It's Almost Too Hot to Drink

Peter Van Husen has been feeling a little lost ever since his wife left him. However, meeting Sandi Cooper has helped lift him out of his doldrums. Although Sandi is nothing like his ex-wife or his former lover, Peter enjoys being with her. That Sandi seems to have a past of her own has yet to raise a red flag with Peter. That is about to change...

"It's so hot!" Sandi waved her hand back in front of her face and began to pant. "I hate this weather. When is it going to cool off?"

Peter looked admiringly at Sandi's outfit of extremely short denim shorts and a top made out of red and white bandana material. She looked like an up-to-date, far sexier Mary Ann from "Gilligan's Island." "You shouldn't drink wine," he told her. "Alcohol only makes you hotter."

"The day I give up wine is the day I drop dead," Sandi informed him. "Come on, let's go inside where there's air conditioning." Picking up her wine glass, Sandi led the way into Smitty's Bar, a dive in downtown Schuyler Square. Peter followed her obediently. It felt so good to be told what to do again. He hadn't had that happen since his wife left him.

Inside the cool, dark bar Peter and Sandi found a corner table. "That's better. I thought I was going to melt out there. How's the murder investigation going?" Sandi questioned, changing the subject abruptly.

"Still no leads," Peter told her.

"What about Bernard Morton? I thought you were pretty sure he was the murderer."

"I never said that!"

Sandi laughed and reached over to pat Peter on his cheek. "You never had to, babycakes. What you're thinking is always written on your face. I can read you like a book."

Peter wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing but decided to play along with Sandi. Why not? It was only five o'clock and they had the entire evening stretching out ahead of them. "Oh, yeah? What page am I on right now?"

"I'd say you're on the introduction and you're about to segue into the steamy bedroom scene," Sandi purred.

"Peter, what are you doing here?"

Peter and Sandi looked up to see Mavis Schuyler standing next to their table. Peter felt his desire dry up and blow away. Mavis seemed to have that effect on him. "Mavis!" Half-rising, Peter began to introduce Sandi.

"We've met," Mavis said shortly, turning her back on Sandi. Unperturbed, Sandi finished her glass of wine and held it up toward the bartender. "Peter, we must get together sometime. I'd love to catch up with you. I hear you're divorced now."

"Yes..."

Mavis placed a cool hand on his arm. "Then we definitely must get together now that we're both free."

"He's not free," Sandi said as she removed Mavis's hand from Peter's arm. "He's with me."

Peter felt oddly popular yet torn. Two desirable women wanted him. One was rich and one was gorgeous. How would he ever choose between them?

Mavis helped him make up his mind. "Don't be ridiculous," she said to Sandi. "Peter and I have a history together." She blinked her eyes at Peter. "Come over for dinner tomorrow night," she ordered. "We'll have a nice evening together."

Peter nodded dumbly. Mavis always had that effect on him. "All right," he agreed.

Waiting until Mavis had left their table, Sandi turned to Peter and glared. "You'll have dinner with her over my dead body, Peter."

Raising his hand, Peter signaled for the waitress. Maybe he'd have to rethink joining Mavis for dinner the next night. One dead body in Schuyler Square was quite enough for him.