scare her like a typical bully. 
"What should we do with this fine piece of womanhood?" He snarled out to his 
friends who just laughed and made a few lewd suggestions. 
Then as the man started to lower his head to kiss her she knew with a dread that 
he was serious. Before he could complete his downward swoop Lisa broke free out of 
desperation and futility pounded her fists on his sweaty chest. The grin that sprang forth 
from him was purely evil and Lisa knew he was wanting her to struggle and resist, he was 
enjoying his power over her. That he fully meant everything he said was evident in his 
eyes and in his stance, he looked ready to pounce on her and devour her all in one bite. 
He started reaching for her again and she jumped back, sickly fear seized her racing 
heart. What could she do to help herself? 
"Let her go Granger." A husky familiar voice spoke from behind them just as the 
nocuous man's dirty hands closed around her fragile wrists. 
It was Joe. Thank God, she thought, someone was going to help her after all. 
Why didn't he step forward before now? 
"What the. " The man questioned in unbelief, slowly turning with Lisa still in his 
grip. He tensed seeing that it was Joe and released her abruptly, pushing her away 
roughly. After the initial burst of surprise passed his face it turned to anger. He faced his 
bold opponent, his mouth twisting derisively. 
Lisa couldn't move a muscle, she was held immobilized by fear and dread. The 
others were taking an avid interest in what was going on now with snickering grins of 
amusement on their faces. What they found to be so amusing was beyond Lisa, it was 
utterly disgusting to her, but she could almost feel their sick excitement surrounding 
them. 
"You heard right Granger, I said let her go." He repeated it slowly staring at 
Granger through the slits in his half closed eyes. The man Granger glowered back at Joe 
not to be shaken and poised himself for a fight. 
"Where do you get off telling me what to do Joe?" He pulled a switchblade from 
his front jeans pocket, aware of his opponents unarmed insolent stance. Lisa gasped out 
loud. Joe's eyes flickered to lit on her face before moving back to Granger. He stood his 
ground, feet apart, his hands hung loosely at his sides, steeling himself for the inevitable. 
A scream was building up in her throat, held at bay by sheer will. 
God, she didn't want them to fight. She didn't want anyone getting hurt, she just 
wanted for them to leave her alone. Joe was not going to back down though. 
"She's mine Granger." He spoke out possessively. "I saw her first and not even 
you can take her from me." His voice was harsh and low, making chills run up and down 
her spine. Still Granger did not look as if he believed him. He looked from Joe to Lisa 
and back to Joe. 
Oh God, she thought, they are really going to fight over me like I was a prize to 
be won. It was ludicrous, the whole thing reminded her of two immature children fighting 
over a toy that they both wanted yet neither had the right to. She hoped she wasn't going 
to be physically ill, her stomach was churning away relentlessly. 
In a whirling haze she saw the big man lunge at Joe with his knife open, the sun 
reflecting dangerously off the shiny blade Joe seeing this too late managed to side step 
him but still caught the blade in his upper shoulder before spinning around and pulling 
out his own knife. He pulled it from his pocket. He clicked it open in one swift jerk and 
turned to face his adversary head on. So that was what he put in his pocket earlier, he 
must have known there would be trouble. But how? 
"Come on Granger." He taunted. "Just come on. I've been wanting to stick that 
fat belly of yours and watch you bleed." 
Lisa shuttered, both men were fiercely angry and indeed both meant business. 
Lisa was scared, for her, for Joe. Then just as suddenly both men stood stark still, eyes 
clashing in challenge, sizing up the other. The air hung heavy with charged hostility. 
Then to Lisa's surprise, Granger was the one to back down first, putting his knife away. 
"Damn half-breed." He grumbled wryly. "Always gettin in my way. Take her 
then."  He shoved Lisa away from him, then walked over to his bike and started to mount. 
The others were mumbling to themselves and each other. They obviously expected much 
more of a show and were openly disappointed. Granger turned towards them and 
snapped, "get movin'." 
Lisa heaved a sigh and listened to the noise as each of the motors started up one 
by one. It was over now and she was going to be safe. The tension was starting to subside 
and leave her body. 
The man Joe was putting his knife away and unexpectedly took hold of her arm 
making her tense allover again. Whispering under his breath, he led her in the direction of 
his bike. 
"You'll be safe with me." He informed her and Lisa looked at him suddenly. 
What was he saying? "I've got to take you with me now, it can't be helped. Get behind me 
on the bike." 
Lisa froze. Oh God, did she trade one animal just to receive another. "I thought 
you were going to help me. You said " 
She didn't even get to finish what she was saying. Joe quickly grabbed her by the 
shoulder and kissed her forcefully if it could even be called a kiss. He was angry and his 
lips ground into hers unmercifully. Then it was over just as soon as it started. 
"Be quiet woman." He commanded her forcefully as his blue eyes bored into her 
stunned brown ones. "Would you rather deal with Granger knowing what he intends to do 
with you?" Seeing her lack of response he went on. "I can't fight them all you know, 
there are too many of them. You'll be safe with me, I give you my word. So don't give 
me a hard time and get on my bike." 
"But I can't just go with you" She protested. 
"Well don't think they are just going to let me leave you behind, not after just 
claiming you from Granger." 
Lisa could vaguely understand his reasoning even if it was something she didn't 
want to hear. She didn't want to go with them so she tried to stall for time. If they could 
hang back she was sure she could talk him out of all this business. 
"I'll just go get my purse and lock my car." She told him. He saw right through it.
"Leave it." He snapped not releasing her arm to let her draw away. Instead he 
tightened his hold and pulled her towards him. 
"Now listen..." She stammered, unwilling to do what she was told without putting 
up some kind of fight. 
"Leave it." His voice boomed out over the noise of the motors causing those 
nearest them to look in their direction once more. Then he lowered his voice. "Leave it, I 
said, don't make me have to hit you in order to get your cooperation." He threatened, his 
blue eyes narrowed on her face. 
Shakily Lisa complied getting behind him on the evil looking bike. Would he 
really hit her? Probably she thought, and swallowed hard, he looked the type. She felt 
almost faint from everything. 
What did this man have in mind? She worried it was going to be the same awful 
thing Granger had in mind for her only at a latter time and place. Lisa was beginning to 
imagine all sorts of horrible things that could happen to her, it was frightening beyond 
belief. She knew she was battling shock and fear was even a bigger culprit. 
She straddled the bike behind him apprehensive because she'd never ridden on 
one before. There was no way she was going to hold onto him though, the thought of 
touching him repulsed her. 
"Better hang on." He warned just as she felt him give a firm jerk to start the 
motor underneath them. She flashed him a cold look. 
All her stubborn resolve melted through when they started to take off and she 
slipped her arms around his waist for fear of falling off. Lisa felt his stomach muscles 
tense and then he chuckled. 
Joe took a position at the back of the traveling group, now there was another man 
riding far out front just as Joe had been doing earlier when he stopped to help her. Help 
her, that was a laugh. Yet he did help her in a way didn't he? That thought gave Lisa a 
little bit of comfort and she desperately needed some. 
The other men would turn around and look at Joe and nod, as if acknowledging 
his earlier battle with Granger. Some gave him a pat on the back as they rode past and 
Lisa wondered if it was some form of weird camaraderie or something. 
They virtually rode past in silence except for the motor noise. Lisa watched as 
the bikers rode in and out among themselves weaving in irregular patterns. Whoever 
would have thought the day would turn out to be so rotten, thought Lisa. 
She wondered if she would see the next. 


CHAPTER TWO 
Lisa wondered what her parents would think when they finally did discover her 
abandoned car. Would there be a search? She knew her parents wouldn't take the news of 
her disappearance well. What parents would? Lisa tried to think about everything except 
what was going to happen to her. 
The terrifying visions she could imagine were exceedingly awful. Yet she did 
acknowledge to herself that she felt somewhat safe with this strange man named Joe, not 
truly knowing why. Danger surrounded him and she felt as if she was caught in an 
invisible web of some kind. 
Staring at the back of his dark head she was vaguely aware that his hair was clean 
and shiny, unlike the others. Then lazily she looked over his shoulder beyond to the rest 
of the group stretched out in front of them on the dirt road. The dust slowly filled the air 
around them. She noticed one of the other two girls was staring back at Joe like she 
wanted to eat him alive and relish every tiny morsel. Lisa wondered if Joe was looking 
back at the girl since she couldn't see his face. 
The girl had a slim build for someone so tall as she appeared to be, with dirty 
blonde hair and scads of make- up. Dressed in jeans and a black leather jacket that was 
plainly too hot for this time of year. She looked just like what she'd imagine a bikers girl 
would look like. How could she stand to wear that jacket in this heat? It was amazing to 
Lisa that she wasn't keeling over from heat stroke. The girl gave Lisa an icy stare when 
she noticed that Lisa was watching her stare at Joe. You can have him, thought Lisa, he 
certainly isn't my type but he sure is yours. 
The heat and dust was making it hard for Lisa to breath. She and Joe were both 
sweating from the close body contact. Then Lisa felt something warm dripping on her 
sleeve. Looking down she could see that it was blood, Joes blood. She'd forgotten all 
about his shoulder being hurt. He didn't seem to take much notice of it though, still 
keeping his hand on the bar to steer. It had to be painful, she thought. 
Lisa remembered the hankie she had in her pocket, the one she had flagged him 
down with. She never could stand to see another human hurt and in pain, it tore at her 
sensitive heart. She pulled it out gently and began to dab the blood off his wound. She 
felt him tense immediately in front of her. Using his other hand Joe took the hankie from 
her and shoved it into his front pocket. Then half turned to face her, he frowned at her 
and shook his head 'no', before turning to survey the rest of the group to see if they were 
being watched. They weren't. Lisa didn't understand any of it. Why didn't he want her 
help, she was just trying to thank him, it was her fault he was hurt in the first place. What 
was he trying to tell her by his actions? So what if someone saw her taking care of him? 
Didn't it bother him to have an open wound like that? Surely it was bothering him, 
common sense told her that. And what was the hesitancy she saw in his eyes whenever he 
turned to look back at her? What an incredible situation to be in. Why should she care 
what happened to a man who had abducted her? Because, she admitted, his gruff concern 
and hastily made promise that she would be safe with him was the only thing she could 
cling to at the moment, however tenuous. 
To Lisa it seemed they'd been riding for ten hours instead of two. They hadn't 
passed many cars, two in fact. The drivers were very careful to look the other way from 
the group of riders. They were scared too, thought Lisa, all except for the children. They 
openly stared because of their natural curiosity, till their mothers caught them looking 
and adverted their attention. How was she going to summon help, if people wouldn't even 
look at them past a fleeting glance? Didn't she look out of place with this group? Surely 
she did. Wouldn't someone notice and get help for her? 
Lisa was tired and thirsty, the whole thing was starting to grate on her nerves, the 
constant grind of the motors, the heat, everything. She couldn't help but worry about what 
was going to become of her when they stopped. Don't think about it she admonished 
herself, you'll just get all worked up before hand, maybe there is still some hope. Perhaps 
this Joe person would help her after all. 
Feeling a strange weight against her leg Lisa looked down. Joe was resting his 
arm on her thigh. At first she thought to brush it away, he was taking liberties that she 
didn't feel he deserved. Then she realized that it was his hurt shoulder and did nothing. 
After all, he had come to her rescue, even if it only turned out to be a short reprieve. He 
didn't have to help her yet he did to his own cost. Joe had stopped to help her seeing that 
her car was broken down. It was obvious that he had expected trouble, why else would he 
have said 'we've got to get you out of here in a hurry.'? Why else would he have put that 
weapon in his back pocket? So what if he wanted to lay his hurt arm on her leg, it 
probably ached something terrible. Joe probably thought it would look better to his 
friends than if he rested it on his own, more possessive. Possessive? 
The thought made her shudder. Joe still maintained perfect control over the bike 
using only the one arm and she marveled at his stoicism. The pain wasn't going to shut 
him down. 
When Lisa became aware that Joe was studying her via his rear view mirror she 
became nervous. What was he watching her for? Blue eyes pierced chocolate brown ones 
and Lisa was sure that he could see all the way into her soul. He could see the fear and 
confusion, everything. He glanced at the road occasionally yet his eyes always returned 
to study her. Lisa shifted nervously. Finally not able to take his heated concentration on 
her she looked away and refused to look back at him. Still she could feel those sexy blue 
eyes washing over her. Sexy? Why had she thought that? 
Lisa's back was aching from sitting so uncomfortably and riding so long, she 
began to wonder if they were going to stop at all. What seemed like eons latter the group 
pulled off the road onto a smaller dirt path, they made their way single file for a few 
miles over bumpy terrain. An extremely old run down, apparently abandoned, house 
came into view and suddenly Lisa's mind began to run wildly. Here she was out in the 
middle of no where with this bunch of God forsaken monsters. Whatever was she going 
to do? Joe was watching her again in his mirror. Lisa swallowed nervously and tried not 
to show him her fear. Tensing though like a trapped animal she felt herself start 
trembling. Joe seeming to understand her fear, squeezed her leg and patted it 
momentarily as if to tell her that everything would be all right. She wasn't to know how 
forlorn and lost she looked at that moment with her hopelessly wind tousled hair and big 
brown eyes in a face fused pink because of the heat. Was that compassion she saw in his 
eyes before he turned them to the path ahead of them again? 
Lisa knew it would be getting dark soon. Maybe she could make good her escape 
then. If she did though, where would she go? Looking around her at the almost barren 
terrain she worried. There might not be other people around for miles, how was she to 
find them? These animals would only find her, she was sure of that, there was too many 
of them, she could not get away. She would just have to rely on this man Joe and take it 
minute by minute, no matter how hard on her it might be. 
When they finally dismounted in the yard, inside a falling down washed out split 
rail fence, Lisa noticed that the others were openly watching her and Joe. The noise of the 
motors had left a ringing in her ears. She didn't know how others could stand the noise 
for so long. Lisa began to stretch and startled when Joe spoke to her loudly. All eyes 
turned to her. 
"Hold this." He spat out gruffly, no compassion or gentleness in his tone. She 
didn't understand what it was he wanted. Lisa looked at him under lowered lashes. Fear 
had robbed her of her rational thought. It was almost as if there was a 10 second delay 
between what she heard and then understanding what was said. 
"What?" She asked, only being able to mouth the word through her parched lips. 
"Hold up my bike until I get back." He told her sternly. Then in a calm deathly 
terrifying voice he expanded. "I guarantee you won't like what happens if you let it fall." 
Joe watched her through narrowed eyes then he smiled at Granger almost wickedly. He 
was proving his control that he had over her. She was sure of it. The bike had a kickstand, 
how could he treat her like this as if she was nothing to him, nothing more than dirt. How 
could anyone treat another human being as if they were less than nothing. 
Lisa hesitantly moved into position to take the handle bars with shaky hands. Joe 
let her absorb the weight of the motor. It was heavy and she didn't know if she could hold 
it for very long. Granger was still observing suspiciously as Joe left her standing there 
and made a move in the direction of the house. He seemed to care less about anything, 
leaving her the mercy of the others. Granger stopped him with his arm. Was there going 
to be another fight? 
"You just gonna leave her there Joe?" Granger asked rather solemnly, pointing a 
chubby finger in her direction. What was he expecting? Joe shrugged his broad shoulders, 
the sweat glistening on his tanned arms. 
"Sure. Where can she go around here that I can't find her?" Then he chuckled 
without smiling. "Makes a mighty pretty kickstand though don't she." Joe looked at her 
haughtily, running his eyes up and down her length appraisingly "I always fancied one 
like that." She started to protest against the arrogance of him then thought better of it. 
It wouldn't do to antagonize him. There was a warning in his speculations, she 
was sure of it, she just didn't know what it was. Was he warning her not to run? Or that 
he could take her whenever he wanted? Joe was right though she admitted to herself. 
Where could she go? His flippant remarks seemed to ease the tension though and they all 
laughed and went in doors leaving her standing there all alone with their ribald remarks 
still echoing in her mind. 
Lisa stood there dumbly in confusion. She felt she must look a pretty pathetic 
sight standing there holding up his stupid motorcycle. She didn't know which was worse, 
the fear, the anger, or the humiliation. Kickstand indeed! He'd get his come up-pence one 
day. Why did he keep changing? One minute he was thoughtful the next minute he was 
cruel. She didn't understand him. Then again she couldn't understand how come she was 
meekly standing here holding up this stupid machine either. 
Maybe, she thought, maybe he is crazy, maybe that's why Granger didn't want to 
mess with him, and maybe that's why his shoulder wasn't hurting him like it was 
supposed to. Lisa thought about laying the bike down and running for dear life. It was 
heavy and if it got the least bit off balance she had to struggle to keep it upright. If she 
ran, where would she go that Joe and the others couldn't find her? They'd only look until 
they did and then things would be undoubtedly worse. She admitted to herself, that she 
was afraid to try to take the risk. Her arms and back ached and she cursed Joe under her 
breath. 
The first person out of the house was not Joe it was the blonde that had been 
eyeing Joe earlier. Lisa thought that maybe the girl had come to help her. She was a girl 
too wasn't she? That thought was short lived. Lisa's heart sank at the first words out of 
the girls mouth. 
"You think you're so pretty don't you?" She spoke spitefully in a little girls voice 
as she sauntered over to where Lisa was. She crossed her arms in front of her defensively. 
Lisa stared at her with her mouth open. 
"What? No. I don't think that." What was going on anyway? She hadn't expected 
this. 
"I know your kind, high and mighty. You think you're better than everyone else. 
Now you've come along and ruined things for me." Such spite and hatred Lisa couldn't 
understand. The girl hated her, why? They didn't even know each other.
"Ruined things? What things? I don't understand. I didn't want to come here, they 
made me." Lisa was confused and defended herself as best she could. Surely this girl 
knew she didn't want to be here. What was the matter with her anyway? Ruined things? 
Were all these people crazy? Lisa was seriously about to doubt her own sanity. 
"You must have done something." She accused, her hazel eyes flashing 
malevolently. "Joe would have left you to Granger otherwise and you wouldn't be here 
now I guarantee you that." The girls jaw clenched and Lisa could tell beyond a shadow of 
doubt that she was very, very angry. What did she have to be angry about? Was she 
involved with Joe or Granger? 
"I didn't ask him to help me." Lisa frowned. If only she could figure this out. 
"Help you? Hah. Joe didn't do it to help you, you can be sure of that." Her laugh 
rang out load and strange. "He's got plans for you just like Granger had." She waved her 
hand airily in the direction of the house. "Why, he's just as bad as the others, worse. I saw 
him take some kid off in the woods once and he didn't bring him back. What does that tell 
you?" 
"What?" Lisa was shocked. Surely not. A little boy, who would want to hurt a 
little child. Only a pervert, she thought wildly. "How naive can you get?" She taunted 
her, enjoying her obvious discomfort. 
"He couldn't have." She denied, not wanting to accept it. Joe did that? Some 
inner sense told her it wasn't possible. Was it? 
"Oh yes he did. Joe may look nicer than the rest of these guys, but he's quiet and 
dangerous. No one ever knows what he is thinking or what he is going to do next. That 
should be obvious from today. He saw. He wanted. He took. I've got a hankering to sleep 
with him myself and I would have until you came along." She blurted out forcefully. 
"look at you, you're nothing special. Nothing but trouble for me though. I know how to 
take care of that easily enough."  Her eyes flashed contemptuously. The tall girl gave the 
bike a push with her tiny booted foot, enough so that it went toppling over despite Lisa's 
best effort to stop it. It just weighed too much for her. "Now we will see what he does to 
you." She looked at Lisa smugly. "If you are lucky he won't spoil that pretty face of 
yours." She laughed tauntingly as she walked away. 
Something snapped inside Lisa then. The whole day was a nightmare and now 
this girl making even more trouble for her was too much. Her open hostilities and taunts, 
Lisa couldn't take any more. She ran after the retreating girl and tackled her hard from 
behind. They both went tumbling to the ground. Lisa had never wanted to hurt another 
person in her life, she did now. 
A fight ensued as expected and Lisa found herself getting struck forcefully and 
struck back blindly with all her might. They were on the ground struggling for power 
unaware of the crowd forming and cheering them on. 
Lisa felt someone grab her around the waist and pull her up in the air not letting 
her feet touch the ground. She swung her head around to see that it was Joe. He looked 
angry. While he held Lisa in one strong arm he tried to hold off the blonde girl with the 
other. He swung Lisa away from her out of her reach. The girl still swung wildly, clawing 
at Joe to get to Lisa. 
"Susie quit." Joes voice boomed out over the cheers. 
When she made no effort to stop he shoved her away. "Granger, call her 
off...now."  Lisa could do nothing but struggle helplessly in his grasp. Joe had her around 
the waist in an iron hold and wasn't about to let her down until he was good and ready. 
"Girl, come here." Granger called to Susie lazily. He was amused by the whole 
thing. Susie quit swinging and turned to him but not before she gave Joe a kick in the 
shin with her boot. He didn't even flinch. 
"She thinks she is so pretty." She told Granger. Grangers cold green eyes swept 
over Lisa again frankly as they had done once before, appraising her disheveled form 
before looking at Joe with envy in his eyes. Lisa felt Joe tense. 
"She is." He said, matter of fact. "Now go inside girl. " I will deal with you 
latter." Granger waited for her to pass in front of him and he swatted her on the rear end. 
Susie stiffened and ran to the house. 
In the mean time Joe sat Lisa back on her dangling feet again. She saw that he 
was frowning, yet she thought she saw a spark of amusement playing in his deep blue 
eyes. Eyes that could mesmerize a person given half the chance. 
Lisa attempted to straighten her hair not knowing what else to do since Joe 
continued to stare at her. He was puzzled. The shoulder sleeve of her shirt was torn 
slightly. Granger interrupted their separate musings. 
"What did you stop the fight for? It was just getting interesting." Granger asked 
while he eyeballed Lisa. Joe turned to him belligerently. It was obvious Granger would 
not have stopped the fight, regardless of who got hurt. 
Joe simply shrugged his shoulders and slid his hands into his back pockets. 
"Mine was loosing, of course and I don't want her damaged just yet." Lisa cringed, again 
it was a statement of possession. She wanted to scream out her indignation. Joes reply 
seemed to appease Granger who smugly waited for Joe to walk back to the house with 
him. Lisa fumed, only a man would be agreeable to a statement like that. 
"I'll be in after I take care of my bike." Joe dismissed him effectively. There was 
no denying the hidden air of authority in his voice. Granger turned and walked towards 
the house, his tall body with a purpose. 
Lisa tensed once they were alone. The things Susie had told her about Joe flashed 
through her mind. She felt the muscles in her stomach tighten further out of fear. Lisa 
attempted to speak to Joe since he wasn't going to make the effort. She remembered his 
threat about letting the bike fall and she was worried that he might hurt her. "I..." Her 
voice faltered so she tried again. Fear was even affecting her vocal chords. "I'm sorry 
about your bike falling. Really I am. It's just that it's awfully heavy." Her brown eyes 
locked with blue ones hesitantly. He'd been staring at her  again. 
"Don't worry about it," was all he said. Lisa was confused. She watched as he 
bent over to pull the bike back upright and saw his muscles flex under the strain. She 
swallowed nervously. What if he turned against her. She knew she would never stand a 
chance against a man his size, any man for that matter. Standing at barely five foot four, 
she wasn't very big at all. Why wasn't he mad? She expected him to be. 
After Joe put the bike back upright on the kickstand Lisa spoke again. What did 
he intend to do with her? Suffering suspense was not one of her strong points. 
"Aren't you mad at me for letting your bike fall after you told me not to? She 
asked quietly. Joe had been preoccupied, now he looked annoyed. 
"No." He said impatiently. "I saw Susie kick it. Look, we've got to talk. Honestly, 
I thought you would have let it drop to the ground sooner." His eyes dropped to her slight 
form taking in every inch under his scrutiny. "I was hoping to use it  as an excuse to take 
you somewhere so that we could talk alone." 
"I'd rather face Granger than go anywhere with you." Lisa blurted out foolishly 
before she thought of the possible consequences of antagonizing him. She held her breath 
and silently chided herself. 
"What did you say?" Joe frowned, not understanding her sudden turn about. Lisa 
peeped at him from under her shuttered lashes and she could tell he really was puzzled. 
"Oh nothing," Lisa smoothed over, she was afraid to say anything more than she 
already had. She didn't want to make things worse than they already were. She looked 
down at the ground to avoid his penetrating eyes. She felt like a butterfly pinned to a 
board, so close was his scrutiny. 
"Come over here with me." He was willing to let it slide to Lisa's relief. Joe led 
her by the arm and deposited her on the cool grass underneath a tree. He squatted down 
on his haunches next to her threateningly. 
Lisa rubbed her arm where he touched it, his touch could be so unnerving. Once 
again she wondered how she could be so aware of this man, her captor. She read an 
article once about victims associating with their captors. Was she like that? Oh God, she 
certainly hoped not. 
"There is something I want you to understand. I didn't in- tend for you to get 
involved in this mess but I couldn't leave you there knowing what Granger and the others 
would have done to you. They would have never passed you by, do you understand what 
I'm saying?" Lisa nodded, that much she could understand, Granger wouldn't have passed 
her by. "I had no choice in the matter. There didn't seem to be anything else I could have 
done." He was frowning again. 
Lisa listened intently trying to figure him out. She heard his words, it wasn't that. 
He sounded as if he wasn't a part of this group and she knew darn well he was. She 
studied him covertly. Despite everything, he was an attractive man, and that body... she 
jerked the errant thoughts to the present. 
"What were you doing in the middle of nowhere anyway?" Joe asked her, 
glancing in the direction of the house. 
"Well I was on my way to visit my parents at their new house and I got turned 
around and lost somehow and then my car quit running on me." She noticed he was only 
absently listening to her, and he was looking at her yet he was not seeing her. His mind 
was a thousand miles away. It was all that stupid cars fault that she was in this 
predicament. It was forever giving her trouble, she would turn it in for another one as 
soon as she got back. If she got back, it seemed less and less likely. 
"Well look." Joe brushed off her answer lightly. "It's important that you listen to 
me. It's imperative that you do everything I tell you to do when I tell you to do it." He 
held up his hands when he saw that she was going to interrupt him. "No questions. No 
back talk. Have you got that?" "And if I don't?" Lisa asked rebelliously. Joe raised an 
eyebrow as if she had surprised him. 
"Then I won't be responsible for you. I will turn you over to Granger and the 
others and wash my hands of you." 
 Lisa's eyes widened. Would he really do that? She didn't want to find out. Again 
she was sure that he didn't think of himself as a part of this group. She knew from the 
tone of his voice that he meant business though. "Well?" He questioned impatiently. 
"Okay." She agreed reluctantly. "Everything you say." He smiled slightly and she 
added hastily. "With in reason of course." 
"Of course." He mocked her. He stood over her then, springing lightly to his feet. 
Lisa looked up the length of his incredibly taut thighs. Her throat constricted. 
"Understand that I will do and say what I have to. This is not a children's game. That's all 
I can tell you for now. There are too many of them still watching everything I do." He 
jerked a thumb over his shoulder towards the house. Then he added quietly. "Do you 
understand the danger you are in woman?" 
"Oh boy, do I." She answered him quickly, thinking in terms of him more than 
the rest of the group. His eyes- surveyed her upturned face lazily. His eyes could be so 
kind and gentle when he wanted them to be, and Lisa found herself drawn to him. He was 
so devastatingly male. Not that she would know a whole lot about that, yet she knew 
what she liked. 
"Okay good, and another thing. Don't confide in anyone, not anyone of them. Do 
you understand?" He instructed her like she was a little child. She knew he was watching 
her and waiting for her confirmation. Oh he was so close, much to close. He squatted 
down again when she didn't answer and tilted up her chin with his fist. Much, much to 
close. Close enough that she could see that his eyes that she thought previously were 
clear blue had a little bit of gray in them. Close enough that she was tempted to reach out 
and stroke his cheek. "Well?" He prompted again, his voice low and husky. 
"Right Joe." Apparently it was the right thing to say because it broke the spell 
being woven between them. 
"Good." He took her hand and helped her stand up. "Let's go back to the house 
now, they'll be looking for us and they should be eating soon, as unappetizing as it 
sometimes is." Joe ran a finger along her jawbone absently. "I bet you're starved." 
Try as hard as she could she couldn't figure him out. He was always nice to her 
when the others weren't around. 
What was he up to? Was this some sort of game to drive her crazy? If it was, it 
was working. She'd go absolutely nuts before long. This man Joe was a regular Doctor 
Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde. 
Lisa followed him to the house, then at the rotting door Joe opened it and made 
her step in first, something she was quite reluctant to do. Joe gave her a shove into the 
room then that nearly made her loose her balance. He was doing it again. Lisa wished he 
would make up his mind about how he was going to treat her, at least then she would 
know what to expect from him. 
"Go help the girls." He commanded imperiously. "Make yourself useful." He 
didn't take his eyes off of her. Lisa could feel herself trembling again and knew her face 
was probably pale. She didn't want to be in here, Joe or no Joe. 
The house was dirty and smelly. It was in an awful state of affairs. She didn't 
know how they could stand to be in such a confined space with all the trash and sewer 
smell. Lisa looked around the room, the men were sitting on the wooden, littered floor 
some of them were laying.  Lisa swallowed her own breath, all of them were staring at 
her. Staring at her with that same lecherous look that Granger had used on her earlier. 
Shivering violently by then, Lisa swung around to avoid them. She saw the kitchen was 
to the left of the front room, a counter being the only separation between the two rooms. 
The two girls were there already busy. 
"Hey there sweetie." Someone sitting in the floor grabbed her leg as she made to 
leave, stopping her in her tracks. "What's the hurry?" Lisa looked down at a fat, halfway 
toothless man who was grinning up at her. Oh God, she thought. What now? Lisa heard 
the soft click behind her. Turning to see what it was she discovered it was Joe. He had 
pulled his knife and was leisurely studying the sharpness of the blade. It was enough of a 
reminder apparently. 
"Just a little fun Joe ." The man said and let go of her leg. Lisa fled to the kitchen 
area hearing the taunting remarks and laughter behind her. Would this constant 
humiliation never stop? At least Joe had spared her from some of it. 
The reception she received in the kitchen wasn't any better. Susie eyed her coldly 
and the other dark headed girl ignored her altogether. Lisa stood there in the middle of 
the room, not knowing what it was that she was supposed to do. The kitchen was so 
grungy and filthy that she literally, closed her eyes to the whole mess. It was either that or 
she would throw up. When she looked to where Joe was in the other room she found that 
his eyes were already on her. He had managed to sit against the far wall so that he could 
watch her all the time, Lisa couldn't decide if she liked the idea or not. Finally the older 
girl handed her a bowl of potatoes for her to peel without saying a word. Lisa busied 
herself with the task and nearly screamed when a roach crawled across the table where 
she was sitting. 
Susie eventually sauntered over to where she was sitting and bent down so that 
she could whisper in Lisa's ear. There was nothing Lisa could do to ignore her. She 
looked up to find that Joe was involved in making conversation with 
Granger and didn't notice what was going on with her. Susie's icy voice made 
Lisa wish that she were with Joe. 
"Bet you think you're hot stuff don't you just cause Joe didn't beat you." Lisa held 
her breath, this wasn't going to be easy. Determining that she wasn't going to let the girl 
get the best of her she returned her taunts. 
"That's right I do." Lisa didn't care what she said anymore, especially since Susie 
was out to get her, so to speak. She wished Susie would just go away and leave her alone. 
She didn't. 
"Joe will sleep with you tonight and..." Seeing the brief flicker of horror in her 
eyes, Susie laughed. "What's the matter, haven't you ever slept with a man before?" Lisa 
didn't answer. "Granger doesn't know what he's missing out on." Susie told her wryly. 
"Yes, Joe will take you tonight and then he will be done with you and give you to the 
others. You just wait and see." She told her smugly her hazel eyes alive with some crazy 
emotion that Lisa couldn't even begin to fathom. 
"I think you're just jealous." Lisa taunted, suddenly sure that it was the truth. 
Susie wanted Joe. 
"At least I would know how to satisfy a man like Joe, you couldn't possibly. 
Look at you, your nothing. Ice queen, frigid and proper. I bet you will faint when he 
handles you roughly or maybe he'll just finish you off when he's done with you like he 
did the little boy." Lisa sat listening to her hateful words, not knowing how to answer. 
The dark headed woman spoke next so that she didn't have to come back with a retort. 
She couldn't have anyway, she felt like crying. 
"Quiet you two. I don't intend to get beat because you two can't get along and 
keep quiet. Get your work done." They finished preparing the meal in silence. 
Every time she looked up Joe was watching her, sitting very, very still, he looked 
practically rigid. 
Lisa involuntarily pondered over everything that Susie had told her. Was it true? 
Did Joe expect to sleep with her? She shuddered to even think about it. Her eyes were 
drawn to him and she found that his returned stare was something to be wary of. Why did 
he keep staring at her? 
What was that funny look in his eyes? Maybe he was crazy. Perhaps he had it in 
mind to do terrible things to her. 
