Sarah and A.j.'s evening plans were scheduled for the next night. So, they sat at a small table for two at a fancy restaurant. A treat, Sarah knew, because A.j. didn't eat at these kinds that often. She smiled at him, and he smiled back, and that gave her a good feeling from the put of her stomach. He was such a great guy.

A waiter dressed in a tux came by their table and took their orders. No win was part of that order, the waiter noticed. Sarah an A.j. both decided to give up drinking long ago.

"I want to say I'm sorry," Sarah started. "About leaving suddenly yesterday. The surprise will be great, though."

"Thank you. I'm sure it will be," A.j. said.

That, inside, made Sarah feel terrible. She was lying to him, and he was so thankful and innocent. She started thinking about what Nick had said about feeling terrible and no one knows it but you. She understood that better now.

Nick had told her to keep the new cell phone he had given her strapped to her thigh. It was uncomfortable, but he assured her it was the best place for it to be kept and that she would get used to it after a while. Right when Sarah was going to say something to A.j. again, the cell phone vibrated. He also told her to never put it on ring, she remembered ruefully. He heart pounded-what could Nick want with her this time?

"Will you excuse me for a second? I have to run to the bathroom," she said.

"Sure."

Sarah headed across the dining area and into the ladies' room. No one was in there, luckily. She took her cell out from under her skirt. Small and black, just like Nick's. "Hello?"

"Come by," Nick answered. "I have your first job to do."

She bit her lip. "I'm at dinner right now wit A.j."

"That's not a priority, this is," Nick said. "You can't make all of this accommodate your schedule…"

She sighed. "I know, I know that. I just don't know what to tell him. What do I tell him?"

"Not my problem," Nick said, and he hung up. Sarah cursed and stormed out of the restroom. When she got back to their table, she knelt beside A.j., who was sitting there and drinking ice water. "I gotta go," she said, and when A.j. gave hurt and confused look she added, "I just remembered. It's a family emergency. I'm so sorry."

"You just remembered a family emergency?" he asked disgruntled. She could tell he was disappointed by the way he said it.

"Hon, I'd tell you more but…it's just personal. I'm sorry," she apologized again and grabbed her purse. She bent over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Personal?" he asked, almost to himself. She was already heading out the building. A few minutes ago he was sitting in a beautiful room with an even more beautiful young woman, and now he was in a dim room alone. What was going on?

"Waiter," A.j. noted, as one passed by. "Can I see a list of your wines?"