She couldn't help but wonder about him. She knew that he had made a whole host of new fans in Tahoe; everyone working on the video was crazy about him. He knew when to work, and when to laugh.When to demand discipline, when to let loose. And just as she sensed that dangerous fire within his eyes, she sensed a deep wisdom within their depths, one that had come from living...and from hurting? It was hard to imagine that he might have known trauma or pain. But Barbara had told her that he was widower.
Was it possible that such a man could have loved one woman, and loved her so completely that her death had brought him a never-ending pain?
"Aunt Bryn?" Brian asked quietly. "Can I get cashew chicken?"
They usually had to share a meal. There were no children's portions here, and the tab could get high.But tonight...
She waved a hand in the air with helpless resignation. "Get whatever you want." She closed her eyes again for a minute. When she opened them, a pretty Oriental girl was waiting to take her order. "A large glass of wine first, please," Bryn murmured. "And we'll have the cashew chicken, the sweet and sour chicken--and Adam, what would you like?''
"A hot dog!"Adam said.
"They don't have hot dogs, Adam. This is a Chinese restaurant."
' 'Ummm... chicken."
Bryn shrugged at the waitress. "I'd better take a side order of egg rolls and ribs. And the special fried rice with the shrimp, please."
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The waitress was a doll. She returned quickly with Bryn'swine, and with sodas for the boys with little umbrellas sticking out of the straws.
That will be good for at least two minutes' entertainment, Bryn thought gratefully.
The food arrived while they were still engrossed with the umbrellas, giving Bryn a chance to dole out portions to the three boys, and to dissect Adam'seggroll . He didn't like the "dark green things" in it.
Well, if nothing else, she reminded herself as she spooned out the fried rice, the wildlife shots were all completed. And Barbara was taking a few weeks off from her show and had promised to baby-sit a couple nights next week so that Bryn could go out and have dinner and drinks with a few of the other dancers. That would be nice. A night of utter relaxation...
"Aunt Bryn."
It was Brian's voice. Low, excited.
"There's a man coming this way. I think he's coming to see you."
Her eyes flew open, and she stared across the restaurant in dismay. There was a man coming toward them, and he was definitely coming to see her.
It was Lee Condor.
Whatwas he doing here, she wondered bleakly. The restaurant was nice, but not ritzy. He should have been at some sleek night spot, dining on steak Diane, dancing, and throwing some of his overabundance of money away at the crap tables.
"Hello, Miss Keller." His eyes moved quickly around the table; Brian and Keith were surveying him with open mouths, and Adam was showing overt hostility, with his mouth set in a pout.
"Hello," Bryn murmured. She was surprised that he had come to see her when she had three small children at her table. Most men would have run in the other direction.
But there were nice smile lines that crinkled about his eyes, and he looked both interested and amused as he turned his gaze to her once more. "Is this your family? Foolish question, they must be. They all bear a resemblance."
"She's not our mother!" Brian supplied quickly. "She's our aunt."
"Oh, is she?" Lee queried. "Not yours, huh?" he asked Bryn.
"Not mine--but, yes, mine."
Keith liked to think of himself as old and mature; but his lip trembled a little when he hopped into the conversation. "My mother and father are...they live with Jesus now. And we live with Aunt Bryn."
"Well, that sounds like a good arrangement," Lee said amiably. "And you're--"
"Keith Keller. That's Adam."
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"Well, Keith Keller, would you mind scooting over for a minute? I'd like to join you for a few seconds, if you don't mind."
Keith agreeably scooted over. And to Bryn's horror Lee Condor sat down and smiled at her.
She tried to smile back, but the effort was a dismal failure. At least, she thought, he wouldn't want to hop into bed with her after tonight. She had showered, but that had been it. Her hair was still damp; it felt as if it was plastered to her shoulders. She hadn't bothered with new makeup, and she had thrown on an old tube top and a faded calico wraparound skirt.
And now she was wearing half of the Chinese noodles that had been on the table.
Bryn picked up her glass of wine and nervously downed three-quarters ofit, then tried a polite smile once again. "What are you doing here?" she asked him.
"I like Chinese food," he replied with a shrug. "No date?" Bryn queried, instantly wishing she hadn't. He chuckled. "Not unless you want to consider Mick and Perry dates. They're over there." He waved toward the rear of the room. She had met Mick and Perry earlier in the week. They had both impressed her as being down to earth pleasant men, the opposite of what she had expected. Sandy-haired Perry with his sexy lopsided smile waved to her; Mick, with his sparkling dark eyes, grinned broadly and waved, too.
Bryn waved back,then found her eyes returning of their own accord to meet Lee Condor's.
"Would you...ah...like some cashew chicken? Fried rice, an egg roll, a rib...?"