Her imagination threatened to run away with her. What if she made a mad dash 
for the door and ran out into the dark? Would they find her? Could she manage to hide 
from them? 
She didn't think so. Something told her that she wouldn't even make it as far as 
the door. Yet Joe had helped her in a way hadn't he? He seemed concerned for her when 
no one else was around. Was he really apart of this group? 
He had to be, he was here wasn't he? Why else would he be here otherwise? He 
was responsible for her being captive wasn't he? The horrifying thought of him taking her 
forcefully though nearly made her panic. Susie who had been watching her while she was 
so deep in thought snickered at her openly as if she had heard all of her private secrets. 
Confound the man anyway, why did he have to be so confusing? 
The men ate first and the girls got what was left over. Lisa noticed Joe ate very 
little. Lisa was stricken when Susie went to gather up the plates and the men touched her 
and made grabs for her openly. It was disgusting and Susie didn't even seem to mind a 
bit. Granger acted as if he could care less too, which really had her puzzled. Wasn't Susie 
Granger's girl? Lisa watched Joe the whole time. Susie would walk in front of him and 
dip provocatively yet he never took her up on the invitation like the others. She even ran 
her hand over his shoulder and he pushed her hand away. He looked tired. And yet there 
was something about those cool blue eyes that didn't equate the man with the actions. 
They could be as hard looking as stone one minute and yet soft and gentle whenever he 
looked at her. Why did he unnerve her so? Her eyes and her mind told her that he was a 
dangerous man and that she shouldn't cross him. Her heart told her to trust him that she 
would be alright in his capable care. She didn't know what to think anymore. 
As time wore on the men grew rowdy and said some of the most horrible things 
Lisa had ever heard. They were in and out of the house. Joe was the only one who was 
more or less quiet. Once again she caught the tiredness around his eyes as he watched her 
from across the room. Lisa helped clear things away and did the dishes. She tried to avoid 
getting to close to Susie because every time she got close to Susie she would accidentally 
on purpose bump into her. Susie was goading her, trying to get into another fight. Lisa 
wouldn't make that mistake again. 
Dishes done, Lisa hesitated going back into the living room. Instead she watched 
Joe. He was stretching his arms up over his head tentatively. It must be the wound she 
thought, making him so tired. She could see that it was still bleeding a little. He hadn't 
done anything about it. It wasn't a terribly deep wound but still something had to be done. 
Lisa didn't like the looks of all the blood he had lost now dried running down his arm and 
inside his vest against his chest. Steeling herself for the inevitable, Lisa walked back into 
the other room, never taking her eyes off of Joe. 


CHAPTER THREE 
"I wanna go for a walk woman." Joe watched her making no move to get up as if 
he were waiting for her to come to him. Lisa walked to him where he was sitting propped 
against the wall. Joe took a hold of her arm and she instantly knew he was needing her 
help to get up. She wondered if he had lost too much blood. The other men were amused 
by Joe's imperious command, they didn't seem to notice his condition. They were to busy 
understanding among themselves that Joe was about to make his move with her. 
Once Joe was on his feet, he looked just fine and propelled her in the direction of 
the door and outside into the cool night air. Looking back over her shoulder she saw the 
obvious hate in Susie's. eyes. 
The fresh air was a relief after the stench of the house and Lisa drew it into her 
lungs greedily. Once the door closed behind them Joe left her standing on the porch. Lisa 
didn't know whether to follow him or not. So, undecided, she didn't. Joe didn't seem to 
notice or care. She watched him from the porch as he went to his bike and pulled off the 
canvas bag. He was so secretive, Lisa wondered what he was up to now. 
Returning to her he said, "There's a pond a little ways from here Let's go." He 
turned obviously expecting her to follow. Lisa was frightened now that she was alone 
with him and didn't want to go. Anything could happen out there. Did he really expect 
her to follow him meekly? 
"I don't want to go anywhere with you." Lisa regretted her rash statement the 
minute it was out. Her eyes opened wide unconsciously. She should remember to not 
upset him unduly. 
"What?" He was angry and annoyed yet clearly puzzled. 
"I didn't ask you to go. I'm telling you." He stated flatly, his voice sounded 
weary. "Do you honestly want to stay here with them? You won't be safe if I'm not here 
and I won't be. I'm going down to the pond to clean up a bit." Joe was a man of little 
patience. 
"Yet I won't be safe with you either will I?" Not being able to control her own 
impetuousness she went on. "I know all about you." She told him belligerently. 
"What are you talking about?" He snapped. "I'm not going to stand here and 
argue with you, I'm going with or without you. Suit yourself, take your own chances 
then." 
He spun around on his heels and started walking away briskly. What was 
happening? Was he really just going to leave her here? Lisa didn't understand, Joe didn't 
seem the least bit interested in her now. She didn't want to stay there alone without him 
so she ran to catch up with him. She decided she would rather take her chances with Joe 
than with the rest of them. There was only one of him and he wasn't feeling well, she 
could tell. Lisa was out of breath when she caught up to him in the partial woods behind 
the house. The night air hung heavy all around them making Lisa very aware of her 
vulnerability and Joes presence. The darkness shielding them from prying eyes. 
"What made you change your mind?" He asked once she had fallen into step next 
to him. "Somehow I knew you would." Joe smiled at her cynically. 
"I don't really know for sure. "She clasped her hands in front of her as she 
walked, hoping she didn't look as nervous as she was. Having been in that awful house so 
long with those nasty people had set her nerves on edge. 
"Oh well, you made the right choice." He paused and glanced at her. "I realize 
that you don't trust me." 
"Should I?" Lisa was surprised at her own boldness. Yet deep inside something 
told her that she already knew the answer to that question. 
"Have I done anything to hurt you?" Joe asked quietly.
"No not really I guess." She admitted softly. 
"Why didn't you want to come with me? That's twice today that you've said that 
to me." 
"I..I ah..." Lisa looked away from him afraid to answer that. If he didn't already 
have bad ideas, she didn't want to give him any. 
"What is it?" Joe persisted. "Your face gives you away, it gives away your every 
emotion." Joe stopped and turned her to face him placing his fist under her chin to raise 
her eyes to meet his. "Well, go ahead and tell me and get it over with. You shouldn't hold 
things in that are bothering you." He was very convincing. 
Lisa thought she must be crazy but she was going to follow her instincts and trust 
him. There was something about those compelling eyes that insisted she should trust him, 
and trust him she would. "Su.. Susie told me about a little boy that you took off into the 
woods with you..." Lisa licked her lips nervously. He was close again, much to close. 
"and that you didn't bring him back. She said that you did horrible things to him." There 
it was out come what may and she felt better already. He studied her closely for a long 
moment. Then he disconcerted her by saying. 
"Is that all?" He laughed, quite amused at her embarrassed rush of words. What 
was so funny? Did he do what Susie said or not? "Come on, your safe with me. I'll 
explain. Susie is just trying to scare you." Joe put his good arm around her shoulder as he 
talked. "It's true, I did take Shawn into the woods with me. That was his name by the 
way. He was a real character. We ran across him following us on his bicycle. He was 
struggling desperately to keep up with us after we had left the town he lived in. It was a 
little hick town and he was so far from home... Granger and Tiny had it in their minds to 
teach the kid a lesson. They talked about giving him the scare of his life. Now I couldn't 
let them do that could I? Anyway I told him to stay put where he was and that I would 
send someone to take him back to his house. That's why he didn't come back with me. I 
knew the others would think I did something awful. Actually it suited my purpose quite 
well, the others don't mess with me much, except for Granger." He added thoughtfully. 
"He's not scared of anything, he is as crazy as the day is long." Joe shook his head. "I'm 
not going to hurt you, I didn't hurt the boy. You really can trust me." Amazingly, 
listening to his side of the story she believed him, well, trusted him a little bit anyway. 
"Why?" she asked him, trying to understand him. His actions didn't fit the gruff 
looking man. 
"Why what?" Joe frowned at her wonderingly. Didn't he ever really smile? Did it 
hurt or something? 
"Why did you do it then? Help the boy that is." She asked. "You're not like the 
others, you're different." She watched him and he looked away for once. 
"I am and I'm not." He told her enigmatically. "That's all I can tell you." He 
wasn't about to elaborate any further. Joe took her hand and led her on down the path. 
Lisa pondered over this as they made their way to the pond in silence. It was 
obvious that Joe knew his way in the dark. She ignored the looks he snuck at her once in 
a while. Lisa knew he was probably having as hard of a time figuring her out as she was 
at figuring him out. 
The area was quiet around the pond. it was serene and the noise from the house 
did not reach them there. The evening was starting to finally cool down and Lisa was 
grateful. The full moon hung over them throwing its happy light across the water of the 
small pond. There in the area enhanced by the many low bushes and few tall trees Lisa 
felt remarkably safe for the first time, except for Joe. 
In the peaceful setting she could almost believe that nothing was wrong. That no 
threat of violence hung over her head. Joe pointed to a large rock and told her to go rest 
on it, surprised that she did as she was told. Lisa watched in silence, Joe had his back to 
her ready to ignore her presence. He quickly stripped down to his underwear, throwing 
the blood stained vest and jeans into the edge of the water to soak. Lisa unashamedly 
watched the muscles in his broad back flex and ripple as he went about his work digging 
through his canvas bag. Lisa studied him, there was something wrong about his body. It 
was exceptionally good, finely honed without spare inches of flesh anywhere. That was 
it, Joes body was in to good of shape, like he worked out a lot, unlike the others who had 
let their bodies go to pot. A man didn't get that good a body without working at it, but out 
here? It didn't make sense. 
Once again Lisa was drawn to Joe. There was an underlying attraction between 
them, a sexual magnetism that made her even more curious about him. Was he her captor 
or her champion? She continued watching as he brushed his teeth and then began to 
splash water in his cupped hand onto his wound. Lisa rose then from her place on the 
uncomfortable rock and pulled the hankie out of Joes jean pocket that he had put there 
earlier. He probably forgot all about it. Rinsing it out she went to stand by him where he 
was at the waters edge. 
"Surely you won't turn down my offer to help you this time." She pointedly told 
him. Joe looked up at her, surprise and something else clearly in his expressive gray eyes. 
"It's not a pretty sight." He told her in return. Lisa smiled, here was another hint 
of a gentleman. 
"I can stand it if you can." She challenged him. "Come over here and sit on the 
rock." Joe did and Lisa watched him every step of the way. He didn't seem the least bit 
self conscious that he was walking around half naked. Lisa dabbed carefully at the raw 
looking wound. She tried to be as gentle as she knew how. Joe never flinched and she 
wondered how he could stand it. Didn't he ever show signs of pain? She looked up to find 
Joe staring at her curiously, watching her with a strange expression on his face. One he 
hid quickly before Lisa could tell what it was. Jerking her wandering thoughts to the 
present she realized suddenly that she was getting to Joe too, that he was as aware of the 
attraction between them as she was. 
"You'd better take off that make-up and make yourself less...ah presentable. It 
will be hard enough keeping them away from you as it is." Lisa sighed, she felt like a 
piece of goods that everyone wanted to bid on. In civilization men didn't hound her like 
they did here. Here she was just an easy mark. That's why they all looked like they all 
wanted to eat her up. 
"Alright." Lisa agreed. It made sense to her. She'd do anything to stop those 
lecherous looks coming her way. 
Then sensing a bond with Joe, no matter how small, she got up the courage to 
question him. "Joe?" She spoke his mane softly. "Why did you help me before? You 
didn't have to. 
He pulled his eyes from her and stood up to move away. He  did it on purpose 
and Lisa wondered why he didn't want to be close to her. 
"Because I'm supposed to." He told her shortly, his voice indicating that he didn't 
want to talk about it. 
Because he was supposed to? What did that mean? Was he raised differently 
from the life he was leading? "Now I'm going to take a quick swim to cool off. You 
might be wise to do the same thing. You'll sleep better then. If you want you can use my 
clean up kit too, a few germs never killed anyone." 
"Thank you." Lisa didn't get the chance to say any more before Joe turned away. 
Stripping quickly he walked his lean muscular body into the water. Once out a ways he 
dived in and proceeded to ignore her. 
Lisa brushed her own teeth. There was something decidedly intimate about using 
a man's toothbrush but darned if she could figure out what it was. She was still undecided 
if she would swim or not. She guessed she didn't have anything to be worried about, Joe 
didn't seem to be interested in her in an unwholesome way. The water did look so cool 
and inviting. Shyly slipping out of her clothes she was thankful that Joe had seen fit to 
turn his head the other way as he stroked out to the middle of the pond. The darkness 
around them made Lisa feel a little better about her nudity. She hardly went around doing 
things like this no matter how isolated the area. The water did feel cool and relaxing to 
her over wrought over heated body, as she dashed in. She stood there letting it claim her 
body and enjoyed the feel of it. Once again her thoughts turned to Joe. She didn't even 
know his last name, but then he hadn't been curious enough to ask hers either, preferring 
to call her woman. She was aware of him in a way that she had never been aware of a 
man before. 
He was so close yet so far away in spirit. Lisa turned to see that he was treading 
water only a few feet from her, he was watching her and he smiled. It was the first truly 
real smile he had given her, it was stunning how it changed his features and made him so 
much more approachable. She didn't know what he was thinking but that smile made her 
senses reel. He was positively grinning mischievously from ear to ear, before he turned 
away again. 
Lisa speculated on him further. He was with this group. He dressed and acted like 
he belonged with this group, yet he didn't quite fit. It was nothing she could put her finger 
on either. She wondered how long he had been living like this, it was such a waste of a 
rather personable man. 
When she looked back at where Joe had been swimming he was gone. He hadn't 
passed her on his way back to the shore so where was he? Panicking, Lisa stood up in the 
shallows baring herself from the waist up to search for him. Where was he? She jumped 
and caught her breath as Joe surfaced abruptly from under the surface of the water in 
front of her. He shook the water from his hair in one violent movement. Lisa turned, 
attempting to scramble for shore to get away from him, suddenly afraid. Joe reached out 
and grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her struggling body close to his effortlessly. 
The force nearly knocking the wind completely out of her. Joe wouldn't release her and 
she struggled in vain. 
"Someone is coming. Be still for heavens sake." He ground out hastily. "I'm not 
going to rape you." Using one strong hand he captured her face, turning her so that he 
could fully possess her lips with his own. One hand slipped to the small of her bare back 
and he held her more loosely. It wasn't a gentle kiss. "Put your arms around me woman." 
Joe demanded when she had not made a single effort to move. He didn't know it 
was because she was too stunned at the feel of his very male body pressed against hers. 
No one had ever been this close to her, and especially not nude. Lisa knew he was 
completely naked too because she could feel every long inch of him against her. Her arms 
went up as told. Then she heard the noises as they grew closer. Someone was coming, 
talking and scraping along bushes. It was Granger and his sidekick Susie. He had one arm 
slung carelessly over her slim shoulders, leaning on her. 
"We wondered where you got off to." Granger snickered, eyeing them warily. 
Lisa could imagine the picture they made standing locked in an embrace in the little 
pond. 
"We've already broke out the booze if you want to join us Joe." He seemed like 
he was teasing but Lisa wasn't sure. Was he checking up on them? His statement almost 
sounded like an ultimatum. Was that why Joe said there was too many of them still 
watching him? He leisurely released her lips and answered them. 
"Not now Granger. I have ah more important things on my mind." She knew 
what Joe wanted them to think. Joe didn't bother to look at them when he spoke, he only 
stared intently into Lisa's nervous eyes, holding her with the very essence of him. Then 
very slowly as if drawn he brought his warm mouth down on hers again. This time the 
kiss was gentle, almost reverent. From the corner of her eye Lisa could see Granger shrug 
his shoulders and turn to leave. She also registered the openly stunned expression on 
Susie's face. 
What was she so shocked about? It was obvious to Lisa that Susie and Granger 
slept together. 
Lisa's eyes were drawn back to Joe when she noticed that Joes kiss was turning 
even gentler and coaxing 
His eyes were closed to her. Didn't he know that they were gone? Still he kissed 
her, willing her to part her lips to his warmth. She was being drawn to him like a moth to 
a flame, one that would consume. She was vitally aware of him as he drew his hand 
lingeringly up her back in one sweeping caress. Lisa became aware of his burning desire 
as he drew her lips to his, molding her to him at the same time she became aware of her 
own smoldering desires. Her senses were swamped with sparks, heightened by the 
coolness of the water against her body and the sensation of her breasts touching his warm 
hair covered chest. She felt like the bottom of her stomach was falling out. Lisa couldn't 
allow this to go on, this man was one of her captors. Soon there would be no turning 
back. Knowing actions speak louder than words Lisa tensed every rebellious muscle in 
her body. Joe opened his glazed blue eyes and released her, gathering his stability 
quickly. 
"Sorry I forgot myself." He cleared his throat, his voice was low and husky. "It 
comes from living with these animals I guess."
Once again, Lisa realized that Joe didn't consider himself a part of this group. She 
wasn't really listening to him though, besides being embarrassed by her undressed state 
and her frightening response to a total stranger...his beard tickled her. 'Lisa couldn't 
control the giggle that escaped her lips. His eyes widened ominously as he watched her. 
"What are you laughing at woman?" Joe frowned again and it made Lisa laugh 
even harder. He was always so serious. "This is hardly a laughing situation we are in. 
You aren't getting hysterical on me are you?" She could see that he was vastly concerned 
about her seemingly strange actions. Laughing was a natural reaction Lisa used when she 
had a hard time coping with stress. The more he frowned the more she laughed, unable to 
stop herself. 
"No, no..." Lisa tried to defend herself, clutched in the throes of laughter like she 
was. "It's just that..." Lisa giggled some more because she didn't know how he would take 
it. Maybe he didn't have a sense of humor. Maybe her sense of humor was warped. 
"Just what?" He demanded sternly, obviously at the end of his patience. He didn't 
think she was laughing at him did he? His blue eyes searched her face for an answer to 
her behavior. It was time to come clean. Come clean? Still standing in the water, she 
nearly started laughing allover again. Joe pushed her away to arms length, still holding 
onto her though so he could study her. He wasn't going to strike her was he? Lisa amazed 
even herself by admitting her own ludicrous thoughts since he was impatient. 
"It's just that your beard tickled me." Joes face twisted as he continued to stare at 
her as if she'd lost her mind. He scowled at her fiercely. 
"What a thing to say at a time like this. Granger wasn't out taking a walk you 
know." He frowned down at her until he too caught the humor of her crazy statement and 
started laughing himself. Lisa nearly reached for him again he looked so handsome. He 
turned and headed for the shore. Joe shook his head back and forth on the way like he 
couldn't believe her. Lisa realized that he probably thought she was a nut, a crazy female 
nut. For some reason, she did care what he thought of her. 
Lisa was hesitant to leave the cover of the water. 
When she did, Joe was already busy slipping into some jeans of his own not 
paying her any mind. After they were both dressed again Joe resumed talking to her in his 
casual manner to put her at ease, yet he seemed aloof some how. "By the way, what is 
your name?" He asked her. 
It was about time he got interested in finding out who she was. 
"I can't keep calling you woman, although I would put you at the head of the 
class in that." He was teasing but it caused Lisa to blush. Here was a man who had seen 
her practically naked and held her to his bare body. She had no reason not to tell him who 
she was. Now if he had asked her earlier in the day she wouldn't have told him or lied. 
Perhaps it would even help her cause, maybe the friendlier they got then he would be 
willing to continue helping her if they were more familiar. It couldn't hurt surely. 
"The womans name is Lisa Harrold." She flipped it to him. "And yours?" She 
was dying to know his last name, actually she wanted to know everything there was to 
know about him but she wouldn't ask. After all this wasn't a social convention. 
He studied it for a minute. "Lisa...it fits you. I'm Joe Michaels." Joe bent down to 
rinse out his clothes. "Well Lisa Harrold are you about ready to make another appearance 
in the lions den?" That was a dumb question to ask, of course she wasn't ready. Lisa 
wanted to put off the inevitable. 
"Do you have a comb Joe." He turned to look at her quizzically. Was he aware 
that she was stalling for time? Somehow she thought he was and was letting her get away 
with it. 
"Yea, although how you are going to get it through that long hair of yours I'm not 
sure." He handed her the comb and stood watching her. "You know," he told her 
thoughtfully, "you have the most unusual eyes I've ever seen." Why did he have to stare 
at her so much? Wasn't he aware of how it affected her? What was he up to? Perhaps 
Susie was right, perhaps he was out to seduce her with his flattery? If so it was working, 
that and those exquisite sensual blue eyes of his. 
"Their just brown." Lisa returned easily. He was the one with the unusual eyes. 
"No, it's not the color, although chocolate brown is very flattering, it's the shape. 
They're almost a perfect almond shape." His voice lowered unconsciously. "You are very 
pretty Lisa. How did you manage to remain unattached for so long?" He took her hand 
and lifted it so that he
could look at her fingers. "I noticed earlier that you didn't have a ring on." Lisa 
shrugged, taken aback at such a personal question and yet she was glad that he wasn't as 
disinterested in her as he pretended to be at times. Joe didn't seem like the curious type of 
person to her, he was much too aloof from the rest of the world. She wasn't going to let 
such an intimate moment pass with out a question of her own. How could she phrase it, 
yet let it be a straight question. The direct approach? 
"Joe, you could help me to escape...you have a motor and I won't tell anyone." 
He pulled his hand back and released hers as if he had been burned. Lisa whispered, she 
didn't want anyone to over hear what she had to say by accident. "You could help me if 
you wanted to." 
"I can't..." He shook his head quickly and looked away almost nervously. 
"Why not? There's no one here at the moment but the two of us. Why are you 
keeping me here? I'm confused, you haven't hurt me. What do you have in mind? Why 
won't you help me? Granger needn't find out that.. ." 
"Just drop it will you." Joe snapped angrily. 
"But..." stubbornly Lisa refused to give up. There had to be a way to get through 
to him, to elicit his help. 
"But nothing Lisa." He was blunt. "I can't risk helping you right now." Joes face 
returning her gaze stoically made her realize how adamant he was. Lisa's bottom lip 
began to tremble. She'd pinned all of her hopes on his helping her out of this mess she 
was in, and Joe was her only hope. His hard face softened momentarily. "At least not 
until tomorrow." He told her hesitantly. 
"Tomorrow but not tonight?" She asked puzzled by his response. Her mind 
couldn't cope with what he was telling her. Why was tomorrow so important? Did he 
have it in mind to take her after all, to use her body in trade for his help of escaping? 
"I see." Lisa turned away from him abruptly her whole body feeling utterly 
chilled. "There's no way I'm going to make it easy on you." She told him stiffly. The 
silence was only a short pause even if it seemed to go on forever. 
"You won't make what easy on me?" His voice sounded dangerously hard and 
cold. Lisa could almost see the anger emanating from him as Joe grasped her arm and 
swung her around to face him. 
"You intend to have me but I won't make it easy on you. I will fight you every bit 
of the way, it will be rape. And..." Lisa's voice faltered when she noticed the malevolent 
fire dance up in his eyes. "When I do escape I will see that you are hounded by the law 
for the rest of your days, just like the animal that you are." 
There was a white line that ran the edge of his jaw, he was gritting his teeth 
together so tightly. Lisa stepped back out of his immediate reach, her eyes wide. Oh Lord 
why had she angered him so? 
"My God woman." Joe ground out. He was an awesome sight when he was 
angry. "Do you really believe I have that damn body of yours in mind at this minute. Do 
you really think that I couldn't have taken you, as you so quaintly put it, before now if I 
had wanted to? Joe was deliberately keeping his voice low but Lisa could tell he wanted 
to holler at her. He stepped forward and grabbed her by the shoulders, his blue eyes 
blazing. "What do you think I've been doing for the last eight hours if not protecting you 
from that very thing? I have a job to do Lisa, I told you that. You were just in the wrong 
place at the wrong time that's all I can tell you for now. You are just going to have to trust 
me. I will keep you as safe as I can till tomorrow." 
She wanted to believe him she really did, she was just so scared. The whole thing 
was confusing, Joe being the biggest puzzle. It was just more than she could handle at the 
moment and tears stung at her eyes, refusing to be held back. Joes anger seemed to leave 
him in a long sweeping action and compassion then lit up his blue eyes. He came to her 
and pulled her close tightly. Lisa rested her head against his hair covered chest seeking 
his comfort. Lisa could hear his steady heart beat under her ear and found it strangely 
reassuring. 
"You can trust me Lisa." Joe crooned softly in her ear. His large hand stroked her 
still damp hair lightly. "And I'm not saying that you aren't a tempting little package 
either. You are but you have my word that you will be safe with me." Joe tried to reassure 
her verbally. "This is all very hard for you to take, I know, but you'll see, we will get 
through this, we will." Lisa wanted desperately to believe him. How could she stand 
staying here though? Lisa looked up at him shyly. 
"How do you know? You're one of them." She chocked back a sob. "I don't know 
if I should trust you or not. 
How do I know that you're not stringing me along like Susie said." Lisa cried 
softly some more not being able to call a halt to the free falling tears. "I don't know you." 
Joe stroked the tears from her cheeks and kissed the trail they had left. "I know, 
that's all, and I think you know too Lisa, I think you know that you can trust me." He 
sighed. "Unfortunately you don't really have a choice in the matter do you? Haven't I 
proven it to you yet that you can trust me?" His breath was warm and caressing next to 
her ear. 
"Well, I guess you have." Lisa admitted reluctantly. 
He had helped her in a lot of ways so far. Large brown eyes looked up and locked 
with smiling blue ones, trust clearly showing. 


Chapter Four
"I'm really scared Joe ." Lisa admitted honestly. "I've never been so scared in my 
life. I'm really trying to trust you and I do, I just don't trust...them, what they might do." 
Joe stroked her hair some more. 
"I know Lisa." Joe held her close as she finished crying her heart out. When the 
tears finally stopped, he asked, "alright now?" He tipped her face up to look at it and Lisa 
noticed that he was the one with the pale face. 
"Yes, yes, I'm sorry." Lisa was ashamed of herself now. She also realized that she 
was beginning to feel the sexual tension of being in his arms. She stepped back 
hesitantly. 
"Believe me I understand. I've been around this for a month and God knows how 
hard it has been at times." Joe abruptly ran his fingers through his dark hair. It was a 
natural movement on his part but it was something that Lisa noticed he did when he was 
nervous without being aware of it. He only did it around her, she hadn't seen him do it in 
front of the others. 
"What are you doing here then?" Lisa asked boldly. 
"If you are leaving tomorrow anyway, why can't we just leave now, this minute? 
How come you got involved with them, those people, you're not the sort, it shows." Lisa 
heard his sharp intake of breath and knew she had angered him again. Would she never 
learn to keep her mouth shut? 
"I told you I have a job to do." He snapped. "What made you say that, I'm not the 
sort? You'd better hope like hell that it doesn't show or we may be in real trouble." His 
harshly uttered words frightened her. She could feel the tenseness once again emanating 
from him. 
"Oh, it's not anything you do or say," she offered lamely, "its just how you are 
when your with me." Lisa hoped this would make him relax. The man was positively a 
ticking bomb. 
"Is that all? Are you sure?" He questioned her sternly, still frowning. 
"Yes, I'm sure. I was basing it on how you treat me." He was still more than a 
little upset but was recovering fast. 
"Okay, I believe you, lets go back to the house then. I'm beat and it's going to be 
a long day tomorrow." His voice sounded weary. Noticing the paleness of his face, Lisa 
was truly ashamed of herself, her behavior. Her eyes traveled over the expanse of his 
broad hair covered chest, his shoulder wound was bleeding a little, trickling in an 
ominous stream. 
"You are bleeding again Joe." Lisa made a move to touch him to see what she 
could do to help him but he countered her, catching her upraised hand and kissed it 
swiftly. He didn't want her sympathy. 
"And you woman are still far to pretty, even without you're make-up." He rubbed 
his chest around the wound absently. "I'll be all right, don't you worry about it." 
He smiled reassuringly. Lisa's reckless and impetuous nature got the best of her 
as she remembered what Susie said about- wanting to sleep with Joe. The thought had 
been on her mind all evening and she quickly burst forth with it. 
"Did you know that Susie wants to sleep with you?" 
His eyes hastily jerked up to hers. He shook his head slowly like he wasn't sure if 
he heard her right. 
"Boy, you say some of the weirdest things at times. 
Are you always so blunt? And to answer your question, yes I know it, I'm not 
deaf and blind you know. She's wasting her time." 
"You haven't?" Her brown eyes drew together thought- fully. "Not once? Then 
how come?" She wanted further clarification. How could a man turn down something so 
openly offered? Joe was still shaking his head in startled unbelief. He started laughing. 
"You can't understand that can you?" Joe taunted. "I'm not that hard up, besides, 
Susie sleeps with all these guys, not just Granger." Lisa shivered at his words, it was too 
disgusting to even think about. "I don't want a disease, is that plain enough for you to 
understand." Lisa came to a halt in spite of his urgings. She was thinking about Susie. 
"She does? But I thought she was Grangers girl. How could she? It's so...so..." Lisa 
couldn't even put it into words. 
"Come on." Joe jerked on her arm again to get her moving. "Don't get so bent out 
of shape over it Lisa. There are people in this world that just like getting treated like dirt." 
Lisa pondered this while they continued to walk together, her carrying the canvas 
bag and Joe with his wet clothes slung over his broad shoulder. He laid his jeans and vest 
over the cycle to dry and replaced the bag back on the bike. He slipped that mysterious 
object in his boot once more. Joe removed a rolled up blanket and tucked it under his 
arm. Lisa shivered involuntarily when she heard the load commotion coming from the 
house. The voices were loud and boisterous, she didn't want to go in there again and like 
usual Joe sensed as much. He had an uncanny way of sensing her moods almost before 
she did. 
"Come on, just stay close and keep quiet." He stopped suddenly. 
"Wait." Joe turned Lisa to face him directly. "You don't look like you just came 
from my bed, so to speak." Before Lisa knew what he was going to do Joe pulled her to 
him harshly and kissed her brutally, so hard in fact that Lisa felt her lips bruising. Then 
while she struggled uselessly he pulled her shirt out of her jeans where she tucked it in 
earlier after her swim. "Leave it out." He whispered against her lips. Lisa tensed as she 
felt his warm hand snake its way up her blouse to capture her bare breast. Instinctively 
Lisa blushed. Not that she hadn't been touched in this way by a man before, but not by 
this man who seemed to elicit responses from her that she found hard to control. "That's 
better." Joe chuckled at the response he got from her. It was what he wanted all along, 
she realized. "Let's go inside." Joe took her hand and pulled her towards the door. She 
knew Joe was amused at her blushing. He must have known she would react like that or 
he wouldn't have done it. The brute! 
Everyone stopped talking when they entered the front room, staring at them, 
causing Lisa to blush even harder than before. There was uncontrollable laughter at that, 
nothing escaped their hawk eyes. Lisa wished she could drop through the floor, anywhere 
out of sight would do. It was all so humiliating. 
"Warm me a place in the corner woman." Joe commanded none to gently. She 
was actually getting used to this game now. Lisa did as she was told and walked over to 
the corner and sat down. Joe tossed her the blanket. Lisa cringed when she saw the fat 
toothless man moving to sit closer to her. 
It immediately sent foreboding chills running down her spine. "How was she 
Joe?" He eyed her hungrily with steely eyes. 
"Not bad Tiny, not bad at all," was Joes cold response. He raked his eyes over her 
callously for effect. 
"How 'bout I give her a try huh?" Lisa looked down at the floor. How could they 
talk about her like this? As if she meant nothing and wasn't even here. 
"If you want Tiny." Joe drawled and Lisa's eyes flew up to his expressionless 
face. "When I'm done with her. I dare say she's more woman than you can handle 
though." 
The others snickered and laughed at this and then the subject was changed to 
Lisa's relief. She didn't think she could take much more and nervously she picked the 
invisible fuzz off of her jeans just for something to do. 
Joe got a glass and poured himself some bourbon straight before he collapsed his 
large body next to Lisa on the floor. The trivial chatter and incessant arguing seemed to 
go on forever. The more they drank the louder they got. Some had lit joints and the smell 
only added to the stench of the house already. Joe slipped his arm around her shoulders 
more or less showing his ownership and Lisa knew it, but it was a comfort none the less. 
Joe had Lisa refill his glass for him several times and on the third trip Lisa knew 
that Susie was going to follow her into the kitchen. She had been eyeing her quizzically 
all night. Susie watched her pour the drink as she spoke. 
"Joe was gentle wasn't he?" Lisa was surprised by the question. She had honestly 
expected more taunts and digs. She also knew that everyone, including Susie thought that 
they had made love out by the pond. It was what Joe wanted them to think for whatever 
his reasons. 
Lisa nodded her head in agreement. "He was." Joe really was a gentle man 
despite his rough looking exterior. 
"I knew it, I just knew it." Susie exclaimed. "What did you do to win that guy 
over? I've got to sleep with him. Never before have I wanted a man so badly. Ever since 
he showed up, I knew he would be like that." Susie didn't care who knew what she 
wanted. Lisa was a million explanations away, from ever understanding this woman. 
