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He commissioned Dodge to remain vigilant, then looked down at Berry. "Are you going to be all right?"
The question was softly spoken, personal, and effectively excluded Caroline and Dodge. Berry nodded, but it was a tentative motion. Their gazes held for what seemed like a long time, then, without another word, Ski strode to the door and left.
The instant the door closed behind him, Berry jumped up and charged across the room. But at the door, she stopped. Caroline watched as that one burst of energy deserted her. She leaned into the door, pressed her forehead against it, and remained that way for several seconds before decisively flipping the dead bolt and securing the chain.
When she turned back around, she went directly into the bathroom, saying, "I'm going to soak in the tub for a while."
She didn't come out for almost an hour. When she did, she was wrapped in a towel; another was around her hair. Her skin was rosy. Her eyes were red.
"You've been crying," Caroline said.
"I got it out of my system." She whipped off the towel turban and shook loose her wet hair. "But I don't know what I've got to cry about. Not when I think of Sally's last hours. She, Davis Coldare, they're the real victims, not me." She unzipped her small suitcase and took out a tank top and boxer shorts.
Caroline said, "I waited to order a room service supper."
"You should have gone ahead. I'm not hungry. Where's Dodge?"
"In his room. He thought you and I needed some time alone."
Berry removed the towel from around her and pulled on the sleepwear. "Anything more from Ski?"
"He called Dodge about fifteen minutes ago. Nothing to report. He just wanted to make sure you were okay. He didn't look happy to be leaving."
"He shouldn't be driving back to Merritt until he's slept. He looked exhausted. Did you notice his eyes?"
"He can't keep them off you." Berry turned her head and looked at Caroline, who added softly, "I noticed that."
Berry lay down on the bed, stacking two pillows beneath her head and hugging another to her chest. Nervously she plucked at the corner of the pillowcase. "It could never work between him and me."
"Why do you say that?"
"For a thousand different reasons."
"Name a few."
"So you can shoot them down?"
"One by one."
She looked across the narrow space separating them. "You like the idea of him and me becoming an us?"
"Only if you do, Berry. But you would have my approval."
"Don't get your hopes up. We're two entirely different types."
"Um-huh. He's male, you're female."
Berry smiled. "You know what I mean. We want different things."
"But do you want each other?" Berry gave her another sharp look, and Caroline laughed. "Don't bother answering. You just have. And, anyway, it's palpable every time you're near each other."
She smiled at Berry with affection. "You and Ski may want different things, you may be different types, but all that has little to do with attraction. He's fighting it as hard as you are, but it's obvious that he likes you."
Berry turned her head and looked toward the ceiling. A tear trickled from the corner of her eye and slid into her wet hair. "He won't."
"What do you mean?"
"Not now, Mother, okay?"
