Silver Linings

something. Very strong stuff. You're going to display it here in Sharpe Reaction?”
    “You bet I am, so that Shock gets the public exposure. But it's not for sale. As of this moment this piece is mine, all mine. Let's make a deal, Shock.”
    Shock Value smiled. “Mattie, you can have it for free. I owe you. A lot, I think. I don't even remember how much.”
    “You don't owe me this much,” Mattie assured her. “If you won't put a price tag on it, I will. Sit down while I write up a bill of sale.”
    Shock Value took a seat. “I'm really sort of relieved that it's okay. I wasn't sure what I was doing. You know, I think it would be a good idea for me to get away from the city for a while. Too many distractions, you know? I think I need a change of environment. I need to go somewhere and refresh myself while I work out this new direction in my style.”
    Mattie glanced up from the paperwork. “You really think so?”
    Shock Value nodded quickly. “I turned a corner when I started working on Brink . I could feel it. I need to focus this new energy. I don't want to work in isolation, but I really think I have to get away from the city. Someplace quiet and sort of inspirational, if you know what I mean.”
    “Someplace where they don't sell colored hair gel and metal-studded leather pants?” Ariel asked with a little smile.
    “I guess,” Shock Value admitted. “But a nice place.”
    “Some place like a tropical island, perhaps?” Mattie said slowly.
    “Man, that'd be perfect,” Shock Value said with a grin.

    “You've got to come with me, Mattie. I simply don't have the guts to do this alone. Lord knows, I'm no Hemingway.” Emery Blackwell slumped dejectedly in the chair in Mattie's office. “You got me into this, and you simply cannot abandon me now in my hour of need.”
    “Of course I'll come with you,” Mattie assured him. “I can't wait to see it. Just give me a minute to finish off this paperwork. I'm right in the middle of something. Would you like a cup of herbal tea or something to calm your nerves?”
    “A shot of whiskey, maybe, not tea.”
    The door of Mattie's office opened, and Hugh took one step into the room before he spotted Emery. He scowled. “Why is it I can't go anywhere these days without tripping over you or Grafton, Blackwell? The two of you are getting to be damned nuisances.”
    Emery looked up with lofty disdain. “If my presence offends you, Abbott, feel free to take yourself off elsewhere. You're not needed around here at the moment, as it happens. Mattie and I have an appointment in a few minutes.”
    “The hell you do.” But Hugh's voice contained more resignation than heat.
    He sauntered over to the desk, tipped Mattie's face up, and kissed her ruthlessly. It was a kiss of possession, rather than passion. The kind of kiss a man uses when he's drawing lines and issuing challenges in front of another man. The woman's response was not particularly important. It was the impact on the other male that counted.
    Mattie smiled frostily. “You've made your point.”
    “Dear me,” Emery murmured. “However do you tolerate all that dreadful machismo, Mattie? Ariel could only put up with it for a few weeks.”
    “Most of the time it can be ignored,” Mattie explained cheerfully.
    Hugh growled with mock menace. He lounged against Mattie's desk and folded his arms across his chest. “All right, let's have it. What are you two up to this afternoon?”
    “We are proposing to walk all of two blocks down the street to the bookstore,” Emery informed him. “I do hope that doesn't offend your hopelessly antiquated sense of male territoriality.”
    “Heck, no,” Hugh said. “I'll go with you, sport that I am.”
    “Shouldn't you be working?” Emery suggested pointedly.
    “Took the afternoon off. I get to do that, you know. I have this really important, fancy, executive-level job that lets me do that.”
    “How odd,” Emery murmured.
    Mattie leaned back in her chair. “There's no need to go with us, Hugh. Emery and I will only be gone a few minutes.”
    “No sweat, babe. I've got nothing better planned. And I wouldn't mind hitting a good bookstore.”
    “Oh, do you read?” Emery asked.
    “Without even moving my lips on my good days,” Hugh assured him.
    “Congratulations. Quite an accomplishment for a man of your rather peculiar abilities.”
    “Gentlemen,” Mattie interrupted forcefully, “I would appreciate it if you would do your sniping outside of this