"Nothing really, I didn't do anything." Lisa knew she couldn't go into much detail 
or Susie might discover the truth. 
"Oh come off it." She snipped. "You must have done something. What was it? 
Tell me, Joe doesn't just pick up anybody, he's very particular." Lisa realizing that Susie 
wasn't going to give up until she got some kind of answer, so she made one up. 
"I...I was just nice to him that's all. Also I do everything he tells me to do. It was 
nothing special really." This appeased Susie and she squinted her eyes smugly. 
"Well, if you can do it so can I. I'm more woman than you any day. At least I 
know how to use what I've got." 
She swung her shoulders back and forth her breasts straining against her shirt. 
"And you don't." She taunted airily and swiftly turned on her heel and left. Lisa wondered 
what she would do next, Susie was always looking to start trouble. Lisa rejoined Joe 
quickly. It concerned her that he was drinking so much. She worried that he might get 
drunk and leave her at the mercy of the others. Lisa frowned at him and then looked 
towards the drink as she handed it to him before sitting down next to him. She hoped he 
got the wordless message. Joe pulled her to him close and kissed her, then he pretended 
to be nuzzling her ear as he whispered to her, so that others couldn't hear what he was 
saying. 
"Don't worry Lisa, I'm in too much pain to get drunk. Are you ready to turn in? I 
am."
Of course Lisa was ready, anything to get out of this stuffy room. She nodded her 
acceptance, looking around at her surroundings she didn't feel very good about it. what if 
Joe intended sleeping in here. Yuck, she thought there was no way she would be able to 
sleep in this filth. Once again Joe sensed what she was thinking and rose to his feet 
pulling Lisa back to hers. His back was to the others and his eyes twinkled 
mischievously. "Bedtime woman. Let's go outside." Joe bent down and snatched up the 
drab olive blanket and they headed outdoors uninterrupted. They stepped over a sleeping 
man in the process. It was the fat toothless man, Lisa wished she could grind her heel into 
him instead of just stepping over him. 
Lisa felt much better once they were outside in the fresh air. She wanted Joe to 
know. 
"Thank you Joe. I don't think I could have stood it to stay in there much longer, 
especially to sleep." 
"Know exactly how you feel." Joe mumbled. "I'm afraid we will have to make do 
with this one blanket, it's the only one I have." Then he added thoughtfully more to 
himself then to her. "Besides you need to be where I can keep a close eye on you." Joe 
spread the blanket out on the hard ground near the motorcycle. 
"You won't try running off will you?" Joe suddenly asked her as if he had just 
now thought of the possibility. "I couldn't begin to tell you what might happen if you try 
it. Don't forget there's only one of me and we don't want to antagonize them if we can 
avoid it." He didn't have to give her all the frightening details, she could figure it out for 
herself, perhaps a little too clearly for her own good. 
"No, I won't, I promise. 'I Lisa hadn't thought about running away for a long 
time, not on her own anyway. Lisa laid herself down on the blanket. What was she 
supposed to do with herself? It was above her at the moment to act completely natural. 
Joe disappeared for a moment and by the time he returned Lisa was very glad to 
see him as if he had been gone for years. She laughed silently at herself, goodness he 
hadn't been gone all that long and here she was acting as if he had deserted her. Joe had 
unknowingly become her frail lifeline, her safety blanket in all this mess. Then she 
realized he had probably gone to relive himself after all the booze he drank. 
Lisa wished she could go to the bathroom herself, but she was too scared, she 
wasn't even sure if she would ever be able to use the bathroom again. What would 
psychology books say about that predicament. She laughed out loud without realizing it. 
Joe laid down and stretched out beside her, although they weren't touching. 
"What I s so funny now?" He asked quietly. "I can almost hear the wheels turning in that 
unusual brain of yours." 
"Nothing really." Lisa lied, it wasn't something she could very well tell him 
about. 
"You just don't want to tell me right?" Joe guessed correctly. 
"Yeah." Lisa tried to see his face in the darkness. "It wasn't anything all that 
important, really." 
They both lay very still for the longest time, Lisa on her side of the blanket and 
Joe on his. She listened to his even steady breathing and was reassured by it. Lisa was 
intensely aware of every little thing about him. It was so quiet that she fancied she could 
hear the blood actually running in their veins. She tried to sleep but she couldn't. She 
wasn't sure if it was because of the predicament she was in or because of the virile man 
laying next to her. Joe grew more and more restless, he couldn't sleep either apparently. 
Maybe he was waiting on her to go to sleep first. 
It wasn't long until a few of the other bikers came out of the house, most to 
relieve themselves, the rest to sleep. Lisa laid perfectly still when Joe threw an arm and 
leg over her possessively. She almost knew it was for the benefit of the others in case 
they came looking for them, but it was too nice of a feeling not to like. He was laying so 
close to her that she could feel the steadiness of his heartbeat against her side and feel the 
warmth exuding from his body. Still he was a bit restless. 
Lisa asked him quietly, "Are you in much pain Joe?" Perhaps that was what was 
keeping him awake. 
"A little bit yeah, I can hold out for one more day. 
Are you okay?" There was no denying the concern in his voice. "Fine, thank 
you." She answered, trying to strain her eyes to see in the dark, she could make out his 
faint outline. He was so close and Lisa didn't know why his presence was affecting her so 
evocatively. She could feel every nerve ending and they were on fire. Joe was staring 
back at her, she could see the glitter of his eyes and see him a little more clearly now, her 
eyes had adjusted to the dark. 
"I'm sorry I've had to treat you so roughly today Lisa." He whispered. "It's 
expected of me and I can't let them think otherwise." Joe squeezed her gently to himself. 
Actually Lisa thought he had been most kind to her throughout the evening. It 
could have been much worse on her.  Without thinking about it Lisa kissed him gratefully 
on the forehead. "I understand a little I think, you only acted how you thought the rest of 
them expected you to. You really aren't like the others Joe and I'm grateful to you. I 
shudder to think what would have happened to me if you..." Lisa did tremble just 
thinking about it. 
"Don't think about it Lisa." He drew her closer and kissed her fully on the lips. 
"This isn't for the benefit of anyone else but me ." He told her. "You are very beautiful 
Lisa and I want to kiss you." He lowered his head. "You aren't afraid of me are you?" 
She shook her head no. His warm lips enveloped hers, probing gently for a 
response. Lisa kissed him back. 
Joe pulled up and looked down at her again. "I wish to God that you weren't 
here." He pressed his warm lips to her eager ones. 
Lisa consciously parted her lips surrendering her inner sanctuary to him, and was 
instantly rewarded by the excitement she felt because of his exploring, marauding tongue. 
The driving desire Joe had ignited in her at the pond earlier sprang to life again. Never 
before had she been so overcome by desire. One quick look at Joes face and she knew he 
was feeling it to. She didn't have time to think about it much less enjoy the sensations. 
For at the same time Joe lifted his head and started to say something Lisa became aware 
of someone standing over them. She gasped. It sent Joe scrambling to his feet. 
It was only Susie. 
"What do you want?" He barked at her, anger visible in every line of his 
masculine body. He looked like an angry God standing over her, to protect her and Susie 
the adversary. 
"Can I lay here with you too Joe? Granger is getting rip roaring drunk and he 
always beats me when he is like that. Please?" Susie was begging and Joe studied her for 
a moment. 
"Okay. Go get yourself a blanket and come back." Joe didn't sound too happy 
about it. After Susie went skipping off he sat down heavily next to Lisa. 
"God you distract me, I didn't even hear her walk up." He rubbed his palms over 
the fabric of his jeans atop his thighs. 
"I'm sorry." Lisa didn't know what to say. He was having the same distracting 
effect on her. 
"Oh it's not really your fault, its mine. I'm supposed to know better. Lisa..." He 
started to say something else and stopped when he saw Susie returning. She couldn't help 
but wish he would of had more time to finish. She was sure it had something to do with 
her. "'Here comes Susie." 
Susie spread out her blanket next to Joe. He didn't say anything to her, he only 
laid back and stretched out in between them. Lisa watched as Susie laid down and curled 
herself up in a little ball like a frightened child. Joe turned on his side then to face Lisa, 
she was aware that he was straining to see her in the escalating darkness as she was him. 
She wished she knew what he was thinking. 
It seemed she had only gotten to sleep for a minute when she heard the door of 
the house fly open and bang against the wall noisily. Grangers booming angry voice 
called out. 
"Damn half breed, where are you? What makes you think you own all of the 
meat around this place." Susie started sobbing hysterically. 
Joe was annoyed and groaned in response. "Right here Granger what do you 
want?" 
"I want my woman...or yours." Granger told him. Joe rose to his feet muttering 
something unhealthy under his breath. 
"Then come get one. I don't care." Lisa tensed and Susie was practically 
screaming. Lisa reached over and pulled Susie next to her to try to comfort her. Joe just 
stood there, silently waiting as Granger came towards them. In the dim light she watched 
as Joe clenched his hands into fists at his side. No sooner had Granger got there than Joe 
hauled back and took a full swing at him. Lisa heard the loud contact as hand met jaw. 
Granger fell back haphazardly to the hard ground. Even Susie was quietly watching this 
as if she were mesmerized. 
Joe rubbed his knuckles calmly. "Like hell I don't mind old buddy." 
It was obvious that Granger was completely out of it, between the booze and the 
punch. Joe drug him several feet away and came back to lay down. 
Susie gathered up her blanket and went to lay beside Granger obediently, as if it 
was expected of her. What happened to the frightened girl of just a few moments ago? 
Lisa strived to understand the other girls actions and found she couldn't. Nothing about 
these people made any sense to her and frankly if it did she might start worrying about 
herself. 
"Why did Susie go back to Granger?" Lisa asked Joe, not being able to contain 
her curiosity any longer. 
"Didn't your mother ever warn you that curiosity killed the cat." Joe quipped 
humorously. 
"What does that mean?" She asked, truly puzzled. 
He just laughed lightly. "Forget it little kitten." 
He told her softly. "Who knows why she does what she does and who cares. She 
is just strange." 
"But if Granger was going to hurt her then why did..." "Go to sleep now Lisa." 
Joes voice was a mixture of weariness and irritability. She obeyed him silently, sensing 
that he didn't want to talk anymore. 
Lisa did sleep surprisingly enough. She moved as close to Joe as she could get 
without touching him. Waking only once before morning Lisa was roused by the distinct 
chill in the air. Joe was still awake and he was watching her. 
"What's the matter? Can't you sleep?" He asked, his voice low and drowsy. 
"I'm just a little cold I guess." She whispered and turned on her side away from 
him to go back to sleep. She felt his long arm reach out and pulled her against him as he 
laid on his side too. They fit together snuggly and Lisa felt safe with Joe pressed against 
her back comfortingly. 
"I'll keep you warm." He told her and pulled as much of the blanket as he could 
over the two of them. "Feels nice, doesn't it." He whispered. "We fit together like pieces 
of a puzzle." 
Lisa vaguely felt a soft kiss planted on the back of her neck before she returned 
to sleep, too worn out to do otherwise. 


CHAPTER FIVE 
It was the incessant chatter of birds that woke Lisa in the morning. She felt stiff 
and sore from sleeping on the hard cold ground. Joe still held her in his arms. She turned 
slightly so that she could look at him since he was still sleeping, she could tell by the 
evenness of his quiet steady breathing. Joe looked at ease and relaxed in his sleep, gentler 
somehow. Lisa wondered what he would look like without his beard. He was such an 
attractive man as far as she could tell. She wondered how he would help her today that he 
couldn't have helped her yesterday. But how? There so much mystery that surrounded 
him. Lisa no longer doubted that he would help her, she knew he would. 
One glance around and she looked over to where Granger and Susie slept. Susie 
too looked different in her sleep. Lisa wondered about her, she seemed so tough on the 
outside and yet Lisa had seen another side to her last night. A vulnerable side that she 
was sure Susie wouldn't admit to having. Last night she had cried because she was scared 
like a little child. Lisa knew Granger would have probably have beat her if Joe hadn't 
allowed himself to get involved. 
From the way Susie talked, Granger had beaten her many times before. Lisa 
couldn't understand why Susie stayed around to receive such treatment. Joe had said that 
some people just like getting treated like dirt. Was Susie one of them? Lisa thought back 
to Susie's earlier statement about knowing that Joe would be gentle. How did she know? 
Yet didn't Lisa sense that very thing herself? Once again she wondered what he was 
doing here, involved with these bizarre people. What kind of man was he really? Her 
eyes told her he was like the rest of these men yet something deep inside told her that he 
wasn't. Was he in some kind of trouble? 
Was this how he was hiding out? So many puzzling thoughts raced through her 
mind where he was concerned. Secretly she wondered how she could feel such a strong 
attraction to a man such as Joe. The way he slept so soundly, Lisa realized that he was 
used to sleeping out in the open like this and living this kind of life. She could never get 
used to it herself. 
They laid there together till almost ten in the morning. Lisa who did not want to 
get up and face the others or disturb Joe laid very still. She knew he had probably not 
slept truly well last night. The weight of his arm was getting heavy upon her stomach. 
There was no denying that she didn't like it though. She felt comfortable with Joe. She 
actually wondered what it would be like to really sleep with Joe, to make love and wake 
up to find him still there in the morning. 
Susie was awake now and she came to stand over them. She didn't say anything 
she just stared down at Joe. Lisa could tell that Susie was trying to figure him out too. 
She thought she saw a sparkle of tears in her eyes before she turned away and walked 
back to Granger who was still sleeping. The only way she could rouse Granger was by 
practically having to kick him in the head to get him to wake up. They finally went 
indoors paying no head to Lisa or Joe. Maybe he didn't remember Joe punching him out, 
maybe he didn't care. She would never figure these people out if she lived to be a 
hundred years old. 
A little latter she felt Joe starting to stir and she watched his blue eyes suddenly 
pop wide open. He was startled, he looked at Lisa first then all around. He noticed that 
Granger and Susie had left already. 
"Are you alright Lisa?" He asked quickly. "I didn't mean to sleep. Have you been 
up long?" He hadn't moved a muscle to release her. 
"I'm fine, everyone else is still asleep I guess. There hasn't been anyone about yet 
except for them." She motioned to where Granger and Susie had been. His eyes skittered 
looking all around the area again and then he relaxed slightly. It was quite pleasant laying 
next to Joe. 
"Good." He told her. 
Lisa noticed he looked even paler today underneath his dark tan, and he had dark 
circles beneath his eyes. 
"What time is it? Do you know?" He asked 
She shook her head no, noticing for the first time that he wore no watch, no rings, 
no anything of a personal nature. 
"I'd say its about ten or so, I don't have a watch either. I left mine back in the 
car." She watched as he turned and laid back flat on the blanket. Suddenly he winced and 
grabbed his shoulder. Joe had laid on it all night holding her. It was red and swollen with 
awful streaks of color starting to run down his arm away from the wound. Why hadn't she 
noticed it before now? 
"Look at your shoulder Joe, its infected. God it looks awful." Lisa caught her 
breath fearful for him. She knew the horror showed on her face and she couldn't help it. 
"Like I said, you don't pull your punches do you?" 
He eyed his wound cautiously. He didn't seem very upset. He drew to his feet 
slowly and Lisa sat up too. 
Joe pulled a white T- shirt from his canvas bag. It had the bottom half torn away 
so that when he put it on, it still showed the taut muscles of his flat stomach and the dark 
hairs trailing down into his jeans. Then he slipped on his boots he had taken off in the 
night. Lisa didn't know why those cowboy impressed her so much, they just did. The 
others wore black army boots or bikers boots, Joe seemed out of place with his. "It'll be 
okay for a while longer. Now you don't have to see it and neither do they. It makes me 
look vulnerable." He shoved the rest of his clothes that were drying on the bike into the 
bag carelessly. 
Lisa moved to sit under the tree that was nearby. She enjoyed watching his each 
movement, everything he did. Joe was just starting to comb back his tousled hair when 
Susie came back out of the house alone.
"Roll up the blanket will ya, Lisa?" He asked her as he watched Susie come 
nearer. Then he walked with that long stride to meet her. They talked low enough that 
Lisa couldn't hear what they were saying. Joe put his good arm around her shoulders as 
they talked. Susie was all smiles. Then Joe gave her a long kiss before swatting her on the 
fanny as he sent her off in the direction of the house. 
Lisa knew a moment of intense jealousy seeing Susie in his arms, receiving his 
kiss and she didn't know why. After all, she didn't really know this man or anything about 
him for that matter. Why should she care who he kissed? 
He busied himself with his bike. Before long Susie came bounding out of the 
house and in their direction again. Joe leaned his tall form against the bike and crossed 
his arms in front of him, waiting. He had a body that wouldn't quit. He was in such fine 
shape, no wonder Susie wanted to sleep with him. 
"I got it Joe." She squealed. "Here, let me do it for you. okay?" Susie spoke 
sweetly.
Joe nodded his head and pulled off his half shirt. Even Susie gasped at the 
festering condition of his wound. Lisa watched as Susie rubbed some medicine over the 
wound for him, leaning closer and closer till the bottom half of her body was compressed 
to his. 
Still he did not move or flinch until she was done. Then he gathered her up in his 
arms and gave her another searing kiss. Lisa wondered if his kiss did the same thing to 
Susie that it did to her. A complete meltdown, somehow she imagined it did, and that it 
would to any woman in Joes scope should he turn his attention towards them. 
Susie looked up at him and spoke. Joe hooked his thumbs in his pockets and 
crossed his feet at the ankles as he leaned back against the bike to smile at her. 
"Tonight Joe?" Susie asked boldly. 
"Tonight Susie. Go back to Granger for now." Lisa knew what was going on. 
They were making a date to meet latter. Susie turned and flashed Lisa an I told you so 
look before she bounded back to the house. 
Lisa unglued herself from where she was sitting. "You don't really intend to sleep 
with her do you?" She asked him disgustedly. 
Joe flashed her a contemptuous look to show her he wasn't pleased with her line 
of thinking. "One of these days that mouth is going to get you into trouble Lisa. Didn't I 
tell you already I would never do that? Sometimes getting Susie to cooperate takes 
persuasion. Besides, we won't be here by then remember?" He didn't try to hide his 
amusement after that. He smoothly reminded her that soon they would be leaving this 
awful place. Before she could ask him anything further he interrupted her. "Don't ask, 
you will know when the time comes. I guarantee it." He was already deep in thought 
again about something else. She almost hated to disturb him. 
"Joe." 
"What now?" He asked, somewhat annoyed. 
She knew he expected another dumb question. Actually she had some but she 
would hold them back. "I ah need to ask you something." She didn't know how to do it 
though. It was pretty embarrassing. 
"Yeah, what is it?" He was clipped and short with her. 
"Can I leave you long enough to ah..." She couldn't even finish. 
"Say no more." He held up his hand. "Your best bet is the woods if you want 
privacy." 
At least he wasn't laughing at her. "Thank you." She stammered. Lisa was so 
embarrassed now that she took off immediately in that direction. Things were just not 
going to be easy. Why couldn't there have been running water in the house, then she 
could have used the rest room in there. One last glance over her shoulder assured her that 
Joe wasn't going to follow her. 
When she came back, there were quite a few people up, milling around, going 
about their business. Joe and Tiny were talking together. Tiny, she remembered, was the 
fat toothless mans name. So she walked over to where the bike was and just stood there 
waiting. Tiny never took his greedy eyes off of her. She knew even before she could hear 
them talking that they were discussing her. There was something about Tiny that put her 
nerves on edge. 
"You just gonna let her run around like that Joe? What's to keep her from 
running off?" Lisa cringed, hearing him. Why was he trying to cause trouble? 
"What can I say Tiny, I train them well." He sighed with a hint of over 
exaggerated importance. 
"Well think about what I said okay?" Tiny looked towards Lisa once again and 
she recoiled instinctively. "I'm supposed to go into town latter Joe, wanna come?" 
"Naw not this time." Joe stared at him with a blank expression on his face. He 
looked purposefully bored. 
"Okay then, catch you latter." Tiny left them and went walking off to the house. 
He didn't go inside, he sat down outside and leaned against the house to stare at them. 
Ugly man she thought, inside and out.
"What did he want Joe?" Lisa asked him hesitantly. 
"What are you supposed to be thinking about?" She was scared and worried. Tiny 
definitely had a way of giving her the creeps. 
The old birds got a hankering to sleep with you, that's all." 
Lisa shivered hearing this and Joe saw it and put his arms around her. Lisa went 
to him willingly. "Don't be alarmed. He won't bother you while I'm here to look after you 
Lisa. And we will try to maintain a low profile. Tiny will work it out of his system in 
town or with Susie or the other girl." 
This got her to thinking seriously. "What a disgusting thought." Lisa grimaced. 
"Joe?.. who is that other girl? She is always so quiet and I hardly ever see her. She's like 
some kind of spook popping up now and again."
"Who knows." Joe told her bluntly, releasing Lisa at the same time. "I never once 
heard anyone call her by name. I don't think anyone knows what it is. She's just plain 
weird. Stay away from her." 
"Does she want to sleep with you too?" The awful words slipped out before Lisa 
could stop them. Joe would surely think she was "just plain weird" now too. 
"What a question." He laughed. "There you go again." He shook his head 
ruefully. "No, for your information she has never bothered me and I never bother her. 
Except, maybe once." He frowned thoughtfully, lost in thought. 
"Once?" Lisa probed. She wasn't sure he would elaborate anymore on the subject 
or not. He wasn't a very open person at times. 
"Nothing important. It's just that somebody threw a knife at me once and missed. 
I don't know if it was me or Granger they were after because we were together at the 
time. I suspect it was her. When we ran back to the house she was the only one who 
wasn't there. Granger didn't think it could be her so we dismissed the whole incident." 
"That is strange." Lisa sympathized. She didn't like to think of Joe being killed. 
He was already becoming important to her. 
"You're telling me." He changed the subject. "Feel like a walk to loosen up the 
muscles? I imagine you are pretty sore after sleeping on the ground all night." 
"Yes master. Is this part of my training." She joked. 
"You know I didn't mean that, don't you?" Joe squeezed her hand as he led her 
off. 
"I know, I was only kidding with you. You are always so serious."
Joe seemed to ponder this for a little while. Well, Lisa justified herself, he really 
was a serious person. He needed to relax. She wasn't going to take it back. 
"How old are you anyway Lisa?" Joe asked her. 
"I'm twenty six." Lisa stuck out her chin rebelliously "Why?" 
"No reason, I'm just wondering how you managed to live this long without 
getting your tongue carved out." He laughed. 
"And you Joe? How old are you? Turn about is fair play, now you have to tell me 
how old you are." She grinned teasingly. 
"Does it matter?" Joe never gave her a straight answer when he was trying to hide 
something. 
She'd give him a taste of his own medicine. "Not really... I was wondering myself 
how a man of your age could be involve with all this garbage." It worked, he looked 
slightly wounded at her words. 
"God you make me sound like an old man. I'm not any older than some of these 
characters. Maybe thirty is old to you?" 
"Really? I thought for sure you were at least thirty- nine or so." She wanted to get 
under his skin with that barb but it didn't work, he knew what game she was up to now. 
"It's the beard." He chuckled and rubbed it lightly. "Susie is only eighteen." He 
told her conversationally.
"Eighteen?" Lisa looked up at his face swiftly. She had assumed that Susie was at 
least her own age, she seemed it anyway. Yet that accounted for her childish actions. 
"You're kidding?" 
"No, it comes from living like an animal from day today. She's been with 
Granger since she was sixteen according to him." 
They walked along in companionable silence. Lisa wondered about the man next 
to her that stopped every now and then and picked up a pebble and tossed it. 
"You used to play baseball didn't you Joe." He looked at her in surprise. 
Lisa didn't know that he was wondering how she could ruffle his usually calm 
attitude to do stupid things that might give himself away. "How'd you know?" 
"Throwing stones like that is a habit of most ex base- ball players. I bet you were 
a pitcher." 
"Yes, you amaze me Lisa. It was a long time ago when I was in college and 
before that as a little kid." 
"You went to college? Now I'm the one amazed." She teased and he laughed. 
"Only for a little while, I was too restless to stay in one place for very long. 
"Is that how you became involved with this group Joe? 
"Heavens no, believe it not Lisa, I'm one of the good guys. Lets change the 
subject and head back to the house. We don't want to get far off, Granger might take it in 
his head to send somebody to look for us." 
"You enjoy being a paradox don't you?" Lisa tilted her head and looked at him, 
really looked at him. 
He looked straight into her inquisitive eyes and smiled. "Come on Lisa, it should 
be time for lunch soon." Joe took her hand and led her back the way they had come. 
"Do we have to go back in there?" Lisa asked, seeing that they were almost to the 
house. 
"No I guess I could bring something out here. Why don't you go and sit in the 
shade under the tree and I'll see what I can scare up." 
Lisa did and was grateful for yet another reprieve. She hated that stench filled 
house and she hated those people. The only thing keeping her sane thus far was Joe, even 
if he was driving her crazy because she couldn't figure him out. He was such a mystery. 
Lisa leaned back against the tree and closed her eyes to relax. When would she 
ever get back to her apartment again. Would she at all? When would she see her parents? 
By now they surely thought the worst had happened to her. Startled, Lisa heard a 
noise behind her. Turning around she saw that it was Tiny and one of the other men. She 
opened her mouth to scream, she knew Joe was still in the house but there was not 
enough time. Tiny clamped his dirty sweaty hand over her mouth hitting her in the 
process and used his other hand to grab her by the shoulder. He did not remove his hand 
as Lisa came out of the shock and startled to struggle. It was no use, the other man started 
laughing and grabbed a hold of her kicking feet. It was nothing for them to lift her up off 
the ground and carry her off. Lisa. could do nothing but struggle helplessly. Where was 
Joe? Where were they dragging her off to? 
Oh God, thought Lisa, not the woods, not the woods! 
Joe would never find her there. She struggled more violently trying to free her 
mouth from Tiny's hand. If she could only scream for help. Tiny brought his knee up 
swiftly into her back causing the most paralyzing pain she had ever felt. Tears started 
coming because she was helpless and couldn't do anything to free herself. They pushed 
their way through the woods, deeper and deeper. Lisa knew now why in olden days 
women called rape a fate worse than death. To be taken violently... 
Finally the one let her feet drop with a thud to the ground. Tiny dropped her too, 
carelessly, without removing his hand from her mouth. Lisa couldn't even get her mouth 
open enough to scream. 
"This is far enough ." The first man said. He smiled at her wickedly as he pulled 
a knife out of his shirt pocket, flashing it at her dangerously. "Be quiet now girl. It is 
nothing to slit your throat, we will still get what we want. Hear me? Quiet!" He leaned 
down next to her and pressed the knife to her throat. Lisa could feel the coldness of the 
metal blade cutting into her bare skin and a slight trickle of warm blood against her neck. 
Lisa couldn't cry, she couldn't speak, and she couldn't do anything, because she was in 
the grips of all consuming fear. 
"Hey, what's the matter man." Tiny taunted the other man. "Are you afraid Joe 
will have something to say about pilfering his girl?" 
"Shut up Tiny. If he does it will be you he cuts to ribbons."
"I'm not afraid of Joe." Tiny removed his hand slowly from Lisa's mouth. "BE 
QUIET. " He commanded her firmly. 
Lisa's eyes quickly flickered in each direction, looking for Joe, looking for an 
escape. Tiny got up and stood over her as the other mans hands reached out to unbutton 
her shirt. She tried to pull away from him, it was no use. Tiny laughed at her fear. 
"Joe won't be coming," Tiny told her, "Susie is ah, detaining him. Besides I told 
him I would be gone, he will think you ran away. Relax honey, make it easy on yourself. 
Vic and I only want to have a little fun with you." 
Lisa opened her mouth to speak only nothing came out. Oh God this couldn't 
really be happening to her. Feeling Vic's hands on her blouse opening it, she started to 
struggle once more. She couldn't let this happen, she couldn't, she had to do something. 
Not with them, never like this. Vic grabbed her shoulders and pinned them to the hard 
ground while Tiny tore open the front of her shirt exposing her bare breasts to their 
lecherous view. This was too much and Lisa screamed now out of terror. Vic retaliated 
by knocking her hard up side of the head with the back of his hand. 
"Dumb broad, we warned you. The next time I cut you." The force of the blow 
caused Lisa's senses to reel wildly and made it hard for her to focus her eyes for a minute 
on her two attackers. 
They laughed at her and hazily Lisa watched in shock as Tiny began to unbuckle 
his belt and unzip his pants. 
She couldn't take her eyes off of him standing over her. She grimaced when she 
felt Vic make an uncaring grab for her breasts. 
"Hurry and get her pants off Vic." 
Now, once again the tears started to fall and Lisa closed her eyes in anguish to 
block out the horrible scene that she was an unwilling part of. Vic's hands were at her 
jeans now. Tiny was leaning down. 
Lisa hadn't heard a thing neither had her attackers. Where Joe came from she 
didn't know but she opened her eyes and she saw Joe coming at them at a dead run. He 
grabbed Tiny first and threw him back on the ground, then Vic. The moment of surprise 
was enough, Lisa watched as Joe lifted his foot and kicked Vic in the head with his 
pointed boot. It sent him flying backwards. Tiny was moving towards him then at this 
time and Joe turned on him with his knife, it flicked open and Joe thrust it forward, into 
Tiny's fat stomach. 
It was like watching some horrible movie. Lisa quietly watched unable to move a 
muscle from the spot where she lay, spellbound. She saw Tiny's eyes open wide he was 
looking at Joe in shock, the red blood was running down his dirty white T-shirt. Tiny 
clutched his hands over his stomach. Lisa knew Joe wasn't moving in slow motion yet it 
looked it to her, as he pulled the blade easily out of Tiny and used his other hand to push 
him backwards. Tiny fell heavily to the ground. 
Vic was watching in horror, then he started to move. He wasn't going to fight, he 
raised his hands in the air and said fearfully. "Okay, okay Joe. We were just having some 
harmless fun." 
Never before had Lisa seen so much anger in a mans face either. Joe looked 
positively distorted, it even scared, her. "Harmless hell." He ground out viciously. 
"What do you care about her?" Vic asked diffidently. 
"I care Vic." Joe stonily faced the man. "What's mine is mine. Now get him out 
of here." He motioned towards Tiny. "Get him out of here Vic and stay out of my sight. 
Do you hear me? Get him away from here now." Joe hollered with a strained voice 
through his clenched teeth. Was Joe always so violent? Lisa decided he had good cause to 
be angry, after all, she felt like doing murder herself. 
Vic turned to Tiny who was holding his stomach and rolling on the ground in 
pain. He helped him to his feet. "Don't get all bent out of shape Joe. We're going, we're 
going." 
Joe stood his ground watching them until the pair was out of sight then he turned 
to Lisa. She could see the anguish in Joes worried face as he dropped to his knees by her 
and gathered her up in his arms tightly. He clasped her head to lay it against his chest. 
Lisa reached out and hugged him fiercely.
"Oh God, I'm sorry Lisa. I'm so sorry. Are you hurt?" Lisa looked up into his 
face. She couldn't speak, the words just wouldn't come, her throat felt constricted. Joe 
saw the small cut and blood on her throat. His eyes widened. 
"They did hurt you." He tilted up her head so that he could look at her neck more 
closely. 
The tears started again. Lisa was so relieved, she couldn't hold them back. 
"Lisa, Lisa, I'm so sorry they hurt you." Joe comforted her as she cried on and on, 
great salty tears. He held her close and stroked her hair. He rocked their bodies back and 
forth. His murmured words of reassurance consoled her and soon Lisa could talk again. 
"Joe I was so scared. I..I didn't know where you were and they…they tried to.." 
Lisa sputtered and cried some more. 
"Shhh, its okay now Lisa. They won't hurt you. Thank God I heard your scream. 
Can you walk now? I don't think we better stay here any longer, lets go to the pond." Joe 
helped her up and Lisa numbly did as she was told, thankful for his rescue and his 
comfort. Joe buttoned the only remaining button on her shirt for her. She wanted to 
cringe away from his light touch but Joe wouldn't let her. Then he took her hand and led 
her through the woods in the direction of the pond. Lisa felt drained and weary after her 
ordeal and Joe noticed it. 
"Come on just a little further and then you can rest," crooned Joe. He put his arm 
around her. "You're still shaking." He hugged her tight. 
Lisa looked up and tried to make light of it by laughing and failed utterly. She 
wished Joe would quit staring at her, she was embarrassed enough as it was. 
When they reached the pond, at the waters edge, Joe took the hankie out of his 
pocket and wetted it down so that he could sponge off her face. He insisted that they sit in 
the shade, they did and Joe held her close for a long time, neither of them saying 
anything. 
When Joe did speak his voice was a little shaky, she noted. 
"Lisa, I'm sorry, I should never have left you alone." 
"It's not your fault Joe, I don't blame you." Lisa tried to reassure him, his caring 
endeared him to her. 
