Before them, John yelped, struggling to wiggle free of Tak's headlock.

"I can look at you and tell how much you love him."

Allison shrugged. "My burden."

"Love isn't a burden. It's a gift."

"You say that now. I'll check back with you in a year or so, when your love is no longer a fresh novelty."

Deena remembered Tak's words in Chicago. "Relationships take work, Allison. Anything worth having takes work."

She sighed. "I know, I know. And deep down I know John's a good guy. But the lipstick didn't hurt any less. But I guess I was to blame for that as much as he."

"How's that?"

"Haven't you been listening? I didn't make my needs clear. Our relationship was never spelled out in so many words. So when he got backed into a corner, that's what he relied on-the fact that we never specifically agreed to a monogamous relationship-despite spending every day together. And as angry as I was, I knew that technically he was right. While I'd been committed to him, I'd never required the same of him. I just...a.s.sumed."

Allison watched as Tak helped John to his feet. "I know you trust him and that's good. You should. All I'm saying is, don't make the same mistake I did."

Tak watched Deena folded her arms, face pinched with agitation. No sooner had they returned to the hotel room than did she pulled him aside and began ranting.

"I swear to G.o.d, Deena, I don't know what you're talking about," he said after attempting to follow her for several moments.

"I'm talking about you, Tak. And me. About..." She took a deep breath. "All I'm saying is, I don't want some big-breasted woman kissing on you!"

Wide-eyed Tak glanced past Deena to John, who was busy pretending not to smile as he flipped channels on the flat screen.

"Outside. Now."

Tak grabbed Deena's wrist and pulled her into the hallway.

"What the h.e.l.l was that? What are you talking about?"

"I don't know. I just-Allison said-"

"Allison?"

"Yes. Allison thinks," she took a breath, "I think that I need a commit from you."

Deena took a deep breath and tried again. "I need a commitment from you."

Tak stared at her. "O.k."

"O.k. what?"

"O.k., you've got a commitment from me."

She blinked.

"That all?" he asked.

She lowered her gaze, suddenly embarra.s.sed. "Yeah. I guess so."

"Allison, I'm telling you, you need to learn to mind your own business!"

"And you need to learn to keep your d.i.c.k in your pants!"

Allison squared off before John, fists balled.

John threw hands over his face in exasperation. "Good, Lord! How many times do we have to do this? I didn't have s.e.x with anyone and you know it!"

"I know it? You don't even know it! How the h.e.l.l am I supposed to know it?"

"I'd know if I'd f.u.c.ked someone!"

"How?"

"I don't' know. I'd just know."

"How? Cause your c.o.c.k wasn't shiny when you got home?"

"Listen," John held out hands before him as if attempting to calm him and her. "Could we not do this right now? My cousin's only here a few days. You said you wanted to see him, and that's the only reason you're here. But if you're just going to f.u.c.k up his perfectly good relationship so you can tear me down then you should just leave."

Allison's mouth fell open.

"Tear down? Tear you down? How dare you! I have done everything for you! Everything! When my father was going to flunk your a.s.s-"

"Oh! Here we go again! How many times do I have to hear that s.h.i.t? How many nights have I stayed up trying to help your a.s.s figure out some fine point of law?"

Allison glared at John Tanaka, the six feet tall, broad shoulder, too oft-arrogant son of a used car salesman who'd earned everything he had through a combination of brains and brawn. She hated and loved him all at the same time, and hated herself for both.

"What did you end up ordering?" John asked, peering into Tak's brown paper bag as they rode up the hotel elevator.

"Chicken parm. And you?"

John shrugged. "Whatever you got. That's what I told the guy. I said 'give me what he's having.'"

Tak glanced at him. "No, you didn't."

"Yes, I did. I'm trying to be more adventurous. Allison says I need to be more adventurous. 'Like your cousin,' she said. 'He took his girlfriend on a cross country trip on the spur of the moment," John mocked.

Tak laughed. "And what did you say? ' f.u.c.k you?'"

John shook his head. "I should've. But I said, 'she wasn't even his girlfriend when they started.' To which she answered, 'well, that's worse!"

Tak grinned. "Yeah, I'm not really sure where you were going with that one."

John shrugged. "Who knows these days?"

