Episode 39

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Episode 39

Scene 1:

Phoebe slid farther down in her seat as her ex-husband scanned the diner. Please don't see me, she prayed. Dane turned his back to her ex and studied her with a look of puzzled amusement. She would have to deal with Ryan at some point in time, but not now and not with Dane Lennox sitting next to her looking like the cat who swallowed the canary. Ryan moved off towards the front door and disappeared from view. Breathing a sigh of relief, Phoebe straightened in her seat. Ignoring Dane's questioning gaze, she stared at her menu willing her heart to slow down.

"You're not going to tell me are you?" Dane asked after a moment of silence.

"No, I'm not," Phoebe replied as the waitress approached them asking for their drink order. "Thank you, I'll have...is the bar open? How about a martini? Thanks." The waitress looked expectantly to Dane who chuckled and asked for the same.

"Since this is a drinking lunch, I'll have a martini as well. Phoebe, you'll have to be the one to explain that to Rick when he gets back," Dane laughed. "Unless of course, you'd like to explain your bizarre behavior in the last five minutes. If you do, I'll take the blame."

"It's none of your business Dane. I don't care what Rick thinks about me having a drink at lunch. I've seen him drink at business lunches plenty of times!" She snapped back. Her nerves were raw and Dane was asking for her to explode.

"Fine. But just so you know, I'm not going to forget what just happened here Phoebe. Something has you scared and I'm going to find out what it is," Dane replied smiling pleasantly. "Unless of course you would like to tell me and save yourself from my efforts."

"I sincerely doubt your investigative abilities are up to that task," Phoebe replied with an edge to her voice. "Why do you want to be involved in my life so badly anyway?"

"I like you," Dane answered simply. "Is there anything wrong with that? I was hoping you would feel the same way, but I see you don't. You're my challenge, Phoebe."

"What?"

"I'm not used to women ignoring me...and being rude to me the way you are," he added looking at her sideways. Her eyes narrowed momentarily before she regained her composure. "I see you as a challenge to myself."

"Oh? And what if you succeed?"

"Then, you and I will be two very lucky people."

Scene 2:

"Guess what."

"Hallie, I don't have time for guessing games," Luke replied without looking up from his computer.

"Don't be rude, Luke. I've got news. Very good news. Morgan Birch is coming to paint my portrait."

"I fail to see the importance of this just now. I'm working in case you hadn't noticed." He looked up at last, seeing Hallie for the first time since she had entered his office. She wore a long overcoat that she had belted at the waist. "A little warm for that isn't it?" He asked nodding at her coat.

"This?" Hallie asked innocently undoing the belt and slipping the coat off her shoulders letting it drop to the floor. Clad in a clingy negligee, she edged closer to him and slipped behind his chair. "What's the matter, Luke? Jamie working you too hard?"

"No, Hal. Look, I've got to finish this business proposal for the Board. I would love and I mean love to take advantage of this situation but I have to get this done. Can't you tell me what is so important about Morgan Birch coming here to do your portrait? I thought the whole idea was to keep him away from Gwen so he would talk."

"It was. But Luke," she said rubbing his neck seductively. "He's coming to the Glen after he had said no. Someone talked to him. Namely Gwen. She wants him here...probably to sew his lips shut, the old bag. And if Gwen wants him here then that must mean he knows something. Don't you care about this anymore?"

"Of course, I do. It's just that right now, I don't have time. I have other things on my mind,"
he answered pushing her hands away. "Like my job."

"Fine," she snapped. "I guess I'm not as important as your job!" Luke's door opened and Steve stepped in, his eyes taking in the scene quickly.

"Well, this looks familiar," he remarked, closing the door behind him. "Only, it wasn't Luke Conlan sitting behind the desk when you were half dressed. Christ, Hallie, get a new routine."