"I knew something was up when Susie kept trying to stall me and keep me in the 
house. She was fawning all over me. When I shook her off and went outdoors you 
weren't anywhere in sight. My first thought was Tiny. His motor was still there so I knew 
he didn't leave after all. I figured they would take you some place close, I went to the 
pond first. When I couldn't find you my heart as much as quit, then I heard you scream. 
I'm really sorry you had to be put through that." 
"How could you have known. It really wasn't your fault." 
"Yes it was, I should have known better." Joe was visibly angry again. "If I got 
my hands on Tiny now I'd kill him." 
Surely now he wouldn't make her stay here any longer in this awful place. "I 
don't want to stay here any longer Joe." Lisa told him pitifully, her brown eyes pleading 
for sympathy and understanding. "Couldn't we leave now? We could find a way if we 
tried." She looked at him expectantly, hopefully. 
A shutter seemed to fall over his face hiding his emotions from her. He was good 
at doing that when he wanted to. "I know Lisa." He told her softly, there was 
understanding and something else mixed in his cautious voice that she couldn't fathom. 
"You won't have to see Tiny any more. If Vic is smart, he will take Tiny to a doctors and 
get him looked after." 
Lisa's heart sank. How could he shrug off what happened to her so easily? Just 
thinking about her two attackers gave her the shivers again. She held onto Joes sturdy 
form so tightly that he had to loosen one of her hands, instead he gripped it tightly in his 
own hands. 
"Things will be easier from now on I promise. Put that awful experience out of 
your mind and try to rest." Joe stroked her shoulder reassuringly with his warm hand. 
"I'll try but it won't be easy, that's something I won't soon forget." Lisa knew it 
was the truth. 
"Lisa I want you to lay your head in my lap and see if you can sleep for a while. 
You're exhausted." She snuggled close to him and he guided her head down into his lap. 
He made a good pillow she decided and she was awfully tired and drained. 
"You won't go anywhere will you?" She asked uneasily. "No where without you, 
I promise." 
She believed him and snuggled up to his warmth. As she dozed off to sleep she 
was aware of his hand calmly stroking her forehead. 
Lisa slept for hours unaware of the sheer relief on Joes worried face. He knew 
that as soon as the shock wore off, she'd get emotional all over again. In his line of work 
he'd seen it all at one time or another. 


Chapter Six 
Even with Joe holding her it couldn't erase the faces, the fears and the replay of 
those awful events that even haunted her dreams. Joe shook her awake at one point when 
she began to cry in her sleep and Lisa flew up into his arms startling him. 
"Please take me away from here Joe, please." She begged. "I can't stand it any 
longer. Please help me to escape." 
His face visibly paled when he heard what she had to say. "It's not possible right 
now Lisa. Not right away. I'm sorry but it can't be helped." He explained patiently. 
"Why Joe? Why can't we just leave? What's keeping you here?" 
"Lisa, try to understand. I know you are scared and I don't blame you but it will 
be all right, you'll see."
 "Alright? Alright?" Lisa's voice rose hysterically. 
"You told me that once before, remember and look what happened." Lisa shook 
off his arms and jumped to her feet. "I'm not staying here any longer, I'm leaving like I 
should have done much earlier." 
"Lisa wait..." Joe scrambled to his feet right behind her. 
"And you can't stop me." She screamed at him. 
"For your own good I have to." Joes voice was calm and threatening as he 
attempted to stay on his feet. Lisa was already moving breaking into a run. She didn't 
care where she was going just as long as she was getting away from this awful place. Joe 
caught her easily by grabbing her arm and swinging her around. 
"Let me go." Lisa screamed against him. 
"No I won't Lisa, you don't know what your doing." 
Lisa struck out at him in rage and caught his hurt shoulder. Joe gritted his teeth 
and held on tighter. She was afraid he would strike her back, instead he jerked her close 
to him and kissed her. Lisa struggled at first, it was no use. There was no fighting the 
flood of emotions that washed over her. She melted into him, kissing him back 
feverishly. A dam had been opened. He could have taken her with his little finger if he 
wanted to, she was limp in his arms from wanting him. Joe released her and pushed her 
away a little. 
"Alright now?" Joes voice was ragged and hoarse. 
She shook her head and looked into those clouded blue eyes of his that 
reciprocated her own longing. He wanted her as much as she was wanting him and the 
least little provocation such as a touch or lingering glance set the fires to burning. 
"Good I know you don't want to hear this...but we've got to be getting back to the 
house okay?" He saw her stricken face. "We will stay outside, no one will bother you." 
Lisa didn't protest, Joe was going to do it anyway despite what she said, and she 
knew it. So, gallantly she walked by his side back to the house. Looking around the area, 
most everybody was outside now and watching them closely. Everyone knows, she 
thought. How she was going to make it through all this. 
Vic and Tiny weren't there, they indeed must have sought medical help for Tiny. 
She was glad that she at least didn't have to face them again. Susie stared her down and 
Granger just laughed to himself. The rest of the group acted like they could care less. Lisa 
in an effort to protect herself from speculation sat on Joes blanket with her back to them 
all, her arms locked around her knees. 
Granger walked up to Joe who was digging in his canvas bag. "How many does 
this make now Joe? Three? I'm not going to have a gang left if you keep this up." Granger 
laughed and slapped him on the back. 
Lisa wondered if Granger was just patronizing Joe or if he really was scared of 
him and was trying to stay on his good side. She wouldn't even doubt if it was a subtle 
warning of some kind. 
Joe was immediately on the defensive. "Look Granger you know I don't mess 
with anybody unless they mess with me first and...Tiny had it coming." 
"Hey I know half breed." He threw up his hands. "Remind me never to mess with 
something that belongs to you." 
Joe just smirked in response. 
"I'd rather have one of you than half a dozen of the others." Granger told him. "It 
was just a joke. Hey, I heard from Susie that we got a trade on for tonight. Is that right?" 
"No it isn't. I don't share what's mine. I wouldn't have anything to do with that 
bitch now, not ever." A flash of scarlet appeared on his tan cheeks. "Susie is dead meat if 
she ever comes around me again. Don't tell her either, let me do it in my own way." Joe 
popped his knuckles to make his point. 
"Okay Joe. About that other situation...nothings going down until tomorrow. Our 
drivers holed up with a woman somewhere." He glanced cautiously over in Lisa's 
direction. 
"That figures." Joe crossed his powerful arms over his chest, his voice clearly 
relaying disgust. 
"It's the best we can do." Granger told him and laughed. "Catch you later, I've got 
to go into town and make a phone call." 
Joe muttered something under his breath before he turned to look at Lisa. 
Obviously the news didn't set well with Joe. He didn't have to tell her, she knew 
instinctively that they wouldn't be leaving today after all. He brought over a blue T-shirt 
of his for her to wear. 
"Here put this on, at least you won't have to hold the front of it closed all night." 
He slipped it over her head gently and pulled it down. Then squatting down beside her he 
looked straight into her eyes as he started to slide the silk shirt from her shoulders and 
slip her arms into the T-shirt. Not once did his gaze waver from hers. "You're not saying 
anything Lisa, you're not still in shock or something are you?" 
He was always thinking of her, taking care of her and being concerned about her. 
Why wouldn't he take her away from here? Why couldn't she understand him? The least 
she could do was try and be brave for him. She would just have to trust that he had his 
reasons. "No, just a little numb I guess." 
He smiled at her registering her attempt to be brave. Joe leaned forward and 
kissed her gently on the lips. It only frustrated her, she pulled him close and kissed him 
back a lot harder. This surprised him for a minute as much as it surprised her, then his 
desire took over and they were both swept up in it before Joe gently pushed her away. 
"Lisa," He took a deep breath. "not now, not in front of the others. I don't want any more 
of them getting ideas." 
Did that mean he would consider it another time? Her emotions were in a 
turmoil. She had the greatest respect for Joe and yet his lifestyle turned her off 
completely. 
"Are you hungry?" Joe asked at last. "You never did get any lunch." 
"No I couldn't eat a thing. Please don't leave me Joe." Lisa begged, she didn't 
want him out of her sight again. 
"I won't baby. I have something to do though, now that we've put in an 
appearance, let's go back to the pond." 
The day was hot and Lisa agreed, she longed to go for a swim in the cool water 
of the pond. More than she wanted to wash the imaginary filth that Tiny and Vic had left 
on her. 
They walked to the pond in silence. Joe only left her for a minute and then he 
was back. She could have sworn she heard him talking to someone. "Who were you 
talking to Joe?" Lisa asked. 
"What makes you say that?" Joe looked at her sharply. 
"I thought I heard voices." She explained. 
"Voices?" Joe paused. "No just me talking to myself." 
Lisa watched as Joe began checking out the area. She wondered what was going 
to happen that Joe had to stay here another day. He acted as if he couldn't get away from 
there fast enough either. 
"Lets take a swim Lisa and get cooled off. This heat is insufferable." 
She thought about it for a minute. "Well, I guess I'm game if you are." Then it hit 
her, it was broad daylight now, she couldn't swim in the nude; last night was bad enough. 
Lisa had never done anything like that before. Joe was busy stripping down to his 
underwear, he stopped when he noticed her hesitation. Some things just didn't seem to 
bother him. Not many men would have been so casual. 
"What's wrong?" He asked, walking up to her boldly. 
Her eyes quickly scanned his powerful hair covered chest. It was so inviting. She 
wanted to run her fingers through it over and over again. 
"Nothing I ah just...well I've never...its daylight now and...what if somebody 
sees?" Lisa stammered incoherently. 
"Somebody? Like me?" Joe teased. "There's not a whole lot I haven't already 
seen is there?" He asked. 
"Well, no it's just that..." Lisa blushed. He was making it hard on her. The 
scoundrel, he was enjoying her discomfort. 
"Didn't you ever go skinny dipping as a kid? Go sneaking off somewhere and-" 
He was looking at her expectantly. 
"Certainly not." Lisa told him heatedly. 
Joe laughed. "Would it help your outraged sensibilities if I turned my head?" 
"That would help yes." She answered demurely. 
"Okay then but I have to tell you that you sure missed out as a kid." He smiled 
boyishly. 
"I'm sure you more than made up for the share I missed. Lisa told him dryly. 
He laughed as he walked to the edge of the pond and peeled of his last remaining 
barrier and dived into the water. 
Shyly Lisa stripped and followed him into the cool water. It was so refreshing to 
her overheated skin that she couldn't help but relax. It definitely took the sting out of the 
heat of the day. 
Once again Lisa looked around to where Joe was supposed to be, she didn't see 
him anywhere. Panic gripped her. When he surfaced some yards away, he must have seen 
the fear in her face because he came swimming towards her looking all around the area as 
he did so. She was safe as long as he was near, she told herself. 
"What's wrong?" He asked quickly. He was a little bit out of breath after his 
exertion. 
"Nothing I just couldn't find you that's all." Lisa shivered. 
"Look Lisa.." His voice trailed off. She wondered what he was about to say, he 
always said 'look' before he was about to say something important. It was something else 
she had learned about him during their short time together. She brought her brown eyes 
up to look at him where as before she had been looking at his completely male chest. 
His blue eyes sparkled suddenly as if he had discovered something new. Joe 
pulled her close to his bare warm body and brought his mouth down onto hers. His hands 
felt hot splaying against her now cool back. He easily pulled her to him and shaped her to 
fit his hard male form. She could feel his desire growing against her. He had such a 
wonderful and muscular body. 
Lisa ran her hands down exploring from around his waist, up his back and settled 
them on his shoulders. His kiss turned more possessive and more demanding, his tongue 
swept into her mouth boldly. 
Lisa felt a sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach. Was it desire? Acceptance 
of the inevitable? On impulse, Lisa raised up on her tip toes and kissed him more 
passionately in return, stopping to nibble on his lower lip playfully. 
Joe easily lifted her up in his arms still kissing her and carried her to the edge of 
the pond. He stopped to adjust her weight and get his bearings and she saw him search 
out a place with his smoldering eyes. 
Gently he sank to his knees and laid her on the soft grass under the trees where 
they had some shelter from prying eyes. His eyes devoured the sight of her slim naked 
body, Lisa was drinking in the sight of him herself. 
Joe stretched out next to her side. Holding her brown eyes captive with his desire 
induced smoky blue ones he began to caress her shoulders and run his hands down her 
already responding breasts. 
"So beautiful." Joe murmured, "So responsive." No longer able to control himself 
Joe started kissing her as he explored every inch of her body. His kisses followed his 
searching hands. 
So filled with desire, aching and longing, Lisa couldn't think of anything else but 
this moment, this man. She clung to him, loving the feel of his satin like skin under her 
own finger tips. Lisa had never felt so alive before, so this was what making love was all 
about. Instinct had Lisa raising her hips to beg to feel the whole length of his body 
against hers. To feel that aching void filled. "Joe?" Lisa called out his name. 
To answer her pleading, Joe made a move to cover her with his weight. Then 
suddenly he stiffened every muscle in his body and looked down at her. 
Lisa swallowed, she didn't like the look of disgust she saw in his eyes. Was it for 
her? He pulled back, breaking the intimate contact and sat up, vigorously running his 
fingers through his hair. Fingers that only moments ago were doing such delightful things 
to her.
"Joe?" She looked at the muscles flexing in his back as he brought himself under 
control once again. 
"God what am I doing? I'm supposed to be taking care of you not taking 
advantage of you myself. I'm sorry Lisa." 
"Sorry?" She asked, was he sorry for making love to her? Couldn't he see that she 
was willing, that she was wanting him as much as he was wanting her. 
"Yes sorry." He ground out. "It was wrong, the whole thing." 
"I don't understand Joe." Lisa shook her head feeling bereft and completely 
confused by his actions. 
"I know you don't Lisa. Trust me, when I say it was wrong, it was wrong." He 
got to his feet still not looking at her and gathered up her clothes and handed them to her. 
"Here, put your clothes on, I can't think rationally when you are like that." 
Lisa took the clothes and just stared at them until Joe started slipping into his 
own clothes. Was there something wrong? Did he not want her? Did he suspect she was a 
virgin? Is that what turned him off? Then there was this insufferable frustration she was 
feeling. 
"Didn't I... Don't you want me?" Lisa asked in a small voice. 
"Not want you?" Joe was about to loose his patience with her. "How can you 
even think that Lisa?" 
"Then why? Why did you stop?" If she could only grasp his reasoning. 
"Because. . ." Joe shoved his hands into his pockets, looking extremely 
uncomfortable. "Oh hell, just trust me Lisa. Okay? I promise you will understand when 
the time comes." He looked longingly towards the woods.
Lisa knew that in that moment he wished he could take off from her, that he 
wished he didn't have to be responsible for her. 
Lisa didn't understand it, him, but she accepted it. Couldn't he see what this was 
doing to her? 
She finished dressing and didn't press him anymore. She wanted him, longed for 
him and it was the first time she would have given herself to a man, to be made love to. 
To make love to someone else herself. What ever it was that Joe possessed, she didn't 
care, she just wanted to be near it, to be near him. There was no room for rational thought 
in her mind for the first time. 
The rest of the evening went by horribly slow. There were no problems and even 
Susie stayed out of Joes way. 
Lisa caught the glaring looks Joe gave her and she almost felt sorry for Susie. Joe 
looked like he could have cheerfully choked her if she got within arms reach. Vic and 
Tiny were still gone and Lisa hoped they never came back at all. She didn't want to see 
them again. She just wanted to forget the whole thing. It was an awful incident that was 
better off forgotten. Joe said little about anything. He looked after her and that was all. 
He was restless and rubbed his shoulder a lot. Lisa could tell it was bothering him yet he 
wouldn't even let her look at it much less try to help him. He didn't touch her and kept a 
good distance from her at all times. 
The scene at the lake bothered him more than he was letting on. It bothered Lisa 
even more because of the way he was acting. Whatever it was, he didn't want to talk 
about it. 
It was late when they left the others in the house and went outside. The rest of the 
group no longer just called her woman, they called her 'Joes woman'. Even more 
surprising was the way they seemed to take her presence for granted now. Lisa wouldn't 
complain, it was better than the ribbing she had received earlier. 
This time there were no interruptions. Joe sat under one of the nearby trees and 
leaned against it watching her. Lisa pretended to sleep. She wondered why he didn't come 
to her. When he did, he covered her with a blanket and laid down next to her without 
even holding her. He was so restless, every time he stirred Lisa woke up. She knew it was 
his shoulder that was making him uncomfortable. He didn't want her help when she 
offered so she went to sleep. Mentally Joe had put a block between them and there was 
nothing she could do to get him to lower it. 
The next morning drug by even slower. It was obvious to Lisa that everyone was 
waiting for something to happen, including Joe. 
Lisa worried about him, he looked even more pale and washed out than before. 
She noticed that he was sweating profusely. The others laid outside in the yard around the 
house. It was so hot everyone was seeking a little breeze. 
They argued and fought frequently. They were no longer interested in what she 
and Joe were doing. Joe worked on his bike for a while and then rested without even 
speaking to her. During that time Lisa just about gave up hope that he would talk to her 
ever again. 
Finally he turned to her and asked her quietly. "Lets go for a swim okay? I think I 
need one."
Lisa rose to her feet and followed him slowly. He brought along the blanket. 
"A swim sounds nice." Lisa tried to make conversation. 
Joe gave her a token smile and said nothing. Lisa frowned. He looked so bad and 
it had her worried. He wasn't acting like himself, not that she knew him very well. 
"Do you feel bad Joe? Is your shoulder hurting?" 
He grumbled something under his breath. "No I'm just fine. " 
"You don't look fine, you look awful." Lisa told him stubbornly. 
Joe rolled his eyes back. "Quit your harping." He snapped quite 
uncharacteristically. 
"Harping? I'm not harping." She told him indignantly.
"Just don't baby me, all right." 
Lisa felt hurt. She pouted by going to the edge of the pond and turning her back 
on him. What was so wrong with caring if he felt bad or not? 
Joe sat down on the large rock and rested a minute. He didn't even seem to have 
the energy to do anything much less swim. 
Lisa was drawn to him out of concern. She didn't care what he thought. There 
was something wrong with him. Touching his forehead she was shocked to discover he 
had a very high fever. 
"You're burning up." She told him softly. Joe rubbed his eyes wearily. "You can't 
go swimming like this, it's likely to send you into shock." Using her hankie once again 
Lisa wet it down and sponged his forehead. He didn't complain. "Are you chilled or 
anything?" 
Joe shook his head no. He was so quiet it bothered her. He was really sick and 
trying to hide it. The strain showed in his face. Lisa got the blanket and spread it out on 
the ground in the shade for them. "Come here Joe." She sat down. "It's time you got some 
rest. You can put your head in my lap." 
He obeyed silently making Lisa realize just how sick he really was. He kicked off 
his boots and laid down. 
"Are you comfortable?" 
"Quite, thanks. Lisa...I'm sorry I snapped at you." 
"Don't worry about it Joe I understand." She kept the cool rag on his head. He 
was so very hot. She gingerly pulled his shirt open to allow some of his body heat a way 
to escape. 
"If I go to sleep Lisa, its very important that you wake me up if you hear any 
strange sounds, or trucks. Okay?"
 She nodded her head. "I will Joe." She assured him quickly. 
"Its very important Lisa." Joe looked at her beseechingly. 
"Trucks or sounds. I promise Joe." He wasn't going to sleep until he was sure. He 
gave her another strained smile and closed his eyes. No sooner had he shut his baby blues 
than he went to sleep. 
Lisa washed his face with the cool hankie hoping to bring his fever down. She 
took the chance to inspect his wound, it was positively ghastly. Lisa caught her breath 
and covered it back up. He really needed a doctor, he wasn't going to be able to take care 
of himself like this, much less her. Lisa studied his handsome features. He was so much a 
man, a man of action. What was he doing wasting his life away here? 
Joe slept for hours and Lisa didn't know what time it was only that it was getting 
to be late afternoon. Her rear end was sore from sitting so long so she scooted around as 
best she could to get more comfortable. Lisa was just about to doze off when she heard 
the low roar of engines. Was it trucks? She listened carefully to make sure. 
"Joe." Lisa shook him gently. He had a hard time waking up. He opened his blue 
eyes slowly. "Joe, I hear the trucks you talked about." 
"What?" He acted as if he hadn't heard her. 
"You told me to wake you up if I heard some trucks. Well I hear them now." Lisa 
frowned. "Are you awake?"
"Yeah," he rubbed his head. "Hand me my boots will ya?" He sat up but his eyes 
were glazed. He listened carefully. "Good girl. I hear them too."
 When she handed him his boots he pulled out something that looked like a small 
radio. He flipped it on and it crackled with a protest. "Max, it's a go." Joe mumbled. His 
voice sounded tired and weary. He literally looked like death warmed over. 
"They are pulling in now. Follow the trucks by air. Give them plenty of time to 
get out of the area and then come and get us." 
"Roger Joe." Lisa heard an answering disembodied voice. "You alright? You 
didn't check in earlier, we were getting worried about you." 
"I'm fair Max. Just don't forget to come and get us. I'm at the pond about half a 
mile south of the house." 
There was a slight pause. "Okay. You aren't going to be there for this one?" 
"Not this time." Joe laid back down with his head in Lisa's lap again.
She brushed the hair off of his forehead. 
"What about the baggage?" The voice asked. 
Joe looked up at her and smiled crookedly. "She's with me."
Lisa listened in astonishment. So Joe was a good guy after all. He'd intimated he 
was. Why didn't that surprise her? 
Joe suddenly handed her the radio and started retching violently. Lisa tried to 
help him but he only pushed her away. 
"Joe? Joe?" The voice called out. Joe couldn't answer because he was too busy 
being sick. 
"He.. .he's sick." Lisa talked into the radio. "This is Lisa." 
"Lisa? Okay take care of my man and we will get there as soon as we can. He 
didn't sound good." 
"Please hurry." She urged. She was scared for Joe. 
"Roger." There was a pause. "Okay out." 
Joe finally settled himself back on the blanket and closed his eyes. Lisa lifted his 
head into her lap once more. "We'll just stay put. I can't be any help to them the way I am 
anyway." 
Lisa bent down and kissed him on the head. He was indeed a truly amazing man 
she decided, no wonder she was attracted to him and no wonder her instincts had told her 
to trust him. "It should be another hour or so." 
"Yes Joe," she stroked his head. "Try and sleep, I will let you know if anything 
happens." Joe mumbled something, sleep was already claiming him. 
Lisa wasn't sure she understood what was going on and she wanted to question 
Joe, but he was so sick. She contented herself with gazing at him. 
He couldn't be still though, his head thrashed back and forth. She only hoped his 
friends would hurry and come for him. 
Little more than an hour had passed and all hell seemed to break loose. Lisa 
heard  the trucks leave earlier and then the place was converged upon by lots of cars. She 
couldn't see them but she sure could hear them. A helicopter even came on the scene. It 
hovered over the pond area and then went to the house. There was some shouting and 
even some gunfire. Joe was half awake. He looked up at her and smiled weakly. To 
Lisa's astonishment he wasn't quite coherent when he attempted to speak to her. 
"Max can take care of you... parents. . . sorry." She understood what he meant. 
Then he closed his eyes and fitfully succumbed to the raging infection that was taking 
over. 
Lisa listened to him as he muttered things off and on. Most of it was disjointed 
thoughts and phrases. He even muttered 'Lisa Harrold' over and over again as if he were 
trying to memorize it even though he already knew her name. 
Lisa jumped when a tall burly, dark headed man came into the clearing followed 
by three others. She immediately knew that they were the ones Joe talked to over the 
radio earlier. The first mans eyes were darkly concerned when he saw Joe laying there 
unaware of his surroundings. Whoever they were they looked formidable. 
"What's the matter with him?" He asked Lisa, sizing up the situation at a glance 
as he squatted down next to them. "I'm Maxwell Turner." Green eyes searched her face. 
"Joe has a knife wound that's pretty badly infected." Lisa told him. 
"He told me it was just a scratch." The man frowned. "He doesn't look too good 
does he?" Lisa could tell there was a strong bond between the two men. He reached down 
and touched Joes arm in a friendly way. "Hey old buddy." 
Joe didn't respond. 
"He's out of it." Lisa told him. She pulled open his shirt and let him look at Joes 
wound for himself. Once he saw the raw wound she knew he would act fast. "He really 
needs a doctor bad." 
Max was speechless for a minute. "Good grief that looks awful, no wonder he's 
out of it. I think it's the hospital for him, at least he can't fight me about it for once. Joe is 
the most stubborn person I know." His voice trailed off as he got to his feet and spoke 
into his Walkie-talkie rapidly. 
Max took command of the situation and it wasn't long at all until Joe was taken 
from her and shuffled into an ambulance. He gave out orders right and left. 
"Can I go with him?" Lisa asked Max. She didn't want to let him go. She wanted 
to go with him badly. 
"No I think not little lady. You've been through enough all ready. We will see 
that Joe is taken good care of, I promise. For now we better get you home." He smiled at 
her reassuringly. "I'll get one of the men to drive you home." 
Lisa nodded dejectedly. She didn't know where they were taking Joe and no one 
was saying, least of all Max. 
Max kept her pretty close to him which made her feel a little more comfortable. 
Around the house there was so much activity, Lisa wondered what was going on. People 
were milling around and she was surprised to find that the gang had already been 
removed. The house seemed to be what was important to everyone. She had no idea of 
where they were even at. 
Max arranged for one of his men to drive her home. 
Lisa decided that she wanted to go back to Phoenix, to her own apartment. The 
trip to see her parents would have to wait until things settled down for her. She could 
always call them. 
It was hours before they made it to Phoenix. She sat daydreaming on the way 
since her partner was the silent type. It was odd to think of trying to get back into the 
grind of things again, she knew she must. Being a writer, Lisa had a deadline to meet. It 
seemed a lifetime ago. 
Her companion told her that her car had been found, the location turned in by 
Joe, and that it was waiting for her at the city impound yard. When had Joe done that? 
She guessed he had plenty of opportunities when she actually thought about it. Lisa 
would have to get a mechanic to fix it, if she didn't attempt to take a sledge hammer to it 
first. She was tempted. 
Her parents had not been informed of her whereabouts, not wanting to 
complicate matters further. She knew they would be happy to see her, hear from her. 
They were probably worried sick about her. 
It was then, Lisa started wondering if she would ever get to see Joe again. 
Everything happened so fast there at the end. Lisa had wanted to stay with Joe till he was 
cared for but Max wouldn't allow it. She missed him so much already, and she was very 
worried about him. They had grown so close over the past three days. Would she ever get 
to tell him all the things she wanted to tell him. She wanted to thank him for rescuing her 
not only once but twice. Just thinking about Tiny and Vic again made her shiver. Without 
asking she turned on the car radio to drown out her terrible thoughts. Lisa even slept a 
little on the trip. That was something new for her, she never could sleep while riding in a 
car before. It just went to show how worn out and tired she was from the whole ordeal. 
Three days out of her life were gone, three days. Important days, she met Joe didn't she. 
Lisa could imagine his sparkling blue eyes and the warmth of his smile when he finally 
allowed himself to laugh. 
A firm hand on her shoulder awoke her sometime later and she found that they 
were already in Phoenix. Lisa gave the driver her address and shook herself awake. 
When they pulled up front of the apartment house, Lisa was never happier to see 
it. It was home after all. She thanked the man who had considerately drove her home and 
wished him a safe trip to where ever it was he came from. 
Walking into her apartment on the second floor Lisa felt sudden relief flood 
through her body. She was home! Lisa hadn't really known there if she was going to 
make it home again or not. 
The familiar living room was done in an analogous color scheme of oranges and 
gold's. Everything was well ordered in symmetrical balance, two love seats, two chairs 
and two ottomans. Well ordered like her life she thought, always so practical and thought 
out. Like usual, the things that captured her eyes was the blue paintings that hung as a 
group on one wall. She had taken them all herself at one time or another. One picture in 
particular helped to relax her. Lisa had nicknamed it Midnight Blue. It was a night time 
picture she had taken at a little lake in Colorado on her last vacation, the summer before. 
Last summer was the first time she had ever taken a long vacation on her own and she 
enjoyed it immensely. The little Colorado lake had taken on an eerie quality one night. 
The darkness was taking on the colors and shades of blue. The water looked like a pool of 
melted Crayola crayons in her favorite color, midnight blue. 
Looking around everything was just as she had left it. The only thing that looked 
out of place was two glasses sitting in the sink. She knew her parents had been there at 
some time hoping she would be there. Lisa longed for their company. Suddenly she didn't 
know what to do with herself, she felt listless. Was this feeling what people referred to as 
the let down after the storm? It was certainly going to be hard to wind down after 
everything that had happened. Most of all she missed Joe. How had she come to care so 
much for a virtual stranger in only three days? She wondered how he was feeling and if 
he was even missing her or not? 
Lisa told herself that she was being ridiculous about missing him that she hardly 
knew him and the only reason any closeness developed between them was because they 
had been forced into such a close situation. Had it only been three days? It seemed like 
more like three weeks to her now, long weeks. They might not have had to say much but 
they had been comfortable together. Lisa wondered again if she would get a chance to see 
him, even once more. She didn't even know where he lived and it was highly unlikely he 
lived in Phoenix. She imagined he did a lot of traveling in his line of work. What was his 
line of work? Something undercover now, she was sure. Max had said that he was a part 
of the F.B.I. so that must mean that Joe was also. 
After a much needed shower and shampoo Lisa gave her parents a call. She felt 
guilty, it would be a shock to them to hear her voice out of the blue when they were 
already sure to be worried. Lisa dialed the number and waited while it rang through. It 
was after nine but she didn't think her parents would have gone to bed yet. 
"Hello?" Her fathers husky baritone answered. For a moment Lisa couldn't even 
speak. It was so good to hear his voice. "Hello." He prompted again at the silence. 
"Daddy?" Lisa's voice cracked slightly. "I'm. ." 
"Lisa? Oh my goodness Momma come quick its Lisa." She heard him calling out 
to her mother relief in his voice. "Are you okay baby? Where are you? Answer me baby." 
He coaxed. 
"I'm fine daddy. I'm at my own apartment ." 
"Oh sweetie we've been so worried about you." Her fathers Irish emotions were 
apparent in his voice. "Are you sure you are okay? What happened to you? Where are 
you? There are so many things I want to know." 
"I know daddy and it's a long story but truly I'm fine." Lisa could hear her 
mothers anxious voice pleading to talk to her. "Here's your mother baby." 
"Lisa thank God, he answered my prayers." Her mother was crying and it pulled 
at Lisa's heart strings. "Oh Lisa. ." 
"Mom, don't cry. You'll have me crying too." Lisa told her, knowing already it 
was too late the tears were streaming down her cheeks. "I'm fine, really I am." 
Suddenly her father was back on the line. "Lisa we are coming right over. Stay 
put do you hear?" 
"Yes daddy. She knew it was no good to argue. There was a long pause. "We 
love you Lisa." 
"I love you both too daddy." Lisa couldn't quit crying. She heard her father sniff. 
"Be right there baby, bye." 
Long after the line was dead Lisa stared at the phone. If not for Joe she would 
never have gotten to see her parents again or relieve their fears. 
The tearful reunion continued once they were there, among the hugs and kisses. 
Lisa knew she was loved. Her happy parents made over her exuberantly, they were so 
glad to see her. They had always lavished all their love on her. She told them the long 
winded story from start to finish and her mothers cried all the way through it. She didn't 
tell them about everything. She didn't tell them about Tiny and Vic, it would distress 
them horribly. They were shocked enough as it was. 
They stayed till late in the early hours of the morning. Her father asked her 
repeatedly how they could get in touch with Joe to thank him and she told them she didn't 
know how. When they left they all promised to have Sunday dinner together very soon. 
When the silence of the apartment became unbearable Lisa settled on the loveseat 
and looked up the numbers for all of the Phoenix hospitals. She had to find Joe, she just 
had to. To her later disappointment, not one of them had a Joe Michaels as a patient. 
Maybe he was registered under another name, she didn't know. Perhaps Joe Michaels 
wasn't his real name. It was such a frustrating thought. She might not ever get to see him 
again. 
Laying in her bed, not able to sleep, Lisa looked around her bedroom. It was 
dimly lit by filtering moonlight coming through her curtains. It seemed so feminine now 
somehow after everything that had happened. The last three days of her life would be an 
experience she wouldn't soon forget. How could she? Lisa could see the house, the pond, 
Joe, so very clearly. The bareness, the crudeness, the filth and yet there was Joe who was 
gentle and kind. She glanced at the lace blue curtains and lacey matching spread folded 
back at the foot of her canopy bed. Flowery pictures and many mirrors gave the room a 
light feminine airy look. 
Lisa suddenly tried to imagine Joe in her bedroom, and found it impossible. Not a 
man like that in a room like this. It would be too much of a contrast. He'd probably laugh 
his head off. 
Thinking back over the last three days, Lisa's mind floundered in the many 
unanswered questions. They kept popping into her mind, first one and then another. 
