Silver Linings

would be back in comfortable, familiar surroundings where she did not have to worry about waking up in sleazy waterfront inns with strange men.
    Damn. How could she have been such a fool ?
    Mattie shut the bathroom door quite forcefully and turned to gaze at her reflection in the cracked mirror over the sink. She looked like a walking disaster, she decided critically. Her hair was a wild, tousled mess, there were shadows in the hollows of her cheeks and under her wide, dazed eyes. She wondered if this was how Evangeline looked after a hard night.
    Slowly Mattie let the sheet slide to the floor. The red sarong dress that had seemed so sexy and daring last night looked cheap and tacky this morning as it bunched around her waist. Mattie stepped out of it, turned, and entered the small tin-walled shower. She stood under the weak rush of cool water for a very long time, trying to think of how to handle the situation she had created for herself.
    One thing was for certain. Hugh was going to be impossible to deal with now. Mattie strongly suspected that as far as he was concerned, last night had settled everything. Hugh was a very linear thinker, a straightforward, insensitive sort of man when it came to most things. She knew that he would assume his “relationship” with Mattie was back on track after last night.
    The bathroom door opened. “Here you go, babe. Your fancy shirt and trousers. They're looking a little beat up, but don't worry, we'll get you some new things on St. Gabe.”
    The door closed once more. Mattie decided that one of the hardest things to deal with this morning was Hugh's cheeriness. It was intolerable.
    Her spirits began to revive as she finished showering and got dressed. The brilliant sunlight pouring in through the window and the sight of the turquoise sea did wonders to help dispel the sense of doom that had been hanging over her when she first awakened.
    She could handle Hugh Abbott.
    She must handle Hugh Abbott.
    She would be cool and casual and ever so sophisticated and blasé about the whole thing.
    She would not give him so much as an inkling of how much the entire event had upset her.
    “When do we leave?” Mattie forced herself to ask calmly as she emerged from the bathroom.
    Hugh looked at her, his eyes warm and possessive. “In about twenty minutes. We'll be on St. Gabe by noon.”
    “Great. I can't wait to get out of here.” Mattie's gaze flickered around the dingy little room. She knew she would never forget it as long as she lived.
    Hugh followed her glance. “Not exactly the honey-moon suite at the Ritz, is it?”
    “Not exactly.”
    “Things on St. Gabe aren't a whole lot fancier, but I've got plans, babe. You'll see. I just need a little time.”
    “Right. Time cures all, doesn't it?” Mattie picked up her purse and slung it over her shoulder. “I want to say good-bye to Evangeline before we leave.”
    “Doubt if she's up yet. A woman in her line of work tends to sleep days.”
    Mattie smiled coolly. “You're an authority?”
    Hugh's brows rose in silent warning. “Now, don't go implying anything, babe. I told you, I've been keeping myself pure and chaste for you. And after last night I've got to admit it was worth the wait.”
    Mattie felt herself turning pink under the intent gleam in his eyes. She busied herself removing a business card from her purse and scrawling a note on the back. “I'll just leave this under her door.”
    “Tell her thanks from me for the red dress,” Hugh murmured as Mattie picked up the scrap of red satin and the red heels and stepped past him.
    She ignored him as she went down the hall to Evangeline's room and knelt to push the business card and the red dress under the door.
    “What the hell…?” Evangeline sounded sleepy and disgruntled as she abruptly opened the room door. “Oh, it's you, honey. Have a good night?”
    Mattie got quickly to her feet. She blinked at Evangeline's attire, a see-through black nylon peignoir trimmed in fluffy fake fur at the hem and neckline. She had taken time to put on a pair of fake-fur-trimmed matching black high heels.
    “I was just leaving,” Mattie said. “I wanted to say good-bye. And to remind you that if you ever get to Seattle to be sure and look me up. My number is on that card.”
    “You bet.” Evangeline smiled through a yawn and gave Mattie a quick hug. “Good luck, honey.” Then she glanced past Mattie. “You leavin' the island with him?”
    Mattie glanced over her shoulder