Gift of Fire

opening for Jonas, she had pushed her luck—and Jonas—one step too far.
    Jonas had tolerated her enthusiastic lectures all afternoon and into the evening. It wasn’t until late that night, when they were having a nightcap with Laura and Rick in the resort’s cocktail lounge, that he had finally lost his patience.
    He’d listened to one more tirade on the importance of writing another article while he was still a hot literary property. Then he had taken Verity’s glass of juice out of her hand, picked her up, and carried her all the way back to the cabin in that humiliating position. Then he’d made love to her until Verity had temporarily forgotten all about journal articles and self-improvement.
    “It might have been embarrassing for you,” Laura said, smiling, “but it certainly provided memorable entertainment for everyone in the lounge. Quite a show.”
    “Whose side are you on, anyway?” Verity glowered at her.
    The amusement faded from Laura’s eyes. “I’m on your side,” she said with unexpected seriousness. “You know that, don’t you? We’re friends.”
    Verity smiled ruefully. “I know that.”
    “And speaking as your friend…”
    Verity tilted her head. “Yeah, friend?”
    “I’m not sure how to ask this, so I’ll come right out with it. Is anything wrong, Verity?”
    Verity stiffened. “Wrong?”
    “You know. As in ‘not quite right’? There’s something a little different about you lately. As if you’ve got something on your mind. I just wondered if you’ve got problems. If so, you know you can tell sister Laura all about them.”
    Verity swept her hands back and forth just under the surface of the crystal-clear water. Small waves rippled out to the sides of the pool. “I know, Laura. And thanks. But nothing’s wrong. Really. I’ve just been doing some thinking lately, that’s all.”
    “Thinking about Jonas and the future?”
    “Something like that.”
    “Well, it’s about time. When are you going to marry the man, Verity?”
    Verity’s head came up with a snap. “I haven’t been asked,” she replied tartly.
    “Since when does Verity Ames wait around for someone else, least of all a man, to make a major decision in her life?” Laura’s mouth curved upward. “You don’t fool me one bit. If you wanted to marry Jonas, you’d find a way to nag him into it.”
    “As you yourself have pointed out, Jonas can only be nagged so far,” Verity retorted dryly.
    “Maybe. But somehow I don’t think he’d fight too hard if you tied him up and dragged him to the altar.”
    “Not exactly a romantic image.”
    “No smart woman lets romantic illusions get in the way once she’s decided what she wants. And you’re one smart woman, Verity. Ergo, I have to assume you haven’t made up your mind about Jonas Quarrel. So we’re back to my original question. What’s wrong, pal?”
    Verity thought about the pregnancy-test kit she had surreptitiously examined and then put back on the shelf at the local pharmacy that afternoon. Then she remembered how casually Jonas had left for Mexico, carrying only a few changes of underwear and a wicked-looking knife that he knew how to use quite well.
    “Nothing’s wrong, Laura. I’ve just been feeling a little depressed lately. I think I need a vacation.” She took one hand out of the water and picked up a glossy brochure. Water dripped on the photograph of the beachfront hotel. “Hawaii sounds nice.”
    “A vacation, hm? You know something? I think that might be a good idea.”
     
    Doug and Elyssa Warwick walked into the No Bull Cafe at two o’clock the following day. Verity saw at once that Laura’s brief descriptions had been right on target. Doug
    Warwick was a good-looking young professional, with expensively trimmed sandy brown hair and a salon tan. His shirt was Ralph Lauren’s version of outdoor wear, and his khaki slacks had pleats in them.
    Verity was impressed with the pleats. She had tried to persuade Jonas to buy a pair of pleated trousers the last time they had gone to San Francisco. It had turned into one of those all-too-frequent occasions when Jonas had, as Laura bluntly put it, put his foot down. They had come home with a new pair of Levi’s that hadn’t even been prewashed for the fashionable broken-in look. Clothes were not one of Jonas’s passions.
    Elyssa Warwick was a surprise. Thanks to Laura’s description, Verity had been prepared for the wide, luminous eyes and serene smile. What she