Where was Joe now? Was he thinking of her like she was thinking of him? Was he all 
right? He had to be. She longed to know what happened to Granger and Susie. Lisa hoped 
they caught Tiny and Vic also. Men like that shouldn't be allowed to run loose in the 
world. How Joe could find the courage to go to a situation like that alone was beyond her. 
He was an adventurous type of person but still... What was found in the trucks? What was 
so important? Most of all would she ever see Joe again? After all, his job was done. She 
was only someone who had gotten in the way, why should he look her up? Her heart 
ached with the longing to see him. How could she manage to find him again, and most of 
all should she? 
Closing her weary brown eyes Lisa tried to imagine Joes strong features. She 
tried to recapture the feelings of warmth he left in her at his briefest touch. She would 
never forget him, never. Finally the elusive sleepiness overtook her at last. 
Throwing herself head long back into her work proved harder to Lisa than she 
ever thought possible. There was no way to block the emotions out of her mind as she 
tried to write. Usually Lisa had no problems with her writing going smoothly. Now she 
couldn't seem to concentrate, her mind kept wandering back to Joe. 
The first week passed unusually slow, made even slower by the fact that she 
hadn't heard anything at all from Joe. Lisa knew she couldn't really expect to, but still, 
she hoped. 
That first weekend home her father came to collect her and she spent it with her 
folks. The pleasant time seemed to appease her longing heart a little bit. 
By the end of the second week, things were pretty much returned to normal. She 
could write without any blocks and she could stop thinking about Joe for more than an 
hour at a time. The restlessness could not be overcome however. When she couldn't even 
sit down and watch a movie Lisa gave up. Perhaps a run would clear her mind and relieve 
some of her frustration and some of her boredom. She quickly changed into her running 
suit. The wind was warm on her face as she made her dash out into the sunshine. She 
waved happily to her neighbors and other runners as she made her usual two mile run in 
good time and circled back to her apartment. She was right, it did her a world o£ good. 
So it was with happy steps that she bounded up the stairs to her apartment and slipped her 
key into the lock. Lisa nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard a chuckle and a low 
male voice behind her. She hadn't seen or heard anyone around when she came up. 
"So here you are. I was beginning to think I made the trip for nothing." 
A warm rush enveloped her body. She would know that voice anywhere. He was 
here to see her! He hadn't forgotten. Turning quickly Lisa froze and her heart leapt in her 
chest as she looked at the tall familiar but yet not familiar man behind her. Her eyes 
greedily took in his dark brown hair neatly cut and his fresh clean shaven face. It was Joe 
all right but oh how had he changed. He was dressed to kill in a light brown three piece 
suit, his dark brown shirt open at the collar. He smiled at her warmly and it nearly took 
her breath away. A silent twinkle of amusement played in his eyes as he registered her 
surprise and confusion. Those vivid blue eyes she loved sparkled back at her. 
"What's the matter Lisa'?" He asked softly. "Didn't you think I owned any clothes 
or knew how to use a razor? Perhaps you expected me to look the same." 
"I ah..I.. Joe!" Her words broke. His visit was unexpected but certainly not 
unwelcome. "What are you doing here?" Her voice betrayed her eagerness. He still 
smiled. "I came to see how you were settling down after your ordeal." Joe looked her up 
and down a strange light blazing in his eyes. I' would have been here sooner..." Joe 
shrugged his shoulders. "But I was only released today." He looked back to her glowing 
face. "Aren't you going to invite me in Lisa?" 
"Of course, I ah... of course." Lisa became suddenly aware of how she must look 
to him in a sweaty running suit with wind tossed hair and a flushed face. Where were her 
manners? Lisa fumbled with the keys unusually clumsy. 
"Here let me." Joe took the keys and unlocked the door quickly not showing the 
least bit of nervousness that Lisa herself was exhibiting. Opening the door Joe let her pass 
and then he followed her in. Lisa could only stare at him, it was so hard to believe that he 
was actually there. Joe stood in the middle of her living room and glanced around at their 
surroundings, taking it all in, in a matter of seconds. He looked so very good. He was 
truly a sight for sore eyes. His presence filled the room completely. 
"This place looks like you Lisa, comfortable somehow." There was an uneasy 
pause. "I noticed you got your car back too. Was it the fuel pump like I thought?" 
Lisa nodded slowly, she was listening to him but she wasn't really hearing 
anything he said. 
"Parked next to it, I hope that was okay?" He paused again, never letting his eyes 
stray from hers. 
"Yea sure." Still Lisa couldn't move. He looked so breathtakingly handsome, not 
anywhere near the questionable looking man she had depended on two weeks ago. Joe 
smiled knowingly. She knew he knew the effect he was having on her. Her heart gave a 
sudden lurch. 
"You're staring at me Lisa." Joe broke into her thoughts, shifting from one foot to 
the other with ease. "You did that the first time we saw each other too, remember?" 
How could she ever forget she wanted to tell him. I'm sorry, it's rude. Forgive 
me. Its just that...well.. that you look so much different now. And I can hardly believe 
that you are really here." She offered lamely. 
"Does that mean you are glad to see me again?" Joe laughed, his smile 
transforming him yet again. "You haven't asked me to sit down." He teased slowly lifting 
his hands out in front of him palms up. 
"Of course it does." Lisa ran to him giving him a big hug that he already had his 
arms open to receive. The strain seemed to dissipate rapidly. "Oh Joe! I thought I would 
never get to see you again or get the chance to tell you thank you for everything and how 
grateful I am you were there to..." Lisa could have gone on forever expressing her 
gratitude. 
"Hey don't worry about it. I know. Its just part of my job." He stroked her hair 
lightly before he released her reluctantly. Joe clasped her hands tightly in front of him 
and led her to one of the love seats to sit down, making sure that she stayed by his side. 
His eyes searched her face hungrily. 
Lisa had longed for this minute so very badly and now she didn't know what to 
say to him. "Would you care for something to drink?" She asked finally regaining her 
poise enough to be hospitable. "There's some brandy or some bourbon." He lifted a 
corner of his mouth trying to stifle a smile at her nervousness. 
"A bourbon would be nice, if you've got it handy." He watched silently as she 
made her way to the pullout bar and fixed them both a drink. She wished she knew what 
was going on behind those blue, blue eyes. 
Handing him his glass, their fingers lightly brushed and Joes eyes lit up. "Seems 
like we've done this before doesn't it?" 
Lisa knew he was referring to the night she had poured him stiff drinks at the 
farmhouse to help with his pain. 
Her eyes locked on his. He looked so striking to her, more than she even dreamed 
and she had dreamed about him a lot. She wanted to look nice for him too. "If you will 
excuse me for a minute Joe, I think I would like to get out of this gorilla suit and into 
something descent." If only she hadn't gone running then she would have at least been 
presentably dressed when he got here. 
"Sure," Joe smiled. "Take your time, wear a dress, I want to take you out for 
dinner. Okay Lisa?" Joe swirled the bourbon around in his glass before he took another 
drink waiting for her answer. 
"You do?" Lisa looked at him quickly holding her breath She watched 
mesmerized as Joe sat his drink down on the coffee table in front of him and turned to 
face her. 
"Yes." Joe pulled her close and kissed her softly on the forehead. "You don't 
really think I came to see you just to find out how you were doing? That was part of it, 
not all of it. I wanted to see you again." 
She smiled at him brightly, her heart doing crazy flops. "I'll hurry." Lisa rushed 
her shower and put on her prettiest yellow sun dress. She smiled happily to herself 
knowing now that Joe hadn't forgotten her and that he wanted to take her out for dinner. 
Her happiness seemed to know no bounds. 
When Lisa came back into the room Joe had his back to her, studying one of her 
photographs. She knew which one it would be without even having to look, Everyone 
was always taken by that particular photograph. When he heard her pick up her drink, the 
ice tinkling in the glass from her shaky hands he turned to her lithely. 
"You are fast aren't you." Joe paused to study her. "You look beautiful Lisa, 
more beautiful than I remembered even." She could tell by the expression on his face that 
he meant it. "And I remember a lot." He murmured. 
Blushing furiously Lisa retaliated. "Well thank you. I must say that you have 
made quite a transformation yourself." This caused Joe to laugh. 
"So now you've seen how I normally look, not quite the savage that Susie would 
have had you believe eh?" 
"Never you Joe. I think I knew right away. Something in your eyes gave you 
away. No one else saw it because they didn't look past the facade." 
Moments slipped by. Both Lisa and Joe stood eyeing each other nervously, 
wondering what they could say to each other. Lisa had always found the beginning the 
worst part of building a relationship, apparently Joe had the same problem. 
"We've got a few minutes before we have to leave." Joe told her huskily. She 
wondered what he was thinking. "I already took the liberty of using the phone to call 
ahead." He waved a hand in the direction of the phone. "Lets talk a while okay?" He drew 
her over to the love seat to sit beside him. "First, tell me about that picture." 
Lisa could smell his after shave that mingled with his own manly scent and 
teased her nostrils. "It's really different, I kind of cotton to pictures like that." 
"Cotton to pictures like that?" Lisa asked, it was a strange phrase and she wasn't 
sure what he meant by it. Joe laughed easily. "Just some good old southern slang. It 
means that I like it very much." 
"I call it Midnight Blue." She explained. "I named it after my favorite color." 
"Don't tell me," Joe laughed. "Crayola Crayons right?" 
"Right." Lisa laughed too. She admired the little crinkle lines beside his eyes 
whenever he smiled. "I took it on a vacation last year when I was in Colorado. I rented a 
cabin there and had the best time of my life. See how the lake and the surrounding trees 
have a mysterious touch me not quality? The colors that night because of clouds blocking 
the moonlight were a strange mixture of deep blues and blacks. If I hadn't gotten up in the 
middle of the night I never would have seen the trick of light playing across the water 
like that. It kind of reflected the mood I was in at the time, it certainly left an impression 
on me. Someday I hope to go there again." 
"Are you a photographer or something then Lisa?" He frowned. "I had you 
pegged as something else even though I never asked you what you did for a living." 
"At the time I thought you weren't...ah interested." 
"It wasn't that I wasn't interested Lisa. There was a lot of responsibility riding on 
my back and its one of the first rules. Don't get involved. I was the way I was to protect 
you as well as myself. I'm asking now though." 
His thumb was tracing lazy circles on the back of her hand. She wanted to know 
how he saw her yet she didn't ask. 
"Don't laugh. I'm a short story writer. I sell them where I can. But Joe..." Lisa 
couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. She went on ignoring Joes surprise. She didn't 
want to talk about trivial things when she had so much on her mind. Foremost was Joe 
himself. "How are you really? Are you better now?" 
Seeing her anxiety over his health Joe grinned, touched by her warmth and 
sincerity. "Of course, don't I look better? Max told me I was a mess when he found us. 
Truthfully I don't remember." 
"You look better but Joe you said you were only released from the hospital 
today...and you forget," she frowned at him. "I know how well you can cover up. You 
must have been in awful pain and really sick and I didn't even realize how bad you were 
till the very end." Lisa wanted to ask how come he hadn't let her help more and how 
come he didn't confide in her. 
"Well I'm fine now. I was fit days ago but that darn Max insisted that they not 
release me until I was one hundred percent." 
"Well, I for one am glad he insisted on it." He raised an eyebrow at her comment. 
"You and Max are good friends aren't you?" Joe nodded his head. "I could tell. You 
should have seen his face when he found us. He seemed like a real nice person even with 
everything going on he still took very good care of me." 
"I can imagine how he looked." Joe laughed. "Max and I have worked together 
going on nine years now and we are good friends but you will never get either of us to 
admit it to the other." 
"Friendly rivals?" Lisa teased. 
"The friendliest." Joe agreed, smiling broadly. 
"Joe." Lisa looked at him with pleading eyes. "Tell me about everything please. I 
have so many questions buzzing around in my mind. I still don't know what exactly was 
going on. What happened to those people? Susie, Granger, Tiny and that other man? Why 
were you there? What do you do?" 
Now that Joe was here to answer her questions she couldn't seem to hold them in 
any longer. 
"Whoa." He put a finger to her lips, "one question at a time. I'll see that each one 
gets answered." Lisa sat ready to soak in every word. "I know how curious you can be. 
My job is very simple to go where I am needed and do what I can." He sounded as if he 
were explaining to a two year old. 
"Simple?" Scoffed Lisa. 
Joe bent his head and pressed his lips to hers, A very effective method for 
gaining silence. "Quiet. Who's skinning this cat?" He taunted. 
"Okay." Lisa demurred. Was that more southern slang? "There are people and 
groups that need to be watched Lisa. In this case it was those overgrown bikers. I think I 
already mentioned that I'd been with them for over a month." Lisa nodded, she 
remembered him saying that. "Observing, waiting, gaining their confidence. There were 
times I had to appear to be as mean as them if I wanted to keep my skin intact. It was my 
turn to ride as front runner that day we happened across you. We'd made that run so many 
times before and never encountered anyone. But I knew the minute I saw you standing 
there waving that hankie that I had to stop. If I'd gone on like I was supposed to Granger 
would have never passed you by. It's not their style and you know the rest of what 
happened." 
"Not everything Joe. What was in the trucks? What was so important? Is that 
why you were there?"
"Yes. Firearms, but they weren't in the trucks. The trucks were empty they were 
being stored under the house." 
"Granger was a gun runner?" Lisa was openly stunned.
"No, no." Joe shook his head. "His group just acted as a go between for the seller 
to the buyer and the interlude in between the connection. Who would mess with those 
freaks otherwise?" Joe frowned and seemed deep in thought. His memories of the group 
weren't pleasant either. Once again she realized how brave he had to be to have a job like 
his. "What kept them from running off with the guns or selling them and keeping the 
money for themselves?" She asked. 
"Not even Granger would be foolish enough to mess around with these people or 
double cross them." Joe smirked. "Granger isn't as dumb as he looks. My being there 
enabled us, at the time the trucks left arrest the middle man, follow the trucks to the 
buyers destination and since we already knew who the seller was, we got them all." 
"What happened to Granger and Susie?... and Tiny?" 
Lisa added his name as an after thought, she still didn't want to think about that 
horrible man. If Joe hadn't of been there it would have been awful, terrible. 
Joe laughed strangely. "They go directly to jail. They do not pass go. They do not 
collect two hundred dollars." 
"Even Susie?" Lisa asked hesitantly. She had to know what happened to the girl, 
she was so young. 
"Yes, even Susie for a while." Joe frowned. 
"I feel sorry for her." Lisa lowered her head. 
"Don't." Joe lifted her head by grasping her chin. He was upset. "She had things 
like she wanted. Besides have you forgotten everything she did to you? She knocked over 
my bike hoping that I would be mad enough to beat you. She knew what Tiny and Vic 
were up to, she even helped plan it. Lisa, Susie didn't care one iota about you. It would 
have suited her purpose to see you hurt. That's why she tried to keep me at the house 
until it was too late." His tension was visible in his posture and his suddenly hardened 
features. "Don't waste your sympathy on her. You are too kind hearted for your own 
good." He kissed her forehead roughly. 
Lisa was embarrassed now remembering the fight she and Susie had that Joe 
stopped. He also said that 'his' was loosing. 
"Was I really loosing Joe." She couldn't even look at him when she asked. Her 
voice was barely above a whisper. At first Joe looked puzzled because he didn't 
remember what she was referring to. Then he chuckled deep down in his chest. He 
squeezed her hand. "I'm afraid so little one. Susie had you out gunned. But." He soothed. 
"Women like you are better at other things." Joe stroked her hair and drew out a lock 
twisting it around his index finger. Lisa knew what he was referring to and it caused her 
to blush. "You still say whatever is on your mind don't you Lisa? I think that's what I like 
best about you, never a dull minute. At first I thought it was just because of the situation 
you were in, but its not is it! Its part of you." He smiled at her tenderly. "Now if your 
curiosity has been curbed enough, I'm ready to go eat. Hospital food leaves a lot to be 
desired you know and I'm famished." 


Chapter Eight 
To Lisa's amazement the evening was beautiful. Joe took her to an exclusive 
French restaurant where they dined in a quiet corner by themselves. Joe was witty and 
entertaining. It came as no surprise to Lisa to discover that they shared a lot in common. 
When Joe held her hand across the table it made Lisa feel very special indeed. Once 
again she felt that pull between them and she wondered if he felt it too. Joe made it clear 
by his actions that he wanted to get to know her better and it thrilled Lisa to no end. Joe 
didn't notice the other women staring at him and trying to catch his eye. Lisa did and she 
was quite proud to be seen with him. 
After the meal Joe drove her back to her apartment and they sat outside and 
talked for a while. Lisa was reluctant to go inside and let Joe leave. She wanted to see 
him for as long as possible. He might not be back this way and she wanted to make every 
minute count. It had been unbearable with out Joe around, that's how fond she'd grown of 
him. 
"Would you like to come in for a nightcap Joe?" Lisa asked shyly. She wasn't 
sure if Joe would agree or not. 
He smiled hauntingly. "Well...to tell you the truth, I was hoping you would ask. 
It's not really that late, its only ten thirty." She was glad to find they were thinking on the 
same wave length. While Joe fixed the drinks, Lisa laid out some cheese and crackers to 
snack on even though she wasn't hungry. 
She began to wonder where Joe was going to stay the night. If he was just out of 
the hospital, where was he planning on sleeping? Lisa really knew so little about him. 
What would he say if she was to invite him to stay with her? 
Lisa knew there was no denying her attraction for Joe. It was there and she had 
never felt strongly enough to ask a man to stay before. Would he want to? Lisa knew 
what she felt growing for Joe was love in its earliest stages even if she'd never truly been 
in love before. Did she have enough nerve to ask him knowing that he might turn her 
down? He had pulled away that day at the pond, yet there was a reason. 
"Joe?" Lisa sat down next to him on the love seat and sipped nervously at the 
drink he handed her. "Something just came to me. If you just got out of the hospital, 
where are you going to stay? You don't live in Phoenix do you?" Lisa lowered her eyes to 
avoid the searching glance that she knew would be coming her way. 
"Oh, I'll get a room somewhere, I'm used to it. Lisa, I do have some roots you 
know. I've got a small apartment in Washington D.C. not too unlike this one." Joe smiled 
at her tenderly. "Did you think I'm a vagabond or gypsy or something?" 
"To tell you the truth I didn't know. There's so much I don't know about you." 
"Trust me, I don't wing it all of the time." 
"Will you be going back to work soon?" Lisa asked hoping that Joe wouldn't 
think that she was being too forward. On the other hand she did want to see him again. 
Joe was not the type of man that would appreciate a clinging vine type and she knew it. 
She longed for him to feel the same way about her. Just his mere presence sparked off 
that sexual electricity that ran rampant throughout her body causing untold havoc. Lisa 
was sure it was mutual. All through dinner she had seen it in his eyes and wondered if he 
saw the same hunger reflected in her own. She had seen him eyeing her cautiously and 
speculatively whenever he thought she wasn't looking. 
"Nope I've got another week of recuperation leave due me and I plan on taking 
every last minute of it." There was a hint of weariness in his voice that wasn't there 
before. Could it be that he was tired of his job and the demands it placed on him? 
"There's no telling where crazy Max might send me next." 
Lisa relaxed as they talked further, joked around and listened to music. It was 
well after midnight before Joe gave any signs of being restless. He pulled her close and 
kissed her often, yet he seemed to be holding back something, a part of himself. Lisa 
knew as sure as he was leaving her breathless with his passion filled kisses that he was a 
very practiced lover. Secretly she wondered if she could ever measure up under his 
expertise. 
"Well Lisa...I guess I better call it a night. I'd like to see you again tomorrow. If it 
doesn't affect your work that is." Joe kissed her on the forehead and stood up. 
"I'd like that." Lisa's heart swelled. "And I work here so it's no problem." She 
hoped to make him understand that she was only as busy as she wanted to be. "Don't get 
the idea that I try to write twenty four hours a day. Four or five at the most." 
"Good It's settled then. I'll drop by in the morning and we can think of something 
fun to do. Just remember that I don't know your town very well." Lisa stood up so she 
could walk him to the door. Her mind was in such turmoil. She wanted him to stay so 
badly. 
Joe hesitated a moment and then he drew her into his arms. His embrace strong 
and tight. It was the closest he had been all night, molding her body to his for his 
passionate kiss. Lisa could smell his faint after shave and the very maleness of him 
tantalized her senses. He caressed his fingers along the small of her back at her spine. 
Lisa thought she was going to melt under his sweet kiss, and her limbs seemed weakened 
to the very core. Their lips parted and Joes tongue searched out the contours of her 
willing mouth. 
Her fingers urged her hands around his neck and tangled in his dark hair. She 
could feel the rapid beat of Joes heart against her chest and hear the raspy ness of his 
quickened breathing. He pulled his head up separating their lips and stared down at her as 
if he was in a turmoil of his own. Did he find her lacking in some way? He was holding 
back. Why? Didn't he realize that she wanted him to go faster. 
Lisa arched her hips forward to press intimately against his, seeking out the proof 
of his arousal. She closed her eyes at the same time he closed his and lowered his lips 
again to hers. Still Lisa sensed he was holding back, keeping himself deliberately 
restrained. She had no doubt that with other women Joe would have plowed right in with 
his attentions. With his looks he wouldn't have to try very hard either. 
When Joe finally released her with a sigh Lisa had already made up her mind, her 
decision a forgone conclusion. 
"Joe. ." Her throat threatened to close up so she tried again. "Joe, I want you to 
stay here tonight, with me, all week if you want." Lisa wished she didn't sound so 
breathless or so anxious. There was no turning back now and she didn't want to. There 
was no other way for things to end. 
Joe looked at her in surprise then amusement lit up his blue eyes replacing the 
smoldering passion. The silence seemed to last forever. "Do you know what you're saying 
Lisa?" His voice was husky and unbelieving. Did he think her passion induced and 
inclined to do crazy things while caught up in the throes of it? He'd be right. 
"Yes. I want you to stay here Joe. I don't make it a habit to invite men to share 
my apartment with me, I assure you." Lisa frowned. "But.." She felt a need to defend 
herself so he wouldn't think she was an easy mark for any man. There was only one man 
she was interested in at the moment. 
Joe put his hands on her shoulders. "I didn't think you did. You must feel it too 
then." He murmured enigmatically. 
"What?" She met his steady gaze. 
"Whatever this mysterious pull is between us. Are you sure Lisa? That you want 
me to stay?" Still he hesitated. What was bothering him? 
"I'm sure." She snapped irritably. "I'm of age you know." Lisa frowned. Did he 
think she would have asked if she wasn't sure. 
"I never doubted your age for a minute ." Joe laughed at her indignant 
expression. Giving her a mock bow and sweeping the floor with his pretend hat he said. 
"Thank you. I will take you up on your kind offer and not even complain about sleeping 
on the couch." 
"The couch?" Lisa was confused. Didn't he understand what she meant? Having 
never asked a man to share her bed before she was beginning to wonder if she had done it 
right. Did it take a certain finesse or something that she didn't have? Her confusion must 
have shown on her face because Joe tilted up her chin and looked at her wonderingly. 
"That is what you had in mind isn't it? Am I being obtuse?"
"Would you think me terrible if I said no?" 
Joe saw the shyness in her face and replied tenderly. "I'm afraid I thought you to 
be a little more innocent, I guess, I was wrong, you ah…oh never mind. What are we 
waiting for then?" Joe reached down and swung her up into his strong arms as if she was 
nothing of weight that mattered. He kissed her again so thoroughly that it swamped her 
thoughts and suspended all shyness. "This way to your room?" He laughed. Being a two 
bedroom apartment it wasn't hard for him to guess. 
The excitement of the moment grew and grew with each step. Lisa wondered if 
Joe could hear her frantic heartbeat. She felt like her heart was actually pounding against 
her ribs. So what if Joe thought she had experience. She didn't care, how was he to know 
otherwise unless she told him. Feeling a sudden case of shyness Lisa buried her face in 
Joes shoulder. If she told him that she was a virgin he might decide to change his mind 
and decide he would rather not get involved with her. She didn't think she could stand it 
if that happened. Lisa wanted him too bad to risk it. 
Lisa realized at that moment that she more than just liked Joe Michaels, she 
loved him, whole hearted and as unexplainable as it was. Nothing mattered except this 
moment, being close to him and being a part of his world. Maybe later she would regret 
it, not now. She squeezed her eyes shut in anticipation. 
Putting one knee on the bed Joe laid her down gently in the middle. Lisa watched 
as he glanced around the room. 
He started chuckling to himself as he slipped off his jacket and vest. His eyes 
were already darkening when he looked back at her. 
"What are you so amused about Joe?" Lisa asked with a catch in her throat. 
"What's so funny?" Surely he wasn't laughing at her. Lisa chided herself for even 
thinking it. Joe wouldn't do that to her. 
His eyes skimmed around the room once more. "I was just wondering if this 
room is going to inhibit my making love to you. You'll have to admit its one hundred 
percent feminine. " 
Lisa reminded herself that she thought that very thing only a week ago. She 
silently reprimanded herself for not having done something about it. Sliding off the bed, 
Lisa knew there was one thing she could do about it. 
"Where are you going Lisa?" Joe asked anxiously even though he didn't make a 
move to stop her. "Did I scare you or something?" 
"No you didn't. Be right back." Lisa quickly slipped into the living room and took 
the picture of Midnight Blue off of the wall. 
When she returned Joe was sitting on the edge of the bed with a puzzled 
expression on his face. "What on earth are you doing?" Joe asked, he was striving to 
understand her erratic actions. His voice sounded faintly impatient. Lisa propped the 
picture up on the dresser where he could see it plainly.
"I didn't want you to feel completely out of place." She laughed a little strangely. 
"And this was all I could think of that might help you." 
He was quiet for so long that Lisa shyly turned to look at him, her heart nearly 
dropped to her stomach when she saw the deep slashing smile across his face. 
Joe held out his arms to her then. "Come here woman." Joe teased gruffly in the 
way he had talked to her in his former role of biker. Lisa seemed to float over to him, for 
the life of her she couldn't remember taking the steps that brought her to his arms. 
Joe held her close and kissed the top of her head. "That was a nice thought Lisa, 
thank you." 
Lisa bent her head back and surrendered her lips to his for the taking. Joe pressed 
his warm lips to her soft ones being infinitely gentle. His lips coaxed hers until she 
thought for sure he was draining some of her very life force from her. With a muffled 
groan Lisa pulled from him and Joe plundered her delicate neck with more kisses. His 
hands roamed over her back seeking to know every muscle, every delicate curve. Lisa's 
hands wound around his neck and pulled him closer. 
"Ummm Lisa you don't know how much you excite me." Joe whispered in her 
ear and followed his words with kisses. His velvet rough tongue traced the shape of her 
ear, making Lisa shiver excitedly. 
"I think it's the other way around." Lisa told him shyly. He didn't know the 
sensations he was causing her to feel, or did he? He certainly knew what to do to excite 
her. 
Joe bent his dark head and kissed her slender column of her neck with feathery 
light caresses. His large hands momentarily circled her delicate neck and slid down her 
shoulders. First one then the other, Joe untied the spaghetti straps to her dress. 
His warm lips nipped at the tender skin of her shoulders. "You have beautiful 
shoulders Lisa. I've been wanting to do this all night." He growled near her ear. 
"Correction. I've been wanting to kiss your shoulders since that first night at the pond. 
You looked like a water nymph, standing there with your breasts exposed to me and the 
moonlight." Joe pulled her closer, letting his hands wander down to encircle her waist.
Lisa looked up at him with big brown eyes seeing her own desire reflected in his 
blue ones. The satisfied gleam in his eyes told her that he was glad of the desire he could 
see in hers. 
Lisa tentatively unbuttoned his shirt, letting it fall open so that she could gaze on 
his familiar hair covered chest. Her fingers automatically sought out his wound to 
reassure herself that he was truly better. She slipped the shirt from his shoulders letting it 
fall unchecked to the floor. "Your wound is much better Joe. I can hardly see where it 
was." She kissed it lightly and then stood on tip toe to kiss him on the mouth. He took 
possession of her parted lips eagerly. 
The world tilted crazily as Joe swept her up into his arms once more. He held her 
close and kissed her breathless repeatedly before he laid her on the bed gently. 
Her dress fell away under his hands effortlessly. Having not worn a bra it 
exposed the soft mounds of her breasts immediately. Joe looked down on her almost 
reverently for a moment. His hand came out and hovered for a second before claiming 
what was so freely given. He gently caressed and cupped her breasts teasingly. Warm 
damp kisses trailed in the wake of his fiery fingers. Then Joe covered her with his weight 
and her breasts were crushed to his chest. The feel of his warm male body pressed to hers 
caused her to shiver just a little. His ardent lips nibbled sensuously at the tender flesh of 
her throat. 
Jerkily he sat up and removed her pantyhose and panties, letting them slide down 
the length of her legs suggestively. "I've wanted you so bad, Lisa. Even when my mind 
was on my work, or supposed to be, I wanted you. I've dreamed of making love to you." 
Joe confessed huskily. 
"And I've dreamed of making love with you." Lisa whispered shyly. Joes hands 
were stroking her, caressing her, knowing her. Her hands played in the hair on his chest. 
The dream came no where close to the reality. 
"Ummm, you feel so good, so soft. Lisa. Help me with my pants." Joe nibbled his 
way down to her breasts, licking, sucking, it was driving her crazy. Voluntarily she 
arched against him. "Lord, help me with my pants girl. I can't take much more." 
Lisa didn't realize how hard she was clutching to his shoulders. She hesitated 
momentarily before unfastening his belt and snap. 
When she reached for the zip his hands covered hers. He stared at her 
momentarily before he let her proceed. What was he puzzled about? Lisa knelt beside 
him and slipped his pants from his powerful thighs. 
Tentatively she ran her hands down his chest and across his taut stomach and 
caressed his muscular thighs. "Joe?" Her breath was caught in her throat. 
Swiftly he grasped her arms and she found herself underneath him. Her eyes 
opened wide when she felt the all over body contact. Breasts pressed to his hair covered 
chest, stomach to stomach, hips intimately combined, it was too much, Lisa gasped and 
let the sensations that were clambering to reach her consciousness claim her. 
She closed her eyes as Joe paused again. Instinct had her part her legs for him 
without any coaxing. Her hazy mind heard Joes words except she couldn't take the time 
to register them. "Oh God, I should stop but I can't stop myself Lisa. I've got to have you 
now." 
Moments later Joe was still caressing her body stroking her, readying her, 
belying his words. Lisa arched to receive him numerous times and yet Joe hesitated. 
When his hands sought out her woman hood again more urgently she nearly gasped out 
loud. 
He sensed her readiness and covered her again with his weight. This time when 
Lisa arched against him her silent plea did not go unanswered. Lisa clasped him to her as 
if she could keep him from drawing back. "Lisa?" Joes questioning eyes sought out hers. 
"Please Joe. I want you." 
His mouth covered hers, restricting her plea. His tongue shot into her mouth with 
the force of an arrow. 
"I hope you know what your doing Lisa." He told her gruffly, 
"Because I sure don't understand my own actions." His mouth covered hers this 
time smothering the gasp that would have escaped involuntarily as Joe joined them 
together intimately. 
So this was what it was to be known. There was only a tight pinching sensation 
as he entered her carefully. Then Lisa found herself pressing upwards to receive more of 
his fullness. Ever so slowly Joe moved against her, testing her reaction. 
Lisa was beyond thinking at this point as she let the feel of him fill her and stroke 
her to even higher heights. Her hands caressed the tight muscles of his back, she felt the 
fine sheen of perspiration covering him. 
"You feel so good." Joe told her with such a sweet anguish on his face. "So 
tight."
She heard the other whispered words of encouragement but Lisa wasn't listening 
she was only feeling. When the ever building explosion came she was ready. It felt 
incredibly good, so intense. She must have said something because Joe stroked her hair 
and continued to move against her until his own shuddering response was felt by both of 
them.
Joe buried his face in her shoulder depleted. Lisa didn't mind, she loved the feel 
of the weight of him laying on top of her. Joe kissed her relentlessly till she practically 
fell asleep in his arms. Sleep had never been so blissful. She was warm and safe in her 
lovers arms. 
Lisa woke the next morning as the sun left its first brilliant streaks across the 
room. She felt happy and contented. She did not regret it, instead she smiled to herself 
and looked with wondering eyes to the man who lay next to her sleeping. 
Joe had been ever so gentle and loving, in fact she had trusted him explicitly. He 
had been even  gentler when he realized she was a virgin in his arms. Lisa knew the 
moment he realized from the astonishment that showed in his eyes and the ever so slight 
tremble to his touch afterwards. For a short moment there had been something else too, 
anger? No, it couldn't have been that, she told herself. What would he have to be angry 
about? Together they had gone to that place where they both received fulfillment. Joe had 
made a point to hold her tightly for the rest of the night, she also knew he wasn't sleeping 
but studying her. He caressed her and soothed her off and on all night long with his soft 
touch and his even softer words so that she felt contented and loved in his arms as she 
slept. 
Rolling on her side, Lisa gave him a feather light kiss on his rough chin now 
shadowed with a growth of fine dark hairs. To her surprise he wrapped his strong arms 
around her and pulled her on top of him. "I should have known that nothing escapes your 
attention." She teased. Then Lisa became aware of the dark circles underneath his eyes. 