He paused. "So, you say she's never been to a nightclub before? This'll be her first time?"

"Not exactly. She went once while we were in Atlanta."

As the elevator rose, Tak dug in his pocket for his room key.

"Hundred bucks says I can get Deena to dance before you."

"She'll dance, John. She just needs a little prodding. Your variation of it probably won't work though."

"Two hundred."

Tak sighed. "John, I don't think you want to-"

"Two fifty."

"All right. Your funeral."

They stepped off the elevator. "Now remember," Tak said as they arrived at the door. "I don't take sob stories and I don't take checks."

Allison stared at the white pants suit with its conservative cut and frowned. "You're not going to wear that, are you?"

Deena froze. "What's wrong with my suit?"

"Nothing. I mean, what is it? Gucci?"

Deena nodded.

"Well yeah, it's a beautiful suit, if you're looking to sell some real estate or something. But you're going out to shake your a.s.s."

Allison disappeared in search of the black duffle bag she brought.

"You know, I haven't figured you out yet, Deena. You try your d.a.m.nedest to hide s.h.i.t the rest of us are in line to buy. What gives?"

Deena frowned at Allison's backside as she dug through the bag. Before she could respond the blonde stood, a dash of black fabric in her arms.

"Here. Wear this."

"I don't even know what that is."

"It's a dress, Deena. Now stop being my grandmother and put it on."

Allison held it out.

Deena shook her head. "That's what you were going to wear."

"I brought three outfits with me, because I never can make up my mind. I'll wear one of the other two and you this. You've got the body for it, trust me."

Deena frowned. "I don't think I should."

Allison held the dress. "I know you should. It hugs and flows in all the right places and Tak's jaw will drop when he sees it."

Deena hesitated. "You really think he'll like it?"

"I know he will."

Tak froze at the sight of Deena. Dark curly hair, soft tendrils falling onto creamy bare shoulders, lips painted crimson, and pale brown eyes sharpened with smoke-gray eye shadow. The black fabric sculpted her body, clinging to a shelf of soft, supple cleavage with the tease of an ultralow neckline. Tight from top to hem the dress split mid-thigh for a dramatic flash of leg. Her tanned and toned calves were accentuated with sleek black pumps.

Tak's mouth opened, then closed. He looked from Deena to Allison, who stood behind her beaming.

"She looks incredible, doesn't she?"

Tak's lips parted and still, he failed to speak.

Deena's face fell. "You don't like it."

Tak shook his head, sputtering. "No, no, I love it. I'm just-just taken back, is all."

"I look stupid. I'm taking this off."

She turned away.

"No!" Tak cried. "Don't-don't change a thing. You look incredible. Please...don't change anything."

Deena turned, brought a hand to her cleavage. "It's not too much?"

John shook his head with a laugh. When Allison cleared her throat, he snapped to attention.

"And you look beautiful, baby," John blurted.

Her gaze narrowed, arms folded. "This is what I had on when you left."

Tak turned to his cousin with amus.e.m.e.nt.

"Right. I meant everyday though. You look beautiful every day."

"Sure you did. Now give me my dinner before I belt you."

Club Echo was a posh multilevel club in Midtown Manhattan. When Tak led her inside, Deena gave a gasp.

An HDTV covered by a thick layer of gla.s.s served as the floor. According to Tak, both it and the walls reflected the club's ever changing theme. On this night the floor was a vast pool of crystal blue and the walls a perpetual waterfall. Masked beneath the loud and pulsating pop was the sound of crashing water. It, combined with vaulted ceilings, gave the feel of standing in a fast-filling cup of water.

Deena turned to Tak in astonishment. He gave her waist a little squeeze. "I knew you'd like it."

"Like it? It's awe-inspiring! I mean, take away the hip hop and you'd be in a museum exhibit about the importance of water!"

Tak grinned. "The last time I was here the place was set up like a jungle. Every so often, a monkey would swing by or an elephant would trumpet. Now that was awesome."

Deena turned from him and scanned the crowd. Packed tight, each club-goer gyrated to the blast of the beat; encased in sweat despite the unrelenting air conditioning. They were over 21 but under 30-blonde and brunette, deep chocolate and soft tan, each with brightly colored drinks in their grips as they moved. To Deena, everyone looked in his or her element, everyone else that is.