The Ties That Bind

criticism. "If someone doesn't want my things, I'm not going to force them down his throat."
    "If you can't do it properly, get someone else to market your products for you." Garth scooped out the last of the salad.
    Shannon suppressed her irritated response for the sake of keeping peace at the table. "I'll think about it," she mumbled.
    "You know, he might have a point," Dan said thoughtfully. "I know I'm going to look for an agent on this next book. The business side of things is hard for people like us."
    "Do all artists and writers make such lame excuses for not paying attention to the business side of their work?" Garth asked.
    Shannon took a deep breath and smiled brilliantly as she overrode the sarcastic question with one of her own. "Dessert, anyone? I've made strawberry shortcake."
    "Sounds fantastic," Dan said.
    "I'll give you a hand," Annie announced.
    Shannon fled to the kitchen with her friend close behind. She could only hope that Garth would not start in on another lecture about the responsibilities of fatherhood in her absence. Oh, well. Dan could take care of himself. He was a quiet, competent sort of man. Soon the unfortunate dinner party would be over.
    Annie and Dan took their leave an hour later. Shannon stood on the front step to see them off and wondered if Garth would depart now that the others had gone. As annoyed as she had been with him at various points in the evening, she suddenly realized she didn't want him to leave right away. As the Volkswagen disappeared into the evening fog, she closed the door and turned and smiled tentatively at the man sitting on the sofa covered in material she had silk-screened in a flower pattern. He was watching her with a curiously detached but expectant expression.
    "Is that your Fiat parked outside?" he asked. "Why, yes." She was startled at the unexpected question. "Not much to it, is there?"
    "I like it," she said with a shrug, again sensing disapproval but choosing to ignore it. "Would you, uh, like a glass of brandy before you leave?" She walked over to the old pine sideboard and picked up the brandy bottle and a glass.
    "It depends. Is this the point in the evening where I'm supposed to seduce you?"
    The shock of the coldly outrageous question caused Shannon to flinch. The glass in her hand fell to the floor with a shattering crash.

-2-
    "I THINK YOU'D BETTER GO," Shannon said very quietly as she dropped to her knees to pick up the shards of glass. She kept her attention on her task so the embarrassed chagrin that must be in her eyes would not be so evident to Garth. "It's getting late, and I'm sure you've had enough socializing for the evening."
    She heard him move from his seat on the sofa, but she didn't glance up. A few seconds later he crouched in front of her, reaching out to pick up some bits of the shattered glass. "Isn't that what this was all about?" Garth asked coldly.
    "I don't know what you're talking about. Please, Garth. Leave."
    He put out a hand and tilted her chin so that she was forced to meet his eyes. The icy gaze was as remote as ever, but there was an element of assessment in it that disturbed Shannon more than she already was.
    "I assumed part of my social obligations for the evening included making a pass," Garth said with breathtaking calm. "You pursued me rather persistently this morning. I got the feeling that you had the rest of the evening scheduled. It's all right, Shannon. I'll be happy to oblige."
    "You can stuff your sense of obligation into the nearest trash can on your way out the door." Shannon jerked her chin out of his grasp and resumed picking up the remaining glass. "Goodnight, Garth."
    He hesitated. "Look, Shannon, there's no need to play coy now. You certainly weren't acting that way earlier today. You were very up-front, in fact. It was refreshing, in a way."
    "Please leave, Garth." Shannon got to her feet and carried the bits and pieces of glass into the kitchen. He followed, dumping the small shards he had picked up into the trash. There was nowhere else to retreat, so Shannon turned to face him, bracing herself against the sink. "You've made a few wrong assumptions, and I suppose it's my own fault. Don't worry, I won't mislead you any further."
    He watched her broodingly. "If you want me to stay, Shannon, just say it. I prefer honesty. It's such a damn rare commodity."
    Her initial shock and mortification gave way to a flash of temper. "I do not want you to stay," she bit out, each word emphasized as