Why hadn't he slept as good as she had? Could she have disappointed him last night? It 
was so good though. Lisa may not have been an expert after one night of loving but she 
knew it was sensational between them. 
Joe kissed her hungrily. "Don't you know what you do to me Lisa? I just can't 
seem to get enough. I wanted to wake you up last night." Her spirits lifted immensely 
seeing the passion lighting spontaneously in his eyes. 
"No." She teased by tracing his chin with her finger. 
"Show me." She gave him a look of such innocence that it demanded retribution. 
With a muffled groan and lightning speed Joe had her on her back pinned with his weight 
to the soft bed. 
"I'll do just that." He nipped playfully at her ear. 
"It was really good wasn't it Joe?" She asked as she ran her fingers through his 
soft hair. She felt him tense. He didn't answer her. This time his loving was different, not 
like before. It was more of an angry frenzy and it scared Lisa a little. 
She didn't know what was the matter with him. Lisa stiffened under him and let 
out an involuntary whimper. 
"God, what am I doing?" Joe jerked himself up into a sitting position. Lisa just 
stared at him. "Last night I couldn't stop myself and now I nearly let myself go again." 
He ran his fingers through his hair nervously, it was already sleep tousled. "What 
are you trying to do to me Lisa?" She was as surprised by his words as his actions as he 
jumped from the bed like he had been scalded. He started jerkily putting on his clothes. 
He was angry, but why? What reason did he have to be angry? He wouldn't leave her 
now would he? It had been so good. 
"Me?" She questioned him finally gaining control over her voice as strained as it 
was. "What are you talking about?" She was confused. Was he angry with her or himself, 
she couldn't tell. "I'm not trying to do anything to you." Joe was tensed like a cat ready to 
spring at the least provocation. "Well maybe trying to love you a little." She admitted in 
face of her previous actions to seduce him. 
"You tricked me. What for?" His tone was accusing and spiteful. His face was 
closed and shuttered. 
"Tricked you? What do you mean Joe?" Lisa knew she was beginning to sound 
like a parrot. What was he saying? 
"At one point last night I decided that you were fairly shy and innocent, I didn't 
want to rush things. I kept remembering things from at the pond to reinforce my idea. 
Then later when you asked me to stay the night I figured you'd been with a man at some 
time before." He scowled at her. "We know that's not true don't we? What did you expect 
to accomplish by this?" 
His bluntness caused Lisa to blush ashamedly. She knew but did he have to be so 
condemning about her loving him? Then it hit her that he was accusing her of something 
else. "What?" Lisa could barely get the word out. 
"You heard me plain enough. What did you expect from all this?" He waved his 
hand over the bed where she still sat clutching at the sheets. 
"I don't expect anything. What are you making such a big deal out of everything 
between us for? So what if I was a virgin?" Her own anger was beginning to match his. 
"That's just it. You said the key words. 'Was a virgin.' I would have never stayed 
had I realized that you were all that innocent. What kind of fool do you take me for? I 
don't want to be seriously involved with you or anyone else for that matter." 
The words pricked at her heart. She was already involved she wanted to scream 
at him. 
"Not now, not ever." Joe started pacing the floor like a caged animal. 
"Joe, I didn't ask you to get involved if that's what's worrying you. I just wanted 
to be with you, that is all. It's okay for a man to want things like loving and sex and not 
for a woman is that what you're trying to tell me? What's wrong with me wanting you? I 
don't understand you." Lisa was afraid she did. He must be convinced she was trying to 
trap him into marriage. 
He faced her with feet apart and his hands on his hips. "You don't have to 
understand me Lisa. I'm sorry for what happened last night, but you brought it on 
yourself. Granted I couldn't stop but by George no woman is ever going to put a ring 
through my nose again." 
Lisa's mouth dropped open, wide. "A ring through your nose. I don't believe this. 
Are you insinuating that I am trying to trap you into marriage by taking you to bed with 
me because I was a virgin? Of all the conceited, egotistical-" She stood up clutching the 
sheet. 
"Save it." He snapped. "You don't need to go the indignant innocent female on 
me. I don't suppose you bothered with precautions did you?'" He smirked. "Did you hope 
to get pregnant?" 
"Did you bother with precautions?" She screamed at him. "You know more about 
those kinds of things than I do. What's the matter, is the big man slipping up? No. I 
didn't, and don't worry I won't get pregnant." She told him with more confidence than she 
felt. 
"How do you know?" He hollered back, eyes blazing. 
"Because I wouldn't wish your genes on a poor helpless baby. It would turn out 
to look like a hairy ape with a personality to match." She clenched her hands by her sides 
to keep from striking out at him like she wanted to. "There's nothing more for us to say. I 
want you to leave Joe Michaels, leave my apartment this very minute. You've already 
managed to do what you set out to do by turning something beautiful into something dirty 
and disgusting. Just go on your way and leave me be." Her heart was surely breaking. 
"What if you are? Pregnant I mean." He asked hesitantly. Why didn't he just go? 
"Don't worry about it, it's a chance in a million. If I am, you can be sure that you 
are the last person I would ever tell." 
"Lisa.." Joe looked remorseful. Lisa ignored his eyes that pleaded for something. 
Was it understanding? 
"Just leave Joe." She told him stiffly and watched as he walked out of her 
apartment and out of her life. Not before she heard his parting words though. 
"Someday you will make some man very happy Lisa. I'm sorry I can't be that 
man." 
Some man but not him, not the one she wanted. Well, she thought, that's what 
she got for trying to offer something precious to a "swine". What did he think she 
wanted? A commitment? Lisa knew long ago that it wasn't going to be in the offer. Joe 
was not the marrying kind. That's what she got for being so greedy and trying to take 
what he was at least willing to give of himself. She knew it could never have developed 
into anything on his part. So why was she crying? Because God help her it did matter. It 
mattered that Joe thought so little of her and that he hadn't even given her a chance to 
defend herself. It mattered because she did love Joe and darn it, she did want a 
commitment. One that apparently Joe didn't want or wasn't willing to give. Had she read 
his signals all wrong? 
Lisa had the uneasy feeling that she had blown it, that she wasn't going to see 
him again. After crying some more and taking a shower Lisa felt a 'little better. The ache 
in her heart was still there. Where had he gone? Home? She tried not to think of him as 
she put herself wholeheartedly into another story. 
It was no use, the words just wouldn't come. All she could think of was the words 
she should have said to Joe. 
Lisa took a long nap and then went for a walk to get out of the apartment. How 
did things end up so bad? What was he really so upset about, the fact that she was a 
virgin or because he couldn't stop himself? As she walked she day dreamed about the 
night before. It was just marvelous, Joe was marvelous. Their making love was 
everything Lisa ever dreamed it would be and more. Joe must have felt it too. Lisa 
blushed as she thought about the feel of his hard lean body pressed against hers. It only 
made her feel worse, it made her want him again and Joe wasn't here and maybe would 
never be. 
It didn't matter that she tried to stem the flow of tears, they couldn't be held back. 
She missed him so much. Once the tears stopped she walked quietly on and had her 
dinner alone at a nearby restaurant. She wanted to stay gone from the apartment as long 
as possible where she wouldn't have to be reminded of Joe. She knew she couldn't stay 
gone forever, she would have to go back and face the place without him. What if Joe did 
return and she wasn't there? 
Lisa hurried home. 


CHAPTER NINE 
It was ten before Joe returned to the apartment. Lisa was in the process of getting 
ready for bed, when the door buzzer rang. Hope on hope, she wished it would be Joe and 
it was. Who else would come calling on her at such a late hour? When she opened the 
door he was leaning negligently against the door jamb. He smiled at her like the 
proverbial cat that just ate the canary. He was dressed now in tight fitting washed out 
jeans and a blue and gold striped T-shirt that showed every inch of his hard packed 
muscles. He had his arms crossed in front of his chest. 
"Bet you thought I got lost or something didn't you Lisa." He drawled mockingly. 
He looked her up and down considering. Lisa met his incredible blue eyes as he stared at 
her frowning and she noticed the faint reek of booze on his breath. He'd been drinking 
and it surprised her, more than that, he was drunk. How could he do that? He was always 
so much together, cool, calm and aloof. He noticed the slight frown of puzzlement that 
crossed her face and spoke tersely. 
"Of course I drank to stay away." He knew what she was thinking again. 
"Somehow it didn't work though, it only made things worse." He shook his head as if he 
could clear it. "I still kept seeing your damn face and wanting to touch you again. Nope, I 
take that back I wanted to possess you again." He was being rather loud and she 
wondered if all of her neighbors were getting an ear full. If it was the best apology he 
could muster up at the moment then it would have to do. Lisa wasn't about to press her 
luck by turning him away. 
"Come on."  Lisa spoke annoyingly. "Does all the world have to know about our 
affairs." She scolded, while she pulled on his arm trying to draw him into the apartment. 
"Know what? That I'm mad about you." Joe raised his voice louder deliberately. 
Lisa wanted to strangle him. 
"Come on Joe, cooperate." She tugged on him hard enough that it drew him 
inside the door. I'I bet you can't even walk a straight line." She taunted him. Joe smiled at 
her crookedly. 
"You need to be in bed to sleep this off ."  Joe staggered into the room and Lisa 
shut and locked the door behind them. What was the matter with him anyway. Did their 
little row effect him as much as it had her? 
Joe deeply laughed and swung around to face her. "Bed is exactly what I had in 
mind." He articulated carefully. Lisa's eyes widened warily. Joe frowned and looked at 
her bewildered and intense. Then he sighed expressively. "I couldn't get you out of my 
mind all day no matter how hard I tried. God knows I don't allow whims to run my life 
but I couldn't help it. That's all you are to me Lisa a whim...a fancy." He waved his hand 
wildly and slapped it to his leg. "I just couldn't help corning back to see you." 
"And this makes you feel angry?" Lisa cringed, the minute the words were 
uttered. She knew it was the wrong approach to take with Joe. 
"Don't patronize me." Joe snapped. "You know darn well it does. Lord she's an 
amateur shrink too." He groaned, his eyes narrowed as he continued to look at her. "What 
is this spell you've put me under Lisa? What do I do to break it?" 
Secretly Lisa was pleased to find out that Joe had a hole in his armor after all. 
Everyone has an Achilles heel and Joe was no exception. "There is no spell Joe. What I 
think is that you have had way to much to drink and don't know what you're saying." 
"I know exactly what I'm saying." 
Lisa pointed in the direction of the guest room. 
"And I haven't been this drunk since I was a reckless teenager." 
"Perhaps you better go and turn in. You know the way. We can finish this 
stimulating discussion in the morning." 
Joe walked towards her slowly and grabbed her wrist. He didn't even realize that 
he was hurting her until she winced. 
He released her abruptly yet did not move off. "Lisa," he lowered his voice. "I 
wasn't coming back here you know. When I left I had no intention of seeing you again." 
He was serious and Lisa was grateful that he saw fit to be honest with her. "The things I 
said though, I didn't mean them. Truthfully I just didn't know how to handle the ah gift 
you gave me." 
"I know Joe." She watched as it was his turn to frown warily. Did he expect her 
to rant and rave at him or something. "Go on. You can sleep in my room. I'll stay in here 
for a while, I still have some work I need to be doing yet." 
"Not without you Lisa, I want you, I need you, that's why I came back." Before 
she could answer him she was caught up in his fierce grip he hauled her unceremoniously 
to her bed. 
Joe threw Lisa on the bed and followed her there. She didn't struggle. She 
admitted that she needed him as much as he professed to need her. Joe kissed her roughly 
repeatedly and she could taste the bourbon still lingering on his breath. His hands sought 
to remove the gown she was wearing, practically ripping it from her body in his 
impatience. 
"Darn it, how do you get this thing off? Take it off Lisa." He commanded 
huskily. "Take it off before I rip it off." Lisa complied, his rough hands still familiar, still 
drawing a response from her. His eyes grazed over her flesh hotly. "You are so 
beautiful." 
This time Joe came prepared against pregnancy. He abruptly covered her with his 
weight, pressing Lisa down into the soft mattress. His hands never lighting on her body 
for more than a second. Restrained anger on his part making his lovemaking frantic. 
"Joe, you're frightening me." She whispered. This was a side to Joe she didn't 
recognize and frankly didn't want to see. "You're acting like Tiny and its scaring me."
His actions immediately slowed and stopped upon hearing her. He took a deep 
ragged breath. "I don't mean to hurt you Lisa. You're like a flame that draws me to it 
against my will. I can't resist you. Let me love you, Lisa please." 
"Just try and be gentle Joe." Lisa pleaded. "Don't forget that I'm not used to this." 
She wound her arms around his neck as he tried to pull away and leave her. "No don't 
leave me." There was still an underlying impatience in Joes kisses and his caresses 
although he was trying to be gentle. 
Shortly when he could wait no longer he whispered in her ear. "I just have to 
have you Lisa. I can't wait any longer." 
Joe sighed inaudibly as he penetrated her silken realm. It was the sound of a man 
given a last request or something, so relieved was he.  "You're mine Lisa." He mumbled, 
he was nearly asleep as he rolled to his side taking her in his arms. "Mine, do you hear?" 
"Yes Joe." Lisa agreed. It didn't matter that he didn't hear, he was already asleep, 
fitfully, yet asleep. 
Upon waking the next morning, Lisa knew instinctively that Joe was not beside 
her even before she looked. Slipping on her satin robe Lisa went to the front room. The 
apartment was silent. Surely he left a note for her. After looking around futilely Lisa sunk 
down into the comfortable love seat, there was no 
note, no nothing to even show that Joe Michaels had even been there. The 
coward he couldn't even face her this morning. 
"Oh Joe." She sighed wearily. "How could you do this to me?" She huddled in 
the love seat and wept. Tears would wash away some of the pain. She didn't even know if 
he was coming back or not. Her hopes had been so high the night before. This emotional 
roller coaster wasn't for her. 
Sometime after breakfast and many tears the phone rang. Lisa practically ran to 
answer it. She knew she sounded breathless. It just had to be Joe. "Hello." She answered 
tentatively, holding her breath. 
"Lisa this is Maxwell Turner." Her heart sunk, she was so disappointed, her voice 
reflecting it. "Is Joe there? It's important." What was he calling about? How did he know 
Joe might be there unless Joe told him. 
"No I'm sorry, he's not." She didn't tell him she was more sorry for herself that he 
wasn't there. Darn that Joe. 
"Do you know when he'll be back?" He queried, something in his own voice 
sounding uneasy. 
"No sorry again. He didn't tell me Mr. Turner. If you'll leave your number where 
he can reach you if he comes back I promise to give it to him." 
"If?" He sounded bewildered. Not any more bewildered than she was, Lisa was 
sure. "Okay, please do that, its real urgent I reach him." Lisa recognized the number as a 
Washington D.C. area code. Just as a fluke she called the information operator to see if 
there was a listing for Joe Michaels. There wasn't or maybe it was unlisted and she just 
wasn't saying since she couldn't give it out anyway. 
Lisa waited and waited for Joe to come home that day. He did not and Lisa was 
miserable. She knew in her heart that he had to feel something for her, he said as much. It 
was just that he intended to fight it tooth and nail. Well, she thought, if he didn't want her 
then she wasn't going to force herself on him. He could come to her. She at least had her 
pride left, even if Joe Michaels had put a sizeable dent in it. Why did he keep leaving her 
the way he did, as if her feelings didn't matter? She would learn to quit thinking about 
him. She would learn to get over him. What good was it to love someone that wouldn't 
accept your love, or be around to return it. 
The next day Lisa was miserable, still wishing that Joe would contact her. She 
knew it would take some doing to eliminate him from her heart and her mind. The day 
seemed to stretch on endlessly. 
When the phone rang that evening, Lisa was surprised. Once again she held her 
breath, hoping it was Joe. 
"Hello." Lisa bit her lip nervously. 
"Hello Lisa Harrold?" A man's voice greeted her. 
"Yes, this is Lisa." She frowned, she knew that voice. She just couldn't place it. 
"Lisa this is Brian. Brian Windmere." He explained. 
"Oh yes, Brian. How are you?" Instantly the face of the man appeared before her 
in her minds eye. Brian was a relatively shy man with thick blonde hair, green eyes and 
preppy good looks. She'd met him three weeks earlier, the week before Joe. Every thing 
was before Joe or after Joe now. Brian was a kind open person that had befriended her at 
a writers class she attended at a local college. She often signed up for weekend seminars. 
"Fine thanks. I wasn't sure you would remember me." He offered hesitantly. 
"Of course I remember you. Who could forget the man who writes such 
marvelous short stories. You do a fine piece of children's fiction." Lisa admired his story 
he'd done for class. 
"Thank you." There was a short pause. 
'Lisa the reason I'm calling is because I would like to see you again." 
"Oh?" This revelation took her off guard as much as the unexpected phone call 
had. He was a nice enough guy, why not? It would help to take her mind off Joe, 
apparently he wanted to stay a lone wolf for the rest of his life. "What did you have in 
mind?" She asked cheerily. It was nice to have someone who cared and was seeking your 
attention, not like some people she could think of. Darn it, couldn't she quit thinking 
about him for five minutes? 
"Well perhaps dinner and then a show? Would that be acceptable to you?" There 
was no denying the hopefulness in his voice. 
"That sounds very nice Brian. I think I would like that very much." She told him, 
ignoring the nudge of her conscience that warned her that she might be using Brian and 
getting his hopes up for nothing. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she was wrapped 
up in Joe. 
"Great. How about Saturday night then?" He sounded excited. "Saturdays fine." 
Lisa told him nervously. 
"Shall I make all the arrangements and give you a call back?" 
"Okay." She didn't know what else to say. 
"Great. I'll call you again before Saturday. Bye Lisa." "Good bye Brian." Lisa felt 
guilty after she hung up. She only hoped she was doing the right thing. Of course she 
was, she told herself, she couldn't mope around for Joe forever. He might not ever see her 
again or call her. 
Saturday night found Lisa nervously waiting for Brian to arrive. She chose a 
simple styled crepe dress that was gathered at the waist, short sleeved and had a matching 
shawl. Lisa knew it enhanced her figure and made her look younger, she chose it for that 
reason. She took a deep breath and answered the door. 
Brian greeted her with a cheerful smile and a dozen red roses. "You look 
marvelous Lisa." His eyes admired her respectfully. 
"Thank you Brian. Come in for a second." He stepped inside and looked around. 
He handed her the roses. "These are for you of course. I hope you like roses."
" I Love them, thank you." She accepted gratefully. She'd never received flowers 
before. It was a thoughtful gesture on Brian's part. "perhaps I better put them in some 
water before we go. I wouldn't want them to wilt." She sniffed at them appreciatively. 
"Have a seat Brian." No sooner had she left the room and was filling the vase when the 
phone rang. Lisa didn't give a thought as to who it could be. 
"Could you answer that for me Brian? My hands are full." She heard his deep 
voice complying. By the time she reached the front room again, Brian was frowning and 
hanging up the phone. 
"Who was it? Didn't they want to speak with me?" She asked, setting the vase on 
the coffee table. Her hands busied themselves arranging the flowers. 
Brian looked at her. "Some guy." He frowned again. "He asked if this was your 
place, I told him it was. He hung up on me without saying another word." 
Lisa's heart plummeted to her stomach. It was probably Joe. So what if it was. He 
could get mad all he wanted. She was the one who had a right to be mad, after all he 
treated her like dirt and walked out and left her without saying a word. If he thought he 
could come and go in and out of her life, he had another thing coming because she 
wouldn't put up with it. 
"You look pale Lisa. Is everything alright? Was that a boy friend or something?" 
Brian was concerned for her. 
"Or something." She answered as honestly as she could. "It's over and doesn't 
matter now." She was the one who was wronged. 
"Shall we be going then?" Brian changed the subject to Lisa's relief, and they 
left. Lisa vowed the pain she felt would have to go. 
All in all it was the most enjoyable evening Lisa could remember having in a 
long time, well except for the evening spent with Joe and she refused to think about that. 
Brian was exceptionally nice and polite. They shared a dinner at a wonderful Italian 
restaurant and went to a new play that was just opening. They discussed their mutual 
attraction for writing and other writers. There never seemed to be a lull in their 
conversations .She wasn't attracted to Brian but she was comfortable with him. 
She knew there never could be anything but friendship between them. Lisa 
blamed it on Joe for spoiling her chances with any other man. For the next three weeks, 
Brian visited regularly and they dated.
 Whenever he kissed her, Lisa tried to respond. There was just no fire between 
them and Lisa felt awful about it, she knew how hard Brian was trying to win her 
affection. He never pushed or complained. 
Lisa still hadn't heard from Joe, by then she'd given up hope of hearing from him 
again. She kept telling herself that she didn't want to hear from him yet she knew it was a 
lie. 
She filled her time, that seemed to stretch forever with Brian and the new novel 
she was working on. It would be her first. 
It was a challenge that she and Brian worked on together, setting themselves an 
impossible deadline just for the heck of it. 
Lisa took one whole check she received from her publisher and spent it on 
remodeling her bedroom. It held so many bitter sweet memories, memories she wanted to 
forget if possible. She did it in browns and gold which gave it a different appearance all 
together. Long gone was the canopy bed, she replaced it with an old fashioned brass bed. 
The wicker furniture was replaced by modern straight lined teak wood furniture. When 
the pictures and other finishing touches were added, she was well pleased. Not even Joe 
Michaels could laugh at it now. It spoke of sophistication. The money left over she spent 
on new clothes for her wardrobe. 
She threw herself into her novel and learned to forget everything. Everything 
being Joe Michaels. She had made up her mind at last that it wasn't going to be. Nothing 
could ever develop between them. Unfortunately nothing could develop between her and 
Brian either. It was only late at night that she still cried for what could have been. The 
stubborn fool, the more she thought about it the madder she got, at herself, at Joe, at the 
world. 
Things came to a head between her and Brian one evening after Lisa fixed him a 
nice steak dinner. The whole evening had been tense and Lisa knew it was her own fault. 
They were sitting together on the love seat watching a horror movie when Brian pulled 
her close and kissed her. Lisa didn't mind the kiss, she just minded when Brian tried to 
deepen it. She pulled back unconsciously. 
Brian sighed out loud, as he stroked her shoulder. He looked at her confused. 
"What's the matter Lisa?" He asked. "You keep pulling away from me. Can't you feel that 
I'm attracted to you?" 
Lisa looked at him and knew she had to tell him the truth. "Brian, I ah don't want 
to get involved that way." His face didn't betray any emotion so she went on. "You're a 
nice guy but I want things to remain on an uncomplicated level. Can you understand 
that?" This was so hard to say to him. 
"Yes, I understand what you're trying to say Lisa, I just don't agree. I want to be 
more than just a friend to you." 
Lisa licked her lips nervously. What could she say that wouldn't hurt his feelings. 
She for one, knew what it felt like to get your feelings hurt. 
"Is there another guy in your life Lisa?" He asked quietly.
"No. . not really." 
Brian heard the hesitation in her voice. "Was there? Is that why you are afraid to 
get involved?" Brian coaxed. He was so understanding it made Lisa wish she could fall in 
love with someone like Brian. 
She watched him closely for his reaction. "There was." 
She answered simply "The reason I don't want to get involved though is because 
I am unsure of my feelings for you." She sighed. "I know I'm not ready." 
"I'll accept that. Give me time Lisa, I won't pressure you but I want you to know 
that I care about you a lot. Can I still see you tomorrow?" 
His patience and understanding relieved Lisa. "I'd like that. Brian?" She called to 
him as he stood up to leave. He turned his blonde head towards her and Lisa could see 
some hurt in his eyes that he couldn't disguise. Lisa went over and kissed him on the lips 
lightly. "I care about you too." 
Brian smiled and looked as if the weight of the world was just taken off his 
shoulders. "See you tomorrow sometime around seven." He was gone a moment later. 
Lisa crawled into bed that night feeling horrible. She would have to find a way to 
break it off slowly with Brian and hope they could remain friends. This night she cried 
tears for herself, for Brian and for Joe. It all seemed to be hopeless from where she stood. 
Was life always so complicated? 
Then one Sunday afternoon after spending the weekend with her parents Lisa 
drove into the parking lot of her apartment house. A light blue Trans Am was parked in 
the slot next to hers, at first she didn't think any thing about it until she noticed the license 
plate as she slid her V.W. into her own parking slot. Washington D.C. plates? Her heart 
gave a sudden lurch as she realized that the car could only belong to Joe. 
She didn't want to see him again. It would hurt too much, she hadn't gotten over 
the last time yet or the humiliation he caused her. 
Quickly putting her car in reverse, Lisa was determined to stay away until he was 
gone. There was no time though, hearing a slap on the hood Lisa turned back around. It 
was Joe alright, as big as life. Tall, lean and as good looking as ever. He was dressed in 
Brown slacks and a short sleeve tan shirt. He didn't look like he had lost any sleep over 
her or anything for that matter. Her window was down so she could hear him clearly, 
even as she tried to avoid his eyes. "Running scared Lisa? I know you saw my car. Aren't 
you even going to give me a chance?" 
He walked around the car and opened her car door. "Scoot over and I will drive." 
She stared up at him. The sheer nerve of the man, thinking he could turn up at 
any time and be welcomed back with open arms. But he looked so good and he was here. 
"Joe. We have nothing to say to each other." She couldn't find the words to tell him that 
she didn't want to see him again. Was that really what she wanted? No it wasn't, she 
wanted to have her cake and eat it too. She looked at him hesitantly. 
"Scoot over Lisa, please. I only want to apologize." She realized that it took a lot 
for him to say that. 
"We don't have to go anywhere we can just sit here and talk." 
Lisa obeyed and Joe slipped easily behind the wheel despite his large size. Not 
being able to help it her eyes were drawn to his large hands gripping the wheel despite his 
apparent calm, his knuckles were showing white.
"You don't look too happy to see me Lisa." He turned to look at her and he 
looked like a man who was feasting on his last dinner. Had he missed her possibly? 
"What did you expect?" She asked him derisively. Oh how she missed him. Pride 
wouldn't let him know how much until she knew why he had come. 
He watched her guardedly. "I expected exactly what I'm getting, the cold 
shoulder treatment." He told her calmly. "I missed you Lisa." He watched to see how his 
flat statement would be accepted. 
"You could have called me or something Joe." She was afraid to let him off the 
hook that easily. "Instead you let me worry." 
"I know, I'm really sorry Lisa. Something keeps bringing me back to you and I 
just keep coming." 
Lisa listened quietly. I know you dunderhead, if you would just relax and admit it 
to yourself you would know it too. 
"You're the only thing stable in my life." 
"Why did you leave the way you did?" Lisa wanted to understand him, it was 
important to know why he did what he did to her. 
Joe sighed and turned in the seat to face her fully. His hand reached out to take 
hers. Lisa felt the slight tremble. "I don't know the answer to that. At the time I just had to 
get away. I was ashamed of my behavior. Did I hurt you?" 
Lisa shook her head. "No, you didn't hurt me physically." 
"Meaning that I hurt you emotionally. I'm sorry Lisa. Can you forgive me? I said 
some awful things, things I didn't mean. I did things that I shouldn't have, I'm sorry for 
that too. I want to see you again. Forgive me?" 
Lisa considered it for a moment even though there was nothing that she couldn't 
forgive him. "I guess so, as long as you don't do that to me again. It made me feel so 
cheap." She wanted to make sure he understood her feelings too. She was so vulnerable 
where he was concerned. 
"Cheap?" Joe interrupted her heatedly. "No not you Lisa, don't say that you're 
special and I don't deserve you." 
Not being able to resist to twist the barb a little farther she looked at him from 
under her lashes. "I know." 
Joe reached towards her and rubbed his palm against her cheek. She came to life 
under his caress. "I really have missed you Lisa. Say you missed me." 
How could she resist. She leaned forward and kissed him. Joes arms went around 
her and pulled her close. Lisa heard his groan as he deepened the kiss. 
"Let's go inside Lisa. Let me show you how much I've missed you." 
Lisa believed him. 
Joe took the keys from the car and let them in the apartment. He led her to the 
bedroom and stopped in his tracks when he saw how she had changed the room. 
"Wow, what did you do to this place?" She could tell it pleased him. 
"Just a little remodeling. Do you approve?" 
"Ummm yes but I approve of you more." He pulled her close into his warm 
embrace. It was like coming home. One of his hands strayed to her neck and lifted her 
face for his kiss. "Give yourself to me Lisa. Let me love you ." 
Lisa snuggled closer into his hard male body as he molded her slight form to his. 
His hands caressed and touched her shoulders moving down to her breasts. Her own 
hands were exploring the taut planes of his muscular back. 
She felt the buttons on her shirt slipping open easily as his tongue hungrily 
explored the depths of her mouth. He slipped her blouse from her shoulders and her wisp 
of a bra followed. Lisa was busy divesting him of his shirt. She ran her hands over his 
shoulders and the muscles flexing in his arms. She forgot everything except their mutual 
need. 
In one lithe movement Joe removed her slacks and her panties. "God I missed the 
sight of you." Joe whispered into the column of her neck. "I don't think I will ever be 
satisfied or get enough of you Lisa." 
She shivered being exposed to his desirous glance, even as her arms tightened 
around him. Joe pushed her away long enough to finish disrobing himself. He had a 
beautiful male body, well proportioned and every inch desirable. 
Joe pulled her over to the bed and they fell on it together arms and legs entwined. 
Then Joes mouth was on hers, gentle at first and then more demanding, drawing from her 
a willing response. Lisa pressed against him wanting to feel every inch of his body 
touching hers. His lips caressed her face lovingly and traced the shape of her neck, his 
hands lovingly stroked her receptive body. The fever was already raging inside of Lisa's 
body pleading for release. His hands kneaded her breasts and moved on to the flatness of 
her stomach. His lips followed the sensuous path. His breathing was growing more and 
more ragged. 
"Joe," She whimpered. "fill me, let me feel all of you inside me, I need you." 
Joe slid back up to possess her lips. "Shhh. Be patient Lisa. We have all evening 
and I think I owe you a pleasurable evening for the one I robbed you of the last time we 
were together. " 
"Oh Joe." Lisa clung to him as his hands stroked every inch of her quivering 
body. Then his hands settled on the mound of her desire and stroked her to an even higher 
pitch. His lips sought to pleasure her also as he continued to take her higher and higher. 
Lisa could do nothing but concentrate of the force of the building passion she was 
feeling. 
"I love you Joe." The words slipped out, unheard by Lisa. She felt Joe stiffen 
momentarily before continuing to stroke her into bodily submission of her needs and 
wants. 
"Please Joe." Lisa sighed. This was sheer torture, pleasurable as it was. Joe 
covered her with his warm body and Lisa was so sensitized to him that she could feel the 
tiny hairs of his chest tickling her breasts. She lifted her hips into his to coax him into 
joining them together as one. Her eyes fluttered open to look up and see the warmth and 
need in his. Her hand automatically rose to stroke his cheek. Joe nipped at it with his 
teeth. "Joe." She fussed at him out of frustration. He complied, smoothly joining their 
bodies. Lisa arched against him and ground their hips together. 
Slowly at first Joe moved inside her and then faster until Lisa was thrashing her 
head back and forth. Finally her world seemed to explode and burst into a million tiny 
fragments. A soft ecstatic cry escaped her lips and was captured by his. Together they 
drifted down to the stable earth again, as Lisa clung to him. 
"And you wonder why you keep coming back Joe." She whispered. 
Joe chuckled and squeezed her tightly before moving to her side. "It was fair 
wasn't it." 
Lisa feigned a gasp and pinched him in the waist. 
"Okay, okay I admit it, there's never been any thing like it for me." Joe told her. 
"It was fantastic." 
"Me either." Lisa snuggled up next to his warmth kissing his neck. 
"And just what do you have to compare it to?" He demanded playfully. Then all 
of the sudden he tensed and seemed to be remembering something. "That reminds me 
little lady. You have some explaining to do yourself. I called over here on a Saturday 
night and a strange man answered the phone and said you couldn't come to the phone 
because your hands were full." 
Lisa placed a finger over his mouth. "That wasn't a strange man. That was Brian 
Windmere, a friend of mine. Oh dear." Lisa sat up abruptly. 
"What's the matter?" Joe asked quickly, sitting up beside her and putting an arm 
around her shoulders. 
"I just remembered that Brian said he would stop by this evening to see me." She 
snuck a peek at his furious face. 
"What?" Joes voice raised considerably. "What for?" 
"We were supposed to go to the movies." Lisa actually enjoyed the jealousy 
showing even if Joe would be the last to admit it. 
"No way." Joe told her. "How long have you been seeing this guy?" He 
demanded. "I don't want you seeing him anymore." 
"Now just a minute here Joe Michaels. Who do you think you are barging in and 
out of my life. Do you think you have the right to tell me who or who not to see. I don't 
think, judging by your actions of late that you have anything to say about it." She told 
him sternly. "It's my life and I will live it however I see fit. No commitments on either 
side is how it will be, that's the way you apparently want it and that suits me just fine." 
