44

Staring at him, feeling a sinking sense of confusion assail her, it all suddenly changed to a sense-crawling horror when she realized what they'd done. She spun away in a shaken, horrified need to escape but he stopped her.

"Just get back in the car so I can take you home, Vivian" he said.

His voice was calmer now, no longer angry, and maybe it was that tone that made her turn and began to move back towards his car. He walked beside her, not saying anything till they got to his car. He opened the door for her and when she got in, he went around and climbed into the driver's seat.

The ride was quiet. They turned into the street on which her apartment block was situated, and Scott slowed down. "Was that just about the wine or did I do something wrong?" he asked.

He just couldn’t leave it alone! "Why the sudden interest in my sleazy feelings, Scott?"

"It’s not sleazy, Vivian," he pointed out. "Believe it or not, but I…. I… I care about you, damn it."

Only slightly mollified by that