Her Tycoon Lover. Lee Wilkinson

started to laugh, his ill humor dissolving. “I’m beginning to think I led a very boring life until you came along.”

      They left the car and walked south, the clang of cable car bells accompanying them. At the edge of the square with its palm trees, clipped hedges and massed flowerbeds, Luke asked, “Want to start at Saks?”

      Her cheeks pink, Katrin said, “I don’t want you to see the dress until this evening.”

      He grinned at her. “In that case I’ll find a bar, and you can come and get me when you’re ready.”

      He had time to slowly drink a glass of Chablis and read the entire newspaper before Katrin reappeared. She said breathlessly, “I’ve run up rather large bills at three different stores.”

      “Good,” said Luke; and half an hour later, several boxes in the trunk of the car, was driving toward Pacific Heights. They had a snack in the kitchen to tide them over until the dinner at the hotel, then Katrin disappeared to get dressed. Luke went upstairs, showered and shaved, and got into his tuxedo. He didn’t have a clue what was going on, although he was quite sure if he had any sense he wouldn’t be taking Katrin to a charity ball where he’d meet just about everyone he knew; and discovered that he didn’t care.

      He felt alive. Disturbingly and wholeheartedly alive.

      Which implied, of course, that he’d been going through the motions for a very long time.