Lisa lied to him. She knew that's how he wanted it but it certainly wasn't the way she 
really wanted it. Still, if it made Joe mad enough or jealous enough. "Actually I think its 
time for you to leave. I need to be getting ready for my date." 
Joe was furious even though he wasn't saying anything when Lisa dared to take a 
peep at him. His expression was incredulous. Lisa gathered up her robe and went to the 
bathroom. If he cared he would show her. He would demand that she only belong to him 
and no one else. Before the door shut she heard him mutter what sounded like an oath. 
"This is far from over Lisa. I'm leaving now but I'll be back tonight." She heard 
him gathering up his things. Shortly the front door slammed shut and there was silence in 
the apartment. 


CHAPTER TEN 
Brian arrived at precisely seven. Lisa had spent most of her time moping over if 
she had done the right thing or not with Joe. If he really cared, he would show it, he 
would want to commit himself to her as she wanted to commit herself to him. 
It was nearly ten when Brian brought her home and Lisa invited him in for a 
night cap. She was going to tell him what a lovely evening she had and tell him that it 
wasn't fair to him that they see each other any more. 
Brian declined the drink and pulled her into his arms instead. He nuzzled her 
neck. "Lisa, Lisa, Lisa. I don't want a drink. I want you, love. You look so beautiful 
tonight." Lisa let him kiss her even though he did not stir her like Joe did. 
She pulled away when he wanted to deepen the kiss. His hands were moving up 
from her waist his intentions clear. "No Brian, we have to talk." She pushed on his chest. 
He released her and stepped back with a quizzical look on his face. "Is this it 
Lisa? Is this where you give me the brush off?" 
Lisa started to tell him that she was sorry that things couldn't be better for them 
but Brian shook his blonde head and held up his hand to stop her. "Don't say it please. 
I've heard it before. Lisa I like you a lot, you are one of the most beautiful women I have 
ever met and...well I know that you don't have the same feelings for me. The spark just 
isn't there for you is it Lisa?" 
"Brian.. ." Lisa began hesitantly. What could she say? 
"Hey its all right. I'm a big guy, I can take it. Is it another guy?" He raked his 
hand over his shirt at his waist. "He must be somebody special." 
Brian, she decided was an amazing man. "He is." Lisa agreed. "So are you Brian, 
very special." 
"Just not the one you want though, right?" He sighed. 
"This guy better appreciate the girl he's getting." Brian was almost angry. He saw 
the spasm of anguish that passed over her face. "What's the matter? Doesn't he return the 
love that you so obviously have for him?" He watched her closely for her reaction. 
"He's fighting it." Lisa told him honestly. Thankful for his understanding that she 
didn't deserve. "He was burned once." 
"Haven't we all at one time or another." Brian remarked wryly. "Maybe this guy 
needs some shaking up to get his head on straight. Does he..." Before Brian could finish 
the door bell rang. 
Lisa tensed, she knew instinctively who it was. This was all she needed right 
now. She hadn't even gotten to finish talking to Brian yet. What would the two men do? 
Before she could answer it Brian walked over and opened the door for her. 
Joe hesitated a moment seeing a man answer the door, it was obvious that he 
expected her to open it. In size and build the two men were equally matched. It was the 
confidence in the manner and the dangerousness in the eyes that made the difference. 
"Speak of the devil." Brian muttered and stepped back to let Joe enter. Lisa 
wondered if he was going to make a scene. Joe strolled on in casually.
Brian and he seemed to be sizing each other up. "Well if it isn't the competition 
in the flesh." Brian muttered to no one in particular. 
Joe ignored him and turned to Lisa. Was that a tinge of jealousy showing? "I'm 
sorry I didn't know you still had company. I'll come back later." He shoved his hands into 
his pants pockets. "I' m clearly interrupting ."
 Lisa had the feeling he planned it. 
"No." Brian interrupted easily. "I was just leaving. Lisa and I had a nice 
discussion about you." He held out his hand to Joe. "I'm Brian Windmere." 
Lisa watched as both men shook hands warily. She had never been so nervous in 
all her life. What a spot to be in, two suitors in the same room. 
"Joe Michaels." Joe responded guardedly. At least they were going to be 
pleasant. 
Brian turned to Lisa. "Well I better be off love. Remember." He shot Joe a quick 
glance, that Joe received. "Anytime you want to pick up where we left off I'll be willing 
Lisa. You are one special girl and I care about you deeply." 
"I'll remember Brian." Lisa walked him to the door. She couldn't resist giving 
him a quick hug and a kiss for being so wonderful. Why couldn't she have fallen in love 
with him? He would never be the kind to break her heart. Joe remained silently in the 
back ground until the door was shut again. Lisa could only stare at the bewilderment on 
Joes face. 
"Nice guy." He remarked. "I wouldn't have given up so easily." 
"Joe Michaels you are the most exasperating man I've ever met." She looked at 
his impassive face sternly. Wasn't he even jealous? "What did you want anyway?" 
Joe wrapped her in his arms. It always felt good to be held by him, right. "Don't I 
have any redeeming qualities?" He kissed her up turned nose and then her cheek. Fires lit 
instantly. 
"That's too complicated. I'd have to think on it a while. Lisa muttered resentfully, 
trying to ignore the demands of her body. 
"Did you break it off with your churn?" Joe asked. "You needn't bother on my 
account.
She shot him a withering glance. "How magnanimous of you. I did it on my own 
account so don't go and get big headed on 
me." 
Joe ignored the remark. "Ummm, you smell good. Was all the preparation for 
Brian what's his name?" Joe nuzzled her neck. 
She wanted to kick him in the shins. He cared, he just wasn't going to admit it. 
What did it take to get through to this guy, a bazooka? 
"Well it certainly wasn't for you. You've seen me at my best and my worst. Why 
should I bother?" She snapped, angered by his easy attitude. "And his name is Brian 
Windmere." 
"Because you love me remember?" 
Lisa looked up at him sharply. "I never said such a thing." Lisa threw back at him 
open mouthed. 
Joe laughed huskily. "Oh yes you did my darling wildcat. When we were making 
love." 
Did he have to be so casual about her feelings? He seemed immensely pleased to 
be able to toss it in her face. 
"It was only a moment of weakness. I didn't mean it." She tried to pull away from 
him, his grip only tightened. Lisa knew she was blushing to beat the band, as her mother 
would say. 
"You meant it and I won't let you forget it either." 
Joe kissed her breathless. Lisa felt like crying, no words of love were forth 
coming from him. She wound her arms around his neck and hung on tight. She wouldn't 
let him get away, she would make him love her if it took the rest of her life, or till he 
gave her walking papers, one or the other. Lisa knew where he wanted to spend the night 
and didn't protest when he led her to bed. 
The next morning Lisa woke to find herself still wrapped in Joes arms. It was 
sheer heaven. At least he didn't run off and leave her this time. She touched his cheek 
lightly while he slept. If he only knew how much she loved him. She loved him so much 
that it physically hurt inside. Would he ever return her love? Joe stirred and opened his 
shining blue eyes. "Ummm what a nice way to wake up in the morning." Joe muttered. 
He reached over and pulled Lisa across him. 
Lisa laughed as his hands curve around her bottom squeezing ever so slightly. 
"Are you testing for ripeness?" She quipped. 
Joe pretended to think about it and squeezed once more, chuckling deep in his 
chest. "Feels ripe to me." He turned over abruptly and playfully pinned her to the bed 
with his weight. "Ripe for the taking." 
Lisa pretended to squirm. This was where she wanted to be, in Joes arms, 
receiving his kisses, his loving. Joe nuzzled his lips to her ear and slid down the column 
of her neck with his tongue even as his body slid down the length of hers tantalizingly, 
stopping every so often to plant a kiss here and there. Grabbing her unsuspecting foot he 
began to tickle her.
Lisa gasped and tried to pull her foot away. "Let me go." She laughed. "I hate to 
be tickled." She couldn't keep the giggles from escaping. 
"Did I forget to tell you that I have a foot fetish?" Joe laughed watching her 
squirm. His sensuous kisses on her feet drove her crazy. 
Lisa grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled him back up to her waiting lips. 
"Did I forget to tell you that I have recently developed a fetish of my own?" She taunted 
him. Only because he allowed it did Lisa manage to pin him to the bed under her. The 
raucous they were making made Lisa wonder what her downstairs neighbor would think 
about all the noise. She was too busy to care right now. Lisa playfully nipped at the 
nearest male nipple.
Joe squawked and flipped them over to make sure he was on top this time. "Hey 
that wasn't fair." He kissed her. 
Lisa responded and arched against him. "What do I care as long as it gets me 
what I want." She taunted him sticking out her lower lip. 
"What do you want Lisa?" Joe asked huskily. Their play having roused his 
desires. 
"I want you Joe." She whispered. "I want you to love me." It was indeed a 
glorious way to wake up in the morning. 
To Lisa's surprise and inexplicable happiness, Joe stayed this time for over a full 
week. He seemed to be contented to stay with her and even shared a little more of his 
own past with her. The highlights came one night when they lay in bed together after 
having made love and just talked. Lisa told him all about her own childhood, and Joe 
listened attentively. 
"Where were you raised Joe?" She asked hoping that now he would be able to 
share with her. He was a reserved person and if he shared it was because he wanted to 
and he trusted her. 
"Abilene Texas." He told her. 
"I always wondered about the cowboy boots." She laughed. Joe raised an 
eyebrow. 
"What's the matter with my boots." He sounded indignant. 
"Nothing at all. It's just that it looked so out of place with the rest of the bikers 
when I first met you that's all."
Joe laughed. "I had to have something to remind myself who I was." He 
defended himself. "That was such an unreal world." He remembered. 
"Were you an only child?" 
"Not hardly. Although I probably should have been I was more trouble for my 
mom than all the rest of my brothers and sisters together." He sighed reminiscently. 
"Before you ask I was one of five, the middle child. I have two brothers and two sisters." 
"It must have been nice to be a part of a large family." Lisa sighed wistfully. She 
had always wanted brothers and sisters, the ache to know who her real parents were hurt 
sometimes too. 
"Actually it was. I may fuss about it a lot but I wouldn't have given them up for 
anything in the world." 
"Have you always been with the F.B.I. since high school I mean." 
"No I went into the service after high school, till I was twenty one. When I got 
out it seemed only natural to go into a related field." He didn't say what he did in the 
service, she didn't have to ask. "Shoot I even went to college for a couple of years, night 
school. Law enforcement." 
"That's interesting." Lisa was glad he could share, even if it was only a little. 
"What else have you done?" 
Joe tensed. "I was married for a short while." He watched to see how she would 
take it. Lisa tried to hide her surprise. "When I was twenty three. It lasted a whole three 
years." He frowned and seemed to be remembering something unpleasant. Lisa didn't pry. 
She realized that here in laid the answer to his aversion for getting deeply involved. It 
was a sore subject. In his own time perhaps he would confide in her the rest of what ever 
he wasn't saying. She could wait. Lisa initiated ,their lovemaking this time. She wanted to 
erase his unpleasant memories and replace them with memories of her. 
Their lovemaking seemed to be an experience for Lisa each time it happened, 
which was often considering Joe. Joe taught her by his own giving how to make him as 
equally happy as he made her during their loving. It seemed to Lisa that neither of them 
could keep their hands off the other. Lisa longed to tell him that she loved him again. She 
didn't dare though, he wasn't ready for that. She knew that it would only make him draw 
back into his shell again. The next move in their relationship was up to him. 
Joe might not realize it but he showed all the signs of a man in love, 
attentiveness, kindness and possessiveness and much more. 
One evening when Joe picked up some copies she had of her own short stories 
and looked them over he asked if he could read them. Lisa agreed. She was pleased to see 
that he read them straight through from start to finish, which meant he was enjoying them 
and couldn't put them down. Lisa ran back and forth from the living room to the kitchen 
checking on the lasagna she was making for their dinner. Joe had bought the last batch of 
groceries and since all of the stuff was there for lasagna she knew it was his way of 
hinting at what he liked to eat. She didn't mind. When he finally put the stories down he 
looked at Lisa with admiration in his eyes. 
"This is a surprise. I didn't know you wrote this kind of stuff Lisa, murder 
mysteries and detective stories." He looked at the pages again as if he couldn't believe it. 
"Where do you get your ideas?" 
Lisa shrugged her shoulders, happy that he seemed to be interested in what she 
did for a living. "They just come to me. I haven't exactly set the literary world on fire you 
know." Lisa didn't want it to appear like she was trying to ring her own bell. 
"Well anyway, I'm impressed. Somehow I had you pictured as a romantic author 
or a children's writer." Lisa laughed, she had thought about it at one time. 
Joe how had been sitting on the love seat put down the papers and rose to cross 
the room to where Lisa was standing. 
He was smiling with his eyes and they held a mischievous glint. She could tell 
what was coming. 
"To tell you the truth I do have a romantic story in mind to do someday." She 
feigned indifference to the predatory look he was flashing her. 
"You do?" Joe squeezed her tightly around the waist and tickled her ribs. He was 
wanting to kiss her and Lisa kept turning her face away from his. 
Lisa pushed on his shoulders. "I do." She gave him a determined look that didn't 
fool him. Joe knew she was ignoring his advances to get a rise out of him. Lisa could no 
more refuse him than she could refuse to breath. 
"Is it about us?" Joe asked as he drug her fighting body in the direction of the 
bedroom with the determination of a primitive warrior. 
"My, my, aren't we conceited." Lisa teased. 
Joe pushed her down on to the bed and pinned her down, burying his head in her 
soft shoulder to tenderly kiss her throat. 
"Joe...Joe..." He ignored her and pursued his goal. "Joe wait.. our dinner will 
burn. I left it in the oven." 
Joe kissed her and gave her a deliciously evil grin. His hands already going to her 
clothes. "Lisa, I have to have you now or I will go up in flames myself. Besides it can 
wait and I can't." 
The meal was indeed ruined by the time Joe and Lisa finished making love. Joe 
groaned when he found out it was going to be lasagna. In the end they went to an Italian 
restaurant for dinner. 
Things were so perfect between them that Lisa didn't want them to end. She 
thought surely Joe would let her know how he felt about her soon. She didn't know how 
much longer she could hold back the expression of her own love, she needed to tell him 
verbally, not just physically. 
It was on Tuesday evening when she and Joe returned from watching a movie 
that Joe received a call from Max. Lisa knew that eventually it would come. Inwardly 
Lisa cringed. She only heard one side of the conversation. This was it she thought. Joe 
was going off and she might not get to see him again. He had not made a commitment to 
her yet. With inward dread she handed him the phone. 
"Yeah Max, what's up?" Joe shoved one hand into his back pocket. He turned 
away from Lisa. It didn't matter, she didn't have to see his expression. 
"As if I had a choice." Joe laughed into the receiver. 
"As long as it's a plush job." There was a short pause. "I can be there tomorrow, 
how is that?" Lisa steadied her nerves. "Okay, see ya then." Joe shifted nervously and 
hung up the phone. He slowly turned to face her, Lisa was sure he was holding his breath 
as he spoke to her from across the room. Lisa knew he was going to be watching her 
reaction and that everything might depend on her, how she took the news. Just give me a 
chance Joe, just give me a chance, she pleaded in her heart. 
"That was Max." Joe informed her as if she hadn't heard the conversation. He 
looked stiff and wary. 
"So I heard." Lisa licked her lips. "Has he got another job for you?" She asked 
already knowing the answer. 
"Yeah, I'm afraid so." Joe paused again. What was he waiting on. Didn't he trust 
her? He just looked at her and didn't say anything for a long while. 
Lisa took control of the situation herself. She would help him out however she 
could. "Well it was to be expected wasn't it?" Lisa offered and hoped that she sounded 
convincing. She wanted him to know that she had been expecting it. Lisa didn't want to 
think of Joe leaving ever, yet it was his job and she would support him all she could. 
Joe stared at her intensely. "Aren't you going to get mad?" He asked. "I mean 
aren't you upset that I'm leaving again." 
Lisa could see that he was struggling to come to terms with the situation. "Of 
course I don't want you to leave Joe but you will be back won't you?" Lisa knew he was a 
strong man and wouldn't appreciate it if she tried to cling to him or hold him back. He 
was expecting the worst and it was up to her to reassure him, otherwise. "Joe...I do 
understand. It's your job. I accepted the fact that you would have to go again sooner or 
later. I just hope that you will want to come back to me. What's more, don't forget that 
I've had first hand experience to know that you are darn good at what you do." 
Oh please let it be the right thing to say, what he wanted to hear. She couldn't 
bear the thought of disappointing him. They stood eyeing each other and it was a full 
minute before what she said sank in on Joe. 
He stared at her with stunned blue eyes before he finally strode across the room 
and hugged her in his strong embrace and kissed her. "God I don't deserve you Lisa." 
Joes voice was hoarse with emotion. "I figured you would blow the roof off. You never 
do what I think you will though." 
"I know." Lisa lifted her hand to run her finger over his bottom lip seductively. 
"However...if I'm going to have to be separated from you while you go gallivanting 
across the country the least you can do is make this night worth my while. Don't you 
think?" She smiled at him sheepishly. 
"Gladly." Joe returned her smile, his desire lighting up his blue eyes at just the 
hint of making love. Lisa knew in her heart that she had said the right thing and she was 
happy. Joe made sure it was a night for them both to remember. 
His lovemaking was urgent and exquisite. Lisa matched him desire for desire, 
move for move. This was their night and theirs alone. 
The next morning Lisa prepared a large breakfast for Joe and helped him pack his 
things. She tried to be cheerful even though she felt miserable inside. This was her 
chance to show Joe that she loved him enough to let him go. 
"You will be careful Joe won't you?" She asked worried for his safety. 
"Always am." He smiled half heartedly. "What will you do while I'm gone?" 
Lisa was surprised that he asked. "I'll keep busy. Do some work that I've been 
letting go and all sorts of other stuff." 
She didn't really know what she would do. Right now she could only think of 
Joe. 
"Will you be calling that Brian what's his name?" Joe asked, not looking at her 
but packing his things away. 
"Do you want me to?" What was he trying to say? That he wouldn't be back? "Do 
you want me to see Brian Windmere?" 
"Seems like a nice enough guy." He replied. 
Lisa stifled her hurt. She knew she wouldn't be seeing Brian no matter what. "If 
that's what you want Joe." He didn't reply. "Do you plan on coming back to me?" She 
held her breath waiting for his answer. Time seemed to stand still. 
"Yes." He told her finally, after what seemed ages. Then he said it more firmly. 
"Yes I will. "I will call too." Lisa's breath left her body in a sigh. 
After watching Joes car pull away from the apartment house and push on down 
the road Lisa went back into her apartment. She released all of her pent up emotions and 
tears. It had taken its toll on her to pretend to be happy and cheerful for Joe when all she 
wanted to do was beg him to stay. She was worried for his safety. She prayed for his 
safety and prayed that he would come back to her, something nagging at her told her he 
might not. It would break her heart if he didn't. 
Once again Lisa threw herself into her work and was grateful that she had 
something to do. She waited to hear from Joe or about Joe in some way. He said he 
would call. He did not. She was determined not to call Max even though she had his 
number. Joe wouldn't appreciate her clinging like that. Even her apartment didn't seem 
the same without him. 
By the end of the second week alone Lisa decided to spend the weekend with her 
parents. It helped to cover the aching whole in her heart left by the absent Joe. They were 
glad to see her as always. She wondered if things were always going to be this way, Joe 
coming and leaving. Lisa didn't know if she could take it or not. It might not be so bad if 
she only knew for sure how he felt about her. 
Lisa ran to the grocery store the next Monday for her weekly groceries and as she 
was checking out a gossip magazine caught her eye. She could hardly miss the picture of 
Joe on the cover. Lisa grabbed it up and included it in her purchases. She only got as far 
as the car before she couldn't stand it any longer and pulled it out of the sack to look at it. 
The caption read: Seen about town. Industrialists daughter has yet another mystery man. 
It was a color picture of Joe in a black tuxedo, escorting a stunning blonde into an 
exclusive New York night club. The small article underneath read. Who is this latest 
mystery man seen with Dana Pantella, daughter of industrialist Simon Pantella? 
Identifying himself as William Thompson, a friend of the family we somehow doubt this 
as they have been seen in each others company night and day for the last two weeks. 
So that was where he was at, New York. Playing footsy no doubt with some 
spoilt rich girl. 
Stunned Lisa wasn't sure how she got from the store to her apartment in one 
piece. In a furious rage, she cleaned the apartment from top to bottom just to relieve her 
frustrations. 
She tried not to think of Joe or the article. If he wasn't doing anything so terribly 
important he could have at least called her once or twice. But then Joe did say something 
about a plush job to Max didn't he, Lisa snickered inwardly. 
Another lonely week passed and Lisa thought she might go crazy if she didn't 
hear from Joe soon. She wasn't angry with him anymore, she missed him so much she 
could have forgiven him anything. Lisa didn't know how soon her wish would be granted 
as she raised from a deep sleep that night to answer the insistent ringing of her door 
buzzer. She grumbled to herself when she realized that someone was at the door. 
"Hold your horses." Lisa mumbled to herself. "I'm corning, I'm corning." She 
hollered out as she slipped on her robe and stuck her tiny feet into her slippers. 
Cautiously Lisa peeped out the peep hole on her door to see who the nut was that 
was ringing her buzzer in the middle of the night. She recognized Joes shadowy build 
standing outside her door. Pulling the door open wide she jumped head long into Joes 
unsuspecting arms, nearly knocking him off balance. "Joe!" He came back, he came back 
to see her! Lisa's heart was positively soaring without her. Joe smiled down at her and 
gave her a hug before pushing her inside the apartment and shutting the door with his 
foot. 
"Oh Joe I missed you so much and I'm so glad to see you. It's been forever." 
Throwing caution to the wind, Lisa kissed him hungrily allover his face. She immediately 
got the feeling that something was wrong, Joe was very tense. She could sense it, it was 
so strong. 
"Missed you too Lisa." Joe told her and pushed her away to arms length. "Got 
any coffee?" He asked changing the subject. He didn't seem very glad to see her. 
A knot started forming in the pit of Lisa's stomach. "Sure lots. Come on in the 
kitchen and I'll fix you some. Have you been one the road long?" Lisa asked. Say 
something Joe, anything. Tell me what I want to hear from you. 
"Yeah since early this morning." Joe told her. He sat down at the table and 
wouldn't even look at her. She started the coffee. It was instant. Who cared, she didn't. 
This wasn't how she imagined their reunion would be anyway. 
"You don't look as if you've had a very rough time of things." Lisa offered into 
the silence of the room. The tension was getting to be unbearable. 
Joe smiled crookedly. "I take it you've seen that picture in that glorified sleaze 
magazine. Don't believe everything you read. I was acting body guard that's all. There 
was nothing to it. 
Lisa looked at Joe closely, he looked very tired and very strained. There were 
dark circles under his eyes. She handed him his cup of coffee. Joe was careful to make 
sure their fingers didn't touch when he accepted it with a mumbled thanks. 
She wanted to scream at him. Lisa knew what was coming, she just knew it in her 
heart. Don't do this, Lisa pleaded with her eyes. Joe did not look at her. Feeling a need to 
say something, anything, Lisa babbled on. "I am really glad you're back Joe.. Now maybe 
we can have some time together before you have to leave again." Joe ran his fingers 
through his dark hair wearily. 
Lisa slumped down in her seat a little.
"Actually I've got a week before I'm off again." He paused and glanced at her and 
then quickly looked away. Lisa knew her face was paling more and more by the minute. 
"I'm going to go back to D.C." He told her bluntly. 
"Oh? Why?" Lisa asked softly, already knowing the answer.
"Lisa..." He sighed heavily. "This is hard to say to you but I didn't want you 
hanging on the hope that I would be coming back for good." 
"To me you mean." Her voice sounded lifeless. She put down her coffee and 
faced the inevitable squarely. 
"Yes, I've decided that we shouldn't be seeing each other any longer." He was so 
very blunt and she knew his mind was made up. 
Lisa cringed, she didn't want to hear this. Her heart was aching and she couldn't 
tell him. She couldn't do anything but sit there and listen to him cut himself out of her 
life. 
"I only came tonight to let you know because I promised you the last time that I 
wouldn't go running off again without letting you know where we stood. Lisa..." 
"I see," she interrupted him. "When did you decide this then?" 
"Before I left." He glanced up at her white face. "Lisa, you deserve someone 
better than me. You deserve someone like that Brian what's his name." 
"Windmere." Lisa filled in. Joe you fool she screamed in her head. "I don't love 
Brian." She told him dully. 
Joe shifted nervously in his chair. Lisa couldn't feel sorry for him if he was 
uncomfortable, what was that compared to a broken heart. 
"You don't love me either, really. It was just the circumstances we met under and 
things seemed to snowball. I should have known better. It is too easy for things like this 
to happen in my line of work." 
Lisa looked up at him. "I love you Joe." She told him without inflection. "You 
are the one who doesn't want my love. You are the one scared of something." It was the 
truth and she knew it even if he didn't. "You are afraid of making a commitment." 
"Maybe." He hung his head slightly but not in defeat. "Lisa, I admit I have loved 
a lot of women over the years and I was always the one to leave." 
"That wasn't love Joe." Lisa interrupted him again. "If you left, it wasn't love." 
He looked up and into her eyes, frowning slightly. "I am leaving this time too, 
Lisa." 
His words pierced her like arrows. 
"Can you understand what I'm telling you?" He drained the rest of his coffee and 
put the cup in the sink. There was a heavy silence. 
"I see." Her heart was truly breaking. Joe didn't love her. 
He was leaving her for good and going on with his life as if nothing ever 
happened between them. He was giving her walking papers. 
"Do you Lisa?" Joe came and stood behind her putting his hands on her 
shoulders. "Do you really understand?" 
Lisa jumped up frantically and shook off his hands. "Oh I understand you alright. 
You've made yourself abundantly clear." She couldn't contain her hurt any longer. "You 
are trying to tell me that you feel like I've been hanging around your neck." Didn't he 
know what he was doing to her? Didn't he care? Lisa's anger knew no bounds. She 
slapped him hard on the face. Joe flinched but he did not move. 
"I guess I deserved that." He mumbled, his jaw clenching. 
Lisa wasn't listening to him. "Well, I'll have you know Joe Michaels. Mr. Hero. 
Mr. Jack ass. I have never hung around anybodies neck before and I don't intend to start 
with you. You came to say what you had to, now I think there is nothing more to say. 
Don't let me keep you. You are down right determined not to have any emotional 
involvements, well, you told the poor besotted fool what you had to. So lock the door on 
the way out." Lisa turned on her heel and fled out of the kitchen to the sanctuary of her 
bedroom. She slammed the door and locked it. 
Then she leaned on the door and covered her mouth with her hands. She would 
not let him hear her cry, she would not. 
She heard him moving down the hall and flung herself on her bed and buried her 
head beneath the pillows. The tears fell anyway but at least he couldn't hear what she 
couldn't help doing. She would not give him the satisfaction of knowing what he'd done 
to her. At that moment she hated him, hated him more than she ever thought possible to 
hate another human being. There was such a fine line between love and hate. How could 
she have been so dumb? He would never change, never. She heard him pause outside her 
door. He tapped on it. Lisa didn't answer, she just wanted him to go away, get out of her 
tattered life and leave her in her misery. Joe twisted the knob and found it locked. 
"Lisa'?" He tapped again. "Open the door please. Let me talk to you. I know you 
are hurt." Lisa did not answer him, not even to tell him to go away. "Can't we talk like 
two rational human beings?" 
Lisa wanted to laugh in his face. There was no way she could be rational where 
he was concerned. Just go away, she begged silently. "Lisa. I can't leave you like this. 
Please open the door." There was a long pause. "Damn it Lisa." He shouted. "Talk to 
me." She could hear the frustration in his voice and didn't care. He had to face up to his 
actions sometime. No doubt his other women let him go without a fuss. Well, she said 
what she said and she wasn't going to change it now just to ease his conscience. A minute 
went by. "I'll be leaving then Lisa." He called out to her. "I'm sorry." He said lamely and 
left. Lisa cried and cried until she could cry no more. 
Lisa's days passed in a sort of numbness. She couldn't shake off the memory of 
his touch or the vision of his familiar face that came into her mind at odd times, 
unbidden. Lisa knew Joe was as unreachable as the moon, he had himself enclosed in 
such strong barriers. Only he could remove them. 
Days passed, nights passed even slower. Three times Joe called and three times 
Lisa hung up on him. There was nothing more for them to say, it was a childish way to 
act but Lisa didn't care. A total break was much easier. 
Slowly Lisa felt better about things, about herself again. Maybe it was for the 
best, she told herself. After all how reliable could a man be that kept coming and going 
like a Yo Yo. Nothing, not logic, not stubbornness or determination not to think about 
him, kept her from dwelling on what could have been. What was the matter with her, it's 
not like Joe promised her a commitment, he had been straight forward from his point of 
view. Lisa was the one who got involved. Lisa was determined to put it and him behind 
her. Would she ever stop missing him though? Wondering where he was? What he was 
doing? What really hurt was the thought that he might be loving someone else now, 
touching someone else when she ached for him so. 
The real clincher came when Lisa could no longer ignore the signs that she was 
pregnant with Joes child. She tried to blame it on everything that could be wrong with her 
besides that. Apparently that first time or two of loving was enough. For two days Lisa 
holed up in her apartment without even going out. When the doctor confirmed her 
suspicions she was too numb and confused to do anything. This happened to other 
people, not her, not like this. She went over and over all her alternatives in her mind 
trying to decide what she should do. When it came down to it, despite all the problems of 
being an unwed mother she decided she would still keep and love this baby. Abortion 
was out from the beginning, she considered adopting it out to two loving parents and then 
she knew she could never do that either. Contacting Joe was out from the start too. Never, 
never would she trap a man that way, especially Joe. She cried and cried about the 
unfairness of everything and then settled down to accepting the facts as they were. 
Making plans came a lot easier once the acceptance was behind her. 
She made a weekend trip down to see her parents and broke the news to them as 
gently as she could. It was hard to tell them, so very hard. Lisa was glad she did though 
because they were understanding and supporting from the start. Only the love that binds 
could be that strong. They wanted Lisa to move back in with them but she refused. This 
problem she had to face on her own. By the end of the weekend, they were all three 
actually making plans for the new addition to the family and Lisa knew they were going 
to make one wonderful set of grandparents for her child, Joes child. The closest they 
came to having a tiff was over the fact that Lisa refused to tell them who the father was. 
She also refused their plea that the father had a right to know about the baby. As far as 
Lisa was concerned, he had no rights. He gave up his rights the night he walked out of 
her life. 
When Lisa stepped into her apartment that Sunday night the phone was ringing. 
She hurriedly set down her overnight bag and rushed to answer it. 
"Hello." Her voice sounded breathless to her own ears. There was a short pause. 
"Hello Lisa." She recognized Joes voice. "Don't hang up please. I want to talk to 
you." 
"What do you want Joe?" She asked sternly. She might as well talk to him now 
and tell him to give up and quit bothering her. He could appease his conscience that she 
was just fine. There was another longer pause. The phone crackled, she knew it was long 
distance. 
"I just wanted to see how you were doing Lisa. I've been worried about you 
since...since that night." There was strain in his voice. 
"You needn't worry about me. I'm just fine Joe." Now was her chance to tell him 
and still she couldn't do it. She wanted him because he loved her, no other reason. 
"Were you out with Brian?" He asked casually, even if he sounded anything but. 
"No." Lisa was stiff from trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. 
"Visiting my parents." There was another pause. "If there's nothing else you need I have 
to be going now Joe." He said nothing. Lisa just wanted to get off the phone. If he loved 
her he would tell her. Yet he said nothing. "I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't contact me 
anymore either." The words came out like lead. 
"Lisa.." Joe hesitated. She didn't want to hear his platitudes.
"There's nothing more to say, we both want two different things out of life. Lets 
just leave it at that okay?" Very carefully Lisa laid down the receiver disconnecting the 
line. She went to bed early that night to exhausted to even cry. Emotional exhaustion was 
as draining as physical exhaustion. She had herself and her baby to think about. 
A week later, Lisa was sitting at her typewriter, trying to come up with a story. 
She shifted uncomfortably in her seat for the umpteenth time, she couldn't seem to get 
settled. There was a nagging ache in her lower back. Other than morning sickness every 
once and a while Lisa was having no problems with her pregnancy. Actually she'd never 
felt better. She got up and fixed herself a Pepsi, the story could wait. Her parents would 
be here soon they were coming for dinner. Since they had shopping to do in Phoenix it 
seemed like a good idea to drop in and see her, so they said. Lisa knew they were just 
worried about her and wanted to mother hen her a little bit. Her mother had called almost 
everyday. A few moments later the door buzzer sounded. They were right on time. 
"Come on in." Lisa invited them in receiving a round of hugs from both. 
"How's my favorite daughter tonight?" Her father asked cheerfully. Her mother 
was all smiles as always. 