Scene 3:

Noah's heart wasn't in this date with Dinah. He wanted it to be. Dinah would be good for him, he had told himself over and over again. She was fun and carefree but she was smart and sensitive too. He hadn't had a real girlfriend in ages...since just after his father had died and that had been at least four years ago. But then Dusty had come along and his life had gotten so messed up, he'd had no time for a girlfriend. He'd dated, but no one seriously. And now here he was about to embark on something with Dinah Stafford.

He hoped it was something. After all, he was giving up on someone else that he had secretly hoped would be the girl he got serious with. He didn't want to give up on her just to end up with someone who wasn't half the girl she was. But, he reminded himself, Dinah was a wonderful person and no matter what happened, he was lucky she was interested. If it wasn't for the other girl...

The other girl. Who was he kidding? He knew it was Piper Conlan even if no one else but Maura knew.
Piper was sweet and unassuming. She was funny and goofy. She was smart and thoughtful. But she had her play and that Chase. Chase was bad news if you asked Noah, but she wasn't asking.

"Hi Noah." Jerked from his thoughts, Noah looked up at Dinah. She was dressed casually in a pair of white shorts and a light yellow tank top. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long?"

Noah smiled and took her hand, slipping it into his. "Nope. Not long at all." His eyes met Dinah's smiling gaze. He did like Dinah and Piper had made her choice, he thought, smiling back at her. "I think this will be fun," he added squeezing her hand gently as they left Connie's.

Scene 4:

Rick left Maura's office not even sure why he went attempted to have a conversation with her. Since he had come to Conlan's Glen, he'd gotten nothing but resistance from her where their nonexistent relationship was concerned. But he still went back for more every time. That was the last time, he promised himself. Starting right now, Maura was a thing of the past. he threaded his way across the room back towards the table but paused at the sight of a familiar face at the bar. Shaking his head and grinning to himself, he turned towards the bar and took an empty seat.

"You come here often?" He asked, leaning over just a little to whisper it in her ear.

"Oh, you know, every now and then. When I don't have the time to make a reservation somewhere with a bit more...panache," Jillie grinned as she turned to glance over her shoulder. "And dare I ask what keeps you coming back?"

"Believe me, today was not by choice. If I had my way, I'd be having this business lunch at The Fountains. But Dane likes this place. And it is close to the office." He looked over his shoulder to where Phoebe appeared to be hiding in her seat. "Trust me, I'm not here for the warm reception I get whenever your sister sees me."

"Yes, well, I've always found my sister to be rather frigid, but...I do hope the temperature's more to your liking out here."

"It's much more temperate out here, yes," he agreed. "I'll have to remember that it's much warmer wherever you are. Look Jillie, we've been dancing around this for a while now. Why don't we have dinner tonight. Alone at The Fountains."

She masked surprise at his forthright attitude with a vague arch of a brow and a coy smile. "Why, Mr. Upton. I'm flattered." Swiveling around fully on her barstool, Jillie crossed her legs, her ice blue gaze turning thoughtful. Wasn't this just what she'd been waiting for? Yes. And she intended to take full advantage of the situation. Her smile widened, though she retained that playful air. "What time should I be ready?"

"Eight o'clock. I might have a reputation of standing people up...but tonight is a night I don't want to miss," he added with a smile.

"I'll risk it," she grinned. "Besides, if you stand me up, you're out one tour guide. And then there's no telling where...or with whom...you might find yourself. It's best to play it...safe...with me." Her blue eyes flashed, almost belying her words.

"Safe is not the word I would have associated with you Miss Jillie Conlan. And I hope that it never is."

"I suppose we'll have to wait and see whether or not that's the only desire of yours I'm able to accommodate." Sliding off the stool, she slipped a twenty on the counter and flashed him a smile. "But for now, I've got to get back to work. My boss," Jillie offered in explanation, "he's a real slave driver." With another playful grin, she grabbed her purse and headed for the door. "Don't be late."

"I wouldn't miss this evening for the world," he said to himself watching her walk away. Perhaps tonight he would be able to get Maura off his mind once and for all.