"How do you manage to make that sound so special when you only have one 
daughter?" Lisa teased him. "You know where the drinks are dad would you mind 
helping yourself?" 
"Do you feel alright dear?" Her mother asked frowning. "You look a little 
washed out." 
"I'm fine mom but I might lie if you'll help me with the dinner." It felt so good to 
be loved and have someone to love in return. This baby would know the meaning of love, 
real love, binding love. 
The evening went wonderfully slow and pleasant. Lisa loved entertaining her 
parents. She took several aspirins because the pain in her back was growing stronger and 
she was beginning to feel a growing pressure in her legs. Her mother fussed over her and 
made her sit down while she did the dishes. Her father was pursuing a football game on 
the television set. When the door bell rang, Lisa answered it wondering who it could be. 
She was surprised to see Brian standing there. He looked at her sheepishly. 
"Hi Lisa. Long time no see." He craned his blonde head to see past her. "Oh I'm 
sorry I didn't know you had company." 
"That's quite all right, come in and meet my parents." 
Lisa offered and stepped aside to let him enter. He was immaculately dressed in a 
blue three piece suit. Lisa saw her fathers eye brows raise instantly and she knew what he 
was thinking, that Brian was the father of her baby. She followed Brian into the room and 
shook her head no, but her father did not see her. Nor did her mother who was just 
walking out of the kitchen drying her hands on a towel. 
"Brian," Lisa started the introductions. Poor Brian, he didn't know what he was 
getting into. "This is my father and my mother, Phil and Lillian Harrold. Mom and dad 
this is Brian Windmere, a friend." She stressed the word friend but they didn't notice, 
only Brian, turned to look at her. The two men shook hands amiably and there was 
immediate silence. Brian felt the undercurrents in the room even if he didn't understand 
them. 
"Lisa.." Brian turned towards her and held out his hand for her to take. "I wanted 
you to be one of the first to know." He smiled happily. "I'm getting married next month. 
Her name is Karen Little." 
Lisa smiled, she was truly happy for him. "That's wonderful Brian." 
Her father scowled at the young man before him. Lisa could see him turning red 
in the face and knew he wouldn't be able to hold his tongue. What could she do? Blurt out 
in front of everyone, in front of Brian, that Brian was not the father of her baby. She'd die 
of mortification. It was too late anyway. 
Her father grabbed Brian by the arm and jerked him around to face him. "You've 
got some nerve young man. Taking one girl to the alter while you have another one half 
way to motherhood." Lisa felt faint. This wasn't happening. How could her normally 
level headed father do this to her?
Brian gasped out loud. "What are you saying.?" He was shocked, not nearly as 
shocked as Lisa was. "I think I've missed something important here." 
"You've got it all wrong daddy." Lisa begged. "Please don't do this." Her father 
was angry and ignored her, his whole attention focused on the unsuspecting Brian. "Brian 
is just a friend." 
"You heard me. My daughter is pregnant. What do you intend to do about it?" He 
challenged. 
Brian's mouth dropped open. He swung around to look at Lisa. The room seemed 
to be getting darker. She felt a pain moving from her back around to her lower stomach. 
Oh God this wasn't happening. 
"I never...we never." Brian sputtered. 
"Brian is not the father daddy." Lisa managed to get out just as the darkness 
engulfed her. There was a terrible tearing pain in her abdomen and Lisa clutched her 
stomach protectively. The last thing she felt was Brian's strong arms, lifting her, and 
keeping her from falling. 
Lisa struggled for consciousness, she had to set everyone straight. "Oh no." She 
breathed, "my baby." 
In the following confusion Lisa vaguely heard a variety of noises, her own 
scream, it sounded far off, her mother's concerned chatter. Her father was trying to call 
an ambulance, the door buzzer sounded again, Brian was muttering words of 
encouragement. She closed her eyes, it was just too much. 
The chaotic scene Joe walked into was a nightmare. His eyes could hardly 
believe what he was seeing. Lisa's apartment seemed to be full of people. He instantly 
recognized Brian, he was holding an unconscious Lisa in his lap while he sat on the floor. 
There was a man on the telephone ranting and raving, wanting to know where the 
ambulance was. He assumed it to be Lisa's father, her mother was hovering over the still 
form of Lisa. His eyes immediately saw the bright red pool of blood around Lisa, her 
jeans were soaked as was Brian's suit. He'd never been so stunned in his life. 
He bent quickly towards Lisa. "What happened here?" He asked Brian. "What's 
the matter with Lisa? God did someone call an ambulance?" 
Brian looked up slowly. His face was white yet tinged with rage. "You managed 
to do it didn't you?" He accused. "You managed to hurt Lisa." Brian looked at him as if 
he could kill him bare handed. "Did you have to get her pregnant before you left her?" 
Joe looked up into his face in surprise. Lisa pregnant? 
She didn't tell him. He looked down again as Lisa groaned. She looked awful, 
there was so much lost blood. Joe knew then that she'd lost more than a lot of blood, she'd 
lost the baby. 
Just then the ambulance attendants arrived. They shooed everyone out of the 
apartment. All four concerned people stood outside waiting nervously. Joe never felt 
worse in his whole life. What had he done? No one spoke as they waited and waited. 
Lisa's father stared at him and Joe felt even worse. He knew what the man was 
thinking. Why had he saved his daughters life only to hurt her again and place her in such 
peril? All he could do was stare at Lisa's blood staining Brian's suit and feel helpless. If 
only he had come back sooner, this might not have happened. Why didn't he tell her the 
things he intended over the phone that day? She would never believe his love now and he 
could hardly blame her. He'd been an utter fool. 
One of the attendants stepped out. "We're taking her to the hospital now. It's 
pretty bad. I guess you all know that she was pregnant?" He looked at Lisa's parents. 
"The baby?" Mrs. Harrold asked. She still clutched the dish towel in her hands 
twisting it nervously. The attendant shook his head and muttered. his apologies. 
Lisa was wheeled out on a stretcher and gingerly lifted down the stairs by the two 
male attendants to the waiting ambulance. Her eyes were closed and her face deathly 
white. 
Joe heard one of the attendants mutter something about having lost a lot of blood 
and that she was in shock. 
Wordlessly the group disbanded and went to separate cars to go to the hospital. It 
was the longest ride of his life. Joe had not cried in many years but he felt like crying 
now. What had he done to her? What if he lost her now and never got to tell her how 
much he loved her? Needed her? He pushed his foot to the gas pedal harder and gripped 
the wheel of his car. Silently a prayer went heavenward. 
The antiseptic smell of the hospital waiting room grated on Phil Harrold as he sat 
next to his wife and hugged her close as she cried and sobbed. How had this happened? 
With his big accusing mouth, had he caused it to happen? He would never hurt his 
daughter, Lisa was his daughter by love. 
"Hush now Lillian. You must be strong for Lisa. She's going to need us." 
Joe listened to the words the aged couple was sharing, haunted by the fact that he 
wasn't there when Lisa needed him. 
"I'm afraid Phil, I'm afraid we're losing her and that she is going to die." Her sobs 
nearly tore out Joes heart. 
Brian sat across the room gloomily staring at Joe. He'd taken off his suit jacket to 
keep Lisa's parents from having to look at the blood. Joe didn't know what to say to 
anyone, he felt like an outsider. 
"The doctors will do all they can Lillian, have faith. Lisa will be all right, the 
love that binds will bring her back to us. She's always been a strong girl."
Joe swallowed hard. The love that binds. It had taken him thirty years to find out 
exactly what that meant. And now he stood a chance of losing it, a second time in his life. 
Brian stood and advanced on the trio cautiously. He spoke to her parents. "Would 
you like a cup of coffee or anything?" He asked. "I would be glad to go get you one." 
Phil Harrold stared at him thankfully. "Just one for Lillian would be nice." He 
paused and stood to face the younger man. 
"I'm afraid I owe you an apology for speaking the way I did." 
Brian smiled. "Apology accepted. I understand. Lisa is a very good friend, she 
told me about you folks." 
Brian turned to Joe. "I owe you an apology too Joe. I had no right to accuse you." 
Joe could only stare at the man. I am the culprit he wanted to scream. "Lisa said that if 
you ever came back it would be because you loved her, she told me that over the phone 
once. " He shifted nervously and Joe rose to his feet to pace the small room. 
"Loving Lisa has become a part of my life even though I tried to fight it. I did 
come back to tell her and ask her to marry me. She never told me about the." He 
swallowed hard, all eyes on him. "Baby." He finished lamely. "Now, she will probably 
never believe me." Joe looked down unable to stop the words. 
Lillian stood up and hugged him catching him by surprise. 
Her worn blue eyes smiled at him through their pain. "My daughter Lisa is a 
special girl Joe. Didn't you find that out when you first met? If you tell her how you feel, 
she will believe you. She loves you very much, Phil and I both noticed how much she 
loved you and how miserable she was when you weren't around. We may not have 
known your name for sure but we had a pretty good idea." 
"So are you the same man that saved her from those awful men that held her." 
Phil raised an eyebrow. Joe nodded his head, it seemed so long ago. "Will you always 
take good care of my daughter?" He asked Joe boldly. "She is the whole world to her 
mother and I." 
"Always if she will give me the chance." The strain of the moment was relieved 
and they all sat down again to wait since there was nothing else to do. Brian went and got 
coffee for everyone before saying he had to leave and that he would check back in and 
see how she was doing later. 
Joe felt an immediate kinship with these kind people. They were good people, he 
could tell, they had to be to forgive him so easily. He wouldn't forgive himself so quickly. 
Through the hours they waited. Joe nervously paced the small room, the hallway, 
and the outside grounds, everywhere. He drank enough coffee to float a small ship and 
berated himself over and over again for his own stupidity. Lisa was listed as stable and in 
recovery. 
When he returned to the waiting room he glanced around to see that Phil and 
Lillian weren't there. Before he even had a chance to worry a nurse greeted him. 
"Mr. Michaels, Miss Harrold is resting comfortably, her parents are visiting with 
her now. You can have a few minutes with her when they are done. We wouldn't want to 
tire her out." Joe thanked her and paced the room some more. What could he say to Lisa? 
There was so much to say and he didn't even know where to begin. 
The Harrold's were smiling when he returned from pacing the hall. That was a 
good sign, he thought hopefully.
"Lisa is doing fine." Mr. Harrold assured him. "We didn't really get to talk to her 
though because she is under mediation." 
"Which room is she in? I would like to pop in and see her for myself." He knew 
he had to see her with his own eyes to reassure himself. 
"Last room on the right. We will be leaving now Joe. There is nothing we can do 
until morning." Mr. Harrold told him and then gave him a measuring look. "Will you be 
here?" 
"Count on it." Joe waited until they were safely on their way before he took the 
long steps down the corridor. He'd come so close to loosing her. She would never know 
ho much the thought terrified him. If he had lost Lisa it would have been the second time 
to love and lose. 
The room, when he pushed open the quiet door was dimly lit and there were no 
noises coming from inside. Pausing to let his eyes adjust to the dim light he stepped 
inside. He could plainly see the outline of Lisa's slight shape under the white sheets. He 
moved to stand next to the bed. She was so very still. She'd lost a baby, his baby. The 
room was so silent he could hear his own breathing. 
Joe touched her hand, it was so cold. He looked at the IV's attached to her other 
arm. Suddenly he felt weak and searched for a chair to sit in pulling it real close to the 
side of her hospital bed. He grasped her hand to hold it, there was nothing else he could 
do. 
The tears he'd fought so hard to hold back ran freely down his cheeks. Who 
would see? He remembered the time by the pond when he'd been so sick. Lisa took care 
of him. She let him sleep with his head in her lap. She touched him, caressed him, 
soothed him, and talked to him. He bent his head and laid it on the side of her bed, being 
careful not to wake her. 
"Oh Lisa." He whispered. "My sweet Lisa. I need you if I am going to make it in 
this crazy world." He felt the small hand that tentatively touched his hair, his head and 
then stilled. Joe looked up. She was still asleep, out of it and he marveled that even in her 
half aware state she could reach out and comfort another human being. 
Joe spent an uncomfortable night in the waiting room, dozing here and there 
when no one was about. He couldn't leave Lisa. He wanted to see her first thing in the 
morning. He had to tell her he would never leave her again. She didn't know how 
strongly he was committed to her now, he'd even asked for a desk job just so he could be 
near her all the time. He wanted to make his life around her. 
By the light of the next morning Joe was already pacing the hall again. He didn't 
care that his clothes were rumpled and that he had a full nights growth of beard. He 
waited until after the nurses made their early rounds and then he snuck down to her room. 
They had chased him out last night and they could keep on doing it for all he cared. 
Someone had pulled the blinds and the room was full of light, even though Lisa 
was still sleeping. She had a little of her color back and the IV's were gone. He knew it 
would be a long time before she got her full strength back. Joe pulled up his familiar 
chair and waited. He was prepared to wait all day, the rest of his life if necessary. 
Lisa's eyes fluttered open and she looked around her. Yes, it was true, she was in 
the hospital and she had lost the baby. 
Her eyes were drawn to the figure sitting by the bed. Was she dreaming? What 
was Joe doing here? She expected to see one of her parents sitting with her. He was 
staring at her as if he didn't know what to say. 
Lisa had no such compunction. "What are you doing here Joe?" She asked him 
point blank. How much did her know? Oh God, she did not want his pity. 
"Obviously I am here to see you." He smiled slightly, looking uncertain. 
Lisa took in his ragged appearance. Was he going out on another undercover job? 
"You look awful." She offered, her brown eyes puzzled. 
"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever known." Joe told her truthfully. 
He wanted to gather her in his arms. 
Lisa smirked at him. She didn't believe that especially as bad as she probably 
looked now. "How much do you know?" She asked frowning. Why was this so hard? 
Why couldn't she just open up and talk to him, it was never a problem before. 
"That you lost the baby?"
Lisa cringed, it sounded awful and made her feel worse. She wanted that baby so 
much, needed it. It would have been a part of her and a part of Joe. The only part she 
could have. "My baby, our baby...why didn't you tell me Lisa?" Was that pain she saw in 
his eyes? 
"You know why. It wasn't my intention to tie you down." 
"When you are better we'll discuss that more. For now I just want you to get 
well." Joe took hold of her hand. 
"How long have you been here? How did you find out?" She didn't want him to 
find out about the baby in the first place. 
Now to have his pity would be worse than not having his love. "Since yesterday. 
I went to see you at your apartment. I got there just before the ambulance arrived." 
"Oh." Lisa didn't know what else to say. It seemed her small apartment had been 
a bee hive of activity, and she was the center of it. "My parents and Brian must have been 
shocked." It was an inane thing to say. No more shocked than she. 
"They were. I met your parents by the way, they will be here soon." He searched 
her face. 
Lisa was unaware of the hand that Joe was holding, he was absently rubbing her 
wrist with his thumb. Didn't he know what his touch did to her? Didn't he know how 
hard it was on her to have him near and not be able to be a part of his life. 
"Brian came to the hospital too. I knew I was right about him, he's a good man." 
Lisa nodded her head, she owed him one long apology. He must have been 
shocked to be accused of being the father of her baby, especially when they had never 
been intimate. 
Joe was watching her nervously. "Are you comfortable? Is there anything I can 
get you?" 
"I'm fine really." She looked at him, really looked at him for the first time. He 
looked altogether haggard and he had dark circles under his eyes as if he hadn't slept in a 
while. It was good to see him again. Her eyes feasted on the sight of him. "You don't 
need to feel responsible Joe." She told him quietly. "I'll be fine now really. I'm sure you 
have places to go, things to do." 
"Lisa.." He moved to sit next to her on the bed. 
"You don't have to stay with me. Like you said, my parents should be here in a 
little while." She peeked at him and his face was stern, revealing little. 
He was shaking his head no. "I'm not leaving you." Joe told her adamantly. "Lisa 
there is so much that I want to tell you and I'm afraid now isn't the time. You're not 
feeling well, you've just undergone a loss." His eyes held her. "Will you be patient with 
me for just a little while until we can get you home?" Joe sighed. "There's so much I want 
to tell you. So much to explain to you." 
"How long will that be?" Lisa asked, afraid to think, afraid to feel. She felt like 
weeping for her unborn child that would never be, she felt like crying for what could 
have been. No matter how helpful Joe was trying to be his presence bothered her. 
"The doctor said he would like to keep you for three or four days just to make 
sure that there will be no secondary infections or anything." Lisa bit her lip, what about 
children, she wanted to ask. Would she be able to have other children? As she watched 
him the tears came involuntarily. 
Joe put his strong arms around her for comfort. "Lisa I know how hard this is for 
you, go ahead and cry, get it out of your system, you'll have to let go sometime. There's 
one consolation though, you will be able to have more children." 
Lisa started crying harder. Not his children she wouldn't. Joe laid her back on the 
soft pillows and brushed the tears from her eyes. "We'll have a whole house full if that's 
what you want." 
Lisa looked at him with startled eyes. Was she hearing things? Was she still 
under the effects of the pain medication? "We'll?" She nearly choked on the single word. 
There were tears shimmering in his own eyes. He brushed at them angrily. "I've 
been such a fool Lisa. When I came to your apartment yesterday I was going to beg you 
to forgive me and take me back." 
"You were?" Her eyes widened. "You aren't just saying that because you feel 
sorry for me are you? Because of the baby and all?" 
"I fell more sorry for myself." He told her wryly. "I turned my back on the love 
of a good woman like the fool I am. I should be shot." He hugged her close once more 
and stroked her hair. "You don't know how terrible I felt yesterday seeing you like that 
and knowing that it was my fault." 
"The doctor said it was no ones fault. I thought it was mine. He said it was just 
another one of those things that happened. Natures way of correcting things that might 
not be right."
"But I thought I had lost you and would never get to tell you the way I really felt. 
There's so much you don't know about me Lisa. I've been secretive on purpose, for 
protection mainly." Joe kissed her with such tenderness and concern that Lisa felt like 
crying allover again. 
"Does this mean you intend to stay this time?" She had to know if there was a 
future for them together. "I don't mean about the job. Does this mean that you will come 
back to me because you."
"I love you Lisa." Joe  interrupted her. "I just had to tell you. Do you remember 
the day I called?" Lisa shook her head. "I was going to tell you then and I couldn't bring 
myself to do it, to risk being rejected." 
"That would never happen Joe. As long as I knew you were serious about me." 
Lisa would forgive him anything so long as he loved her. "Do you really love me Joe?" 
"I really do Lisa. I love you with all my heart." 
"You fought me tooth and nail." She smiled timidly. 
"Like the fool I am." He muttered. Lisa could see the love in his eyes. It had 
always been there, it was just that now he admitted it. "A while back, I told you I was 
married once remember?" 
Lisa nodded her head. "I remember." Please let him confide in me now, she 
pleaded. If he could open up to her this much then there was a chance for them after all. 
"But I didn't tell you everything that happened. Anne and I fought like cats and 
dogs all the time, over my job mostly. Not once did I leave the house without her making 
some kind of argument. I wouldn't give it up and she...well...she just couldn't live with it 
either. The danger, the separation, it was just too much for her. Finally after a particularly 
big fight Anne packed up and left me. We were expecting our first baby in four months 
time." He swallowed hard and his face paled. Poor Joe no wonder he was scared of 
emotional attachments.  "She never made it far. I don't know where she was going. A few 
hours later, after I called everyone I could think of the police notified me she'd been 
killed instantly in a car accident. She was hit head on by a drunk driver. It hurt for so 
long. I blamed myself for her accident, her leaving, and our miserable life together, 
everything. Then and there I wowed I would never get involved with another human 
being in that way again." He stopped and looked at her and then continued. "That was no 
way to have a marriage, I knew I should have given up my job. Anne was everything to 
me despite all our fighting but I let pride stand in my way and it cost me everything that I 
valued so highly. So I kept to myself for years and it was working." Joe smiled at her 
tenderly. "And then you came along. Big brown eyes and a wild way with words that just 
melted the icy outer core of my defenses. I found I couldn't get you out of my thoughts no 
matter how hard I tried."
Lisa's heart was filling with happiness. 
"Try as I might I couldn't keep my own vow." Joe laughed derisively. "I thought I 
could just get mildly involved if you know what I mean. Then that night when we made 
love and I discovered it was your first time, it scared me to think you had given me all of 
your love with no strings attached. Believe me when I say I felt ashamed because I 
couldn't do the same thing. I could hardly live with myself. It had always been love them 
and leave them but never get involved and suddenly there I was, involved up to my 
neck." 
Lisa sat there bemused and listened to him rapturously. Joe loved her, JOE 
LOVED HER! 
"That last time I came to see you I thought I could break it off with you. It didn't 
work, I was even more miserable. I kept imagining Brian taking my place and getting all 
of your love. It was then I realized I had to have it all for myself and it couldn't be any 
other way." 
Lisa smiled at him, so happy was she. 
"Max has agreed to let me have a desk job, one here in Phoenix."
"You are giving up your job?" Lisa couldn't believe it. 
"What on earth for?" 
"Because if you will still have me, I intend to make you my wife and build my 
life around you." 
Lisa caught her breath. She'd waited so long to hear those words from him, so 
long. 
"I've been ready to give up my job for quite some time." He told her. "But I didn't 
really have a reason to." 
"But Joe, you are so good at undercover work." 
"I like to think I was." He sighed tiredly. "Have you ever heard of job burn out?" 
Lisa nodded again. "I thought it only happened to business executives." 
"It can happen to anybody, it happened to me. I think the last job acting as a 
glorified body guard finally made me realize I was ready for a new challenge. That and 
the fact it took me longer to recover from that last injury than it should have. I am getting 
to be an old man." 
"Old man my eye." Lisa laughed. 
"Well? You haven't answered me. Will you marry me just as soon as you are 
able?" He smiled at her roguishly. "Care to take on an old fool?" Joe took her hands in 
his. "I mean it Lisa, I want you to marry me more than I have ever wanted anything."
Lisa threw her arms around his neck and hung on for dear life. "Oh Joe, you 
make me so happy. I love you." 
"Now don't you go sidestepping the question." Joe teased. "Will you marry me 
and be my wife, Lisa? , 
"How long do I have to think about it?" 
Joe looked at her sharply. She always said he took things too seriously. "Now 
listen here young lady, there is no way I am going to let you say no now after everything 
you've put me through. You are going to wind up over my knee." He threatened. 
"In that case, I accept, if it is going to come to bodily harm." She leaned forward 
for a kiss, she never believed she could be so happy. 
"There is just one condition." Joe informed her as he leaned his dark head down 
for another kiss and hovered over her lips suggestively. What was he up to now? 
"What's that?" She brushed his lips lightly before he pulled back. 
"You let me pick the place for our honey moon." 
"Okay, I can be generous." Her eyes lit up with her smile. "Where is that going to 
be?" 
"I am not sure exactly. Some romantic little lake in Colorado might be nice." 
Lisa threw her arms around his neck again and made him laugh. Her love could 
not be contained. "You remembered." She breathed huskily. 
"How could I ever forget anything that concerns you. You rest now Lisa. The 
more you rest the faster I can spring you from this place. And Lisa...I love you. Mourn 
the loss of our child for a little while, just remember that we will have others. That's a 
promise." He kissed her hungrily. 
Joe waited till she was asleep before he left her. 
Lisa knew he would be corning back. He would always be there for her now. 


CHAPTER THIRTEEN 
Lisa bounded into her apartment happily and stopped suddenly. The place was 
filled with smoke. She could hear Joe cussing in the kitchen and smiled to herself. She 
followed the burning smell and found Joe right in the midst of the smoke. He was pulling 
a black. burned beyond recognition, casserole out of the oven Lisa waited until he sat it in 
the sink and then wrapped her slender arms around his waist. 
He turned to capture her quickly. "Hey, I didn't hear you come in." Joe told her 
lowering his dark head to steal a kiss. 
"Looks like I got back in the nick of time. What happened?" She tried to peer 
around his large form to the ruins in the sink. 
"Don't laugh. That was supposed to be our dinner." He frowningly told her. "I'm 
afraid you aren't getting much of a bargain in the way of a husband. I never could cook, I 
was forever going out for my meals ." 
"It was a nice thought anyways. Thank you. You've been spoiling me too much 
since I got out of the hospital. I might start to expect it all the time." 
"Its bribery, I don't want you backing out of the wedding on me. Lord knows you 
have enough reasons. I have been such a cad at times." Joe opened the kitchen window to 
let some fresh air in and let the smell out. "What did the doctor say? Did he give you a 
clean bill of health?" 
"Everything is just fine." She told him as he pulled the lid off the mysterious 
casserole. She couldn't tell what it was except for black. 
"What was this anyway?" She asked about the dinner. 
"Lasagna, what else? It seems to be the only thing we can't cook around this 
place." Joe snickered. 
Lisa remembered the last batch of Lasagna they burned, it turned out to be a 
wonderful evening. She would have to make some for him soon when she wasn't so 
distracted. 
"Did you forget it?" Lisa teased, she knew how much he loved lasagna. 
"Yeah Brian called and we got to talking and I just completely forgot about it." 
Joe was at least trying to clean up his mess. 
"That guy is harder to get off the phone than any woman I've ever known." Joe 
sighed expressively and rubbed his ear. 
"What did he want? Anything important?" 
"Not really. He was just checking to see how you were doing. I told him that you 
were at the doctors and he could call you back." Joe was frowning again. 
"Was that all he wanted'?" She asked. 
"More or less." Sometimes getting things out of Joe was like pulling teeth. 
"Did he say something to upset you? I thought you were getting to be friends." 
Lisa wanted her two best guys to be the best of friends, desperately. 
"We are." He was still frowning as he wiped down the counters. "Joe Michaels, if 
you don't tell me what's bothering you right this minute I am going to scream." She 
stomped a dainty foot on the floor soundlessly. 
Joe laughed at her outburst. "Okay, don't get your temper up. You are supposed 
to be taking it easy still." He pulled her into his arms forgetting the mess in the kitchen 
for the moment. "Brian suggested that he thought I might try my hand at writing." 
Lisa smiled that wasn't anything for him to get worked up about. "He thought 
considering my job I should have some good stories to tell." 
"You could. Didn't you like the idea.?" 
"Oh I don't know, maybe sometime, for now I will be busy getting used to my 
new job and my new wife." He kissed her passionately, as he always did. 
"Well, I think it is a wonderful idea. So what are you frowning about?" 
"I was just thinking Brian would have made you a better husband than I can. I'm 
wondering if I am not doing you an injustice by tying you to someone like me." 
"How can you even say that?" She gasped. He wasn't thinking of backing out 
now was he? 
"Well Brian is such a nice guy." Joe frowned. "He knows how to treat a woman 
right."
"But I don't love Brian. I love you How could I ever be happy with anyone else 
knowing that'?" 
"And I love you. I always said I didn't deserve you." 
"Keep this kind of talk up and I might just agree with you."
Joe swung her up in his arms and carried her to the front room. "Now I want you 
to sit here and behave yourself while I go get changed. We are going out for some 
lasagna. When my taste buds are set for something nothing else will do." 
"But I think you look just fine." She looked up at him mischievously. "Tight 
jeans, shirtless and barefoot. Just the way I like to see you." She wound her arms around 
his neck before he could make good his escape. "An apron would look nice too." 
"Behave yourself." Joe pried her arms loose and disentangled himself. "You will 
have me forgetting that I promised to let you get back to normal before I have my evil 
way with you." 
Lisa pouted at him playfully as he started to leave the room to go change. He 
paused at the door and turned to her slowly. "You ah..did talk to the doctor about birth 
control didn't you?" 
"Of course I did. How could I forget when you gave me a thirty minute lecture on 
it yourself before I left. Everything is all set." 
Joe looked relieved. "Good. We don't want any more accidents until you are 
healthy and ready." He smiled at her tenderly. "Then woman you are going to be in for 
some trouble." 
"Who is going to give it to me?" She taunted. 
"Only me." Joe crossed the room again and gathered her up in his arms so fast 
Lisa didn't even have time to catch her breath. "Fifty years from now you may just regret 
you married me." 
"I doubt it." Lisa told him honestly. They'd done most of their adjusting and 
fighting before marriage, it could only be smooth sailing ahead as far as Lisa was 
concerned. "You know something?" Lisa kissed the hard column of his neck and smelled 
the manliness of his own scent. 
"What?" Joe asked her huskily. "I know that if I don't get dressed and take you 
out to dinner soon we are going to do something you aren't ready for yet." He pulled 
away slowly. 
Lisa knew he would take the utmost care of her until he was sure it was safe for 
them to resume relations. 
"I was just thinking I might want you to grow your beard out for me once in a 
while. I kind of liked it." She stroked his chin where the beard once was. 
"You told me you didn't like it because it tickled." He looked at her thoughtfully. 
"Maybe I like to be tickled once in a while." Joe grabbed her around the waist 
and tickled her into mindless laughter. 
"That's not the kind of tickling I meant ." She burst out once he let her catch her 
breath. "You know I can't stand that." 
"Tough. That is what you get for not behaving yourself like I told you to." Joe 
planted a kiss on her laughing lips and fled from the room. "Now be good because I am 
starved and that's the only way we are going to ever get out of here." 


Epilogue
Together Joe and Lisa stood arms entwined around each other, looking out over a 
small lake in Colorado. It was the middle of the night, a very special night. It was their 
wedding night. Lisa sighed heavily breathing in the clean cool air. It was too cold for a 
dip in the pond, fall was here. 
"Isn't it heavenly Joe? Everything is absolutely perfect. I'm so glad you brought 
me here." She looked up at him admiringly. "I can't tell you how often I dreamed of 
coming back here. I've always considered this my own little private fantasy spot." 
"Quiet, peaceful, beautiful, what more could a couple ask for on their 
honeymoon?" He agreed, leaning down to plant a warm kiss on her upturned forehead. 
"That was nice of Max to bring a whole case of champagne. Wasn't it rather 
expensive though? It sure didn't take everyone long to polish it off at the reception." 
"Actually he said it was a gift from all the boys. I thought it was nice of them." 
Joe chuckled to himself. "No one thought I would ever get married again. To them I was 
the last of the big time bachelors. That's why so many of them came to the wedding. They 
wanted to see for themselves the kind of girl that captured an old reprobate like me. They 
wanted to see me get cut down to size." 
Lisa looked up at him. "You still look the same size to me." She teased. "Big." 
Joe looked at her with his love clearly showing in his blue eyes. "I'm sure I've 
changed." He told her seriously. "Right now I feel at least ten feet tall." 
"Do you suppose your friends were disappointed to find out that it was just little 
ole me?" She looked up shyly and Joe squeezed her around the waist as he smiled 
wickedly. 
"Nope, they couldn't believe my good luck. I saw the way everybody's eyes 
bugged out at the sight of you. I thought I was going to have to defend you all over 
again." 
"Did you notice that our parents got along amazingly well?" Joe laughed. "My 
parents were so shocked when I called and told them that I was getting married again. 
Then I told them that if they didn't hurry down they would miss the whole thing. That 
was nice of your parents to let them stay with them at their place." 
They were both silent for a moment as they looked out over the shimmering 
surface of the lake. Each lost in thoughts of their own. 
Joe turned his wife to face him slowly. "I want to make you happy Lisa, more 
than anything in this world. That's how important you are to me." 
"You do Joe, you do. Can't you tell by the perpetual smile pasted on my face how 
happy you make me?" 
"Pretty much yes, but once today at the reception when I introduced you to my 
parents and brothers and sisters, you got a disturbed look on your face. What was it? 
What upset you?" 
"Oh I don't know. I guess seeing that you came from such a large loving family 
and all made me think about the baby. Your parents seemed so happy and content with a 
big family. My parents only had me and I was adopted. Did you really mean it when you 
said we could have a whole house full of children if we wanted? Because I think that's 
what I'm going to want. My parents may have had only one daughter but they are 
certainly going to have their fair share of grandchildren." 
Joe looked at her and laughed. "Well I meant it but I better amend that to as 
many as we can afford to feed and clothe, knowing you." 
Lisa smiled at him happily. He was going to make a wonderful father and a 
wonderful husband, once he quit worrying about it. 
"Are you ready to go back inside and have a late night snack? It's really chilly out 
here." Joe asked.
Lisa nodded, then she gasped as Joe swung her up in his strong arms and carried 
her back in to the cabin. "What are you doing?" She squealed playfully. "We already did 
this remember?" 
"I remember." He kissed her in to silence. "Just reinforcing that what's mine is 
mine." He told her as he shifted her body over his shoulder as if he were carrying a sack 
of potatoes. "You Lisa Harrold Michaels are my woman and no one will ever be able to 
protest it again, least of all you." 
"I've always been your woman." She told him. "From the moment we met." She 
was his as he was hers. 
"My woman." Joe repeated as he let her feet slide to the floor. "For all time." He 
lowered his head and kissed her gently. 
Lisa twined her arms around his strong neck. "For all time." She agreed heartily. 
"Because ours is the." 
"Love that binds." The both finished simultaneously. 
Deliberately Lisa deepened the kiss. 




















 
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